Welcome to the City of Secrets & Sin I never imagined that owning a haunted bookstore in New Orleans would be my future, but here I am. For the first time in my miserable life, I’m happy. I have a home.
But when my closest friend is cursed by an unknown spell, I realize there’s something far darker going on in New Orleans. Fiona has only days left before she’s destroyed forever, and I’ll do anything to save her—including teaming up with the demon lord who haunts my dreams with his devastating kisses.
Because it’s not just my friend who is in trouble. It’s people all over town. One by one, demons are disappearing. The only way to save them is to team up with Talan, but I know that I can’t trust the seductive demon. He’s too powerful and ruthless, with too many secrets.
As for my own secrets? If they get out, I'm dead.
Well of Souls is the second in the Secrets & Sin trilogy. It's got enemies to lovers, fated mates, and a tortured hero who is absolutely obsessed with the heroine, but really doesn't want to be.
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Before becoming a writer, Linsey was an archaeologist who studied shipwrecks in all kinds of water, from the tropics to muddy rivers (and she has a distinct preference for one over the other). After a decade of tromping around in search of old bits of stuff, she settled down to start penning her own adventure novels and is freaking delighted that people seem to like them. Since life is better with a little (or a lot of) magic, she writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance.
I really enjoyed this book. I pretty much read it in one sitting. Linsey hall does a great job of making a world and characters that you love. I can't wait to see what she does next.
This was a really good book. It would have been a great book but, the ending was just way too abrupt. Normally, this inkslinger ends all her series with an HEA. With no mention of a third in series, I don't know what to think. I hope there will be at least one more in the series so we aren't left hanging. Cora and Talan are thrown into a situation where demons and ghosts are just disappearing into thin air. Talan can feel that his portal is off and believes Rathbine is responsible. Little does he know Rathbine has some powerful help. Enter the Fae queen and that is when things get tricky. Can Cora and Talan save the disappearing demons and ghosts before they disappear for good and Fiona with them? Like I previously stated, this was a great book all the way up until the end. If there is another book in this series, I will not be disappointed. However, if not, that was a seriously awful ending or non- ending whichever the case may be. I love this inkslinger and normally am thrilled with whatever she writes but, this ending was definitely lacking for me. I hope there is another book in this series!
I enjoyed the first book but this one felt so rushed. I struggled to immerse myself properly throughout the scenes because it would end as quick it as it came. The ending was the cherry on top for me. It was also rushed and incredibly lacking.
Fiona’s murder mystery didn’t even get a proper investigation and it seemed like the author just made it up on the spot. The “battle” if you could even call it that was the shortest thing I ever read. It seems like the characters have no weaknesses and only strengths. Gives too much of a ‘mary-sue’ vibe.
I’m not sure whether I’ll read the third book or not. Trying to decide whether it’s a waste of my time.
This book felt pretty much the same as the first in the sense of development. There was no character growth, the relationship kept going one step forward, two steps backward.
The action in the book happened way too fast. There were no suspense, or excitement. It took Cora three seconds tops to kill the Fae queen, who was said to be incredibly powerful. One would think the more powerful they are, the more of her killing power it would take to kill someone. But no.
I gave this book three stars because I actually did like about the first half of the book. Cora is still portrayed as a strong and independent female character, and I liked Fiona and her involvement in this book. Despite that, I will not be continuing with the series. I don’t imagine a lot will change in the next book, or at least not changes I haven’t already seen coming.
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Reread and lowered my review by one star. But I will read the last, cause I’m only looking for easy reads for now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I absolutely loved this instalment as its obviously a romance but definitely a slow build. Our lovely Demon knows who his fated Mate is but both of our main character's want finally to be able make their own decisions and choices. Trouble is there are those who wany to use their connection to push and perhaps distract them ? Im really enjoying the adventures of Cora and Talen as they are often unexpected and its lovely trying to work out exactly who and why Cora is the way she is. Then of course there's the mystery behind her mum and exactly what happened to those who are now considered friends. Plus what drives this story is what on earth is causing people to disappear ? Yes a lot is going on here and its truthfully a joy to read and obviously recommended This voluntary take is of an advanced copy and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
I throughly enjoyed this book. I love seeing how all the relationships are progressing. I do wish there was more detail, but there is enough to keep the story short and easy to ready whilst maintaining interest.
