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Shunned Immortal #1
Vampire in the Corner Pocket
'Wow! These guys hit the gas and never let up. I'm exhausted!'
I like karaoke, 80’s hair bands, and shooting pool. What I don’t like is how much I know about the world and the almost immortal Caretakers who control the veil separating it from dangerous supernatural forces.
Well, maybe not immortal after all... because someone just killed a Caretaker, and they did it to send me a message.
Now I’m hip deep in it, I have a seemingly homeless woman in my care who is clearly not telling me everything, and the only way out is to hit this thing head on.
They kicked me out. Dumped me on earth and shunned me. I’ve kept my abilities, my … magic hidden, but I guess I always knew no one ever really gets to walk away.
I like karaoke, 80’s hair bands, and shooting pool. What I don’t like is how much I know about the world and the almost immortal Caretakers who control the veil separating it from dangerous supernatural forces.
Well, maybe not immortal after all... because someone just killed a Caretaker, and they did it to send me a message.
Now I’m hip deep in it, I have a seemingly homeless woman in my care who is clearly not telling me everything, and the only way out is to hit this thing head on.
They kicked me out. Dumped me on earth and shunned me. I’ve kept my abilities, my … magic hidden, but I guess I always knew no one ever really gets to walk away.
- GenresParanormal
321 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2022
196 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 15, 2023
Well. Sorry.
I did read it. It wasn't completely awful. It wasn't terribly well done either - I just couldn't buy it. This guy is 500 years old, and he's falling for a girl he met exactly 18 hours ago? AND revealing all kinds of 'secret stuff' at the drop of a hat?
I understand the temptation to get a lot of worldbuilding background into the hands of the reader as fast as possible, but really. That was WAY too obvious an author's data dump.
Too complex a world too fast, too much detail too much too fast. It would have been a better, tighter story if there was LESS OF IT.
So vampires go basically wild within months of 'turning' but a thousand something year old vampire has PLANS? What did I miss?
He catches the girl snooping in his secret lair and THINKS NOTHING OF IT.
I do not think that 80s hair music was so incredible that a guy who has been around that long would be wearing the t-shirts forty years later. Sorry. I daresay it seemed like a cute detail to humanize him at the time. Please don't do that. The pool playing was sufficient, truly.
Given the 'background' - I mean, the PREMISE is interesting - but given the background of the MC, the plot and character interactions were - out of character.
Jim Butcher does the wisecracking idiosyncratic magic user SO SO much better than this.
It wasn't, however, the worst such book I've read, and I DID finish it, so - that's something.
Three stars for 'wasn't terrible, I read all of it'.
But it took a while. I kept putting it down in favor of something else.
I did read it. It wasn't completely awful. It wasn't terribly well done either - I just couldn't buy it. This guy is 500 years old, and he's falling for a girl he met exactly 18 hours ago? AND revealing all kinds of 'secret stuff' at the drop of a hat?
I understand the temptation to get a lot of worldbuilding background into the hands of the reader as fast as possible, but really. That was WAY too obvious an author's data dump.
Too complex a world too fast, too much detail too much too fast. It would have been a better, tighter story if there was LESS OF IT.
So vampires go basically wild within months of 'turning' but a thousand something year old vampire has PLANS? What did I miss?
He catches the girl snooping in his secret lair and THINKS NOTHING OF IT.
I do not think that 80s hair music was so incredible that a guy who has been around that long would be wearing the t-shirts forty years later. Sorry. I daresay it seemed like a cute detail to humanize him at the time. Please don't do that. The pool playing was sufficient, truly.
Given the 'background' - I mean, the PREMISE is interesting - but given the background of the MC, the plot and character interactions were - out of character.
Jim Butcher does the wisecracking idiosyncratic magic user SO SO much better than this.
It wasn't, however, the worst such book I've read, and I DID finish it, so - that's something.
Three stars for 'wasn't terrible, I read all of it'.
But it took a while. I kept putting it down in favor of something else.
January 30, 2023
Well that was not what I was expecting. An “enforcer” falls from grace and lives like a human and then gets tangled up in vampire business. A vampire that wants to be a god, basically. The “caretakers” hold all the control but could they do better. Clever title, since Gus was a semi-pro pool player. Not sure if I’ll read another one.
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May 11, 2023Very satisfying supernatural read. Excellent story development.
