Justice Calling (The Twenty-Sided Sorceress, book 1) by Annie Bellet
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Edition Reviewed: Ebook
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Justice Calling (1)
Gamer. Nerd. Sorceress.
Jade Crow lives a quiet life running her comic book and game store in Wylde, Idaho. After twenty-five years fleeing from a powerful sorcerer who wants to eat her heart and take her powers, quiet suits her just fine.
Surrounded by friends who are even less human than she is, Jade figures she’s finally safe.
As long as she doesn’t use her magic.
When dark powers threaten her friends’ lives, a sexy shape-shifter enforcer shows up. He’s the shifter world’s judge, jury, and executioner rolled into one, and he thinks Jade is to blame. To clear her name, save her friends, and stop the villain, she’ll have to use her wits… and her sorceress powers.
Except Jade knows that as soon as she does, a far deadlier nemesis awaits.
Justice Calling is the first book in The Twenty-Sided Sorceress urban fantasy series. Readers who enjoyed The Dresden Files or The Iron Druid Chronicles will likely enjoy this series.
Review:
It's a true testament of Bellet's writing talent that this short of a book worked. Short reads like this have more pressure, especially as an official first book, to introduce the world and lead. To get readers hooked and say, “Hey, I've got some great stuff to show you!
Bellet really does.
There were some mild grammar issues and rough writing moments, but mostly the writing is solid. Jade's voice is awesome. She's clever, snarky, and nerdy. She's a gamer and that had potential to make it hard for non gamers to understand. I'm a very casual gamer so I know some of the lingo and games, but not all. There's just enough gamer inside jokes, but not to an extant to alienate non gamer readers. But Jade is a well rounded geek and I'm sure everyone can find some way to connect with her. (Come on we all have an inner nerd/geek.)
Jade is pretty cool. The book does a good job to introduce her, tell about her past, and make readers love her. As mentioned she's a fellow geek, so that immediately endears her to me. But I like that despite her fears she can't abandon her friends. Not to mention she can see when someone else is right and has the balls to make the decisions that need to be made. She's got a lot of work to do to be in fighting shape, but I think the journey will be well worth it. For her and readers. Plus, I have to find out more about what I thought was Jade's wolf familiar. She's an Undying? That happens to look like a wolf tiger, lynx, and other things! How cool is that.
“A girl needs options. To me, video games are like shoes. But with more pixels and a plot.”
Despite how well setup, and paced, the book was Jade and Aleksie's attraction felt off. More like an obligation. Aleksie is the Justice. A weretiger who helps to keep the piece in the shifter society. He's the law, judge, and executioner basically. So he's the perfect setup for a love interest. But there insta-lust felt off. Especially since it barely took a few paragraphs—barely a new page—for Jade to start imagining doing dirty things to Aleksie. (But I can't really fault her.) It just felt off. But. Yes, there's a but. I look forward to seeing these two characters connect and get a proper page time to develop.
“After all, in a world full of shape shifters, witches, gods, and sorcerers, maybe miracles can happen.”
Apparently there aren't vampires in this world. Bummer. However, console yourself with bad ass sorcerers/sorceresses, witches, all kinds of animal shifters, leprechauns, and more. At this point there's not a ton of detail on the magic, but I liked the range and variety shown so far. It's a promising setup and I can't wait for more to be revealed!
“Guess no one had ever told him not to bring a gun to a mage fight.”
Despite some minor issues Justice Calling is a solid introduction to Jade Crow's world. Readers get to know her and I can't wait to see her grow. Even better is the promise of what is going to be an epic show down once Jade's Ex tracks her down. Bad Romance, can't say no to that. Especially when he's out her eat her heart—not brain. (Sorry I made lots of Gaga references there. I couldn't help it!) I love the fictional town of Wylde, Idaho. I'm a sucker for any book in my state. The cast of side characters is promising and I simply want more of this cool Urban Fantasy world.
Sexual Content: Dirty thoughts, humor, and some kissing. Clean. (Well one dark musing.)
3/5- Adored it, just a few minor details held it back.
| Previous book(s) in series: | ||
| Reviewed on BW: | Amazon: | Goodreads: |
| Justice Calling (1) Murder of Crows (2) Pack of Lies (3) Hunting Season (4) Heartache (5) Thicker Than Blood (6) | Justice Calling (1) Murder of Crows (2) Pack of Lies (3) Hunting Season (4) Heartache (5) Thicker Than Blood (6) | Justice Calling (1) Murder of Crows (2) Pack of Lies (3) Hunting Season (4) Heartache (5) Thicker Than Blood (6) |
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