Category: Paranormal

Family Curses Field Notebooks (1880-2020) Chapbook Review!

Family Curses Field Notebooks (1880-2020) by Tenacity Plys is concise but exciting. I read this short story in a cute little chapbook-style printing that was mailed to me. At 33 pages, it’s definitely a short story, but the fact that it is delivered in such a nice packet with a pleasant paper texture fulfills the physical need I and many others require from our books. More so as you work your way through the story and realize what the cover is displaying. Now this chapbook is more than your usual short story. We are given quite a bit in the 33 pages. The story follows Virgil Sykes as they clean out their aunt’s attic and stumble onto the writing of another aunt, which contains more papers inside it!

We have four characters in Family Curses, Virgil Sykes, whose writing is dated 2020, and their aunt Virginia who’s writing took place in 1993. Her uncle who’s essays took place in 1965, and finally, his father who’s writings took place in 1880. Now you might fear that having four different voices in one 33-page book might be confusing but fear not! This short story is written clearly, with each writing set denoted clearly. It reads much like a textbook with various brackets and footnotes that allow you to get each writer’s opinions. My only complaint is how this short story comes to a close! I want to know what happened, darn it! Honestly, not knowing what happened at the end of a book is like saying you just got a bite of your least favorite candy bar. It is still fantastic. This is a must-read! Go pick it up!

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Blood Queen – Book Review

Blood Queen is the last book in the Divine Series written by S.M. McCoy. For three books, we have grown and suffered with Chrystal while she desperately attempts to navigate the world of the supernatural, and the usual sufferings of a teenage girl. Though perhaps a bit more extreme when you’re a demon, and a vampire… and a diviner. The girl has a lot on her plate! 

In Blood Queen we are reunited with a collection of well-written characters from the previous books and a few new experiences. Chrystal is reunited with loves, enemies and frenimies that end up meaning more to her than she ever would have thought. The story itself gives us a much more in-depth look at the world of the supernatural of the Divine Series, given this book takes place entirely in the deepest and darkest corners of their world. This gives us more of an idea of the world as a whole, which, while covered in the first two books, had a lot of questions left to answer about it.

Blood Queen does a fair job of completing the Divine Series, allowing Chrystal to find her destiny, even if it was not what she planned when she first went in to this dark adventure, honestly how it ended was a bit of a surprise to me as well. As with the first two books, Chrystal has a bit of sexual tension with her male associates, making the book perhaps not the best choice for a younger audience, though certainly much cleaner than many books in the same genre. 

My only real complaint was while Chrystal’s story was wrapped up nicely in this book, I wondered what happened to some of the side characters after all was said and done. As with the other books, S.M. McCoy did a fine job with following the story. This book was a bit different from the previous two as while most of the story takes place in the first person, as told by Chrystal, there are also a few chapters told in the third person that cover Lathar’s actions. And boy, does that man get in to some pickles. 

So is Blood Queen worth the read? If you enjoy paranormal fantasy of any type, and a bit of romance, never mind a hunky vampire, this is a must read! Oh, make sure you read the first two before you pick this up or you will have absolutely no idea what is going on! But the series is a great read so you should have a blast!

You can find more information here at Reedsy Discovery where I picked up the ARC copy of this book https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/blood-queen-stevie-mccoy?utm_medium=email&utm_source=transactional&utm_campaign=mandrill#review

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Blood Rebirth – Book Review

Blood Rebirth is the second novel in the Divine Series by S.M. McCoy. It picks up directly where Blood Cresent ends. Just like the first book, Blood Rebirth continues to follow Chrystal through her twisted and confusing life in the supernatural world. Though this time she has entered a school for other young supernatural people. Sadly, she gets about as much help there figuring out who she is as she did before. Though a few new friends pop up, the side characters from the first book also carry over.

Blood Rebirth does a good job of filling in the holes that Chrystal memory issues from the first book left hanging open. It also produces for us a collection of curious new creatures and issues for the main character. Some of Chrystals family issues can only be guessed at still however, though others are much more of a surprise, such as Chrystal’s father’s history, though I will not spoil that for you. I will leave it at. I was definitely surprised, and it was not a direction that I had expected.

The characters in Blood Rebirth remain interesting and well written, more so when you get to learn more about them. The various types of creatures in the supernatural world are better explained and more detail is given to the various family powers that the main character has inherited.

Blood Rebirth is a must read if you read the first book. It leaves you on a heavy cliff hanger through, and I am looking forward to reading the third book, Blood Queen, which I have access to thanks to Reedsy Discovery. I started it last night!

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Blood Crescent – Book Review

Blood Crescent by S.M. McCoy is the first book in the Divine Series. It follows teenage Chrystal as she navigates the exceptionally confusing world of the supernatural. She spends her days dragged through life as she tries to deal with aspects beyond her control, such as prophecies, genetics, and the attentions of two very attractive vampires. Unfortunately, Chrystal is ill and seems to have sizeable gaps in her memory, making life even more confusing as she looses large portions of her history, only remembering bits here and there.

Blood Cresent is a great story, though the main characters memory loss leaves large gaps of questions, which can make the story feel confusing. However, given the story is told in a first person view, this simply allows the reader to feel the main characters obvious discomfort and confusion. This can leave the reader with a confused feeling as some scenes seem to have large holes due to the main character’s memory lapses, but with that in mind it makes for a fantastic reading experience.

The characters are interesting, but as the story is written from a first person perspective, we only see as much of the characters as Chrystal sees, and again with her memory issues, she only seems parts of these characters. This leaves some of the supporting characters seeming rather one sided and a bit dull. Over all though the bits that we are given about the various characters leave the reader wanting to know more about them.

Over all, Blood Crescent is worth picking up for fans of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. If you want your sexy vampire hit, this is a good book to pick up. I will start reading the second book in the series, Blood Rebirth, as soon as I finish posting this review.

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Separated By Evil by J.M. Hart – ARC Review

Separated by Evil is the newest addition to J.M Hart’s Chronicles of the Supernatural series. A fantastic book series and probably my favorite current series, following the adventures of a group of young people striving the save the world from the very forces of hell. A huge expectation for anyone, let alone teenagers. This series has always been an emotional ride, and this newest addition to the work is no different, in fact Separated by Evil seems to be the most emotionally packed of the series so far.

Bringing us back to the estate to focus on the adventures of Casey and Sophia, after the last two books, focused on the adventures of other members of their group. We are walked through the spiritual bond of the characters as they do their best to help a group that they seem to be led to aid by the will of God. Though demonic and paranormal difficulties, the pair strives to save the people in need.

So what did I think of it? Oh boy, this newest addition to J.M Hart’s amazing serious was hard to get through. Not because it was bad, far from it, but because of the emotional wreck the characters go through, which, after reading the entire series, I have become attached to. So watching the pain and death that strikes the characters at every angle leaves you both exhausted and excited to see what happens next. In that line, the climax of the story leaves one stunned, and for me at least, in tears and wondering what will happen next in this exciting series.

So is Separated by Evil worth reading? That would be a big yes! Much like the rest of this series, Separated by Evil is a fantastic read for fans of paranormal and horror novels. I have said it before and I will say it again. Pick up this series!

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