Audio Book Review: Echoes of the System by Carrie Summers

Echoes of the System by Carrie Summers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Devon has a number of things happening in game, like finding Stonehaven and then a new boss arrives that only she can solve, while also dealing with people in person. Emerson has asked if she wants to move to his area, she has a surprise visitor that's not really welcome, and her friends want to meet. A lot for someone that's not really a people person.

I love the beginning! I took a break between books and the author did a great job of weaving past events into the story happening. Because the characters are all still a little shellshocked. Great catchup with not retelling the story. It all plays into what's happening now.

The game world and characters created there are amazing. I love how the NPC's have become friends and important in everyone's life, especially for Devon.

This is a great story of events and happenings for the characters in game and in life. I loved the way it was all done. This book ties a lot of things up. Almost a finally, as there's not another one. (Yet?) We still have the looming possible threat of more demons, but in a game there's always something to come.

This series is definitely worth a listen or read.

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Audio Book Review: Outcast by Lindsey Sparks

Outcast by Lindsey Sparks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is Kat in hiding yet drawing attention from the Senate to find her. She learns about a disease that's been released on the humans by the kids that were in the lab she and her clan destroyed. Can she find a cure for those that are sick?

This book had more to it that felt like the story continues. There feels to be one direction with the story, not much in side stories to fill things out. We do have Kat finding "love" and happy for a moment. This is tied to the overall events and in the end felt convenient to me. Or maybe it's leading to a love triangle... That feel is potential as well.

The fight scenes felt a little better in this one as we get to see more in fights.

I felt there was something that happened that was a convenience for the characters.... Like how did one character get sick and another that is sick can be around people then... Again, I have to go listen to these sections again (if I can find them) to get answers. It's kind of vague whether one character touched anything or not to get sick.

I wanted so much to enjoy this series, but it just doesn't feel like it's for me. I'm sure others are loving it though.

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Audio Book Review: Ink Witch by Lindsey Fairleigh (Sparks)

Ink Witch by Lindsey Sparks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm going to try the next book too. The book is good. The main character, Kat Dubois, is in essence my kind of main character. She's a loner and has a past that....well, could land her in jail if she was human and people knew.

Kat's a Nejeret, which is a demi-god(dess). She has done work for the Shadow Senate that she's trained for and used as a weapon. Her and her kind are long lived and don't age. With that, she's going to be around for a long time remembering her past.

So why is the book just good?
I felt like Kat came to a couple quick realizations that didn't seem to be lead up to in the events that happened. They were talked about, but didn't feel like the events in her life really made her see what someone else was telling her. Just like she was taking that persons word as her a-ha moment.

I'm one who enjoys a good fight scene. I felt like the fight scenes weren't detailed out enough or last like they should for someone who's to have her experience. I'm hoping more will come and this first book, being short, is the beginning to lead us into what's to come.

I did learn this is a series spin off from another. I'll have to go pick up that other series and see if it helps place some things that Kat was talking about in her past in this book. Though, I'm afraid that series is more a romance urban fantasy.... We'll see in the future.

This book does start the series arc for what's happening to her clan people and children. This is going to lead to so much more.

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Short Story: Gifts by Lindsay Buroker

Gifts by Lindsay Buroker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a Bonus Story at the end of Secrets of the Sword 3 audiobook. About 45 minutes of the total is this story.

This was fun seeing how everyone finds their way to Val's door. Each is different. Seeing them together at Christmas time is fun. They are an odd group of friends that fit together so well.

Zav has really come around to be a great partner and fiancé for Val. He's a little off the mark in how he does things, which make it funny, but he's got the right idea and his heart's in the right place.

Val's daughter... I find the way she's written is on the selfish side. I know she's a teen. I know Val's not been there. I know Thad has done the same thing as he doesn't know what to do. All she wants is money, and lots of money, for doing things. It's meant to be fun in the series as how Val responds too. But, ugh. She's gotten a bit better as the series goes.

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Audio Book Review: Secrets of the Sword III by Lindsay Buroker

Secrets of the Sword III by Lindsay Buroker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Everything comes together... And everyone.

I started this series because I loved Val's determination and snark. And she still has that in the end. She's turned her life around in some ways, like how she handles the job she does. Sure, she's still an assassin, but not everyone she goes after needs to be exterminated. They can be handled other ways, as she's learned from Zav. And some of her adventures are due to Zav's enemies or target.

Val gets the training with her sword while seeing so many foes and relations from the past creep in to see her. It was fun seeing people from her past make an appearance in this book. And they fit in!

Val has people that are after her, because Ruin Bringer name and her past, while she's dealing with lots of family elves visiting. Along with her father, the King, and the dragons coming, including the Queen. All for her wedding.

I wanted to see how the wedding would turn out. Because, in Val's line of work, there's only one way this could go down. And I loved it! Fun for everyone! lol.

I enjoyed Lindsay's writing in this series and will come around to her other series' in the future. They are fun and snarky like I like.

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