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Magic of the Damned #1
A Touch of Brimstone
Listening length: 8 hours, 24 minutes
They say never make a deal with the devil, but what about with his son?
Fresh off a breakup and an eviction, I started my day like any other: a book in one hand, a coffee in the other, and faking that can-do attitude inspirational memes are made of. I was ready to take on the world—and I did.
Unfortunately, it was the underworld.
One freak accident later, I’m standing face to face with the sexy-as-sin and dangerously powerful Dark Prince of the underworld. He has a few burning questions for me—like how a mere human unlocked the door to the underworld’s prison and released all its prisoners.
I’d sure as hell like to know too, because I have no freaking clue.
Now instead of a forgettable bookstore clerk, I’m newly famous for doing the impossible. The wrong people want to thank me, and the rest want me dead. Spoiler alert: The Dark Prince definitely doesn’t want to thank me.
I’ll do anything to get my life back to normal and he’ll do anything to recapture the escapees. We make a deal—he’ll keep my enemies at bay and I’ll find a way to return the prisoners. What could possibly go wrong?
I’ll tell you: Everything.
They say never make a deal with the devil, but what about with his son?
Fresh off a breakup and an eviction, I started my day like any other: a book in one hand, a coffee in the other, and faking that can-do attitude inspirational memes are made of. I was ready to take on the world—and I did.
Unfortunately, it was the underworld.
One freak accident later, I’m standing face to face with the sexy-as-sin and dangerously powerful Dark Prince of the underworld. He has a few burning questions for me—like how a mere human unlocked the door to the underworld’s prison and released all its prisoners.
I’d sure as hell like to know too, because I have no freaking clue.
Now instead of a forgettable bookstore clerk, I’m newly famous for doing the impossible. The wrong people want to thank me, and the rest want me dead. Spoiler alert: The Dark Prince definitely doesn’t want to thank me.
I’ll do anything to get my life back to normal and he’ll do anything to recapture the escapees. We make a deal—he’ll keep my enemies at bay and I’ll find a way to return the prisoners. What could possibly go wrong?
I’ll tell you: Everything.
9 pages, Audible Audio
First published April 30, 2021
1386 people are currently reading
1744 people want to read
About the author
McKenzie Hunter
85 books1,105 followersMcKenzie Hunter is the author of urban fantasy, dark fantasy, and paranormal romance books. She discovered early that new adventures were just a page-turn away; all she had to do was read a book. She’s had her share of escapades from hanging out with vamps, joining the chaos of shifter packs, creating spells with witches, and avoiding deals with the fae.
When she isn't working on her next book, she’s reading, binge-watching TV, or disappearing into her own world during nature walks (probably on the lookout for magical beings—or maybe not).
Want to chat with McKenzie Hunter, discuss her books in her readers group or stay up to date with new releases, see cover reveals first, and participate in exclusive giveaways? Click the link: https://mckenziehunter.com/social-links/
When she isn't working on her next book, she’s reading, binge-watching TV, or disappearing into her own world during nature walks (probably on the lookout for magical beings—or maybe not).
Want to chat with McKenzie Hunter, discuss her books in her readers group or stay up to date with new releases, see cover reveals first, and participate in exclusive giveaways? Click the link: https://mckenziehunter.com/social-links/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
September 24, 2021
This book was very underwhelming for me. McKenzie Hunter is a new-to-me author but she has been on my TBR for a while since her books always sound right up my alley. The cover of this book is gorgeous and it really drew me in.
This book started out well enough but it fell flat really quickly. I couldn't really get on board with the story because I did not care for the narration one bit. It felt unbelievable. The storytelling just really needed work in my opinion. Luna's reactions and thought processes are not very convincing considering the things that she sees and experiences. It made the reading feel a bit choppy and like it was missing something. The writing really tripped me up. It was a little stiff. When I read an exceptional story it feels like my favorite comfy chair. Reading this book was like sitting on one of the chairs in a waiting room. The writing doesn't feel very polished. If I had to describe it, I would call it the bare bones of a story. The story is there but the writing doesn't have any sort of signature or personality. The little things that bring a story together and give it that little something extra is missing. And the author uses a lot of unnecessary big words. It's like she's sitting there with a thesaurus on hand so she doesn't have to use common words that mean the same thing. Like she's trying to make the book sound more clever. Every time I came across one I wanted to roll my eyes. The pacing of the story and the evolution of the plot needed some serious work. It was boring and it felt like not much really happened. While the writing may not be for me, I can appreciate the original premise of the story. I like the ideas, I just don't think that they were executed very well.
The world-building was very detailed in certain respects. The atmosphere was easy to imagine because there were thorough descriptions of places, people, and smells. When it came to the details about the world itself, such as the paranormal aspects of the story, the world-building felt very lacking. There just wasn't enough depth.
I really liked Luna at the start of the book but her character development kind of petered out leaving me frustrated. Luna certainly had some nice qualities but her reactions to things didn't seem believable. The author doesn't really delve too deeply into her thought process or her ambitions. Her character development was just a mess. And Dominic's character was so one-dimensional and forgettable. There really wasn't anything about him that made him stand out. His character development was also kind of nonexistent. We know his immediate goal but we don't really get any of his past or his true feelings. He was like a closed book so it was hard to connect to his character. Some of the side characters were mildly entertaining but, like with Dominic, I couldn't really connect with them.
The romance in this book is kind of a joke. That sounds harsh but it is what it is. Luna and Dominic had zero chemistry in my eyes. I couldn't get on board with the romance because it was just so unconvincing. I kept wondering when something would happen that would endear me to them as a couple and it never came. There was such a lack of emotion and it really negatively impacted the reading experience. Especially for a book that is supposed to be a paranormal romance.
Overall, this book has a lot of great ideas but very poor execution. The premise itself is intriguing but that alone can't hold a book up. While there are many amusing or interesting things in the book, I felt it still needed a lot of work and polishing. I think that this is because of my personal preferences though. If you don't require a lot of world-building or intense character development to enjoy your books then you will probably have fun with this one. There isn't anything inherently wrong with this book (though my review may seem very critical, just being honest, sorry guys!) but I think that, for me, this is just a case of not meshing with the storytelling. With that said, I may still pick up the next book in this series so that I can find out what happens next.
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This book started out well enough but it fell flat really quickly. I couldn't really get on board with the story because I did not care for the narration one bit. It felt unbelievable. The storytelling just really needed work in my opinion. Luna's reactions and thought processes are not very convincing considering the things that she sees and experiences. It made the reading feel a bit choppy and like it was missing something. The writing really tripped me up. It was a little stiff. When I read an exceptional story it feels like my favorite comfy chair. Reading this book was like sitting on one of the chairs in a waiting room. The writing doesn't feel very polished. If I had to describe it, I would call it the bare bones of a story. The story is there but the writing doesn't have any sort of signature or personality. The little things that bring a story together and give it that little something extra is missing. And the author uses a lot of unnecessary big words. It's like she's sitting there with a thesaurus on hand so she doesn't have to use common words that mean the same thing. Like she's trying to make the book sound more clever. Every time I came across one I wanted to roll my eyes. The pacing of the story and the evolution of the plot needed some serious work. It was boring and it felt like not much really happened. While the writing may not be for me, I can appreciate the original premise of the story. I like the ideas, I just don't think that they were executed very well.
The world-building was very detailed in certain respects. The atmosphere was easy to imagine because there were thorough descriptions of places, people, and smells. When it came to the details about the world itself, such as the paranormal aspects of the story, the world-building felt very lacking. There just wasn't enough depth.
I really liked Luna at the start of the book but her character development kind of petered out leaving me frustrated. Luna certainly had some nice qualities but her reactions to things didn't seem believable. The author doesn't really delve too deeply into her thought process or her ambitions. Her character development was just a mess. And Dominic's character was so one-dimensional and forgettable. There really wasn't anything about him that made him stand out. His character development was also kind of nonexistent. We know his immediate goal but we don't really get any of his past or his true feelings. He was like a closed book so it was hard to connect to his character. Some of the side characters were mildly entertaining but, like with Dominic, I couldn't really connect with them.
The romance in this book is kind of a joke. That sounds harsh but it is what it is. Luna and Dominic had zero chemistry in my eyes. I couldn't get on board with the romance because it was just so unconvincing. I kept wondering when something would happen that would endear me to them as a couple and it never came. There was such a lack of emotion and it really negatively impacted the reading experience. Especially for a book that is supposed to be a paranormal romance.
Overall, this book has a lot of great ideas but very poor execution. The premise itself is intriguing but that alone can't hold a book up. While there are many amusing or interesting things in the book, I felt it still needed a lot of work and polishing. I think that this is because of my personal preferences though. If you don't require a lot of world-building or intense character development to enjoy your books then you will probably have fun with this one. There isn't anything inherently wrong with this book (though my review may seem very critical, just being honest, sorry guys!) but I think that, for me, this is just a case of not meshing with the storytelling. With that said, I may still pick up the next book in this series so that I can find out what happens next.
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September 16, 2021
What can I say? This started quite well for me, I was quietly enjoying the humour…and that….ended up being the high point! Nothing much happened and the characters were pretty meh. By the end I was bored.
August 27, 2021
“Great power that can’t be checked or reined in leads to chaos and the i elder of such power feeling omniscient. That can’t be allowed.”
3.5 stars: I’ve been on such a paranormal romance kick lately! A Touch of Brimstone was definitely an enjoyable, fun read. The plot was super interesting: a bookish girl from our world somehow acts as a conduit for a huge spell and has to work with the brooding, sexy Prince of the Underworld to undo the the damage that was done. There’s a bit of mystery to the whole situation, so I loved watching Dominic and Luna work together to figure things out!
Dominic and Luna definitely had great moments of banter and tension, but I did have a bit of trouble completely investing in their relationship. I will say that the cliffhanger left me curious about what will happen to them in future books.
I’m definitely interested to see what happens in book two! I have high hopes and can’t wait to get back into this world because the world building was so much fun. I also think there’s a lot of potential for more character development in book two.
Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 19, 2021
Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars
A TOUCH OF BRIMSTONE has all the elements of a compelling story: a relatable protagonist (who gets extra points for being a book lover), a smoldering dark prince (with tattoos!) and an enticing mystery that needs solving. Let me tell you a little bit more.
The story follows Luna, a bookstore clerk with a passion for fantasy trying to get over her recent breakup with her unfaithful bastard of an ex-boyfriend. Luna has always been fascinated by magic, though she’s never believed it to be real until a book bites her and sets off a spell. Suddenly, Luna is thrust into a supernatural world of vampires, witches and werewolves, all of them trying to understand why a human was used as a catalyst for a spell that opened the gates to the Underworld’s prison. Lording over all of them is Dominic, the Guardian of the prison who is more determined than all of them to see the spell reversed. He and Luna strike a deal: he will protect her from those hunting her down and she will help him find a way to return the prisoners. Will they succeed? Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out!
The world-building of A Touch of Brimstone was possibly my favorite element. It’s such a vast world with a plethora of supernatural creatures to choose from, all of them united by a thick web of alliances, rivalries and tricky history. We got small doses of what it means to be a vampire, a werewolf or a witch in this world, but it was enough to paint a picture of the strengths and weaknesses of each of these species and catapult you into the world, at the same time always leaving you hungry to find out more.
I also really enjoyed the characters! As mentioned before, Luna found a quick place in my heart because of her love of books—and fantasy book, in particular. I also saw myself a lot in her fake-it-til-you-make-it attitude, which I often find myself adopting during my own everyday struggles until I find a way to rationalize and process. Her human experience was never put on the sidelines in favor of the supernatural thrill. We get to see a lot of Luna’s daily life, which revealed various aspects of her character and her relationships. I did, however, have a harder time warming up to Dominic. I sometimes found him too be a bit too aloof, and it limited my enjoyment of the ship, though there were moments of great banter between him and Luna. However, this is only the first book and I’m curious to see the developments of this relationship.
I won’t lie…my eye got a bit distracted by another character, Anand, one of the residents of the Underworld tasked to be Luna’s shadow on various occasions. If you know my love for Sarah J. Maas, you also know my love of a certain Shadowsinger. Well, Anand falls into that sort of character: quiet, but always observant and present, with moments where he steals the attention. What will his role be in the future? I’m not sure, but I’m very curious to find out!
Though the pacing was a bit slower than I normally like, I loved the mystery element of the plot and hope that it will stay a constant in the series! Overall, it was a great read that I recommend to fans of paranormal novels with a dash of mystery and a slow-burn romance sub-plot.
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy to review! All opinions are my own.
A TOUCH OF BRIMSTONE has all the elements of a compelling story: a relatable protagonist (who gets extra points for being a book lover), a smoldering dark prince (with tattoos!) and an enticing mystery that needs solving. Let me tell you a little bit more.
The story follows Luna, a bookstore clerk with a passion for fantasy trying to get over her recent breakup with her unfaithful bastard of an ex-boyfriend. Luna has always been fascinated by magic, though she’s never believed it to be real until a book bites her and sets off a spell. Suddenly, Luna is thrust into a supernatural world of vampires, witches and werewolves, all of them trying to understand why a human was used as a catalyst for a spell that opened the gates to the Underworld’s prison. Lording over all of them is Dominic, the Guardian of the prison who is more determined than all of them to see the spell reversed. He and Luna strike a deal: he will protect her from those hunting her down and she will help him find a way to return the prisoners. Will they succeed? Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out!
The world-building of A Touch of Brimstone was possibly my favorite element. It’s such a vast world with a plethora of supernatural creatures to choose from, all of them united by a thick web of alliances, rivalries and tricky history. We got small doses of what it means to be a vampire, a werewolf or a witch in this world, but it was enough to paint a picture of the strengths and weaknesses of each of these species and catapult you into the world, at the same time always leaving you hungry to find out more.
I also really enjoyed the characters! As mentioned before, Luna found a quick place in my heart because of her love of books—and fantasy book, in particular. I also saw myself a lot in her fake-it-til-you-make-it attitude, which I often find myself adopting during my own everyday struggles until I find a way to rationalize and process. Her human experience was never put on the sidelines in favor of the supernatural thrill. We get to see a lot of Luna’s daily life, which revealed various aspects of her character and her relationships. I did, however, have a harder time warming up to Dominic. I sometimes found him too be a bit too aloof, and it limited my enjoyment of the ship, though there were moments of great banter between him and Luna. However, this is only the first book and I’m curious to see the developments of this relationship.
I won’t lie…my eye got a bit distracted by another character, Anand, one of the residents of the Underworld tasked to be Luna’s shadow on various occasions. If you know my love for Sarah J. Maas, you also know my love of a certain Shadowsinger. Well, Anand falls into that sort of character: quiet, but always observant and present, with moments where he steals the attention. What will his role be in the future? I’m not sure, but I’m very curious to find out!
Though the pacing was a bit slower than I normally like, I loved the mystery element of the plot and hope that it will stay a constant in the series! Overall, it was a great read that I recommend to fans of paranormal novels with a dash of mystery and a slow-burn romance sub-plot.
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy to review! All opinions are my own.
September 14, 2021
This has an interesting blurb and I thought it would be a fun paranormal romance, but the romance is almost nonexistent and not much happens in the story. At the beginning, Luna is set up to accidentally release the worst prisoners from the underworld. She then teams up with Dominic to get them back before they do irreparable damage. Unfortunately this doesn't mean they hunt characters down, they just go over spellbooks to look for ways to recall them. It was boring and slow and I was disappointed that the author chose to go this route.
Luna is an okay main character, though I didn't feel like she was well developed. I feel like we know almost nothing about her other than she works at a bookstore and dated a real jerk that cheated on her. I wish we'd learned about her past, her family, her ambitions, something to make her fleshed out.
Dominic and Luna spend most of the time arguing and there's not much chemistry between them. I'm not rooting for them and can see them both going on with their lives and never having contact again. I don't feel compelled to read the next book so I'm moving on.
Luna is an okay main character, though I didn't feel like she was well developed. I feel like we know almost nothing about her other than she works at a bookstore and dated a real jerk that cheated on her. I wish we'd learned about her past, her family, her ambitions, something to make her fleshed out.
Dominic and Luna spend most of the time arguing and there's not much chemistry between them. I'm not rooting for them and can see them both going on with their lives and never having contact again. I don't feel compelled to read the next book so I'm moving on.
August 19, 2021
Ever imagined traveling into a different dimension when you got a papercut? Just me?
Let’s proceed.
A Touch of Brimstone follows Luna, a bookseller who recently lost her boyfriend and her best friend. Shall I paint a picture of why that is? Yeah, horrible people. While she tries to navigate life by playing it cool, Luna finds herself thrust into a world of magic after getting bitten by a book. Suddenly Luna is the catalyst of a spell that opened the gates of the Underworld’s prison. Dominic, the Guardian of the prison, is very interested to know how a mere human could have achieved such a feat. Luna, who has only known of magic through books and never thought it to be real, would like to know the same thing. They strike a deal: he will protect her from those hunting her, and she will help return the escapees to the prison. As that happens, sparks begin to fly.
I adored Luna’s characters. She’s very relatable and human, therefore it was easy to see myself in her shoes. (I wish. I mean…Dominic!) Speaking of Dominic, though he often can come across as cool and distant, I couldn’t help but have a small crush on him. He’s very protective of Luna, and though they both liked to pretend it was because they were a means to each other’s ends, the connection between them was undeniable. I loved their slow-burn attraction.
I also loved the worldbuilding. This book had it all. Witches, demons, vampires, werewolves. Navigating their world was fascinating, and it certainly enriched the mystery underlying the plot. As I’ve mentioned often, I love mystery, and I’m finding out that I especially love it in these paranormal settings, of which A Touch of Brimstone was an excellent addition.
I recommend this book to all lovers of slow-burn paranormal romance and mystery!
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy. Opinions are my own.
Let’s proceed.
A Touch of Brimstone follows Luna, a bookseller who recently lost her boyfriend and her best friend. Shall I paint a picture of why that is? Yeah, horrible people. While she tries to navigate life by playing it cool, Luna finds herself thrust into a world of magic after getting bitten by a book. Suddenly Luna is the catalyst of a spell that opened the gates of the Underworld’s prison. Dominic, the Guardian of the prison, is very interested to know how a mere human could have achieved such a feat. Luna, who has only known of magic through books and never thought it to be real, would like to know the same thing. They strike a deal: he will protect her from those hunting her, and she will help return the escapees to the prison. As that happens, sparks begin to fly.
I adored Luna’s characters. She’s very relatable and human, therefore it was easy to see myself in her shoes. (I wish. I mean…Dominic!) Speaking of Dominic, though he often can come across as cool and distant, I couldn’t help but have a small crush on him. He’s very protective of Luna, and though they both liked to pretend it was because they were a means to each other’s ends, the connection between them was undeniable. I loved their slow-burn attraction.
I also loved the worldbuilding. This book had it all. Witches, demons, vampires, werewolves. Navigating their world was fascinating, and it certainly enriched the mystery underlying the plot. As I’ve mentioned often, I love mystery, and I’m finding out that I especially love it in these paranormal settings, of which A Touch of Brimstone was an excellent addition.
I recommend this book to all lovers of slow-burn paranormal romance and mystery!
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy. Opinions are my own.
August 16, 2021
Thank you so much to the author for sending me an advanced copy! Actual rating 3.5ish!
I am a big PNR fan; I read these books like there is no tomorrow. Prince of the Underworld? Forced proximity? Yes, please! That is definitely a recipe for a good book. It definitely kept me entertained.
Luna, love that name by the way, is our main protagonist. The book starts off with a flashback of her boyfriend cheating on her with her best friend, Ava. Clearly Luna's attraction to men is questionable, but isn't that a universal problem? Lol. She is a pretty average girl, working at a bookstore and occasionally dabbling in readings of magic. But, of course, it is not something she truly believes in.
Until she is literally thrown into a world of vampires, demons, and witches, and has to literally face everything she once knew as fiction, as the truth. Plus the hot demon prince seems very protective over her. Not because he likes her, no, because he needs her in order to figure out who the dark caster is. The person who let all the underworld prisoners escape.
I loved reading about the dynamic between the two main characters. Neither of them really wanted to be together or admit their attraction to one another, but both knew how badly they need each other.
Hunter is a fantastic writer and relies heavily on world building. If you are a big world building person, than this is exactly the kind of book you'd love. I wanted a little more character development, but only because I am character focused! Other than that, it is a fun and enjoyable read. Definitely ends on a bang!
I am a big PNR fan; I read these books like there is no tomorrow. Prince of the Underworld? Forced proximity? Yes, please! That is definitely a recipe for a good book. It definitely kept me entertained.
Luna, love that name by the way, is our main protagonist. The book starts off with a flashback of her boyfriend cheating on her with her best friend, Ava. Clearly Luna's attraction to men is questionable, but isn't that a universal problem? Lol. She is a pretty average girl, working at a bookstore and occasionally dabbling in readings of magic. But, of course, it is not something she truly believes in.
Until she is literally thrown into a world of vampires, demons, and witches, and has to literally face everything she once knew as fiction, as the truth. Plus the hot demon prince seems very protective over her. Not because he likes her, no, because he needs her in order to figure out who the dark caster is. The person who let all the underworld prisoners escape.
I loved reading about the dynamic between the two main characters. Neither of them really wanted to be together or admit their attraction to one another, but both knew how badly they need each other.
Hunter is a fantastic writer and relies heavily on world building. If you are a big world building person, than this is exactly the kind of book you'd love. I wanted a little more character development, but only because I am character focused! Other than that, it is a fun and enjoyable read. Definitely ends on a bang!
September 11, 2021
My recommendation: 1.5 -> Read at own Risk
I don't even know where to start with this book. I mean, the cliff-hanger was, meh, the story was slow, a little boring, the romance was next to non, and Luna... I can't with Luna.
I don't know what the author was going for when creating Luna. She in-bodies pick me energy, and has the critical thinking skills of a snail. (There's no way I'm going to disrespect children like that, those little humans are pro problems solvers.) I kept getting this feeling like the author was trying so hard to make Luna -not like the other girls- that she created a self-center, naive woman-child, that would rather bury her head in the sad then try to understand the supernatural world.
The rose coloured glasses were thick with this one.
Not just that, there was no urgency. The drama was ill placed, the action was one dimensional, and Luna was a hypocrite. She condemned the supernatural violence, but then resorted to violence the minute she felt threatened.
Maybe I'm being basis because I'm a military veteran, and my fight or flight response has been groomed out of me... Or it could be that I'm not scared of death, as I have almost died a few times over my years. But this character was a fail for me, big big fail.
Also, I'm firm believer that people can have their coffee in any which way they please. This troupe of having the barista get mad at customers because they want "fancy" drinks, isn't cute and I'm over it.
The romance was forced, it was just tossed in there as an after thought; they had no chemistry. I want to know if the author has ever seen a 5'2 human next to someone 6 feet. Cause the way it was being described in the book, had them almost eye to eye. I say this because I am 5'2, and have dated people close to and over 6 feet. Kissing was a bit of a trick cause either I was on the tips of my tippy toes, or they where bent over at a uncomfortable angle. And unless we are sitting down, I'm always looking up at people, unless they are my height or shorter.
There were a few times where I knew the author didn't research something. Something as simple as knowing that ocean water smells different then fresh.
The overall premises of the story is okay. Though the big reveal wasn't earth shattering (honesty I knew who the dark caster was from the start, it wasn't that hard to piece together. All Luna needed to do was use some basic detective skills) and, there wasn't a climax. Once the not so big reveal happened, it was just, bawl, my cats put on better dramatic performances. Maybe a split POV would have helped.
Unfortunately there wasn't enough good to outweigh the bad to move this book into a 3 star. Though I did want it to pull through, as I said, I did like the over all premises. There is a uniqueness to the plot that I wish was just, better. A plot like this should have moved fast something like -There are dangerous super killers out there, lets get this solved ASAP-. This was book was the equivalent with Driving Miss Daisy.
Will I continue on? Probably not, as I believe I have the whole, three book plot, figured out. That and I can't take Luna POV anymore. She made this absurd statement about trying to save all humans from the supernatural because they were using us... Like girl, how can you make such a blanket statement when only being in their world for 5 days? All the while thinking human are better cause we got no powers... Turn on the news, we got something much worst. Ego's, money, power, and the ability to destroy the whole world with a push of a button. If a vamps want to snack on me, so be it.
Luna, yes I'm speaking directly to you fictional little girl "Humans are not better then these fictional supernaturals, they are simply what we humans would be, if we had supernatural powers. Full stop"
That's all I have. Read this book at your own risk. I did because there are lot of good reviews singing it's praises. Makes you wonder.
Happy Reading
-E.A. Walsh.
I don't even know where to start with this book. I mean, the cliff-hanger was, meh, the story was slow, a little boring, the romance was next to non, and Luna... I can't with Luna.
I don't know what the author was going for when creating Luna. She in-bodies pick me energy, and has the critical thinking skills of a snail. (There's no way I'm going to disrespect children like that, those little humans are pro problems solvers.) I kept getting this feeling like the author was trying so hard to make Luna -not like the other girls- that she created a self-center, naive woman-child, that would rather bury her head in the sad then try to understand the supernatural world.
The rose coloured glasses were thick with this one.
Not just that, there was no urgency. The drama was ill placed, the action was one dimensional, and Luna was a hypocrite. She condemned the supernatural violence, but then resorted to violence the minute she felt threatened.
Maybe I'm being basis because I'm a military veteran, and my fight or flight response has been groomed out of me... Or it could be that I'm not scared of death, as I have almost died a few times over my years. But this character was a fail for me, big big fail.
Also, I'm firm believer that people can have their coffee in any which way they please. This troupe of having the barista get mad at customers because they want "fancy" drinks, isn't cute and I'm over it.
The romance was forced, it was just tossed in there as an after thought; they had no chemistry. I want to know if the author has ever seen a 5'2 human next to someone 6 feet. Cause the way it was being described in the book, had them almost eye to eye. I say this because I am 5'2, and have dated people close to and over 6 feet. Kissing was a bit of a trick cause either I was on the tips of my tippy toes, or they where bent over at a uncomfortable angle. And unless we are sitting down, I'm always looking up at people, unless they are my height or shorter.
There were a few times where I knew the author didn't research something. Something as simple as knowing that ocean water smells different then fresh.
The overall premises of the story is okay. Though the big reveal wasn't earth shattering (honesty I knew who the dark caster was from the start, it wasn't that hard to piece together. All Luna needed to do was use some basic detective skills) and, there wasn't a climax. Once the not so big reveal happened, it was just, bawl, my cats put on better dramatic performances. Maybe a split POV would have helped.
Unfortunately there wasn't enough good to outweigh the bad to move this book into a 3 star. Though I did want it to pull through, as I said, I did like the over all premises. There is a uniqueness to the plot that I wish was just, better. A plot like this should have moved fast something like -There are dangerous super killers out there, lets get this solved ASAP-. This was book was the equivalent with Driving Miss Daisy.
Will I continue on? Probably not, as I believe I have the whole, three book plot, figured out. That and I can't take Luna POV anymore. She made this absurd statement about trying to save all humans from the supernatural because they were using us... Like girl, how can you make such a blanket statement when only being in their world for 5 days? All the while thinking human are better cause we got no powers... Turn on the news, we got something much worst. Ego's, money, power, and the ability to destroy the whole world with a push of a button. If a vamps want to snack on me, so be it.
Luna, yes I'm speaking directly to you fictional little girl "Humans are not better then these fictional supernaturals, they are simply what we humans would be, if we had supernatural powers. Full stop"
That's all I have. Read this book at your own risk. I did because there are lot of good reviews singing it's praises. Makes you wonder.
Happy Reading
-E.A. Walsh.
November 29, 2021
This was such a nice surprise , first of all let’s say the heroine Luna was so real I could easily connect to her from the beginning!
"𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘, 𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨, 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙨. 𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚."
I love everything about Dominic, they have a great chemistry these two . He is the prince of underworld 😍 do I need to say more?? Sigh !
I’m looking forward for the next one !
"𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘, 𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨, 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙨. 𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚."
I love everything about Dominic, they have a great chemistry these two . He is the prince of underworld 😍 do I need to say more?? Sigh !
I’m looking forward for the next one !
August 13, 2021
What an entertaining paranormal underworld story! The cliffhanger left me with so many lingering questions! I enjoyed this world and can’t wait to see where the next book takes us.
August 25, 2021
Rating: 3.5 stars!
The moment I laid eyes on the cover of A Touch of Brimstone I was captivated: you can practically feel the magic through the beautiful cover design: full of flying books and fire, combined with two stunning characters (one of which is the Prince of the Underworld).
The story has a very detailed and well constructed world, which sometimes has as a setback a slower-pace however it adds many layers to the story contributing to vivid descriptions for our imaginations. Luna is likeable from the very start: a fellow fantasy bookworm that works as a bookstore clerk (what I wouldn't give to work at a bookstore!). After months trying to forget her ex-boyfriend (who is a jackass that thinks he can win her back after his grave mistake) strange things start to happen to Luna. A weird and awkward encounter at the shop with a mysterious man, Dominic, who claims that she is a witch, seeing huge dogs in alleys, her tarot reader friend lending her an intriguing magical book...
Luna is a practical down to Earth girl who doesn't believe in the occult. That is, until she accidently set off a spell that released all prisoners from Perils, the Underworld prison. How this happened neither Luna or Dominic understand. They make a pact: he will keep her safe from those who now want to hurt her and she will help him find the identity of whoever used her to cast the spell. I love the mystery behind the plot, there was also romance however I hope that the chemistry between the two develops more in the sequel, which I can't wait for!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy of the book!
The moment I laid eyes on the cover of A Touch of Brimstone I was captivated: you can practically feel the magic through the beautiful cover design: full of flying books and fire, combined with two stunning characters (one of which is the Prince of the Underworld).
The story has a very detailed and well constructed world, which sometimes has as a setback a slower-pace however it adds many layers to the story contributing to vivid descriptions for our imaginations. Luna is likeable from the very start: a fellow fantasy bookworm that works as a bookstore clerk (what I wouldn't give to work at a bookstore!). After months trying to forget her ex-boyfriend (who is a jackass that thinks he can win her back after his grave mistake) strange things start to happen to Luna. A weird and awkward encounter at the shop with a mysterious man, Dominic, who claims that she is a witch, seeing huge dogs in alleys, her tarot reader friend lending her an intriguing magical book...
Luna is a practical down to Earth girl who doesn't believe in the occult. That is, until she accidently set off a spell that released all prisoners from Perils, the Underworld prison. How this happened neither Luna or Dominic understand. They make a pact: he will keep her safe from those who now want to hurt her and she will help him find the identity of whoever used her to cast the spell. I love the mystery behind the plot, there was also romance however I hope that the chemistry between the two develops more in the sequel, which I can't wait for!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy of the book!
January 31, 2024
I just loved this one. It was different and amazing. I can't wait to read the next book.
August 20, 2021
😴
The fmc has the same name as my dog and is roughly the same size. There is hardly a trope that the author didn’t touch upon in the introduction of the AU. Teeny-tiny Luna works at the kind of coffee shop where the employees and owner are enraged by customers who want to put milk or cream in their coffee. Miniature Luna dresses like every manic pixie dream girl from every pop culture reference ever. Itsy bitsy Luna’s friends and acquaintances are all exactly as quirky as Luna.
I struggled with the tragic boredom of the Raven Cursed series by this author and this latest book kicking off her new series is possibly even more mind-numbingly dull. Wee Luna had no clue that the paranormal world existed until she becomes the single most important para-person in all of existence. I will take a pass on the rote run-down of every para-species while baby Luna gawps and squeals.
The fmc has the same name as my dog and is roughly the same size. There is hardly a trope that the author didn’t touch upon in the introduction of the AU. Teeny-tiny Luna works at the kind of coffee shop where the employees and owner are enraged by customers who want to put milk or cream in their coffee. Miniature Luna dresses like every manic pixie dream girl from every pop culture reference ever. Itsy bitsy Luna’s friends and acquaintances are all exactly as quirky as Luna.
I struggled with the tragic boredom of the Raven Cursed series by this author and this latest book kicking off her new series is possibly even more mind-numbingly dull. Wee Luna had no clue that the paranormal world existed until she becomes the single most important para-person in all of existence. I will take a pass on the rote run-down of every para-species while baby Luna gawps and squeals.
August 3, 2025
This really didn’t have much going for it, honestly. I didn’t like the characters or the plot. And the writing was not good. Even the narrators couldn’t save it.
I bought this trilogy as an audiobook set but I won’t be continuing it. Not worth my time.
I bought this trilogy as an audiobook set but I won’t be continuing it. Not worth my time.
August 18, 2021
A Touch of Brimstone by McKenzie Hunter
4/5
A Touch of Brimstone was fun, dark, and full of a plethora of magical creatures. I sped right through this book and was shocked when it ended so abruptly, hello cliffhanger! It takes a talented author to write a cliffhanger that leaves the reader thinking about it for days and begging for the next book.
I really enjoyed the main character Luna. She is my ideal character because she honestly just wants to be left alone to read her fantasy books and avoid people. She is also so full of sarcasm. Her blunt and on-point statements make even the scariest of magical creatures look at her with curiosity. However, having that type of personality certainly gets her into all sorts of close encounter engagements.
Forced proximity is becoming one of my favorite tropes after enemies to lovers. Luna and Dominic had an interesting dynamic. They are clearly attracted to each other but hold off many times. If Luna and Dominic did not decide to work together the fate of the magical and human realm would be drastically affected.
Do you want vampires, shifters, witches, changelings, and more? You got it!I recommend this book to any and all fantasy lovers.
4/5
A Touch of Brimstone was fun, dark, and full of a plethora of magical creatures. I sped right through this book and was shocked when it ended so abruptly, hello cliffhanger! It takes a talented author to write a cliffhanger that leaves the reader thinking about it for days and begging for the next book.
I really enjoyed the main character Luna. She is my ideal character because she honestly just wants to be left alone to read her fantasy books and avoid people. She is also so full of sarcasm. Her blunt and on-point statements make even the scariest of magical creatures look at her with curiosity. However, having that type of personality certainly gets her into all sorts of close encounter engagements.
Forced proximity is becoming one of my favorite tropes after enemies to lovers. Luna and Dominic had an interesting dynamic. They are clearly attracted to each other but hold off many times. If Luna and Dominic did not decide to work together the fate of the magical and human realm would be drastically affected.
Do you want vampires, shifters, witches, changelings, and more? You got it!I recommend this book to any and all fantasy lovers.
August 22, 2021
This book was not for me...
August 31, 2021
Firstly, a massive thanks to the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed below are entirely my own.
Right from the start, one aspect became increasingly apparent: the vibes are IMMACULATE. I freaking loved the atmospheric library/magical bookish aesthetic of A Touch of Brimstone! The first few chapters deeply spoke to the English literature teacher in me, especially the moment where my favorite American novel (Beloved) got a special little shoutout! It was one of those unexpected “made for me” moments you find every now and again in books, and I appreciated the hell out of it!
The story begins with Luna discovering her boyfriend in bed with her best friend—needless to say, I was immediately invested in this heroine’s journey! After a series of peculiar paranormal events, she finds herself working with Dominic—a sexy, broody Prince of the Underworld. The author has crafted such intricate world building and supernatural lore to ground this story and it made for such a fun read overall!
One of the most notable things about this book is Luna’s strength of character, her ability to maintain her identity and entire notion of selfhood despite the nonstop mystery and action. This quote in particular stuck out to me:
"𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘, 𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨, 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙨. 𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚."
This is definitely a characteristic not often found in a paranormal fantasy protagonist and I found it super refreshing. I’m super interested to see how Luna and Dominic’s relationship develops from here after that ending, so. I’m definitely going to continue with this series!
Right from the start, one aspect became increasingly apparent: the vibes are IMMACULATE. I freaking loved the atmospheric library/magical bookish aesthetic of A Touch of Brimstone! The first few chapters deeply spoke to the English literature teacher in me, especially the moment where my favorite American novel (Beloved) got a special little shoutout! It was one of those unexpected “made for me” moments you find every now and again in books, and I appreciated the hell out of it!
The story begins with Luna discovering her boyfriend in bed with her best friend—needless to say, I was immediately invested in this heroine’s journey! After a series of peculiar paranormal events, she finds herself working with Dominic—a sexy, broody Prince of the Underworld. The author has crafted such intricate world building and supernatural lore to ground this story and it made for such a fun read overall!
One of the most notable things about this book is Luna’s strength of character, her ability to maintain her identity and entire notion of selfhood despite the nonstop mystery and action. This quote in particular stuck out to me:
"𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘, 𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨, 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙨. 𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚."
This is definitely a characteristic not often found in a paranormal fantasy protagonist and I found it super refreshing. I’m super interested to see how Luna and Dominic’s relationship develops from here after that ending, so. I’m definitely going to continue with this series!
March 3, 2023
3.5 - 3.75?
November 13, 2021
I loved this book so hard… one of my favourite things is when someone finds out about magic and then you can watch them learn and grow as a character and this book does that beautifully. Full of action, snarky humour, and just the right amount of heat for a first in series this is a must read.
Edit/add on—- the audio book is amazing.. love the narrator she does an amazing job of bringing the whole book to life. If you like audios definitely recommend this one.
Edit/add on—- the audio book is amazing.. love the narrator she does an amazing job of bringing the whole book to life. If you like audios definitely recommend this one.
August 20, 2021
Actual rating: 3.5
I love when a book includes a reader! Luna's story starts off with a sad touch... recently having lost her important people in her life, Luna finds comfort in the bookshop where she works as a seller. During her daily routines she is immersed in the "what if's" of magic, which she isnt too convinced about.
From one moment to the next Luna finds herself in a world with a mixture of all sorts of supernatural creatures (vampires -yum *wiggle eyebrow*, witches, and even demonic beings). She slowly starts to realize that the life that she is a part of has secret dimensions which leads her to a sexy demon hottie and a mission like no other. The world building is heavy, the author is very detailed on giving us an idea of what we've walked into. I enjoyed learning about the side characters for sure, they complimented the story!
Loved seeing the engagement between Luna and the characters, her character development takes sometime to show, definitely hoping to see more of her evolution in book 2. The dynamic and the layout of the characters definitely brought the story to life, with the exception of her love interest. Dominic was a little bit standoffish with her in the beginning and somewhat disconnected, but the banter was there from time to time and I am here for the evolution of their romance! Of course we have to remember this is a slow-burn and we see the unraveling in a much slower manner.
Hoping to see more banter and connection in the second book! I truly loved Luna's character though, a typical bookworm that wanted to learn more and more as the story evolved.
Thanks so much to the author for gifting me a copy! Looking forward to learning more of the Magic of the Damned series!
I love when a book includes a reader! Luna's story starts off with a sad touch... recently having lost her important people in her life, Luna finds comfort in the bookshop where she works as a seller. During her daily routines she is immersed in the "what if's" of magic, which she isnt too convinced about.