A very satisfying, well written read by Jake Skelton and Steve Higgs.
I only recently discovered and became a recent appreciator of Steve Higgs' work after reading the Albert Smith's Culinary Adventures series and some of the Patricia Fisher Mysteries series, which I will be returning to, and happened upon this series through those series.
This first book of the Shunned Immortal series has further ratcheted up my impressed-with-everything-I have- read-so-far-by-Steve-Higgs rating.
I think I will be a firm Jake Skelton appreciator too, if this book is anything to go by. I have not read anything by Jake before, but I sure am going to check out his solo writing very soon. Officially impressed, and that is a little hard to do.
The buildup of events, twists and turns was well crafted. It was not a slow burn by any means; the action started within the first chapter which opens with a deliciously suspenseful tone to ignite my interest, and keep me turning pages [well, advancing through the pages, considering I bought this book through Kindle] to the end.
I remained sufficiently invested enough to read on, and the interesting plot twists kept coming at a well paced rate. Very satisfying storyline advancement.
A standout: absolutely blown away by Chapter 30. 👀
Will not give more of a spoiler alert than this and say any more than that about this chapter, but dang, it was SATISFYING! 😈
[Don't skip ahead, but if you are unsure about getting this book, you GOTTA get this book for that chapter - - as well as the others, of course]. I might even have to re-read this book, and that is something I rarely do.
No negatives with the way this volume was written at all.
There are several likeable characters introduced throughout who are all worth being invested in, and all essential to a well constructed storyline.
Nice mention of the Hair Metal band Tshirts and the insertion of what seem to be a few clearly fond memories of their concerts by at least one of the authors.
That delighted me too, being a Hair/ Glam and most other metal genres fan too, but this recurring theme by no means dominates the storyline; it adds another likeable dimension to the Gus Savage character, who has an acceptable share of rough facets to his personality to add further interest and dimensionality [is that a grammatically correct word??].
It's just an added bonus for those who like Hair, Glam and Prog metal/ hard rock. Love all of these bands; still play 'em 30+ years on - oops, showing my age now!! 😎🤘
Well done, guys. On to Volume Two - Cue Magic!
A very satisfying, well written read by Jake Skelton and Steve Higgs.
I only recently discovered and became a recent appreciator of Steve Higgs' work after reading the Albert Smith's Culinary Adventures series and some of the Patricia Fisher Mysteries series, which I will be returning to, and happened upon this series through those series.
This first book of the Shunned Immortal series has further ratcheted up my impressed-with-everything-I have- read-so-far-by-Steve-Higgs rating.
I think I will be a firm Jake Skelton appreciator too, if this book is anything to go by. I have not read anything by Jake before, but I sure am going to check out his solo writing very soon. Officially impressed, and that is a little hard to do.
The buildup of events, twists and turns was well crafted. It was not a slow burn by any means; the action started within the first chapter which opens with a deliciously suspenseful tone to ignite my interest, and keep me turning pages [well, advancing through the pages, considering I bought this book through Kindle] to the end.
I remained sufficiently invested enough to read on, and the interesting plot twists kept coming at a well paced rate. Very satisfying storyline advancement.
A standout: absolutely blown away by Chapter 30. 👀
Will not give more of a spoiler alert than this and say any more than that about this chapter, but dang, it was SATISFYING! 😈
[Don't skip ahead, but if you are unsure about getting this book, you GOTTA get this book for that chapter - - as well as the others, of course]. I might even have to re-read this book, and that is something I rarely do.
No negatives with the way this volume was written at all.
There are several likeable characters introduced throughout who are all worth being invested in, and all essential to a well constructed storyline.
Nice mention of the Hair Metal band Tshirts and the insertion of what seem to be a few clearly fond memories of their concerts by at least one of the authors.
That delighted me too, being a Hair/ Glam and most other metal genres fan too, but this recurring theme by no means dominates the storyline; it adds another likeable dimension to the Gus Savage character, who has an acceptable share of rough facets to his personality to add further interest and dimensionality [is that a grammatically correct word??].
It's just an added bonus for those who like Hair, Glam and Prog metal/ hard rock. Love all of these bands; still play 'em 30+ years on - oops, showing my age now!! 😎🤘
Well done, guys. On to Volume Two - Cue Magic!
