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Arcadia Bell #1
Kindling the Moon
Meet Arcadia Bell: bartender, renegade magician, fugitive from the law. . . .
Being the spawn of two infamous occultists (and alleged murderers) isn’t easy, but freewheeling magician Arcadia “Cady” Bell knows how to make the best of a crummy situation. After hiding out for seven years, she’s carved an incognito niche for herself slinging drinks at the demon-friendly Tambuku Tiki Lounge.
But she receives an ultimatum when unexpected surveillance footage of her notorious parents surfaces: either prove their innocence or surrender herself. Unfortunately, the only witness to the crimes was an elusive Æthyric demon, and Cady has no idea how to find it. She teams up with Lon Butler, an enigmatic demonologist with a special talent for sexual spells and an arcane library of priceless stolen grimoires. Their research soon escalates into a storm of conflict involving missing police evidence, the decadent Hellfire Club, a ruthless bounty hunter, and a powerful occult society that operates way outside the law. If Cady can’t clear her family name soon, she’ll be forced to sacrifice her own life . . . and no amount of running will save her this time.
Being the spawn of two infamous occultists (and alleged murderers) isn’t easy, but freewheeling magician Arcadia “Cady” Bell knows how to make the best of a crummy situation. After hiding out for seven years, she’s carved an incognito niche for herself slinging drinks at the demon-friendly Tambuku Tiki Lounge.
But she receives an ultimatum when unexpected surveillance footage of her notorious parents surfaces: either prove their innocence or surrender herself. Unfortunately, the only witness to the crimes was an elusive Æthyric demon, and Cady has no idea how to find it. She teams up with Lon Butler, an enigmatic demonologist with a special talent for sexual spells and an arcane library of priceless stolen grimoires. Their research soon escalates into a storm of conflict involving missing police evidence, the decadent Hellfire Club, a ruthless bounty hunter, and a powerful occult society that operates way outside the law. If Cady can’t clear her family name soon, she’ll be forced to sacrifice her own life . . . and no amount of running will save her this time.
323 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 28, 2011
123 people are currently reading
14344 people want to read
About the author
Jenn Bennett
26 books4,934 followersJenn Bennett is the author of over a dozen books for children and teens, including: ALEX, APPROXIMATELY; STARRY EYES; and GRUMBONES. She also writes romance and fantasy for adults. Her books have earned multiple starred reviews, been Goodreads Choice Award nominees, and have been included on annual Best Book lists for both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. She lives in a haunted house near Birmingham with one husband and two dogs. Visit her at www.jennbennett.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 804 reviews
March 23, 2015
It's not that there was anything particularly wrong with Kindling The Moon. It's well written, well paced and reasonably readable. There was the odd typo or spelling mistake or missing punctuation, but I can live with that.
But it was rather like an unfortunately boring date. You know how it is. You go to a bar together and all they want to do is talk about body fluids and how they power magical spells. They seem like a perfectly nice book. But there's nothing really special there. No spark, no chemistry.
And talking about no chemistry, I just did not feel the sizzle between the two main characters. At one point they were kissing and he stuck his finger down her panties and I felt like I was reading a text book. I felt nothing. Maybe this is because Lon didn't feel like someone I would ever go for. He's quite a bit older than Cady, at 42 for her 25 and he has a moustache. I really struggled to feel the attraction.
Around the 60% mark my interest started to wane and by the 80% mark it was pretty much gone.
This date is over, alas, but I'll bear the fond memories of Cady's parent's sex magic for a long, long time.
But it was rather like an unfortunately boring date. You know how it is. You go to a bar together and all they want to do is talk about body fluids and how they power magical spells. They seem like a perfectly nice book. But there's nothing really special there. No spark, no chemistry.
And talking about no chemistry, I just did not feel the sizzle between the two main characters. At one point they were kissing and he stuck his finger down her panties and I felt like I was reading a text book. I felt nothing. Maybe this is because Lon didn't feel like someone I would ever go for. He's quite a bit older than Cady, at 42 for her 25 and he has a moustache. I really struggled to feel the attraction.
Around the 60% mark my interest started to wane and by the 80% mark it was pretty much gone.
This date is over, alas, but I'll bear the fond memories of Cady's parent's sex magic for a long, long time.
July 27, 2016
Hey! It looks I'm no longer going through a IAEbIAaPDaCSP™! Go me!
Maybe I've been reading way too much crap lately *waves at her favourite Canadian* Or maybe this is just plain GOOD. Or maybe the harebrained tourists swarming this godforsaken island have finally driven me to insanity and I can no longer tell crappy from good. Or maybe I have no freaking clue what I'm talking about. But that rarely ever happens, so I guess it must be my acute tourist allergy kicking in.
But anyway.
So. This is the only non-crappy, non-Ilona Andrews/non-Pippa DaCosta/non-Craig Schaefer book I've read in the last few weeks. Actually, given the murderous mood I'm in these days, this book should be considered a survivor and should be revered accordingly. Besides, not only is it NOT crappy, it is ALSO Pretty Damn Good (PDG™). It's kinda sorta Plain Freaking Good (PFG™), too, come to think of it. And I wasn't going to write a review for it BUT:
PDG™ + PFG™ = Short Crappy Non-Review Mandatory (SCNRM™).
So let's do this! Let's slightly brainwash innocent
Now now, people, there's no need to be rude, is there?
➽ Why you should read this Pretty Damn Plain Freaking Good Piece of UF Coolness (PDPFGPoUC™):
① Yummy demons are yummy. QED.
② A youngish heroine who doesn't act like she's a 15 year old nitwit with half a grey cell. And who isn't one of those absurdly perfect badass wannabes, either. That chick has delightful flaws. Which is pretty awesome, if you ask me. And her behavior/reactions/emotions/whatever ring pretty true and genuine and real and stuff.
③ Cool magic stuff. And cool sexual magic stuff. Which is pretty cool. And Stuff.
④ Fucked up moral compasses. Yum. Slightly devious villains/bad guys/whatever. Double yum.
⑤ A racially diverse, not all-white cast. So refreshing.
⑥ A pretty awesome 13-year-old kid ← worry and faint not, my Little Barnacles, my GR account hasn't been hacked and this really is me writing this.
⑦ A slightly improbable, could-have-been-ridiculously-clichéd luuuurrrrve thing that wasn't. Ridiculously clichéd, I mean. And it didn't feel absurdly fabricated, either. Or OTT. Or stupid. Unbelievable, I know. I'm not sure I'll ever recover from this one.
⑧ A love interest who is pretty cool despite suffering from an acute case of disgusting facial furniture and being in desperate need of a haircut. And the yummiest of yummy things is, he's a yummy demon. And (in case you didn't know) yummy demons are yummy and hot and stuff. Okay, so Mr Yummy Demon here isn't exactly High Security Harem material yet, but I have high hopes for him.
⑨ An original, fast-paced, entertaining plot. And stuff. Obviously ← why is this obvious? Don't ask me, I'm only here to transcribe this review. I have no idea where the hell all this crap comes from, or what the fish any of it is supposed to mean.
⑩ I rated it 4 stars and I have perfectly flawless book taste. But you already knew that. That I have perfectly flawless book taste, I mean. Okay, so you also knew I'd rated the book 4 stars. But it's the perfectly flawless book taste that counts. Because perfectly flawless is me ← don't mind me, my tiny arthropods, the whole not-a-single-day-off-in-three-months is starting to affect my two grey cells dramatically. Things should get back to normal in September. Well as normal as things usually are in Crustacean Land, anyway.
» And the much-awaited, highly surprising and totally unexpected moral of this SCNR™ is:
PS: I wanted to read the rest of the series RIGHT AWAY, but silly little me didn't add the books to my TBR shelf before the beginning of this month. Which means that if I read them now, they won't count towards my MacHalo TBR Cleaning Challenge for July *shakes fist at Shelly The Ruthless Rule Maker* Which means I'm feeling slightly homicidal right now. But the rest of the series WILL count towards my TBR Cleaning Challenge for August. And I'm going to win this thing and beat the crap out of you, MacHalos. Ha.
December 30, 2015
4.5 Stars
Arcadia “Cady” Bell has hid her identity since the age of seventeen when she and her parents faked their deaths. Her parents were accused of the brutal murders of three rival occultists, and left the states soon after the charge, leaving Cady on her own to finish school and get on with her life. Now, seven years later, she’s a talented magician in her own right, and part owner of a popular bar, The Tambuku Tiki Lounge, that caters to Earthbounds (demons who blend into human society) in Morella, a little town bordering Big Sur.
When her parents are spotted in Texas, very much alive, speculation arises that Cady might also be alive. This, unfortunately, brings the unwanted attention of the Luxe Order, a magical society intent on capturing her parents and bringing them to justice. The Luxe Order gives her an ultimatum: turn her parents in or pay for the murders with her own life. Now Cady must use her magic to find out the real killer and clear her parent’s name. In pursuit of the truth, with the clock ticking, Cady must rely on Lon Bulter’s assistance, a famous, reclusive photographer who also happens to be an Earthbound with a wealth of information on demonic history. He’s gruff, arrogant, and even though he’s quite a bit older, he’s very sexy!
Cady is smart and funny, and just coming into her powers, discovering what she’s capable of, and I do so love a kick-ass lead! The romance between her and Lon is all kinds of hot! Lon’s mature, a bit broody and economical with words for sure, but he knows what he wants out of life and doesn’t play games. A breath of fresh air! Jupe, Lon’s teenage son, is sure to win you over with his lack of a filter, whatever thought comes up in his brain exits his mouth in short order. He’s high energy, hilarious and has a big heart!
Like with most Urban Fantasy series’, it took a little time to settle into the world of Arcadia Bell, but it’s worth the little bit of patience it takes to hook you. I’ve read Jenn Bennett’s Roaring Twenties series, so I already knew and adored her writing. Her signature clever humor and steamy sexy times are present in Arcadia Bell, along with plenty of action and a few twists that will keep you glued to the pages right to the end. So far I’m enjoying this series even more than Ms. Bennett’s previous one. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Cady, Lon, and Jupe next. While this story wraps up nicely, there are questions about Cady’s past and abilities I’m sure we’ll get more answers on in the installments to come.
Arcadia “Cady” Bell has hid her identity since the age of seventeen when she and her parents faked their deaths. Her parents were accused of the brutal murders of three rival occultists, and left the states soon after the charge, leaving Cady on her own to finish school and get on with her life. Now, seven years later, she’s a talented magician in her own right, and part owner of a popular bar, The Tambuku Tiki Lounge, that caters to Earthbounds (demons who blend into human society) in Morella, a little town bordering Big Sur.
When her parents are spotted in Texas, very much alive, speculation arises that Cady might also be alive. This, unfortunately, brings the unwanted attention of the Luxe Order, a magical society intent on capturing her parents and bringing them to justice. The Luxe Order gives her an ultimatum: turn her parents in or pay for the murders with her own life. Now Cady must use her magic to find out the real killer and clear her parent’s name. In pursuit of the truth, with the clock ticking, Cady must rely on Lon Bulter’s assistance, a famous, reclusive photographer who also happens to be an Earthbound with a wealth of information on demonic history. He’s gruff, arrogant, and even though he’s quite a bit older, he’s very sexy!
Cady is smart and funny, and just coming into her powers, discovering what she’s capable of, and I do so love a kick-ass lead! The romance between her and Lon is all kinds of hot! Lon’s mature, a bit broody and economical with words for sure, but he knows what he wants out of life and doesn’t play games. A breath of fresh air! Jupe, Lon’s teenage son, is sure to win you over with his lack of a filter, whatever thought comes up in his brain exits his mouth in short order. He’s high energy, hilarious and has a big heart!
Like with most Urban Fantasy series’, it took a little time to settle into the world of Arcadia Bell, but it’s worth the little bit of patience it takes to hook you. I’ve read Jenn Bennett’s Roaring Twenties series, so I already knew and adored her writing. Her signature clever humor and steamy sexy times are present in Arcadia Bell, along with plenty of action and a few twists that will keep you glued to the pages right to the end. So far I’m enjoying this series even more than Ms. Bennett’s previous one. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Cady, Lon, and Jupe next. While this story wraps up nicely, there are questions about Cady’s past and abilities I’m sure we’ll get more answers on in the installments to come.
October 15, 2017
4.5 stars. This was great! Several other reviewers of this book have mentioned that it feels ‘fresh’ in a very congested field of urban fantasy. And I have to agree. The world building was seamless, a complex reality but simply explained. I really enjoyed the relationship between Arcadia and Lon and of course, Jupe. Well written and flowing- no pacing issues here- I’m looking forward to the rest of the series, already sad it only has 4 books.
Recommended.
Recommended.
September 23, 2011
Then I told Lon the first honest thing that came to mind.
"I've kissed an earthbound but I've never kissed a man with a mustache."
Wow! This book cast a spell on me that had me glued from the first page. Kindling The Moon was a fantastic start to a new Urban Fantasy series with plenty of romance and sexual tension to satisfy us Paranormal Romance lovers as well. This unique and imaginative world built by Jenn Bennett is so magically constructed that its like nothing I've ever read before. Arcadia Bell lives in a world that consists of Demons adorning Halos, and Magicians, and Sexual potions Oh My!
Meet Arcadia Bell a compelling twenty five year old feisty, very lovable, powerful Magician with a silver Halo to match her artistically talented skills while slangin shots at the local paranormal friendly bar she co-owns. She's been living alone under her alias Arcadia Bell for seven years honing her skills since her parents "faked" their death to escape charges of the murders of other powerful occultist. While secretly desiring a closer relationship with her parents she suddenly catches a news story of WANTED serial killer fugitives thought dead by society have now resurfaced. ALIVE....with anxiety filling her senses she discovers her parents while living in exile have had their cover blown.
Her only chance of survival is to find and summon the demon responsible for the murders, enabling the demon to reveal the magician guilty of the ordered murders while inadvertently exonerating her parents of the devastating charges of first degree, cold blooded murder.
Throughout this book I found myself tagging along beside Arcadia on an intense task of proving her parents innocence and saving her own life in the process. Father Carrow, an honest friend of Arcadia has offered to help Arcadia locate this elusive Aethyric demon through the assistance of an Earthbound demon. Only a powerful magician like Arcadia can summon the Aethyric demon using proper rituals and seals. Through the help of Father Carrow's friend Lon Butler an Earthbound demon and very lustworthy with a delightfully experienced skill for very sensual sexual spells as well as a secret knack shared later.
He looked at me challengingly with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Don't think I can arouse you?" I froze. Maybe he was joking."Or is it that you're afraid you can't arouse me?"
Never have I had so manyFantasies daydreams of a male character wondering just what that Demon-Licious mustache really does feel like when Arcadia kissed it...;) What I loved about Lon was his self confidence, Arrogance masculinity, power, protective, and Don't F***k with me attitude.
One of my favorite characters was Lon's son Jupiter or most recognizably known as Jupe, and he's thirteen years old and reminded me of the cutest puppy dog that follows you everywhere. I found myself looking forward to scenes with Jupe! He was smart, spunky,, witty, overwhelming, charismatic and very mature for his ripe old age of thirteen! LOL. I'm looking forward to lots more of Jupe in the next Arcadia Bell novel because he wa beyond adorable.
"what? Tomorrow? Happy birthday! The big twenty-six, huh?"
"Twenty-five," I corrected without thinking. "I thought you were already twenty-five? That's what my dad told me when I asked him."
He cocked an eyebrow at me like he'd just discovered some Zakinthos secret, then mumbled,
"Talk about cradle robbing...."
I absolutly Loved, Loved, Loved this wonderfully written new series!!!
If you have not had the pleasure of meeting Arcadia, Lon, Jupe, Mr. Piggy (the reason behind my new obsession with owning a hedgehog), Priya and all Arcadia's other friends then you must read this now!!
This book was an easy 5 stars and my only dissapointment is that 2012 is too far away for the next installment.
Like what you see here, check out more of my reviews at http://missvainsparanormalfantasy.com/
"I've kissed an earthbound but I've never kissed a man with a mustache."
Wow! This book cast a spell on me that had me glued from the first page. Kindling The Moon was a fantastic start to a new Urban Fantasy series with plenty of romance and sexual tension to satisfy us Paranormal Romance lovers as well. This unique and imaginative world built by Jenn Bennett is so magically constructed that its like nothing I've ever read before. Arcadia Bell lives in a world that consists of Demons adorning Halos, and Magicians, and Sexual potions Oh My!
Meet Arcadia Bell a compelling twenty five year old feisty, very lovable, powerful Magician with a silver Halo to match her artistically talented skills while slangin shots at the local paranormal friendly bar she co-owns. She's been living alone under her alias Arcadia Bell for seven years honing her skills since her parents "faked" their death to escape charges of the murders of other powerful occultist. While secretly desiring a closer relationship with her parents she suddenly catches a news story of WANTED serial killer fugitives thought dead by society have now resurfaced. ALIVE....with anxiety filling her senses she discovers her parents while living in exile have had their cover blown.
Her only chance of survival is to find and summon the demon responsible for the murders, enabling the demon to reveal the magician guilty of the ordered murders while inadvertently exonerating her parents of the devastating charges of first degree, cold blooded murder.
Throughout this book I found myself tagging along beside Arcadia on an intense task of proving her parents innocence and saving her own life in the process. Father Carrow, an honest friend of Arcadia has offered to help Arcadia locate this elusive Aethyric demon through the assistance of an Earthbound demon. Only a powerful magician like Arcadia can summon the Aethyric demon using proper rituals and seals. Through the help of Father Carrow's friend Lon Butler an Earthbound demon and very lustworthy with a delightfully experienced skill for very sensual sexual spells as well as a secret knack shared later.
He looked at me challengingly with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Don't think I can arouse you?" I froze. Maybe he was joking."Or is it that you're afraid you can't arouse me?"
Never have I had so many
I glanced at Lon and nodded. He lowered his gun and spoke to him in a low, rational voice.
"I wanted you to know what she could do. Don't look for, don't ask about her. Don't even think about her. If I find out that you have, I'll come back, and I damn well won't be happy. That goes for my kid too." His gaze captured Spooner's.
"Were not afraid of you, but you should be afraid of us."
One of my favorite characters was Lon's son Jupiter or most recognizably known as Jupe, and he's thirteen years old and reminded me of the cutest puppy dog that follows you everywhere. I found myself looking forward to scenes with Jupe! He was smart, spunky,, witty, overwhelming, charismatic and very mature for his ripe old age of thirteen! LOL. I'm looking forward to lots more of Jupe in the next Arcadia Bell novel because he wa beyond adorable.
"what? Tomorrow? Happy birthday! The big twenty-six, huh?"
"Twenty-five," I corrected without thinking. "I thought you were already twenty-five? That's what my dad told me when I asked him."
He cocked an eyebrow at me like he'd just discovered some Zakinthos secret, then mumbled,
"Talk about cradle robbing...."
I absolutly Loved, Loved, Loved this wonderfully written new series!!!
If you have not had the pleasure of meeting Arcadia, Lon, Jupe, Mr. Piggy (the reason behind my new obsession with owning a hedgehog), Priya and all Arcadia's other friends then you must read this now!!
This book was an easy 5 stars and my only dissapointment is that 2012 is too far away for the next installment.
"Amen to that!"
Like what you see here, check out more of my reviews at http://missvainsparanormalfantasy.com/
April 23, 2017
3.5 Potential!
This series has potential!
It wasn't the best first book I've ever read and well, can't say I loved it too much, but great things could come from this series.
I like the MC. Not love but like . She seems a bit of an idiot at times but we all have out moments.
What I really appreciate though is that it's realistic. OK, as realistic as a PNR can be, but it seems real.
So yes, definitely worth a try.
This series has potential!
It wasn't the best first book I've ever read and well, can't say I loved it too much, but great things could come from this series.
I like the MC. Not love but like . She seems a bit of an idiot at times but we all have out moments.
What I really appreciate though is that it's realistic. OK, as realistic as a PNR can be, but it seems real.
So yes, definitely worth a try.
June 28, 2011
Posted at http://yummymenandkickasschicks.com/?...
Kindling the Moon is the first book in Jenn Bennett’s Arcadia Bell series. There was a little bit of buzz surrounding this book a little while back. I saw the cover and thought “wow, stunning colors” and read the blurb. It sounded pretty interesting. So on a whim, I requested it. I was happy when the delivery man arrived at my door with it and was even more excited when I started reading it because it was a good read from the very beginning.
Arcadia is a very likable character. She is human, only ‘special’. She co-owns a bar that tends mostly to Earthbounds (demons that, you guessed it, live on Earth and who are essentially human except for their ‘knack’ – and they have halos, a pretty neat detail). She is also a magician with a strong talent for summoning the creepy demons that live on another plane. She has not had the easiest of life, being in hiding for most of it. But even with that, she does not act like a victim. I really liked that about her. She is clever, sassy and strong, but not without her vulnerabilities. She has a quick wit and a kind heart. She was a lot of fun to read and I am actually looking forward to reading more of her in future books.
Arcadia is very busy in Kindling the Moon. Not only does she have to work at her bar, but she also has to find evidence to prove her parents’ innocence, summon demons, send some imps back to where they came from, try some new spells, run away from crazy magicians and from rival magical societies, run away from crazy drunk demon freaks, get captured by crazy villains, get free from crazy villains *deep breath* and that’s not even all of it! Yup, she’s one busy gal. Oh, and she has to make out a few times with Lon. (Poor Arcadia – no, not really.)
When Arcadia is introduced to Lon, she quickly sees him as her only hope to clear her parents’ name and to achieve her goal of getting her family back and of having to stop hiding. Lon. He is described as being in his early forties with brown hair to his shoulders and a ‘pirate’ mustache and beard-line in the center of his chin (I totally pictured him as Johnny Depp with slightly lighter hair – YUM!) I liked him from the moment we meet him. Smart, sexy as hell, grounded, loyal…and an Earthbound. I won’t tell you what his knack is (you’ll have to read this book to find out) but I will tell you it adds to his and Arcadia’s relationship. It tests it and ultimately, I found, it made it stronger. It upped the amount of trust she had to give him.
I want to quickly talk about Jupe. Jupe is Lon’s thirteen year old son and he is a fun read. Always talking, really sweet and hyper to the max, he’s easy to like. Again, he adds an extra element to Arcadia and Lon’s relationship. And all of these things help make their coming-together more exciting and more believable.
The story in this book was really good. Very well told. Twists and turns you are in for a ride. It’s action but not exhausting to read action. It’s the good kind – the kind where just when you think things are figured out, you find out they aren’t and that there is another step to take care of. It never gets annoying though, it just makes it fun! And the magic in this book is cool. It’s well explained and very visually described.
Kindling the Moon is an excellent Urban Fantasy tale. A debut book that doesn’t have that ‘debut feel’. The pace is fantastic, the lead characters are charming, the villains are unexpected and cre-epy, the world is neat and the chemistry between Arcadia and Lon is off the charts! I am very excited about this series and I hope you will give this book a try. I really enjoyed it – all of it. It’s definitely worth a read.
Kindling the Moon is the first book in Jenn Bennett’s Arcadia Bell series. There was a little bit of buzz surrounding this book a little while back. I saw the cover and thought “wow, stunning colors” and read the blurb. It sounded pretty interesting. So on a whim, I requested it. I was happy when the delivery man arrived at my door with it and was even more excited when I started reading it because it was a good read from the very beginning.
Arcadia is a very likable character. She is human, only ‘special’. She co-owns a bar that tends mostly to Earthbounds (demons that, you guessed it, live on Earth and who are essentially human except for their ‘knack’ – and they have halos, a pretty neat detail). She is also a magician with a strong talent for summoning the creepy demons that live on another plane. She has not had the easiest of life, being in hiding for most of it. But even with that, she does not act like a victim. I really liked that about her. She is clever, sassy and strong, but not without her vulnerabilities. She has a quick wit and a kind heart. She was a lot of fun to read and I am actually looking forward to reading more of her in future books.
Arcadia is very busy in Kindling the Moon. Not only does she have to work at her bar, but she also has to find evidence to prove her parents’ innocence, summon demons, send some imps back to where they came from, try some new spells, run away from crazy magicians and from rival magical societies, run away from crazy drunk demon freaks, get captured by crazy villains, get free from crazy villains *deep breath* and that’s not even all of it! Yup, she’s one busy gal. Oh, and she has to make out a few times with Lon. (Poor Arcadia – no, not really.)
When Arcadia is introduced to Lon, she quickly sees him as her only hope to clear her parents’ name and to achieve her goal of getting her family back and of having to stop hiding. Lon. He is described as being in his early forties with brown hair to his shoulders and a ‘pirate’ mustache and beard-line in the center of his chin (I totally pictured him as Johnny Depp with slightly lighter hair – YUM!) I liked him from the moment we meet him. Smart, sexy as hell, grounded, loyal…and an Earthbound. I won’t tell you what his knack is (you’ll have to read this book to find out) but I will tell you it adds to his and Arcadia’s relationship. It tests it and ultimately, I found, it made it stronger. It upped the amount of trust she had to give him.
I want to quickly talk about Jupe. Jupe is Lon’s thirteen year old son and he is a fun read. Always talking, really sweet and hyper to the max, he’s easy to like. Again, he adds an extra element to Arcadia and Lon’s relationship. And all of these things help make their coming-together more exciting and more believable.
The story in this book was really good. Very well told. Twists and turns you are in for a ride. It’s action but not exhausting to read action. It’s the good kind – the kind where just when you think things are figured out, you find out they aren’t and that there is another step to take care of. It never gets annoying though, it just makes it fun! And the magic in this book is cool. It’s well explained and very visually described.
Kindling the Moon is an excellent Urban Fantasy tale. A debut book that doesn’t have that ‘debut feel’. The pace is fantastic, the lead characters are charming, the villains are unexpected and cre-epy, the world is neat and the chemistry between Arcadia and Lon is off the charts! I am very excited about this series and I hope you will give this book a try. I really enjoyed it – all of it. It’s definitely worth a read.
November 23, 2012
Holiday season is Urban Fantasy season for me (don't know what that says about me but...) Yay! New series. Probably 3.5? Yeah I'll say 3.5 stars. Pretty into it DESPITE it's male lead having my least favorite descriptor of all time: blonde mustache. Whyyyyyyy. (And the insistence on calling it a mustache when more facial hair was involved on the chin too. Total record scratch every time. My brain automatically went James Franco pornstache when it was actually more Johnny Depp facial hair. (Like how in my hypothetical examples I still pretend that it's not blonde?) Good news is by the end of the book I have trained myself for the sequel!) Speaking of which...off to read the next one!
July 9, 2011
Overall, Bennett has an engaging voice and while I could certainly see a lot of people enjoying this, unfortunately it didn't really work for me.
Plot synopsis: When her supposedly dead parents -- rumored to have murdered several magicians 7 years before -- show up on the evening news, Arcadia has two weeks to clear her parents' names before they -- or she -- are killed by the Luxe Order. She drafts Lon, a demonologist, to help her find the demon who knows who the real murderer is.
The world building features magicians, Earthside demons -- demons who are native to Earth and coexist with full humans, who don't know about the magical creatures among them, and Aetheric demons who have to be summoned to come to Earth. There's a lot of exposition at the beginning, but it's pretty smoothly done.
The plot starts off well paced, fast during action scenes and slower during relationship-building scenes. Then, Cady and Lon start flirting and it gets a little weird... Like when Cady, who has about a week left to save her parents' lives and knows that people are actively trying to kill her, decides to take Lon's teenage son on a not-date to see a movie. How is that a good idea? By the end, I was still waiting for them to do some actual investigative work; the way they got the answers they needed made me really want to re-read Diana Rowland or Linda Robertson or something more substantial.
The characters are, hmm... I liked Jupe (Lon's son) and I kind of like Lon, but Cady sometimes did things that didn't make sense to me. The secondary characters were a little weird sometimes too, although I did like Riley (she plays a villain, but she's pretty entertaining and far more astute than Cady). Anyway, problems I had...
1) Kar Yee, Cady's business partner and best friend since college, supposedly got US citizenship by getting married (and subsequently divorced) while in the US on a student visa. I'm sorry, but that timeline and sequence of events doesn't really make sense. It's not a major thing, but it was one of many huh? moments that pulled me out of the story.
2) Cady is strangely antagonistic toward Lon at their first meeting, when she has to ask for a great deal of help from him on a very short timeline. Later, after he drugs her and gets her to reveal secrets about herself that could get her killed, she becomes strangely subservient. Not in a "he has secrets about me that could destroy my life so I need to make nice" sort of way but in a "he's hot so I can trust this guy I met two days ago" sort of way. I mean, I know everyone has different triggers, but I generally have a pretty long fuse and even I'd be tempted to go all WWE Smackdown on a guy who drugged me, even if I did need his help. (Not that I think that would have been a good tactical decision, but she didn't seem at all upset.)
3) I like romance in my UF, don't get me wrong, but Lon is in his 40s and Cady is mid-20s. A twenty year experience gap is no small thing and Cady isn't exactly the most mature 25 year old I've ever encountered. (On the other hand, if there'd been a 200 year age difference, I wouldn't have blinked, so ... *shrug*)
4) When Cady and Lon were in scenes together I kind of wanted to smack them both in the head and tell them to focus. Imminent danger, remember?
There was other stuff that bugged me too, but you get the point. I kind of wish there hadn't been a love interest, since that's when everything in the story really started to go sideways for me.
Plot synopsis: When her supposedly dead parents -- rumored to have murdered several magicians 7 years before -- show up on the evening news, Arcadia has two weeks to clear her parents' names before they -- or she -- are killed by the Luxe Order. She drafts Lon, a demonologist, to help her find the demon who knows who the real murderer is.
The world building features magicians, Earthside demons -- demons who are native to Earth and coexist with full humans, who don't know about the magical creatures among them, and Aetheric demons who have to be summoned to come to Earth. There's a lot of exposition at the beginning, but it's pretty smoothly done.
The plot starts off well paced, fast during action scenes and slower during relationship-building scenes. Then, Cady and Lon start flirting and it gets a little weird... Like when Cady, who has about a week left to save her parents' lives and knows that people are actively trying to kill her, decides to take Lon's teenage son on a not-date to see a movie. How is that a good idea? By the end, I was still waiting for them to do some actual investigative work; the way they got the answers they needed made me really want to re-read Diana Rowland or Linda Robertson or something more substantial.
The characters are, hmm... I liked Jupe (Lon's son) and I kind of like Lon, but Cady sometimes did things that didn't make sense to me. The secondary characters were a little weird sometimes too, although I did like Riley (she plays a villain, but she's pretty entertaining and far more astute than Cady). Anyway, problems I had...
1) Kar Yee, Cady's business partner and best friend since college, supposedly got US citizenship by getting married (and subsequently divorced) while in the US on a student visa. I'm sorry, but that timeline and sequence of events doesn't really make sense. It's not a major thing, but it was one of many huh? moments that pulled me out of the story.
2) Cady is strangely antagonistic toward Lon at their first meeting, when she has to ask for a great deal of help from him on a very short timeline. Later, after he drugs her and gets her to reveal secrets about herself that could get her killed, she becomes strangely subservient. Not in a "he has secrets about me that could destroy my life so I need to make nice" sort of way but in a "he's hot so I can trust this guy I met two days ago" sort of way. I mean, I know everyone has different triggers, but I generally have a pretty long fuse and even I'd be tempted to go all WWE Smackdown on a guy who drugged me, even if I did need his help. (Not that I think that would have been a good tactical decision, but she didn't seem at all upset.)
3) I like romance in my UF, don't get me wrong, but Lon is in his 40s and Cady is mid-20s. A twenty year experience gap is no small thing and Cady isn't exactly the most mature 25 year old I've ever encountered. (On the other hand, if there'd been a 200 year age difference, I wouldn't have blinked, so ... *shrug*)
4) When Cady and Lon were in scenes together I kind of wanted to smack them both in the head and tell them to focus. Imminent danger, remember?
There was other stuff that bugged me too, but you get the point. I kind of wish there hadn't been a love interest, since that's when everything in the story really started to go sideways for me.
July 12, 2011
Originally posted at WickedLilPixie Reviews
“Oh, holy Whore of Babylon.” - Arcadia Bell
Arcadia Bell is the bartender and co-owner of Tambuku Tiki Lounge in Morella, California that caters to Earthbound preternaturals. She has been using her “Arcadia” alias and has been in hiding for seven years, after her parents were charged with the deaths of three rival occultists, then faked their deaths. She has not seen them since, but after catching a special news alert one night while she’s working, she discovers they’ve been spotted on camera in Dallas. The word is out… they are alive, and (as we already know) their daughter probably is too. Release the hounds! Arcadia’s rival order, The Luxe, wants her parents brought in for justice against one of their own. If they cannot be delivered, then it is Arcadia they want in their stead. The time is ticking down for Arcadia to locate the demon that was present at all four murders and to bind it so that it can deliver the truth of who committed these murders.
I will start out with saying I was smitten with this book right from the beginning. Ms. Bennett does a wonderful job with creating a unique twist on demons and how they are identified by one another. Each Earthbound demon, and anything else preternatural, has a halo around their heads, which helps each other to identify the other with a diffused colorful cloud. The humans are deemed “savages”, slang for humans who don’t believe in anything paranormal, which I really got a kick out of. The AErthyric demons that are usually the scarier ones that are safely tucked away on another plane can be summoned by talented magicians, with the proper rituals and seals. I enjoyed this world and mythology building and was sucked right in to it.
Arcadia “Cady” is a really cool heroine. She is strong without being the tough-talking over-the-top badass. She has sublime powers in magic and she uses a caduceus, not swords and guns. Hello COOL! I love sword and gun toting heroines, don’t get me wrong, but this was just such a nice change of pace. Everything from her really cool colored hair, to her unique magical abilities, to her modesty over her powers is completely refreshing and charming. {Arcadia was also the name of a favorite pop group of mine formed in 1985 by Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor of Duran Duran, and my 80s Pop Culture Whore self had to point that out!!} *swoon*
But I digress… for all these reasons above, she instantly became a favorite heroine for me. Even though Cady had one or two dum-dum moments where I felt like she should have seen something coming, they were forgivable because of the overall nature of her character. What I loved the most about her was that she was very honest with herself over her faults. This is huge for me. There is nothing I can’t stand more than a heroine who is oblivious of her own issues, thus belching said issues all over everyone else, and in some cases blaming them for it. There was no self-pity in Cady’s way of life, she just wanted to do what was right, for her parents… and particularly for Lon and Jupe.
Which next leads me to the hero, Lon. Holy cannoli did I melt over Lon. He is mysterious, aloof, intense, and yet so much more than he initially appears to be. He is finally someone that Cady can share her secrets with and he respects them and treasures them in a way someone (Cady!) deserves. What I loved the most about him and this story was that Lon helped Cady for no other hidden motive aside from initially admitting he wanted to get in to her pants. There was no ultimate betrayal on his part, which often happens nowadays in UF series. And even when he overreacted about something, and made my heart go “owwwwwwchieeeee” for Cady, he called himself on it and corrected it.
Oh and how I adored Lon’s son, Jupe. Often times when the hero or heroine in a book has a child it can get kinda iffy on how the child will fit in to the story. I can be reaaaaaaal persnickity with a child secondary character winning my affections but Jupe completely won me over. The dynamics between Cady, Lon, and Jupe melted my dang heart. I had to give a shout out to Ms. Bennett on Twitter at one point for this particular quote because Frankenstein is one of my favorite books, and when people mistakenly represent Frankenstein as the monster, typically at Halloween, it drives me bananas! This is the quote in question between Arcadia and Jupe.
He scrunched up his nose and smiled. “Arcadia, that’s right. What a weird name. It sounds like you should be a movie star or something, especially with that crazy silver halo of yours and that Bride of Frankenstein hair.”
I laughed. That was better than the skunk comments I usually got. “Nope, just a lowly bartender.”
“Do you like classic movies?”
“Sure.”
“Ya know which one I’m talking about? Bride of Frankenstein? Elsa Lanchester had her hair kinda like that. She was really the Monster’s bride—Frankenstein was the doctor. People always screw that up.” pg. 81
THANK YOU, Jupe! They do!! Anyway, I was instantly enamored with Jupe. Every scene he is in, you just want to hug him, even though, well you know, he’s on paper. Then, there were references to Struwwelpeter which is definitely not something you see everyday, further lending to the unique and fresh feel Kindling the Moon delivered.
This was a fantastic debut to a new series I am very excited over, and a must-read for all lovers of Urban Fantasy, with such a compelling and believable romance. I was left dying to know what happens to the characters after I grew so very fond of them all. Everyone: look out for this author, she’s someone to sit up and take notice of! Waiting for the next book in the series, Summoning the Night, is going to be agony!
“Oh, holy Whore of Babylon.” - Arcadia Bell
Arcadia Bell is the bartender and co-owner of Tambuku Tiki Lounge in Morella, California that caters to Earthbound preternaturals. She has been using her “Arcadia” alias and has been in hiding for seven years, after her parents were charged with the deaths of three rival occultists, then faked their deaths. She has not seen them since, but after catching a special news alert one night while she’s working, she discovers they’ve been spotted on camera in Dallas. The word is out… they are alive, and (as we already know) their daughter probably is too. Release the hounds! Arcadia’s rival order, The Luxe, wants her parents brought in for justice against one of their own. If they cannot be delivered, then it is Arcadia they want in their stead. The time is ticking down for Arcadia to locate the demon that was present at all four murders and to bind it so that it can deliver the truth of who committed these murders.
I will start out with saying I was smitten with this book right from the beginning. Ms. Bennett does a wonderful job with creating a unique twist on demons and how they are identified by one another. Each Earthbound demon, and anything else preternatural, has a halo around their heads, which helps each other to identify the other with a diffused colorful cloud. The humans are deemed “savages”, slang for humans who don’t believe in anything paranormal, which I really got a kick out of. The AErthyric demons that are usually the scarier ones that are safely tucked away on another plane can be summoned by talented magicians, with the proper rituals and seals. I enjoyed this world and mythology building and was sucked right in to it.
Arcadia “Cady” is a really cool heroine. She is strong without being the tough-talking over-the-top badass. She has sublime powers in magic and she uses a caduceus, not swords and guns. Hello COOL! I love sword and gun toting heroines, don’t get me wrong, but this was just such a nice change of pace. Everything from her really cool colored hair, to her unique magical abilities, to her modesty over her powers is completely refreshing and charming. {Arcadia was also the name of a favorite pop group of mine formed in 1985 by Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor of Duran Duran, and my 80s Pop Culture Whore self had to point that out!!} *swoon*
But I digress… for all these reasons above, she instantly became a favorite heroine for me. Even though Cady had one or two dum-dum moments where I felt like she should have seen something coming, they were forgivable because of the overall nature of her character. What I loved the most about her was that she was very honest with herself over her faults. This is huge for me. There is nothing I can’t stand more than a heroine who is oblivious of her own issues, thus belching said issues all over everyone else, and in some cases blaming them for it. There was no self-pity in Cady’s way of life, she just wanted to do what was right, for her parents… and particularly for Lon and Jupe.
Which next leads me to the hero, Lon. Holy cannoli did I melt over Lon. He is mysterious, aloof, intense, and yet so much more than he initially appears to be. He is finally someone that Cady can share her secrets with and he respects them and treasures them in a way someone (Cady!) deserves. What I loved the most about him and this story was that Lon helped Cady for no other hidden motive aside from initially admitting he wanted to get in to her pants. There was no ultimate betrayal on his part, which often happens nowadays in UF series. And even when he overreacted about something, and made my heart go “owwwwwwchieeeee” for Cady, he called himself on it and corrected it.
Oh and how I adored Lon’s son, Jupe. Often times when the hero or heroine in a book has a child it can get kinda iffy on how the child will fit in to the story. I can be reaaaaaaal persnickity with a child secondary character winning my affections but Jupe completely won me over. The dynamics between Cady, Lon, and Jupe melted my dang heart. I had to give a shout out to Ms. Bennett on Twitter at one point for this particular quote because Frankenstein is one of my favorite books, and when people mistakenly represent Frankenstein as the monster, typically at Halloween, it drives me bananas! This is the quote in question between Arcadia and Jupe.
He scrunched up his nose and smiled. “Arcadia, that’s right. What a weird name. It sounds like you should be a movie star or something, especially with that crazy silver halo of yours and that Bride of Frankenstein hair.”
I laughed. That was better than the skunk comments I usually got. “Nope, just a lowly bartender.”
“Do you like classic movies?”
“Sure.”
“Ya know which one I’m talking about? Bride of Frankenstein? Elsa Lanchester had her hair kinda like that. She was really the Monster’s bride—Frankenstein was the doctor. People always screw that up.” pg. 81
THANK YOU, Jupe! They do!! Anyway, I was instantly enamored with Jupe. Every scene he is in, you just want to hug him, even though, well you know, he’s on paper. Then, there were references to Struwwelpeter which is definitely not something you see everyday, further lending to the unique and fresh feel Kindling the Moon delivered.
This was a fantastic debut to a new series I am very excited over, and a must-read for all lovers of Urban Fantasy, with such a compelling and believable romance. I was left dying to know what happens to the characters after I grew so very fond of them all. Everyone: look out for this author, she’s someone to sit up and take notice of! Waiting for the next book in the series, Summoning the Night, is going to be agony!
August 13, 2015
Originally posted at The Book Nympho
Kindle & Nook ebook is only $1.99 (at the time of this review)
I've had the Arcadia Bell series on my TBR list for a while and I pulled it out of my TBR Jar so I'm finally reading it.
After being in a romance reading/listening funk, I needed some Urban Fantasy in my life and Kindling the Moon hit the spot. Not to say there wasn't any romance, there was just enough without the over kill. Like most first books in urban fantasy series, Kindling the Moon is heavy with world building and it took around 60-80 pages for it to really pick up for me. But when it did, I was hooked.
Arcadia is a twenty-four year old magician hiding under an assumed identity for most of her life after some murders went down in her youth that her parents were allegedly guilty of. And to make it harder for her and her parents to be found they've been separated for most of the 7 years they've been in hiding leaving Arcadia (Cady) alone.
But Cady is not alone anymore. She has her friend and business part she works with at the Tambuku Tiki Lounge. And Cady meets Lon and his son Jupe trying to clear her parents' name in time to save them after the world finds out that they are really alive. See part of their hiding is because they faked their deaths after running from being accused of the murders all those years ago. With Lon's help Cady puts together clues with old recovered memories.
As Cady and Lon get closer to the truth they grow closer together and Cady now finds herself with two more people in her very small group of friends.
Kindling the Moon is full of snarky humor, magic and demon action and a touch of romance. Oh and there's a pet hedgehog named Mr. Piggy! Fans of urban fantasy series like The Hollows by Kim Harrison and Downside Ghosts by Stacia Kane will enjoy Jenn Bennett's Arcadia Bell series. Pick up a copy of Kindling the Moon today.
Kindle & Nook ebook is only $1.99 (at the time of this review)
I've had the Arcadia Bell series on my TBR list for a while and I pulled it out of my TBR Jar so I'm finally reading it.
After being in a romance reading/listening funk, I needed some Urban Fantasy in my life and Kindling the Moon hit the spot. Not to say there wasn't any romance, there was just enough without the over kill. Like most first books in urban fantasy series, Kindling the Moon is heavy with world building and it took around 60-80 pages for it to really pick up for me. But when it did, I was hooked.
Arcadia is a twenty-four year old magician hiding under an assumed identity for most of her life after some murders went down in her youth that her parents were allegedly guilty of. And to make it harder for her and her parents to be found they've been separated for most of the 7 years they've been in hiding leaving Arcadia (Cady) alone.
But Cady is not alone anymore. She has her friend and business part she works with at the Tambuku Tiki Lounge. And Cady meets Lon and his son Jupe trying to clear her parents' name in time to save them after the world finds out that they are really alive. See part of their hiding is because they faked their deaths after running from being accused of the murders all those years ago. With Lon's help Cady puts together clues with old recovered memories.
As Cady and Lon get closer to the truth they grow closer together and Cady now finds herself with two more people in her very small group of friends.
Kindling the Moon is full of snarky humor, magic and demon action and a touch of romance. Oh and there's a pet hedgehog named Mr. Piggy! Fans of urban fantasy series like The Hollows by Kim Harrison and Downside Ghosts by Stacia Kane will enjoy Jenn Bennett's Arcadia Bell series. Pick up a copy of Kindling the Moon today.
September 28, 2013
KINDLING THE MOON surprised the hell out of me. I honestly didn't really know what to expect, but for one thing I did not expect to immediately fall in love with the pure brilliance of it. This was an excellent start to a series and what a surprising ending that was.
Arcadia Bell was a heroine that I loved from the get go. Cady was very likable and funny at times. And she's one of those girls that you would love to have a girls night out with. Cady is most definitely fun and loving. And with a great heroine comes a great love interest.
Did I mention I am in love with her love interest? Lon Butler is Cady's love interest in KINDLING THE MOON and he had the ever so mysterious vibe going on for him. Did I also mention I love his name?! It even sounds hot! Lon also has a teenage son, Jupe sort for Jupiter. (Okay, Bennett is a goddess at the naming process. I love all of these names so far.)
Anyway, I love Jupe, he is as funny as Cady is. Jupe may be a huge reason why I love the series. Most authors won't write in either of the two main characters having a son and I loved that Bennett did it. She made it work and it made the book even better.
I loved the plot one hundred percent. I loved by reading the synopsis that I still had no idea what this book was about. Look forward to demons and magic users on a whole new level. You will be wicked surprised when you open this book and the ending will shock you got of your socks. I really am looking forward for what is in store for Cady next.
Arcadia Bell was a heroine that I loved from the get go. Cady was very likable and funny at times. And she's one of those girls that you would love to have a girls night out with. Cady is most definitely fun and loving. And with a great heroine comes a great love interest.
“Maybe it involved a woman. Oh, maybe even a nun—ooh! Wouldn’t that be scandalous?” “Indeed, but no."
Did I mention I am in love with her love interest? Lon Butler is Cady's love interest in KINDLING THE MOON and he had the ever so mysterious vibe going on for him. Did I also mention I love his name?! It even sounds hot! Lon also has a teenage son, Jupe sort for Jupiter. (Okay, Bennett is a goddess at the naming process. I love all of these names so far.)
"Arcadia,” Lon’s voice said from my phone. “Who is this?” I teased. “You can’t take my son on a date.” “I didn’t ask him. He asked me.” “He stole my cell and called without permission.” “Sounds like a personal problem to me.” A low growling noise came out of the phone."
Anyway, I love Jupe, he is as funny as Cady is. Jupe may be a huge reason why I love the series. Most authors won't write in either of the two main characters having a son and I loved that Bennett did it. She made it work and it made the book even better.
I loved the plot one hundred percent. I loved by reading the synopsis that I still had no idea what this book was about. Look forward to demons and magic users on a whole new level. You will be wicked surprised when you open this book and the ending will shock you got of your socks. I really am looking forward for what is in store for Cady next.
"He gathered me closer, kissed my neck, then spoke in a low voice next to my ear. “I figure, see, if you find yourself getting more attached to the two of us than you planned, maybe you won’t think about picking up and leaving to start another life somewhere else.”
October 27, 2018
4.5. So I love Jenn Bennett so much. However I had only read her contemporaries. Then I think it was Nick raved about her Urban fantasy books, the Arcadia Bell series. I promptly bought the expensive Kindle book and it sat there. I finally picked it up. Gosh, it was good.
Urban fantasy isn’t my normal genre but it was a fun escape from my norm. Jenn Bennett really knows how to write amazing characters and even better romances. I loved Arcadia. She was super cool. Lon was even better. Them together was perfect. But Lon’s son Jupe was kind of the best. I adored him
Beyond the characters the world and plot was fun. I liked the whole demons on earth and magician thing that was going on. The mystery of it was good enough for me too.
It was just a fun read that had me totally flipping the pages. I couldn’t get enough. I promptly bought the second book and hope to read it soon2 now.
Urban fantasy isn’t my normal genre but it was a fun escape from my norm. Jenn Bennett really knows how to write amazing characters and even better romances. I loved Arcadia. She was super cool. Lon was even better. Them together was perfect. But Lon’s son Jupe was kind of the best. I adored him
Beyond the characters the world and plot was fun. I liked the whole demons on earth and magician thing that was going on. The mystery of it was good enough for me too.
It was just a fun read that had me totally flipping the pages. I couldn’t get enough. I promptly bought the second book and hope to read it soon2 now.
July 26, 2011
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
Urban fantasy, like any genre, develops it’s own markers, it’s own rules, and it’s own clichés. In the hands of a good author, fun can still be had. But when you take a talented author and break free of the usual urban fantasy tropes, the end result is magic, or in this case, the result is KINDLING THE MOON by Jenn Bennett, the first book in the Arcadia Bell series.
Arcadia Bell is one of those rare breeds of urban fantasy heroines who walks the line between uber-tough-warrior-chick and thoughtful-run-to-live-another-day-chick. She’s got the magical prowess to cause some serious damage (and she does in KINDLING THE MOON), but she’d prefer to avoid danger if possible and she has no problem relying on others for help (and who wouldn’t when help comes in the form of a Captain Jack Sparrow look-a-like whose beta in the ways you want and Alpha too). Typically, we get one extreme or the other in this genre and I really appreciated the very realistic balance shown in Arcadia.
And wow was the worldbuilding cool. Demons, alternate dimensions, and magic users are all subtly different in this series. The details that are given are just enough to breath life into this world while still leaving enough mystery for future books. Sort of like mixing the mythologies of Diana Rowland’s Kara Gillian series with Kelly Gay’s Charlie Madigan series, two of my favorites.
I had only two minor complaints. I did figure out the ending right away, and I wish the danger had felt real and dire instead of just mildly alarming. It never got there for me which did cut down on my excitement while reading. Arcadia is trying to clear the name of her parents before they face murder charges, but since we never really meet them, the sense of urgency never really connected with me. But those are minor issues in an otherwise excellent book.
Don’t you love it when an urban fantasy author gives you something new? Something that hasn’t already be staked to death in this increasingly flooded genre? Me too, which is why I‘m ready to belly up to the bar for more stories about this magical bartender in KINDLING THE MOON. The next Arcadia Bell book is called SUMMONING THE NIGHT and will be published in April 2012.
Sexual Content:
A scene of sensuality. A semi-graphic sex scene
Urban fantasy, like any genre, develops it’s own markers, it’s own rules, and it’s own clichés. In the hands of a good author, fun can still be had. But when you take a talented author and break free of the usual urban fantasy tropes, the end result is magic, or in this case, the result is KINDLING THE MOON by Jenn Bennett, the first book in the Arcadia Bell series.
Arcadia Bell is one of those rare breeds of urban fantasy heroines who walks the line between uber-tough-warrior-chick and thoughtful-run-to-live-another-day-chick. She’s got the magical prowess to cause some serious damage (and she does in KINDLING THE MOON), but she’d prefer to avoid danger if possible and she has no problem relying on others for help (and who wouldn’t when help comes in the form of a Captain Jack Sparrow look-a-like whose beta in the ways you want and Alpha too). Typically, we get one extreme or the other in this genre and I really appreciated the very realistic balance shown in Arcadia.
And wow was the worldbuilding cool. Demons, alternate dimensions, and magic users are all subtly different in this series. The details that are given are just enough to breath life into this world while still leaving enough mystery for future books. Sort of like mixing the mythologies of Diana Rowland’s Kara Gillian series with Kelly Gay’s Charlie Madigan series, two of my favorites.
I had only two minor complaints. I did figure out the ending right away, and I wish the danger had felt real and dire instead of just mildly alarming. It never got there for me which did cut down on my excitement while reading. Arcadia is trying to clear the name of her parents before they face murder charges, but since we never really meet them, the sense of urgency never really connected with me. But those are minor issues in an otherwise excellent book.
Don’t you love it when an urban fantasy author gives you something new? Something that hasn’t already be staked to death in this increasingly flooded genre? Me too, which is why I‘m ready to belly up to the bar for more stories about this magical bartender in KINDLING THE MOON. The next Arcadia Bell book is called SUMMONING THE NIGHT and will be published in April 2012.
Sexual Content:
A scene of sensuality. A semi-graphic sex scene
July 4, 2012
Why didn’t I read this sooner?
Kindling the Moon was a fun read for me. The author creates an interesting world where Earthbound demons walk among us and magical orders exist. Kindling the Moon is the story of a young woman forced to live in hiding under an assumed name because of her parents’ involvement in a series of high profile murders. Her current identity is Arcadia Bell and she is a bartender and part owner of the Tambuku Tiki Lounge (love that name!), a hangout for Earthbound demons.
I loved the bar scenes. The author has a great sense of humor and I had to laugh as the bar patrons sang along and talked to the television a la Rocky Horror to Paranormal Patrol Night, a Ghost Hunters kind of show.
Arcadia’s world is fascinating. Earthbound demons - demons that cannot return to their realm live among humans, even marrying them. They are easily visible to someone of Arcadia’s powers and they have different colored halos. The AEthyric demons are the scary demons that had to be summoned by a magician.
Arcadia is a great character. For someone who grew up with absentee parents, Arcadia has done well for herself. She is an accomplished magician, with limited training and a lot of power. Arcadia is brave and resourceful, a quick thinker, and a kick-ass heroine. Oh, she also has a little hedgehog as a pet. Cute!
I fell in love with Lon. Lon is an Earthbound demon, a devoted father, and a successful photographer. Lon is an empathy and his demon is able to transmute. He is also a practitioner of magic, rare in the demon world. I drooled over the description of Lon’s home. Spectacular. I also fell in love with Lon’s 13 year old son, Jupe.
I think that Arcadia and Lon were perfect together. This is not a case of insta-love; the attraction builds over the book. Arcadia and Lon work together to find the demon responsible for the murders and to prove her parents’ innocence.
I enjoyed Kindling the Moon and I can’t wait for a chance to read the next book Summoning the Night.
Kindling the Moon was a fun read for me. The author creates an interesting world where Earthbound demons walk among us and magical orders exist. Kindling the Moon is the story of a young woman forced to live in hiding under an assumed name because of her parents’ involvement in a series of high profile murders. Her current identity is Arcadia Bell and she is a bartender and part owner of the Tambuku Tiki Lounge (love that name!), a hangout for Earthbound demons.
I loved the bar scenes. The author has a great sense of humor and I had to laugh as the bar patrons sang along and talked to the television a la Rocky Horror to Paranormal Patrol Night, a Ghost Hunters kind of show.
Arcadia’s world is fascinating. Earthbound demons - demons that cannot return to their realm live among humans, even marrying them. They are easily visible to someone of Arcadia’s powers and they have different colored halos. The AEthyric demons are the scary demons that had to be summoned by a magician.
Arcadia is a great character. For someone who grew up with absentee parents, Arcadia has done well for herself. She is an accomplished magician, with limited training and a lot of power. Arcadia is brave and resourceful, a quick thinker, and a kick-ass heroine. Oh, she also has a little hedgehog as a pet. Cute!
I fell in love with Lon. Lon is an Earthbound demon, a devoted father, and a successful photographer. Lon is an empathy and his demon is able to transmute. He is also a practitioner of magic, rare in the demon world. I drooled over the description of Lon’s home. Spectacular. I also fell in love with Lon’s 13 year old son, Jupe.
I think that Arcadia and Lon were perfect together. This is not a case of insta-love; the attraction builds over the book. Arcadia and Lon work together to find the demon responsible for the murders and to prove her parents’ innocence.
I enjoyed Kindling the Moon and I can’t wait for a chance to read the next book Summoning the Night.
September 14, 2014
A fun spin using the occult (magicians) and demons (various kinds). Each demon has a special gift and magicians seem to have an edge, meaning they can summon demons from other planes. It was an interesting and new-to-me fantasy world. The dialogue had the kind of snark I enjoy. Lon and Arcadia's flirtatious banter was fun. There's another character I unexpectedly enjoyed more than I thought I would. The plot involves a mystery (well-executed) and a Cady transitioning to a different phase.
There's a clear resolution to the past serial killings Cady's on the click to resolve. Yet there are plenty of secrets to uncover. I'm very intrigued by Lon, Cady's love interest. It's my feeling his ex-wife will play a role in one of the next three books.
I would also like to say Kudos to the author for concluding this series in four books! (I hope it was a natural conclusion. Nothing worse than when a publishing company prematurely ends a series.)
Anyway, I'm ready for more Arcadia!
There's a clear resolution to the past serial killings Cady's on the click to resolve. Yet there are plenty of secrets to uncover. I'm very intrigued by Lon, Cady's love interest. It's my feeling his ex-wife will play a role in one of the next three books.
I would also like to say Kudos to the author for concluding this series in four books! (I hope it was a natural conclusion. Nothing worse than when a publishing company prematurely ends a series.)
Anyway, I'm ready for more Arcadia!
January 31, 2012
Seven years ago, Arcadia “Cady” Bell’s occultist parents were accused of four murders. They faked their deaths and Cady’s, and the family went into hiding: the parents together, Cady separately. Now, Cady co-owns and tends bar at the Tambuku Tiki Lounge, which caters to both human and demon patrons. Then, when the media discovers her parents are still alive, the rival magical lodge Luxe demands that either they or Cady pay the price for the murders. Cady sets out to prove her parents’ innocence instead. But to do that, she’ll need to learn the identity of the one witness who knows the truth — a powerful Aethyric demon — and summon it to give an account of what really happened.
Jenn Bennett lays out a fascinating paranormal world in Kindling the Moon. It’s based in large part on ceremonial magic and on medieval demonology. There are several types of demons: imps, who can pass freely between worlds and wreak minor havoc; Earthbound, who live in human bodies and pass as human (these are the ones who frequent Cady’s bar); and Aethyric demons, who live on another plane and are summoned, controlled, and banished by human magicians. Cady is a rogue and an oddity in this world, mixing magical styles in a way that no one quite approves of.
To me, one of the most important aspects of urban fantasy is characterization. The series I follow religiously are usually the ones where I want to spend as much time with the characters as possible! Bennett succeeds wildly in that regard. Cady is a relatable character with a good mix of toughness and vulnerability. She has to deal with some heartbreaking situations in this story and it’s easy to sympathize with her. Her love interest, Lon Butler, is enigmatic and standoffish at first, and acts like a jerk sometimes, but is likable at his core. Lon’s teenage son is simply adorable. And the three of them in the same room together have a great dynamic with lots of warmth and humor. The secondary characters are interesting too, especially a young female adversary of Cady’s who I suspect we’ll be seeing more of.
As for the plot, it’s an exciting one with some twists, though I wish there had been more emphasis on sleuthing. Most of Cady’s information comes either from Lon’s connections or through magic. This works fine, but there’s one scene where Cady masquerades as a reporter to question two occultists who knew her parents, and I enjoyed that scene and wished there were more like it.
I really liked Kindling the Moon and look forward to spending more time with Cady and friends. Book two, Summoning the Night, is scheduled for release in April 2012. Oh, and I looked up that name the demons call Cady — and let’s just say there’s a lot of interesting potential there…
I review for fantasyliterature.com.
Jenn Bennett lays out a fascinating paranormal world in Kindling the Moon. It’s based in large part on ceremonial magic and on medieval demonology. There are several types of demons: imps, who can pass freely between worlds and wreak minor havoc; Earthbound, who live in human bodies and pass as human (these are the ones who frequent Cady’s bar); and Aethyric demons, who live on another plane and are summoned, controlled, and banished by human magicians. Cady is a rogue and an oddity in this world, mixing magical styles in a way that no one quite approves of.
To me, one of the most important aspects of urban fantasy is characterization. The series I follow religiously are usually the ones where I want to spend as much time with the characters as possible! Bennett succeeds wildly in that regard. Cady is a relatable character with a good mix of toughness and vulnerability. She has to deal with some heartbreaking situations in this story and it’s easy to sympathize with her. Her love interest, Lon Butler, is enigmatic and standoffish at first, and acts like a jerk sometimes, but is likable at his core. Lon’s teenage son is simply adorable. And the three of them in the same room together have a great dynamic with lots of warmth and humor. The secondary characters are interesting too, especially a young female adversary of Cady’s who I suspect we’ll be seeing more of.
As for the plot, it’s an exciting one with some twists, though I wish there had been more emphasis on sleuthing. Most of Cady’s information comes either from Lon’s connections or through magic. This works fine, but there’s one scene where Cady masquerades as a reporter to question two occultists who knew her parents, and I enjoyed that scene and wished there were more like it.
I really liked Kindling the Moon and look forward to spending more time with Cady and friends. Book two, Summoning the Night, is scheduled for release in April 2012. Oh, and I looked up that name the demons call Cady — and let’s just say there’s a lot of interesting potential there…
I review for fantasyliterature.com.
November 5, 2012
Buddy read with Janice.
Five stars!
Fantastic urban fantasy page-turner with unique, strangely relatable characters and fun world-building. Lots of potential for books down the line too, with a cast of powerful characters that could all come into play. I thought I wouldn't have time to read this or I'd read really slowly but it was so interesting that I couldn't help but get glued to it. It's going to be hard not jumping into the second book right away, but I will once I get my work (aka writing) done. I must be disciplined!
Highly recommend this to fans of the Fever Series or women who like sexy men with mustaches :)
Five stars!
Fantastic urban fantasy page-turner with unique, strangely relatable characters and fun world-building. Lots of potential for books down the line too, with a cast of powerful characters that could all come into play. I thought I wouldn't have time to read this or I'd read really slowly but it was so interesting that I couldn't help but get glued to it. It's going to be hard not jumping into the second book right away, but I will once I get my work (aka writing) done. I must be disciplined!
Highly recommend this to fans of the Fever Series or women who like sexy men with mustaches :)
December 11, 2014
Arcadia is a witch.
She owns a bar.
Her customers are demons.
Her parents are accused of murder.
She's on the run.
Her parents have returned.
She needs to find a demon and clear their names.
All isn't as it seems.
She owns a bar.
Her customers are demons.
Her parents are accused of murder.
She's on the run.
Her parents have returned.
She needs to find a demon and clear their names.
All isn't as it seems.
October 7, 2018
This is one of the few books that I had a really tough time finishing. The first 20 to 25% were not good, to say the least. This book has some of my worst pet peeves in it and those are smoking, drugs, not liking cats and discrimination. I don't know how many times I wanted to quit the book but I pushed through the 25% mark and then it suddenly wasn't so bad anymore. After that the story picked up and things finally started to get more interesting.
I really liked the whole magick aspect and how fresh, unique and detailed the concept was. At times it was maybe hard to keep up with all the names of demons and rituals but that at the same time gave the finishing touch to a great plot. And the ending, uh, did not see that one coming. I mean, who would have thought so many crazy people existed. Guess you could say they were the black sheep of the family.
As for the characters, not bad. Took me some time to warm up to Arcadia but Jupe and Kar Yee I liked right of the bat. I have a feeling me and Kar Yee aren't that different form each other and that's perfectly fine with me. I even liked Mr. Piggy. Now, Cady's parents were a whole nother story. If you want to know why, read the book! As for Lon, not bad. I may not have liked his past but his present self is quite all right. If he sticks to Cady throughout the next books, then he's a keeper.
Will I be reading the next book? I think so. These are desperate times for me. There aren't many books that can keep my interest these days. So wish me luck for this series! :)
I really liked the whole magick aspect and how fresh, unique and detailed the concept was. At times it was maybe hard to keep up with all the names of demons and rituals but that at the same time gave the finishing touch to a great plot. And the ending, uh, did not see that one coming. I mean, who would have thought so many crazy people existed. Guess you could say they were the black sheep of the family.
As for the characters, not bad. Took me some time to warm up to Arcadia but Jupe and Kar Yee I liked right of the bat. I have a feeling me and Kar Yee aren't that different form each other and that's perfectly fine with me. I even liked Mr. Piggy. Now, Cady's parents were a whole nother story. If you want to know why, read the book! As for Lon, not bad. I may not have liked his past but his present self is quite all right. If he sticks to Cady throughout the next books, then he's a keeper.
Will I be reading the next book? I think so. These are desperate times for me. There aren't many books that can keep my interest these days. So wish me luck for this series! :)
August 12, 2011
I was pleasantly surprised with this book considering that I started reading it without having a clue what it was about. It was especially nice because it's all about "magic" which is what they call it in this book. They are magicians, not witches, which is just one interesting difference. It made me laugh that they refer to humans as savages, a slang term for them. And anyone who is a demon or part demon but on earth are Earthbounds and easily to recognize (if you can see them) by their halos.
Arcadia is the daughter of two famous magicians who was conceived in a sexual ritual to become a moonchild (able to harness the energy or heka of the moon). Unfortunately, her parents have been on the run for seven years because they are believed to have killed or helped kill several heads of other magician organizations. Arcadia has been on the run as well, hiding and lying to everyone. That comes to an end when her parents are spotted and she is forced to produce them or herself.
I thought Arcadia was great and I just love it when characters are not all powerful ~ yet. Lon is a demon who she turns to for help. I think Lon made me like Arcadia even more. The parts where they had to do the memory spell and on the plane were hilarious! And Jupe (Lon's son) ~ what a treasure. He is a great character and there is a bonus part at the end where we get to read a bit of the next book and it looks like Jupe will play a big part! Mr. Piggy added a nice touch as well.
All in all, I really liked it and thought it was a good first book. I would like more depth and I'm hoping the next book(s) will provide that.
Arcadia is the daughter of two famous magicians who was conceived in a sexual ritual to become a moonchild (able to harness the energy or heka of the moon). Unfortunately, her parents have been on the run for seven years because they are believed to have killed or helped kill several heads of other magician organizations. Arcadia has been on the run as well, hiding and lying to everyone. That comes to an end when her parents are spotted and she is forced to produce them or herself.
I thought Arcadia was great and I just love it when characters are not all powerful ~ yet. Lon is a demon who she turns to for help. I think Lon made me like Arcadia even more. The parts where they had to do the memory spell and on the plane were hilarious! And Jupe (Lon's son) ~ what a treasure. He is a great character and there is a bonus part at the end where we get to read a bit of the next book and it looks like Jupe will play a big part! Mr. Piggy added a nice touch as well.
All in all, I really liked it and thought it was a good first book. I would like more depth and I'm hoping the next book(s) will provide that.
August 24, 2011
I found this to be a riveting and highly swashbuckling read with great characters, and a magical storyline that took me off the beaten UF path. I thought the worldbuilding and the engineering of the magical workings was just wonderful, too.
Then there’s the single father hero who has absolutely great chemistry with our intrepid heroine - I really enjoyed him! There is also a fabulous frenemies storyline that I found to be understatedly hilarious. Love that frenemies bit! And of course, a fine and twisty plot. Hello! Can’t wait for this next one.
Then there’s the single father hero who has absolutely great chemistry with our intrepid heroine - I really enjoyed him! There is also a fabulous frenemies storyline that I found to be understatedly hilarious. Love that frenemies bit! And of course, a fine and twisty plot. Hello! Can’t wait for this next one.
December 21, 2013
I've been searching for my next favorite UF Series ever since I caught up on Mercy Thompson earlier this year. While Seanan McGuire's Toby Daye didn't live up to my expectations, Jenn Bennett's Arcadia Bell certainly did. With humorous narration, a kick-ass heroine, single-parent dad, teenage son, and demons roaming around, what could possibly go wrong? ;) Onto Book 2!
P.S. - Book #300! 2013 Reading Challenge? Complete! :D
P.S. - Book #300! 2013 Reading Challenge? Complete! :D
November 8, 2016
Kindling the Moon was a nice Urban Fantasy escape for me. It's been on my Kindle for a while waiting for me to get around to it and I'm glad I finally did. What I liked most about this book is the fact that although it had all the ingredients of a regular Urban Fantasy plot set up, it still felt a bit different. The characters aren't in your face "bad-asses" like in most others I've read. Arcadia is a magician who has an undiscovered magical talent (yeah pretty standard plot), but she is very understated, and so is Lon, who happens to be an earthbound demon. Both of them have troubling pasts, but neither of them are overly angry about it, which I liked.
Once we get to know Lon we see he is a very mature, caring person. There was just the one part where I thought he was going to disappoint me. He's also 42 years old with a teenage son (who I loved by the way), which is somewhat of a departure from the younger male leads in most of these type novels, but I think I liked him even more because of that. Normally I don't think I would care much for an 18 year age difference in a book couple, but it works here. I'm still not sure what I think of the mustache though. I was kind of picturing a combination of Errol Flynn and The Green Arrow (comic book version, not the TV show), so that made it better.
Another plus for this book is that there are no vampires or werewolves, so that's another thing that makes it feel different. It may be a bit heavy on the romance for some people, probably along the lines of the Mercy Thompson series, but for me it had a good balance of romance and fantasy. I'll most certainly be reading more of this series, and there are only 4 books, so that's another thing it has going for it.
Once we get to know Lon we see he is a very mature, caring person. There was just the one part where I thought he was going to disappoint me. He's also 42 years old with a teenage son (who I loved by the way), which is somewhat of a departure from the younger male leads in most of these type novels, but I think I liked him even more because of that. Normally I don't think I would care much for an 18 year age difference in a book couple, but it works here. I'm still not sure what I think of the mustache though. I was kind of picturing a combination of Errol Flynn and The Green Arrow (comic book version, not the TV show), so that made it better.
Another plus for this book is that there are no vampires or werewolves, so that's another thing that makes it feel different. It may be a bit heavy on the romance for some people, probably along the lines of the Mercy Thompson series, but for me it had a good balance of romance and fantasy. I'll most certainly be reading more of this series, and there are only 4 books, so that's another thing it has going for it.
August 18, 2011
3.5/5 or C+ Grade.
Why you ask? Why did I not Lurve this book? Simple really.
Arcadia Bell is part owner of a Bar for a more supernatural clientele. They even watch PATROL on Thursdays--to laugh at the stupid humans who don't see the imps and think there are ghosts. Ghosts aren't real in this novel people. Only Demons type species. (Maybe it was Thursdays, I don't remember) There was a scene were Arcadia pulls off a Coyote Ugly moment, I rolled my eyes a wee bit.
What I liked:
Jupe. How can you not like Jupe? He was the best character in the book. Well written, good dialogue, real drama of a teenager. I wish there had been more Jupe.
I liked the world construct. It was interesting with the demons. I enjoyed reading about them. I would have liked more descriptions of their forms, especially when Arcadia and Lon are in the Caves. I wanted more.
What was OK
I liked Lon and Arcadia. I just wish it wasn't so darn easy. I had no problem with the 20 year age difference. Well, not really. OK, maybe a little bit. Although it could be because I just watched that 51 year old actor from the Green Mile marry some sexbot 16 year old pawing kitten. --Ew Gross, and by the way? Where are that girls parents?--Hell no.
Off track there. Sorry. Plus when they first meet, (well, the second meet I guess) Lon drugs her and forces her to tell her secrets...and she's all relieved and not angry? After seven years of being in hiding and not telling a soul who she was? It didn't work for me. I would have been spitting mad.
I really liked Lon though despite the drugging. Former thief turned photographer who married another demon and had a son. Then divorced the crazy demon and retained full custody of said child. I admired the hell out of Lon and loved his relationship with Jupe. I think this was his saving grace for me. His love for Jupe.
What I didn't like, or bothered me:
Every descriptive scene was very vague. I don't recall any mundane descriptions of anything. The scene transitions just...were. One minute they are going to sleep and thinking of trying to find a way back to their car in the morning without getting caught... then next they are back home and we are told in retrospect-- I seriously hate that plot device.
Lon did most of the investigating and work while Arcadia floundered around and batted doe eyes at Lon and took Jupe on a date {I think she forgot she was on a mission to save her parents and prove their innocence to the other occult leaders...right? But Lon just had a woman over...and my nails are broken, and I'm only 25, what will he ever see in me? bla bliggety bla} What's funny is that if he were a 300 year old Demon I wouldn't have batted an eye lash, but twenty years! The horror :gasp: LOL
This book tried to be a suspense thriller and failed. The climax at the end was about two pages of mumbo jumbo, chanting and oddness. Everything being thrown together all tidy and simple. It may not have been easy, but it was simple. I didn't feel any emotion at the end. I was ambivalent towards the situation and felt like saying "What, you didn't see this coming?"
There I told you.
I'd likely read more in this world, and I liked the authors writing voice. I just needed more substance. Every other character seemed just one dimensional and very cookie cutter molded--there for fodder, gone like smoke when something else arises.
Why you ask? Why did I not Lurve this book? Simple really.
Arcadia Bell is part owner of a Bar for a more supernatural clientele. They even watch PATROL on Thursdays--to laugh at the stupid humans who don't see the imps and think there are ghosts. Ghosts aren't real in this novel people. Only Demons type species. (Maybe it was Thursdays, I don't remember) There was a scene were Arcadia pulls off a Coyote Ugly moment, I rolled my eyes a wee bit.
What I liked:
Jupe. How can you not like Jupe? He was the best character in the book. Well written, good dialogue, real drama of a teenager. I wish there had been more Jupe.
I liked the world construct. It was interesting with the demons. I enjoyed reading about them. I would have liked more descriptions of their forms, especially when Arcadia and Lon are in the Caves. I wanted more.
What was OK
I liked Lon and Arcadia. I just wish it wasn't so darn easy. I had no problem with the 20 year age difference. Well, not really. OK, maybe a little bit. Although it could be because I just watched that 51 year old actor from the Green Mile marry some sexbot 16 year old pawing kitten. --Ew Gross, and by the way? Where are that girls parents?--Hell no.
Off track there. Sorry. Plus when they first meet, (well, the second meet I guess) Lon drugs her and forces her to tell her secrets...and she's all relieved and not angry? After seven years of being in hiding and not telling a soul who she was? It didn't work for me. I would have been spitting mad.
I really liked Lon though despite the drugging. Former thief turned photographer who married another demon and had a son. Then divorced the crazy demon and retained full custody of said child. I admired the hell out of Lon and loved his relationship with Jupe. I think this was his saving grace for me. His love for Jupe.
What I didn't like, or bothered me:
Every descriptive scene was very vague. I don't recall any mundane descriptions of anything. The scene transitions just...were. One minute they are going to sleep and thinking of trying to find a way back to their car in the morning without getting caught... then next they are back home and we are told in retrospect-- I seriously hate that plot device.
Lon did most of the investigating and work while Arcadia floundered around and batted doe eyes at Lon and took Jupe on a date {I think she forgot she was on a mission to save her parents and prove their innocence to the other occult leaders...right? But Lon just had a woman over...and my nails are broken, and I'm only 25, what will he ever see in me? bla bliggety bla} What's funny is that if he were a 300 year old Demon I wouldn't have batted an eye lash, but twenty years! The horror :gasp: LOL
This book tried to be a suspense thriller and failed. The climax at the end was about two pages of mumbo jumbo, chanting and oddness. Everything being thrown together all tidy and simple. It may not have been easy, but it was simple. I didn't feel any emotion at the end. I was ambivalent towards the situation and felt like saying "What, you didn't see this coming?"
There I told you.
I'd likely read more in this world, and I liked the authors writing voice. I just needed more substance. Every other character seemed just one dimensional and very cookie cutter molded--there for fodder, gone like smoke when something else arises.
November 29, 2011
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
I won a copy of this book in a blog giveaway so it wasn’t originally on my wishlist but I’m glad that it ended up in my TBR pile. At first the story reminded me of Linda Wisdom’s Demons series but not for long. Kindling the Moon branches out and does its own thing which results in a plot line that doesn’t quit, charismatic characters and an out of left field ending. And, Jenn Bennett is just getting warmed up! The first installment of a series is always tricky business but Kindling the Moon is no shrinking violet; this book leaves sweltering squelch marks on the Urban Fantasy scene and makes the next novel an automatic must read.
