dukefn99's review
4.0
Read my review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2958457387 or at https://www.audible.com/listener/A26J2TRDPZH7RZ
mrose21's review
2.0
Well this story is def a little screwed up
So her parents are jerks,
Evans a jerk
So basically everyone treats her like crap and gets away with it. I just feel so angry with the way everything goes down... I actually felt like crying when he parents decided to up the jerk level from a little to 'i couldn't give a crap about my first born'... I'm also waiting for something GOOD to happen to her. Dear god
Excuse me I need to go drink bleach or something.
So her parents are jerks,
Evans a jerk
So basically everyone treats her like crap and gets away with it. I just feel so angry with the way everything goes down... I actually felt like crying when he parents decided to up the jerk level from a little to 'i couldn't give a crap about my first born'... I'm also waiting for something GOOD to happen to her. Dear god
Excuse me I need to go drink bleach or something.
bookfessional's review
4.0
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
I put this book on my wishlist months ago after seeing several back-to-back positive reviews of it by trusted bloggers.
But you know how it is . . . SO many books, SO little time . . . extremely small press . . . weird cover . . .
If the book doesn't go on sale immediately after it's caught your eye, by the time it does, the stellar endorsements have become vague remembrances, and all the reasons you originally tossed it on top of Mt. TBR become overwhelmed with past experiences---BAD experiences---you've had with this type of (practically indie) book.
I'm really glad I decided to give it a shot anyway.
Cassandra Morgan Ursula Margaret Scot is the eldest of seven children. Her parents are powerful sorcerers, living in a magical hot spot, and while her brothers and sisters all have various and sundry magical gifts, Cassie . . . is a dud.
A "throwback."
Normal.
In the beginning, it was hard to have much sympathy for her predicament---her casual references to her parents extreme wealth firmly typecast her as a poor, little rich girl, and that scenario has rarely pulled on my heartstrings---but as the story progressed, and Cassie gained depth . . . I reluctantly decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.
And despite the somewhat rocky start, the further I read, quitting became less and less of an option, and by the time I was 86% in, I took a quick break to one-click the rest of the books in the series.
True story.
I, admittedly, began reading this book with extreme reservations, and I won't lie . . . whether due to my own cynicism, or to legitimate reasons, for the first 20-25%, those reservations seemed justified: a Bad Boy from Cassie's past breezed back into town, causing her to question her long term relationship with Nice Guy, who exists only in theory until his first on-page appearance nearly halfway through the book . . . and that's it, really. Well, that and Cassie as poor, little rich girl.
But after Cassie had a "hunch" to check out the last known location of her prime suspect in the murder she was investigating for Bad Boy (<-----MAJOR peeve of mine to refer to common sense as a "hunch"), I checked out the relatively low page count, and decided to push through for just a bit longer . . . and that's when things finally started to get interesting.
SO. Are we clear on the rough start? I don't want anyone running out to buy this book, reading the first few chapters and thinking, "Ye GODS, what is this?" then boycotting all of my recommendations for eternity.
Back to the interesting, unfortunately, there's not much I can say about it without spoilers, but Cassie makes some decisions that prove she's a worthy heroine, and the concept of magically incurred debt, which is similar (but different) to the Fae system was unusual and impressive.
There were also lots of hints of secrets to be revealed in future books, and most of those hints did their intended job of peaking my interest (as the aforementioned one-click binge can attest), but I was a bit disappointed that the most obvious of the secrets had not been addressed by the end of this installment . . . A magical dud named Cassandra who is consistently shown to be intuitive . . . ? Come now . . . you're not fooling anybody. Why drag it out?
But overall, a surprisingly good start to a promising series. Highly recommended, especially to readers who like their Urban Fantasy with a side of Mystery.
I put this book on my wishlist months ago after seeing several back-to-back positive reviews of it by trusted bloggers.
But you know how it is . . . SO many books, SO little time . . . extremely small press . . . weird cover . . .
If the book doesn't go on sale immediately after it's caught your eye, by the time it does, the stellar endorsements have become vague remembrances, and all the reasons you originally tossed it on top of Mt. TBR become overwhelmed with past experiences---BAD experiences---you've had with this type of (practically indie) book.
I'm really glad I decided to give it a shot anyway.
Cassandra Morgan Ursula Margaret Scot is the eldest of seven children. Her parents are powerful sorcerers, living in a magical hot spot, and while her brothers and sisters all have various and sundry magical gifts, Cassie . . . is a dud.
A "throwback."
Normal.
In the beginning, it was hard to have much sympathy for her predicament---her casual references to her parents extreme wealth firmly typecast her as a poor, little rich girl, and that scenario has rarely pulled on my heartstrings---but as the story progressed, and Cassie gained depth . . . I reluctantly decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.
And despite the somewhat rocky start, the further I read, quitting became less and less of an option, and by the time I was 86% in, I took a quick break to one-click the rest of the books in the series.
True story.
I, admittedly, began reading this book with extreme reservations, and I won't lie . . . whether due to my own cynicism, or to legitimate reasons, for the first 20-25%, those reservations seemed justified: a Bad Boy from Cassie's past breezed back into town, causing her to question her long term relationship with Nice Guy, who exists only in theory until his first on-page appearance nearly halfway through the book . . . and that's it, really. Well, that and Cassie as poor, little rich girl.
But after Cassie had a "hunch" to check out the last known location of her prime suspect in the murder she was investigating for Bad Boy (<-----MAJOR peeve of mine to refer to common sense as a "hunch"), I checked out the relatively low page count, and decided to push through for just a bit longer . . . and that's when things finally started to get interesting.
SO. Are we clear on the rough start? I don't want anyone running out to buy this book, reading the first few chapters and thinking, "Ye GODS, what is this?" then boycotting all of my recommendations for eternity.
Back to the interesting, unfortunately, there's not much I can say about it without spoilers, but Cassie makes some decisions that prove she's a worthy heroine, and the concept of magically incurred debt, which is similar (but different) to the Fae system was unusual and impressive.
There were also lots of hints of secrets to be revealed in future books, and most of those hints did their intended job of peaking my interest (as the aforementioned one-click binge can attest), but I was a bit disappointed that the most obvious of the secrets had not been addressed by the end of this installment . . . A magical dud named Cassandra who is consistently shown to be intuitive . . . ? Come now . . . you're not fooling anybody. Why drag it out?
But overall, a surprisingly good start to a promising series. Highly recommended, especially to readers who like their Urban Fantasy with a side of Mystery.
slc333's review
4.0
Really good uf about the non-magical oldest daughter of powerful sorcerers who sets up a detective agency and gets drawn into a case with vampires when helping an old school friend and powerful sorcerer find his cousin's killer. Cassie is very young, only 21 and I felt that went someway towards explaining some of her questionable decisions and desire to prove herself. For the most part she was very likeable and relatable.
see_sadie_read's review
4.0
3.5, round up
Is this a perfect book? No. Did I have qualms with it? Yes. Did I enjoy it enough to want to continue the series? Yes.
I'm reminded of my relationship with the Kate Daniels series. I never want to rate any individual book super highly, but I always want another one. Cassie Scot is like that.
I was bothered that at 21 she's still treated like a child, and apparently expects nothing else. I disliked that there was obviously information being kept from her and she seemed content to not pursue it. Her dithering over the boyfriend felt forced, it obviously wasn't a difficult decision. I thought she had a couple too-stupid-to-live moments (the swimming pool, comes to mind). I went a little ragey finding out it ends on a cliffhanger, with some important info sill being held in reserve from the reader. But I also simply enjoyed the ride, liked the characters and want to know what happens. And, in the end, that matters more to me than anything else.
Is this a perfect book? No. Did I have qualms with it? Yes. Did I enjoy it enough to want to continue the series? Yes.
I'm reminded of my relationship with the Kate Daniels series. I never want to rate any individual book super highly, but I always want another one. Cassie Scot is like that.
I was bothered that at 21 she's still treated like a child, and apparently expects nothing else. I disliked that there was obviously information being kept from her and she seemed content to not pursue it. Her dithering over the boyfriend felt forced, it obviously wasn't a difficult decision. I thought she had a couple too-stupid-to-live moments (the swimming pool, comes to mind). I went a little ragey finding out it ends on a cliffhanger, with some important info sill being held in reserve from the reader. But I also simply enjoyed the ride, liked the characters and want to know what happens. And, in the end, that matters more to me than anything else.
wulfwyn's review
5.0
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. As a young girl I loved Nancy Drew. I read and reread that series. I never really thought I would come across another detective series that I would love as much. This book has changed that thought. Cassie Scot is another Nancy Drew. I have already begun the second book in this series and the writing is holding up. This series is going to become a favorite of mine. Cassie is 21 and, of course, times have changed since Nancy Drew was written. Expect that sex will be mentioned and possibly part of the story at some point. Because of this, I would say the book is best for teens and up. The sex so far has not been graphic. The books are not erotica. The sex spoken of is at a level of what I would expect for a YA book. The author incorporates it without going overboard. Very tastefully written and, so far, safe for teenagers. The mysteries are interesting ones that involve the paranormal world. Cassie is, so far, not magical though she was born into a magical family. Evan, her partner who would like to really be her partner all the way, is magical. Extremely magical. The pairing of these two is brilliant. I love their relationship and spend a lot of time wondering how it will work out and even, if I want it to work out. I absolutely adore both these characters. The paranormal aspect so far is mostly magical but includes heavy vampire, in this book at least, and possibly ghost in future books as a sibling talks to the dead. I suspect the series will have many books to it, just as Nancy Drew does, so there is definitely room for loads of paranormal activity. This book has it all really. Mystery, a love triangle, family issues, magic and the paranormal world, the " normal " world, friendships and enemies. Characters are relatable and easily become your friend or your enemy. Story lines are tight; well developed, interesting and end well enough that each chapter in this series doesn't leave you lost or frustrated. Over all, in my opinion, this is a 10 star book that is easily developing into a 10 star series. I envision this series becoming a classic for future generations.
I was given the first two books of this series for review purchases. I do not know the author. I had never heard of her before I requested to review the book the second book. The author, generously, sent both books upon learning that I had never read her. (Added bonus she signed them - Woot! Woot!) I enjoyed them so much I purchased the Kindle copies of both books. I will, most likely, continue to purchase both forms - a sure sign of exactly how much I love this series. I want complete collections of them. For me, that is the highest honor a series can get. Usually I only purchase one form or the other. All opinions of this book are my true impressions. When I requested it, I was expecting a lighter version of Sookie Stackhouse, (True Blood), a series I have a love hate relationship with. I was blown away with jaw dropping awe when I realized I was reading a series that will share space with my much beloved Nancy Drew books. I can't believe I hit gold with a modernized Nancy Drew! If you loved Nancy Drew you will definitely need to read this. If you haven't read Nancy Drew then you really missed a treat and shouldn't miss out on this series. Seriously, if you love mysteries, if you thought Sookie Stackhouse had too much sex or the writing got a bit unwound when it hit the screen, this series may be the one you are looking for. I can't recommend it enough.
The dates read on this are a bit deceiving. I was seriously ill while reading. If not for that illness, this book would have been read within 2 days, max.
I was given the first two books of this series for review purchases. I do not know the author. I had never heard of her before I requested to review the book the second book. The author, generously, sent both books upon learning that I had never read her. (Added bonus she signed them - Woot! Woot!) I enjoyed them so much I purchased the Kindle copies of both books. I will, most likely, continue to purchase both forms - a sure sign of exactly how much I love this series. I want complete collections of them. For me, that is the highest honor a series can get. Usually I only purchase one form or the other. All opinions of this book are my true impressions. When I requested it, I was expecting a lighter version of Sookie Stackhouse, (True Blood), a series I have a love hate relationship with. I was blown away with jaw dropping awe when I realized I was reading a series that will share space with my much beloved Nancy Drew books. I can't believe I hit gold with a modernized Nancy Drew! If you loved Nancy Drew you will definitely need to read this. If you haven't read Nancy Drew then you really missed a treat and shouldn't miss out on this series. Seriously, if you love mysteries, if you thought Sookie Stackhouse had too much sex or the writing got a bit unwound when it hit the screen, this series may be the one you are looking for. I can't recommend it enough.
The dates read on this are a bit deceiving. I was seriously ill while reading. If not for that illness, this book would have been read within 2 days, max.
ayanamifaerudo's review
5.0
I got this book from the author on the chance that I'd read and review it. It's been almost a year since I got it. It probably slipped my mind or I wasn't in the mood then and it faded into obscurity by the excitement of knowing about other books.
It came to my attention again when I came across a review about it. Although I didn't read the entire contents of the review for fear of influencing my own reading if I ever came to it, I got the gist that Cassie Scot:ParaNormal Detective is more than a mere read of a girl trying to fit in a world she was not equipped to belong.
And it was. More than a mere read I mean. I couldn't believe I hadn't read it in the first instance I got it. I had always this aversion of reading books when I'm under the pressure of having to read them. Probably a by-product of all those times I was forced to read materials for school. Not that reading Cassie Scot was mandatory or compulsory. It was sort-of a request but not necessary for the tour at the time. I probably should not be talking about this but I'm sort of honest in these kind of things.
But I loved reading about Cassie Scot and her world. She was a squib, to borrow a term from Harry Potter, among a family of very-gifted sorcerers. She was the eldest and supposed to the strongest of seven magical children but she was a dud. No magic at all. So she had this identity crisis on whether or not she really belonged with her family and the world she was born into especially when the magical seven may not even include her when a new baby was on the way.
Therefore, she decided to open a detective agency, something she found out she was good at when she was serving as the deputy of Eagle Rock. But... you really couldn't be a normal detective when all around you, even the mundanes, were the evidence of magic with every dealing you make no matter how normal it really seemed at the time.
Full review at Whatever You Can Still Betray.
It came to my attention again when I came across a review about it. Although I didn't read the entire contents of the review for fear of influencing my own reading if I ever came to it, I got the gist that Cassie Scot:
And it was. More than a mere read I mean. I couldn't believe I hadn't read it in the first instance I got it. I had always this aversion of reading books when I'm under the pressure of having to read them. Probably a by-product of all those times I was forced to read materials for school. Not that reading Cassie Scot was mandatory or compulsory. It was sort-of a request but not necessary for the tour at the time. I probably should not be talking about this but I'm sort of honest in these kind of things.
But I loved reading about Cassie Scot and her world. She was a squib, to borrow a term from Harry Potter, among a family of very-gifted sorcerers. She was the eldest and supposed to the strongest of seven magical children but she was a dud. No magic at all. So she had this identity crisis on whether or not she really belonged with her family and the world she was born into especially when the magical seven may not even include her when a new baby was on the way.
Therefore, she decided to open a detective agency, something she found out she was good at when she was serving as the deputy of Eagle Rock. But... you really couldn't be a normal detective when all around you, even the mundanes, were the evidence of magic with every dealing you make no matter how normal it really seemed at the time.
Full review at Whatever You Can Still Betray.
clockworkbee's review
1.0
I do not understand all of the four and five star reviews for this book. Did I read a different book from everyone else? The main character, Cassie, is unbelievably immature and kind of dumb. I realize that she is 21 and pretty sheltered, but still. What 21 year old thinks she can buy a car with $200??
*Spoilers*
The thing with her boyfriend also really bothered me. She knows she doesn't love him and that he doesn't really understand her. So why does it take her the entire book to realize she should decline his proposal? Is she stupid? Her friends are idiots too since they all seemed to think that Cassie and her boyfriend were perfect for each other. This book just made me uncomfortable for most of the way through it. The part with her parents disowning her with no explanation was ridiculous and unbelievable. I also find it pretty hard to believe that a Sheriff's department would hire and 18 year old without a college degree as a deputy. I realize this is fantasy, but really?
*End of Spoilers
Unfortunately I did not see any redeeming qualities within this book. I'm irritated that I wasted an audible credit on it, and I definitely won't bother with the next one.
*Spoilers*
The thing with her boyfriend also really bothered me. She knows she doesn't love him and that he doesn't really understand her. So why does it take her the entire book to realize she should decline his proposal? Is she stupid? Her friends are idiots too since they all seemed to think that Cassie and her boyfriend were perfect for each other. This book just made me uncomfortable for most of the way through it. The part with her parents disowning her with no explanation was ridiculous and unbelievable. I also find it pretty hard to believe that a Sheriff's department would hire and 18 year old without a college degree as a deputy. I realize this is fantasy, but really?
*End of Spoilers
Unfortunately I did not see any redeeming qualities within this book. I'm irritated that I wasted an audible credit on it, and I definitely won't bother with the next one.
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