Literary World Traveler

Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and invited to write an honest review.

I was positively entertained by debut author J.D. Horn's, "The Line." I devoured this first installment of the, "Witching Savannah" series in one sitting and am eager to begin the next.

I found the author's original magical hierarchy and power structure to be refreshing and was pleasantly surprised along the way by a few unexpected elements and plot twists.

Though romantic and family challenges were included, they were integral to the plot and therefore did not overshadow the fantastical elements that drew me to the book in the first place.

While there are many books that I enjoy or even love once really "getting into" them, "The Line" grabbed my attention from the start and held on through the final page. While I wish I had that experience with every new read, the rarity of such an occurrence certainly does make it all that more enjoyable.

With the vast number of paranormal fantasy and urban fantasy offerings for readers to choose from, especially from newer authors struggling to compete with reader commitment to longtime favored authors and investment in long-running series, this one stands out above so many.

I definitely recommend. "The Line" and am looking for more great things from Mr. Horn. I'm pleased to add the, "Witching Savannah" series to my ongoing series list and will be eagerly watching release dates.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher and was invited to write an honest review.

I enjoyed this second installment of the, "Witching Savannah" series. The author does a nice job of connecting book one and two while giving us another opportunity to enjoy these great characters.

The original magical hierarchy and magic system are refreshing. While a connection between witches and demons is not a new one, the author has revised that connection and given it a fresh take. In addition, I'm pleasantly surprised to see the journey from struggle to acceptance between the Taylor witch family and Mother Jilo, the epitome of the southern Hoodoo practitioner. Her character is positively entertaining, and I'd love to see this magical mix explored further.

I did note a few continuity and editing issues, but these did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. I'm eagerly awaiting book three and hope to see even more character development and revelatory back story.

Favorite quote: "Come on, batter up, bitch. Let Jilo see what you got."

"Codex" caught my attention when seeking additional reads like, "Erebos." I cannot speak highly enough of, "Codex." This creation was the perfect blend of historical mystery and techno-fantasy with a labyrinthine plot.

Upon arriving here today to write this review, I was positively puzzled to read some of the reviews warning readers to bypass, "Codex" in favor of books with a tidier, more opportune, resolution. My rebuttal to these reviews is simply that this is a book for true bibliophiles, and more specifically, those who are seeking an intelligent thriller with elements of history and fantasy as well as mystery.

In literature, as in life, endings are not always dandy. Our paths are as winding and convoluted as the maze that held the Minotaur, so to speak. These paths are irrevocably altered by our choices, and those choices are shrouded in everything from belief and preference to human nature, desires, and bad judgement. If a reader goes into, "Codex" with the mindset that these characters can be as human as we are, then the read will be as thrilling for them as it was for me.

Having read authors such as Dan Brown, Arturo Pérez-Reverte, Steve Berry, and Matthew Pearl, I can say that, "Codex" is among my top five and very highly recommended by this reviewer.

This was my first experience with a Joe Hart creation, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. This marvelous story required very little set-up, so I was able to jump right in with both feet. I had the privilege of learning and seeing the story unfold in time with the main character. There were no lengthy or unnecessary descriptors, and for this, I thank the author, as the reverse is so often the case.

Mr. Hart did an excellent job of preserving the surprises for the opportune revelatory moments without being repetitive or insulting my intelligence as a reader. I didn't experience any superfluous misdirection or red herrings, just pure suspense. Being such an avid reader of paranormal fantasy and horror, my opinion is often that there can never be too many hauntings, demons, ghosts, witches or other paranormal and occult elements, so I often feel left wanting more. That was not so with this book. It contained just the right amount of personal struggle, human emotion, and otherworldly delights.

Upon turning the last page, there was a brief moment where I considered that the ending was a little too neatly wrapped up, but then it occurred to me how very refreshing that actually can be. I cannot count the times I've read a book or watched a television series that was never seen through to fruition, for whatever the reason, so to have a complete experience such as this, from begging to end, was really a treat. I truly enjoyed, "The Waiting," and am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I'd had this book on my TBR list ever since I learned that it was being published. When I got the opportunity to read it, I absolutely jumped at the opportunity to do so.

Author Brenna Yovanoff has done a truly amazing job with this story. The world-building and character development are complex. The history alone could fill an entire other book, and I see great potential for a sequel or other standalone book in the same world. I was a little disappointed at the numerous editing errors, as most of them were related to repeated words and erroneous word usage, and all could have been corrected by a visual edit as opposed to a spelling/grammar check program, but truth be told, I just couldn't allow that to affect my rating. I simply enjoyed the book that much.

The author did a great job of grabbing my attention and holding it steadfast straight through the last page. The imagery was fantastic. There's a line in the book about a character with such terrible and wonderful power running through him and crackling around him that he might just crack the world. That stayed with me and was truly one of many exciting moments in the story.

The reader should have no difficulty imagining the town, its inhabitants, or its magic and history. It's really that well-done. Kudos to the author for a fiendishly good read!