From one moment to the next Luna finds herself in a world with a mixture of all sorts of supernatural creatures (vampires -yum *wiggle eyebrow*, witches, and even demonic beings). She slowly starts to realize that the life that she is a part of has secret dimensions which leads her to a sexy demon hottie and a mission like no other. The world building is heavy, the author is very detailed on giving us an idea of what we've walked into. I enjoyed learning about the side characters for sure, they complimented the story!
Loved seeing the engagement between Luna and the characters, her character development takes sometime to show, definitely hoping to see more of her evolution in book 2. The dynamic and the layout of the characters definitely brought the story to life, with the exception of her love interest. Dominic was a little bit standoffish with her in the beginning and somewhat disconnected, but the banter was there from time to time and I am here for the evolution of their romance! Of course we have to remember this is a slow-burn and we see the unraveling in a much slower manner.
Hoping to see more banter and connection in the second book! I truly loved Luna's character though, a typical bookworm that wanted to learn more and more as the story evolved.
Thanks so much to the author for gifting me a copy! Looking forward to learning more of the Magic of the Damned series!
November 8, 2021
i usually enjoy this author but this book was missing something. the fml reads like an unfinished character. every other character has a solid background, solid motivation and a solid presence and then you have the fml... just nothing. she needed a little spice
August 27, 2021
Magic, politics and some very devious characters. Is the Prince of the Underworld really the Good Guy?
This book is the first in a new Paranormal Romance series from McKenzie Hunter. The book is set across both modern day USA and the Underworld. There is the potential for romance but there are no descriptive scenes of a sexual nature.
As with all McKenzie Hunter’s books, the characters are well thought out and well developed. The interaction is believable and the worldbuilding is excellent. She has created a well developed magical system and included a variety of supernatural species; some familiar and some less so.
The book’s main character is Luna, an unsuspecting human woman who is dragged unwittingly into the supernatural world, which comes as something of a surprise to her, as she’d previously been under the impression that witches, shifters and vampires were only found on the fiction shelves. Sadly for her, they are all real and the method in which she is drawn in has made her the target for several supernatural political groups, some of which want her dead.
It’s coming to something when the only being who might be able to keep you alive just happens to be the seemingly all-powerful Prince of the Underworld. Luna is in a fight for her life and her only option is to help him but even that’s not guaranteed to keep her safe.
This book has magic, politics, battles, deception and some very devious characters. Nothing is what it seems. Who is human? Who is Supernatural? Who are the good guys? It’s hard for Luna to tell.
I was so wrapped up in this book that I couldn’t put it down and ended up reading until well into the early hours of the morning. I have been eagerly waiting for this book all year and I was not disappointed. I’m very much looking forward to book two.
This book is the first in a new Paranormal Romance series from McKenzie Hunter. The book is set across both modern day USA and the Underworld. There is the potential for romance but there are no descriptive scenes of a sexual nature.
As with all McKenzie Hunter’s books, the characters are well thought out and well developed. The interaction is believable and the worldbuilding is excellent. She has created a well developed magical system and included a variety of supernatural species; some familiar and some less so.
The book’s main character is Luna, an unsuspecting human woman who is dragged unwittingly into the supernatural world, which comes as something of a surprise to her, as she’d previously been under the impression that witches, shifters and vampires were only found on the fiction shelves. Sadly for her, they are all real and the method in which she is drawn in has made her the target for several supernatural political groups, some of which want her dead.
It’s coming to something when the only being who might be able to keep you alive just happens to be the seemingly all-powerful Prince of the Underworld. Luna is in a fight for her life and her only option is to help him but even that’s not guaranteed to keep her safe.
This book has magic, politics, battles, deception and some very devious characters. Nothing is what it seems. Who is human? Who is Supernatural? Who are the good guys? It’s hard for Luna to tell.
I was so wrapped up in this book that I couldn’t put it down and ended up reading until well into the early hours of the morning. I have been eagerly waiting for this book all year and I was not disappointed. I’m very much looking forward to book two.
September 2, 2021
Wonderful characters, wonderful world
I haven't enjoyed a supernatural romance book this much ever. Great writing, great characters. Even her rarely seen characters were fleshed out enough to imagine what they looked like and what they're expressions were. The description of Luna's neighborhood's was vivid. It almost seemed another character itself. Luna, while being a kick ass heroine, has real feelings, including fear for her friends and herself, and empathy for others whether they deserve it or not. And she doesn't just melt into the anti hero's arms and get dragged to bed. She's smart. Yes she has all kinds of feelings for him, ,but he's the Prince of the Underworld and at this point can't be trusted. I'm looking forward to find out more about him and his friend who was born and chose to stay in the underworld.
I haven't enjoyed a supernatural romance book this much ever. Great writing, great characters. Even her rarely seen characters were fleshed out enough to imagine what they looked like and what they're expressions were. The description of Luna's neighborhood's was vivid. It almost seemed another character itself. Luna, while being a kick ass heroine, has real feelings, including fear for her friends and herself, and empathy for others whether they deserve it or not. And she doesn't just melt into the anti hero's arms and get dragged to bed. She's smart. Yes she has all kinds of feelings for him, ,but he's the Prince of the Underworld and at this point can't be trusted. I'm looking forward to find out more about him and his friend who was born and chose to stay in the underworld.
August 23, 2021
Exciting beginnings!
What an exciting and intriguing beginning to a new series! 😍 So many new characters and a whole new world to dive into. 😁 I loved Luna's dry wit, common sense and perseverance, but I also loved that she knew her limits and kept to them for her own survival. I love everything about Dominic, particularly his moral ambiguity, but also his level headedness and ability to reason and see logic. I loved the chemistry between the two of them as they find themself unlikely allies, both in defeating the magic that's plaguing Luna and in keeping humans protected. I'm very interested to find out more about the other characters in following books and to see how they fight their next battle that was initiated in that tantilising cliffhanger. 😍
What an exciting and intriguing beginning to a new series! 😍 So many new characters and a whole new world to dive into. 😁 I loved Luna's dry wit, common sense and perseverance, but I also loved that she knew her limits and kept to them for her own survival. I love everything about Dominic, particularly his moral ambiguity, but also his level headedness and ability to reason and see logic. I loved the chemistry between the two of them as they find themself unlikely allies, both in defeating the magic that's plaguing Luna and in keeping humans protected. I'm very interested to find out more about the other characters in following books and to see how they fight their next battle that was initiated in that tantilising cliffhanger. 😍
October 5, 2021
OMG this is such a fantastic read. It’s action packed, fast paced and once you dive into this world you will not be able to nor want to leave! I love Luna, she’s so sarcastic, snarky and full of sass and the there’s Dominic who’s hot, sexy and oh so dangerous. The storyline is so addictive and exciting and the chemistry amazing. It’s got magic, it’s got drama, it’s got adventure, it’s got entertainment and it’s oh so good!
