Craven Street ( Whitechapel Paranormal Society 1) by E.J. Stevens

Hello to all,


                     Today i'm here to share my opinion on a new release by E.J. Stevens from who i've read the Ivy Granger series. It's a series with a character from the Ivy series, but that aside it's completely different. It's a dark urban fantasy set in victorian time which can sound promising if you love horror and dark stories.

Happy reading

Publisher: Sacred Oaks Press

Publication: 2019

ISBN13:  9781946046369

Genre: paranormal mystery, dark, ghost, demon, paranormal, horror

Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: homosexuality hint
Public: 18+

Description from goodreads :

  In this spellbinding novella, E.J. Stevens weaves a tale of murder, necromancy, and demonic possession that brings together characters from her Whitechapel Paranormal Society Victorian horror series and award-winning Ivy Granger Psychic Detective urban fantasy series on the fog-shrouded cobblestones of 36 Craven Street.

The discovery of bricked up skeletal remains at 36 Craven Street point to something more diabolical than an illegal anatomy school. The tool marks on the bones, arcane sigils of great power, indicate more than mere butchery, more than enlightened experimentation. The signs, omens, and portents support the crown's greatest fears. A great evil is being unleashed upon the gaslit streets of London, a blood-drenched shadow reaching skeletal fingers beyond the slums of Whitechapel.

We must stamp out this demonic plague for the sake of our Queen, our Country, and our immortal souls. - Cora Drummond, Whitechapel Paranormal Society

Collecting human souls is a thankless job, nearly as tedious as acting as solicitor to the fae. But when the demon Forneus enters an opium den searching for men eager to trade their souls for the ill-smelling weed, he stumbles on a plot so devious, so heinous, he's jealous that he hadn't thought of it himself.

There's nothing like a maniacal plot to unleash Hell on earth to break the boredom of immortality. - Forneus, Grand Marquis of Hell

The Whitechapel Paranormal Society series is a Victorian horror "dreadpunk" series set in London's East End. The Ivy Granger Psychic Detective series is an award-winning urban fantasy series known for heart-pounding action, quirky characters, and supernatural horrors.

Whitechapel Paranormal Society novels Eeper Weeper and One for Sorrow coming July and October 2019

My opinion:

           I loved the Ivy Granger series so i was curious about this series but it's sure really different. This book ( and series?) is really more horror than Ivy Granger's one, it's really dark  both in the events happening but also in the character's mentality.

The Whitechapel Paranormal Society is a group of women with special abilities who are part of the force but in secret focus on the supernatural elements. They have their male counterpart but those really looks down on them and even try to hinder their work...their misogynist point of view though understandable in a historical period still started to bother me after a time because they get the job done and even with all those men must have seen with paranormal they still can't respect them? even a minimum?  it's frustrating.

The intrigue is the start of something bigger and the mystery is really well written, really dark too. The different characters are interesting but we focus on Cora and Flan more than on the others so we see little of their powers but it's tempting so we want to discover more about them and how they choose that job , discovered their abilities etc.

That being said some point bothered me more. First at time , i i had the feeling to have missed something as the situation jump to another without really an explanation or link even if we go back to track just after  it's like something was missing. Then the relationship between Cora and Flan bothered me....somehow i think it would it would have been better if they were just friends or colleagues , the lover part even if not too developed sounded wrong . I don't know if it's because we get the feeling it's part historical and at that time while homosexuality existed it wasn't done in public or because it give the feeling no male characters could be good enough, open minded to these abilities....it just wasn't necessary for the story in my opinion.

But if that doesn't bother you and if you love dark urban fantasy with ghosts and demons this is really  a good horror book just probably not for me

Score:  3,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and i voluntary reviewed this book

Working Stiff ( Revivalist 1) by Rachel Caine

HAPPY  HALLOWEEN!!!

The special party will start soon so i have to get ready but first i wanted to share with you one last review this month.... i tried to read different paranormal creatures and i discovered some i love to read about, other i don't mind and some... that yes i don't like. I found fitting to give you a review today for a book that put me quite ill at ease since it fit the night. After all a lot  of people want to get afraid even before the dark fall on the city and this book would help them.


Today topic is: Zombie

( remember to enter the GGMMMU hosted by Brenda on carzy four books, low entries means bigger chance to win^^)

Happy reading!

Publisher: Allison & Busby

Publication: 2011

ISBN:  0749040815

Genre: urban fantasy, zombie
Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: none
Public: 18+

Source: gifted
 

Short description from goodreads :

 Bryn Davis knows working at Fairview Mortuary isn't the most glamorous career choice, but at least it offers stable employment--until she discovers her bosses using a drug that resurrects the clientele as part of an extortion racket. Now, Bryn faces being terminated--literally, and with extreme prejudice.


Wit the help of corporate double-agent Patrick McCallister, Bryn has a chance to take down the bigger problem--pharmaceutical company Pharmadene, which treats death as the ultimate corporate loyalty program. She'd better do it fast, before she becomes a zombie slave--a real working stiff. She'd be better off dead..

My opinion:

          Giving you my opinion on this specific book isn’t such an easy task as I’m quite undecided on what I’m feeling now that I have finished it.  I didn’t hate it but I didn’t loved it…it’s the first book I’m trying that focus on zombies and perhaps I’m not ready for that paranormal creature. It’s hard to explain because while I wasn’t at ease with the story right at the start –I couldn’t understand why normal procedures wouldn’t have worked ( though we get the answer later) for example- I was still interested enough to keep reading with as less break as possible.

I did love the thriller part and the investigation, I guessed some events but they were twists that kept the story fast paced and a page turner.

Perhaps I pitied Bryn, she was so full of dreams and so happy about her job when everything change… I don’t like when characters dies  and with zombies is quite a mandatory step…perhaps a part of me would have wished for a reverse system as unbelievable it could be, even worse I know it should not exist  but it just sounded too unfair for my sensibilities.

Now you can also forget, for this book, the zombies decaying, trying to eat brains etc… it’s different. They are in fact the result of the use of a specific drug “ Returné” that if they keep using it make them appear completely normal. They can eat, sleep etc but they are dependent on the drug because if they stop taking it their body starts the natural process again.  While taking the drugs, they are kind on stand by on the door step and the drugs make their body regenerate so they are really hard to kill ( be disposed of being more accurate), even head injury heals on its own with enough Returne and time.

However what is even more important to note is that those who take it  are completely conscious, they are not normally robot like they can feel and think.

Aside from the action, which is fast and without a lot of moments to take a breath there are also some romance. Oki yes that felt strange to me because as Bryn knows she is dead It didn’t feel natural she could fall in love. Or that someone knowing the truth could loves her… The romance is only starting and only kisses are exchanged so it’s not too bad but I wasn’t at ease and preferred the action part.

That being said Rachel Caine did manage to write a really good story, in the horror genre yes but not too dark despite some events not easy to read.  I did prefer this book to the other one from her I’ve read but at the same time I’m not sure I want to continue the series which is complete with 2more books. It’s a possibility for later if I come across the last 2 books really cheap but I’m really unsure….i’m quite satisfied with how this book ended and I fear more would be too much for me.

Score:  2,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

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