These two are so stubborn! Would it be so awful to have a soulmate? Sure people could use them against you but Talon has said it a few times Cora can take care of herself. She has deadly magic for pete sake! And Talon is one of the most powerful demons alive. If Talon hadn't hurt Cora by rejecting her & saying hurtful things then I think Cora would have been begging Talon to love her. In this book people start disappearing including ghosts. It's random & if it wasn't for Fiona I don't think Cora would know unless someone mentioned a person disappearing & she overheard it. Talon thinks it's Rathbine his old boss. Cora thinks it's Talon because they trace the magic back to Talon's house. The fae Queen throws her yearly party. Talon & Cora go to find out who's behind the magic that is corrupting the portal. Only to find out the Queen invited them to watch them. She tells Cora Talon is her fated mate. Later then need more information so they have to get invited back to Faerie. They get invited to a weekend party where they have to pretend to be a couple. They sneak into the Queen's chambers. Unfortunately she wakes up before they get her to drink the potion. They know Rathbine is involved so they team up with another demon. Unfortunately the plan goes wrong. A fight breaks out. Talon is lucky he is the strongest & most of the demons on the Council side with him. When they get back Cora checks on Fiona only to watch her be sucked away. Talon is there & he recognizes the scent of the magic. They gather a team to go retrieve their lost town members. They discover Rathbine & the fae Queen are working together. The Queen has gotten incredibly powerful because only Cora is able to kill her. When they get home Cora decides they can't see each other. Talon knew they couldn't act on their feelings. I swear someone just needs to lock them in a room for a week! They need to understand they are stronger together.
Hiding secrets and staying under the radar was proving very difficult for Cora. But what was happening in New Orleans required her intervention even at the risk of her safety. Firm on being bound to no one and making her own decisions, Cora defied the demon lord and doing so, found more than she bargained for. Talan had an internal struggle between duty and his feelings. Something mysterious was preying on those he must protect, and he can't be distracted, by anyone. Cora and Talan found themselves involved in a web of secrets, a struggle for power, curses and, most of all, fear of their own decisions. I liked the strength of their characters and the notorious powers that both have. The secondary characters were interesting, with their own magic and sometimes were funny. Fiona caught my attention, and I kept my eye on her intriguing situation. I liked how the threat that hung over them was dealt with and the final chapter left me eager to see if Cora and Talon come to a happy medium and resolve the conflict that anguishes them. An interesting and intriguing story with strong characters, action, suspense, exciting scenes, intrigue, drama, mystery, spells, some emotional scenes, violence, romance, and a little bit of passion. Like the author's interesting and detailed writing style that entertains and intrigues me.
This is book 2 in a series and I found it enjoyable. I felt like the main focus of the book was “how do I save my new friend Fiona?” So if you’re hoping for a lot of steam between Cora and the demon king hopefully that’s book 3. I do really love the world Linsey has created and loved all the explanations of how the demons were able to live in New Orleans. The mystery was a fun one to unravel as they fought to save everyone who was disappearing from their part of town. I also liked the book ended! I’m looking forward to how that plays out in book 3! I do wish the the 2 battle scenes at the end would have had more of a resolution, I felt like they just stopped and then Cora just took off and never asked a why. Also no one questioned how Cora could go everywhere, but not all super naturals can enter the demon realms, I was wondering why the demon king didn’t question her abilities. Maybe we will see the why in book 3?
If you’re a fan of Linsey’s world and love when the characters get to travel all over to solve a mystery, you’ll love this next installment.
Loved this! I almost wish I had waited for the final book to read this but at the same time I'm glad I didn't. This was just so good. The slow burn romance between Cora and Talan is so bittersweet. Because of their pasts and their responsibilities they are trying so hard not to fall for each other. As a reader, I'd say it's already too late, but they aren't ready to give up their game of keep away.
When demons start disappearing and Cora's friendly ghost starts flickering out of existence, Cora and Talan team up with the rest of the crew to find out what's happening and how to stop it. Many things happen along the way to keep the story interesting and often riveting. With a rather happy twist towards the end and an ending that leaves one wanting more, it winds up nicely for now. I'm waiting with baited breath for the finale in this trilogy.
I want to give this book 5stars, I really do. But I can't because of the ending. With that being said, I still recommend this book and will probably be rereading in the future
SPOILERS (kinda) AHEAD
I absolutely loved this book. The main characters made me fall in love and I'm upset that they're not together. When they came back from the underworld and he saved her for the millionth time, they should've confessed their feelings. Please tell me there will be a third book. I need to know that not only they ended up together but I'd also like to know how they handle Coras old boss
Well of souls was a gripping read. The mystery, finding answers. As always Linsey Hall creates characters that are enticing, endearing, and lovable. The side characters always steal the show but this time she became the main character. And I loved the direction the story is going. The slow burn between Cora and Talan is chef's kiss. But that ending was heartbreaking. Can't wait for book 3. Fantastically fun read with just enough of everything to keep you turning page by page. Highly recommended read and author...
Read books one and two (this review is for both). The premise had promise, and it was okay enough for me to finish the first and read the second, but I'll pass on the third. Actually, I'll plan on passing on future books by this author altogether. Again, not terrible, but flat, characters a little too cardboard, too undeveloped. Goes back to the "show, don't say" axiom - I felt like the author said "instalove!" and "they just met and now they're besties!" but it's not believable. Premise had promise, but it failed to live up to it.
I have been looking forward to this book since reading the first. I like Cora. The story gives us another adventure in this alternate New Orleans. Fiona, ghost, is being pulled by some force. Talan unloading demons to what turns out to be the same force. The danger and stakes all up. Talan and Cora join forces and being in every ally to protect those they love. What always bothers is the ending. I hope there is more to.come because Cora and Talan need to.work through their issues and get together.
Talen and Cora’s relationship continues as they team up to figure out why demons are disappearing and what is trying to take Fiona away. This second installment moved the storyline along nicely and tired up Fiona’s arc within the bigger story. We still don’t know much about Cora’s past except her former master is hunting her. I’m looking forward to learning who and what he is and how Cora and Talen defeat him.
I enjoy the story immensely. Lindsey Hall is one of my favorite authors. What I don’t like is that it says this is a two book series. That means to me it’s a completed series. If Book 2 is the end of the series that I’m highly disappointed because it ends on a cliffhanger with no real ending. nowhere is there any mention that there will be a continuation of the story. I am disappointed and confused??
I feel like it lacked some creativity when it comes to the fight scenes. I don't know how many times she got grabbed by the throat and almost dying bec of the same move - which in turn made me think she's not much of a badass assassin. Her supposed power is a weakness in itself bec she has to get close to her opponent to kill but then what always happened was she ended up on the verge of death. I guess I was hoping to read more killing moves?
Talan wants nothing more than to secure the freedom of those he is sworn to protect, but is the cost of their freedom his happiness? The story is well written and compelling. Taran and Cora are fated mates, but to protect those they love, must they give up any remote chance at happiness?
Thoughts: I'm not sure if the author got bored with this somewhere midway through book 2 or if this is just weird writing. The premise for the series was fantastic. In the first book, Cora meets a slew of characters and they all some something quirky and fun to bring. She's lived this life of isolation and she's finally starting to accept others. And then.... it just kind of hits this weird point where she accepts the girls but can't accept Talon... and the other people she's encountered previously really just lose any relavance. It led no where. The baddie in each book was just meh. I thought maybe this one would offer some more substance but it was so rushed and I felt so many missed opportunities. I was pretty much counting down until I would be finished with this series and that sucks :(
Epic Saga for Control of Demon Controlled Part of New Orleans or is it a love story
Unrequited love tears apart the underworld while selfless love heals it. Should have been the title no? A Ghost, a Demon and a Witch walk into a bar along with a cop, a barista with great taste in clothing all in search of a portal. Not a better title? All are true in Bok 2 of Linsey Hall's Secrets & Sun Book 2. Demon's are still disappearing from Talan's part of New Orleans on Earth. Now Cora, our former percent who can kill with her touch has lost her 1st friend, a ghost her mother killed. The same mother who sold her to mercenary slavery. Now the Queen of the Fae want her and Talan dead and Talan's former tormentor and fellow member of the demon council seem to be collaborating together.
Epic story and battle. What's left for book 3? I can't be with you, Cora, No I can't be with you Talan, no we shouldn't, why shouldn't we, no stop, no, don't stop. If there is any more than that amount of back and forth sniveling unrequited love in book 3, I may end up throwing my dresser across the room!
Take heed, Ms. Hall, give us credit and don't write for the Hallmark Channel here.
Cora can’t seem to catch a break from finding trouble wherever she goes, and this time is no exception. Fiona her ghost roommate is being pulled into a uknown place by a uknown force and Cora must find out who it is before this happens or she may never see her friend again. However when the clues lead her to the Deamon Lords home, Cora will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of the reason why this is happening. But when she finds out that the Deamon Lords is missing his own people and he is having issues with his portal to the underworld they team up and start to find out who is the real person behind the disappearances in their part of New Orleans. This is a snippet of what happens in this book, but there is so much more great story behind this snippet that is very interesting and fun to read. It was a great storyline that was well written and the characters are the same as the original book. Am anxious to start reading the next book in the series so I’ll see you in the next review.
>I am an independent reviewer. This book is the 2nd in the Secrets and Sin series and ends with a relationship cliffhanger. Talan and Cora spend most of the book fighting their mate bond. I kept expecting some romantic scenes, but even when Talan realizes he can’t live without Cora, he second guesses himself after, literally, 1 minute. The plot in this story is to discover who is tampering with the demon portal threatening all demons and ghosts.
>I was excited when Cora meets an ex of Talan’s, but that scene was so wasted. Cora didn’t care and Talan blew it off. This book is appropriate for an adult audience. I am giving this book 4 stars. I love the ghost character Fiona. She really cemented her friendship with Cora. This book is the 2nd of 3 books, but I am not going to be reading book #3. The plot is not so compelling without any romance. Cora and Talan have no appeal.
WARNING! There’s a bit of a cliffhanger at the end of this one. It’s only about 3/5 on the trauma scale because it’s nature is more “unfinished business” than anything else.
Cora is only just settling into her new life, and it’s when her new ghost friend starts having issues that she knows something else is wrong. The nature of the problem is one involving the demon lord’s domain, and that means she has to team up with Talan again. Dealing with disappearing demons and demanding fae queens, Cora has a lot on her plate.
This is the second book in series, and picks up where book one left off (well about a week later). It’s a fast paced, and action filled story, with plenty of magic, and a number of battles. It’s an enjoyable read, set in an enchanted universe, with an interesting set of characters and a well thought out world. It’s a great read for the urban fantasy enthusiast, and for any Linsey Hall fans.
What a mess. After such an interesting premise in the first book, this second one has me scratching my head and ready to give up altogether. The plot was all over, nothing seemed to be planned out, with everything just happening at random and poorly written besides. Cora keeps being made out to be this amazing fighter with crazy powerful magic, but honestly this book didn't showcase any of that. The author seemed more interested in describing the characters clothes and what food they ate than how any fight scenes played out.
After Cora was strangled for the third time, and magically healed from a life threatening injury (also for the third time) I have to say I'm done.
Still enjoying this verse and characters. Very fun adventure and slow burn build up. This one's not a typical romance and really falls more toward fantasy in some ways. The relationship is important but I wouldn't call this HEA or HFN. It's more like potential. I still think the side characters deserve their own books. Good plot and fun adventure. Loved how everyone comes together, kind of a Team Scoobies only a bit more badass. Only tiny issue (and I think I've read reviews on this) characters do things and you're not sure why. I mean they are complete disasters doing it which is kind of fun. Definitely looking forward to read Book 3. I'd rec this author based on the 2 books I've read.