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What happened in the army casts a shadow across Amber's life from which she will never be free. The prequel to the Bite Back series introduces Amber Farrell, a kick ass lady with a secret problem - she's been bitten by a vampire. She's working hard to start a new life, hold down a job, and meet all the expectations put on her. When people start to die suspiciously in Denver, Amber has to decide between duty and instinct, between what she should do and what she must do.
I knew the sins of my past would call to collect what was left of my soul. If I'd known the price I'd pay, I would've sacrificed more to stay hidden from the magic. In the middle of Wyoming - away from the abnormals of the world - I thought I was free and clear. I started a new life. Found a love I'd never known in a husband, and a son who was my everything. And in a blinding instant, that life was stolen from me.
Let's get one thing straight - Ivy Wilde is not a heroine. In fact she's probably the last witch in the world you'd call if you needed a magical helping hand, regardless of her actual abilities. If it were down to Ivy, she'd spend all day every day on her sofa, where she could watch TV, munch junk food, and talk to her feline familiar to her heart's content. However, when a bureaucratic disaster ends up with Ivy as the victim of a case of mistaken identity, she's yanked very unwillingly into Arcane Branch.
Ari Katz is intelligent and driven and will make an excellent demon hunter once initiated into the Brotherhood of David. However, this book is about his twin, Nava: a smart-ass, self-cultivated hot mess who is thrilled her brother is stuck with all the chosen one crap. When Nava half-drunkenly interrupts Ari's induction ceremony, she expects to be chastised. What she doesn't expect is to take her brother's place among the until-now all-male demon hunters. Even worse? Her infuriating leader is former rock star Rohan Mitra.
My name is Alice Long, and I've always known I was different. When I was little I used to climb up to the highest branches of the housetree at night, and watch the starships docking at the orbital stations high above. Forty meters off the ground, watching ships 30,000 kilometers overhead, with senses that could pick out radar pings and comm chatter as easily as the ships themselves. It all seemed perfectly natural at the time.
Since the moment I was ripped from my mother's womb, I've been an outcast among my own kind. The Sidhe might possess magical Gifts, unbelievable wealth, and unfathomable power, but I don't want a thing to do with them. I ran away from their lands in the Highlands of Scotland when I was 11 years old, and I've never looked back. I don't need a clan. I've got my own family of highly skilled thieves who mean more to me than any Sidhe ever could.
What happened in the army casts a shadow across Amber's life from which she will never be free. The prequel to the Bite Back series introduces Amber Farrell, a kick ass lady with a secret problem - she's been bitten by a vampire. She's working hard to start a new life, hold down a job, and meet all the expectations put on her. When people start to die suspiciously in Denver, Amber has to decide between duty and instinct, between what she should do and what she must do.
I knew the sins of my past would call to collect what was left of my soul. If I'd known the price I'd pay, I would've sacrificed more to stay hidden from the magic. In the middle of Wyoming - away from the abnormals of the world - I thought I was free and clear. I started a new life. Found a love I'd never known in a husband, and a son who was my everything. And in a blinding instant, that life was stolen from me.
Let's get one thing straight - Ivy Wilde is not a heroine. In fact she's probably the last witch in the world you'd call if you needed a magical helping hand, regardless of her actual abilities. If it were down to Ivy, she'd spend all day every day on her sofa, where she could watch TV, munch junk food, and talk to her feline familiar to her heart's content. However, when a bureaucratic disaster ends up with Ivy as the victim of a case of mistaken identity, she's yanked very unwillingly into Arcane Branch.
Ari Katz is intelligent and driven and will make an excellent demon hunter once initiated into the Brotherhood of David. However, this book is about his twin, Nava: a smart-ass, self-cultivated hot mess who is thrilled her brother is stuck with all the chosen one crap. When Nava half-drunkenly interrupts Ari's induction ceremony, she expects to be chastised. What she doesn't expect is to take her brother's place among the until-now all-male demon hunters. Even worse? Her infuriating leader is former rock star Rohan Mitra.