January 16, 2023
Not the most fitting title, but it works
There were a few spell check errors. Overall there was so much action it didn't matter. An enforcer for the gods prefers humans and is banished for it. To keep busy fighting for humanity he starts a paranormal news paper. The hotline creates chuckles, leads and friends. An innocent tipster appeals to him for help, and the story begins. Only it's not that easy to kill the father of all vampires.
There were a few spell check errors. Overall there was so much action it didn't matter. An enforcer for the gods prefers humans and is banished for it. To keep busy fighting for humanity he starts a paranormal news paper. The hotline creates chuckles, leads and friends. An innocent tipster appeals to him for help, and the story begins. Only it's not that easy to kill the father of all vampires.
November 12, 2022
Great start to a new series. I like the inclusion of the paranormal in Steve Higgs books, along with his co-author, Jake Skelton. The story was well-written, and I thought the characters were first-rate. Looking forward to the next book. Recommend reading.
November 16, 2022
how did he not know?
3 out 5 stars because I knew the girl’s problem almost from the get-go. So, how did an experienced wizard not pick it up? It feels like so many stories along this one’s lines. Not sure I’ll follow it.
3 out 5 stars because I knew the girl’s problem almost from the get-go. So, how did an experienced wizard not pick it up? It feels like so many stories along this one’s lines. Not sure I’ll follow it.
November 24, 2022
Disappointing
I had high hopes of this series as I have read and enjoyed Steve Higgs Realm of the False God's, but this never seemed to get my pulses racing, and I put it down several times whilst I struggled through it. In fact the final chase seemed so interminable that I found myself yawning and struggling to stay awake (it was early evening), and the end battle was boring to say the least. So, sorry, but I don't think I will follow this series.
I had high hopes of this series as I have read and enjoyed Steve Higgs Realm of the False God's, but this never seemed to get my pulses racing, and I put it down several times whilst I struggled through it. In fact the final chase seemed so interminable that I found myself yawning and struggling to stay awake (it was early evening), and the end battle was boring to say the least. So, sorry, but I don't think I will follow this series.
December 15, 2022
Enthralling read
This was a highly entertaining storyline with strong believable characters and a dark twisted plot!
Loved it and I'm looking forward to what trouble they get into next.
Highly recommended.
This was a highly entertaining storyline with strong believable characters and a dark twisted plot!
Loved it and I'm looking forward to what trouble they get into next.
Highly recommended.
January 25, 2023
Start of another great series
Another author I wouldn't have known about if it wasn't for Steve higgs, a great start to another great series, solid likeable characters and good stories, can't wait to read the next one, keep them coming guys.
Another author I wouldn't have known about if it wasn't for Steve higgs, a great start to another great series, solid likeable characters and good stories, can't wait to read the next one, keep them coming guys.
February 6, 2023
Excellent!
Great characters, Really surprising plot events , Really fresh and almost poetic imagery at times. I do want to understand more about the FBI agent And I'm hoping I will learn more back story About the people at the side pocket
Great characters, Really surprising plot events , Really fresh and almost poetic imagery at times. I do want to understand more about the FBI agent And I'm hoping I will learn more back story About the people at the side pocket
November 8, 2022
A different realm touching the human realm. What could possibly go wrong? Gus’s ethics get him kicked out of the one realm, into the the human realm. Now after so many years, Gus has to make a go of it in the human realm. The only problem is that some of his issues/problems have followed him.
Fun new book.
Fun new book.
April 2, 2023
Not a bad tale
Not my favorite Steve Higgs book but a good premise all told. Hop he continues with the other stories as well.
Not my favorite Steve Higgs book but a good premise all told. Hop he continues with the other stories as well.
April 15, 2023
Vampires
Great start to a new adventure. Monsters, vampires and wizards! This will be a great adventure. Looking forward to adventures in this new world.
Great start to a new adventure. Monsters, vampires and wizards! This will be a great adventure. Looking forward to adventures in this new world.
July 27, 2023
Wow
Wow this was awesome book. I never dreamed that it would turn out as it did! Also I never dreamed that I would love the characters as I did! But I did!! Must read
Wow this was awesome book. I never dreamed that it would turn out as it did! Also I never dreamed that I would love the characters as I did! But I did!! Must read
January 24, 2024
Interesting story line. Very intrigued. Enjoyed the story
March 5, 2024
I enjoyed the book. Wouldn't mind access to the others
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews