lizzy_22's review against another edition
5.0
Boy, I've been picking some really great stuff lately. This had cool magick, a smart, capable heroine and a mature, sexy love interest! Win all around!
kayla_llbr's review against another edition
5.0
AWESOME book! I cannot wait for the series to continue on. The world Jenn Bennett has created is unlike any other paranoral, urban fantasy universe I have read about. I LOVE Lon and Jupe! And Arcadia is pretty wicked herself
fictionalkate's review against another edition
4.0
Sometimes you wish your parents just would stay dead…
I’d been putting off reading this book for a while. Other series and books took priority. But I’m so glad I got around to reading it. Jenn Bennett might be my favourite debut author of the year. I can not put into words how much I enjoyed this book.
The world that this book is set in is brilliant. There’s magicans who have powers similar to a lot of witches I’ve read about in the past, Earthbound demons who have ‘halos’ in different colours, Æthyric demoms which are mostly pretty scary. Throw in some magical societies and a demon nightclub – not forgetting Cady’s own demon serving bar. I thought the world was written in a way that was so vivid to me. I felt like I was right there beside Cady as she tried to find the evidence that would prove her parents’ innocence. From Ms. Bennett’s writing it’s easy to see that she is an artist.
One of the more surprising things for me whilst reading this book was Jupe – Lon’s teenage son. Normally I don’t like children in novels. They come across to me as either too old for their age, too young, too cute – all it really translates for me as too annoying. But Jupe entertained me. I thought he was written perfectly – he was at that stage where he’s trying to show he’s a man of the world but at the same time he still needs his dad around. He provided a lot of comic relief which the story needed at times. I hope we see a lot more of him in future books because I think he was my favourite character.
I loved how the story came together. It was in such a way that I was surprised by exactly how it unfolded but nothing new or out of left field was brought in just to create the climax. I loved Cady’s powers and how she used them. She’s a survivor who does what she has to but she has morals and is a decent person. I liked that about her. And the sexual tenstion between Lon and Cady? Brilliant. Their interactions and banter amused me greatly.
The second book is going to be a must buy for me.
I’d been putting off reading this book for a while. Other series and books took priority. But I’m so glad I got around to reading it. Jenn Bennett might be my favourite debut author of the year. I can not put into words how much I enjoyed this book.
The world that this book is set in is brilliant. There’s magicans who have powers similar to a lot of witches I’ve read about in the past, Earthbound demons who have ‘halos’ in different colours, Æthyric demoms which are mostly pretty scary. Throw in some magical societies and a demon nightclub – not forgetting Cady’s own demon serving bar. I thought the world was written in a way that was so vivid to me. I felt like I was right there beside Cady as she tried to find the evidence that would prove her parents’ innocence. From Ms. Bennett’s writing it’s easy to see that she is an artist.
One of the more surprising things for me whilst reading this book was Jupe – Lon’s teenage son. Normally I don’t like children in novels. They come across to me as either too old for their age, too young, too cute – all it really translates for me as too annoying. But Jupe entertained me. I thought he was written perfectly – he was at that stage where he’s trying to show he’s a man of the world but at the same time he still needs his dad around. He provided a lot of comic relief which the story needed at times. I hope we see a lot more of him in future books because I think he was my favourite character.
I loved how the story came together. It was in such a way that I was surprised by exactly how it unfolded but nothing new or out of left field was brought in just to create the climax. I loved Cady’s powers and how she used them. She’s a survivor who does what she has to but she has morals and is a decent person. I liked that about her. And the sexual tenstion between Lon and Cady? Brilliant. Their interactions and banter amused me greatly.
The second book is going to be a must buy for me.
marineb09's review against another edition
5.0
So sweet !
I loved ALL of Jenn Bennett YA books and I read two out of three in her roaring twenties series and loved them as well !
This one took me by surprise, it's well written, I couldn't put the book down. It's my first "age difference" trop and LOVED it.
All the relationship are great. Arcadia is bad ass and insecure and so relatable. Lon <3 Jupe <3
Can't wait to gt my hands on the reste of the serie !!!
I loved ALL of Jenn Bennett YA books and I read two out of three in her roaring twenties series and loved them as well !
This one took me by surprise, it's well written, I couldn't put the book down. It's my first "age difference" trop and LOVED it.
All the relationship are great. Arcadia is bad ass and insecure and so relatable. Lon <3 Jupe <3
Can't wait to gt my hands on the reste of the serie !!!
sarful's review against another edition
4.0
Well that was fun. A good fantasy romance with magic, danger, some comedy and good old fashion love.
booksnunicorns's review against another edition
5.0
Coup de coeur ! Une très belle surprise pour cette série qui débarque en 2022 en France. J'ai adoré les personnages et leur construction, c'est assez rare de trouver ce genre de qualité narrative et c'est un plaisir assez inattendu je dois bien l'avouer.