My name is Alice Long, and I've always known I was different. When I was little I used to climb up to the highest branches of the housetree at night, and watch the starships docking at the orbital stations high above. Forty meters off the ground, watching ships 30,000 kilometers overhead, with senses that could pick out radar pings and comm chatter as easily as the ships themselves. It all seemed perfectly natural at the time.
Since the moment I was ripped from my mother's womb, I've been an outcast among my own kind. The Sidhe might possess magical Gifts, unbelievable wealth, and unfathomable power, but I don't want a thing to do with them. I ran away from their lands in the Highlands of Scotland when I was 11 years old, and I've never looked back. I don't need a clan. I've got my own family of highly skilled thieves who mean more to me than any Sidhe ever could.
Denholm Carew enjoys a life most would envy. Scion of a wealthy family on New London, he can have almost anything he wants. But what he wants more than anything is the freedom to make his own way and build his own legacy to pass down to his children. Together with his wife, Lynelle, he sells everything to buy shares in a colonial company and settle the newly discovered world of Dalthus IV.
Imagine a world where witches, weres, and vampires work among us. The paranormals came out to the world during World War I. History as we know it took a left turn as world events changed. World War II never happened as we remember it. The Empire of Japan still exists. As does the British Empire. America is finding itself overwhelmed by magic. Particularly the FBI. Agatha Blackmore is a witch and she has all but been drafted by the FBI to help. Demons, dragons, weres, and fae are her opponents.
This box set contains the first three books in the best-selling Nia Rivers Adventures by Jasmine Walt and Ines Johnson. This action-packed series features an immortal archaeologist and her tomb-raiding sidekick as they uncover lost artifacts, tangle with Greek gods, cross swords with Templar Knights, and much more!
My name is Callie Penrose - and I'm a rookie spell-slinger from Kansas City. I work part-time for the Vatican Shepherds, hunting monsters for them, but you won't find me in the pews on Sundays. Not really my thing. But when my boss is injured by a werewolf, it's time for me to put my big girl pants on. Because the Spear of Longinus - the one that allegedly stabbed Jesus on the Cross - has surfaced, and it's going up for auction.
The first three books in this action-packed, wildly original fantasy series by New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Walt. This kick-ass urban fantasy series has been compared to books by Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, Karen Marie Moning, and more. You're sure to enjoy it if you like spunky heroines, kick-ass fight scenes, wild new worlds, and sizzling, slow-building romance.
When puberty brings on her first shift, Missy goes into the mountains for two years - until finally learning to change back. She can change from fully human in one instant to a mountain lion in the next. Everyone assumes her two-year disappearance was because she'd been kidnapped by a sexual predator that she managed to kill. She keeps her werecat nature a secret. There is no pack, no pride of other werecats, and no alpha.
Emily is a teenage girl pulled from our world into a world of magic and mystery by a necromancer who intends to sacrifice her to the dark gods. Rescued in the nick of time by an enigmatic sorcerer, she discovers that she possesses magical powers and must go to Whitehall School to learn how to master them. There, she learns that the locals believe she is a "Child of Destiny" - someone whose choices might save or damn their world, a title that earns her both friends and enemies.
Mack might be, to all intents and purposes, a normal looking human, but she lives with a pack of shapeshifters in Cornwall in rural England after being dumped there by her mother when she was just a young child. She desperately wants to be accepted by her surrogate family, not least because a lot of them hate her for merely being human, but for some reason her blood just won't allow the transformation to occur.
The first time Moses Murphy's granddaughter killed on his orders, she was six years old. For 20 years, she was a prisoner of an organized crime syndicate, forced to use her magic to make Moses the most powerful and feared man on the East Coast. To escape his cruelty, she faked her own death and started a new life as Alice Worth. As a private investigator specializing in cases involving the supernatural, Alice walks a precarious line.
This boxed set contains the first three books in C. J. Archer's popular Ministry of Curiosities series. Titles in the set include The Last Necromancer, Her Majesty's Necromancer, and Beyond the Grave. Description of The Last Necromancer: For five years, Charlotte (Charlie) Holloway has lived as a boy in the slums. But when one theft too many gets her arrested, her only means of escape lies with a dead man.
Earth is conquered. Sol is lost. One ship is tasked to free them. One Captain to save them all. When an alien armada destroys the United Earth Space Force and takes control of the human homeworld, newly reinstated Captain Annette Bond must take her experimental hyperspace cruiser Tornado into exile as Terra's only interstellar privateer. She has inferior technology, crude maps, and no concept of her enemy, but the seedy underbelly of galactic society welcomes her so long as she has prizes to sell and money to spend.
Anna survives a deadly virus at age four thanks to a poisonous red-headed krait. The medical community is excited since there is no known cure for the virus, but Anna and her snake, Red, have a symbiotic relationship. If she is ever separated from Red, she will die. As her krait becomes known and valuable throughout the three star empires as one of only a handful of such snakes, she fights off attempts to kill her and snatch Red. When the Naval Intelligence Agency, the NIA, recruits her, her adventures grow beyond fending off thieves and killers.
Book 1 in the best-selling Bite Back series "Vampires are the flickering illusions of Hollywood. They don't exist. We do. We are the Athanate."
For Amber Farrell, post-military life as a PI has its ups and downs: She's been hit by a truck. She's being sued by a client. Denver's newest drug lord just put out a contract on her. The sinister Athanate want her to come in for a friendly chat. And it's only Tuesday. Enter Jennifer Kingslund: rich, gorgeous - a tough businesswoman who's known for getting what she wants in the boardroom and the bedroom. Someone's trying to sabotage her new resort and destroy her company - and she wants Amber to find out who. The answers lead Amber past Were and Adept, right back to the Athanate - and a centuries-old war that could threaten not just Denver, but the nation that Amber swore to protect and serve. And all sides want to claim her for their own...
I really enjoyed the story here, a nice twist on the usual vampire story but the narrators voice was very monotonous and her characters were a bit stale at times. Also you know those snappy one liners.authors put another end of a chapter....they were delivered almost an an afterthought....not sure whether to listen based on narrator might get the paper book instead tho as I'm intrigued to see where Amber goes next.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
What a great story, narrator very good, highly recommended . looking forward to the next book.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Great book well written, Looking forward to the next one. Great for lovers of Twilight style books.
I was given a promotional code in exchange for a fair review.
Some time ago, I stumbled across the Athanate books and very much enjoyed them. Book 4 will be published soon and I will get it. In between, I have been listening to the audio books and I felt that that story went very well with this format. To me, it brought the story a little bit more alive and I very much enjoyed listening to them. So if you have the chance, go grab them!
What did you love best about Sleight of Hand?
I was in the mood for some urban fantasy and thought I'd take a chance on this based on reviews on Amazon. And I am glad I did. Its not a ground breaking book and some some cliche's to it, but it works very well and is a page turner. The author starts out with something unique, which is he gives us a competent female lead. In too many books with female leads they characters tend to start naive and make bad choices, the main character here, Amber, is competent and collected. She deals with some wild changes but doesn't seem to make too man off the wall choices.
Any additional comments?
The world building is also well done, familiar enough to think you know it, but with enough uniqueness to make it interesting. A number of super natural beings are introduces, some of which would be considered 'traditional' but without a huge amount of explanation. Instead of being annoying this leaves you wanting more and looking forward to more detail in the following books. The pace seems good though I do feel the end was slightly rushed, but not badly. The ending also clearly leads into a new books, which since this is listed as 'book 1' is to be expected. But I would have like a little but of closure as I wait for the following book.
If I were to complain it would that the author uses Amber's military background too much. I wish he would have chosen a more realistic military background for her and then used it a little more sparingly. I like the weapon depictions in the book, which are mostly accurate. While wildly not practical I liked seeing the HK MK23 used in a book like this. All and all I was happy with it and look forward to the next book. I hope it gets better, second books can usually go either way. But I look forward to seeing more of this world and it's characters.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
I loved this book!! There are more in series but not on Audible 😭. Good news is that this was a complete novel and while obviously intended to be an ongoing series - there was no cliffhanger.
The narrator, Kimberly Henrie, did a great job! All the characters were distinctive and appropriate. I hope Audible will obtain the rest of this series and with Ms. Henrie narrating.
The synopsis is available on Audible so there is no need to waste space here retelling it. I'll just say that it was extremely well written - both the story and the writing itself. Never once did I find myself cringing from poor grammar or sentence structure. The story was engaging from the very start. I was NEVER bored - which is a rare thing. Although the main character was female, the author never once had her do anything stupid. As an intelligent female myself, I am extremely thankful to Mark Henwick for the creation of the creation of Amber Ferrell. I've never understood why so many female writers create such annoying female protagonists who are either total uh... witches or simply "Too Stupid To Live".
It was a pleasure listening to this book! I listened into the wee hours of the night until I forced myself to put it down last night for essential sleep before picking up again this morning.
This book is DEFINITELY WORTH A CREDIT or an outright BUY.
AUDIBLE: Please approach Mr. Henwick to release the rest of this series on audio.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
The three things that stood out about this audiobook (Sleight of Hand: Bite Back, Book 1): The heroine, the complexity of the conflicts she faces, and the narrator.
Let's take them one at a time. Our MC is Amber, and I approve. First of all, she has a Pretty Name. I find it hard to connect with so many main characters right out of the gate -- just because they are given dumb clunky names. In Amber, author Mark Henwick has created a heroine who is immediately likable through the simple technique of making her *gasp* Actually Competent. Right from the get-go, she has her spit together. I think that too many authors, wanting to depict a character arc, start their H out making really stupid decisions, avoidable mistakes, and childish judgments. Amber's maturity, commensurate with her life experience, is a breath of fresh air.
Gotta hand it to Mr. Henwick. He threw so many difficulties at our protagonist that I was on the edge of my earbuds the whole time. Not only does she have problems with her case, her struggling business, and a suspicious cop, but also with a bitchy sister, an aspirant best friend, a twitchy government bureaucrat, a disgruntled ex-client, persistent vampires, wolf-prints, and her inevitably pending undeath sentence, just to name a few. This is why it is such a relief that she has so much emotional maturity. There's no angst, whining, or torrents of tears, which may seem to be "natural" reactions to some lazy authors, but are boring, boring, boring to read about.
I must single out the thing that was unique and so very welcome about this story to me. I LOVE paranormal romances. I have gratitude to live in times when I can have them read to me - thanks Audible. Anyway, back on topic. In this story, our heroine, as a result of a vampire attack, is slowly developing vampire-like physical traits. We all know that blood and sex are linked vampire stories (at least the good ones, *grin*). Well, Amber is "between" men, but her libido is growing inexorably as the vampire prions multiply in her blood. As a result, she is attracted to a woman as well as to a man. This is all presented matter-of-factly and publicly. This just…chimes for me and my private little, ah, reading pleasures. Best yet, when things seem to fall apart for one of her perspective liaisons, she does not Burn That Bridge. Did I mention how much I appreciate Amber's maturity?
I cannot say enough about how much I loved Kimberly Henrie's performance as the reader. Those of us who listen to audiobooks recognize that is there is special handful of audiobooks where the talent is perfectly matched to the material. This is one of those. Kimberly's voice is smooth as motor oil, feminine as chantilly lace, and calm as a sunning butterfly. This is the lady I want reading the phone book to me, yo. She will heretofore be referred to as: Voice Angel.
Boogers in the Bisque:
As much as I liked this book, there are some negatives that simply cannot go unremarked on. The first is the cover. The model is depicted with her finger on the trigger of a gun. The Third Rule of gun safety is Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target (and you have made the decision to shoot). Very bad optics indeed for a book whose MC has Army as well as police training, and there it is, ignorance immortalized right on the dang cover. BAD.
Other small demerits go, sadly, to Kimberly. For all that her performance of this book was heavenly, there were a couple of mispronunciations that stood out. For example, the heroine is invited into the opulent home of her wealthy client, and sits down on an elegant "chase". Needle scratch, Voice Angel! Another small criticism is that she did never picked up the pace or add urgency to the big action scenes - especially at the climax of the book. Oh well, piddly quibbles won't result in any stars being deducted from her rating. Take it from me, Kimberly Henrie has the makings of an Audible superstar.
In conclusion, this was over 12 hours (yay) of pure fun, action, suspense, and sexy tension, with a solid gold performance, and more is on the way with Hidden Trump (Bite Back, Book 2). The minute that sequel shows up in Audible, I am whisking it into my cart.
22 of 24 people found this review helpful
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I am addicted to this genre, call it paranormal romance or urban fantasy or whatever, and am delighted by the number of talented women writing in this field. In fact, I think I am biased and hesitated to buy this book because it was written by a man. I am so glad I went ahead because this book is awesome and I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Amber, the heroine, is well written. Her character and personality are so thoroughly portrayed that I felt like I was saying goodbye to a friend when the book ended and I found out the second book in the series hasn't been published yet.
What about Kimberly Henrie’s performance did you like?
I liked her performance very much. I think she should stretch her talent next time in portraying the voices of the male characters, but with that exception her voice and manner suited the book beautifully.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Extreme reaction, well, I couldn't stop listening, never knew what would happen next and finished it in one day.
Any additional comments?
Mark Henwick is a really good writer. In some ways he reminds me of Robert Heinlein in the sense it seems he really gets women and likes and respects them. This is someone I wish I knew.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I enjoyed this story, it was interesting, unusual, and the author kept the tension of what would happen to Amber if her condition progressed well. He also did a good job of portraying a strong female lead who is not perfect; she has flaws and insecurities and you can't help but feel empathy towards her and want her to be ok. The narration in the audiobook was enjoyable and it fit the story well. The only thing I was not too keen on was her sudden uncertainty as to her sexuality, which I felt didn't add anything to the story and I'm not keen on love triangles either. Overall this story had action, intrigue, interesting characters and some great concepts. I will enjoy seeing where the next book takes us.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
The book was absolutely fantastic - great urban fantasy with all the right ingredients, plus a kick-ass heroine. However, I had to stop "listening" to it and go to reading on my kindle instead. The narrator was just so freakin' monotone, I literally kept nodding off, seriously - in a book so full of action?! Anyway, loved the book and just purchased the next in series (NEW narrator - YAY!!!).
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
What did you love best about Sleight of Hand?
I loved that Amber is a strong female with no problems taking charge. She can save the day all on her own and doesn't feel the need to whine over her changing humanity. I also like that the book wasn't overly sexual as some other paranormal fiction books can get. The book was great on its own and didn't need that extra bit of fluff.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Amber is great, but all the characters have just the right amount depth and appeal.
What does Kimberly Henrie bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
I wish the reader added a bit more to her reading. There were times I felt like she was just reading the story not acting it. Mainly in the first few chapters.
Any additional comments?
I enjoyed this book so much I had to buy the next one in the series as well. I truly hope the rest of the books in this series will be released on audio! Yes, I will buy them too!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Would you listen to Sleight of Hand again? Why?
I very much enjoyed this book and will most likely listen again when the next book in the series is coming available for a refresher.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Sleight of Hand?
Over all I liked the characters and the fact that this is strong female lead with earned skills.
What about Kimberly Henrie’s performance did you like?
She did a fine job. I can hear other readers read it as well. There are a few pronunciation issues that she could work on but it wasn't bad at all. Amanda Ronconi, might add a little sass Ms. Henrie left on the table.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes, I was excited to hear what happened next.
Any additional comments?
I love finding a new series but hate waiting for the next book to become available. SO HURRY UP Mr. HENWICK!!!!!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I really enjoyed this book. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series...
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
if you like urban fantasy you'll love mark's books. mix in military action, a bit of romance, topped off with a PI mystery and you have a story with all the meat of real life.
read this book and you will not stop until every last crumb has been devoured and you'll be on to the next book.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful