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Hollow Kingdom
RECOMMENDED: Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton is $2.99! Carrie gave this one an A-, but warns it’s definitely not a romance. Definitely skim her review to see if this book is right for you:
This book broke my heart but it also made me so happy.
One pet crow fights to save humanity from an apocalypse in this uniquely hilarious debut from a genre-bending literary author.
S.T., a domesticated crow, is a bird of simple pleasures: hanging out with his owner Big Jim, trading insults with Seattle’s wild crows (those idiots), and enjoying the finest food humankind has to offer: Cheetos ®.Then Big Jim’s eyeball falls out of his head, and S.T. starts to feel like something isn’t quite right. His most tried-and-true remedies–from beak-delivered beer to the slobbering affection of Big Jim’s loyal but dim-witted dog, Dennis–fail to cure Big Jim’s debilitating malady. S.T. is left with no choice but to abandon his old life and venture out into a wild and frightening new world with his trusty steed Dennis, where he discovers that the neighbors are devouring each other and the local wildlife is abuzz with rumors of dangerous new predators roaming Seattle. Humanity’s extinction has seemingly arrived, and the only one determined to save it is a foul-mouthed crow whose knowledge of the world around him comes from his TV-watching education.
Hollow Kingdom is a humorous, big-hearted, and boundlessly beautiful romp through the apocalypse and the world that comes after, where even a cowardly crow can become a hero.
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The Duke’s Stolen Bride
The Duke’s Stolen Bride by Sophie Jordan is $1.99! Elyse read this one and gave it a B, despite the book having a lot of her catnip:
While I wanted more time spent on the couple’s emotional journey, it was mostly because I enjoyed Marian and Nathaniel so much as characters: an independent heroine and a curmudgeonly hero are basically my catnip. Plus there were so many fun sex scenes.
An urgent dilemma…
To save her impoverished family, Marian Langley will become a mistress. But she will not be just any mistress. Marian intends to become so skilled, so coveted, that she can set her own terms, retaining control over her body and her fate. Only one problem remains: finding a tutor…
A scandalous solution…
Other men deprive themselves of pleasure for propriety’s sake. Nathaniel, Duke of Warrington, would much rather be depraved. He slakes his desires with professionals who ask nothing of him but his coin. Marian’s proposal—that he train her without taking her virtue—is an intriguing diversion, until their lessons in seduction spin out of control.
And a most unlikely duchess…
When Marian is blackmailed into engagement by a man she despises, Nate impulsively steals her away. Though he never intended to take a wife, he can’t tolerate the idea of Marian forfeiting her freedom to another. But can he bear to give her what she demands—a real marriage?
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Magic Bites
RECOMMENDED: Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews is 99c at most vendors! This is book one in the Kate Daniels series, and I remember reading it and hiding so no one would make me stop reading. This book has a 4-star average at Goodreads and is much loved.
Atlanta would be a nice place to live, if it weren’t for magic…
One moment magic dominates, and cars stall and guns fail. The next, technology takes over and the defensive spells no longer protect your house from monsters. Here skyscrapers topple under onslaught of magic; werebears and werehyenas prowl through the ruined streets; and the Masters of the Dead, necromancers driven by their thirst of knowledge and wealth, pilot blood-crazed vampires with their minds.
In this world lives Kate Daniels. Kate likes her sword a little too much and has a hard time controlling her mouth. The magic in her blood makes her a target, and she spent most of her life hiding in plain sight. But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, she must choose to do nothing and remain safe or to pursue his preternatural killer. Hiding is easy, but the right choice is rarely easy…
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Rogue Acts
Rogue Acts is 99c! This is an anthology with a lot of great authors contributing contemporary romance short stories. This is the third collection in the Rogue anthology series and all of the stories and installments have themes of activism and resistance.
When resistance turns to action, love always wins. Seven new romances for readers who love as hard as they believe.
Make You Mine by Molly O’Keefe
Jay Schulman has come to his breaking point and he has a choice to make: walk away from his best friend and love of his life. Or take a chance and make her his.Personal Audition by Ainsley Booth
Camilla’s living on her ex’s couch, working a few more weeks on a contract before she can leave the city and head west to pursue her comedy dreams. Elizabeth is the last woman she’d expect to get tangled up over—so what harm is a one-night stand? Or a second date?Brand New Bike by Andie J. Christopher
Jake Lieberman is incensed that billionaire Michael Garcia is going to join the president’s council on technology. But when the tech mogul unexpectedly agrees to defend himself on Jake’s podcast, sparks fly and the two men decide to team up inside the bedroom–and possibly out.Cover Me by Olivia Dade
Elizabeth Stone has no health insurance. No savings. No one to turn to when she finds a lump on her breast…except James Magnusson. Even during his doomed first marriage, James considered Elizabeth a special friend—one he had to keep at a safe distance. Now he’s free, and she needs him…but will they finally have the chance to be together, only to have everything torn apart?The Long Run by Ruby Lang
A Harlem stalwart is reluctantly drawn to the cheeky gentrifier who moves in across the hall, but can she forgive his opposition to her bid for a space in the building?Never Again by Stacey Agdern
Actor Sam Moskowitz has an overdeveloped sense of social justice and strong feelings for preschool teacher Deb Taubman. Deb adores Sam but doesn’t trust him (or their chemistry) enough to let him into her life. In the wake of anti-Semitic attacks, they’re drawn closer together, but will their newfound closeness be shattered when the secret he’s been keeping is revealed?His Neighbor’s Education by Jane Lee Blair
1 rookie charter school teacher + 1 veteran public school teacher + an unexpected attraction and a shared alley: can it equal true love?Add to Goodreads To-Read List →
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The Kate Daniels series is AMAZING. Brilliant urban fantasy. Amazing worldbuilding. Pretty much every side character deserves their own series. And a heroine who is flawed, complicated, and just trying her best.
I own every book in this series in three different formats. I own all the novellas and short stories. I am in the middle of a re-read right this moment.
So when I tell you that the first book in the series, the one that is on sale, is not great? I mean it. It’s not terrible but there is such a huge jump in quality from Book 1 to Book 2 it’s almost like they were written by different people. Start with Book 1 because it’s pivotal to understanding the rest of the series, but I personally have skipped it on every re-read and re-listen.
But if you like magic, action, chicks with swords, other chicks with guns, found family, alpha dudes who learn to be better people, and you’re in the mood for something that isn’t derived from Western European mythology? This is the series you’ve been waiting for.
wish they hadn’t changed artwork from the original cover for the Kate Daniels book. new cover model is a petite, almost fragile looking girl, where the original artwork actually looked like the character is described – tall, solid (not fat, just very strong/extreeeemelyl fit), looked like she could – and WOULD – stomp you flat. they kept that up until book 6, when they went with little willowy girl. still love the books but was disappointed in the covers from that point on.
Still have to read the Kate Daniels series, but I need ot!
Jordan’s historicals have been up and down for me for years now so Elyse’s opinions’ pretty in line with my own.
@NomadiCat: Truth!
All of the books in the Rogue Series are 99 cents! There are some red-hot writers in these anthologies.
Great price!
Please, please, please tell me Moira Rose will star in the film version of Hollow Kingdom!
Even the authors have said that KD #1 has issues, but read it for “here, kitty, kitty.”
@tikaanadog: I think the original cover model was not available. And she changed again on the last few books. For the ultimate KD, see the cover of Small Magics collectors edition.
https://ilona-andrews.com/small-magics-subterranean-collector-edition/
Love Kate Daniels, I just reread the last few books and they broke my heart/made me so happy all over again!
I also really enjoyed Hollow Kingdom! I wasn’t expecting to but it really pulled me in.
Agree with all the Kate Daniels recommendations – I re-read the series every year and am delighted each time.
@Diane, I just snorted water up my nose laughing at your comment. The Crowening!
I went to buy the Kate Daniels and Amazon informed me that I already bought it back in 2014… I have no memory of this book, LOL! Guess this is in line with what people are saying about it not being a great start to the series. Maybe I should check out the others in the series.
For all of the Ilona Andrews fans out there (we are legion!), the third book in the Innkeeper Chonicles, One Fell Sweep, is currently $0.99.
OK, this reminds me of something I’ve been meaning to throw out here. If these are my favorite fantasy/romance series (in order), what am I missing? Any obvious omissions (huge holes in my life) that have been out there waiting for me?
A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas
Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs
Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs
Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas
Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews
Innkeeper Chronicles series by Ilona Andrews (though rough in early parts)
A Gathering of Dragons series by Milla Vane
Hidden Legacy series by Ilona Andrews
Discovery of Witches series (though really just that first book)
Most of the vampire series ended up driving me crazy (hated Sookie Stackhouse by the end, couldn’t stay interested in Jane Yellowrock, yada yada).
And while I’m at it, honorable mention to my two favorite action/mystery/suspense authors, which I’ve only recently dipped a toe into:
Flashpoint series by Rachel Grant
Survival Instincts series by Adriana Anders
Evidence series by Rachel Grant
@Haley Bee Squirrely, Jane Yellowrock doesn’t appeal to me either, but I do like Faith Hunter’s Soulwood spin-off. You might want to give it a try. It has a nice slow-burn romantic arc, and not with a vampire. I’m also a big Ilona Andrews and Meljean Brooks (aka Milla Vane) fan, though I prefer Alpha & Omega over Mercy Thompson.
@Bunnifer thank you, I’ll check that out! Looks promising. See, I knew there were holes!
I bought Hollow Kingdom last time it was on sale and I love it! It made me laugh and cry and was just soooooo satisfying. A good palette cleanser in between romances.
@Haley Bee:
Toby Daye series by Seanan McGuire
Invisible Library series by Genevieve Cogman
Rockton and Cainesville series by Kelley Armstrong (She also wrote Women of the Otherworld, but I hated it. I give Rockton an A and Cainesville a B-)
Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse
@Haley Bee:
Incryptid series by Seanan McGuire (not always the same characters, but couple always shares center stage)
Pride series by Shelly Laurenston (shifters)
Badger series by Shelly Laurenton (spinoff of the Pride series)
Crows series by Shelly Laurenton (shifters + mythology)
Dragon series by G.A. Aiken (aka Shelly Laurenton – hmm. i seem to have a theme going here 🙂 )
If you ever want to go back to urban fantasy’s roots, I highly recommend War for the Oaks by Emma Bull (1987). It’s one of the novels that defined modern urban fantasy. It also has a lovely romance at the center of it.
Thanks, @MirandaB! I’ve added nearly all to my list. I’m pretty sure I read the first book of the Toby/McGuire (see what I did there?) series and wasn’t hooked, but I’m going to revisit and try the second book to see if I get latched. I think I had also tried the Sagara/Elantra series at one point and couldn’t push past book 2, but have always kind of wondered if it improved enough in the following books to be worth it.
Going to try Strange Love/Aguirre and the new Sarah J. Maas Crescent City book next, but reread some Sally Thorne first as a palate cleanser first.
Tanya Huff’s Enchantment Emporium is good, possibly a bit of an acquired taste