kblincoln's review
4.0
I have been rabidly curious about the tattooed welder & artist we met in the first book of this series (and whose metal flying monkey creations were turned against her!) And because I'm a nosy busybuddy, I also wanted to know why she was a single parent, and who the father of her son, Peregrine, was.
We got all the answers in this book, as well as a look into Chandler's backstory as an adopted child, her wild younger years, and her affinity with fire & her patron spirit the Fire Salamander. As politics and magic come to a head in the community of witches and their High Council in New England, with possible demon and fae involvement, we get to see both couples from the the first two books as well as Chandler and a new love interest go into action to both help a young sick child as well as come into their own powers as a coven.
Esden loves to create situations for her characters where their worst fear comes to pass: and in this one she puts Chandler through a mother's wringer of pain. Peregrine may be the key to helping save another child's life, but allowing him to take part in a super secret ritual may put him in the worst kind of danger. She is forced to confront long-held secrets and her own fear of losing her child.
And as always in an Esden book, there's a creative, playful and loving relationship between the two love interests. There was a lot packed into the book, but I felt the male lead didn't quite get enough camera time leading up to quite a steamy scene with him and Chandler. It left me not as invested as I usually am. But I love the choices Chandler made to risk herself with a relationship even while dire events in the witching world meant she might have her love torn away.
Also per the usual in this series, there's a lot of focus on the everyday rituals, the ingredients, the timing, the flavors and smells, and the phrases invoked. It gives the action a homey, sense-of-place firmly rooted in the Vermont locale with a touch of spirits, fae intrigue, and Merlin lore.
We got all the answers in this book, as well as a look into Chandler's backstory as an adopted child, her wild younger years, and her affinity with fire & her patron spirit the Fire Salamander. As politics and magic come to a head in the community of witches and their High Council in New England, with possible demon and fae involvement, we get to see both couples from the the first two books as well as Chandler and a new love interest go into action to both help a young sick child as well as come into their own powers as a coven.
Esden loves to create situations for her characters where their worst fear comes to pass: and in this one she puts Chandler through a mother's wringer of pain. Peregrine may be the key to helping save another child's life, but allowing him to take part in a super secret ritual may put him in the worst kind of danger. She is forced to confront long-held secrets and her own fear of losing her child.
And as always in an Esden book, there's a creative, playful and loving relationship between the two love interests. There was a lot packed into the book, but I felt the male lead didn't quite get enough camera time leading up to quite a steamy scene with him and Chandler. It left me not as invested as I usually am. But I love the choices Chandler made to risk herself with a relationship even while dire events in the witching world meant she might have her love torn away.
Also per the usual in this series, there's a lot of focus on the everyday rituals, the ingredients, the timing, the flavors and smells, and the phrases invoked. It gives the action a homey, sense-of-place firmly rooted in the Vermont locale with a touch of spirits, fae intrigue, and Merlin lore.
bananatricky's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at 47%.
I really liked the second book in this series and so when I saw this book available for review I jumped at the chance, unfortunately the heroine, Chandler, never really grabbed my attention and her love interest, the human journalist Lionel Parker (who of course turns out to be a special snowflake after all) just came across as a bit wet.
Chandler had a one-night stand with one of the scions of the High Council's son which resulted in her son Peregrine, her son's father refused to speak to Chandler when she tried to tell him she was pregnant and almost immediately made a dynastic marriage. Peregrine is showing signs of having a dangerous magical talent, the ability to see through faerie glamour, something he inherited from his father and a 'gift' that has led to many witches being killed by the fae.
Chandler's former fellow coven witch placed a curse on Lionel which allows him to see fae, or so they think but when the coven try to lift the spell they discover a shocking secret about Lionel's past.
Oh, and there's also a plot involving Peregrine's half-brother Aidan who is in a coma and the coven believe that they can restore him to health. Even writing all of this I want to know how it all pans out - but I don't want to read any more of this book, I just don't feel engaged by Chandler and Lionel at all. So at 47% I feel I've given it a good shot and I'm giving up.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I really liked the second book in this series and so when I saw this book available for review I jumped at the chance, unfortunately the heroine, Chandler, never really grabbed my attention and her love interest, the human journalist Lionel Parker (who of course turns out to be a special snowflake after all) just came across as a bit wet.
Chandler had a one-night stand with one of the scions of the High Council's son which resulted in her son Peregrine, her son's father refused to speak to Chandler when she tried to tell him she was pregnant and almost immediately made a dynastic marriage. Peregrine is showing signs of having a dangerous magical talent, the ability to see through faerie glamour, something he inherited from his father and a 'gift' that has led to many witches being killed by the fae.
Chandler's former fellow coven witch placed a curse on Lionel which allows him to see fae, or so they think but when the coven try to lift the spell they discover a shocking secret about Lionel's past.
Oh, and there's also a plot involving Peregrine's half-brother Aidan who is in a coma and the coven believe that they can restore him to health. Even writing all of this I want to know how it all pans out - but I don't want to read any more of this book, I just don't feel engaged by Chandler and Lionel at all. So at 47% I feel I've given it a good shot and I'm giving up.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
It's the first book I read in this series and won't surely be the last as I liked the characters and the world building.
Even if it's the 3rd in this series it can be read as a stand alone.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Even if it's the 3rd in this series it can be read as a stand alone.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
annarella's review
4.0
It's the first book I read in this series and won't surely be the last as I liked the characters and the world building.
Even if it's the 3rd in this series it can be read as a stand alone.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Even if it's the 3rd in this series it can be read as a stand alone.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
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