K is for Kiss

I’m doing folklore and book review posts to reach and please a larger audience. Previous years have shown select interest in both and to minimise blogging throughout the year, I’m focusing my efforts on April.

Focusing on an A to Z of my TBR (to be read) list, each letter will have books starting with that letter on my list, a book I’ve read and reviewed (with the review!) and one of my books matching the letter with a link about more info about the book.

I chose the books this year quite randomly from my Goodreads Want to Read page. Some are quite creatively added to letters.

If you’d rather check out my folklore post for today, go here.

You can read reviews for from previous years for this letter here, here and here, and my year-end reviews here, here, here, here and, most recently, here and here.

My TBR

About the Book I’ve Read

The Wicked & the Dead (Faery Bargains #1) by Melissa Marr

In near-future New Orleans, Draugar, again-walkers, are faster and stronger than most humans, but not venomous until they are a century old. Until then, they shamble and bite. Since not everyone wants to see their relatives end up that way, Geneviève Crowe makes her living beheading the dead.

But now, her magic’s gone sideways, and the only person strong enough to help her is the one man who could tempt her to think about picket fences: Eli Stonecroft, a faery who chose to be a bar-owner in New Orleans rather than live in Elphame.

Then human businessmen start turning up as draugar.

Suddenly, the queen of the again-walkers and the wealthy son of one of the victims, both hire Geneviève to figure it out. She works to keep her magic in check, the dead from crawling out of their graves, and enough money for a future that might be a lot longer than she’d like. Neither her heart nor her life are safe now that she’s juggling a faery prince, murder, and magic.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

A twist on urban fantasy with a snarky heroine who has more powers than she’s aware of, a faery as her best friend and perhaps more who fights beside her, and three humans who would do anything for her. And, of course, the dead who only wish for her to summon them to do her bidding.

Part mystery, part vampire-zombies (Draugar) in New Orleans being hunted by Geneviève if they step out of line, a bit Blade meets Buffy, and wholly entertaining. Great worldbuilding and use of folklore creatures. A couple of F-bombs, but not overwhelmingly so. And with answers, only more mysteries are revealed.

Can’t wait for the next book.

About the Book I’ve Read

Blood Martinis & Mistletoe (Faery Bargains #1.5) by Melissa Marr

Half-dead witch Geneviève Crowe makes her living beheading the dead–and spends her free time trying not to get too attached to her business partner, Eli Stonecroft, a faery in self-imposed exile in New Orleans. With a killer at her throat and a blood martini in her hand, Gen accepts what seems like a straight-forward faery bargain, but soon realizes that if she can’t figure out a way out of this faery bargain, she’ll be planning a wedding after the holidays.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Family gatherings, action, attempted murder – so much fun!

Geneviève learns more about her powers, the different worlds/societies she belongs to outside of what she’d known before, and her relationship with Eli deepens.

Can’t wait to read the next book!

About the Book I’ve Read

The Kiss & The Killer (Faery Bargains #2) by Melissa Marr

“It’s not all blood and magic in my business, despite what people wanted to believe. Sometimes it was blood, magic, and cartoon bandages.”

Half witch, half killer, wholly unsuccessful at every Faery Bargain so far…Geneviève Crowe makes her living beheading or resurrecting the dead in near-future New Orleans. After entering an accidental engagement, overcoming attempted murder, and discovering a family secret, Geneviève is ready for things to settle down, but carnival season in New Orleans is not the best time of year for “normal.”

When Eli Stonecroft, the faery who has claimed her heart despite her best attempts, offers her a new faery bargain–she’s smart enough to say no . . . right up to the point when she has to decide between dealing with the consequence of this faery bargain or facing the killer alone.

As the draugar mix with the locals and tourists, and bodies start to pile up, Geneviève is enlisted by the faery king and the draugar queen to find the killer amidst the swirl of parades and parties of carnival season.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

My favourite part was Geneviève and Beatrice going on patrol together through New Orleans. So funny!

I liked the new layers to Geneviève’s powers. Ally as her assistant is weird and hilarious. Eli’s right: she collects strays.

The various traditions of fae marriage was interesting – especially how Geneviève and Eli tried various ways to stay unwed.

More mysteries left unsolved which makes me want to read the next book immediately.

4 stars

About the Book I’ve Read

Daiquiris & Daggers (Faery Bargains #2.5) by Melissa Marr

Half-dead witch Geneviève Crowe makes her living beheading the dead–and trying to make sense of her magical crash after accidentally ending up bonded to Eli Stonecroft, a faery prince in self-imposed exile in New Orleans.

A fun spa weekend away with friends in a city free of monsters, what could be better for fixing her problems?

Gen’s necromancy had been on the fritz, so a recharge sounds perfect–until she arrives in San Diego to discover that either the spa is two steps beyond weird or there’s magic afoot.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Worst spa ever. Though the girls did get their boozy beach weekend in the end. And what would an adventure be if Geneviève didn’t get to bloody her blade? A fun read.

About the Book I’ve Read

Champagne & Commitments (Faery Bargains #2.6) by Melissa Marr

Half-dead witch Geneviève Crowe makes her living beheading the dead–and trying to make sense of accidentally ending up a faery princess when she ended up bonded to Eli Stonecroft, a faery prince in self-imposed exile in New Orleans.

But bonded for eternity isn’t enough for family and friends–of her future citizens. It’s time to plan a wedding ceremony.

Unfortunately there isn’t enough champagne available to deal with an undead-great-grandmother, a faery king who’s trying to romance Gen’s assistant, and a city where Halloween is a holiday worth dying to enjoy.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Weirdness of Iggy and the witch haters aside, I really enjoyed this story. I think Ally was in her element organizing the royal wedding with everyone’s focus on it while simultaneously organizing the private weddings in Elphame and on Beatrice’s property.

About the Book I’ve Read

The Fanged & The Fae (Faery Bargains #1.5, #2.5, #2.6) by Melissa Marr

The three Faery Bargains novellas in a book length collection (also available in paperback & hardcover).

“Blood Martinis & Mistletoe” (Set after book 1)
Half-dead witch Geneviève Crowe makes her living beheading the dead–and spends her free time trying not to get too attached to her business partner, Eli Stonecroft, a faery prince in self-imposed exile in New Orleans.
A walking-dead relative and a deadly but well-paying job make the holidays a lot more complicated than anyone needs. With a killer at her throat and a blood martini in her hand, Geneviève accepts what seems like a straight-forward faery bargain. Eli’s terms might make the holidays a little more bearable, but if she can’t figure out a way to escape this faery bargain, she’ll be planning a wedding soon.

“Daiquiris & Daggers” (Set after book 2)
A fun spa weekend away with friends in a city free of monsters, what could be better? Gen’s necromancy had been on the fritz, so a recharge sounds perfect–until she arrives in San Diego to discover that either the spa is too steps beyond weird or there’s magic afoot

“Champagne & Commitments” (Set right before book 3)
Half-dead witch Geneviève Crowe makes her living beheading the dead–and trying to make sense of accidentally ending up a faery princess when she ended up bonded to Eli Stonecroft, a faery prince in self-imposed exile in New Orleans. But bonded for eternity isn’t enough for family and friends–of her future citizens. It’s time to plan a wedding ceremony. Unfortunately there isn’t enough champagne available to deal with an undead-great-grandmother, a faery king who’s trying to romance Gen’s assistant, and a city where Halloween is a holiday worth dying to enjoy.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

A total must-read if you want the complete series experience. See reviews of individual books.

About the Book I’ve Read

The Hexed & The Hunted (Faery Bargains #3) by Melissa Marr

The third novel in a new faery and fanged world written by the author of the internationally bestselling Wicked Lovely series.

Half-dead witch Geneviève Crowe makes her living beheading the dead–and trying to juggle her new duties as a faery princess now that she’s married Eli Stonecroft, a faery prince who was in self-imposed exile in New Orleans.

But monsters have no patience with royal obligations, and the same creature who once hunted her great-times-great grandmother is now trying to put Gen in the ground. When the relentless monster from her family’s past decides to hex Geneviève, she’s forced to go on the run or expose how much power she’s started amassing. Her royally impatient uncle-in-law, the faery king, has already threatened her and Eli.

Death or Flight? Hexed or Hunted? This is not the honeymoon Gen and Eli were planning…

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Ally’s family is endearing and hilarious. The king of Elphame is in for a surprise…

I liked how Iggy made Geneviève his apprentice (for real) and helped her to trust her own abilities. The truce between him and Beatrice is so funny.

And Chester being afraid of powerful women… Typical misogynist. The way he was defeated was awesome.

I wonder what Nora will do next…?

The setting for the final battle was perfect and I enjoyed the various groups coming together to fight their common foe.

I would’ve liked to know more about Chester’s brand of magic and how it was different from that of witches and fae (just powders and potions or is there something more?).

A great ending to the series. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Trigger warnings: domestic abuse, torture, blood, abduction

My Book

Special Edition of Irascible Immortals: Radioactive

Remember that you can request all of my books from your local library!

I hope you enjoyed this. For more books I’ve read and reviewed, check out either my Pinterest board about reviews or my Goodreads profile. Alternatively, you can check out my reviews on BookBub. Have you read any of the books? Loved or hated any of them?

You can now support my time in producing book review posts (buying books, reading, writing reviews and everything else involved) by buying me a coffee. This can be a once-off thing, or you can buy me coffee again in the future at your discretion.

*FYI, my reviews are my honest opinion and if something bothers me, I tell it straight. How else will anything change? My opinions are based on being a voracious reader and book buyer, not an attack on the author.*

*If you have difficulty commenting, check that you’ve ticked the data use block beneath the comment before leaving your comment. (Protecting your privacy per regulations.) If you’re still unable to comment, try enabling all cookies in your browser. On a device, like a tablet, go to settings, find your browser (eg Chrome), and uncheck “prevent cross-site tracking” AND “block all cookies.”