I’m calling it! Arcadia Bell is my new BFF. I immediately connected with her character and pictured how much fun it would be to hang out with her on girl’s night. Her life is such a mess and getting more disastrous by the second but her “glass half full” attitude keeps her going. Cady’s sense of humor and can-do mentality save her on multiple occasions from her seemingly dire circumstances. She also lightens up Lon’s darker, more pessimistic personality. It’s apparent early on that the demonologist is something “other”. I thought that Bennett did a great job of conveying that tidbit. Butler’s definitely smexy but his thought process and mannerisms are off which only adds to his charm. Cady and Lon are both black sheep in their respective lives and I enjoyed watching their relationship grow. There’s some booty action so don’t worry, you’ll get your naughty fix with this book.
Jupe was an unexpected character and I was surprised by how much he added to the story. He’s just a kid so let’s be honest, I don’t read UF to get a dose of the younger generation’s point of view. However, in this case I found that he helped bridge the gap between the two love birds and added a third perspective that turned out to be very entertaining.
The story itself is a rush. It’s a battle against time and destiny with one major obstacle in the way: demons. Well, them and insane magicians but I don’t want to get into that. For the most part, the outcome seemed obvious. My expectations were set; I didn’t know exactly how it was all going to end but I had a pretty good idea. That is up until Jenn went and pulled the rug out from under my feet and does the unexpected. I did NOT see that one coming. Poor Cady! The twist at the end is brilliant!
For a book that didn’t even make it on my wishlist the first time around; I’m shocked and amazed by how much I enjoyed it! Kindling the Moon is deliciously mischievous in a wolf in sheep’s clothing kind of way. Summoning the Night will be an automatic buy in April 2012 for me.
I won a copy of this book in a blog giveaway so it wasn’t originally on my wishlist but I’m glad that it ended up in my TBR pile. At first the story reminded me of Linda Wisdom’s Demons series but not for long. Kindling the Moon branches out and does its own thing which results in a plot line that doesn’t quit, charismatic characters and an out of left field ending. And, Jenn Bennett is just getting warmed up! The first installment of a series is always tricky business but Kindling the Moon is no shrinking violet; this book leaves sweltering squelch marks on the Urban Fantasy scene and makes the next novel an automatic must read.
I’m calling it! Arcadia Bell is my new BFF. I immediately connected with her character and pictured how much fun it would be to hang out with her on girl’s night. Her life is such a mess and getting more disastrous by the second but her “glass half full” attitude keeps her going. Cady’s sense of humor and can-do mentality save her on multiple occasions from her seemingly dire circumstances. She also lightens up Lon’s darker, more pessimistic personality. It’s apparent early on that the demonologist is something “other”. I thought that Bennett did a great job of conveying that tidbit. Butler’s definitely smexy but his thought process and mannerisms are off which only adds to his charm. Cady and Lon are both black sheep in their respective lives and I enjoyed watching their relationship grow. There’s some booty action so don’t worry, you’ll get your naughty fix with this book.
Jupe was an unexpected character and I was surprised by how much he added to the story. He’s just a kid so let’s be honest, I don’t read UF to get a dose of the younger generation’s point of view. However, in this case I found that he helped bridge the gap between the two love birds and added a third perspective that turned out to be very entertaining.
The story itself is a rush. It’s a battle against time and destiny with one major obstacle in the way: demons. Well, them and insane magicians but I don’t want to get into that. For the most part, the outcome seemed obvious. My expectations were set; I didn’t know exactly how it was all going to end but I had a pretty good idea. That is up until Jenn went and pulled the rug out from under my feet and does the unexpected. I did NOT see that one coming. Poor Cady! The twist at the end is brilliant!
For a book that didn’t even make it on my wishlist the first time around; I’m shocked and amazed by how much I enjoyed it! Kindling the Moon is deliciously mischievous in a wolf in sheep’s clothing kind of way. Summoning the Night will be an automatic buy in April 2012 for me.
May 26, 2011
This book **completely** surprised me. My friend let me read an e-book advanced copy on a recent flight from London. The premise was interesting enough and I had seven hours to kill. I didn't even know if I would finish or not. But somewhere after the first few chapters I got completely sucked into this world and poof, there went my flight.
The world building is so different from all the usual urban fantasy stereotypes. Forget the detectives and paranormal hunters, forget the gun fights and half baked love triangles. There's none of that. Instead we are given Earthbound demons in human bodies who have halos. And we get bizarre occult societies. The main character Cady is a magician who owns a tiki bar and there is a cool California vibe. She's been raised by occultists who left her when she was 18 after they got accused of some nasty crimes.
The characters were **so** real. (Even the peripheral ones who barely had a speaking role were fleshed out so well) I literally could not stop thinking about them days later. The main character Cady is someone you'd want to be friends with. And her love interest Lon? Hello!! He's hot, but not in your normal paranormal hero way. He's a famous photographer but a recluse, so he's flawed and terrible with words and (spoiler alert)
And then there's Jupe. I don't think I've loved a teenage character in an adult book so much. I wanted to pull him out of the book and hug him!! Some of his lines made me laugh out loud on the plane with glee. I laughed a lot while reading this book actually. It was smart and super witty.
There is a twist at the end, which I started to suspect as the book went along but the way it was handled surprised me. There's some pretty scary stuff in here. Not a lot of blood and violence though.
Best new urban fantasy I've read in a long time. Original and engrossing. I even teared up once. I didn't want it to end. When does the next one come out??
The world building is so different from all the usual urban fantasy stereotypes. Forget the detectives and paranormal hunters, forget the gun fights and half baked love triangles. There's none of that. Instead we are given Earthbound demons in human bodies who have halos. And we get bizarre occult societies. The main character Cady is a magician who owns a tiki bar and there is a cool California vibe. She's been raised by occultists who left her when she was 18 after they got accused of some nasty crimes.
The characters were **so** real. (Even the peripheral ones who barely had a speaking role were fleshed out so well) I literally could not stop thinking about them days later. The main character Cady is someone you'd want to be friends with. And her love interest Lon? Hello!! He's hot, but not in your normal paranormal hero way. He's a famous photographer but a recluse, so he's flawed and terrible with words and (spoiler alert)
And then there's Jupe. I don't think I've loved a teenage character in an adult book so much. I wanted to pull him out of the book and hug him!! Some of his lines made me laugh out loud on the plane with glee. I laughed a lot while reading this book actually. It was smart and super witty.
There is a twist at the end, which I started to suspect as the book went along but the way it was handled surprised me. There's some pretty scary stuff in here. Not a lot of blood and violence though.
Best new urban fantasy I've read in a long time. Original and engrossing. I even teared up once. I didn't want it to end. When does the next one come out??
July 30, 2016
KINDLING THE MOON is the first book in the Arcadia Bell series and right off the bat I knew it was going to be a fun one as soon as Cady walked onto the page. This girl is brimming with spirit and personality so it’s any wonder why this series isn’t more popular.
I loved Cady! She’s my kind of heroine. She’s badass but not cocky and stuck up about it. I liked the fact that she has a good head on her shoulders and she stays true to herself throughout the story. If Cady were real, I would definitely want to be her friend.
Bennett’s writing in this book is eloquent and engaging. She injects a little attitude into Cady and I have to say, she certainly can run with the best of them! Humor and action blend together perfectly in this novel of magic and mystery and I have to say, I’m so glad that I picked this book up! I can’t wait to see what Bennett has in store for Cady next!
Fans of Karen Chance would absolutely love this series. The worlds remind me of one another although they obviously have their defining characteristics but there are certainly similar tones and themes explored.
July 6, 2011
"Jesus," he said between breaths, "Je-sus."
"Amen to that."
A very impressive start to the series. The story line was fresh and intriguing with a surprising ending. The characters and their relationships were well-constructed and entertaining.
Arcadia Bell, a magician, was a likable character with an interesting background.
Her love interest, Lon Butler, had that mysterious Jericho Barrons type vibe going for him when first introduced. That quickly changed once his character became more involved and the two fell in lust.
Lon has a teenage son who was a wonderful addition to the story. It's not often in urban fantasy that the protagonist or the love interest has a child and I appreciate that the author kept him involved in the story line instead of brushing him aside.
Overall I was pleasantly surprised that this book turned out so well and was able to bypass the dreaded First Book Syndrome. I will definitely continue to follow this series.
"I ... uh ..." My heart hammered. "Jupe told me that you thought I was too young for you."
He stepped forward again, dragging the open book along the edge of the desk. "Hmm ... I don't recall saying that."
"Memory loss is the first sign of aging."
"Amen to that."
A very impressive start to the series. The story line was fresh and intriguing with a surprising ending. The characters and their relationships were well-constructed and entertaining.
Arcadia Bell, a magician, was a likable character with an interesting background.
Her love interest, Lon Butler, had that mysterious Jericho Barrons type vibe going for him when first introduced. That quickly changed once his character became more involved and the two fell in lust.
Lon has a teenage son who was a wonderful addition to the story. It's not often in urban fantasy that the protagonist or the love interest has a child and I appreciate that the author kept him involved in the story line instead of brushing him aside.
Overall I was pleasantly surprised that this book turned out so well and was able to bypass the dreaded First Book Syndrome. I will definitely continue to follow this series.
"I ... uh ..." My heart hammered. "Jupe told me that you thought I was too young for you."
He stepped forward again, dragging the open book along the edge of the desk. "Hmm ... I don't recall saying that."
"Memory loss is the first sign of aging."
May 12, 2018
KINDLING THE MOON can be summed up by one word : potential.
I've loved a string of Bennett's contemporary YA romances and was excited to dive into her backlist of paranormal adult urban fantasy. I don't want to be patronizing and say she's come a long way in the last six or seven years but.. she has. These are good but don't quite reach the greatness of her current releases.
The Arcadia Bell world is fascinating though with magicians and demons and bits in between. Arcadia's got a sorta special snowflake situation going on, with a twist, and there's an age-gap relationship with a sexy older man, also with a twist!, who has a teenage son. These are all good things but this introduction is just setting the stage, letting the characters get their feet wet, and I'm hoping things move from good to great. Right now for all the unique and fresh aspects, things are a little predictable. The romance moved fast but there is justification for it, as convenient as it might seem. But again.. I'm excited.
Looking forward to book two.
I've loved a string of Bennett's contemporary YA romances and was excited to dive into her backlist of paranormal adult urban fantasy. I don't want to be patronizing and say she's come a long way in the last six or seven years but.. she has. These are good but don't quite reach the greatness of her current releases.
The Arcadia Bell world is fascinating though with magicians and demons and bits in between. Arcadia's got a sorta special snowflake situation going on, with a twist, and there's an age-gap relationship with a sexy older man, also with a twist!, who has a teenage son. These are all good things but this introduction is just setting the stage, letting the characters get their feet wet, and I'm hoping things move from good to great. Right now for all the unique and fresh aspects, things are a little predictable. The romance moved fast but there is justification for it, as convenient as it might seem. But again.. I'm excited.
Looking forward to book two.
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