Audio review: River of Shadows

Narrated by: Jo Raylan

Series: Underworld Gods, Book 1

Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins

Release date: 09-13-22

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Paranormal romance/to review

I have become bad at writing reviews at once. I wanted to review this one because it was about Finnish mythology (though I am still confused, is the Finnish underworld the underworld of the world because it was meant out to be that?)

Hanna comes back for her dad's funeral, but something is not wrong and she goes to the underworld to find her dad. She knows nothing. Totally lost. She trusts a shaman, who, yeah I know who he must be...

But the whole thing builds up to her meeting death. Him being an ass, and they then boinking like rabbits. At the end he seems very vulnerable and she, oh girl, yeah not a cool move. Now I do not root for you. But then again a bit Stockholm syndrome over the whole thing too. Also very Psyche and Eros vibe, beauty and the beast and so on.

Danger, smexing and a very dark place. Not somewhere I want to visit.

I listened to the audio and if you are from Finland you know, the intonation is not at the right places. She made Finnish words and names sound softer. But still a good narrator, Finnish is just hard

When 24-year old Hanna Heikkinen's estranged father dies, she reluctantly makes the trip to Northern Finland for his funeral. Being in the enchanting land of ice and snow feels miles away from Hanna's busy life back in Los Angeles, especially under the complicated circumstances.

But when Hanna discovers that her father's body is missing, that's when things really get weird. A mysterious man, Rasmus, tells Hanna the truth: her father was a powerful shaman who went into Tuonela, the Realm of the Dead, in order to barter for more life, and has been held captive by Tuoni, the God of Death. The only way her father can be freed is if she travels with Rasmus into the mythical underworld to rescue him.

Willing to do anything to have a second-chance with her father, Hanna accompanies Rasmus into the dark and bloody realm, traveling via the River of Shadows, stalked by dangerous creatures, monsters, and the living dead, until they finally come into the haunted kingdom ruled by Death and his family. Only for her to be captured and held prisoner by the God of Death himself. Turns out Death is intrigued by Hanna's beauty and fierceness and makes a bargain with her. If she marries him, and spends an eternity in the Realm of the Dead as his wife, he'll set her father free.

But even the most noble sacrifices come with hidden costs, and Hanna's might involve the most unexpected of all things: her heart.

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.

9/13/2022 Do you ever read out of your comfort zone? And if yes, does it work for you?

I try...sometimes. Mostly I fail because they are just not for me. But last year I tried Elly Griffiths. I am not a fan of modern detective stories, but this worked so well! Sadly I have yet to find anything else like it.

9/20/2022 For audiobook listeners: what hobby do you enjoy while listening?

9/27/2022 Do you follow your favourite authors on social media? Do you interact with them?

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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Carole's Monday: Wildfire in his arms

Author: Johanna Lindsey

Title: Wildfire In His Arms

Series: (Callahan-Warren #2)

Genre: Historical Romance

Format: ebook

Pages: 400

Published: June 16th 2015

Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

With his work in Montana completed now that the Callahan-Warren feud has ended in marriage rather than bloodshed, Degan Grant sets out for California because it is far away from the home he wants to forget—until the US Marshal who saved his life calls in a favor. All Degan has to do is apprehend three outlaws on the marshal’s list and turn them over to the law. Easy enough, he figures, for a man no one wants to tangle with.

But then a bold young woman crosses his path. Maxine grew up so pretty and attracted so much unwanted attention in her Texas hometown that events spiraled out of control. She will try anything to escape the handsome, enigmatic gunfighter who intends to turn her over to a corrupt sheriff who will hang her instead of putting her on trial.

Saddled with a sassy, spirited young woman who insists she is innocent, Degan must hunt down a vicious killer and keep an old enemy at bay. But forced into intimate proximity with his beguiling prisoner, he finds his desire sparking into a wildfire of passion, and he can no longer deny that it is time for them to risk confronting their pasts so he can have a chance at a future with her in his arms forever.

Review:

Been meaning to read book 2 for a minute, but kept forgetting to grab it from the library. 

Here we follow Degan and Maxine. Degan has finished his work when the Callahan-Warren fued ended with a happy marriage. He sets out for California until the US Marshal who saved his life calls in a favor. All Degan has to do is capture three outlaws and turn them in. But then a beautiful woman crosses his path. Maxine grew up pretty and was given unwanted attention in her hometown. An event will spiral things out of her control and she runs. Degan has to take her in and she will try anything to escape him. On top of dealing with her and her insisting she is innocent, he has to deal with a vicious killer and keep an old enemy at bay. 

This would do well as a standalone. There are few references to events from the last book. Degan was a gunslinger for one of the Feud families and once that feud was ended, he was allowed to go. 

I adore Degan. I liked Max too. They were for sure made for each other but they have a lot to weed through...like the main fact that Max is wanted and whatnot. That is a big wedge for love ;) Their dialogue was fun and they made me laugh. Max is a hoot.  

Now...I did enjoy our characters' cat-and-mouse game and them falling in love, but I hated the solution to all their issues and problems. It was...too easy. And it was for sure so unrealistic. 

Besides that, I really enjoyed watching these two muddle through. They really are perfect for each other. 

In the end, this was a fun romance. Yes, some unrealistic solutions, but fun. I'll give this 3 stars. 

 

Challenge(s):

- #23 for Romance Reading Challenge - Someone riding a horse on the cover

Random tv/movie post

This miniseries was fun, and weird. Recommended

Based on a YA book, pretty meh

This YA movie was better, it had some actual depth as the main character is schizophrenic 

Jen told me it was great ;) But yes the two first eps were rocky, but then one day I decided to try again and after ep 3 it did get good :D

This was fun! Oh and I cried at the end

And the last season of B99. Sad

And then there was this weird movie. Can't say I rec it, but I could watch it