September 18, 2021
Slow and Boring
I didn't enjoy the characters or extremely slow pacing of the book. The dialogue was bad. This had a lot of potential but it just wasn't executed well enough to like. There are so many better reads in the genre.
I didn't enjoy the characters or extremely slow pacing of the book. The dialogue was bad. This had a lot of potential but it just wasn't executed well enough to like. There are so many better reads in the genre.
August 20, 2021
I was under the impression this book would be out soon.. has something changed? :’(
September 16, 2021
I've never been MORE bored by some book in my entire life...
October 15, 2021
I received a copy of this book from the author but this review is all my own!
I loved McKenzie Hunter's Raven Cursed series, so when I was offered a copy of this book through another ARC team I am on, I jumped at the chance. I thoroughly enjoyed this new series and loved the world that has been created here. Supernaturals exist, but they are supposed to be hidden away from human eyes. The humans in world don't know when they encounter a supernatural being and that's the way some of the supernaturals want it to stay.
Luna is a sweet, young woman, fresh out of a relationship with a guy who was cheating on her with a friend and loves nothing more than hanging out in the bookstore-cum-coffee store where she works. Her life is pretty simple and without the ex, pretty much happier too. However finding a strange looking ring soon changes her life forever and what she thought she knew - that witches, vampires and werewolves were all works of fiction - no longer applies and she is thrust completely into this new world of supernaturals and more specifically into the Underworld.
The Prince of the Underworld aka Dominic is the guardian of the Perils and somehow through Luna's unknowingly intervention, some of the prisoners of the Perils have escaped. The supernaturals want them back, but the best way to do that is to kill the person who released the spell containing them - none other than Luna. Luckily for her, the Prince of the Underworld is not quite as eager to kill her as some of the others and instead tries to find other ways to break the spell.
I loved the idea of a clueless human being thrust into this world of magic, supernatural creatures and the Underworld. Luna was feisty, strong and determined, yet still showed her fear and reluctance, but through it all she was adamant that humans should be protected from those who would do them harm. Dominic was a fun character to read - he was violent, devious and domineering, but there was definitely a sexy side to him too. There was a touch of romance between the two of them, but Luna made the right choice in the end I think (for now anyway!)
The persistent ex who just didn't take no for an answer was annoying though - he definitely needs to get a grip and realise that his mistake was the reason he ruined his relationship once and for all. Why Luna would entertain him at all I don't know - maybe she should have let the witch do what she was going to do to him...I think I might have done!
I loved the ending and how everything changed completely again! I can't wait for the next book to come out now!
Thank you to McKenzie for a copy of this book!
I loved McKenzie Hunter's Raven Cursed series, so when I was offered a copy of this book through another ARC team I am on, I jumped at the chance. I thoroughly enjoyed this new series and loved the world that has been created here. Supernaturals exist, but they are supposed to be hidden away from human eyes. The humans in world don't know when they encounter a supernatural being and that's the way some of the supernaturals want it to stay.
Luna is a sweet, young woman, fresh out of a relationship with a guy who was cheating on her with a friend and loves nothing more than hanging out in the bookstore-cum-coffee store where she works. Her life is pretty simple and without the ex, pretty much happier too. However finding a strange looking ring soon changes her life forever and what she thought she knew - that witches, vampires and werewolves were all works of fiction - no longer applies and she is thrust completely into this new world of supernaturals and more specifically into the Underworld.
The Prince of the Underworld aka Dominic is the guardian of the Perils and somehow through Luna's unknowingly intervention, some of the prisoners of the Perils have escaped. The supernaturals want them back, but the best way to do that is to kill the person who released the spell containing them - none other than Luna. Luckily for her, the Prince of the Underworld is not quite as eager to kill her as some of the others and instead tries to find other ways to break the spell.
I loved the idea of a clueless human being thrust into this world of magic, supernatural creatures and the Underworld. Luna was feisty, strong and determined, yet still showed her fear and reluctance, but through it all she was adamant that humans should be protected from those who would do them harm. Dominic was a fun character to read - he was violent, devious and domineering, but there was definitely a sexy side to him too. There was a touch of romance between the two of them, but Luna made the right choice in the end I think (for now anyway!)
The persistent ex who just didn't take no for an answer was annoying though - he definitely needs to get a grip and realise that his mistake was the reason he ruined his relationship once and for all. Why Luna would entertain him at all I don't know - maybe she should have let the witch do what she was going to do to him...I think I might have done!
I loved the ending and how everything changed completely again! I can't wait for the next book to come out now!
Thank you to McKenzie for a copy of this book!
January 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I gravitated to the Audible version this book:
1 - because it’s Romantasy
2 - because of the premise of magic, witches and shifters
and 3 - because of the narrator, Amelia Hugh.
I started following Amelia on TikTok, watching as she narrated. She is frickin BRILLIANT. Her ability to grasp the characteristics of the characters in the book, changing her voice to differentiate them is incredible.
The storyline is definitely what you want in a Romantasy book: wonder and fear of magic, slow burn, mystery and intrigue. There’s great banter and inner monologue. The MFC is NO pushover. She stands up for herself and her new found friends even though she’s a mere human. Getting entangled with the hot Lord of the Underworld? Sign me up please!! The interactions between supporting characters are so good. The character development between Luna and her friends, the character development between Dominic and Helena, and his role in the this world of is well thought out and well written. Helena is definitely my least favorite character. 🙄
This is book one of the Magic of the Damned trilogy. And while it SEEMS as though everything is going to be all fixed and wrapped up in a tidy cute little bow? NOPE. I’m heading right into book 2.
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I gravitated to the Audible version this book:
1 - because it’s Romantasy
2 - because of the premise of magic, witches and shifters
and 3 - because of the narrator, Amelia Hugh.
I started following Amelia on TikTok, watching as she narrated. She is frickin BRILLIANT. Her ability to grasp the characteristics of the characters in the book, changing her voice to differentiate them is incredible.
The storyline is definitely what you want in a Romantasy book: wonder and fear of magic, slow burn, mystery and intrigue. There’s great banter and inner monologue. The MFC is NO pushover. She stands up for herself and her new found friends even though she’s a mere human. Getting entangled with the hot Lord of the Underworld? Sign me up please!! The interactions between supporting characters are so good. The character development between Luna and her friends, the character development between Dominic and Helena, and his role in the this world of is well thought out and well written. Helena is definitely my least favorite character. 🙄
This is book one of the Magic of the Damned trilogy. And while it SEEMS as though everything is going to be all fixed and wrapped up in a tidy cute little bow? NOPE. I’m heading right into book 2.
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