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Terra Vane #1
Death Be Blue
Terra Vane knows the score. Operating in two worlds, she helps out the FBI on occasion when not working as an Enforcer Field Agent in a supernatural haven called Portiside. She chases down the bad guys no matter the species, using her visions to help her catch the criminals.
A blue pill. Corruption. An attractive control-freak boss and an annoying wolf shifter partner. It all begins with the chase of a serial killer intent on gobbling up victims from Portiside City. A place where human nature doesn't stop at the humans.
A blue pill. Corruption. An attractive control-freak boss and an annoying wolf shifter partner. It all begins with the chase of a serial killer intent on gobbling up victims from Portiside City. A place where human nature doesn't stop at the humans.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2021
38 people are currently reading
514 people want to read
About the author
Katie Epstein
36 books66 followersKatie Epstein is no longer active.
Check out her pen names at www.authorkatie.com
Check out her pen names at www.authorkatie.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
September 7, 2018
A new author to me but what a fabulous introduction to her work. Essentially we have a world accessible from Earth by portal and it’s inhabitants are a mixture of supernaturals and humans but I’d say it’s the supernaturals who most definitely seem to be on top. Into this mix the author adds Terra, a human who has always suffered from visions and her desire for justice and equality for all has led her to become an enforcer. I’d like to say she’s been made welcome but those with paranormal abilities who she works with are not exactly her best friends but luckily her partner Kaleb, a wolf shifter always has her back.
There’s a good range of characters here and the supporting cast whilst still a little distant did help round out the interesting world building. We meet Shifters, Witches and Fae but also learn of Vampires and I must say that the range of Shifters is very interesting. Obviously the case that Terra and Kaleb are on is dangerous and keeps everyone on their toes ( or should that be paws ?) but I fear there will be far reaching consequences that the author has barely touched upon.
So a strong lead heroine with a story that has enough action and twists to hold my attention. I’d say this is urban fantasy but don’t think there isn’t an element of romance because it’s there but you the reader have to question how you want things to proceed because although there’s no obvious triangle here I cannot help but think the author might just decide to surprise her readers and I’m certainly up for that !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
There’s a good range of characters here and the supporting cast whilst still a little distant did help round out the interesting world building. We meet Shifters, Witches and Fae but also learn of Vampires and I must say that the range of Shifters is very interesting. Obviously the case that Terra and Kaleb are on is dangerous and keeps everyone on their toes ( or should that be paws ?) but I fear there will be far reaching consequences that the author has barely touched upon.
So a strong lead heroine with a story that has enough action and twists to hold my attention. I’d say this is urban fantasy but don’t think there isn’t an element of romance because it’s there but you the reader have to question how you want things to proceed because although there’s no obvious triangle here I cannot help but think the author might just decide to surprise her readers and I’m certainly up for that !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
June 23, 2018
12.000 years ago on Earth, all livings were in danger because of the predicted Great Flood. So the wise ones of Earth formed an alliance. Each member was of a different race, chosen to represent their species. They called themselves the Hunters of Salvation. This group found the portal for a new place to live until danger pass (Now that place is called Portiside City and our story happen there.). I don't know why supernatural beings didn't go back to earth, but humans went to back earth and now most of the humans living there. Additionally, portal being watched always for not to let anyone passing without permission.
The story began with Terra (our protagonist) and Kaleb (her partner and a wolf shifter) were in a mission (both of them are Enforcer Field Agents) to find the serial killer. Of course turn out to be this wasn't just a serial killer case but more complicated things going on. And our heroes determined to learn what actually going on... And in this world, we have vampires, witches, shifters (wolves, cheetahs, panthers, bears et.al. and, others who can fly like owls or hawks), elves and it goes on like that.
I loved all characters in this story they all have their own story but the bad ones, I don't know much about them so I can't say they are well-developed characters. I like how Terra (our protagonist) handle with Kaleb (her partner and a wolf shifter) and how stubborn with Cole (her boss, Kaleb's big brother and a wolf shifter too). Plus her relationship with her stepfather (Chris), Rossie (her roommate) and Mayra ( her friend and a witch) are lovely.
Our protagonist has an issue to be seen as a weak person because what she has gone through as a child (She was abuse on earth because of her ability). So every turn she tries to prove she is not weak. I don't think she has to do that but this was her charm too. Actually, when we compare her with shifters and other beings she is weak but she appeases it with her other strong characteristics so for me she is a strong cool girl with some issue ^_^.
Generally, I loved how the story goes on and how the case was ended without actually ending ;D. It was hard to let down so it was a fast read for me. I would love to go on reading Terra and her friends' story as soon as I can get the second book (as an ebook).
I would recommend anyone who loves to read supernatural stories with a strong female, a lot of action and a little romance (If I say more clearly, could say we don't have romance in this book but for a second one I expect to that happen :))
NetGalley provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available! :))
The story began with Terra (our protagonist) and Kaleb (her partner and a wolf shifter) were in a mission (both of them are Enforcer Field Agents) to find the serial killer. Of course turn out to be this wasn't just a serial killer case but more complicated things going on. And our heroes determined to learn what actually going on... And in this world, we have vampires, witches, shifters (wolves, cheetahs, panthers, bears et.al. and, others who can fly like owls or hawks), elves and it goes on like that.
I loved all characters in this story they all have their own story but the bad ones, I don't know much about them so I can't say they are well-developed characters. I like how Terra (our protagonist) handle with Kaleb (her partner and a wolf shifter) and how stubborn with Cole (her boss, Kaleb's big brother and a wolf shifter too). Plus her relationship with her stepfather (Chris), Rossie (her roommate) and Mayra ( her friend and a witch) are lovely.
Our protagonist has an issue to be seen as a weak person because what she has gone through as a child (She was abuse on earth because of her ability). So every turn she tries to prove she is not weak. I don't think she has to do that but this was her charm too. Actually, when we compare her with shifters and other beings she is weak but she appeases it with her other strong characteristics so for me she is a strong cool girl with some issue ^_^.
Generally, I loved how the story goes on and how the case was ended without actually ending ;D. It was hard to let down so it was a fast read for me. I would love to go on reading Terra and her friends' story as soon as I can get the second book (as an ebook).
