Carole´s Monday: Ink and Sigil

 

Author: Kevin Hearne

Narrator: Luke Daniels

Title: Ink and Sigil

Series: Ink and Sigil #1

Genre: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery

Format: Audiobook

Published: August 25, 2020

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

Al MacBharrais is both blessed and cursed. He is blessed with an extraordinary white moustache, an appreciation for craft cocktails – and a most unique magical talent. He can cast spells with magically enchanted ink and he uses his gifts to protect our world from rogue minions of various pantheons, especially the Fae.

But he is also cursed. Anyone who hears his voice will begin to feel an inexplicable hatred for Al, so he can only communicate through the written word or speech apps. And his apprentices keep dying in peculiar freak accidents. As his personal life crumbles around him, he devotes his life to his work, all the while trying to crack the secret of his curse.

But when his latest apprentice, Gordie, turns up dead in his Glasgow flat, Al discovers evidence that Gordie was living a secret life of crime. Now Al is forced to play detective – while avoiding actual detectives who are wondering why death seems to always follow Al. Investigating his apprentice’s death will take him through Scotland’s magical underworld, and he’ll need the help of a mischievous hobgoblin if he’s to survive.

Review:

This was another book club book. I read book one of the corresponding series....I really need to go back before reading more of this series. 

Here we follow Al who is both blessed and cursed. He has a lot to be thankful for including having a unique magical talent....he can cast spells with magically enchanted ink and use his gifts to protect our world. However, he was also cursed. Anyone who hears his voice will eventually feel an inexplicable hatred for Al. Also, his apprentices keep dying in weird freak accidents that are unexplainable. His luck gets worse when his latest apprentice, Gordie, turns up dead and Al discovers that Gordie was not a good man. He has been living a secret life of crime. Al is forced to play detective and avoid the actual detectives who are suspicious of him. 

Awwwww I adore Al. Can he be my grandpa? He is so sweet and funny and COOL! His powers are pretty awesome. I just hope he can lift the curse soon because he doesn't deserve it. I want him to be reunited with his family. I nearly cried when we seen that relationship crumble before he realized what was going on. Literally broke my heart. 

His comrades are fun. I especially loved Buck. He was hilarious. 

Speaking of humor....the humor was here just like in the other book. I do think the author tries a wee bit too hard sometimes to be funny. But I applaud the effort. Ironically when the author isn't TRYING to be hilarious...he is actually funnier. His subtle humor is best. 

Parts of me enjoyed this much more than the Druid series. I liked Al way better. Al has to be more clever since he is older and doesn't have the fighting abilities. He also has that pesky curse on him. Eeee. 

The mystery aspect was okay. I enjoyed watching Al need a lot of people to help him really uncover what is going on.

The ending has me needing and wanting more. However, I was told by a couple of people I should finish the Druid series first before getting deeper into this one. WAAAAAH!!!!!! But I love Al. And Nadia. And Buck!

The narrator was great. He had a LOT of accents he needed to do. Bless him. I hope they paid him really, really well. Especially because I felt he nailed EVERY accent. Kuddos there. 

In the end, I did enjoy this. It was different and fresh. Al was a gem and a hero that isn't your a-typical hero. Fun characters and interesting hurdles our heroes had to jump over. I want more that is for sure. I'll give this 4 stars.  

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Refreshing

Challenge(s):

- Audiobook #49

- Cloak & Dagger #21

- Library Love #28

The last word by Elly Griffiths

Series: Harbinder Kaur (#4)

Format: 352 pages, Paperback

Published: July 18, 2024 by Quercus Publishing

Crime/ from the  Library

Do I remember these people from PSmurders? No, not really, but that did not matter since this is fully their book.

Natalka and Edwin have a detective agency and they are contacted by someone to solver a murder. But things gets complicated, many authors seem to have died. And I had no idea what was going on or who had killed someone. I would be a lousy detective and die at once.

Edwin was this charming older man, Natalka is Ukrainian with a drive. Her boyfriend Benedict who also helps out, used to be a monk. They are quite the trio. This is in the Harbinder Kaur series but she is not in it a lot, they call her up for help but this is their story.

A good book. I could not guess anything

Natalka and Edwin, whom we met in The Postscript Murders, are running a detective agency in Shoreham, Sussex. Despite a steady stream of minor cases, Natalka is frustrated, longing for a big juicy case such as murder to come the agency's way. Natalka is now living with dreamer, Benedict. But her Ukrainian mother Valentyna has joined them from her war-torn country and three's a crowd. It's annoying to have Valentyna in the tiny flat, cooking borscht and cleaning things that are already clean. To add to Natalka's irritation, Benedict and her mother get on brilliantly.

Then a murder case turns up. Local writer, Melody Chambers, is found dead and her family are convinced it is murder. Edwin, a big fan of the obit pages, thinks there's a link to the writer of Melody's obituary who pre-deceased his subject.

The trail leads Benedict and Edwin to a slightly sinister writers' retreat. When another writer is found dead, Edwin thinks that the clue lies in the words. Seeking professional help, the amateur investigators turn to their friend, detective Harbinder Kaur, to find that they have stumbled on a plot that is stranger than fiction.

Audio: Christmas in Chestnut Ridge

By: Nancy Naigle

Narrated by: Virginia Rose

Series: Chestnut Ridge, Book 2

Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins

Release date: 10-08-24 by Tantor Audio

Romantic fiction/to review

It looked sweet, cute and xmassy and it was all those things.

Sheila is visiting her friend and taking part in a Christmas Tree decoration. She seems like she needs a break.

The town was sweet, everyone are nice and friendly. Then she meets a hunky fireman, and even though she has seen him before she is all damn. Ok not really but yes sparks fly and they try it out.

Then there is a fire and the town rally to help the family. And Sheila too.

The only drama is like can they really give it a try because she does not even live there. But honestly the drama is so tiny that it is not even there. It is a heartwarming book where people have good hearts.

Good narration. She did voices and moods well and it really fit the book

In the enchanting mountain town of Chestnut Ridge, where tree farms blanket the hillsides and the promise of a white Christmas is ever-present, a heartwarming holiday romance is about to blossom. When Sheila's best friend convinces her to help decorate a tree in the annual Christmas Tree Stroll fundraiser, she embarks on an unexpected journey of self-discovery, all wrapped in the cozy embrace of a tight-knit community. As she immerses herself in the joy of twinkling lights, hot cocoa, and the camaraderie of the townsfolk, Sheila's world begins to transform, and she finds the sense of belonging she never knew she needed.

Meanwhile, Tucker, the town's reliable fire captain, is gathering volunteers to help a family with four young children who have just lost their home to a devastating fire weeks before Christmas. Sheila offers her helping hand, and as the town rallies to support the family in their time of need, sparks of love begin to flicker between her and Tucker.

In this charming town where dreams come true, and Christmas magic is everywhere, come along for a tale of love, community, and the true spirit of the season.

TMST

 

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

10/15/2024 Who is your ideal book boyfriend/girlfriend?

Now that is something that will not come to me now. That is something that when I am reading I am all awww. I am also old so when I was watching Bluey with my kid I was all damn Bandit is the best dad ever, love him, lol.

I feel like most book boyfriends are those that you love and then leave cos they would never last. 

But I will just go with Julius from Heartstrikers cos he is a cutie and so damn sweet

10/22/2024 What are the top three items on your bucket list?

10/29/2024 How do you like to be scared? Horror or thriller?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

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