The Jackdaw Hammond Series by Rebecca Alexander!

     So for the first day of the new year, I decided to review a 2-book series.  There could be more books, but I haven't found them.  The author, Rebecca Alexander, who loves historical fiction, has written two great books: The Secrets of Life and Death and The Secrets of Blood and Bone.  The UK covers are so much prettier, but these are fine.  Book two definitely looks better than one, but on to the reviews!      I love historical fiction- primarily in the UK, so when I stumbled across the follow-up to this book, I had to go backwards and read the first one.  The Secrets of Life and Death is about a handful of people, in two different time periods but carrying a mutual interest- extending life.

     In the past, (Krakow, 1585) Edward Kelley and Doctor John Dee are trying to save the life of the Countess, Elizabeth Bathory.  They play with magic and science finding a way to remove the curse that could cause a the loss of riches and land... also their lives should they fail.  

     In the present, (England, 2013) Jackdaw "Jack" Hammond and Professor Felix Guiechard are pretty much doing the same thing.  A girl, Sadie, has been given borrowed time.  She was supposed to be dead, but is not and that makes her valuable to some people who'd love to have her.       In The Secrets of Blood and Bone Jack is different and on the run from Elizabeth Bathory.  She's has gone toe to toe with the Countess and hungry for something new.  All she wants to do is hide away and be alone, but her place of seclusion turns out to be a place of even more danger.

     Her place, in the middle of nowhere lands her in the clutches of a crazed family of witches, using black magic, bent on her destruction.  She battles for safety and sanctity while Felix is on a hunt of his own, in the states.  New Orleans.  Home of witchcraft, voodoo, hoodoo and so much more.  Felix ends up in trouble himself, into the underground and heavy into the occult. 

​     The book travels back and forth in time as well, but it ultimately comes down to the master of the occult, Edward kelley to save them from present-day dangers.  He may be Jack's only way to stay alive and end her own curse!      These two books were good.  Very good, but they caused me to lag a great deal!  I really wanted to become enthralled within the stories, but It took me almost three weeks to get through book one.  The stories of Edward Kelley and John Dee were so much more exciting than the present day happenings of Jack, Sadie and Felix.  I kept putting the books down or reading/listening to others before finishing them.  

     Those who know me know, I love anything UK and England, but this was not enough for me.  I am sad to say, but when I finally finished them, was a tad relieved.  They're awesome stories, but the bouncing back and forth in time and then bringing them together became too much.

     I'll go for another book by Rebecca Alexander, but these must go on my shelf and sit a while.  Maybe I'll go back and find I like them more.  I am moving on to the next book on my TBR now!