I really enjoyed this book. I love that this urban fantasy is set across the pond; the narrator's accent is fun and gives the character a lot of personality. This is reminiscent of Harry Dresden and there is good humor. The main character does grow into his own in this book making it stand out from The Dresden Files.
I can't wait to read/listen to the next one.
I received an audio copy from the author; all opinions are my own.
There's No Such Thing As Monsters: Gaslamp Faeries Series, Book 1
by Ren Ryder
Monsters come in all shapes and sizes, and not all of them have sharp teeth and beady red eyes.
New London. A thriving metropolis at the forefront of technological advancement and a shining gem of civilization.
Faeries. Whether they come off cute and cuddly or downright predatory, they all bring misfortune or are heralds of it.
Experience is a harsh taskmistress, but her lessons sink the deepest. Having been taught the lesson at great cost, Kal’s rules for dealing with faeries are simple: don’t talk to them, don’t look at them, don’t give them the time of day. So when the Other Side comes knocking one fateful, stormy day, Kal, at first, pretends not to notice. Was forgetting this rule his folly?
His way of life is in great danger. His little sister, Sammie, a natural mage, is taken by Ouroboros, a criminal organization made up of raving lunatics that profit off the misery and suffering of others, and have everything to do with all the crimes of magic in New London.
Kal will go to any lengths to save his sister, even to his death. Accompanied by his sylph companion, a mischievous pest, Kal dives deep into the dark underbelly of the city, but are his hands enough to dig his sister out from the muck?
New London. A thriving metropolis at the forefront of technological advancement and a shining gem of civilization.
Faeries. Whether they come off cute and cuddly or downright predatory, they all bring misfortune or are heralds of it.
Experience is a harsh taskmistress, but her lessons sink the deepest. Having been taught the lesson at great cost, Kal’s rules for dealing with faeries are simple: don’t talk to them, don’t look at them, don’t give them the time of day. So when the Other Side comes knocking one fateful, stormy day, Kal, at first, pretends not to notice. Was forgetting this rule his folly?
His way of life is in great danger. His little sister, Sammie, a natural mage, is taken by Ouroboros, a criminal organization made up of raving lunatics that profit off the misery and suffering of others, and have everything to do with all the crimes of magic in New London.
Kal will go to any lengths to save his sister, even to his death. Accompanied by his sylph companion, a mischievous pest, Kal dives deep into the dark underbelly of the city, but are his hands enough to dig his sister out from the muck?
Reviews
So Much Fun
Not your typical faerie story
Definitely a darker fantasy but a great story nonetheless. It’s full of action and I didn’t see the twist at the end coming!
Ren Ryder did a great job with this book. I loved the interactions between the characters and the storyline is intriguing. Yes, I’ll be continuing on with the next book in the series!
I was so impressed with Greg Patmore’s narration. With all the different character voices he performed I forgot that there was only one narrator. A very entertaining performance.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.
An okay book
While this was an interesting start to this series, I had a hard time really getting into the story and following the plot. The plot and characters started off a bit confusing for me and, by the time I found my footing with them, I was already well into the story. As I neared the end, I felt that the book started to redeem itself for me, especially with the plot twists we were thrown into. I think that, if the characters were more relatable for me, and if the plot was set more clearly at the beginning of the book, I could’ve liked this story a lot more. As it is, it’s simply a decent read, not something I’ll come back to or a series I’ll continue reading.
I received a free copy of this story from Hidden Gems and am choosing to leave an honest review of it.
It's a fun read!!
Fairly well written, and definitely fun to read. The only issue I had with it were some issues with repetition of words in a sentence. The author definitely has their own voice. I look forward to reading more.
You won't want to put this down!
A great engrossing read. The character interactions are wonderful. Filled with twists, turns and surprises to peak your interest. Bell adds a lot of humor to an already intriguing story. It's a quick read which makes it fast ..although you will wish it lasted longer.
AMAZING, JUST AMAZING
Ren Ryder is a wonderful new author & the narrator is perfect for this audiobook!
The world building is dynamic, the characters are fantastic & the story is top notch.
There are many surprises along the way as well. Some awesome & some truly heartbreaking. It's a story worth listening to or reading, without a doubt.
I can't wait to listen to audiobook 2 & then audiobook 3!!! 5 stars just is not enough.
Good story
A good story I got this book for free and honest review
Enjoyable
I finished the audio book in just three days. Liked the narrator and the story.
Nevertheless, some of the twists of the story could have been better hinted at in advance. So sometimes the surprises did not give me a "wow!" but more of a "mmh really?".
Also I needed some time to get into the tale but then it worked.
I know that this is only the first book in a series, therefore I can life with the "end" (and want to know how it goes on). But would this be a standalone novel, I would feel cheated.
To sum it up: Enjoyable, but there is space for improvement in the next books