I would recommend anyone who loves to read supernatural stories with a strong female, a lot of action and a little romance (If I say more clearly, could say we don't have romance in this book but for a second one I expect to that happen :))
NetGalley provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available! :))
November 8, 2025
Death Be Blue is a new urban fantasy from Katie Epstein. Fast paced, world jumping between the normal earth and magical world, Epstein provides a new and completely original take on shifters, fae and humans with extraordinary abilities.
I received this copy of Death Be Blue from Katie Epstein. This is my honest and voluntary review. Death Be Blue was published Sept. 29, 2017.
I received this copy of Death Be Blue from Katie Epstein. This is my honest and voluntary review. Death Be Blue was published Sept. 29, 2017.
October 13, 2018
I really enjoyed Death by Blue. The cover initially drew my attention and then the synopsis reeled me in. In this case, both really delivered!
Terra vane is a human with psychic powers and has a grim life on Earth before she begins a new life on Portiside. Here she is among varying supernatural and paranormal species and other gifted humans.
Terrra becomes an Enforcement Officer and deals with the disturbances and crimes that occur among the multi-species community. She and her wolf shifter partner, Kaleb’s find themselves chasing a danger that threatens Portiside as they know it.
I do not usually go in for heavy world building and if I had known that there is some pretty impressive world building in Death By Blue, then I may have missed the opportunity to read what is, at it’s core, a really good fantasy crime story.
Katie Epstein really delivers with Death Be Blue. The world and character developments were both incredibly impressive, and the plot was solid, imaginative and drew me in.
I had not read any work by Katie Epstein but I am really pleased that I found this wonderfully talented author. This book is book 1 in the Terra Vane series and I look forward to reading more.
.
I would like to thank Katie Epstein and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy of Death Be Blue. This is my honest review.
Terra vane is a human with psychic powers and has a grim life on Earth before she begins a new life on Portiside. Here she is among varying supernatural and paranormal species and other gifted humans.
Terrra becomes an Enforcement Officer and deals with the disturbances and crimes that occur among the multi-species community. She and her wolf shifter partner, Kaleb’s find themselves chasing a danger that threatens Portiside as they know it.
I do not usually go in for heavy world building and if I had known that there is some pretty impressive world building in Death By Blue, then I may have missed the opportunity to read what is, at it’s core, a really good fantasy crime story.
Katie Epstein really delivers with Death Be Blue. The world and character developments were both incredibly impressive, and the plot was solid, imaginative and drew me in.
I had not read any work by Katie Epstein but I am really pleased that I found this wonderfully talented author. This book is book 1 in the Terra Vane series and I look forward to reading more.
.
I would like to thank Katie Epstein and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy of Death Be Blue. This is my honest review.
September 28, 2018
Thank you NetGalley and Kate Epstein for this arc.
Color me SURPRISED! I'm usually pretty leery of self-published books as I've found the majority of them beyond disappointing....but I was in the mood for something different.
This was FUN. I liked the hunt and chase. The urban fantasy / paranormal was a bit more than confusing for me in the beginning but that quickly cleared up for me (even though I'm still not 100% certain I understand it all). Also, I really liked the various characters and for the most part they felt really genuine. There were some twists, but isn't getting all dizzy part of the urban fantasy? The romance was a minor element of this book, but enhanced rather than encumber the hunt and chase so the pacing never really slowed down.
Oh, another neat thing....this is just the beginning of a series! Sign me up.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
Color me SURPRISED! I'm usually pretty leery of self-published books as I've found the majority of them beyond disappointing....but I was in the mood for something different.
This was FUN. I liked the hunt and chase. The urban fantasy / paranormal was a bit more than confusing for me in the beginning but that quickly cleared up for me (even though I'm still not 100% certain I understand it all). Also, I really liked the various characters and for the most part they felt really genuine. There were some twists, but isn't getting all dizzy part of the urban fantasy? The romance was a minor element of this book, but enhanced rather than encumber the hunt and chase so the pacing never really slowed down.
Oh, another neat thing....this is just the beginning of a series! Sign me up.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
September 7, 2018
How in the world have I not read something by Katie Epstein before?
Death Be Blue was my introduction to her writing. I picked it because, let's be honest ya'll, that's a great cover.
The blub reminded me a lot of one of my favorite series, The Bloodhound Files by D.D. Barant. The main character is an FBI profiler that has been taken from her world into an alternate reality where only 1% percent of the population is human and the rest is vampires, werewolves, and golems. Oh my. After reading the blurb, I was all in. And I'm so glad I did!
The similarity to The Bloodhound Files is superficial. Death Be Blue is it's own creature. I read this in about two days and would halve finished a lot sooner if not for having to work (ugh) those two days. This book is so much fun!
In Terra Vane's world of Portiside, she works as an Enforcer Field Agent, bringing wrong-doers to justice with her shifter partner, Kaleb. Think of them as detectives on the police force, if the detectives all had magical or supernatural abilities and the criminals grow fur and teeth at will.
Read the rest of my review here
Death Be Blue was my introduction to her writing. I picked it because, let's be honest ya'll, that's a great cover.
The blub reminded me a lot of one of my favorite series, The Bloodhound Files by D.D. Barant. The main character is an FBI profiler that has been taken from her world into an alternate reality where only 1% percent of the population is human and the rest is vampires, werewolves, and golems. Oh my. After reading the blurb, I was all in. And I'm so glad I did!
The similarity to The Bloodhound Files is superficial. Death Be Blue is it's own creature. I read this in about two days and would halve finished a lot sooner if not for having to work (ugh) those two days. This book is so much fun!
In Terra Vane's world of Portiside, she works as an Enforcer Field Agent, bringing wrong-doers to justice with her shifter partner, Kaleb. Think of them as detectives on the police force, if the detectives all had magical or supernatural abilities and the criminals grow fur and teeth at will.
Read the rest of my review here
March 7, 2018
Death Be Blue
Book 1 of the Terra Vane Series is such a fun read that on reaching the end of the story I immediately bought Book 2. I was hooked. The story is of a human woman Terra Vane who’s had a very unhappy and mistreated upbringing simply because she’s psychic. When she emigrates to Portiside she feels at home in this new world of shifters, fey, vampires and a host of other super natural creatures. It’s still not that great of a fit because she’s only a gifted human, but she is accepted in the city crime-fighting agency as an Enforcer Field Agent. Many of the EFA’s are shifters, including her partner Kaleb (a wolf).
