Lost Rider (Coming Home, #1) by Harper Sloan

Title: Lost Rider (The Coming Home Series)
Classification: Erotic Adult Fiction
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: The Coming Home Series (Book 1)
Format: Paperback; 400 pages
Publisher: Pocket Books (April 25, 2017)
ISBN-10: 1501155199
ISBN-13: 978-1501155192
Author's Website: http://authorharpersloan.com/
Notes: I received an eBook loan from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Sometimes people come and go from our lives like a wrecking ball, and leave havoc and chaos in their wake. For Leighton James, that wrecking ball was one Maverick Austin Davis, her first crush. At the tender age of sixteen, he'd broken not only her heart when he'd left, but destroyed her self-esteem as well. That was ten years ago and in those years she's been successful in every aspect of her life but love. The owner of a successful bakery--the PieHole--people come from miles, sometimes even states, away to buy her wares. She's dated, but a string of failed relationships have left her believing she somehow isn't enough. Truth be told, that sentiment probably stems back to Maverick and the hatefully cruel words he spoke all those years ago.

Maverick "The Unstoppable" Davis' rodeo career has come to an abrupt stop. Ten years of living the dream and it was gone. Just like that. For ten years he'd been the biggest name in professional bull riding--there wasn't a beast he couldn't conquer until Lucifer. One too many falls while riding had left him with head injuries so severe that the next could have him leaving the arena in a body bag. It was time to go home and try to mend the bridges he'd not only broken but in some cases pretty much annihilated. He'll try to put right what he once put wrong...

'I was lost once. A rider without the ability to do what he loved. I came home even though it was the last place I thought I wanted to be, and in the process not only did I find myself again, but I also found that my reason for livin' didn't have sh*t to do with ridin'.'

This is Maverick and Leighton's story.

This was a story that tackled some heavy topics--abandonment and abuse--and the long term affects they have on people. Maverick Austin Davis (personal note: MAD--I love those initials and wonder if the author chose them on purpose because they're so fitting.) grew up in an abusive household and while it was obvious what was going on (although perhaps not the extent of it), no one ever stepped in to stop it. When he was old enough to live on his own he left home quicker than you can say 'ready, set, go' and never looked back, until now. His father having recently passed and his career in shambles, he realizes it's time.

Leighton James had given her heart to her best friend's older brother years ago and had it cruelly handed back. While the two hadn't actually dated, something had been stirring between them. Maverick, with the use of a few choice words that cut to the bone, had intentionally and effectively ended that. Unfortunately, he'd also ripped Leighton's self esteem to shreds in the process, something that at the age of sixteen was very fragile. The event had repercussions that Maverick could never have predicted and it made it hard for me to like him at the beginning. It wasn't until we get the whole story of what was going on behind the scenes at the Davis family ranch that I understood why he did what he did. While words are just words, they sometimes have a devastating effect, and in this case a long lasting one.

Maverick is a complex and complicated individual who went through a lot and has kept people emotionally at bay for years. My guess is this is in part due to the fact he had to come to terms with what had happened to him when he was growing up. The author didn't hold back with all the things she piled up on this character and his personal baggage was so immense I felt he probably would have done well to seek out the services of a psychologist.

Overall, I gave this one 3 out of 5 roses. A sweet story about love, understanding, forgiveness, and letting go of the past so you can move forward with your life. I loved the chemistry between these two, but would have liked Leighton to have put Maverick through the wringer and make him jump a couple of hoops before taking him back. I felt she should have put his feelings to the test before giving in to her own. It could have proven quite fun. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a SHOWER rating--a cold shower is necessary (need I say more?). Some books should come with a warning - make sure your significant other is handy or your shower is in working order. lol

Order of the Coming Home series:

Third Son's a Charm (The Survivors #1) by Shana Galen

Title: Third Son's a Charm (The Survivors)
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Historical Romance (Regency)
Series: The Survivors (Book 1)
Format: Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (November 7, 2017)
ISBN-10: 1492657034
ISBN-13: 978-1492657033
Author's website: http://shanagalen.com/
Notes: I received an ARC at the RWA annual conference courtesy of the publisher. (Review not required).

