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Colbana Files #3
Broken Blade
Kit Colbana: assassin, thief, investigator extraordinaire. Now broken. She always expected her past to catch up with her but never like this. Haunted by nightmares and stripped of her identity, she’s retreated to Wolf Haven, the no-man’s land where she found refuge years before. But while she might want to hide away from the rest of the world, the rest of the world isn’t taking the hint.
Dragged kicking and screaming back into life, Kit is thrust head-first into an investigation surrounding the theft of an ancient relic...one that she wants nothing to do with. Her instincts tell her it’s a bad idea to just leave the relic lying about, but finding it might be just as bad.
Forced to face her nightmares, she uncovers hidden strength and comes face to face with one of the world’s original monsters.
If she survives the job, she won’t be the same...and neither will those closest to her.
284 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2014
100 people are currently reading
1116 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Daniels
39 books643 followersI read, I write and you can find more about me here at my other author name...
Shiloh Walker
My professional bio:
J.C. Daniels is the alter ego of author Shiloh Walker. J.C./Shiloh has been writing since she was a kid. She fell in love with vampires with the book Bunnicula and has worked her way up to the more...ah...serious works of fiction. She loves reading and writing just about every kind of romance. Once upon a time she worked as a nurse, but now she writes full time and lives with her family in the Midwest. She writes urban fantasy, romantic suspense and paranormal romance, among other things.
Shiloh Walker
My professional bio:
J.C. Daniels is the alter ego of author Shiloh Walker. J.C./Shiloh has been writing since she was a kid. She fell in love with vampires with the book Bunnicula and has worked her way up to the more...ah...serious works of fiction. She loves reading and writing just about every kind of romance. Once upon a time she worked as a nurse, but now she writes full time and lives with her family in the Midwest. She writes urban fantasy, romantic suspense and paranormal romance, among other things.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
October 14, 2016
I had to read this one after the horrible events of the last book. Kit was totally broken and endured hell at the hands of a sadistic vampire.
So, let's think of the best way to deal with a vampire who kidnapped, raped and tortured a woman in a cage for two weeks straight. Keep in mind that he also had been behind a group of humans who kidnapped and then hunted a bunch of shifter and witch teens as well - many of them dying. He's obviously a very evil vamp with no empathy and no desire to stay within the laws that the leaders of the non-human assembly have instated. How should they punish him?
A. Kill him. He deserves the death penalty for all of the deaths he is responsible for and there's no way he will stop killing ever.
B. Jail him and rehabilitate him. Maybe some intense therapy or kitty-therapy. Make him keep a kitty alive. That should work.
C. Put him in a silver-lined coffin for 50 years without the ability to feed. That will totally make him think about what he has done and he will come out a nice vampire. Nothing fixes someone's mental health better than solitary confinement and starvation. In 50 years, he will come out happy, healthy, and ready to volunteer to read to sick children and build houses for the homeless.
Yeah, it was C. This is going to work out great!!
"you let him out of the silver coffin." "no, you do it." "it's your turn." "I did it last time"....
So, in this book we have the aftermath of Kit's experience. I like that she wasn't simply fine after all that had happened to her. She was a mess. Like she should be! So, it was rough reading for a while as she is struggling to just exist. There are some great quotes about survival and PTSD during her journey, like:
My world had already ended. The monster had already grabbed me.
And despite what I tried to tell other people, despite what I'd tried to tell myself, I had lived to tell about it.
I thought that part of the story was handled well. I remember being pretty bummed out when Mercy Thomson was raped and then was offering to have sex with Adam within a couple of days. It was just so wrong.
However, the thing I hated was that Kit continues to have this distorted view of Damen, who is a complete ass. He broke up with her for needing two hours before she could tell him about a case, and then he had his right-hand man freeze her out when she tried to call and warn him about his life being in danger. He has never once in this series shown any reason why she should have feelings for him other than her maybe thinking she isn't worth being treated better. He's a total abuser. I was really hoping that part of her recovery would be to realize she deserves better. I was hoping she would get together with Justin, her ex, who is a wonderful guy. But, no. She wants the asshole back. Ugh!
What she really needs therapy for...
All together, this series is entertaining enough, but it's no Kate Daniels. I am still waiting in line at the library for the new Kate book, so in meantime I have to put up with the mediocre. Which brings me to another quote from this book:
Sometimes the wisest choice was just the only logical one out of a bunch of lousy ones.
