Shadow Sight (Ivy Granger, #1)

Dec 01, 2012 Kajol rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, vampires, witches-wizards-warlocks, shifters, romance, psychic, magic-mumbo-jumbo, demons

This review can also be read on-
The Dark, Delicious and Dreamtastic.

Somewhere along a 2.5 stars and 2.7 stars for me.

An okay-okay sorta book, I can't say I am too happy with it, which is in itself quite depressing since I had quite a few hopes sub-consciously bookmarked to this novel even before it's release.

description

Sorely lacking in the butt-kicking, badass section. *grim face*

Note: The heroine had a spine of steel and didn't shy away from defending herself and anyone she loved- make no mistake of tha...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Isabella [Dizzy Izzy Book Reviews] rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: demons, difficult-childhoods, favorites, kidnapping, life-changes, series, vampires, small-town

Ivy Granger is far from average. At a young age, she learned that through her touch she could learn about the person, or people, who have been in contact with that item. These aren't idle visions - these are visceral, bone wrenching visions. To outsiders, it would seem that her ability would be a gift. To Ivy, a life with the 'gift' of psychometry has been torture. Being able to touch even the simplest item, like a pop-tart wrapper, has caused Ivy to isolate herself. She keeps few close to her,...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Allison rated it 4 of 5 stars

I happened to stumble upon this book while browsing on Goodreads, as a new release for July 2012, and I must say this book was probably the most unexpectedly enjoyable read I've found in a while. My tastes tend to run in the direction of Urban Fantasy, and a series similiar to this one, The October Daye Series of books, is a favorite of mine. Simply put, I wish there were more novels out like this, the urban fantasy books that lean more towards the Fae/Faery end of the spectrum. SO after reading...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Lesley (My keeper shelf) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, signed

Shadow Sight by E.J. Stevens gets a gigantic thumbs up from me, not only is it exactly the kind of urban fantasy I adore with a fast paced story, mystery, action and fantastic world building but it also gave me that blissful moment early on when I just get a vibe that a book is going to be that extra bit special.

Ivy Granger has the gift of Psychometry she only has to touch an item to immediately see visions or events in the object's history, her gift however is more of a curse as the visions ten...more Shadow Sight by E.J. Stevens gets a gigantic thumbs up from me, not only is it exactly the kind of urban fantasy I adore with a fast paced story, mystery, action and fantastic world building but it also gave me that blissful moment early on when I just get a vibe that a book is going to be that extra bit special.

Ivy Granger has the gift of Psychometry she only has to touch an item to immediately see visions or events in the object's history, her gift however is more of a curse as the visions tend to be traumatic and result in her writhing on the floor screaming in agony. With the help of her best friend Jinx Ivy has learned to live carefully with her power and puts it to good use as a psychic detective in their small detective agency Private Eye.

When Ivy's newest client a demon lawyer called Forneus the Great Marquis of Hell, who is working on behalf of the kelpies requests her special services Ivy finds herself working to defend Harborsmouth and its inhabitants both human and supernatural from the each uisge the terrifying and bloodthirsty sea creatures who hunt humans. Normally kept in check by the equally terrifying kelpies and other sea creatures the kelpies agree to defend Harborsmouth from the each uisage if Ivy helps them find the missing King of the kelpies Ceffyl Kur's bridle. Forneus believes if Ivy touches the only remnant of the kelpie king's bridle her visions will tell who has taken the King and if he is still alive.

Ivy turns to her magical friend Kaye from "Madam Kaye's Magic Emporium" to get the lowdown on the whole kelpie King situation. Not only is the kelpie King's bridle all powerful but if stolen it gives complete control of the kelpie King's actions to whomever has stolen it. Ivy realises that as a result, the kelpies will not fight the each uisage with their King missing and if it's the each uisage that have stolen the brindle and have control over the kelpie King the each uisage will be impossible to beat with him fighting on their side.

It's up to Ivy to solve the mystery of the whereabouts of the kelpie King and his bridle and assemble a supernatural A-team of hunters and magic users, vampires, trolls and the powerful faerie the Green Lady to battle the each uisage even if defeat seems inevitable.

Shadow's Sight is well worth a 5 out of 5 rating. I thought the plot was exciting and beautifully executed, and I loved the array of supernatural characters from Marvin the troll to the vampires that are more of the ancient dry husk kind than the sparkly in the sun kind. The each uisage were fantastically scary baddies and the other little additional magical gems such as the magical shells that act as telephones to the merrow and Galliel the adorable unicorn added to the amazing world building. Sometimes I find first books in a new urban fantasy series to be a bit slow due to all the world building but not Shadow Sight, it's a must read and dare I say it? I enjoyed it even more than my beloved Hollows series by Kim Harrison. (Shock horror!)
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Mar 31, 2013 Andrea at Reading Lark rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-stars, adult, arc, fantasy, fey, kindle, mermaids, mystery, paranormal, read-in-2012, selkies, vampires, werewolves, witches

Review Posted on Reading Lark 6/25/12: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2012/...

I was so excited to see that E.J. Stevens was branching out from her YA writing to try out a new series for adults. She has become one of my favorite Indie authors and I have come to expect creativity and intriguing characters from her work. She didn't let me down with Shadow Sight. This novel is the first in Stevens' new Urban Fantasy series for adults. The plot is pretty PG - the worst thing is some cursing here and...more Review Posted on Reading Lark 6/25/12: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2012/...

I was so excited to see that E.J. Stevens was branching out from her YA writing to try out a new series for adults. She has become one of my favorite Indie authors and I have come to expect creativity and intriguing characters from her work. She didn't let me down with Shadow Sight. This novel is the first in Stevens' new Urban Fantasy series for adults. The plot is pretty PG - the worst thing is some cursing here and there (and that's pretty tame) - so I can also see some teens enjoying this book as well.

I love the world of Harborsmouth. It is full of interesting and intriguing supernatural beings who live amongst humans. The human population can often sense that their town isn't ordinary, but they aren't quite sure what makes them feel that way. The supernaturals do a good job of covering their tracks and wish to keep the humans in the dark. The town is littered with the traditional figures one would expect such as witches, vampires, and fey. I was intrigued by the variety of fey that made appearances in this book. I also really enjoyed Stevens' spin on some of them - particularly the kelpies, merrows, and pookas. The pookas cracked me up! I loved any time they made an appearance.

Also, Stevens has again managed to create characters that I loved. She has this knack for making quirky, endearing characters. Ivy, Jinx, Kaye, Marvin, and Hob are perhaps more addicting than the characters from the Spirit Guide series. Ivy resonates with me for a variety of reasons. She is strong, but doesn't always see herself clearly. I like characters that aren't super confident until they work through the issues that are holding them back. Ivy also is hilarious. That girl has some major wit that will keep you giggling even as she faces impossible odds. I also really liked her because she has issues. She's not a sweet, perfect female lead. Ivy's gift of psychometry is also fascinating; she has the ability to touch an item and see visions from its past existence. In addition, the supporting cast of characters is also a lot of fun and the main hottie is intriguing. I hope we get to see him more in book #2.

As entertained as I was by this novel, I did have some issues with it. One, Ivy is constantly cursing by saying "Mab's Bones" and "Oberon's eyes". It was a constant refrain from her and it soon grew to be quite annoying. By the end, I rolled my eyes every time she got angry because I knew those phrases were going to make yet another appearance. You do find out why those are her go-to phrases as you read, but it didn't lessen my annoyance. Second, I was somewhat frustrated that anytime a new "being" would come on the scene it was like a supernatural encyclopedia info dump. I wasn't able to learn about the beings and their societies gradually through the plot - Ivy told me everything I needed to know about them as soon as she came in contact with them. While I found these "beings" to be fascinating, I would have preferred to learn about them in a more authentic way. All in all, these were minor frustrations that didn't keep me from liking the book.

Overall, I loved spending time in Ivy Granger's world and I can tell that this series has a vast amount of potential. I'm eager to see where Ivy and crew find themselves next. It also should be noted that E.J. Stevens' writing just keeps getting better and better. This book is so much more polished than some of her previous works and the plot travels a much smoother path. The action scenes in this one are phenomenal. I am so impressed with Stevens' debut into the adult urban fantasy world.

One Last Gripe: I found one of the major twists to be a little too predictable

My Favorite Thing About The Book: The world Stevens has created - I particularly enjoyed the kelpies' lore

First Sentence: Welcome to Harborsmouth, where monsters walk the streets unseen by humans ... except those with second sight.

Favorite Character: Ivy

Least Favorite Character: Delilah(less)

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Apr 18, 2013 Gaele rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: jeep-diva, review-reads

The introduction to this series was cleverly plotted and conceived, with a main character in Ivy who is so full of contradictions and often in over her head, but she continues to do what she feels is right. I like Ivy, and I think many will: she’s smart and sarcastic, with a good heart and a willingness to ignore her own safety to protect those she cares about. Her reliance on those who know more about the dangers she encounters, while a clever way of introducing some background on the supernatu...more The introduction to this series was cleverly plotted and conceived, with a main character in Ivy who is so full of contradictions and often in over her head, but she continues to do what she feels is right. I like Ivy, and I think many will: she’s smart and sarcastic, with a good heart and a willingness to ignore her own safety to protect those she cares about. Her reliance on those who know more about the dangers she encounters, while a clever way of introducing some background on the supernatural creatures that do exist, often feels as the stand in for the main action, where Ivy tends not to be the ‘fighter’ in the front lines, but one who is providing some assistance to those who are doing battle. Yes, it’s an integral part of battles with the fae and other creatures – but her utter lack of preparation for self-defense is an issue.

The author has managed to bring in a load of supernatural and paranormal beings that are not featured in many paranormal stories I have read: while that introduction and collection of beings is interesting they were defined and described in words, not often given solid actions and personalities that showed their abilities. This did often drag the reader into the info-dump zone, wishing for more interaction and action and less of the “step by step” introduction. However, when there are interactions, they are cleverly done and well described – so there is great potential here.

While this is ostensibly written for an adult market, the feel of the story is very YA, not a bad thing for this genre of urban fantasy or the characters, but it did feel a bit muddled, especially when one is looking at romance. More a crush and instant “ooh” moment, which felt younger and less adult than one would expect.

Overall – I did enjoy the story, even the slower parts, and see potential for a really clever series as the author manages to scale back on the telling and increase the showing. I will read the next in the series because I find Ivy a clever and unique character with tons of potential.

I received an eBook from the author for purpose of honest review for the Jeep Diva. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
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Apr 16, 2013 Jared rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: modern-fantasy, urban-fantasy

SHADOW SIGHT is not a bad book, but it's not good.

I have a few key problems with this book.

1) It is written in first-person, but that narration shows characters telling the protag things that she does not know in the next chapter. One of these things is pivotal to character and the last few chapters of the book.

2) The romance at the end is completely unjustified for both the protag and for her beau. After the beau tells the protag who and what she is, a reasonable person would question motives....more

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Feb 12, 2013 My Urban Fantasies rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ivy-granger

Originally published on my blog, My Urban Fantasies

This was my first E.J. Stevens novel and... WOW. She is the perfect combination of Kim Harrison and Jim Butcher, which is huge considering they are two of my favorite authors. Harborsmouth is filled with a plethora of supernatural characters. There is a psychic, demon, witch, kelpies, pixies, merrow, ghouls, and mermaids to name a few. I was amazed how she managed to squeeze in a unicorn, not typically found in a city, simply brilliant! E.J. Ste...more Originally published on my blog, My Urban Fantasies

This was my first E.J. Stevens novel and... WOW. She is the perfect combination of Kim Harrison and Jim Butcher, which is huge considering they are two of my favorite authors. Harborsmouth is filled with a plethora of supernatural characters. There is a psychic, demon, witch, kelpies, pixies, merrow, ghouls, and mermaids to name a few. I was amazed how she managed to squeeze in a unicorn, not typically found in a city, simply brilliant! E.J. Stevens introduced each new supernatural species by giving a brief description about who/what they are. Stevens handled the descriptions beautifully, they very character involved, short and never felt like a lecture. I'm so happy Shadow Sight is part of a series. I am eagerly and somewhat impatiently waiting to read more of the Ivy Granger series.

Ivy Granger is a psychic detective gifted with Psychometry, the ability to receive visions of past events by touching an object or person. This nasty "gift" will leave Ivy screaming in a puddle of drool until her vision is over, which could take hours. With the help of Jinx, her best friend and business partner, Ivy has learned to live with her power.

In Shadow Sight Ivy is forced into taking a meeting with a potential new client, a demon lawyer. The demon, whose name is Forneus, is representing kelpies who are in need of Ivy's special skills. The kelpies need Ivy to find their missing king's bridle and if possible the missing king, Ceffyl Dŵr. Forneus warns Ivy that there will be dire consequences if she refuses to find Ceffyl Dŵr's bridle. The reason that human livers are washing up on shore is because the each uisge, terrifying and bloodthirsty creatures who lives to devour humans, are now living in the bay.

The local water fae usually keep the each uisge in check, stopping them from killing humans and drawing unwanted attention. However, Ceffyl Dŵr is missing and the other kelpies and water fae are afraid to stand up against the each uisge. If the each uisge are responsible for Ceffyl Dŵr's kidnapping and have control of Ceffyl's bridle, they can control the kelpie king as long as they have the bridle. If Ceffyl Dŵr returns without his bridle he will not be leading his people against the each uisge, Ceffyl will be fighting for the enemy. Ivy realizes that time is of the essence, the each uisge are just testing the waters with the individual attacks. When they realize that no one is going to oppose them the each uisge will storm the city leaving devastation in their wake.

I absolutely adore Ivy and her snarky personality. Ivy is more of an investigator than traditional ass kicker, I still would not get on her bad side. Ivy has this amazing inner strength that I absolutely love in a heroine. Life may have given her a crap deal, but Ivy has made the most of it. She deals with her "gift" the best that she can while dedicating her life to helping other people.(less)

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Sep 13, 2012 Mara rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

2 1/2

A nice read, simply to bland for me (I read it yesterday and I can't say I remember much of it).

This book has a very good story, dragged down by the plot :D. It starts all right, but then it circle on itself. She's supposed to save (her) world, but the reader (this reader) can't feel the tension, the fear.

I appreciate she's not the usual warrior, but simply a PI who uses her skills to find her target. But most of the story is a set up for a battle in which she's a side kick.

On the other s...more

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Jul 27, 2012 Laurie Jenkins rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, demons, dystopian, fantasy, fiction, kindle, mystery, paranormal, read-in-2012, young-adult, urban-fantasy, witches

Ivy Granger is a character I liked from the very beginning. She is a psychic detective operating out of the port town of Harborsmouth. Harborsmouth is teaming with a whole myriad of unusual supernatural characters. They cloak themselves in glamour and thus exist unknown, for the most part, among the “normals”. Ivy sees beneath the glamour to the real persona. She also has a gift of seeing past events when she touches something. Sometimes, unexpectedly, those visions can be debilitating; striking...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Catie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Well when I was approached by the author E.J. Stevens to review her newest novel I jumped at the bait. As I am already a huge fan of E.J.’s YA paranormal series I decided to give Shadow Sight a try, and boy am I happy that I did. I quickly found myself enjoying this novel and being caught up in the story. This story is like nothing that E.J. has ever written before and I am so happy that she decided to venture out of her comfort zone.

The plot was wonderfully entertaining. I loved the character I...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Sofia Wren rated it 4 of 5 stars

vy Granger isn't a character from Harry Potter, she is a specially skilled detective in a town brimming with unusual creatures. Others may see an old man collecting bottles or a rasta smoking a joint, but she sees the monsters hidden behind the glamor. More importantly, Ivy has the gift of psychometry, the ability to sense visions from touching an object. As soon as her skin touches people or objects, she may be victim to seeing horrible happenings from the past. These talents are what gives an...more vy Granger isn't a character from Harry Potter, she is a specially skilled detective in a town brimming with unusual creatures. Others may see an old man collecting bottles or a rasta smoking a joint, but she sees the monsters hidden behind the glamor. More importantly, Ivy has the gift of psychometry, the ability to sense visions from touching an object. As soon as her skin touches people or objects, she may be victim to seeing horrible happenings from the past. These talents are what gives an edge to Private Eye, the private detective agency run by Ivy and her *rockabilly friend Jinx.

In Shadow Sight, the first book of the series, Ivy Granger comes face to face with a demon. Worse a demon lawyer. He wrangles her into an early morning meeting the next day (a Saturday rrrr), and drops the bomb that Ivy better start looking for clues or the entire town will be under attack from beasties.

The number of creatures introduced throughout the book is staggering. Because each creature tends to have a way to hide it's appearance, these fae and demons lurk in plain sight. I found the way this is done to be very clever. Props to the author for including species I have never heard of before. However, I could have used a pronunciation guide for the dark horses each uisge.

I like the main character Ivy, she seems to have her head on her shoulders. Why she would be wearing three inch heels in the cover is beyond me, as those aren't included in the two pairs of shoes she owns in the book. Cross trainers and a pair of Doc Martens--so no, not really a heels chick. Practical, she wears gloves in the heat to avoid nasty visions. Since often being sarcastic and grumpy seems to be part of Ivy's personality, she could have been a little more edgy.

Shadow Sight is a quick read. I found myself zipping blithely along in the grocery aisle. Overall it was a good story with excellent images, mythos, action, and pacing. The romance subplot could have been integrated a little better throughout the book so it was less out of the blue. I wished Ivy's character was a little meatier, but there's nobody else quite like her. Her gifts make Ivy Granger and her detective agency truly unique.

For More Reviews please a href="http://wrendoloro.blogspot.com"&...; visit wrendoloro.blogspot.com visit wrendoloro.blogspot.com(less)

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May 28, 2012 Loves To Dive rated it 5 of 5 stars

The town of Harborsmouth has a lot going for it; it’s a small picturesque seaside town that the tourists love. What the tourists don’t know is it is teeming with things that go bump in the night. What a perfect town for the small Seeing Eye detective agency, run by co-founder Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective. Ivy fits right in since her specialty is finding what’s lost using her ability to receive visions by touching an object. Ivy’s roommate and the other co-founder of Seeing Eye is Jess, known a...more The town of Harborsmouth has a lot going for it; it’s a small picturesque seaside town that the tourists love. What the tourists don’t know is it is teeming with things that go bump in the night. What a perfect town for the small Seeing Eye detective agency, run by co-founder Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective. Ivy fits right in since her specialty is finding what’s lost using her ability to receive visions by touching an object. Ivy’s roommate and the other co-founder of Seeing Eye is Jess, known as Jinx to just about everyone because, bless her heart, she has the worst luck of anyone around.

Jinx and Ivy just barely make ends meet so are usually up for any job that walks in the door. This morning Jinx has booked an appointment for Ivy to meet with a mysterious client. For some reason the idea of meeting this client is giving Ivy the willies. Ivy should have listened to herself on this one, but hindsight being 20/20 and all, Ivy takes the appointment.

Enter demon/attorney Forneus whose clients have hired him to obtain Ivy’s help in finding something near and dear to them. Reluctant to take the job, Ivy realizes they need the money, so with the help of copious amounts of charms from her friend Kaye O’Shay, owner of Madame Kaye’s Magic Emporium and one of the strongest witches around and backup from a local priest, Father Michael, Ivy and Jinx take on the job. Poor Ivy is soon to find out that her entire world is in jeopardy of literally being destroyed by vicious monsters from the sea and the only person who can save Harborsmouth is none other than Ivy herself. Ivy, with a little help from her merry band of witches, vampires, trolls and other things that go bump in the night gear up and fight the battle of their lives.

Author E.J. Stevens has decided to temporarily put aside her brilliant YA series and take on the adult genre, which she does with just as much aplomb as one would expect from her. Written with Ms. Stevens’s signature wry humor and chock full of mayhem and wonderful characters who leap off the page, Shadow Sight is a fun, exciting introduction into Ivy Granger’s world. We are introduced to a world where the unusual is the norm, where what we see isn’t exactly what is and the people we meet aren’t what they seem. Ivy’s world is not a pretty place. It’s dark and scary and full of danger, and I loved it.

Ivy is a not what one would expect in a heroine, she is rude, abrupt and not very friendly, but she does have her good points. Underneath her tough girl veneer, Ivy is a cream puff. Her “gift” is less than such to her. Due to her "gift," she has to wear gloves at all times and goes out of her way to avoid human touch, not an easy way to get a date. Her relationship with Jinx is priceless, Jinx takes care of Ivy and Ivy loves Jinx like a sister. Their dysfunctional family works and their give and take with each other was just plain fun to watch. The secondary characters are just as rich and full as Ivy and Jinx, There is a mystery about Kaye that one just hopes we get to dig into in later books. Kaye has a wonderful resident brownie – Hob-o-Waggle and has adopted a less than tidy troll named Marvin who play prominent parts in the story and were a joy to get to know. Father Michael is not your usual priest and has the best pet around, a real live unicorn named Galliel. And lest we forget, there is a small appearance by a very important king of the local kelpies named Ceffyl Kur who will play an important part in Ivy’s life.

There is so much going on in this book that it just isn’t possible to summarize it, suffice it to say if you like Ms. Steven’s Yuki series, you’ll love this book. Chock full of supernatural beings, wonderful dialogue (Ivy’s favorite expletive is Mab’s bones), action packed fight scenes, a mystery to solve and a setting that you can touch and smell as if you are there; I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I was a bit apprehensive when I received the ARC to read, I love Yuki and friends and wasn’t sure Ms. Stevens would be able to cross over into the adult genre, but I shouldn’t have worried since she didn’t disappoint. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sarcastic wit, supernatural beings, a good mystery and one kick butt heroine.

Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team

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May 14, 2013 Traci (Mad Hatter Reads) rated it 3 of 5 stars

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5

I received an e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Ivy Granger's ability of second sight manifested when she was a young girl causing her to experience horrible visions of events past, debilitating nightmares, and an aversion to touch. But with the help of her best friend Jinx, they have opened a psychic detective agency utilizing Ivy's vision and Jinx's kick-butt clerical skills.

The city of Harborsmouth is predominantly human with a secret...more My Rating: 3.5 out of 5

I received an e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Ivy Granger's ability of second sight manifested when she was a young girl causing her to experience horrible visions of events past, debilitating nightmares, and an aversion to touch. But with the help of her best friend Jinx, they have opened a psychic detective agency utilizing Ivy's vision and Jinx's kick-butt clerical skills.

The city of Harborsmouth is predominantly human with a secret paranormal community of various fae, witches, vampires, and even a demon attorney. This makes for a wide cast of characters, all of which I enjoyed spending some time with (although I wouldn't want to spend very much time with the villains...not alone anyway and not without good backup). There were a couple of instances where Ivy met a few fae (specifically a unicorn and a Red Cap) that made me wish we could spend more time with them and have a few more questions answered. We only saw them briefly and then never heard from them again, but they offered a few hints that there might be more to Ivy's heritage than we initially know.

There's quite a bit of action in Shadow Sight. Ivy is running around for most of the book doing recon work (she is a psychic detective), as well as, contacting various supernatural factions to gain assistance in the battle with the Each Uisge (a type of water horse with very nasty intentions towards humans). But I was a little disappointed during the final battle because she wasn't an active fighter and usually my UF heroines jump right into the fray. Granted she doesn't have the strength or powers to actively fight the Each Uisge and if she touches an emotionally charged object she’s incapacitated by visions, but I would have liked to see some type of fighting or long-range weapons skill. Ivy does have the snark quotient that I look for in my heroines though, so that's a plus!

The ending after the battle felt a bit rushed for me. Stevens packs a short follow-up with the demon attorney (Forneus), a blossoming romance with the Kelpie King (Ceffyr), revelations about Ivy's heritage, and the fallout of the battle to Harborsmouth into a couple of short chapters. I would have rather seen more focus put on the meeting with Forneus and how the inhabitants of Harborsmouth are doing and moved the romance and Ivy's heritage into book 2. But that's just me...maybe I'm getting used to cliff-hanger endings where not everything is tied up neatly.

I'm looking forward to seeing where the series goes from here. There is a follow-up novella, Blood and Mistletoe already out and book 2, Ghost Light comes out July 9, 2013.
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Sep 02, 2012 Bookie | The BookChick rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, had-potential, lendable

My Rating: ★★★

Book Description:
Welcome to Harborsmouth, where monsters walk the streets
unseen by humans…except those with second sight, like Ivy Granger.

Some things are best left unseen...

Ivy Granger's second sight is finally giving her life purpose. Ivy and her best friend Jinx may not be raking in the dough, but their psychic detective agency pays the bills--most of the time. Their only worry is the boredom of a slow day and the occasional crazy client--until a demon walks through their door....more

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May 31, 2012 Alanna (The Flashlight Reader) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, 2012, grown-up-reads, review-requests, mythology, ya

When I accepted an ARC of Shadow Sight, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew it would be good because the author’s Spirit Guide series has received such high reviews. I also wasn’t fully certain what an “urban fantasy” would be exactly. My brain has a strange way of classifying genres, and urban fantasy is not currently in my vocabulary. All of that aside though, I can safely say that I had a lot of fun reading this book.
The main character is a little quirky (along with her roommate named Jinx)...more When I accepted an ARC of Shadow Sight, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew it would be good because the author’s Spirit Guide series has received such high reviews. I also wasn’t fully certain what an “urban fantasy” would be exactly. My brain has a strange way of classifying genres, and urban fantasy is not currently in my vocabulary. All of that aside though, I can safely say that I had a lot of fun reading this book.
The main character is a little quirky (along with her roommate named Jinx), which made me like her instantly. I love characters that aren’t perfect and seem to be aware of their flaws. Ivy was definitely one of these characters. She has a special gift—she can glean images (emotions) from any object that she touches. Pretty handy skill for finding your lost car keys, but not so great when you suddenly flash on someone’s worst nightmare. But despite the challenges, Ivy’s made a pretty good life for herself. She runs the psychic investigating operation Private Eye.
Her special talents often lead to special clients. Enter Forneus, a demon attorney (I laughed at the irony of that stereotype) representing the Kelpies of the area. No big deal, right? Hardly! Kelpies like to eat humans, but that’s the least of Ivy’s problems. As it turns out, the Kelpies are the victims in a ghastly plot to wipe out the human population of the town. Ivy has to find a way to rescue the kidnapped Kelpie king and stop the each uisge from attacking.
Not sure what each uisge are? Neither was I before reading this book! So I did a little research with my friend Google. The each uisge are similar to kelpies in that they both take on the horse-like form (or human at times) to lure their victims to the water, where they drown them and eat the remains. Kelpies, however, prefer fresh water and rivers while the each uisge are saltwater dwellers. They also have their origin in Scottish folklore, and are thought to be the most vicious of the water dwelling creatures. I think that is safe to say after reading this book! Holy smokes. If I saw one of these jokers in person I would pee my pants. No lie. Here is one of the descriptions of the diabolical monsters:
“The monster was death incarnate, from the milky orbs of its dead eyes to the dripping fangs, sickle claws, poisoned spines, razor sharp exoskeleton of its legs, and dark mangy fur stretched thin over jutting ribs and hips.”
I promise you, this description is all rainbows and lollipops compared to the first encounter with the beasts. You still get an idea of how terrifying this creature would be. No wonder you don’t hear much about the each uisge in mythology books!
One of my favorite aspects of this book was the incorporation of so many mythological elements. There were vampires, unicorns, kelpies, each uisge, fae of all types, witches, trolls, mermaids, merrow, and many more. Don’t think that the story is choppy with so many supernatural elements, because it is not. Everything fits in very nicely and sets the stage for future books in the series. I am certain that some of these mythological creatures will be revisited as Ivy’s story progresses.
If you’re a fan of mythology or paranormal books, you would enjoy Shadow Sight. There is an element of romance that begins to develop towards the end (which keeps you wondering what will happen in the next book) to satisfy the paranormal romance fans. But if you’d rather read a mythology-based mystery told from the point of view of a quirky, often sarcastic, main character, then you definitely need to read this book!
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Sep 17, 2012 Naomi Clark rated it 4 of 5 stars

I almost gave up on this book after chapter one. I found the chapter too jammed full of back story and Ivy's voice to be very immature and grating. I also don't normally care too much for fae-angled urban fantasy. But I'm a sucker for a PI story, so I persevered and I'm very glad I did. Shadow Sight is a change from the usual urban fantasy fare, set in a unique and fascinating city with a competent and valiant heroine. Ivy Granger is gifted (or maybe cursed) with second sight and psychometry, ma...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Simone rated it 3 of 5 stars

An interesting story. There were sections that managed to surprise me, which, when you've read as many books of this genre and type that I have is a hard thing to do but I enjoyed it immensely. The book has a slightly different premise to the type that I normally read, I'm a Witch and Vampire lover normally (give me Rachel Morgan and Ivy Tamwood anytime and I'll be happy) but I found myself entranced by the various types of fae in this book, I know that they are not uncommon in fiction but I tho...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Ornella rated it 3 of 5 stars

This could have been a solid 4 stars till I read the end...That insta-attraction completely ruined it for me. Dropped a full star cause of it. It just seemed so out of character for to just suddenly be so damn attracted to this guy. I thought she was going back to herself when she meets him again, but nope, they just start right off dating. I don't know, it just rubbed me the wrong way.

Asides from the weird romance it was pretty good book, loved the lore and Ivy's spunky attitude. What I didn't...more

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Jul 29, 2012 Turtles rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-modern

This was a very interesting story. The main character is Ivy and she has psycometry and sometimes can't even touch food wrappers. She gets hired via a demon lawyer to help the kelpies save their king whose bridle was stolen by icky, villain horse creatures. I liked the mystery and I thought the pace of the story was good. The side characters were quite interesting and I liked reading about them too. There were some info dumps which were narrated by Ivy, but I'm not sure how she knew so much dive...more

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May 21, 2012 Trista Siegel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Overall this was a fairly decent book. Did I love it? Not exactly. Did I hate it? Definitely not. The only real issue I had was with the writing itself. The story is great. I love the action and Ivy is a very interesting character. It would suck not being able to touch things or people because you could have a vision that makes people think you are crazy. At least she turned that crazy situation into a good decision. Helping people. That's a great way to use your gift.
The problem I had with thi...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Jennifer | Nerdhuffing rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

This review is also posted at The Bawdy Book Blog.

Shadow Sight is a fun, quirky paranormal read that just leaves you wanting more (which is good, since there’s more coming!).

Ivy Granger isn’t an ordinary human; she’s been gifted (cursed?) with a second sight. When she touches people and objects, she sees pieces of their past, although usually with grand mal seizure-like episodes. She thinks that part sucks. Why can’t she just be normal?

But that doesn’t stop her from capitalizing on her gift/cur...more This review is also posted at The Bawdy Book Blog.

Shadow Sight is a fun, quirky paranormal read that just leaves you wanting more (which is good, since there’s more coming!).

Ivy Granger isn’t an ordinary human; she’s been gifted (cursed?) with a second sight. When she touches people and objects, she sees pieces of their past, although usually with grand mal seizure-like episodes. She thinks that part sucks. Why can’t she just be normal?

But that doesn’t stop her from capitalizing on her gift/curse and opening a detective agency with her BFF Jinx, the world’s unluckiest chick. Enter the demon lawyer, Forneus. Forneus, in all his brimstone stench, has been hired by the Kelpies to find their King’s bridle, and subsequently, their King, who has been kidnapped. The fate of the town, and possibly mankind rests on this case and the only person who can really crack it – with some help from demons, fairies, and a juvenile troll – is Ivy. Just what she signed up for.

Shadow Sight is just a delightful and fun read. It’s quick to the punch-line and still maintains a level of seriousness – I mean, they really will die if they don’t find the Kelpie King – that is needed in a novel that has the Fae. And oh the Fae! E.J. Stevens doesn’t shy away from incorporating all kinds of magic into Shadow Sight, so there is something new to find on every page. Her descriptions of the different Fae species – and sometimes what they do to humans – is vivid and captivating.

And even though the general tone of the novel is somewhat somber – Ivy is on a life-saving mission, after all – Stevens still manages to inject a lot of lightheartedness and fun into the pages with her wit and humor. Ivy herself is fun to read, quick-witted and doesn’t take herself so seriously. She knows the situation she is in is so ridiculous, and she pokes fun at it – and herself – quite a bit. What else can you do, really? The rest of the cast is also an entertaining lot!

I really only had one very minor issue with Shadow Sight and when I say minor, I do mean teeny-tiny: there is mention of a spell being cast early on in the story by her witch friend Kaye, that is akin to the Holy Fire of legend. I didn’t know what that was (and I actually never did look it up, I kept on plugging along), so the significance was lost on me.

But overall, I really enjoyed Shadow Sight! Stevens is an incredible author with an arsenal of characters and great plot arcs, and she isn’t afraid to use them. I was incredibly and thoroughly entertained from beginning to end and I just can’t wait for the second one to come out.(less)

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Aug 28, 2012 Mike rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: starters-prose

Ivy Granger, unusual talent - psychometry, the ability to get psychic impressions from physical contact - has always been more of a curse than a gift. With the help of her terribly unlucky best friend she's finally managed to make the best of it and they operate a detective agency that interacts with the fae as often as with humans. But a rough day looks to decline even farther when their next client is a demon. And one that surprisingly may have an offer they need to listen to...

Shadow Sight is...more Ivy Granger, unusual talent - psychometry, the ability to get psychic impressions from physical contact - has always been more of a curse than a gift. With the help of her terribly unlucky best friend she's finally managed to make the best of it and they operate a detective agency that interacts with the fae as often as with humans. But a rough day looks to decline even farther when their next client is a demon. And one that surprisingly may have an offer they need to listen to...

Shadow Sight is a hard book to review. Ivy is a very interesting heroine - flawed and in over her head but determined and likable. An intense fear of physical contact due to uncontrollable psychometry is one of the most ingenious yet intuitive negative side effects of a supernatural ability I've come across. The plot unfolds well as the scope of the danger her and her allies face emerges and the potential costs become clear. This is the first of a series, it presents an interesting universe and sets up a lot of potential for future stories.

Which leads me to one of the book's biggest problems, in that it tries to set up too much and convey too much information about it's world, at the expense of the story. The fae that populate this world are interesting, but the narrative stops to describe every single variety in great detail. It's fine at first, but by the end it was really noticeable and distracting. In addition to being too numerous the descriptions often went on too long, crossing from "show" to "tell" and feeling almost like an encyclopedia entry. Strangely some of the actual plot developments and action seemed rushed (particularly at the end), adding to the pacing issues.

The other thing that I found troubling were some internal inconstancies. Someone as obsessively paranoid as Ivy about accidental skin contact with ANYTHING would never wear anything that left much skin exposed, no matter what her roommate said, no matter how hot it was outside, etc. Yet Ivy wears skirts because nothing else is clean, shirts that come down off her shoulders, etc. This might seem like nit-picking, but when I'm reminded every page or so that she has serious issues about anything at all touching her skin these little things really take me out of the story.

An example that bothered me more (I'll keep the details vague, but it is somewhat of a spoiler): (view spoiler)

So overall I liked Ivy's first adventure and a lot of the ideas in it, but there were enough missteps to keep it from even coming close to its full potential. I will likely read more in the series, and we'll see how it goes.(less)

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May 26, 2012 Freda mans rated it 3 of 5 stars

There were moments of the story I really liked and other parts I wasn't so fond of. I thought Ivy was cool, and her personality was pretty laid back for all she has to deal with. I couldn't imagine what it would be like if people actually experienced this stuff.... those far out there things were what I liked. I turned my nose to having so many creatures, and even ones I was sure I was pronouncing properly in my head. I know that sounds crazy, but I had creature overload. Lame reason to exit a s...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

I loved this book! The main character Ivy is interesting and snarky. Every one of the sub-charaters are likeable in their own way. The baddies are scary and well described. But my favorite thing about this book is all the equines! As an equestrian I was so excited to read about all the different horsies! And Im in love with Galliel! I kept thinking he was going to pop up in more places throughout the book, and after he didnt I was sad, but thanks to the little peek at the second book I got to se...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Lisa Maddison rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book a lot, any time you have the fae I get excited. I was intrigued with the storyline and all the different types of fae mentioned was great. Many I have read about in other books and stories and would like to hear about again. My only concern was the main character was not fully developed. I was hoping to read more about her, I also wanted to know more about Jinx and the relationship between the two, how did they meet, why have they stayed so close. Also I would have liked to e...more

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Dec 09, 2012 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

For a book that I thought would be right in my wheelhouse, this was not what I expected. There is incredible potential in this book/series, because there are actually a number of interesting ideas and takes on familiar concepts that I appreciated.

To start, she has a world that includes demons, witches, vampires and faeries, and I think she does a reasonably good job balancing all of those magical and supernatural mega-powers. Just the variety in the base gives the world a lot of places to go and...more For a book that I thought would be right in my wheelhouse, this was not what I expected. There is incredible potential in this book/series, because there are actually a number of interesting ideas and takes on familiar concepts that I appreciated.

To start, she has a world that includes demons, witches, vampires and faeries, and I think she does a reasonably good job balancing all of those magical and supernatural mega-powers. Just the variety in the base gives the world a lot of places to go and a lot of angles to consider. Second, her main character, Ivy, is psychometric--she gets visions from touching emotionally charged objects/people. That is a tetchy ability to land your main character with because it could be so socially detrimental, and I think that the realities and practicalities of living with a powerful (and uncontrolled) ability like Ivy's are very well addressed and represented. The consequences and hazards of living with psychometry are treated realistically, and Ivy has issues because of it.

I have to say, for such a short book, I really struggled with this one. I liked her take on vampires, couldn't decide how I felt about the demon, and was touch-and-go on her treatment of the fae. I almost feel like the shortness of the novel does it a disservice, because there just isn't that much time allotted to really sink into the world before it's falling apart around the reader. Ivy was an interesting character, but no one really jumped to life for me.

For some reason, it just didn't hold my attention. I was never sucked in, never felt like I couldn't walk away from it, was never emotionally invested. I don't know why, but for me, there was no connect. My overall impression of the book is that it's strangely forgettable. I was left with no strong impression or feeling about it, vaguely annoyed at the love element thrown in at the very end. My suspension of disbelief was stretched to its very limits and I wasn't even annoyed by it. I just didn't get any emotional investment. It's as if the bubble that Ivy tries so hard to live in, to keep herself separate (with good reason, mind) has saturated the story, so that there's a layer of fuzz between the reader and the action. Something about it made me feel like I was reading a premise or an outline--all the big stuff is there, now fill it out and don't forget the emotion.

That being said, I am intrigued enough by the world and the concept that I would read the next one, just to see if it fills out better, if I can sink into her world more and connect. The base its solid. I just need to feel the story, not read the outline.(less)

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Sep 15, 2012 Marsha rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Adults

When you are looking for a new series, no matter what the summaries and book reviews state, there is always a risk. So, you can imagine how pleased I was to discover that "Shadow Sight(Ivy Granger, #1)" was such a surprising good read.

E.J. Stevens is a very descriptive writer. She has a wonderful command of wrold building, characterizations as well as a flourish with vocabulary. Yet, I will admit straight off the bat, I was extremely irritated with her repetitious use of the exclaim by the main...more When you are looking for a new series, no matter what the summaries and book reviews state, there is always a risk. So, you can imagine how pleased I was to discover that "Shadow Sight(Ivy Granger, #1)" was such a surprising good read.

E.J. Stevens is a very descriptive writer. She has a wonderful command of wrold building, characterizations as well as a flourish with vocabulary. Yet, I will admit straight off the bat, I was extremely irritated with her repetitious use of the exclaim by the main character, "Mab's bones." If I never read that particular saying again, it will be too soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! However, I refused to let that one quirp spoil my delight with this series opener.

Ivy Granger learned at an early age that she has the gift or curse of pyschomety, when she touches an object she gets dragged into the history of those who have touched or used the object. Sometimes this can be useful especially considering she runs a business as a paranormal P.I. (She locates things for others among other skills). But, sometimes the gift is overpowering and extremely disturbing pulling her into a dreadful nightmare.

One day, Ivy's BFF, roomate and personal assistanct, Jess or 'Jinx,' announces they have a new client. Ivy is shocked when she discovers that the client, Forneous is a demon attorney and has the abillity to break through her office security system. He informs her his clients want to hire Ivy to stop an upcoming war by vicious sea creatures. It seems human livers and shredded bodies are being discovered in the harbor but the police are writing it off to shark attacks. Initially, Ivy declines but after consulting with a powerufl witch, she seeks the aid of a priest and agrees to meet with Forneous again to obtain greater details.

Ivy soon discovers that she has not chice but to stop this war before it is too late. In order to have even a slight chance in this upcoming battle, she will have to unite and group of paranormal creatures who are not known for their ability to get along. However, if they are going to survive, they will have to find a way. Along the way, Ivy will have to face more than just the upcoming batle but her hidden past as well.

E.J. Stevens has a wonderful mix of creativity, humor, action and intrigue in her story line. I really empathized and became emotionally invested with Ivy's character as well as that of severla of the other supporting characters. There were some very endearing moments in the story and there were times I found myself chuckling. Don't miss out on a wonderful new series, check out "Shadow Sight." It really is quite good! (less)

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May 17, 2013 Maghon Thomas rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, paranormal, review-4-author

Holy crap, I’ve found a new series to obsess over!! It’s got the same old paranormal characters but this is a wholly unique take. I LOVED that. It’s so much fun and it’s got such a real element feel to it. There’s so many things to make it part of so many genres as well. It’s got the mystery for sure, as you are trying to figure out who to rescues, and how to rescue them, and who to go to for help and who the real bad guy is. It’s also ubran fantasy as there’s definitely got some really cool sup...more Holy crap, I’ve found a new series to obsess over!! It’s got the same old paranormal characters but this is a wholly unique take. I LOVED that. It’s so much fun and it’s got such a real element feel to it. There’s so many things to make it part of so many genres as well. It’s got the mystery for sure, as you are trying to figure out who to rescues, and how to rescue them, and who to go to for help and who the real bad guy is. It’s also ubran fantasy as there’s definitely got some really cool supernatural characters. And I think the heroine is my favorite as she isn’t your usual heroine. She’s more of the damsel in distress who is willing to sacrifice herself to help everyone else.
So, Ivy is a normal girl… except she can touch an object and see it’s past, as well as feel it. So, when someone is being hurt and she touches them, she relives it. She always wears gloves, she has a serious aversion to touch, and she lives like she’s in a bubble. She’s a smart girl, but she also has second sight, so she can see through the glamours of all the supernaturals walking around. I love that she is always asking for help. She knows she’s got no chance to do something of this magnitude on her own. She is also very real. She is always tired, she still needs to eat and pee, she has to save money to make rent and food. She is scared to death of the demon who walks into her office. You like her yet, cuz I love her. She’s also fiercely loyal and she will stand up to the big bad crazies to protect her friends even when she knows she has no chance.
I think her roommate Jinks is ultimately hilarious. I love her role in this series. She is the perfect best friend and business partner. Madame Kaye is the seriously ancient, very powerful witch that Ivy considers a friend. She also plays a vital role. But her little friend Hobs-who lives is Md. Kaye’s kitchen, and her huge friend Marvin the Bridge Troll, are two of my favorite characters to add. They made the story so much fun! This is like a paranormal version of the breakfast club hahahaha!!! The demon is Forneus is quite the different demon. He’s definitely got the hot for Jinx, he’s kinda nice, if not a bit smelly, and he’s actually willing to do REAL deals with Ivy and Jinx. Heh, I look forward to all of these characters in the future… And wait till you meet Cffyl!!! Totally HAWT!
The writing is fantastic. It starts out with the prologue telling you a little about their hometown. Then you proceed to learn about Ivy’s first “vision”. Poor kid. Then it’s like, woah there’s a demon in the office. Giggle. It’s a pretty nonstop crazy ride from there. The plot is awesome. The crazy scary bad guys are like freakishly scary. The emotions that come to play in here make it so real. I am all in with this new series! YES! GIMME MORE!!! I hope to see some more shape shifters, maybe a werewolf in the future! Though with all the scary characters in here already, I’m scared to ask what kind of werewolves they would be 5 COMBUSTIBLE MYSTERIOUS FAE PAWS!! (less)

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Jul 28, 2012 Stacy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-publisher-author

Ivy Grainger makes her living as a psychic detective. She has no clue how she got her gift and she definitely doesn't always enjoy it but it pays the bills. I liked Ivy right away, she was quirky and interesting to follow. Her roommate and business partner Jinx keeps her on track and grounded. There is a great amount of action and danger throughout the book as Harborsmouth is a dangerous place to live. There are a wide array of paranormal creatures introduced and there is even a unicorn who real...more

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Shadow Sight (Ivy Granger #1)

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