Ewan Mostyn, the third son of the Earl of Pembroke, earned himself the nickname 'The Protector' in the Peninsular War. He and a group of "disposable" peers were assigned to what was essentially a suicide squad. They were assigned tasks that others refused and most did not survive. Of the thirty who were chosen, only twelve came back. Ewan was one of the lucky ones, and was known for doing all he could to ensure that others survived as well--even if it meant putting his own life at risk. It's this reputation which causes the Duke of Ridlington to seek out his skills. The duke's daughter is infatuated with an unsuitable suitor and he wants to make sure nothing happens to her. Lorrie's beautiful, stubborn, gullible, and in love with the idea of being in love which makes her an easy target for the fortune hunters. She just refuses to believe that Francis' intentions are anything but honorable.

Ewan knows Francis quite well and is about to refuse the job when the Duke mentions his name. Francis, you see, is Ewan's cousin and honorable he is not. Ewan will do all he can to make sure Francis doesn't get what he wants. What he never expected, however, was to find himself falling for the chit himself, complicating everything.

 

This was a delightful read that had me shaking my head at Lady Lorraine  'Lorrie' and falling instantly in love with Ewan. Lorrie keeps looking for love in all the wrong places and is practically screaming for attention. She reminds me of a young and naive 16 year old who has dreams of falling in love with Prince Charming and living happily-ever-after. It's not a bad dream as long as you realize that not all men are Prince Charming and can recognize insincerity when you see it. Alas, Lorrie cannot. As she gets to know Ewan more, however, she starts to notice the differences between him and Francis and starts to question her feelings.

Ewan is the strong silent type. He never minces words, and chooses them with care. He suffers from word blindness (ie dyslexia), and is sensitive about being thought of as stupid due to his inability to read. Stupid he is not. The disorder, however, has caused a rift between him and his father that has yet to be resolved. It is where his sensitivity stems from.

While Francis may be the person Lorrie's father declares is the reason she needs a bodyguard, there are others who may harm her as well. There have been a number of kidnappings involving heiresses who have been held for ransom. Ewan's loyalty, bravery, and resourcefulness will be put to the test in this story.

Overall, I gave this one 4 1/2 out of 5 roses. I enjoyed the story of these two. Lorrie saw Ewan for who he was and not as someone with limitations. Until Lorrie, Ewan really had no plans for the future. She makes him want more and believe he can have it. Lorrie, on the other hand, needed someone to ground her and that is exactly what Ewan does. There is a lot of drama, tender moments, and depth to this romance. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading the rest of the story.  On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

Giveaway and Release Day Review of Cajun Crazy (Cajun #11) by Sandra Hill Blog Tour

Welcome back to New York Times bestseller Sandra Hill’s Cajun country, where love heats up the Louisiana bayou . . .
Former Chicago cop Simone LeDeux is back home in the bayou, sharing a double wide in the Pearly Gates trailer park to help her mama recover from surgery. Her one rule: no Cajun men. Loved and left by too many double-crossing Cajuns, Simone puts bad experience to good use by opening Legal Belles: an agency that uncovers cheating spouses.

Suddenly she’s confronting a two-timer about to swindle his wife out of millions and antagonizing New Orleans bigwigs over an illegal sex club. Adam Lanier learns of the dangerous game Simone is playing . . . and the sexy single dad comes to her aid. Known as a rogue in the courtroom and a player in the bedroom, the ragin’ Cajun has Simone triply on guard.

With their crazy chemistry, danger on their trail, and infamous LeDeux relative Tante Lulu working her magical matchmaking, the bayou has never been this steamy.

Sandra Hill 

Check out her Website: https://www.sandrahill.net/

'Like' her on Facebook: @SandraHillAuthor

Follow her on Twitter: @SandraHillAuth

Follow her on GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/177305.Sandra_Hill?from_search=true

Sandra Hill is a graduate of Penn State and worked for more than ten years as a features writer and education editor for publications in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Writing about serious issues taught her the merits of seeking the lighter side of even the darkest stories.

Title: Cajun Crazy: A Cajun Novel

Classification: Adult Fiction

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

Series: Cajun

Format: Paperback; 384 pages

Publisher: Avon (November 28, 2017)

ISBN-10: 0062566393

ISBN-13: 978-0062566393
Author's Website: https://www.sandrahill.net/
Notes: I received an eARC loan from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.


Simone LeDeux always seemed to look for love in all the wrong places--mainly in the arms of no good Cajun men. For years she's had an inexplicable attraction toward a southern man who could say darlin' in a husky, slow croon. No more. She's been married three times and has just broken up with her fiance after finding him in a compromising position with his female assistant. When her mother calls to let her know she needs knee surgery and would like Simone to help her recover for the few months after, she knows she's in trouble. Talk about going from out of the frying pan and into the fire. Simone's mom lives right in the middle of Louisiana--smack dab in the heart of Cajun territory. Her will power is about to be tested, specifically by one Adam Lanier--a devilishly handsome Cajun man with dangerous, dancing, mischievous eyes...

“I’ve been attracted to you from the first moment we met.”

“I’m surprised that you would admit that. Kind of lessens your odds.”

“You’re assuming this is a game. I’m too old to play games. Actually, they never interested me
much. How about you?”

“Oh, games can be fun sometimes.”

This is the eleventh book in the Cajun series, but can be read as standalone without feeling you've missed anything. Be forewarned, you are probably going to want to read the previous books in the series, and you may get a hunkering, er, hankering for Cajun men. If you're trying to figure out what to read next, this book is an excellent choice for the holiday season. It's a hilariously funny read infused with the perfect combination of naughty and nice to warm your heart and the rest of you too! lol

Simone LeDeux has spent the last two months helping her mother recover from knee surgery. After much deliberation as to whether or not to go back to Chicago or start a new business with her best friend, she and Helene decide to take a leap of faith. They'll be combining their respective talents--her police investigative skills, honed over eight year, and Helene's ability to file court documents--into an investigation agency called Legal Belles. This makes for some hilariously funny situations when the bread and butter of the agency turns out to be catching cheating spouses. I have to admit there was at least one such situation that had me wanting to close my eyes, but that's kind of hard to do when it's a mental and not physical image that's been ingrained into your mind. Picture me saying 'No!' and shaking my head a lot while laughing. Yes, I admit my cheeks were probably flushed too.

Adam is a single father who ruffed it out in a bad marriage. He's a widower who is now relationship shy, and Simone is the first woman who has ever tempted him to consider more than a casual relationship. Her three failed marriage track record, however, makes him reluctant to act on those feelings. To complicate matters more, he's an attorney who moved into the area six months ago and started a law firm with Simone's half brother Luc LeDeux. For the most part I really liked Adam, but he does one thing that made me rather unsure of him. Given the full extent of his history it was, in a way, understandable. Simone, luckily, handled him in just the right way so he understood what he did and why it will never happen again.

Overall, I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses. It was a fun read with a touch of seriousness thrown in. I loved how the story alternated between Simone's and Adam's point of views letting us in to each's mindset. Plus, there were plenty of side characters with colorful personalities. My favorite among them being Tante Lulu who possesses crazy witch-like matchmaking skills as well as a few others which make things very interesting. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a SHOWER rating--a cold shower is necessary (need I say more?). Some books should come with a warning - make sure your significant other is handy or your shower is in working order. lol

Order of Sandra Hill's Cajun series:

Notes to keep you In-The-Know:
Sandra's eighth Cajun series novel 'So into You' was re-released and renamed 'Bayou Angel'.

“I’ve been attracted to you from the first moment we met.”

“I’m surprised that you would admit that. Kind of lessens your odds.”

“You’re assuming this is a game. I’m too old to play games. Actually, they never interested me

much. How about you?”

“Oh, games can be fun sometimes.”

“Tease!” Adam said with a chuckle and nipped her on the chin with his teeth.

It wasn’t a kiss or a bite, but she felt it all the way down to “Red-dy and Willing,” the color of her toenail polish.

Simone remembered her bad history with Cajun men and her resolution to avoid them in the future.

“Um, I think it’s time to cut this flower in the bud. I am not going to do this again.”

“Do what, darlin’?”

That damn “darlin’ ” again! “Get involved with another Cajun man.”

“You’re going to give me the boot just because I’m Cajun?”

She nodded.

“Well, lucky you, babe, because I’m only half Cajun.”

One Copy of:

Cajun Crazy by Sandra Hill

(Open to residents of the U.S. and Canada)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You may also purchase Cajun Crazy at the following retailers:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2zECtz6
IndieBound: http://bit.ly/2hjeUnY
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2iD9uk9
iBooks: http://apple.co/2yExiPC
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/2zlApvi

Early Review of It's Hard Out Here for a Duke (Keeping Up with the Cavendishes #4) by Maya Rodale

Title: It's Hard Out Here for a Duke: Keeping Up with the Cavendishes
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Keeping Up with the Cavendishes (Book 4)
Format: Paperback; 384 pages
Publisher: Avon (November 28, 2017)
ISBN-10: 0062386816
ISBN-13: 978-0062386816
Author's Website: http://www.mayarodale.com/
Notes: I received an eARC loan from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.


She was a woman living on the border of high society--always on the outside looking in.  After spending weeks with her ailing mother she just wanted a distraction before returning to the reality that was her life, and she found it in a pair of blue eyes. Tonight she would be just a girl...

He was a young man who had just inherited a Dukedom, but promised himself that until he stepped foot on London soil, he was just James. After moving both himself and his sisters to England from America, he was looking for a distraction from the stress of it all and found it in the arms of a beautiful woman at the Queen's Head Tavern and Traveling Inn...

It was meant to be only one night. Neither was to know who the other was. As fate would have it, however, one night wouldn't be enough. And so fate intervened...

This was the fourth installment of the Keeping up with the Cavendishes series by Maya Rodale. You can read it out of order and not feel lost. This story deals with a newly minted Duke who was born and raised in America and a young woman who just so happens to be the dowager duchess' companion.

Meredith has been raised in a duke's household her whole life. Her mother was the duchess' lady's maid before she became ill, and the duchess, who never has had children of her own, has treated Meredith almost like a daughter. Meredith knows all the rules and etiquette to being one of The ton, yet isn't a part of it. Nor does she quite fit into the world of commoners. She lingers somewhere in between on the precipice of both worlds, but never truly belonging to either. When she finds herself the center of a handsome man's attention, she finds the experience rather heady. She is seen (if seen at all) by most as being a person of little to no consequence. So on a whim with a wee bit too much whiskey spurring her on, she decides to give in to temptation thinking never to see the man again.

Rumor has it that James' father absconded to America to marry James' mother after stealing one of the family's prized race horse. He never looked back or gave the family title another thought. So when James' parents died, he was taken by surprise to learn that he'd inherited a dukedom. James who has bred and raised horses all his life was not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. He uprooted what was left of his family and headed to England. They know absolutely nothing of British Peerage or their rules and have a lot to learn. If they decide England is not for them, their plan is to abscond to America as their father did many years ago.

Overall, I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses. I loved the initial situation Ms. Rodale created and how James and his family had to assimilate into British society. Watching them learn things such as the secret language of flowers, how to address a person according to their title or pecking order within a titled family, and how to conduct and dress oneself was fun. Plus, I loved the inner turmoil Meredith went through when trying to resist her growing feelings for James. I was half way to loving James when he did something that made me a little upset with him. Thankfully, his sisters set him straight and he soon redeemed himself in my eyes. I loved the way James' sisters handled him and made him see reason. It made me chuckle. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

The order of the Keeping Up with the Cavendishes series:

Early Review of A Duke in Shining Armor (Difficult Dukes #1) by Loretta Chase

Title: A Duke in Shining Armor: Difficult Dukes
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Difficult Dukes
Format: Hardcover; 320 pages
Publisher: Avon (November 28, 2017)
ISBN-10: 0062697358
ISBN-13: 978-0062697356
Author's Website: http://www.lorettachase.com/
Notes: I received an eARC loan in exchange for an honest review.


For seven years, Lady Olympia Hightower had been voted the Most Boring Girl of the Season. In the seven years that she'd been in the marriage mart, she'd received no offers, at least not the kind a respectable young Lady of high breeding would accept. So when a seemingly random act of kindness on Lady Olympia's part toward the Duke of Ashmont, a handsome young man, resulted in him asking for her hand, she'd accepted without batting an eye. Now, on her wedding day after imbibing in a glass or two, possibly three of tea, she was no longer so sure of her decision.

Things could have gone much differently if her aunt hadn't spiked the tea for it inspired her to bolt. Things could have ended much differently if a certain someone had gone in search of Olympia instead of sending his best man in his stead. It's those split second decisions that we make in life that can change everything and in this case it does. The question is for better or worse?

This was an extremely charming, highly entertaining, delightfully funny, and adorably romantic read. Lady Olympia Hightower is overcome with an extreme case of wedding jitters. She knows the handsome Duke of Ashmont is a wonderful catch despite his being one of the three Dukes nicknamed the Dis-Graces, but all her doubts and fears start to surface tenfold. As she gets ready to stand up before God and all their friends and family to wed him, she feels the weight of what she is about to do and finds she just can't. So she makes a run for it.

The Duke of Ashmont plays such a small part in this one. He reminded me a lot of the brother in the movie "While You Were Sleeping"--the one who didn't get the girl. He's kind of clueless, easily manipulated, and is looking to marry Lady Olympia for all the wrong reasons--mainly because his uncle has tricked him into it. While I might have felt bad for this young man, it was fairly obvious that he and Lady Olympia knew next to nothing about each other and would never suit.

Hugh Philemon Ancaster, seventh Duke of Ripley, is the Duke of Ashmont's best friend/best man and the one he sends to find out what is taking Olympia so long. While chasing after the bride is above and beyond what is expected of a best man, he does so hoping to talk some sense into her. While trying to keep her out of trouble and get her to somewhere safe, a funny thing starts to happen--he starts to fall for the bespectacled young woman. His inner struggle to be good despite the attraction is what makes this story so good. I absolutely loved it.

I couldn't help but give this book 5 out of 5 roses. A sweet, sexy, and fun romance which features a hilariously funny comedy of errors. This one had me shaking my head, laughing myself silly, and smiling like the cat who ate the canary. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a STEAM--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. This is definitely one for my keeper shelf.

Trace of Magic (Diamond City Magic, #1) by Diana Pharaoh Francis

Title: Trace of Magic
Series: Diamond City Magic
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format: Paperback; 252 pages
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books (August 29, 2014)
ISBN-10: 1611945143
ISBN-13: 978-1611945140
Author's Website: http://www.dianapfrancis.com/
Notes: I borrowed a copy from my library.

'Everybody leaves a magical trail of sorts, like an indelible ribbon unrolling behind them. It isn’t actually on this plane, but in a sort of other dimension that only tracers like me can see. It fades pretty quick for most tracers, disappearing in a matter of hours or maybe a week or two if they are really strong. It never fades for me. I can even see dead trace. It can be tricky to follow, and doing it can leave you vulnerable to the spirit world. I try not to follow dead trace if I can help it. Altogether, those talents make me a unicorn, the tooth fairy, the Easter Bunny, and the Loch Ness Monster all rolled into one. In a word, I am unique. A very special snowflake.'

'Here’s my one rule: I try very hard not to be stupid. I don’t take the same path home every night, I sleep with a gun under my pillow, I reinforce my nulls every day, I stay out of the spotlight, and I avoid the cops and the Tyet whenever humanly possible. '

'I wasn’t interested in becoming anybody’s puppet, and as long as I was a relative nobody on the Tyet food chain, I had free rein to find out who’d killed my mother and what had happened to my father. Not that I was making any headway. I had zero clues.'

'In the last decade or so, Diamond City had reverted to something of an Old West/mafia war zone. Way back when diamonds were first discovered here, there’d been a huge rush followed by massive territory wars. Eventually the Tyet had emerged—basically a united consortium of very bad people who ran the diamond trade and the town. Our most lauded town hero, Zachary Kensington, had brokered that pact somehow, bringing order from chaos. But then something happened about ten years ago and all hell broke loose. A lot of it had to do with a changing idea of what the Tyet could or should do and various factions wanting more money, more power, more, more, more. A drug trade had entered the scene as well—Sparkle Dust, or SD.'

This is Riley Hollis' story and her life is about to change irrevocably...

This was a fast paced thrill ride of a read with a lot going on. Riley Hollis is a smart, kind hearted, and loyal person. She also has a magical talent that if word got out about would be highly sought after and her life would no longer be her own. No one can do what she can do. With very few exceptions, she could potentially follow a person's trace from the day they died back to the day they were born and vice versa. The only person's trace she hasn't been able to follow is her father's who went missing several years back.

They say no good deed goes unpunished and Riley's latest case of finding a missing teen puts her on the radar of Clay Price, a cop with known ties to Gregg Touray who is one of the leading crime bosses of the Tyet. What first seems like a problem quickly turns into a blessing when she needs his help finding her sister's ex-fiance, Josh. Josh's apartment shows signs of a struggle and blood. Lots of it. When the FBI starts nosing around and implicating him in all sorts of crimes, Riley knows she's in over her head. She'll need someone with more influence and connections than she has to solve this one and get him out alive.

Riley doesn't know what to make of Clay. He actually seems like a fairly decent cop despite his involvement with Touray, but she doesn't trust him one little bit. To complicate matters, Riley finds herself seriously attracted to the man and the feeling is mutual. The more she's with him the more the attraction seems to grow.

