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The Jezebel Files #1
Blood & Ash
Missing teens. Long-lost magic. And the sexy nemesis who might drive her to murder.
Ashira Cohen is justifiably proud of the detective agency she’s built from the ground up. Sure, it’s small—but Sherlock Holmes started somewhere, right? Then a routine stakeout ends with a blow to the head, a mysterious tattoo on her scalp, and the kind of dangerous magic that comes with its own user manual.
Spoiler: she didn’t get the manual.
And don’t even get her started on the golem.
The only bright spot? Her unruly powers nearly take out her long-time nemesis, Levi, the irritatingly hot leader of the magic community. Right, no… that’s bad.
If he turns her in, she’s looking at a lifetime behind supernatural bars and a very permanent loss of everything she’s built.
Except… Levi needs her. Teens are vanishing and solving this case means using every new trick in Ash’s arsenal. It’s her shot to outwit a sinister magical conspiracy, level up her PI cred, and get Levi exactly where she wants him. On his knees.
If you’re craving headstrong, hilarious heroines, clever mysteries, and urban fantasy that brings the heat, you’re in the right place.
Read the complete series today!
Ashira Cohen is justifiably proud of the detective agency she’s built from the ground up. Sure, it’s small—but Sherlock Holmes started somewhere, right? Then a routine stakeout ends with a blow to the head, a mysterious tattoo on her scalp, and the kind of dangerous magic that comes with its own user manual.
Spoiler: she didn’t get the manual.
And don’t even get her started on the golem.
The only bright spot? Her unruly powers nearly take out her long-time nemesis, Levi, the irritatingly hot leader of the magic community. Right, no… that’s bad.
If he turns her in, she’s looking at a lifetime behind supernatural bars and a very permanent loss of everything she’s built.
Except… Levi needs her. Teens are vanishing and solving this case means using every new trick in Ash’s arsenal. It’s her shot to outwit a sinister magical conspiracy, level up her PI cred, and get Levi exactly where she wants him. On his knees.
If you’re craving headstrong, hilarious heroines, clever mysteries, and urban fantasy that brings the heat, you’re in the right place.
Read the complete series today!
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 10, 2020
3027 people are currently reading
7248 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Wilde
42 books1,057 followersDeborah Wilde is a global wanderer and hopeless romantic. After twelve years as a screenwriter, she was also a total cynic with a broken edit button, so, she jumped ship, started writing funny, sexy, urban fantasy and paranormal women’s fiction books, and never looked back.
She loves writing smart, flawed, wisecracking women who can solve a mystery, kick supernatural butt, banter with hot men, and still make time for their best female friend, because those were the women she grew up around and admired. Granted, her grandmother never had to kill a demon at her weekly friend lunches, but Deborah is pretty sure she could have.
she/her
Smart (ass) heroines. Epic magic. Red-hot romance.
She loves writing smart, flawed, wisecracking women who can solve a mystery, kick supernatural butt, banter with hot men, and still make time for their best female friend, because those were the women she grew up around and admired. Granted, her grandmother never had to kill a demon at her weekly friend lunches, but Deborah is pretty sure she could have.
she/her
Smart (ass) heroines. Epic magic. Red-hot romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 748 reviews
December 6, 2019
BLOOD & ASH by Deborah Wilde is a well-written urban fantasy detective book with a side of romance. It is book one in the Jezebel Files series.
This story mainly takes place in Vancouver, Canada where some people have magic and others don’t. Ashira Cohen is the only female private investigator in Vancouver and she works on non-magical cases. When she takes on a missing person case, she feels it will be an easy case. However, she is attacked and hits her head. A hidden tattoo is revealed and, much to her amazement, she finds that she has supernatural powers. Added to this there are multiple abductions, an evil mastermind organization and a need to work with Levi, the leader of the magic community.
This book is described as a snarky urban fantasy detective series. I agree that it delivers on this, but it is much more than that. It has a strong protagonist, complex mysteries to be solved, likeable secondary characters, great world building and some steamy romance. The main characters are someone you can root for and they definitely have distinct voices. The relationships between the characters are believable. There is plenty of action as well as some humor to offset some of the darker scenes. The romance has potential as the series develops.
I recommend this fast-paced book to those that enjoy urban fantasies with both mystery and a bit of romance. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. I also want to check out this author’s Nava Katz series.
Thanks to Te Da Media / Xpresso Book Tours and Deborah Wilde for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
This story mainly takes place in Vancouver, Canada where some people have magic and others don’t. Ashira Cohen is the only female private investigator in Vancouver and she works on non-magical cases. When she takes on a missing person case, she feels it will be an easy case. However, she is attacked and hits her head. A hidden tattoo is revealed and, much to her amazement, she finds that she has supernatural powers. Added to this there are multiple abductions, an evil mastermind organization and a need to work with Levi, the leader of the magic community.
This book is described as a snarky urban fantasy detective series. I agree that it delivers on this, but it is much more than that. It has a strong protagonist, complex mysteries to be solved, likeable secondary characters, great world building and some steamy romance. The main characters are someone you can root for and they definitely have distinct voices. The relationships between the characters are believable. There is plenty of action as well as some humor to offset some of the darker scenes. The romance has potential as the series develops.
I recommend this fast-paced book to those that enjoy urban fantasies with both mystery and a bit of romance. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. I also want to check out this author’s Nava Katz series.
Thanks to Te Da Media / Xpresso Book Tours and Deborah Wilde for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
January 17, 2020
I've been wavering between a 2 (ok book) and 1 (didn't like) star rating, but at the end I prefer to be honest rather than kind. [Not that I want to be rude, mind you]
Unfortunately, I couldn't care less about the book, the heroine, the plot, so yes, this is probably an ok book, but one I didn't particularly enjoy reading.
It wins the Teflon award of the year, it doesn't stick (at least to this reader). And this should tell you a lot, given that the plot is supposedly about kidnapping and murder. Unfortunately the only thing about the book is so called "snark". Unfortunately, it's juvenile and stupid. There's nothing engaging about it, but then there's nothing really engaging about the heroine. You can't really empathize with her because she's fake (and so are her reactions). There is drama but leaves you cold as it's not really woven in the story. You dont' feel her pain. There's nothing to her that sounds real, except her youth. She sounds 15.
There is no depth to any other character, mind you.
I don't even want to talk about the so called romantic thread. Again teenagers. Plus out of the blue, again nothing woven into the plot.
But then there is no world building. Magic is a prop. And it's a pity as the jewish angle would have been interesting.
As I said, not the book for me.
Unfortunately, I couldn't care less about the book, the heroine, the plot, so yes, this is probably an ok book, but one I didn't particularly enjoy reading.
It wins the Teflon award of the year, it doesn't stick (at least to this reader). And this should tell you a lot, given that the plot is supposedly about kidnapping and murder. Unfortunately the only thing about the book is so called "snark". Unfortunately, it's juvenile and stupid. There's nothing engaging about it, but then there's nothing really engaging about the heroine. You can't really empathize with her because she's fake (and so are her reactions). There is drama but leaves you cold as it's not really woven in the story. You dont' feel her pain. There's nothing to her that sounds real, except her youth. She sounds 15.
There is no depth to any other character, mind you.
I don't even want to talk about the so called romantic thread. Again teenagers. Plus out of the blue, again nothing woven into the plot.
But then there is no world building. Magic is a prop. And it's a pity as the jewish angle would have been interesting.
As I said, not the book for me.
March 29, 2022
Blood & Ash (The Jezebel Files #1)
A Snarky Urban Fantasy Detective Series
by Deborah Wilde
Narrated by Hollie Jackson
2022 review
I decided to try this again and picked it up from Chirp and listened again and found I enjoyed it more this time. Not sure what the difference was but I change with time and so does my taste in books. I found the snarky dialogue and situations funnier and liked the characters more! Glad I bought it!
Narration was great!
A Snarky Urban Fantasy Detective Series
by Deborah Wilde
Narrated by Hollie Jackson
2022 review
I decided to try this again and picked it up from Chirp and listened again and found I enjoyed it more this time. Not sure what the difference was but I change with time and so does my taste in books. I found the snarky dialogue and situations funnier and liked the characters more! Glad I bought it!
Narration was great!
January 26, 2020
Blood & Ash is a brand new Urban Fantasy series by Deborah Wilde. It’s a whirlwind adventure with a dash of Alice and Wonderland, Sherlock Holmes, and Hidden Legacy series.
The story takes place in Vancouver, Canada with a lot of Jewish mythology rooted in.
Ashira is a human private investigator working in a world where magic exits until an unexpected accident happens and now she’s got magic. Ashira was a fun character. I liked how her mind worked. She’s a Sherlock Homes type character and theirs a lot of references to her love of Homes.
Levi her nemesis and the leader of the magic community. Boy he’s a sexy one, but also very put together. He needs to loosen up and have his world turned upside down.
The story moves at a break-necking speed. With that the world building isn’t very well explained. We get a lot of different things thrown at us and it can be a lot to take in. We don’t get much time to digest until after you’ve devoured the book. I am hoping more things will be explained as the series progress.
The story is full of action packed scenes and a few different mysteries to be solved. We’ve got missing kids, something killing magical people, and Ashira getting magical powers. So many mysteries to solve and not all are answered in this first installment.
The romance was secondary to the mysteries. Levi and Ashira are like oil and vinegar. They have a lot of witty comments and comebacks for each-other, but you can defiantly tell that theirs an attraction between them. I liked the banter, snarky comments, and witty humor in this novel. Though at this point in the story the romance just didn’t fit. These two have known each other for decades and for some reason they choose now to kick off a romance. I’m not won over on the romance end and I don’t think it’s needed in the series.
Blood & Ash was a nice start to The Jezebel Files series. It’s a snarky detective urban fantasy read and I’m looking toward to continuing the series.
Rated: 3.5 Stars
The story takes place in Vancouver, Canada with a lot of Jewish mythology rooted in.
Ashira is a human private investigator working in a world where magic exits until an unexpected accident happens and now she’s got magic. Ashira was a fun character. I liked how her mind worked. She’s a Sherlock Homes type character and theirs a lot of references to her love of Homes.
Levi her nemesis and the leader of the magic community. Boy he’s a sexy one, but also very put together. He needs to loosen up and have his world turned upside down.
The story moves at a break-necking speed. With that the world building isn’t very well explained. We get a lot of different things thrown at us and it can be a lot to take in. We don’t get much time to digest until after you’ve devoured the book. I am hoping more things will be explained as the series progress.
The story is full of action packed scenes and a few different mysteries to be solved. We’ve got missing kids, something killing magical people, and Ashira getting magical powers. So many mysteries to solve and not all are answered in this first installment.
The romance was secondary to the mysteries. Levi and Ashira are like oil and vinegar. They have a lot of witty comments and comebacks for each-other, but you can defiantly tell that theirs an attraction between them. I liked the banter, snarky comments, and witty humor in this novel. Though at this point in the story the romance just didn’t fit. These two have known each other for decades and for some reason they choose now to kick off a romance. I’m not won over on the romance end and I don’t think it’s needed in the series.
Blood & Ash was a nice start to The Jezebel Files series. It’s a snarky detective urban fantasy read and I’m looking toward to continuing the series.
Rated: 3.5 Stars
January 25, 2020
I liked this so much more than I had anticipated. Who doesn't love a strong willed, snarky heroine who is willing to do whatever it takes to not only do the right thing, but help those she cares about, damn the consequences?
Such a fun and different take on magic and monsters. I can't wait for book two. This had me entertained from beginning to end.
Such a fun and different take on magic and monsters. I can't wait for book two. This had me entertained from beginning to end.
Read
March 1, 2020I enjoyed this alternate history Urban Fantasy. It has an interesting flavor where the characters are culturally Jewish, though not religiously observant, really. And the magic flows from a Jewish origin and that manifests in interesting ways, I think. I particularly liked running into actual golems and with the features those would have given that heritage.
And I liked Ashira, though her mental issues are rather broad. Her mistrust of absolutely everybody (with the exception of her best friend) would have been more wearing except that her world is such a brutal one it sort of makes sense. Her active animosity towards Levi felt extreme, though. The author provides a backstory justification for their mutual animosity, but the tides of it were uneven with both wavering periodically as if they had been/could-have-been friends once, only they never were, it seems.
While the plot held together on its own, it was also rather closely-tied to what turns out to be Ash's specialness and that felt manufactured. Also, there's no real explanation for why
So a fun read and I'm interested in the rest of the series.
No rating on this one for . . . reasons. It's complicated. Which is why there's a link...
A note about Steamy: There are two explicit sex scenes but their short enough that it's still the low end of my steam tolerance. They were very much a part of the back-and-forth between Ash and Levi, but one of the stronger aspects of their uncertainty with each other.
And I liked Ashira, though her mental issues are rather broad. Her mistrust of absolutely everybody (with the exception of her best friend) would have been more wearing except that her world is such a brutal one it sort of makes sense. Her active animosity towards Levi felt extreme, though. The author provides a backstory justification for their mutual animosity, but the tides of it were uneven with both wavering periodically as if they had been/could-have-been friends once, only they never were, it seems.
While the plot held together on its own, it was also rather closely-tied to what turns out to be Ash's specialness and that felt manufactured. Also, there's no real explanation for why
So a fun read and I'm interested in the rest of the series.
No rating on this one for . . . reasons. It's complicated. Which is why there's a link...
A note about Steamy: There are two explicit sex scenes but their short enough that it's still the low end of my steam tolerance. They were very much a part of the back-and-forth between Ash and Levi, but one of the stronger aspects of their uncertainty with each other.
March 29, 2020
I felt like I was reading an unpolished mash-up type of fan fiction of Ilona Andrews’s stories.
This world can be divided into those who have powers (Nefresh) and those who don’t (Mundane). Those who have powers are even in Houses, like in IA’s Hidden Legacy. And the heroine has blood magic like Kate Daniels. There’s also a snarky love-hate thing between Ash (the h) and Levi (the H) that, at times, feels reminiscent of Nevada and Rogan. But, imo, their romance/relationship comes off as forced and lackluster or lacking in zing... lacking something.
While I’m not as enthused about this world or these characters as others seem to be, do take my opinion with a grain of salt. Because I’m pretty biased when it comes to PNR-UF. I’m such a big Ilona Andrews fan and unfairly or not, their stories are my gold standard in this genre. That being the case, I found this book to be okay.
This world can be divided into those who have powers (Nefresh) and those who don’t (Mundane). Those who have powers are even in Houses, like in IA’s Hidden Legacy. And the heroine has blood magic like Kate Daniels. There’s also a snarky love-hate thing between Ash (the h) and Levi (the H) that, at times, feels reminiscent of Nevada and Rogan. But, imo, their romance/relationship comes off as forced and lackluster or lacking in zing... lacking something.
While I’m not as enthused about this world or these characters as others seem to be, do take my opinion with a grain of salt. Because I’m pretty biased when it comes to PNR-UF. I’m such a big Ilona Andrews fan and unfairly or not, their stories are my gold standard in this genre. That being the case, I found this book to be okay.
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November 9, 2019
ARC received in exchange for an honest review - thank you!
I'm pretty torn on this one. On one hand, we have Wilde's signature humour, good technical writing, and some nice diversity; on the other hand, we have an absolutely TERRIBLE plot and somewhat unenthusiastic romance.
Also, you know what? This felt WAY too much like reading Wilde's other series, the Unlikeable Demon Hunter, to the extent that I was getting deja vu.
Quick Summary
Ashira Cohen is a PI who's always thought she was Mundane, aka without magic. She discovers a tattoo on the back of her head which was suppressing all her magic - turns out she has blood magic, a heretofore unknown branch. Kids are disappearing and she teams up with her childhood enemy Levi Montefiore to find them. Also, there's a weird 'smudge' thing going around Vancouver killing people and only she can see it to stop it.
The Good
✔️ Like I said, Ash is hella funny.
✔️ I like the concept of Levi... just not so much his execution.
✔️ Diversity - Ash and Levi are Jewish, Ash's best friend Priya is Indian, and the whole worldbuilding is rooted in Jewish mythology.
The Good
❌ I swear to God, sometimes it felt like I was reading a bad fanfiction of The Unlikeable Demon Hunter. The humour is the same (they literally make some of the same jokes) and there was even one character with the same name!!!!! Plus there's the same set-up of main characters. Ash/Nava (from TUDH) are both black-haired heroines with Levi/Rohan the black-haired heroes. Levi/Rohan has a blond best friend (Miles/Drio) who has a crush on Ash/Nava's best friend, Leonie/Priya. You see????
❌ The world was vaguely the same, but very confusing and not at all well explained (like, there was no discussion of the various types of magic). All in all, I spent most of my time feeling bemused. This is partially because the pace is breakneck. Wilde throws a lot of things at the reader without bothering to explain them properly, and (as I noted in previous reviews) she packs her plots with WAY too many events and occurrences, to the point of reader overload. I stopped trying to understand anything at about 40% in and just went along for the ride.
❌ The romance was pretty lacklustre. Levi and Ash have known each other for decades, like since they were kids, so I found it weird and implausible that they chose now of all times for their romance to kick off. Like, what was the catalyst?? It was like they existed in stasis before the book began, which is never a good thing for a reader to think about a character. Also, Levi went on a date with an OW (admittedly arranged weeks in advance) after he and Ash kissed, and I didn't feel any sparks from their relationship at all.
Overall
This is looking like it'll have all the flaws of the UDH series, with not as many of its positives.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
I'm pretty torn on this one. On one hand, we have Wilde's signature humour, good technical writing, and some nice diversity; on the other hand, we have an absolutely TERRIBLE plot and somewhat unenthusiastic romance.
Also, you know what? This felt WAY too much like reading Wilde's other series, the Unlikeable Demon Hunter, to the extent that I was getting deja vu.
Quick Summary
Ashira Cohen is a PI who's always thought she was Mundane, aka without magic. She discovers a tattoo on the back of her head which was suppressing all her magic - turns out she has blood magic, a heretofore unknown branch. Kids are disappearing and she teams up with her childhood enemy Levi Montefiore to find them. Also, there's a weird 'smudge' thing going around Vancouver killing people and only she can see it to stop it.
The Good
✔️ Like I said, Ash is hella funny.
✔️ I like the concept of Levi... just not so much his execution.
✔️ Diversity - Ash and Levi are Jewish, Ash's best friend Priya is Indian, and the whole worldbuilding is rooted in Jewish mythology.
The Good
❌ I swear to God, sometimes it felt like I was reading a bad fanfiction of The Unlikeable Demon Hunter. The humour is the same (they literally make some of the same jokes) and there was even one character with the same name!!!!! Plus there's the same set-up of main characters. Ash/Nava (from TUDH) are both black-haired heroines with Levi/Rohan the black-haired heroes. Levi/Rohan has a blond best friend (Miles/Drio) who has a crush on Ash/Nava's best friend, Leonie/Priya. You see????
❌ The world was vaguely the same, but very confusing and not at all well explained (like, there was no discussion of the various types of magic). All in all, I spent most of my time feeling bemused. This is partially because the pace is breakneck. Wilde throws a lot of things at the reader without bothering to explain them properly, and (as I noted in previous reviews) she packs her plots with WAY too many events and occurrences, to the point of reader overload. I stopped trying to understand anything at about 40% in and just went along for the ride.
❌ The romance was pretty lacklustre. Levi and Ash have known each other for decades, like since they were kids, so I found it weird and implausible that they chose now of all times for their romance to kick off. Like, what was the catalyst?? It was like they existed in stasis before the book began, which is never a good thing for a reader to think about a character. Also, Levi went on a date with an OW (admittedly arranged weeks in advance) after he and Ash kissed, and I didn't feel any sparks from their relationship at all.
Overall
This is looking like it'll have all the flaws of the UDH series, with not as many of its positives.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
September 9, 2020
I wasn't able to listen to this audiobook on NetGalley Shelf App no matter how hard I tried to fix the issues. Install, uninstall, download, delete...and all I managed was listen to chapter 1. over and over again. I will def take a pause of requesting audiobooks from NetGalley for some time.
As I could listen to chapter one on repeat, I became very curious about the rest of the book so I downloaded in on another app and listen to it.
This is an amazing urban fantasy novel.
I love the heroine and the storyline.
I will definitely read the next book in the series.
If you loved A Promise of Fire or Magic Bites series or heroines, definitely give this book a chance.
4,5 stars
As I could listen to chapter one on repeat, I became very curious about the rest of the book so I downloaded in on another app and listen to it.
This is an amazing urban fantasy novel.
I love the heroine and the storyline.
I will definitely read the next book in the series.
If you loved A Promise of Fire or Magic Bites series or heroines, definitely give this book a chance.
4,5 stars
January 29, 2020
Kind of like a Contiki Tour of Urban Fantasy.
Young people who are really only interested in getting drunk and hooking up are bussed into thousand year old castles where they can get drunk and hook up.
It's OK, just not all that original.
Young people who are really only interested in getting drunk and hooking up are bussed into thousand year old castles where they can get drunk and hook up.
It's OK, just not all that original.
September 21, 2020
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
3.5 hearts
Blood and Ash is the first book in The Jezebel Files and as such it sets the tone and direction for the entire series. This seems to be off to a good start though using some lore from Judaism that doesn’t seem to get a lot of attention or representation in literature. So far the series has a few things going for it.
Interesting Heroine - check
Ashira thought she was just a human until the hidden tattoo on the back of her head was discovered and destroyed, releasing her supernatural powers that is. Her snarky attitude and ability to cause no end of chaos made her fun. I also liked that she has a limp from an injury in her past, it made her more human.
Family Dynamics Drama -check
With a father who went mysteriously MIA and a mother who seems to manipulate and control most of the human world around her, Ashira has some interesting mommy and daddy issues to deal with.
The Hot Guy the Heroine is Playing Hard to Get With - check
They might have gone to Jewish kid camp together over the summers for a long time but that doesn’t mean that Levi and Ashira run in the same circles. She wants nothing to do with the leader of the magical community; he doesn’t think she is a picnic either. But could most of their time fighting and arguing just be a front for the sexual chemistry…?
Girl Power Friendship - checkity-check-check
I love it when girls have a female best friend and they stick together through think and thin. Priya is the absolute best friend a girl could have and the banter between her and Ash is hilarious. It is quick-witted and made me laugh out loud more than once.
Interesting World-building - check
I really liked reading about something where I didn’t already have a lot of knowledge. The main characters are Jewish and the mythology used for much of the plot was from Judaism. Since I don’t have much experience with this, it was new and interesting.
There are a few downsides though.
I wanted more world-building and explanations of the various magical houses and conflicts between the magical and human community. Much of the story is Ash running headlong from one situation into another without much time between. That does make the story fly by but I like a little more depth. The romance is supposed to be enemies to lovers, sort of. It needs a little more fleshing out since Levi and Ash were so tight as kids that I didn’t really believe they ever fell out to the extent they did. Still the banter between them was always a lot of fun.
Overall:
Solid first story to a series. There is a lot of room to grow and build on everything that has been shown so far. I really liked Ash and all her snarky ways, she reminded me a little of Charlie Davidson’s level of snark. I’ll continue with the series to see where all the craziness goes.
Narration:
Holllie Jackson is a seasoned narrator and it shows. She did a phenomenal job of bringing all the characters to life.
Listen to a clip:
https://soundcloud.com/deborahwilde/b...
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
3.5 hearts
Blood and Ash is the first book in The Jezebel Files and as such it sets the tone and direction for the entire series. This seems to be off to a good start though using some lore from Judaism that doesn’t seem to get a lot of attention or representation in literature. So far the series has a few things going for it.
Interesting Heroine - check
Ashira thought she was just a human until the hidden tattoo on the back of her head was discovered and destroyed, releasing her supernatural powers that is. Her snarky attitude and ability to cause no end of chaos made her fun. I also liked that she has a limp from an injury in her past, it made her more human.
Family Dynamics Drama -check
With a father who went mysteriously MIA and a mother who seems to manipulate and control most of the human world around her, Ashira has some interesting mommy and daddy issues to deal with.
The Hot Guy the Heroine is Playing Hard to Get With - check
They might have gone to Jewish kid camp together over the summers for a long time but that doesn’t mean that Levi and Ashira run in the same circles. She wants nothing to do with the leader of the magical community; he doesn’t think she is a picnic either. But could most of their time fighting and arguing just be a front for the sexual chemistry…?
Girl Power Friendship - checkity-check-check
I love it when girls have a female best friend and they stick together through think and thin. Priya is the absolute best friend a girl could have and the banter between her and Ash is hilarious. It is quick-witted and made me laugh out loud more than once.
Interesting World-building - check
I really liked reading about something where I didn’t already have a lot of knowledge. The main characters are Jewish and the mythology used for much of the plot was from Judaism. Since I don’t have much experience with this, it was new and interesting.
There are a few downsides though.
I wanted more world-building and explanations of the various magical houses and conflicts between the magical and human community. Much of the story is Ash running headlong from one situation into another without much time between. That does make the story fly by but I like a little more depth. The romance is supposed to be enemies to lovers, sort of. It needs a little more fleshing out since Levi and Ash were so tight as kids that I didn’t really believe they ever fell out to the extent they did. Still the banter between them was always a lot of fun.
Overall:
Solid first story to a series. There is a lot of room to grow and build on everything that has been shown so far. I really liked Ash and all her snarky ways, she reminded me a little of Charlie Davidson’s level of snark. I’ll continue with the series to see where all the craziness goes.
Narration:
Holllie Jackson is a seasoned narrator and it shows. She did a phenomenal job of bringing all the characters to life.
Listen to a clip:
https://soundcloud.com/deborahwilde/b...
December 18, 2019
This is the first book in a new urban fantasy series by an author that never fails to entertain me. This time her protagonist is a most decidedly human private investigator working in a world where magic exists until she finds out that actually no she’s not just a mundane human but actually has powerful magic herself ! Ashira finds herself working alongside Levi the ever infuriating head honcho in the local supernatural community. So now she’s solving a missing persons case and trying to discover just why someone previously bound her magic and all whilst fighting her mother, her daddy issues and that insane feeling she gets when Levi removes that stick from you know where ! Yep Ashira has an awful lot to deal with and it’s only about to get even more complicated because she’s the only one who seems able to see the dark mysterious shadows that are killing people !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
September 1, 2020
Great start to a new urban fantasy series.
First off: I listened to the audiobook narrated by Hollie Jackson. Hollie brought the characters to life and made the story more enjoyable. Her voice and tone was great for each character. I 100% recommend the audiobook and I will be listening to the second audiobook soon.
The story takes place in Vancouver, Canada in an alternate reality where some have magic. It is packed with interesting elements and enjoyable secondary characters. Our main character Ashira is strong, intelligent and snarky. Working as the only female P.I. in Vancouver, she takes on a case that leads her to more than one mystery to solve. That leads to questions about what is really happening in the magic world and to herself. The mysteries build as the story progresses.
I wasn’t sure about this book at first. Although it was fast paced from the beginning, it took about 5 chapters before I really started enjoying it. By the 50% mark I couldn’t stop listening. My problem in the beginning was the lack of world building. It did come but it was too slow for me. It’s an interesting and unique world. I still have questions and hope they will be answered in the second audiobook.
I received this audiobook from NetGalley. All opinions are my own and in no way reflect the author, publisher or NetGalley. Thank you to NetGalley for helping me discover this series and author.
First off: I listened to the audiobook narrated by Hollie Jackson. Hollie brought the characters to life and made the story more enjoyable. Her voice and tone was great for each character. I 100% recommend the audiobook and I will be listening to the second audiobook soon.
The story takes place in Vancouver, Canada in an alternate reality where some have magic. It is packed with interesting elements and enjoyable secondary characters. Our main character Ashira is strong, intelligent and snarky. Working as the only female P.I. in Vancouver, she takes on a case that leads her to more than one mystery to solve. That leads to questions about what is really happening in the magic world and to herself. The mysteries build as the story progresses.
I wasn’t sure about this book at first. Although it was fast paced from the beginning, it took about 5 chapters before I really started enjoying it. By the 50% mark I couldn’t stop listening. My problem in the beginning was the lack of world building. It did come but it was too slow for me. It’s an interesting and unique world. I still have questions and hope they will be answered in the second audiobook.
I received this audiobook from NetGalley. All opinions are my own and in no way reflect the author, publisher or NetGalley. Thank you to NetGalley for helping me discover this series and author.
August 6, 2020
Not a bad start to a series. I want to give this a higher rating but I feel like the world building isn’t well developed and felt too derivative to me.
For example, magical ruling houses. It reminded me too much of Ilona Andrews’ Hidden Legacy series. IA don’t own this trope and there are other series who did the same thing. But other authors who did it made the trope their own like Jessie Mihalik’s consortium series. It didn’t feel like an imitation.
This book however, felt like a pale imitation which was disappointing because I liked the diversity in this book. We don’t get enough Jewish inspired stories with Jewish characters.
The main character is very snarky. Like it’s literally on the title. My problem is it was just too much snark and too little substance. It was kind of distracting and grating. Instead of laughing at the heroine’s snarkiness, I found myself gritting my teeth. The snark often got in the way of plot and character development. It was only when the snark was pulled back a bit where the story and the characters shined. And yeah, the jokes landed too because it didn’t feel forced.
Anyway, there is a bit of romance in here that kept my romance loving heart satisfied. It’s not a lot yet but the foundation is there and has the potentially to be epic.
Also, I love that this was set Canada, specifically in the Vancouver area and the characters reflected the diversity of that city.
In conclusion: I liked this one enough to invest in the next book in the series.
For example, magical ruling houses. It reminded me too much of Ilona Andrews’ Hidden Legacy series. IA don’t own this trope and there are other series who did the same thing. But other authors who did it made the trope their own like Jessie Mihalik’s consortium series. It didn’t feel like an imitation.
This book however, felt like a pale imitation which was disappointing because I liked the diversity in this book. We don’t get enough Jewish inspired stories with Jewish characters.
The main character is very snarky. Like it’s literally on the title. My problem is it was just too much snark and too little substance. It was kind of distracting and grating. Instead of laughing at the heroine’s snarkiness, I found myself gritting my teeth. The snark often got in the way of plot and character development. It was only when the snark was pulled back a bit where the story and the characters shined. And yeah, the jokes landed too because it didn’t feel forced.
Anyway, there is a bit of romance in here that kept my romance loving heart satisfied. It’s not a lot yet but the foundation is there and has the potentially to be epic.
Also, I love that this was set Canada, specifically in the Vancouver area and the characters reflected the diversity of that city.
In conclusion: I liked this one enough to invest in the next book in the series.
July 25, 2025
3.5/5.0
This story is all kinds of fun…. And some kinds of annoying, as well.
I enjoyed the overall world and plot. The Jewish spin was interesting. Ms. Wilde intricately wed the traditions and beliefs of historical Jews with the fictional storyline that incorporates magic and mayhem. I do wonder if, for most lay people, it may blur the lines of belief, however… she does it that well!
I really liked Ashira as a FMC. She dives into whatever situation with a snark and determination that is fun to read. Her animosity and extreme antagonism with Levi got awfully annoying and tired after a while, though. It went from being entertaining to just plain grating by the end of the book… especially considering the end of the book!
And that brings me to my biggest complaint, I HATE hate-sex. Loathe it. I know it’s purely a “me” thing and others might be able to see how a person can find someone else absolutely reprehensible and still enjoy having sex with them but I just can’t. *Watch out! Spoiler ahead* SO, ending the entire book with hate-sex, I felt was beyond stupid… hated it.
Even so, I am engaged enough in the characters and the world that I want to see how things progress. It could be even better or…. *shrugs* But, the story is enjoyable enough to give it a try.
This story is all kinds of fun…. And some kinds of annoying, as well.
I enjoyed the overall world and plot. The Jewish spin was interesting. Ms. Wilde intricately wed the traditions and beliefs of historical Jews with the fictional storyline that incorporates magic and mayhem. I do wonder if, for most lay people, it may blur the lines of belief, however… she does it that well!
I really liked Ashira as a FMC. She dives into whatever situation with a snark and determination that is fun to read. Her animosity and extreme antagonism with Levi got awfully annoying and tired after a while, though. It went from being entertaining to just plain grating by the end of the book… especially considering the end of the book!
And that brings me to my biggest complaint, I HATE hate-sex. Loathe it. I know it’s purely a “me” thing and others might be able to see how a person can find someone else absolutely reprehensible and still enjoy having sex with them but I just can’t. *Watch out! Spoiler ahead* SO, ending the entire book with hate-sex, I felt was beyond stupid… hated it.
Even so, I am engaged enough in the characters and the world that I want to see how things progress. It could be even better or…. *shrugs* But, the story is enjoyable enough to give it a try.
May 8, 2020
I am a lazy reader when it comes to urban fantasy books -- meaning, if you present me with an alternate universe, you better give me explanation about how it works. I don't want to deduce everything from conversations or snippets of information here and there.
Unfortunately, this is what the book feels for me. There's not enough explanation of the world build. Suddenly I'm presented with Nefesh, Mundane, House, Van Gogh, etc. etc. The heroine and hero seemed to have previous relationship off page. Something happened to the heroine at young age, ALSO off page. At first, I was able to dismiss it because I kinda liked the snarks. It was fun -- plus there was that blood magic dildo *laugh*
But afterwards the snarks became TOO MUCH. It grated on my nerves that the snarks never stop. Snarks after snarks after snarks ... became
It all talks and not enough story. The heroine jumped from one place to another and things happened fast and then it changed scene again. It was NOT a good reading experience for me. Not going to bother with the next one
Unfortunately, this is what the book feels for me. There's not enough explanation of the world build. Suddenly I'm presented with Nefesh, Mundane, House, Van Gogh, etc. etc. The heroine and hero seemed to have previous relationship off page. Something happened to the heroine at young age, ALSO off page. At first, I was able to dismiss it because I kinda liked the snarks. It was fun -- plus there was that blood magic dildo *laugh*
But afterwards the snarks became TOO MUCH. It grated on my nerves that the snarks never stop. Snarks after snarks after snarks ... became
It all talks and not enough story. The heroine jumped from one place to another and things happened fast and then it changed scene again. It was NOT a good reading experience for me. Not going to bother with the next one
June 24, 2022
4.5 ⭐
This book was so unexpectedly good!
This book was so unexpectedly good!
March 10, 2020
3.5
A group of people with diverse magical powers? Cool.
Enemies to lovers story line? Yes please.
Strong female friendship? Thank you!
Secret society trying sew dissension? Intriguing.
And a h who was a mundane P.I. until she discovered she has strange powers of her own...and unique powers to boot? ...Kind of well worn territory, but her magic is pretty cool- blood magic.
Don't know why but it makes me think of Deadman Wonderland
A group of people with diverse magical powers? Cool.
Enemies to lovers story line? Yes please.
Strong female friendship? Thank you!
Secret society trying sew dissension? Intriguing.
And a h who was a mundane P.I. until she discovered she has strange powers of her own...and unique powers to boot? ...Kind of well worn territory, but her magic is pretty cool- blood magic.
Don't know why but it makes me think of Deadman Wonderland
April 10, 2021
I reserve my fluffiest junk-food reads for exam weeks, and picked up Blood and Ash while procrastinating on studying for my plant pathology midterm. It almost hit the spot. (Not ringspot virus or bacterial spots.) Misanthropic main character? Check! Interesting alt-urban world? Check! Passes the Bechdel test? No sweat. Sure, it's a tropey urban fantasy with an embarrassing cover (good thing I'm a shut-in these days), but I knew what I was in for, and it mostly delivered.
Ashira Cohen is a hardboiled PI in a Vancouver that is sharply split between the magically gifted Nefesh and the Mundanes. Ash falls into the latter category. A rough night on the job lands her in the hospital with a head injury, a scalp tattoo she didn't know she had, and a very weird set of brand new abilities involving blood. And suddenly she's questioning everything about her life - her status as a Mundane, her relationship with her parents, and just what her new magic involves. Beyond the blood dildo she inadvertently conjured up, that is.
Oh, and because self-discovery doesn't pay the bills, she's also investigating a magical phenomenon only she can see on behalf of her old frenemy, Levi Montefiore, head of the major magical society in Vancouver and major hottie. He still has scars from their last encounter in which she stabbed him with a fork for the last jelly-filled donut. They go way back.
A lot of this is fun, zippy reading. There's plenty of action and cheeky banter, and I enjoyed Ashira's relationship with her best friend and flatmate Priya, genius hacker and looter of secret M&M stashes. The Jewish basis of the magic in this world is interesting, and the plot, while not great, is good enough to keep things moving.
Alas, the romance doesn't work for me, even though I generally like antagonistic romances. Blood and Ash dips too deeply into romantic alpha tropes for my taste, up to and including one I hate . The rest of the series might resolve some of their trust issues, but what if Levi just confirms himself to be an alpha jerk?
I might have been up for more books about Ashira's magical abilities and unresolved family trauma, but I think I'm done with this romance, so I'm quitting while I'm ahead. Back to nematodes and rust disease cycles!
Ashira Cohen is a hardboiled PI in a Vancouver that is sharply split between the magically gifted Nefesh and the Mundanes. Ash falls into the latter category. A rough night on the job lands her in the hospital with a head injury, a scalp tattoo she didn't know she had, and a very weird set of brand new abilities involving blood. And suddenly she's questioning everything about her life - her status as a Mundane, her relationship with her parents, and just what her new magic involves. Beyond the blood dildo she inadvertently conjured up, that is.
Oh, and because self-discovery doesn't pay the bills, she's also investigating a magical phenomenon only she can see on behalf of her old frenemy, Levi Montefiore, head of the major magical society in Vancouver and major hottie. He still has scars from their last encounter in which she stabbed him with a fork for the last jelly-filled donut. They go way back.
A lot of this is fun, zippy reading. There's plenty of action and cheeky banter, and I enjoyed Ashira's relationship with her best friend and flatmate Priya, genius hacker and looter of secret M&M stashes. The Jewish basis of the magic in this world is interesting, and the plot, while not great, is good enough to keep things moving.
Alas, the romance doesn't work for me, even though I generally like antagonistic romances. Blood and Ash dips too deeply into romantic alpha tropes for my taste, up to and including one I hate . The rest of the series might resolve some of their trust issues, but what if Levi just confirms himself to be an alpha jerk?
I might have been up for more books about Ashira's magical abilities and unresolved family trauma, but I think I'm done with this romance, so I'm quitting while I'm ahead. Back to nematodes and rust disease cycles!
October 30, 2025
Ash is a private investigator in an alternate magically touched Vancouver. She is funny, smart and a spit fire that speaks her mind, when it comes to something, she is passionate about…and she is non-magical. Or at least she was, until she is conked on the head and a magical tattoo is revealed.
Levi is the leader of the Nefesh, magical beings, in the Vancouver area and is also the bain of Ash’s existence. They seem to clash all the time so when he starts noticing Ash’s new found abilities, she is hard pressed to convince that she just wasn’t hiding them this entire time.
Ash’s mom leads an anti-magic activist group and she has no idea what her mother will do when she finds out she is magically inclined.
Ash’s roommate and best friend is Priya. She is a computer wiz that assists Ash with research she couldn’t otherwise acquire without Priya’s mad skills. Ash must lean on Priya to assist with her new magical circumstance, uncovering the mystical blood magic, and to help her find her ex-client before its too late.
Blood and Ash is a fantastic, new, kick butt heroine, urban fantasy series that I’ve already fell for hook, line and sinker!
I received this ARC copy of Blood and Ash from Te Da Media. This is my honest and voluntary review. Blood and Ash is set for publication Jan. 24, 2020.
My Rating: 5 stars
Written by: Deborah Wilde
Series: The Jezebel Files (Book 1)
Levi is the leader of the Nefesh, magical beings, in the Vancouver area and is also the bain of Ash’s existence. They seem to clash all the time so when he starts noticing Ash’s new found abilities, she is hard pressed to convince that she just wasn’t hiding them this entire time.
Ash’s mom leads an anti-magic activist group and she has no idea what her mother will do when she finds out she is magically inclined.
Ash’s roommate and best friend is Priya. She is a computer wiz that assists Ash with research she couldn’t otherwise acquire without Priya’s mad skills. Ash must lean on Priya to assist with her new magical circumstance, uncovering the mystical blood magic, and to help her find her ex-client before its too late.
Blood and Ash is a fantastic, new, kick butt heroine, urban fantasy series that I’ve already fell for hook, line and sinker!
I received this ARC copy of Blood and Ash from Te Da Media. This is my honest and voluntary review. Blood and Ash is set for publication Jan. 24, 2020.
My Rating: 5 stars
Written by: Deborah Wilde
Series: The Jezebel Files (Book 1)
September 2, 2020
2.5
Really wanted to like this one. I DNF books very quickly, but I swear I came back to this one maybe 5 times in the last few months, which is unheard of for me.
The idea of an interesting magic/political world and a childhood rivalry to lovers trope is...chef's kiss👌🏾The writing was good too.
Most of it fell flat for me though.
The snarky heroine had absolutely no charm or authenticity. She was insecure and childish, only playing the role of what she thinks a badass is. She had a few moments of surprising maturity which gave me hope. But ultimately she was exhausting.
The romance could’ve come out of a YA. Their rivalry was very childish and had no real substance or depth behind it.
The world building was very interesting but the mystery of the week was not so engaging. I am tired of at risk teenagers going missing in urban fantasy. It's so overdone at this point that it comes off as a cheap way to get the reader invested. I would have preferred if we had focused more on Ashira's personal background.
Really wanted to like this one. I DNF books very quickly, but I swear I came back to this one maybe 5 times in the last few months, which is unheard of for me.
The idea of an interesting magic/political world and a childhood rivalry to lovers trope is...chef's kiss👌🏾The writing was good too.
Most of it fell flat for me though.
The snarky heroine had absolutely no charm or authenticity. She was insecure and childish, only playing the role of what she thinks a badass is. She had a few moments of surprising maturity which gave me hope. But ultimately she was exhausting.
The romance could’ve come out of a YA. Their rivalry was very childish and had no real substance or depth behind it.
The world building was very interesting but the mystery of the week was not so engaging. I am tired of at risk teenagers going missing in urban fantasy. It's so overdone at this point that it comes off as a cheap way to get the reader invested. I would have preferred if we had focused more on Ashira's personal background.
August 20, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley for my audio review copy.
This book was hilarious and satisfying. Reminded me of The Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. Narration was impeccable.
Cannot recommend enough!
This book was hilarious and satisfying. Reminded me of The Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. Narration was impeccable.
Cannot recommend enough!
September 6, 2020
When I saw an Urban Fantasy Romance available as an audiobook on Netgalley, I knew I had to request it. I feel like it's been a little while since I read a book in that genre and while this was entertaining and funny, I don't think my need for UFR is completely satisfied.
In Blood & Ash, you'll follow Ash, a mundane who grew up thinking she had no powers whatsoever. However, one day, she finds out she actually has magic - blood magic. She can take powers from others if she wishes to. When people start to be missing, she'll try to find them with Levi, the guy she hates but hate can turn into lust and love.
Overall, I enjoyed listening to this book but I felt like I never really grasped the bigger plot, the world and how magic worked there. It was all confusing and not well explained. The pace was perhaps too quick and therefore I felt like it was a bit messy. Also, I enjoyed the romance and the banter at first but in the end, it was a little lackluster especially after Levi went on a date with another woman after kissing Ash.
(Thank you for letting me listen and review an ARC via Netgalley)
In Blood & Ash, you'll follow Ash, a mundane who grew up thinking she had no powers whatsoever. However, one day, she finds out she actually has magic - blood magic. She can take powers from others if she wishes to. When people start to be missing, she'll try to find them with Levi, the guy she hates but hate can turn into lust and love.
Overall, I enjoyed listening to this book but I felt like I never really grasped the bigger plot, the world and how magic worked there. It was all confusing and not well explained. The pace was perhaps too quick and therefore I felt like it was a bit messy. Also, I enjoyed the romance and the banter at first but in the end, it was a little lackluster especially after Levi went on a date with another woman after kissing Ash.
(Thank you for letting me listen and review an ARC via Netgalley)
February 5, 2020
I found the romance uninspired, the story of no interest & the the snark repetitive. 1 star
September 24, 2020
I liked it enough to finish but there was a weird combination of stuff just happening and too much stuff happening. I don’t know how that’s possible. There were hidden doors, puzzles, escape rooms...too much investigating and figuring out to play on the whole Sherlock Holmes thing. A couple surprise investigations were good even awesome, but there were so many I was done with them. And how many times can someone say Holmes, Watson, and Moriarty?? Too many, far too many. Now even though there was all this investigations going on nothing happened!! No questions were answered. Is Ash’s mom responsible? Where is her dad? Which parent is the evil one? Are they both evil? Who are the Jezebel’s (not a spoiler it’s in the title)? Like what is going on!! And people just have magic and we’re guessing the whole time because there is not enough information. I understood by the name of the Van Gogh’s what their power was but jeez, explain it a little more.
It was full of action and fun magical beings. With a little more world building and character information it would be so great. I’m peaked enough to want to know more about Ashira and Levi. Enough to want to pick up book two. This book just needed more structure.
It was full of action and fun magical beings. With a little more world building and character information it would be so great. I’m peaked enough to want to know more about Ashira and Levi. Enough to want to pick up book two. This book just needed more structure.
January 26, 2022
Quick(ish) Review
Another good start to a series. I’m intrigued with the worldbuilding, the characters are diverse, and there’s a touch more romance than the previous series I read by Ms. Wilde (Magic after Midlife), but there are some similarities. I guess the main thing I’ve seen from goodreads friends is that it’s similar to Ilona Andrews, but since I haven’t read their books, I can’t make the comparison. Either way, I liked this and I’m moving into to the next book.
Another good start to a series. I’m intrigued with the worldbuilding, the characters are diverse, and there’s a touch more romance than the previous series I read by Ms. Wilde (Magic after Midlife), but there are some similarities. I guess the main thing I’ve seen from goodreads friends is that it’s similar to Ilona Andrews, but since I haven’t read their books, I can’t make the comparison. Either way, I liked this and I’m moving into to the next book.
July 30, 2022
Well, it was sold to me like a Kate Daniels type of book and in reality was more like a combination of both Ilona Andrews series, Kate Daniels and Nevada Taylor, a poor one.
Honestly the character was not likable at all, she was rude, crass and offensive, not a single good quality in her, we never see a compassionate side or an empathic one, we just see a girl who hates the world she live in but even though her dad left her after a bad accident and her mother only wants her for keep appearance, her life is honestly not that bad not like any other PR.
She was the worst:
-First of all it was written in first person so that's a big no no no
-A lot of info dump in the first chapters that didn't stick to me
-Her inner monologue wasn't funny it was crass and crude, honestly I don't see humor being a big thing in Paranormal Romances
-Everything happens so fast, first this little girl, then she is in a hospital, then she needs to erase whatever links her to the case, goes home, needs to go to a gala, has powers, she is dragged by the main guy and that's it because I didn't finish.
-My breaking point was when the supposedly great detective she is and she is in a room with a very intelligent man but neither of them can draw the obvious conclusion about her tattoo? For a girl who calls her friend Adler and herself Sherlock, she is not that smart,let my 221b baker street man and girls alone
-She was a bad detective, not because of the first case we see but because she doesn't actually know what to do when she discovers she has a tattoo in her skull, she doesnt stop to write a list or try to re search about her tattoo, obviously the author also didn't give her time because right after the discovery of this mysterious tattoo she has to go to a gala with her “horrible mother”
-We are supposed to hate her but how?!?!? The info dump wasn't enough, I needed more proof on how bad her mother was.
-Now let's get to her new found magic, and the first thing she does is… a dildo! ahahaha so funny, no it's not, it's weird and i don't see the joke but then she is suddenly so in tune with her new magic that she masters it! after just finding out she has magic! I'm sorry,what??
Noooo! You can't have characters with new found abilities and make them a master of their abilities. It's insane.
To finish, my breaking point was her mastery in her new found magic, the weird and not fun jokes, their inabilities to draw logical conclusions, me completely disliking the main character and the first person POV.
I think the author has potential and the ideas were there but it wasn't good enough.
Honestly the character was not likable at all, she was rude, crass and offensive, not a single good quality in her, we never see a compassionate side or an empathic one, we just see a girl who hates the world she live in but even though her dad left her after a bad accident and her mother only wants her for keep appearance, her life is honestly not that bad not like any other PR.
She was the worst:
-First of all it was written in first person so that's a big no no no
-A lot of info dump in the first chapters that didn't stick to me
-Her inner monologue wasn't funny it was crass and crude, honestly I don't see humor being a big thing in Paranormal Romances
-Everything happens so fast, first this little girl, then she is in a hospital, then she needs to erase whatever links her to the case, goes home, needs to go to a gala, has powers, she is dragged by the main guy and that's it because I didn't finish.
-My breaking point was when the supposedly great detective she is and she is in a room with a very intelligent man but neither of them can draw the obvious conclusion about her tattoo? For a girl who calls her friend Adler and herself Sherlock, she is not that smart,let my 221b baker street man and girls alone
-She was a bad detective, not because of the first case we see but because she doesn't actually know what to do when she discovers she has a tattoo in her skull, she doesnt stop to write a list or try to re search about her tattoo, obviously the author also didn't give her time because right after the discovery of this mysterious tattoo she has to go to a gala with her “horrible mother”
-We are supposed to hate her but how?!?!? The info dump wasn't enough, I needed more proof on how bad her mother was.
-Now let's get to her new found magic, and the first thing she does is… a dildo! ahahaha so funny, no it's not, it's weird and i don't see the joke but then she is suddenly so in tune with her new magic that she masters it! after just finding out she has magic! I'm sorry,what??
Noooo! You can't have characters with new found abilities and make them a master of their abilities. It's insane.
To finish, my breaking point was her mastery in her new found magic, the weird and not fun jokes, their inabilities to draw logical conclusions, me completely disliking the main character and the first person POV.
I think the author has potential and the ideas were there but it wasn't good enough.
April 1, 2022
Die Privatdetektivin Ashira Cohen muss bei ihrem neuen Fall ausgerechnet mit Levi Montefiore zusammen arbeiten. Die beiden kennen sich seit ihrer Jugend und sie können nicht nicht besonders gut leiden. Levi ist das Oberhaupt der magischen Gemeinschaft und Ashira findet ihn einfach nur arrogant und überheblich. Bei Ashira hat sich auf einmal Magie gezeigt, die bisher nicht da war und gemeinsam wollen sie dieser Angelegenheit auf den Grund gehen.
Bei diesem Buch handelt es sich um de 1. Teil einer vierteiligen Urban Fantasy-Reihe rund um die Privatdetektivin Ashira Cohen. Schon als ich den Klappentext gelesen habe, wusste ich, dass ich dieses Buch unbedingt lesen will. Von der ersten Seite konnte mich dieses Buch fesseln.
Die Handlung wird aus der Sicht von Ashira erzählt in der Ich-Perspektive. Sie ist die typische Kick-Ass-Heldin mit einer ziemlich großen Klappe, was ich wirklich mochte. Der Schlagabtausch zwischen ihre und Levi ist so witzig und hat genau meinen Humor getroffen. Einerseits knistert es ganz schön zwischen den Beiden, andererseits beleidigen sie sich ständig. Die Chemie hat auf jeden Fall gepasst.
Der aktuell Fall ist sehr spannend. Neben dem Auftauchen von Ashs neuen Fähigkeiten geht es um das Verschwinden von Jugendlichen und irgendwie hängt das alles zusammen.
Am Ende bleiben ein paar Fragen offen und ich werde den 2. Teil, der bereits im Juli erscheint, auf jeden Fall lesen. Für mich hat dieser 1. Teil alles was eine gute Urban Fantasy-Geschichte braucht. Ein richtiges Highlight mit voller Punktzahl.
Bei diesem Buch handelt es sich um de 1. Teil einer vierteiligen Urban Fantasy-Reihe rund um die Privatdetektivin Ashira Cohen. Schon als ich den Klappentext gelesen habe, wusste ich, dass ich dieses Buch unbedingt lesen will. Von der ersten Seite konnte mich dieses Buch fesseln.
Die Handlung wird aus der Sicht von Ashira erzählt in der Ich-Perspektive. Sie ist die typische Kick-Ass-Heldin mit einer ziemlich großen Klappe, was ich wirklich mochte. Der Schlagabtausch zwischen ihre und Levi ist so witzig und hat genau meinen Humor getroffen. Einerseits knistert es ganz schön zwischen den Beiden, andererseits beleidigen sie sich ständig. Die Chemie hat auf jeden Fall gepasst.
Der aktuell Fall ist sehr spannend. Neben dem Auftauchen von Ashs neuen Fähigkeiten geht es um das Verschwinden von Jugendlichen und irgendwie hängt das alles zusammen.
Am Ende bleiben ein paar Fragen offen und ich werde den 2. Teil, der bereits im Juli erscheint, auf jeden Fall lesen. Für mich hat dieser 1. Teil alles was eine gute Urban Fantasy-Geschichte braucht. Ein richtiges Highlight mit voller Punktzahl.
March 30, 2021
Mon avis en Français
My English review
Here is an author whose novels I had seen a little bit everywhere and that I was curious to try. Her two urban fantasy series made me want to discover her stories and I had a great time with this novel!
Ash is the only private investigator in Vancouver, but she’s only allowed to investigate high-profile cases. It is completely excluded for her to work on Nefren, the people holding power in society. But then, because of a bad blow on her head, she discovers a tattoo now broken by a scar. Except that the problem is that she didn’t know the existence of this tattoo and now it seems that she has powers that she didn’t even think she had. Powers that shouldn’t exist.
Allying herself with Levi, the man who is her enemy, she’s going to have to try to figure out what’s going on in the city with all these children disappearing and these creatures invisible to everyone but her.
I had a really good time with this novel and I must say that I was curious to witness the interactions between Levi and Ash which were always colorful!
It was a very nice first volume and I’m very curious to read the sequel now!
My English review
Here is an author whose novels I had seen a little bit everywhere and that I was curious to try. Her two urban fantasy series made me want to discover her stories and I had a great time with this novel!
Ash is the only private investigator in Vancouver, but she’s only allowed to investigate high-profile cases. It is completely excluded for her to work on Nefren, the people holding power in society. But then, because of a bad blow on her head, she discovers a tattoo now broken by a scar. Except that the problem is that she didn’t know the existence of this tattoo and now it seems that she has powers that she didn’t even think she had. Powers that shouldn’t exist.
Allying herself with Levi, the man who is her enemy, she’s going to have to try to figure out what’s going on in the city with all these children disappearing and these creatures invisible to everyone but her.
I had a really good time with this novel and I must say that I was curious to witness the interactions between Levi and Ash which were always colorful!
It was a very nice first volume and I’m very curious to read the sequel now!
January 4, 2023
3.5 stars
This was a really good start to a new series, although I will admit that I wasn’t completely blown away. This was quite similar to the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews (one of my favourites), however, it didn’t have that same X factor.
I didn’t really buy into the romance because Levi and Ashira have known each other for over 15 years and now all of a sudden they start to develop feelings for each other? I just don’t see what could have changed, so I didn’t feel the chemistry between them.
Also, is it bad to say that I didn’t really care about the murder mystery plot? They’re usually such a hit or miss for me in fantasy books - an author really has to draw me in, otherwise I don’t really care about these random people dying lol.
I will probably finish the series eventually but I’m not in a rush to right now.
This was a really good start to a new series, although I will admit that I wasn’t completely blown away. This was quite similar to the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews (one of my favourites), however, it didn’t have that same X factor.
I didn’t really buy into the romance because Levi and Ashira have known each other for over 15 years and now all of a sudden they start to develop feelings for each other? I just don’t see what could have changed, so I didn’t feel the chemistry between them.
Also, is it bad to say that I didn’t really care about the murder mystery plot? They’re usually such a hit or miss for me in fantasy books - an author really has to draw me in, otherwise I don’t really care about these random people dying lol.
I will probably finish the series eventually but I’m not in a rush to right now.
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