They work together to bring down dealers of a dangerous drug known as Blue which enhances a criminal’s (most of them rogue shifters) natural proclivity to violence and must be stopped.
The world and character building is excellent. There’s even a map. There’s humor, wit and adventure that doesn’t devolve into a tired paranormal shifter romance, but the reader knows it might so there is certainly romantic tension.
I turned pages eager to see how the adventure went and was never disappointed.
Book 1 of the Terra Vane Series is such a fun read that on reaching the end of the story I immediately bought Book 2. I was hooked. The story is of a human woman Terra Vane who’s had a very unhappy and mistreated upbringing simply because she’s psychic. When she emigrates to Portiside she feels at home in this new world of shifters, fey, vampires and a host of other super natural creatures. It’s still not that great of a fit because she’s only a gifted human, but she is accepted in the city crime-fighting agency as an Enforcer Field Agent. Many of the EFA’s are shifters, including her partner Kaleb (a wolf).
They work together to bring down dealers of a dangerous drug known as Blue which enhances a criminal’s (most of them rogue shifters) natural proclivity to violence and must be stopped.
The world and character building is excellent. There’s even a map. There’s humor, wit and adventure that doesn’t devolve into a tired paranormal shifter romance, but the reader knows it might so there is certainly romantic tension.
I turned pages eager to see how the adventure went and was never disappointed.
June 18, 2018
I received a free copy of this ebook from Netgalley, the author, and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Terra Vane is a Field Agent of the Portiside City Agency whose job is to protect the citizens from dangerous supernatural criminals and all of those who are sent to do harm to them. When her physic powers come across a group of dangerous rogue shifters who have attacked others due to a blue pill known as Royal blue, she and her Werewolf shifting partner Kaleb try to see who is behind the attacks which lead to corruption on the inside and death. Will they survive? Read and find out for yourself.
This was a pretty good Paranormal Fantasy novel and my first read by author Katie Epstein. It is full of action, supernatural elements, and romance. If you enjoy these types of novels, definitely check this book out for yourself. This book is now available to buy on Amazon.
Terra Vane is a Field Agent of the Portiside City Agency whose job is to protect the citizens from dangerous supernatural criminals and all of those who are sent to do harm to them. When her physic powers come across a group of dangerous rogue shifters who have attacked others due to a blue pill known as Royal blue, she and her Werewolf shifting partner Kaleb try to see who is behind the attacks which lead to corruption on the inside and death. Will they survive? Read and find out for yourself.
This was a pretty good Paranormal Fantasy novel and my first read by author Katie Epstein. It is full of action, supernatural elements, and romance. If you enjoy these types of novels, definitely check this book out for yourself. This book is now available to buy on Amazon.
July 25, 2018
Ancient creatures came through a portal, vampires and the like, and now they live amongst us and have their own cops to patrol them.
If you are looking to fill a void in that area, read this. If you don't have that void - honestly - I don't know if I would recommend this.
This novel is written the way so many are - quick witted characters leaving them with little depth and real personality. Action scenes not always making sense. And lots of sass.
This isn't the worst book I have read that is written like this, but it isn't memorable. When I opened up this book to finish it, honestly, I stared and had to go back and do some skimming to remember what happened. Oh yeah, she has a werewolf partner. And then there is that Cole guy. You know, the big love interest.
The problem is that everything felt forced. Nothing was natural, and it felt like someone's manipulated dream. The action just... I don't know. A lot of indecision in this review, which describes what reading this was like.
If you want a beach read that will occupy your time, or something to do on the train, this is a decent choice. I just couldn't get into it.
If you want depth of writing, I recommend you keep going. Urban fantasy fans? If you want to, give this one a shot. You might surprise yourself.
If you are looking to fill a void in that area, read this. If you don't have that void - honestly - I don't know if I would recommend this.
This novel is written the way so many are - quick witted characters leaving them with little depth and real personality. Action scenes not always making sense. And lots of sass.
This isn't the worst book I have read that is written like this, but it isn't memorable. When I opened up this book to finish it, honestly, I stared and had to go back and do some skimming to remember what happened. Oh yeah, she has a werewolf partner. And then there is that Cole guy. You know, the big love interest.
The problem is that everything felt forced. Nothing was natural, and it felt like someone's manipulated dream. The action just... I don't know. A lot of indecision in this review, which describes what reading this was like.
If you want a beach read that will occupy your time, or something to do on the train, this is a decent choice. I just couldn't get into it.
If you want depth of writing, I recommend you keep going. Urban fantasy fans? If you want to, give this one a shot. You might surprise yourself.
December 10, 2018
The author has released two versions of this book - I read the second version (which had some changes). An email I received from the author leads me to believe that she won't be releasing the version I read any more.
My overall perception of this book is that I did enjoy it. It's a fairly standard urban fantasy premise, but the author manages to create a world that's a little different than the usual. I also like that moving between dimensions is possible - this leaves the author room to revisit future Earth later on, as well as Portiside, where this novel is set. I like the way the author set up the various cultures that we're exposed to, and that we weren't inundated with details about the socio-political structure, but we do learn enough to understand what we need to.
The characters are well fleshed-out. (There was one that seemed a little too saintly for my taste, but I'm hoping some flaws will be revealed in later installments). The world has also been carefully drawn - it seemed as though we only scratched the surface of what the author has in store.
I had a tough time getting into this novel. The prologue really didn't add anything to my understanding of the world. (It didn't make a lot of sense, I didn't find that it was written well, and it didn't seem connected to anything that was happening in the story). I also found that the writing in the first half (or thereabouts) of the book was inconsistent: some of it was clear and confident in style, while some of it was a bit awkward to my ears. This settled down in the second half. (This may be a reflection of the author's corrections in the edition that I read). There are also several mistakes in the writing - odd word usage, and so on - that I noticed.
Still, I think it's a good start to the series. I'd definitely be interested in reading more of Terra and Kaleb's cases. I think there's a lot of background information that shapes the characters for readers to learn about as well.
I received a copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.
My overall perception of this book is that I did enjoy it. It's a fairly standard urban fantasy premise, but the author manages to create a world that's a little different than the usual. I also like that moving between dimensions is possible - this leaves the author room to revisit future Earth later on, as well as Portiside, where this novel is set. I like the way the author set up the various cultures that we're exposed to, and that we weren't inundated with details about the socio-political structure, but we do learn enough to understand what we need to.
The characters are well fleshed-out. (There was one that seemed a little too saintly for my taste, but I'm hoping some flaws will be revealed in later installments). The world has also been carefully drawn - it seemed as though we only scratched the surface of what the author has in store.
I had a tough time getting into this novel. The prologue really didn't add anything to my understanding of the world. (It didn't make a lot of sense, I didn't find that it was written well, and it didn't seem connected to anything that was happening in the story). I also found that the writing in the first half (or thereabouts) of the book was inconsistent: some of it was clear and confident in style, while some of it was a bit awkward to my ears. This settled down in the second half. (This may be a reflection of the author's corrections in the edition that I read). There are also several mistakes in the writing - odd word usage, and so on - that I noticed.
Still, I think it's a good start to the series. I'd definitely be interested in reading more of Terra and Kaleb's cases. I think there's a lot of background information that shapes the characters for readers to learn about as well.
I received a copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.
August 2, 2018
My initial thoughts on Death be Blue were mixed. I thought it would be your run of the mill urban fantasy mystery. Once I got past the introduction, however, the novel improved immensely. The plot became more complex and the characters had more depth. Portiside City exists on a plane adjacent to earth. Here the fae, shifters, gifted humans and other beings live in harmony. Crime is policed by Enforcer Field Agents of the Portiside City Agency, such as Terra Vane and her partner Kaleb. The pursuit of a serial killer leads to the discovery of a dangerous drug and a conspiracy that may reach the highest level.
Terra Vane is a human psychic working for the Portiside City Agency. Like many human / female leads in urban fantasy novels she can be extremely stubborn, impulsive and reluctant to accept help. Terra doesn’t have a chip on her shoulder, she has an entire boulder. Kaleb and her other friends, on the other hand, show a bit more variety. The case on the other hand is an intriguing one, and despite it being “solved” at the end, leaves enough loose ends and questions to fuel several more novels. Death be Blue has potential, and I’m looking forward to seeing how Katie Epstein’s series progresses and Terra Vane develops as a character.
4 / 5
I received a copy of Death be Blue from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
— Crittermom
Terra Vane is a human psychic working for the Portiside City Agency. Like many human / female leads in urban fantasy novels she can be extremely stubborn, impulsive and reluctant to accept help. Terra doesn’t have a chip on her shoulder, she has an entire boulder. Kaleb and her other friends, on the other hand, show a bit more variety. The case on the other hand is an intriguing one, and despite it being “solved” at the end, leaves enough loose ends and questions to fuel several more novels. Death be Blue has potential, and I’m looking forward to seeing how Katie Epstein’s series progresses and Terra Vane develops as a character.
4 / 5
I received a copy of Death be Blue from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
— Crittermom
June 30, 2018
This book has a bit of everything - it's urban fantasy, set in some kind of paralel world with some magic, shifters, witches, and a little romance for good measure. I think that this series might have some potential, even though I didn't really fall in love with this book, it did leave a certain curiosity that will surely push me in reading the next book.
Well the book has an interesting plot, that I admit I didn't understand right away. Many things are not well described and are left alone without further descriptions which annoyed me.
The main female character - Terra Vane: She didn't really amuse me much, and sometimes she didn't even make me laugh, but she, like the book, has some potential, I think she's going to get much better. There should be more attention on her personality though. I like a strong heroine with a kick ass personality, a certain charisma, and a strong will of her own capable to stand her ground against everyone else. And Terra Vane has the potential to be all that.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, it was a light read, and even though it didn't make me laugh it sure did make me smile a lot, and I think the world building is pretty cool but needs to be cleared out more. I really hope this series will get even better because I did kind of get attached to the characters and I'm looking forward to reading more about them.
***I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Well the book has an interesting plot, that I admit I didn't understand right away. Many things are not well described and are left alone without further descriptions which annoyed me.
The main female character - Terra Vane: She didn't really amuse me much, and sometimes she didn't even make me laugh, but she, like the book, has some potential, I think she's going to get much better. There should be more attention on her personality though. I like a strong heroine with a kick ass personality, a certain charisma, and a strong will of her own capable to stand her ground against everyone else. And Terra Vane has the potential to be all that.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, it was a light read, and even though it didn't make me laugh it sure did make me smile a lot, and I think the world building is pretty cool but needs to be cleared out more. I really hope this series will get even better because I did kind of get attached to the characters and I'm looking forward to reading more about them.
***I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
August 25, 2018
Consider me a fan.
Ms Epstein's premise of a world apart from our own where elves, shifters (a lot of varieties), pyschics and magic users, fairies, and other races all have to live together in harmony. It makes for an interesting living.
Throw in Agent Terra Vane, a psychic from Earth, who works as an Enforcer Field Agent working a case of a vile drug getting on the streets of Portiside. It's police procedural with a lot of urban fantasy.
My only con (but not enough to cost a star) is that there is a lot of world-building that I would have thought been better served through dialogue; however, I am personally biased when it comes to world-building as that's my favorite part in reading any fantasy or science fiction. Take that for what you will. If you're a fan of world-building, you'll really enjoy this story.
I thought the writing, overall characterization, plot, pacing and tension were well-done as well in such I am looking forward to the next book, Death Be Charmed.
Again, consider me a fan.
Ms Epstein's premise of a world apart from our own where elves, shifters (a lot of varieties), pyschics and magic users, fairies, and other races all have to live together in harmony. It makes for an interesting living.
Throw in Agent Terra Vane, a psychic from Earth, who works as an Enforcer Field Agent working a case of a vile drug getting on the streets of Portiside. It's police procedural with a lot of urban fantasy.
My only con (but not enough to cost a star) is that there is a lot of world-building that I would have thought been better served through dialogue; however, I am personally biased when it comes to world-building as that's my favorite part in reading any fantasy or science fiction. Take that for what you will. If you're a fan of world-building, you'll really enjoy this story.
I thought the writing, overall characterization, plot, pacing and tension were well-done as well in such I am looking forward to the next book, Death Be Charmed.
Again, consider me a fan.
June 29, 2021
This is my first time reading this author and oh my goodness what a rush! I absolutely loved it. I was hooked within the first couple of pages. I love the characters, the plot had plenty going on to keep me turning the page.
Terra Vane is such a cool character, tough but with a good heart. Trouble and danger has a nack of finding her.
