Hailey Turner - The Queen's Starfire Throne

Every road must come to an end.
THE DEAD. Facing a war where revenants outnumber the living, Caris Rourke must confront a future written in the stars, one she wants no part of. In order to outmaneuver the enemy, Caris must learn to trust her instincts, no matter where they lead, whether into the heart of danger or into the arms of Nathaniel, a dead man walking she should not trust, much less love.
THE WAR. Eimarille Rourke wants nothing more than to be queen of all Maricol and will do anything to succeed, even the unthinkable. Determined to claim the starfire throne for herself, she must first eradicate all other claimants. Seeking to assassinate her sister and brother amidst a war of her own making will lead Eimarille down a road of ruin from which there is no turning back.
THE LIVING. In the wake of the attack on the Warden’s Island, Soren returns to the people who made him into the warden he is today. But the past he thought he’d left behind as a child has given him a name he does not want. Far from the only man he’s ever loved, carrying a vow that could change the course of the war, Soren must decide if destroying his life is worth saving a world.
THE STARS. In the throes of an escalating war, Vanya Sa’Liandel must put his country above all else, even his own happiness. As Houses seek to betray him and the fallout of his family’s past mistakes claws ever closer, not having Soren by his side is an anguish he can’t escape. In the end, the tide of war could turn with an alliance he cannot afford to grant. But years ago, Vanya gave his heart to a warden, and some kinds of love weren’t meant to burn out but to rage like starfire.

Comment: This is the final story in the Infernal War saga trilogy. I was quite eager to read it and to know how everything would end up, and now that I have, part of me is still mourning the loss...

In this final installment, all the countries in Maricol are getting ready for full on war. Eimarille and the army of Daijal has subjugated many others, and has planned to take over the whole of Maricol and not only Ashion, as she has said before. In the meantime, her siblings finally meet and need to decide if they will join forces or not and what course of action they will take. The gods who guided them into their roads also watch from the sidelines, and whatever decision made will be approved or not by them. The problem is that not everyone can be the winner, therefore, which queen will sit in the throne, Eimarille or Caris?

This is the end of a wonderful trilogy which I have been following for the past months and that has been incredibly satisfying. Not every single detail has been great, but the overall world building was amazing and so complex that I just can't imagine how the author must have done it or how long did it take to plan, much less write, three books around 600 pages each with such a level of detail and character liaisons that still baffles me.

Simplifying things, after the other two books, all countries in Maricol are about to go into war because Eimarille, the oldest daughter of queen Ophelia of Ashion, was taken to enemy country Daijal as a child, and kind of groomed by the god Innes to go into a road in which she believed she would be on her mother's throne again one day, but not only as that country's queen. She would rule them all. Then, her younger brother Alesainder and baby sister Caris were saved by other gods and grew up with other lives. Now they are trying to save the world from her sister who, it all seems, can't see she went too far in her attempt to gain power.

This trilogy has been about playing the right part to accomplish a goal, but whose goal is more valid? I, of course, loved Soren/Alesainder and his "road", and Caris wasn't my favorite but she was clearly the good sister vs Eimarille, the villain. It's funny because in the first book I could not say there was a hero and a villain, but clearly that is not the case in this book or in the previous. There are also several secondary characters, some whose POV we can follow too, and all are part of this big scheme of things, which was a delight to follow. Some readers have said this book was kind of repetitive in parts, but when something is so captivating, minor things can easily be overlooked.

Personally, there are things I'd prefer to see different.. in a cozy cute world, instead of this being a saga about rivalry and misused powers, the siblings would unite and fight the gods perhaps, or something, instead of being at odds with each other. I think, deep down, this is a story about one's road. Each one of us has a road to walk in this life, and sometimes that road might take us into better or worse situations, and how we deal is the key. I also disliked a few situations throughout the main story line, but they do make sense in the big picture.

My favorite parts were the ones with Alesainder/Soren and emperor Vanya. I just loved how their relationship developed and grew and I saw myself smiling when they reunited and confessed their feelings... I could easily envision their HEA and they were probably the main characters that I more eagerly followed and who made it worth the time to keep reading the books. Not that the rest of the books aren't great elements done by the author, but this relationship (and one other) was key.

If there is an element that I was disappointed with here was how the gods' actions - or non actions - affected the characters. I'm especially thinking of the god who led Eimarille towards her "road" and why. The reason can certainly have merit but was almost too trivial to be seen as valid that I feel this might have been done better. The end result of this situation for this god was also, as seen by his siblings, quite shallow and made me think the author could have done better. 

I also kept thinking about a very specific detail regarding the moment Caris was left with her adoptive parents in the first book, which I must have misread because it was never mentioned again and I can't help but think something more might happen because of that and didn't.

Still, this didn't detract from the generous story line, the amount of details and characters and situations that are a show of character development but also evidence attention for detail and a rich set of places and scenes that kept me reading page after page, as if this wasn't a huge book. The very last sentence was both terrific and heartbreaking, enough to make me shed a few tears, but also perfect, and one I won't forget easily.

Grade: 9/10

Hailey Turner - The Emperor's Bone Palace

THE NAMELESS. As a warden, Soren’s duty is to guard against the dead, but he was never trained to guard against his heart. Drawn into a web of Solarian politics, Soren finds himself at the center of a storm of his own making, unwilling to break free if it means losing the man he loves. But even the darkest secrets cannot remain hidden forever, and when lies come to light, the price he pays for his silence may very well be his undoing.
THE EMPEROR. When his claim to the Imperial throne is challenged by a traitorous House, Vanya Sa’Liandel must adhere to the ancient tradition of the Conclave to stay in power. Refusing to face his peers alone, Vanya will stand before the Houses of Solaria with Soren by his side, a decision that risks his heart when an unspeakable betrayal threatens everything he’s fought for.
THE REBEL. With her entire world upended, Caris Dhemlan is on the run, struggling to come to terms with the truth of her heritage. As the Clockwork Brigade is targeted by Daijal, she must fight to save the people she cares about. Every rebellion needs a figurehead, but Caris is determined not to become a martyr.
THE QUEEN. With a crown claimed, Eimarille Rourke sets her sights on Ashion and the continent beyond her country’s borders. Promised a world by a star god, Eimarille sets into motion the gears of war and launches the opening salvo of a battle whose repercussions will ripple across the whole of Maricol.

Comment: Since last month I've liked reading the first book in this Infernal War saga trilogy by author Hailey Turner, I've decided to read the other books too. Besides, I was quite curious over a few situations and felt like I couldn't wait that long to know what would happen.

In this second volume, all key characters are found exactly where we left them, with decisions to make and missions to accomplish. Soren is helping protecting Vanya's daughter, Eimirille is still bent on conquering all of Maricol and Caris feels betrayed that everyone expects her to be queen when all she wanted was to be an engineer. As all the Rourke siblings go on with their plans, others around them make plans and some make unsavory alliances. With a few of the star gods helping some of these players and some even going as far as to bless them in their actions, is there any hope the world won't be destroyed by Eimirille's ambition?

This was, once more, a very complex and fast paced story. I was impressed with the first book because it was so busy but everything made sense and engaged my attention from start to finish. I'm glad to say the same quality was found in this second volume and the fact this is the second story, middle of the road, didn't mean it was only a filler, as often happens with trilogies.

The world building remains as complex and detailed as I expected and the characters' decisions both not that easy nor dependent on only one's mind. I've said before this world is a mix of fantasy and steampunk, where humans go on about their lives,  although some have special magical powers, there are zombies revenants too and six gods, whose agenda I can't yet truly determine. Some of the gods seem to appear more often than others, and they kind of manipulate a few humans into doing things, but I can't tell if that is because they want something to happen, or because they are simply playing games with one another... I imagine this will be answered in the last book.

The main plot revolves around one main idea: before the war that decimated the Rourke bloodline, the ones ruling the country Ashion, their queen wanted to abolish any trade with Dejal, another country, where debt slaves are in practice. With the war, the children of that queen were placed in different homes, and each one has a specific god helping them in some way. As adults, they must fulfill their roles, but what are they exactly? I've said about the first book that I had not seen any character I'd label as a villain, for the POV of so many characters helps having a broader idea about what is happening, but now, after the events of this book, it seems one person is meant to be a clear villain/antagonist.

I actually felt a little anxious to read this book. Considering what happened right at the end of the first one, and knowing there would be a third to come, this second one certainly would include a lot of less than good situations and I was not anticipating I'd have a good experience reading about things I'd prefer not to see. While it is true there are some positive situations, and one or two lighter scenes to make things easier, and there are as many manifestations of caring and love and friendship between some characters, there are also several problems which become worse, many bad or sad scenes and things that seem so black and white that I can't understand now how the author will solve them or explain them in a positive context.

Eimarille is now queen of Dejal and she has always planned to recover Ashion, but the price seems to pile up and the god helping her seems to be the most manipulative. Caris has had some disappointments in how her life would go and is wary of being queen herself, but if she isn't, how can peace ever exist among all the nations in Maricol? Besides, with a few situations that took place in this book, now it seems war will happen for all countries. As for Soren (or Alesandair), he is still with the wardens, after finally revealing himself to Vanya and having to leave. I'm in such a state because of them yet, I want them to have a HEA and I dream of how it will happen, I surely hope the author won't do anything else but what I hope will happen!

There are still several problems to solve, but I still feel confident most might be solved without key characters being affected or, at least, the ones I care about the most... I'm also hoping the role of gods is finally explained properly... I can't wait to read the conclusion, that's for certain!

Grade: 8/10

Hailey Turner - The Prince's Poisoned Vow

Every country is built on revolution.
THE WARDEN. Soren is a nameless, stateless man, tasked with keeping watch over Maricol’s borders.
He isn’t meant for politics, only dealing with the dead. His past was buried in the poison fields, but after a fateful encounter with a prince, Soren comes to realize he can’t keep what magic burns inside him hidden forever.
THE PRINCE. Vanya Sa’Liandel was the spare who survived the Houses’ murderous games to become the Imperial crown prince of Solaria. He has a duty to his country, but he’ll owe his life to the wardens. Payment of any kind is costly, especially when he’s at risk of losing his heart to the man who saved his life.
THE COG. Caris Dhemlan hears the siren song of clarion crystals better than anyone in Ashion. That skill for inventing has enriched her bloodline, but it’s who she can become that will ultimately entangle her with the Clockwork Brigade.
THE PRINCESS. Eimarille Rourke should have been raised to be queen of one country; instead, she is prisoner of another. Guided by a star god, Eimarille bides her time in a gilded cage, spinning a political web to gain a throne and start a war the world isn’t ready for.

Comment: In the last three years I've managed to read the Metahuman series by this author, a sci-fi military plot with romance elements, which I liked a lot. I'm determined to read the author's other work and saw her Soulbound series has seven full length installments and I confess I wasn't too keen on starting that series right away. That means I turned to her other series, the Infernal War Saga, which is a trilogy (so far/already finished?).

In this book we meet a huge cast of characters, in a world of magic and paranormal elements, but whose vibe goes more along the lines of what we might see as steampunk and fantasy. When the story begins, everyone is dealing with the shock of a terrible war, and in this world where six gods rule over different reigns, plans are in motion to place those they favor on the throne of their influence. Although each country is independent, they all have commerce and one of these countries uses debt bondage (= slavery) as an important part of the economy. One of the gods plans for his champion to take over more than one country, no matter the cost, but there are secrets to maintain until it's time for the truth of what happened to be revealed. Will everyone make the right decisions until that happens?

Well. This was truly an epic-styled story, in which we follow everyone and someone else, it seems, as all characters follow their destiny - or the plans of the gods. I'm still unsure if these gods are really manipulative for personal reasons, such as any big scheme we cannot yet understand, or if the whole thing is planned by them from the start so that the human characters can do what they are supposed to.

I should say that the edition I've read had almost 600 pages and this was truly immersive and detailed and we have the POV of countless characters. Until the very end I can say that it didn't feel as if there was an obvious villain. Some characters do unsavory things but it felt their reasons (or "help" from the gods) always had some specific necessary base and at any point their actions might not have such a bad result, which clearly wasn't the case when the last chapters came in. Now, I do feel I know who the bad guys are, and they do truly despicable things in the big scheme of things, but do I hate them? Not completely, even though one character I came to like suffered a lot at the very end as a consequence.

I think to myself, how long must have taken for the author to plan and write all this? And there are two more books, which I assume might have similar page counts? Really impressive... and the development reminded me of stories like Game of Thrones, which I have not read nor watched but know enough about it, culturally speaking, to be able to compare. Everything in this world is connected and layered and at the same time I felt frustrated over some decisions or some scenes, it felt things were following a quiet and unassuming way, I even wondered why so many pages, what more could happen, but when I realized what was going on, the author had already taken things into an impossible situation!

I'm now thinking about this book from time to time, wondering what will happen next, considering how shocking this installment ended, and what will be the characters' next step. I'm especially thinking about a few characters and what will they do once they learn a few truths... I really need to get my hands on the next book, although I'm dreading possible heartbreak too, since  some characters' decisions are clearly leading to problems and hard roads.

To summarize a little, and from what I understood, there was a queen in one of the countries who was driven to end the businesses which dealt with debt bondage. This caused a rift and the country which depends on it attacked. The gods took the opportunity to save the children of that queen, who were not only rightful heirs, of noble lineage, but who also have the starfire power, the magical ability to use a special type of fire without being affected. 

The oldest child, Eimarille, was placed among the royal family of the country which attacked hers, as a sort of hostage, and adult Eimarille is bent on getting her throne back, but on her own terms. The middle child Alesainder was placed with the Wardens, a group independent of the countries, which takes over the battle against the revenants (because, of course, zombies). And the youngest child, baby Caris was placed with a noble couple, in exchange with their own daughter, so she could grow up undetected.

I know it sounds vague said this way, but the lives of these three as adults (well a teenager Caris) are as complex and busy as one can imagine, and even more so after they start making their own plans or after they meet specific people. I'm especially fond of Alesainder - now with a different name - and the person he falls in love with, because their romance is the one I'm more invested in and I 

just.cannot.wait

to see how his intended will react when he learns who Aleisander (now Soren) truly is. The siblings don't know about each other, and many secondary characters don't know either, but as the story progresses, some clues start to come out, and that information can be good and bad, depending on who knows.

I could go on and on, but this is too complex and complicated to explain properly, at least without many spoilers for context, but I admit I was not expecting such an elaborated plot and world building. What I had read before by the author had been great, but this is another level. I'll have to bite the bullet and read the other series too, perhaps next year. I think this is a truly talented writer, and unless the content really doesn't appeal, in terms of skill and execution, five stars for certain.

Grade: 8/10

Hailey Turner - In the Solace

Jamie Callahan is looking forward to spending the rest of his life with Kyle Brannigan. They’ve overcome impossible odds, and the only thing left to do is walk down the aisle together. Despite the happiness they’ve earned, their enemies haven’t all disappeared.
Colonel Liam Wessex is thrilled his best friend is getting married, but it’s just further proof that his own life is breaking apart. With his classified identity revealed to the public, Liam is struggling with the transition into civilian life. Becoming reacquainted with MI6 Agent Oliver Archer forces Liam to reconcile his past actions with a future that just might be the answer to all of his problems.
Oliver thought he’d done enough to cut Liam out of his life. When their professional lives collide, he’s forced to accept the fact that Liam is no longer the spoiled prince he once knew. When terrorists target London and the unthinkable happens, Oliver and Liam learn that second chances come with a price neither can afford to pay.

Comment: This is the last installment in the Metahuman Files series by author Hailey Turner. I have enjoyed this series quite a lot, some books more than others, but I was obviously interested in reading this final one. I think I've read the author wasn't planning on writing more after the shorter stories before this installment, but since thee were still some loose threads, she did so and we are able to have Liam's HEA as well, for he had been an interesting secondary character.

In this final story we start by following the wedding day of Jamie and Kyle, finally rewarded their formal HEA even though it was already a given they would take this step. One of the guests is Liam, their British connection, who has been friends with Jamie for years. Liam is facing the same situation as Jamie, his family is pressuring him to retire from active duty since his identity is now known. Liam feels this isn't what he wants but he knows he can't just put others in danger because of him either, so he is reluctantly thinking about it. There's still time for one last mission, the fight against potential terrorist attacks in the UK and that is how he is, again, working with Oliver Archer, someone he knew since they both attended Eton. However, things didn't really go well back then between them... could it now be time for them to finally talk?

For those who, like me, have liked the previous books, this is another good read and a good addiction tot he series, simply for the fact it continues the story line and has the same tone of the other books. It's something to be expected and it delivers exactly that. The plus side is that it offers the HEA of a different couple and it's is always nice to see a new type of romance develop.

I liked Liam and Olivers's story well enough. We knew, from the previous stories in which they were secondary characters, that something had happened between them to make them behave with animosity towards one another, and I was looking for to wade through the angst to see them become a couple. This did happen so I can say that, in the romance department, things went the way I hoped. As for why they weren't friends now, it was understandable, for they have an history.

Some might label this a "second chance romance" but to me it felt more like "enemies to lovers" and I like this trope way better and, besides, they weren't friends now trying to make it work, they were both reluctant but we know they would change their opinions after a serious talk. As one can imagine, this wasn't done too quickly, so we get to see them interact a bit and do other things while "processing" which, to me, makes the final HEA so much more believable. At the same time, I feel they didn't have enough situations in which to think of the other unless it was under stress so, maybe that could have been done more convincingly.

The romance is tender in some moments and I liked they tried to go past who they had been. I especially liked Oliver's personality and character and I feel he is a nice addition to this "world". Their personal lives were complex enough to make me think how them being a couple in the future might be like, not impossible but with some challenges and I think the author addressed the issues enough. not as much as I would have liked, considering everything else, but I was glad they ended up together.

What probably made me dislike this book a little was the inclusion of the intimacy scenes between Jamie and Kyle. One of them was way too long for a book not centered exclusively on them and, to be honest, I just don't enjoy reading about their sex life as they have a dynamic I don't find appealing at all, so I skipped the pages in which these things happen. When they are interacting with others or to each other among others, that is different, and of course I like knowing what they are up to.

As for the plot development and closure, I don't think it's any surprise to say the good guys find a way to solve the problems and to deal with the pending subjects. The author does plan the action scenes quite well, they are detailed without being too boring or complicated and I tend to go through them more or less easily, which adds this "professional" vibe to the overall story line. Things end well for those we are rooting for, of course.

Thinking about all the elements the author included in this book, comparing to what I felt like about the other books, I must say this wasn't my favorite. There was a bit too much attention on elements I wasn't too fond of, in detriment of I wanted more of, but it's true that this book was as easy and addictive to read as the others, so, in general, still a good story and a good enough finale for the series.

Grade: 7/10

Hailey Turner - Two novellas

These are two novellas in the Metahuman Files series by Hailey Turner. The last full length book I've read in the series had presented a satisfying end to the main story line, even though there are still a few loose threads, which I'm certain would be solved in these novellas and in the last book, which I'll read next month.

Each novella has an independent plot, but a lot of the content is related to the previous books. I think the structure of each one is done well enough for things to be understood by a new reader but, seriously, I believe it would still be confusing and would make a new reader feel lost among certain information.

New Horizons is the immediate follow-up to the events of the last installment. Now that the Alpha Team has been put on reserve because of how their identities were exposed to the public, most of them went on with personal projects, even though they remain in contact. Trevor "Bones" Sanchez, a telekinetic, has decided to finally have his medical degree to become a surgeon.

One day, while about to start a new class, the alarm sounds with the warning about an attack in the hospital and Trevor doesn't let his now civilian state stop him from helping. That is how he meets Brendan. a EMT who is caught in the crossfire with the attacker. Trevor helps him and because the attacker seemed to focus on Brendan, it is decided he should be watched. 

Of course this is the easiest way for them to spend some time together we see their attraction feels genuine, which means their romance stars in a good way. I think it was still a bit too quick and too easy, considering their personalities and the fact they had just recently met. I confess I got a very superficial notion about them, and Trevor felt like a slightly softer version of Jamie, in his need to be in control and such. I think the author could have worked out their dynamics better.

As for the plot, the enemy is caught at some point and all is relatively solved, but still some loose threads are left to wonder and to justify the remaining stories. All in all, a pretty average novella to me.

Grade: 6/10

Fire in the Heart is another novella featuring established couple Alexei and Sean. These are probably my favorite characters in the series, their relationship, dynamics and emotions the ones I like to spend more time reading about. In this novella, they finally get married and while some details were certainly too sugary, I don't think it was that bad anyway, they do deserve to have a steady and unbreakable HEA. Things become challenging again when, during their honeymoon in the south of France, information about a previous enemy (on the run) hint at the fact he might be there as well.

Conveniently, Liam, a British officer who has been a secondary character, whom we will see have his HEA in the final book, is there as part of a MI6 mission and he is the one who warns the guys. They decided to set up things so that they might catch the villain but of course things don't go as smoothly. I say "of course" because it is obvious the author will solve everything in the last book, and this novella was like a step to explain why we will hear about certain details then.

I think this one worked out better as novella; has a couple who doesn't need to create a bond and alludes to people and facts which on't need much time to be solved. Obviously, though, it does not work as a standalone story without having more knowledge of the other books.

Grade: 8/10

Hailey Turner - In the Requiem

Weighed down by scandal, Captain Jamie Callahan must choose between saving his family’s reputation and his father’s political aspirations, or taking down the enemy once and for all. Choosing one over the other will have lasting repercussions he can’t escape. Whatever path Jamie ultimately picks, Staff Sergeant Kyle Brannigan will be right by his side to face the consequences. Kyle knows in a situation like this the only way out is through. Together they can make it to the other side, but surviving that journey will take everything they have.
Agent Sean Delaney is learning what it means to be part of Alpha Team through trial by fire. He wouldn’t change it for the world, nor would he give up the life he’s building with Staff Sergeant Alexei Dvorkin. But their time together is threatened by outside forces they can’t outrun. Having put the nightmare of Boston behind him, Alexei is focused on keeping his family safe, but he can’t have eyes on everyone. Alexei knows he can’t ignore the danger on the horizon, and when it strikes, he is unprepared for the tragedy it leaves in its wake.
The odds are stacked ever higher against Alpha Team, and outmaneuvering a precog is a daunting, almost impossible task. Jamie knows something has to give, and when it does, it just might break him the way nothing else in his life ever could.

Comment: This is the 5th installment in the Metahuman Files series by Hailey Turner. This book was probably intended to be the last one, as it takes the plot to a point one can see as finished, but I see there are two more novellas and a full length story after this one.

In this book, our protagonists finally reach the point of no return and somethings has to give. Jamie's father is till in the run for president, Jamie feels trapped in what he thinks of his duty and the need to be there for his team but he did agree to help his father in the final stages of the campaign. To add even more stress the enemies from the past stories are still at large, things seem to be going to an impossible turn and they can't predict what might happen. Still, Jamie and Kyle are still thinking of when will they be able to be a couple in public while Alexei and Sean become officially engaged. Will there be any peace for the Alpha team in the near future?

This was a very fast paced story. It is also clear the author wanted to wrap up all the loose threads so that the story could end in a way that would feel as if things were solved or, at least, offered closure. She was also clever enough to leave some things open ended, such as the the fate of the Alpha team elements, in case they could come back later.

This said, it means it's truly best to read the books in order, as this one includes many references and situations which were addressed before or started to be planned in previous books and while this has structure to be a stand alone, it probably will feel a bit frustrating for those who are unaware of what happened before. This installment also seems to accentuate some conflicts which have been ongoing, and it can look as if there is some repetition of past plot points but let it be said, the overall effect is one of sequential events.

I've enjoyed reading about the main characters (especially Alexei and Sean, may favorites) as well as all the team's tasks. I think the author has established a very solid world building and likable characters as well. I suppose the romance might not be the focal point for most readers, but for me it's a wonderful part of the stories and especially the dynamics between Sean and Alexei work very well for me, I'm always so glad when they are on the page whether doing their things or interacting as a couple or with others. Of course we have as much attention, in this book, on Jamie and Kyle but their relationship dynamics aren't as interesting for me (very light BDSM).

Still, due to what happened in previous stories, it is a truth that Kyle and Jamie do have more focus on them in this one. Jamie, as the leader of Alpha Team and as the son of a presidential candidate, seems to be the character we see act more often and a lot has to do with his moral code, his dedication to the military which gave me structure and a goal, but also responsibility and a team he cares for and feels responsible for as well. Being in love with Kyle and being reciprocated is something he didn't imagine was possible, but since that it is so, he also wants to be able to one day have that.

As I've said, this is a fast paced plot and many things happen, it seems, too quickly or too soon after one another. There is a certain focus on military actions and lots of maneuvers and while this can seem realistic and necessary for this book, I also found that I could get the important parts without having to be knowledgeable about the majority of what was happening. There is some drama and some difficult scenes to read but thankfully, for those invested in the characters and their development, there is a payoff and I feel quite satisfied with the way things went.

I see that the next installments are novellas featuring known characters and the 6th installment seems to be a cast reunion  or finishing any possible details which were left open.. I'm actually eager to get to those, if only to spend some time with these characters.

Grade: 8/10

Two novellas

Two of the last stories I've read were novellas. Since both are on the small size in terms of page count, I've decided to write only a small summary on them.

How to Marry a Werewolf by Gail Carriger is apparently a stand alone novella in the werewolf universe created by the author but I think it would only make true sense for those who have read other books in the main series (Parasol Protectorate). It also addresses situations which, although understandably for this specific story, are so much more interesting if w know something about the characters' backgrounds.
This is the story of major Channing, a recurrent secondary character we've sen in most of the books in the main series and he finally has his HEA. We only knew he had a past he wanted to forget, that being a werewolf is both a blessing and a curse for him but he is now content to have an alpha his wolf is happy with. In comes Faith, an American whose family wants to get rid of after an indiscretion and traveling to England and marry a werewolf is the "fate" the family deemed proper for Faith's "crime". However, Faith does find a much better life here than she could have anticipated...
I liked this novella, it reminded me of why I have liked the author's work so much...both protagonists are actually vulnerable people who find common ground and in little things we learn a lot of them, which so many authors can't do. There's a lot of shenanigans which can sound a bit too complicated to situate within the overall plot but I like the writing style, so this worked out for me. I think the path to happiness wasn't too easy for them, but when the story ended, I liked knowing they can be happy together, that they dealt with the things of their past which were roadblocks to become happier people and I also liked seeing beloved characters again. Again, I liked this one a lot but maybe for some new readers, some details may sound confusing.
Grade: 8/10

Out of the Ashes by Hailey Turner is a novella part of the Metahuman Files series, featuring a futuristic reality where some humans became something more after the exposure to a chemical weapon. In this novella we follow the events of book #4, where the protagonists faced torture. Now, after some months, and when both are about to be cleared for new missions, they still deal with the PTSD, especially Sean, who feels guilty he might have been the reason why Alexei was tortured. 
Although this affects their life together, they are in love and they want the best for one another so despite the conflict, they still defend and help one another. This is particularly important int heir next mission, which they share, but someone from the past will force them to trust one another despite the personal feelings.
I really think this should not be read as a standalone, there too much information compacted which might not feel easy to grasp, and it's always more rewarding if one has prior knowledge from other books. Sean and Alexei are still my favorite couple, their dynamics as a couple seem to me mire balanced than that of Jamie and Kyle, for instance, and although it feels too long is spend on thinking about their issues and the solving of them is too quick comparing, I still felt glad they talked and found a way to truly communicate and reinforce their relationship. I'm very eager to see them more in future installments.
Grade: 8/10

Hailey Turner - In the Blood

Captain Jamie Callahan is frustrated with his team constantly being at the mercy of the enemy in order to further the MDF’s goals. To make matters worse, his father’s political campaign is ramping up and Jamie’s every move is being watched by the media. He is acutely aware of all the eyes trained on him, his team, and Staff Sergeant Kyle Brannigan in particular. Meanwhile, Kyle would give anything to stay in the shadows, but he refuses to leave Jamie’s side, no matter the scrutiny. Staying out of the spotlight becomes impossible when their families are threatened and vital choices about their future together can no longer be ignored.
Staff Sergeant Alexei Dvorkin and Agent Sean Delaney are enjoying their time together as a couple when Sean’s past catches up with him. As Alpha Team’s long-running mission gets derailed in the worst way possible, Alexei discovers the enemy is playing for keeps, and neither he nor Sean are in any position to beat the odds and win the game. As for Sean, he’s worried that even if they make it out alive, Alexei may never forgive him for giving into the enemy’s demands.
Manipulation is the name of the game, but Jamie is done playing by everybody else’s rules. So is the rest of Alpha Team, because if there’s one thing Jamie’s team knows? It’s that they’re a family—and you don’t mess with family unless you want to get hurt.

Comment: This is the fourth full length story in the Metahuman Files series by Hailey Turner, following a team of military elements in a distant future. At that time, most of the military conflicts happen due to biological or chemical weapons, namely splice, a chemical which kills very quickly or, in a small number of people, causes life altering changes. Now the military also needs to worry about how these people might be used for selfish reasons, mostly if the enemies control those people...

In this novel, we keep following the Alpha team as they fight around the world to catch those causing havoc or helping those who need it. Jamie Callahan is the leader of the team but he also has his private life to worry about, especially because his father is a senator running for president and it is becoming too difficult to keep his identity as a meta human a secret. Adding to this is the fact he is in a relationship with a member of his team and that won't be accepted by the military hierarchy. 

Even worse, also the ongoing case which has been happening from the previous books and which is escalating into a huge mess, is causing them worries and when two members of the team are taken while an attack causes huge casualties, it seems the problems will never cease. But an united team never leaves a member behind and together they will make a difference... 

Once again, I was immensely entertained by a book in this series. I have become invested in the serious tone of the books, dealing with serious military issues in a paranormal reality but with some splashes of cute or funny dialogue/scenes here and there to make this a more realistic portrayal of the camaraderie between different people in the team. I also liked how the focus on romance is divided into two couples and we can see they are evolving as such, despite the problems faced.

The plot is complex and with a lot going on at the same time which might seem confusing but I actually liked having to pay attention to several things and the beauty of this in this specific case is that the author's style is appealing and direct and that makes it easier to be focused. Of course, the fact the characters have powers and care about each other, makes reading about the things they do a lot more interesting.

There are some situations happening in this book which will have to take the overall plot into another level in the next stories. Perhaps it won't be a development as wide ranged as one might want, but certainly something will have to happen and this tells me the author does have a plan on how to carry things into that and I'm looking for to see how this will affect the careers of some elements and how that might matter to the big picture of the series' goal.

The relationships depicted are still my favorite part, especially Sean and Alexei's. I've already said I like these two a lot more than Jamie and Kyle simply because of the intimate dynamics between them. When Jamie and Kyle are together in intimacy there's this sense of BDSM I personally could do without, meaning I have a lot more fun reading about Alexei's fun personality contrasting to Sean's more reserved one and how cute they look together.

Some situations in this book can be read as a little over the top graphic when it comes to violence. To be fair, nothing as dire as we would see in a thriller but it might feel it was unnecessary as I've seen some readers thought. To be very honest, I sort of skimmed the parts where it was obvious things were hard to go through and while this might sound like cheating, I don't mind and it seriously didn't affect my enjoyment with the rest of the book nor my intent on reading the others so... I suppose everyone has their triggers and methods to deal, so for some readers a few chapters might be too much.

I liked how this book ended and I'm curious to see what happened next for these characters, so I will definitely read the next stories as well.

Grade: 8/10

Hailey turner - In the Shadows

Staff Sergeant Alexei Dvorkin doesn’t trust easily, and he most certainly doesn’t trust spies. He’ll work with them if ordered to, but that doesn’t mean he has to like it. Except Agent Sean Delaney is proving to be the exception to the rule. There’s something about Sean that gets under Alexei’s skin and won’t let go. Alexei would be lying if he said he wasn’t interested in what lay beneath the agent’s mask. When they’re assigned together for a mission, Alexei vows to keep Sean safe all while trying to coax the hot agent into his bed.
Agent Sean Delaney has spent his entire adult life living a lie for his country. When the MDF tasks him with finding evidence of criminal wrong-doing against the owner of a private military company, Sean knows exactly how to play the game to get what he wants. He just doesn’t know how to handle Alexei’s advances, nor his own attraction to the younger soldier. Being a spy is lonely work, and Sean knows he should keep his distance, but saying no to Alexei is impossible from the moment they first kiss.
When the mission takes a turn for the worse, the only thing left to do is run. In the wake of betrayal, and in the path of danger, can their fragile trust survive the battle?

Comment: This is the 3rd installment in the Metahuman series. Again, a mix of military procedures and mission details along with the development of the romance between two of the team's members.

Sean Delaney has been a CIA agent since he entered college and he has had to lie to his family since then, as well. He feels his work is worthy and that is often what makes it endurable to lie and be alone far too much. Now that he is paired with a team of methahumans, since he is one himself, he sees what being in a team really means and he doesn't feel as lonely. He gets especially close to Alexei, someone he can see becoming a friend and, perhaps, even something more than that...However, problems from his past CIA missions and the aftermath of a recent mission with the metahuman team somehow get mixed up and the team now faces a new dangerous enemy. Will they be able to avoid further complications and save the day?

In this story, which closely follows the events from the previous book - meaning this is yet another series better read in order - the team is resting up while Sean, who helped in the previous mission, is back to duty when something goes wrong he needs to call up for help. By doing so, the rest of the alpha team becomes involved too, some more than others, in order to prevent bigger problems, but things don't go as well as they hoped and somehow Sean and Alexei pretend to be very close while trying to dig up information on someone.

This is the starting point for a new mission which changes a lot of what had been established for most characters. The team is close but they still have families and individual/personal issues and that might affect their availability to a mission. For instance, Jamie is now helping his father's campaign but he certainly prefers to avoid if he can say he has work stuff to do. Anyway, this time the focus is clearly on Sean and Alexei, although the others play their roles as expected and I can say it's a nice feeling to know the others aren't there just because.

This series has plenty of action scenes and chapters focused on missions and weapons and things that I, personally, don't feel as interested in, but the author always mixes this up with personal details related to the characters and it makes what I would usually skim into something more or less appealing and quick to read. There's a lot to be said about eye for detail here and I can imagine the lists and papers on the author's desk as she connects things and makes them necessary to make the plot points feel smooth.

The mission we see being developed here has some ups and downs but for the most part, it feels as if they know what they'redoing, especially if one considers the fact they try to be fair, they try to enforce justice and protect innocents. Still, as one must imagine, for me the fun part and most captivating element in the book is the romance. True, this might not be the focus but it still plays a heavy part in the books and I surely liked Sean and Alexei a lot more than I did Kyle and Jamie from the other two books.

Now, I have to say all characters feel important but the ones in relationships obviously have a bit more attention on them. Jamie and Kyle were fun to watch but their intimacy scenes are not what I prefer to read about, so the first two books were good for me more due to the overall effect of the mix romance/world building. In this one I really liked to know Sean and Alexei better and have a better glimpse of how their personalities are.

I also liked their romantic relationship a lot more than I did the other couple's. The dynamics between these two are more appealing to me, their personalities and attitude one I like seeing developed more as well and the intimacy more fun and cute to watch. I would say they make a cute couple, they have serious issues that are heavy on their hearts but they are more carefree in general and it's easier for them to be a couple. I'm hoping we have more scenes with them in the future.

All in all, a good book, solid plot and better romance. I still think some details could have been better done (I'm a sucker for romance, therefore more romantic moments, perhaps even more scenes with the whole team or where we would get to know the other team members' personalities and private lives even more...) but overall, I had a great time and will certainly read the next book.

Grade: 8/10

Hailey Turner - In the Ruins

Captain Jamie Callahan knows the Metahuman Defense Force frowns on fraternization. For once in his life, he’s breaking all the rules. Having Staff Sergeant Kyle Brannigan on his team and in his bed is worth the risk of being found out. When a mission comes down requiring Alpha Team to go undercover in order to infiltrate a criminal alliance, Jamie knows it won’t be easy. Putting his family’s name on the line is nothing compared to the role the MDF wants him to play—that of a billionaire’s son, discharged from the military, with a lover on his arm, looking to make his own shady business deals.
Kyle knows the only way to be with Jamie is to hide their relationship from their superiors. Waking up to Jamie at home is more important than being together in public, or so Kyle thought, until he comes face to face with what he’s been missing. Pretending to be a couple on paper for the sake of the mission thrusts Kyle into a world of incredible wealth and a social status he’s not sure he belongs in, but he’ll do anything to stay by Jamie’s side.
Surrounded by the enemy, Jamie and Kyle need to trust each other now more than ever. Their covers—and the life they’re trying to build together—depend on it.

Comment: This is the second installment in the Metahuman Files series by this author. This is a sequel to the first book, in the sense the events happen after what had gone in the first book and we can follow along as the characters deal with each other and as their relationships solidify and then change when other people are introduced, especially at work.

There is a new mission given to the team we have met in the first book. The stakes are quite high because if things go wrong, that can affect the reputation of Jamie and have an impact on his family's name, especially since his father is running for the presidency. However, the team isn't alone, joining them is Sean Delaney, an ex CIA who will help them in their cover mission. This demands quite a lot from the team but they will do what is necessary to uncover business in Europe which can prove too harmful if they get out of hand. The problem is to play a convincing role...

Again, I enjoyed being immersed in this world. I think the author does a good enough job to compel the reader to be interested in the situations taking place with a very good mix of action scenes and quieter ones where we often have personal relationships and interactions showing us how close the team is. There's also the romance between Kyle and Jamie to see evolving.

In fact, I can imagine many readers enjoy these books for the romance, me included, but this isn't the only focus. I should confess I actually skim over the sex scenes for to me they are too long and feature light BDSM intent, even if they don't seem too focused on having such boundaries fully declared. I don't like these types of intimate interactions so I skip them, although it's obvious enough they aren't just someone handy for one another and how they interact with each other outside of the bedroom is what fascinates me the most.

The mission and the information about the characters' work are quite detailed. I can't tell if it's realistic or not (withing the fact this is a paranormal world) but it does give some sense of urgency and demand to their tasks, as if real military events are alike. Well, at least it does explain and give context to the characters' actions and their reasons. It is highly entertaining, for certain.

Added to this we obviously have interesting situations they have to face, we have a little about all the members of team, even if some seem to have more presence than others and the stage seems to be set for Alexei's story to develop further, for reading the next blurbs, it seems the stories will center on the team's work while personal relationships also develop between the team members and their "other halfs", and it feels as if Alexei and his intended will have a different dynamic from Kyle and Jamie... well, I hope it will be so.

The book ends with the team concluding the mission but there are enough loose points and situations not fully solved, which will allow for these plot subjects to be back, if so, in future books. Still, the end is satisfying enough, at the professional level for the team, to give this story the feel of a structured plot where the end is justified. There are also some scenes where we can have glimpses of possibilities for personal development to come and I will look forward to it.

All said, this was a satisfying, compelling read, perhaps not really perfect, but very enjoyable.

Grade: 8/10

Hailey Turner - In the Wreckage

After surviving a horrific chemical attack that turned him into a metahuman, Captain Jamie Callahan got a second lease on life. For three years he’s been working for the Metahuman Defense Force and leading Alpha Team—all against the wishes of his family. The job requires his full dedication, so it’s no surprise Jamie doesn’t have time for a relationship. An enticing one-night stand with a gorgeous stranger is all it takes to show Jamie exactly what he’s been missing. When a mission to take down a terrorist cell brings that same stranger back into his world, Jamie’s life gets complicated.
Staff Sergeant Kyle Brannigan was only looking to relieve some stress after a long mission. He didn’t know the hot guy he picked up at a bar was the leader of the MDF’s top field team. When Kyle and his partner get seconded to Alpha Team to help fight a terrorist threat, he has to balance his desire for Jamie against his duty to keep his secrets safe. That gets harder and harder to do amidst regulations both are tempted to break.
Giving into passion could cost both their careers. Abiding by the rules will only result in heartache. An attack on MDF headquarters brings with it a choice Jamie and Kyle can’t escape—duty, or love?

 

Comment: This is the first book in the Metahuman Files series by Hailey Turner. I saw good opinions about it and by those and the blurb, I felt confident enough I'd like the story so I gave it a try. I'm glad it worked for me, for the most part.

The action takes place more than two centuries in the future, and the world is the same, with wars and geographic and social differences, but technology improved as well as biochemical weapons. During a mission gone wrong, Jamie Callahan's team was attacked and hit with the chemical Splice, which kills humans but a small percentage of them are affected differently although no one knows how. That is how Jamie and four of his team mates survived but now they have enhanced powers, which are handy in military missions. However, there are others out there who have been affected too, and no one can tell how the chemical will change them. Now Jamie is in charge of alpha team of Metahumans, a group of people who survived Splice, and they work all over the world doing what is needed. However, the team has always struggled to work with snipers even though the team needs one. That is how Jamie and the team meet Kyle and what a surprise that was for Jamie...

The best thing about a new world in fiction is to get all the details and interesting ideas the author might have as the story develops (or the stories if it's a series). I'm a goner for series where this happens and where th author also writes in such a way I feel compelled to know more about thee world and more about the characters in it and how their lives are and how they interact with each other.

In a sense, this book accomplished this for me and I had a great time turning the pages (lol, clicking the button on my E-reader) and wanting to see what was special and unique about this world. I liked it that the author set the story in a future not that changed from the actual but with enough time to make the paranormal changes more acceptable within the rules we already know and have for military procedures, social interactions, coping with certain issues...

In fact, my favorite part of this book is precisely that, how the world works, how detailed the action scenes are but in such a way I wasn't bored by all the military slang and tactics. I was invested in the characters' lives in this world and how they did things and why it mattered. The chemical that changed people is described in a realistic way, if one thinks about biochemical weapons, and I was happy with the enough descriptions of how those who survived were affected and what kind of repercussions they might have had.

I also liked Jamie's personality. He is a good character, he wants to protect his team and I was happy by how his interactions with them all were portrayed. I got the idea of each individual and what they are like although the secondary characters aren't as developed as Jamie and the focus isn't on them (nor the POV). Jamie has a background I could understand, the family pressure, his sense of duty and his personal feelings after having to deal with turning into a metahuman.

I'd say a big part of the book worked well for me and I enjoyed imagining the scenes play out. What I feel wasn't too well done - along with some lack of more emotion from the writing's style - is the romance. Jamie and Kyle are the leads here, it's no surprise, and how they meet and how they learn who they are is a proven method to keep things interesting. I liked how they interacted and how they clicked so well at work, as well as with the rest of the team and even Kyle's brother, who also comes along to be part of the alpha team. Two strangers into a established team could be tricky but I liked how they all meshed in their own way.

But the romance disappointed me. Emotionally speaking, even if one, like me, sees romance in everything between a couple, including innocent conversations about work, this didn't work out well. Jamie and Kyle have chemistry, they synced well together both at work and privately but they never expressed their emotions in a way I'd feel was acceptable (even allowing for their military positions and usual reserved personalities). They had too much sex and despite their words while with one another, intimacy between them didn't fully work for me, although I should say it's my personal preference the couple doesn't get into the type of behavior they have alone (mild BDSM and some kinks). I just don't think, however, that the physical matched the emotional - or vice versa - so it felt like they weren't as invested in their relationship because it had such an erotic side to it.

Still, apart from that, there are enough elements here that made me happy I was reading the book. I think it was a well thought idea and the author managed to put on paper all the interesting details which make this an engrossing story line. The romance wasn't one I liked much but I feel the rest more than justifies continuing with the series, which I will do, at some point.

Grade: 8/10