I absolutely loved this one and couldn't help but give it 5 out of 5 roses. It's a wonderful story that grabbed my attention from the get-go and kept it straight through till the end. Riley's talent is reminiscent of that found in the Orson Scott Card's Pathfinder series. The world Ms. Francis created reminded me a little of Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassin series where crime bosses tend to have their hands in everything and magic is common place. The drama in this one runs high as does the action. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. This was a well written and highly entertaining read. I HIGHLY recommend it.

Order of the Diamond City Magic series:

Early Review of The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy #1) by S.A. Chakraborty

Title: The City of Brass: A Novel (The Daevabad Trilogy)
Classification: New Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Series: The Daevabad Trilogy
Format: Paperback; 544 pages
Publisher: Harper Voyager (November 14, 2017)
ISBN-10: 0062690957
ISBN-13: 978-0062690951
Author's Website: http://www.sachakraborty.com/
Notes: I received an eARC loan from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Quotes need to be checked against the final version as they are subject to change.

At first glance, Nahir appears to be an average girl. Take a second glance, and you will probably notice her eyes--they're unnaturally black. If you take the time to take a closer look, however, and really see her, you'll notice there is nothing average or ordinary about her.

Nahir has been living on the streets of Cairo since the age of five speaking a language no one else knew and she hasn't heard since. She doesn't remember much about her parents or where they hail from. Living on the streets, she's survived anyway she could. She can smell a con from a mile away because she's used most of them. But when she decides to hold a zar, a traditional ceremony meant to deal with djinn possession, and sings one of the traditional songs in her native tongue (because it sounds unusual and eerie) a disembodied voice answers asking, "WHO ARE YOU?" Her life will never be the same...

"You're playing with things you don't understand, Nahri. They're not your traditions. You're going to get your soul snapped up by a demon if you're not more careful." (...)

"You needn't worry. There's no magic, I swear." Seeing the doubt on his face, she decided to be more frank. "It's nonsense, all of it. There's no magic, no djinn, no spirits waiting to eat us up. I've been doing tricks long enough to learn none of it's real."(...)

"That's very arrogant of you, Nahri. Blasphemous, even," he added, looking taken aback. "Only a fool would speak in such a way."

A while ago I wished someone would write a genie tale that was not a remake of Aladdin, but something truly their own, original and new. Around that same time I also wished more authors would create their own original "fairy tale" type stories like Naomi Novik did with her story  'Uprooted'. Well, my wishes have been granted by at least one author--S. A. Chakraboty's 'The City of Brass' just knocked my socks off. Call me enchanted.

In the Daevabad trilogy, Ms. Chakraorty has created a wonderfully magical world where there are six different tribes of daeva (aka genies/djinn) with different skills. There are also those of mixed species who are the offspring of both daeva and humans called shafit. Shafits are scorned and often mistreated because humans are considered to be far beneath the notice of daeva. When Nahir accidentally unleashes an ancient Afshin warrior, she soon comes to realize she's not what she always thought she was. She's something more...

Nahir is smart, curious, and strong. She'll make the best of whatever situation she's in. She doesn't trust easily, but when she does she's quite loyal to her friends. What complicates her predicament is that right around the time she was born a change of power happened, and not all the residents of Daevabad are happy about it to this day. Nahir is about to walk right into that world and end up smack dab in the center of a power struggle which is never a good place to be.

Prince Alizayd 'Ali' al Qahtani is the second son of the current king of Daevabed. The chapters of the book toggle between Nahir's and his viewpoint. Ali is the result of a political marriage intended to forge an alliance between two of the daeva tribes. Ali doesn't agree with many of his father's practices and his treatment of the shafit is a big one. Ali sympathizes with these underdogs of the daeva world and has been secretly trying to help them. Something which could get him into deep trouble.

I couldn't help but give this one 5 out of 5 roses. The series holds great promise and I'm looking forward to finding out where the author takes Nahir, Ali, and us next. I loved Nahir and how she has to try to figure out what is truth and what is lie. She walks a fine perilous line where one wrong move could be her last. While there is a lot going on and much is revealed, there is so much we and Nahir still have to learn about Nahir's family, her power, and the daeva world she now finds herself a part of. Tensions run high and there seems to be twists and turns around every corner. I have a feeling Ali and Nahir together will stir things up in Daevabed which is nicknamed The City of Brass due to the brass walls that protect it. I, for one, can't wait. A wonderful debut that I HIGHLY recommend.