Review: Bewitched Shadows by Autumn Blake

I received a copy of e-arc from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review!

Author: Autumn Blake
Publisher: Autumn Blake
Publishing Date: April 2023
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SUMMARY:
A fiery witch…
Ember Belle is a total mess. When she’s not partying with the local shifter pack or causing mayhem around New Orleans with her three sisters, she does anything to avoid confronting her out-of-control fire magick and the grief from losing her parents. However, when an opportunity arises to obtain a magical item that could solve all her problems, she decides to take her life into her own hands.

A cold-as-ice demon…
Killian Inferno’s only desire is to spend his final weeks of freedom in New Orleans, away from his duties as the future Lord of Pride. What he doesn’t expect, is to be summoned by the amateur witch who has been haunting his dreams. A seductress who needs his expertise to solve a recent murder by any means necessary. Even sorcery.

Ember now has no choice but to enter a demon pact with Killian. The terms are simple: remove the spell she may have cast on him before Samhain, or return to Hell with him, kicking and screaming. Can the two enemies set aside their animosity to uncover the city’s secrets and unlock Ember’s true magical potential, or will they be undone by the enemies they didn’t see coming?

REVIEW:
I could not stop reading this book. It was so good and so many things happening!! If you like vampires, witches, demons, wolves and more, then this book is for you. The story mainly focuses on Ember and Killian.

The story is told from Ember and Killian’s view point. The author switches back and forth between the two which is easy to understand how each character is feeling, thinking and doing.

The summary up above tells you what the book is about. It definitely ticked all the boxes off for me. This kind of stories are so fun to read.

The moment Ember and Killiam meet is epic. The banter between them is awesome. I loved it. You could sense they have something going on there. Could it be lust? Could it be love? Could it be from the spell? What will ever happen?

They eventually work together to solve the murders that are going on. Plus Ember wants to get that magical item to help herself. Killian has his own plans as well. Will all the plans go the way they want them to or will they be thrown all over the place?

There’s passion, there’s pretending, there’s drama, there’s heartfelt moments and then there is spicy parts happening. Whooo! A great combination between Killian and Ember.

I love Ember’s sisters: Jade, Audra and Isla. They are all unique sisters and they look out for each other. Best ever. A nice family touch in the story is great! The sisters even somewhat warm up to Killian in time. I will say I love movie night moment. Oh my gosh. Movie nights are the best aren’t they?

I did mention other supernaturals that pop up in this book like vampires, wolves, demons, faes, and witches. The vibes I got off off of the wolves: being cocky, vampires: snobbish, faes: evil, witches: keeping everyone on task, and demons: having their own agenda. I love having the supernatural elements in this book. It gave off the feel of an urban fantasy genre.

I will say that I did like Killian’s friend: Taliah. She is pretty bad-ass.

I will point out there is one part in the book that could be scary regarding to the fae party. So to those who may have triggers, you might want to skip that part? Also there is murder mentioned and fighting between supernaturals.

For some reason I wanted to point out that the places that you are immersed into is great.. The library, the underworld area, the houses, the areas of the parties and so much more, you could literally picture yourself there. I know I did! Ember’s favorite place was the hedge maze. I wanted to go there and explore that place. Then for some reason I kept thinking of Bram Stoker’s Dracula movie scene of the hedge maze. It popped into my head.

Isn’t the cover so pretty???

Go pick it up today!

I just really liked this story. The adventure, the drama, the spice, the family, the magic, the everything!

I believe the author may have another book after this one and I want to read it!!

I just absolutely loved the story and writing!

This amazing world is epic!

Let’s check out Youth Fiction

Look at these lovely Youth Fiction books that I saw heading out to the stacks!

Mickey is angry all the time: at his divorced parents, at his sister, and at his two new stepmoms, both named Charlie. And so he can’t resist the ad inside his pack of gum: “Do you ever wish everyone would go away? Buy The Anti-Book! Satisfaction guaranteed.” He orders the book, but when it arrives, it’s blank—except for one line of instruction: To erase it, write it. He fills the pages with all the things and people he dislikes . . .

Next thing he knows, he’s wandering an anti-world, one in which everything and everyone familiar is gone. Or are they? His sister soon reappears–but she’s only four inches tall. A tiny talking house with wings looks strangely familiar, as does the mysterious half-invisible boy who seems to think that he and Mickey are best buds. The boy persuades Mickey to go find the Bubble Gum King—the king, who resides at the top of a mountain, is the only one who might be able help Mickey fix the mess he’s made.

Where there are ghosts, Cassidy Blake follows . . .

Unless it’s the other way around?

Cass thinks she might have this ghost-hunting thing down. After all, she and her ghost best friend, Jacob, have survived two haunted cities while traveling for her parents’ TV show.

But nothing can prepare Cass for New Orleans, which wears all of its hauntings on its sleeve. In a city of ghost tours and tombs, raucous music and all kinds of magic, Cass could get lost in all the colorful, grisly local legends. And the city’s biggest surprise is a foe Cass never expected to face: a servant of Death itself.