Au démarrage la lecture est un peu dense, beaucoup de détails nous sont donnés pour ce monde démoniaque et des magiciens. Au fur et à mesure, cela devient simple et efficace, une intrigue classique qui amène l'héroïne à rencontrer un personnage masculin intrigant. D'autres personnages secondaires tournent autour mais de façon assez superficiel vu qu'elle a un passé avec lequel elle doit se cacher.
C'est un premier tome vraiment top et j'ai tellement hâte de continuer, moi qui ne suit pas une fana de romance en urban fantasy, ici j'ai trouvé leur histoire extrêmement réaliste et adulte, loin des clichés et avec un AgeGap que j'aime beaucoup.
Si vous êtes fans d'Urban Fantasy, ne loupez pas cette sortie dés Janvier !
Au démarrage la lecture est un peu dense, beaucoup de détails nous sont donnés pour ce monde démoniaque et des magiciens. Au fur et à mesure, cela devient simple et efficace, une intrigue classique qui amène l'héroïne à rencontrer un personnage masculin intrigant. D'autres personnages secondaires tournent autour mais de façon assez superficiel vu qu'elle a un passé avec lequel elle doit se cacher.
C'est un premier tome vraiment top et j'ai tellement hâte de continuer, moi qui ne suit pas une fana de romance en urban fantasy, ici j'ai trouvé leur histoire extrêmement réaliste et adulte, loin des clichés et avec un AgeGap que j'aime beaucoup.
Si vous êtes fans d'Urban Fantasy, ne loupez pas cette sortie dés Janvier !
lzw's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing new series! Reminds me of Rachel Morgan a bit, which makes me happy:)
kblincoln's review against another edition
4.0
Arcadia Bell owns a Tiki Bar that caters to Earthbounds (people somehow descended from demons long ago). When they get drunk and ornery, she can bind them until they settle down with her magick. (Yes, that spelling)
Only Cady isn't her real name, and this isn't her real life. She and her parents are on the run because of the Black Lodge serial killings years ago. Only she can't hide forever, and the past is about to catch up with her in the guise of other slimy members of Occult Fraternities showing up along with bound demons to get her.
Typical urban fantasy with kick-butt heroine in a small town on the California Coast, right? Yeah, pretty much. Only what gives this one the third start despite a slow, slow beginning with far too much confusing info-dump are the main characters.
If you hang on until love-interest Lon's son, Jupiter, is introduced, you won't be sorry. For once, a child exists to be more than a sympathetic nuisance. Jupe steals the scene whenever he appears, with his motor-mouth, awkward questions, and adolescent vulnerability. And Lon's and Cady's relationship is stronger and more fun to ride along with because of the way Jupe affects their emotions as well as the danger he faces due to Cady's past.
I'm glad I hung on past the first third of the book, although I have to admit to skim-reading a bit to get there. And the end features a bit of card-board cut-out crazy evil when we get the final showdown action, but I can forgive that because Lon and Jupe are So. Cute. Seriously.
And then there's the LUUUURVE scene where Lon quotes "Et in Arcadia Ego"...and he is...so you can see there's a bit of self-conscious fun written into this.
Truthfully, I already ordered the sequel. It's just lovely escapist reading with low-key references to geek and California culture, and I gotta find out how Jupe matures (Cady's okay, but really it's all about Lon and Jupe).
Only Cady isn't her real name, and this isn't her real life. She and her parents are on the run because of the Black Lodge serial killings years ago. Only she can't hide forever, and the past is about to catch up with her in the guise of other slimy members of Occult Fraternities showing up along with bound demons to get her.
Typical urban fantasy with kick-butt heroine in a small town on the California Coast, right? Yeah, pretty much. Only what gives this one the third start despite a slow, slow beginning with far too much confusing info-dump are the main characters.
If you hang on until love-interest Lon's son, Jupiter, is introduced, you won't be sorry. For once, a child exists to be more than a sympathetic nuisance. Jupe steals the scene whenever he appears, with his motor-mouth, awkward questions, and adolescent vulnerability. And Lon's and Cady's relationship is stronger and more fun to ride along with because of the way Jupe affects their emotions as well as the danger he faces due to Cady's past.
I'm glad I hung on past the first third of the book, although I have to admit to skim-reading a bit to get there. And the end features a bit of card-board cut-out crazy evil when we get the final showdown action, but I can forgive that because Lon and Jupe are So. Cute. Seriously.
And then there's the LUUUURVE scene where Lon quotes "Et in Arcadia Ego"...and he is...so you can see there's a bit of self-conscious fun written into this.
Truthfully, I already ordered the sequel. It's just lovely escapist reading with low-key references to geek and California culture, and I gotta find out how Jupe matures (Cady's okay, but really it's all about Lon and Jupe).
mrssoule's review against another edition
4.0
This was an entertaining first-in-series book about magician Arcadia Bell. I enjoyed her relationship with demon/demonologist Lon and his teenage son Jupe (short for Jupiter). The difference in Arcadia & Lon's communication styles is both hilarious and realistic. Jupe is great - super-talkative and high-energy - and also a very believable character. I'm adding the second in the series to my TBR list.
clarisser's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5