Terra has psychic powers, she discovers another skill just in time, is it a one off or is it something that she can utilise, is there more to Terra than she realises.
As if dealing with an arrogant, sexy boss, her partner at work and one of her best friends who oozes sexiness....who also happens to be the bosses brother.
This story has everything, mystery, excitement, tension. Witches, werewolves, vampires, shifters...and a lead character who kicks ass.
Terra Vane is such a cool character, tough but with a good heart. Trouble and danger has a nack of finding her.
Terra has psychic powers, she discovers another skill just in time, is it a one off or is it something that she can utilise, is there more to Terra than she realises.
As if dealing with an arrogant, sexy boss, her partner at work and one of her best friends who oozes sexiness....who also happens to be the bosses brother.
This story has everything, mystery, excitement, tension. Witches, werewolves, vampires, shifters...and a lead character who kicks ass.
October 11, 2019
Not a bad start to a series. It does need some work but it is still an OK read.
March 5, 2018
1.5 stars DNF at 40%
So I won this from a goodreads giveaway.
Let me start off by saying that this book just isn't for me. I have no doubt that there will be plenty of people who will end up enjoying this book.
I wasn't a fan of the writing it came across a little more simple then I prefer. There are good ideas in here but for all that was going on I just couldn't get into the story i found myself bored. I also had a hard time connecting with the characters and wasn't a fan of the main character I can't put my finger on it but I found her unlikable. The world building was lacking too I would have liked to know more about the world from the beginning. So all in all I don't think this book is horrible but it just isn't for me and with so many books to read I can't bring myself to waste my time slogging my way through a book I have no interest in.
So I won this from a goodreads giveaway.
Let me start off by saying that this book just isn't for me. I have no doubt that there will be plenty of people who will end up enjoying this book.
I wasn't a fan of the writing it came across a little more simple then I prefer. There are good ideas in here but for all that was going on I just couldn't get into the story i found myself bored. I also had a hard time connecting with the characters and wasn't a fan of the main character I can't put my finger on it but I found her unlikable. The world building was lacking too I would have liked to know more about the world from the beginning. So all in all I don't think this book is horrible but it just isn't for me and with so many books to read I can't bring myself to waste my time slogging my way through a book I have no interest in.
March 26, 2018
Death Be Blue’s protagonist, Terra Vane, is challenged to find her place. In her native Earthside, Terra’s psychic abilities make her an outcast.
Immigrating to Portside, a realm inhabited by changelings, fairies, and vampires, Terra is accepted and develops friendships…except at her job. As the only non-wolf changeling, the team regards Terra as a weakling. She is scorned as the Enforcer Chief’s pet, especially after being partnered with his brother.
Flirty teasing and a complicated triangle between Terra and the two protective, territorial siblings, one deeply invested in his role as future pack leader, keep the dialog moving. “Once you go fur, you do nothing but purr.”
There is kissing, mild violence, and blood. I think readers from teen-age to adults would enjoy this story.
The star rating that I gave it is for the level of emotional connection that I felt with the characters.
Immigrating to Portside, a realm inhabited by changelings, fairies, and vampires, Terra is accepted and develops friendships…except at her job. As the only non-wolf changeling, the team regards Terra as a weakling. She is scorned as the Enforcer Chief’s pet, especially after being partnered with his brother.
Flirty teasing and a complicated triangle between Terra and the two protective, territorial siblings, one deeply invested in his role as future pack leader, keep the dialog moving. “Once you go fur, you do nothing but purr.”
There is kissing, mild violence, and blood. I think readers from teen-age to adults would enjoy this story.
The star rating that I gave it is for the level of emotional connection that I felt with the characters.
April 30, 2022
Death by Blue is the first in the new urban fantasy series by Katie Epstein. Terra Vane is a human living alongside supernaturals in Portside. Her job as an Enforcer Field Agent that upholds the law in Portside puts her in danger most off the time. Or maybe she’s a magnet for danger? Terra is the snarky underdog that you’ll immediately root for. To top that she’s got a sexy, wolf shifter as a partner. Great start to a new series that makes me want more!
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
August 28, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley and Katie Epstein for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I think this is the first book I ever requested on NetGalley and I am finally getting to review it (three months later). I prioritize based on future publication date.
The thing that drew me to this book was the description; it sounded very similar to a book series a good friend of mine enjoys reading. And to the gorgeous cover. The cover makes it very easy to picture the main character, Terra Vane, and the color scheme is gorgeous and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. I like how the character has purple in her hair, adding a more unique quality to Terra that makes her even more interesting than she already is.
Terra is an Enforcer Field Agent (EFA) in Portiside. Basically, a job similar to an officer or detective. She works alongside a wold shifter named Kaleb, and his brother is the head of the Agency. There is quite a bit of tension with Terra being a Sapphire Citizen (basically a witch or psychic), human in comparison to other citizens of Portiside, an alternate place to live for paranormal creatures as opposed to Earth. That’s right: Terra gets visions. She can see the past, present, and future, but isn’t sure why or how she gets the visions. When she does get them, she aims to use them to change possible outcomes to something positive, utilizing her gift to help her with various cases at the agency.
When a wendigo attacks and kills numerous young women, Terra puts herself on the case. When a rogue shifter attacks yet another woman, she soon finds a connection between the two crimes. She and her partner must go undercover to solve the case, and they cannot let the higher ups know of their meddling or they might just lose their jobs!
I really liked the writing style of this novel. For an adult paranormal novel, the writing was smooth and easy to follow, as apposed to some more dense counterparts of the same genre. I was a bit confused by the prologue and didn’t find it really that necessary. While the beginning was pretty fast-paced, I also felt that there were too many slow chapters set in between the action that made the book drag a bit longer than it should. One of the other things I liked was the element of mystery to the novel. I like the whole “who’s behind this” plot line, but I also felt that the mystery wasn’t exciting enough, and just slightly too easy to figure out.
Overall, I did enjoy this book and wouldn’t mind checking out the next book in the series to see if it’s going to be similar to The Southern Vampire Mysteries (Sookie Stackhouse), where each book has it’s own enclosed mystery. That would make this series very fun to follow. Once again, definitely a series that a good friend of mine would highly enjoy, and I will be recommending this one to her for sure. Good for fans of Sookie Stackhouse or paranormal mystery in general.
I think this is the first book I ever requested on NetGalley and I am finally getting to review it (three months later). I prioritize based on future publication date.
The thing that drew me to this book was the description; it sounded very similar to a book series a good friend of mine enjoys reading. And to the gorgeous cover. The cover makes it very easy to picture the main character, Terra Vane, and the color scheme is gorgeous and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. I like how the character has purple in her hair, adding a more unique quality to Terra that makes her even more interesting than she already is.
Terra is an Enforcer Field Agent (EFA) in Portiside. Basically, a job similar to an officer or detective. She works alongside a wold shifter named Kaleb, and his brother is the head of the Agency. There is quite a bit of tension with Terra being a Sapphire Citizen (basically a witch or psychic), human in comparison to other citizens of Portiside, an alternate place to live for paranormal creatures as opposed to Earth. That’s right: Terra gets visions. She can see the past, present, and future, but isn’t sure why or how she gets the visions. When she does get them, she aims to use them to change possible outcomes to something positive, utilizing her gift to help her with various cases at the agency.
When a wendigo attacks and kills numerous young women, Terra puts herself on the case. When a rogue shifter attacks yet another woman, she soon finds a connection between the two crimes. She and her partner must go undercover to solve the case, and they cannot let the higher ups know of their meddling or they might just lose their jobs!
I really liked the writing style of this novel. For an adult paranormal novel, the writing was smooth and easy to follow, as apposed to some more dense counterparts of the same genre. I was a bit confused by the prologue and didn’t find it really that necessary. While the beginning was pretty fast-paced, I also felt that there were too many slow chapters set in between the action that made the book drag a bit longer than it should. One of the other things I liked was the element of mystery to the novel. I like the whole “who’s behind this” plot line, but I also felt that the mystery wasn’t exciting enough, and just slightly too easy to figure out.
Overall, I did enjoy this book and wouldn’t mind checking out the next book in the series to see if it’s going to be similar to The Southern Vampire Mysteries (Sookie Stackhouse), where each book has it’s own enclosed mystery. That would make this series very fun to follow. Once again, definitely a series that a good friend of mine would highly enjoy, and I will be recommending this one to her for sure. Good for fans of Sookie Stackhouse or paranormal mystery in general.
June 24, 2018
Okay I really loved this book! I can't help but feel excited when I read a book that has multiple species and a complex eco system that is believable. I knew from the beginning that Terra is a girl after my own heart. Yes she's feisty, smart, and might have a bit of a temper but that just makes her even more relatable. Cole is that forbidden fruit that just tastes so good for all the right reasons but you know it's just gonna end badly with some casualties. Kaleb is complex and has a lot more going on than his playboy attitude. I'm holding my cards close for him because I think he is a lot more interesting than Terra and Cole combined. I really like the fact that the case isn't completely solved. It would have made it unrealistic and my expectations of the story would have dropped tremendously. This way feels more like an introduction, a brief description of the workings of the world,and the base players, while the plot thickens and transitions more fully into the storyline. I also enjoyed the layers of the characters motivations but I did feel like their fellow agent left a blank spot with his motivations and how it tied into the story with the other players. Maybe I'm missing it I don't know but that kinda caught my attention. Also Rosie feels a little off for me and I didn't really understand her function and what she brings to the table. With the card reading I just had a feeling she was going to be the one to shock and hurt Terra, but maybe I'm getting to ahead of myself. Overall, I loved the book and I'm excited for the second one. I would recommend to those who like fantasy and urban fantasy. I received this book free through NetGalley and publisher for a true unbiased review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2018
Death Be Blue follows psychic Agent Terra Vane in her job as an Enforcer Field Agent (kind of like a cop) in the city of Portiside, an alternate dimension-Earth city inhabited by more than just humans. Portiside is home to shapeshifters, witches, fey and the occasional demon, along with humans like Terra. Terra’s job involves protecting the local citizens and keeping order, but her job gets a lot tougher when a new drug hit the streets and makes citizens of all kinds go on a rampage. Terra and her shapeshifter partner Kaleb investigate the source of the drug only to discover a conspiracy that goes much deeper than local drug lords.
I was not thrilled as I started reading Death Be Blue. The constant descriptions of the world of Portside got in the way of the plot and the banter between Terra and her partner seemed fake and forced. Portside is richly imagined and the author clearly thought about the mechanics of making the city work, but it was hard to handle the constant flow of information. There was too much telling and not enough showing for the first quarter of the book and it only got a little better farther in. The history of Portiside got in the way of the character development. It wasn’t until about 70% in that I actually got interested in what was happening. The potential for a romance between Terra and her boss was the only thing that kept me reading, and is the main reason I will pick up the next book. I hope that the second book in the series, having gotten most of the description out of the way, will be easier to get into than the first.
I was not thrilled as I started reading Death Be Blue. The constant descriptions of the world of Portside got in the way of the plot and the banter between Terra and her partner seemed fake and forced. Portside is richly imagined and the author clearly thought about the mechanics of making the city work, but it was hard to handle the constant flow of information. There was too much telling and not enough showing for the first quarter of the book and it only got a little better farther in. The history of Portiside got in the way of the character development. It wasn’t until about 70% in that I actually got interested in what was happening. The potential for a romance between Terra and her boss was the only thing that kept me reading, and is the main reason I will pick up the next book. I hope that the second book in the series, having gotten most of the description out of the way, will be easier to get into than the first.
July 6, 2018
This world had a little bit of everything. There’s a taste of dystopian future in that this world exists on the other side of a portal (off-Earth). There’s magic, in that lots of paranormals exist in the open and are ranked by species and power. Lastly there’s some romance, for those romance lovers (like myself).
Terra is a weird person in an even weirder world. She’s a human with powers of premonition that are not exactly under her control. She’s the only human to make it through the rigorous training required to become a field agent, chasing down the bad guys. Her partner also happens to be her boss’s brother, which probably gives her a little latitude with her attitude (which is plentiful). Oh, and she’s got a secret (possibly unrequited) love for her boss. All of this tumbles together to make for a very sarcastic and determined main character.
The main story here revolves around a drug Terra and Kaleb (said partner) find brining about a weird transformation in the usual bad guys. There’s signs that the government is trying to cover it up, everyone seems out to get them (more than usual) and Terra is definitely torn about how she should behave about her boss (a possible side issue). There’s action, magic, and mystery all rolled into a neat new world “Portiside.” While we see some resolution, this book is clearly the lead in to many more (hopefully).
Terra is a weird person in an even weirder world. She’s a human with powers of premonition that are not exactly under her control. She’s the only human to make it through the rigorous training required to become a field agent, chasing down the bad guys. Her partner also happens to be her boss’s brother, which probably gives her a little latitude with her attitude (which is plentiful). Oh, and she’s got a secret (possibly unrequited) love for her boss. All of this tumbles together to make for a very sarcastic and determined main character.
The main story here revolves around a drug Terra and Kaleb (said partner) find brining about a weird transformation in the usual bad guys. There’s signs that the government is trying to cover it up, everyone seems out to get them (more than usual) and Terra is definitely torn about how she should behave about her boss (a possible side issue). There’s action, magic, and mystery all rolled into a neat new world “Portiside.” While we see some resolution, this book is clearly the lead in to many more (hopefully).
December 8, 2018
Katie Epstein has this refreshing writing style about her, it's not unlike a lot of my favourite YA authors, which are all mostly paranormal in one way or another, and I think thats half the reason I loved the first installment of Terra Vane so much!
The other half is Katie's character's. Right off the bat I fell inlove with the kickass Terra who is human and her adorable self-centered partner Kaleb. Their chemistry was executed brilliantly and I gotta say, I was rooting for the kid! Terra's roommate, stepdad & best friend are all central to Terra's life, that I am ecstatic Katie kept them relevant to the story line instead of letting them fade away. However, I was not a fan of Cole, her boss & partners brother. He just rubbed me the wrong way.
And the plot! Man talk about action packed, from the very first stake out to the final phone call, I was hooked. I kept trying to guess who was pulling the strings, had we met them already in the book? Who was involved? It was a mystery I wanted solved. I can't say I was shocked when we got there in the end, but daym. Some things I did not see coming!
Maybe Its just me but this style of writing and this type of story line always keep me coming back for more & I can't wait to dive in to the rest of the series.
I received this book free from Voracious Readers Only, but my review is 100% honest.
The other half is Katie's character's. Right off the bat I fell inlove with the kickass Terra who is human and her adorable self-centered partner Kaleb. Their chemistry was executed brilliantly and I gotta say, I was rooting for the kid! Terra's roommate, stepdad & best friend are all central to Terra's life, that I am ecstatic Katie kept them relevant to the story line instead of letting them fade away. However, I was not a fan of Cole, her boss & partners brother. He just rubbed me the wrong way.
And the plot! Man talk about action packed, from the very first stake out to the final phone call, I was hooked. I kept trying to guess who was pulling the strings, had we met them already in the book? Who was involved? It was a mystery I wanted solved. I can't say I was shocked when we got there in the end, but daym. Some things I did not see coming!
Maybe Its just me but this style of writing and this type of story line always keep me coming back for more & I can't wait to dive in to the rest of the series.
I received this book free from Voracious Readers Only, but my review is 100% honest.
January 6, 2020
I receive an arc of this book in exchange of an honest review.
Before anything, please note that this is completely based on my personal preference and point of view, I have read a few great reviews and I do believe there will be at least a good deal of people who enjoys this book.
With a bad-ass sassy heroine and an exciting new world, I am completely surprised that I am rating it 2 stars.
There is a lot of things here. From Dystopian to PNR, it may be a struggle for some authors to describe a completely fictional universe that the readers could understand and visualise well. It took me a long while to actually finish this despite all the exciting aspects of the plot and romance, solely because of the world-building. The constant descriptions kind of distracts me from the actual plot itself and I start to subconsciously drift away and start feeling exhausted instead. I really do wish I could get more invested with the story and the characters but unfortunately it fell short for me.
Overall, it was an OK read for me, I don’t hate it and I unfortunately don’t love it either. Would I recommend it? I wouldn’t stop you. As I said previously, I still do believe some portion of you would end up loving it, so knock yourself out.
Before anything, please note that this is completely based on my personal preference and point of view, I have read a few great reviews and I do believe there will be at least a good deal of people who enjoys this book.
With a bad-ass sassy heroine and an exciting new world, I am completely surprised that I am rating it 2 stars.
There is a lot of things here. From Dystopian to PNR, it may be a struggle for some authors to describe a completely fictional universe that the readers could understand and visualise well. It took me a long while to actually finish this despite all the exciting aspects of the plot and romance, solely because of the world-building. The constant descriptions kind of distracts me from the actual plot itself and I start to subconsciously drift away and start feeling exhausted instead. I really do wish I could get more invested with the story and the characters but unfortunately it fell short for me.
Overall, it was an OK read for me, I don’t hate it and I unfortunately don’t love it either. Would I recommend it? I wouldn’t stop you. As I said previously, I still do believe some portion of you would end up loving it, so knock yourself out.
July 3, 2018
If you're looking for a new urban fantasy with fierce and likable female protagonist, a funny and sexy partner/wolf shifter, and an interesting world of paranormal abilities and dubious politics, look no further! Terra Vane has a dark past that she'd rather forget, but it's made her the strong human she is today - which is no small thing, when she has to compete in a world full of powerful supernaturals.
As an Enforcer Field Agent, Terra and her partner Kaleb are used to unusual and violent cases, but the new one that lands at their feet is unique and dangerous even to them. I enjoyed the blend of paranormal capabilities with traditional detective work, and the cast of characters were fun and rounded out Terra's character nicely.
There was a little too much world-building for me (hence the 3*s not 4), which I know sounds counter-intuitive but bear with me! Kate Epstein seems to have a thing about architecture - every building's facade was described in huge detail, as well as its internal layout (while Mayra is a key character, I did not need to know what was in every nook, crevice and cranny of her shop to get a feel for it), and it was all too focused - I want to come away with a sense of the atmosphere of the world, and describing the setting building-by-building is a slightly tedious way of achieving that.
Having now read the next two books in the series (honestly, this book got me hooked), I can say that the author's writing really develops and we see the characters grow and become more complex as Terra story continues.
*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC*
As an Enforcer Field Agent, Terra and her partner Kaleb are used to unusual and violent cases, but the new one that lands at their feet is unique and dangerous even to them. I enjoyed the blend of paranormal capabilities with traditional detective work, and the cast of characters were fun and rounded out Terra's character nicely.
There was a little too much world-building for me (hence the 3*s not 4), which I know sounds counter-intuitive but bear with me! Kate Epstein seems to have a thing about architecture - every building's facade was described in huge detail, as well as its internal layout (while Mayra is a key character, I did not need to know what was in every nook, crevice and cranny of her shop to get a feel for it), and it was all too focused - I want to come away with a sense of the atmosphere of the world, and describing the setting building-by-building is a slightly tedious way of achieving that.
Having now read the next two books in the series (honestly, this book got me hooked), I can say that the author's writing really develops and we see the characters grow and become more complex as Terra story continues.
*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC*
November 29, 2018
I received this book for free through Voracious Readers Only.
Terra Vane is a psychic and an Enforcer Field Agent (a sort of detective) in the city of Portiside, a pocket dimension that houses a multitude of supernatural people and creatures. While investigating a rogue shifter attack she stumbles upon an even bigger and more sinister complot.
Terra is a bad-ass heroine: a human working in a field that usually only employs shifters because of their increased physical strength. She is more than a match for both her colleagues and the bad guys, and her awesomeness is the only reason I give this book two stars instead of one.
I had trouble getting invested in the story. It felt like I was flung into a strange world without any explanations, and too many things that just didn't make sense were explained away by magic mumbo jumbo (or whatever the fantasy equivalent of technobabble is called). It didn't help that the writing itself was incredibly awkward and hard to understand.
Terra Vane is a psychic and an Enforcer Field Agent (a sort of detective) in the city of Portiside, a pocket dimension that houses a multitude of supernatural people and creatures. While investigating a rogue shifter attack she stumbles upon an even bigger and more sinister complot.
Terra is a bad-ass heroine: a human working in a field that usually only employs shifters because of their increased physical strength. She is more than a match for both her colleagues and the bad guys, and her awesomeness is the only reason I give this book two stars instead of one.
I had trouble getting invested in the story. It felt like I was flung into a strange world without any explanations, and too many things that just didn't make sense were explained away by magic mumbo jumbo (or whatever the fantasy equivalent of technobabble is called). It didn't help that the writing itself was incredibly awkward and hard to understand.
June 21, 2018
The very first thing I must say is that I was really impressed with this book. I have never read a book by her before, but I will make sure to read more in the future. The characters were engaging, the book had a really interesting plot, and I loved the writing. I was a little surprised about the romance, as I can see her with two of the characters in the book. Maybe it’ll turn out different, but I am not disappointed at the moment; I liked both characters as her love interest. I was a little harder on rating this one because as I did find all the things above great, I did find the explanations of some of the world a little awkward and they frequently drew me out of the story a little. With how well the rest of the book was written, I guess I just expected everything to be that good. However, please don’t take that negative as too much of a negative because I found this an excellent book, and I can’t wait to read more. The next two books have already been published. Highly recommend!
February 17, 2019
Urban fantasy (paranormal and werewolves/vampires/fairy) + Cop
Portside is a city in a pocket universe for the elder races to escape disaster on Earth. It is broken into 4 quadrants and has a council watching over how things are run. The role of police are covered by enforcers which are mostly werewolves because they are sturdy stock. They cover major crimes like murder. Minor things like braking into shops is up to locals creating their own watch groups.
Our main character had a hard time growing up on Earth because she gets visions. Immigrating to Portside, she works hard and becomes an Enforcer partnered with Kalab, a werewolf that doesn't share the prejudices of most of the force. He has her back and provides strength to the partnership. She adds visions that show up randomly which help solve unexpected crimes.
The world is well crafted and back story is added without feeling forced. I look forward to reading others in this series.
Portside is a city in a pocket universe for the elder races to escape disaster on Earth. It is broken into 4 quadrants and has a council watching over how things are run. The role of police are covered by enforcers which are mostly werewolves because they are sturdy stock. They cover major crimes like murder. Minor things like braking into shops is up to locals creating their own watch groups.
Our main character had a hard time growing up on Earth because she gets visions. Immigrating to Portside, she works hard and becomes an Enforcer partnered with Kalab, a werewolf that doesn't share the prejudices of most of the force. He has her back and provides strength to the partnership. She adds visions that show up randomly which help solve unexpected crimes.
The world is well crafted and back story is added without feeling forced. I look forward to reading others in this series.
August 8, 2018
2 1/2 stars out of 5.
What I Liked:
- The idea of a pocket realm.
- The supporting characters.
- At least when Terra the MC put herself into stupid situations she told/warned back up first.
- The style of writing. The story itself flowed well.
What I Didn't Like:
- The 'romance'. The whole falling for someone you can't be with has been done to death. How is it ever going to work? Is Terra going to become so uber Mary-Sue that she's suddenly accepted?
- How obvious the bad guy was but yet the how and the why were deliberately kept murky = sequel. Annoying.
- I would have liked a bit more explanation of the pocket realm. Is it a globe like earth or does it have borders? I also had a hard time picturing the size of everything.
- Many other little petty things, i.e. how do they get tv from Earthside, why are more things not solar powered, etc.
What I Liked:
- The idea of a pocket realm.
- The supporting characters.
- At least when Terra the MC put herself into stupid situations she told/warned back up first.
- The style of writing. The story itself flowed well.
What I Didn't Like:
- The 'romance'. The whole falling for someone you can't be with has been done to death. How is it ever going to work? Is Terra going to become so uber Mary-Sue that she's suddenly accepted?
- How obvious the bad guy was but yet the how and the why were deliberately kept murky = sequel. Annoying.
- I would have liked a bit more explanation of the pocket realm. Is it a globe like earth or does it have borders? I also had a hard time picturing the size of everything.
- Many other little petty things, i.e. how do they get tv from Earthside, why are more things not solar powered, etc.
October 14, 2018
The premise is sound, the story sounds exciting and intriguing and moves at a good pace, but try as I might, I just could not get into Death Be Blue. In fact, I set it aside and came back to it numerous times, eventually making it to around the 60% mark before finally giving in and admitting defeat. I never did warm up to the characters, Terra in particular. I usually like a snarky, independent heroine, but for whatever reason, this one just rubbed me the wrong way from the beginning, which I'm sure played a big part in my feelings about the book. There is quite a bit of action, but the scenes are simplistic and just weren't very exciting, and most of the conversations were more snark than substance. When I made it over halfway through and realized that I had no feelings one way or the other about how this one would end, it was clear that this one was not the book for me.
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