Ryan Hart loves her family and friends. She’s looking forward to summer vacation, spending time with loved ones, and her first trip to sleepaway camp! But when an unexpected camper shows up, Ryan finds it’s hard to share your best friend and harder to be a friend to someone who isn’t a good friend to you. She’s also waiting for her new sister to be born — and hoping the baby doesn’t ruin everything. The Hart family is experiencing a lot of changes, and Ryan needs to grow her patience in many ways, find ways to share the love, meet new challenges, and grow into the leader her mom and dad named her to be. This summer and the start of fifth grade just might give Ryan the chance to show how she grows and glows!

Pinki hails from a long line of rakkhosh resisters, demons who have spent years building interspecies relationships, working together to achieve their goal of overthrowing the snakey oppressors and taking back their rights. But she has more important things to worry about, like maintaining her status as fiercest rakkhosh in her class and looking after her little cousins. There is also the teeny tiny detail of not yet being able to control her fire breathing and accidentally burning up school property.Then Sesha, the charming son of the Serpentine Governor, calls on Pinki for help in defeating the resistance, promising to give her what she most desires in return — the ability to control her fire. First she’ll have to protect the Moon Maiden, pretend to be a human (ick), and survive a family reunion. But it’s all worth it for the control of her powers . . . right?

Samira thinks of her life as before and after: before the burning and violence in her village in Burma, when she and her best friend would play in the fields, and after, when her family was forced to flee. There’s before the uncertain journey to Bangladesh by river, and after, when the river swallowed her nana and nani whole. And now, months after rebuilding a life in Bangladesh with her mama, baba, and brother, there’s before Samira saw the Bengali surfer girls of Cox’s Bazar, and after, when she decides she’ll become one.

Sami loves his life in Damascus, Syria. He hangs out with his best friend playing video games; he’s trying out for the football team; he adores his family and gets annoyed by them in equal measure. But his comfortable life gets sidetracked abruptly after a bombing in a nearby shopping mall. Knowing that the violence will only get worse, Sami’s parents decide they must flee their home for the safety of the UK.

Mini thoughts on these books

I know I have been slacking off of reviewing books but I have been reading!  Check out these books that I have already read.  These are very short reviews.

 

Moonshade (Vampire Conclave: Book 1) Paranormal Vampire Romance

Series: Vampire Conclave (Book 1)
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Date: December 15, 2016
Author: S.J. West

What is it about:
When a handsome stranger whispers these three little words to Sarah Marcel, she knows her life is forever changed.

For two weeks straight, Sarah’s been unable to eat, sleep, or even form a coherent thought properly. She fears she’s losing her mind until a chance encounter brings a man into her life who seems to hold the key to solving her problems. With a single touch, he’s able to ease her troubled soul and bring her some much-needed peace. Yet, just as Sarah believes she’s found the solution to her dilemma, he disappears.

As Sarah begins to unravel a mystery surrounding her family’s past, she quickly discovers her role in a world that’s hidden from most humans. Being a Marcel comes with certain responsibilities, and there are some things that you can’t hide from forever.

Mini Thoughts:
Totally different than what I thought it was going to be.   I bough this book as a birthday present for myself.  I am going to eventually get the rest of this series.  It is unique and I want to see what happens with Sarah.  It’s a whole new world for Sarah.  The relationship between Marcel and Sarah is unique.   This is the first book so it’s different. I think there is something there but at the same time I am not sure yet.  Very very different!

Vampires…I can’t resist!

 

 

The Sun Is Also a Star

Age Range: 12 and up
Grade Level: 7 – 9
Author: Nicola Yoon
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Date: November 1, 2016

What it is about
Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.

Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.

The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

Mini Thoughts: It is a young adult book.  I loved how this written between Daniel, the romantic and Natasha, the realist.  They compliment each other but they also have a serious talk about things.   It is so cool regarding how fate can be and how love can come to be.  Changes, life, family and every day changes pop up in this book.  It is really, really good!  Another reason I like it other than the writing that there is such a diversity in this book.  You learn something new about culture.  One can also see how a person can affect another.

I got this book from ALA convention and it is signed!  The cover is lovely because the colors compliment each other.

 

House of the Rising Sun

Series: Crescent City (Book 1)
Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Orbit
Date: May 13, 2014
Author: Kristen Painter

What it is about:
For centuries, the fae have protected the city from vampire infestation. But when the bloodsuckers return, the fragile peace in New Orleans begins to crumble. Carefree playboy Augustine, and Harlow, a woman searching for answers about her absent father, are dragged into the war. The fate of the city rests on them — and their fae blood that can no longer be denied.

Mini Thoughts:
Okay I was thrown into a whole new world and boy it did capture my attention.  There was quite a few things going on.  I usually don’t read about Fae and other creatures.  Somehow this book did catch my eye and I gave it a go.  It took me to a moment to understand this whole world.   Fae kind of remind me of faeries and elves for some odd reason.

Basically Harlow’s mother is killed and Augustine is out for blood for that because he had a soft spot for Harlow’s mother because of the way she treated him kindly.  It was more of a mother and son relationship.   Harlow was not fond of this and somehow ended back home to deal with the house, things and more.   In the process, Harlow father shows up and explains he is here to help her.  Something dark hits her and Augustine.  The two are hot and cold with each other but have a goal to figure out who her father is since her mother would not reveal it to her.  They began to wonder if he had Harlow’s mother killed or not.  There is action, drama and a tiny bit of romance.  It’s an urban fantasy story.

I purchased this book from my local library that was getting rid of it.  I do have the other two books but I have not started them yet.