And, that sums up why I'm reading this series.
So, let's think of the best way to deal with a vampire who kidnapped, raped and tortured a woman in a cage for two weeks straight. Keep in mind that he also had been behind a group of humans who kidnapped and then hunted a bunch of shifter and witch teens as well - many of them dying. He's obviously a very evil vamp with no empathy and no desire to stay within the laws that the leaders of the non-human assembly have instated. How should they punish him?
A. Kill him. He deserves the death penalty for all of the deaths he is responsible for and there's no way he will stop killing ever.
B. Jail him and rehabilitate him. Maybe some intense therapy or kitty-therapy. Make him keep a kitty alive. That should work.
C. Put him in a silver-lined coffin for 50 years without the ability to feed. That will totally make him think about what he has done and he will come out a nice vampire. Nothing fixes someone's mental health better than solitary confinement and starvation. In 50 years, he will come out happy, healthy, and ready to volunteer to read to sick children and build houses for the homeless.
Yeah, it was C. This is going to work out great!!
"you let him out of the silver coffin." "no, you do it." "it's your turn." "I did it last time"....
So, in this book we have the aftermath of Kit's experience. I like that she wasn't simply fine after all that had happened to her. She was a mess. Like she should be! So, it was rough reading for a while as she is struggling to just exist. There are some great quotes about survival and PTSD during her journey, like:
My world had already ended. The monster had already grabbed me.
And despite what I tried to tell other people, despite what I'd tried to tell myself, I had lived to tell about it.
I thought that part of the story was handled well. I remember being pretty bummed out when Mercy Thomson was raped and then was offering to have sex with Adam within a couple of days. It was just so wrong.
However, the thing I hated was that Kit continues to have this distorted view of Damen, who is a complete ass. He broke up with her for needing two hours before she could tell him about a case, and then he had his right-hand man freeze her out when she tried to call and warn him about his life being in danger. He has never once in this series shown any reason why she should have feelings for him other than her maybe thinking she isn't worth being treated better. He's a total abuser. I was really hoping that part of her recovery would be to realize she deserves better. I was hoping she would get together with Justin, her ex, who is a wonderful guy. But, no. She wants the asshole back. Ugh!
What she really needs therapy for...
All together, this series is entertaining enough, but it's no Kate Daniels. I am still waiting in line at the library for the new Kate book, so in meantime I have to put up with the mediocre. Which brings me to another quote from this book:
Sometimes the wisest choice was just the only logical one out of a bunch of lousy ones.
And, that sums up why I'm reading this series.
February 21, 2017
3.5 I wanted more
After the last one, after how it ended, I just had to read this!
The problem? I wanted more blood and guts and all that stuff.
It's definitely worth reading, and I just hope the series will pick up after this one.
After the last one, after how it ended, I just had to read this!
The problem? I wanted more blood and guts and all that stuff.
It's definitely worth reading, and I just hope the series will pick up after this one.
January 6, 2014
Broken Blade picks up after the heart shattering emotionally destroying book two-Night Blade. Hey, I’m just being honest here. Night Blade KILLED ME. It destroyed me. It made me email Daniels and ask, ”What the hell is WRONG with you???” But, I should have more faith in one of my favorite authors because Broken Blade not only brings it all to the table, it leaps over it performing intricate gymnastics and ends with an Olympic worthy ten landing.
There are mild spoilers from Night Blade in here so read at your own risk. You’ve been warned. No whining once you're finished.
Kit Colbana was broken mentally, physically, and emotionally by the end of Night Blade. Broken Blade is her journey to pick up the pieces and live again. She has lost an important piece of herself, a piece that in her mind defines her. We see a different Kit in here then the previous two books. She is scared. So, so scared. The fear is a physical entity that slams into you over and over. Daniels does a fabulous job of bringing all the emotions Kit is feeling to life. Your heart once again aches for this woman whose life has been nothing more than a continuous cycle of pain and heartbreak. Especially when the one person she lefts down all her guards for and allows into her heart walked away, leaving her bereft and emotionally crushed.
Basturd!!!
As the story unfolds, Daniel’s blends the storylines perfectly. We watch as Kit heals at her own rate, using some unconventional means to try and win back herself while taking a case to retrieve a magical relic. I enjoyed the mixture of mythology Daniel’s uses to build main conflict and expand the world; opening the way to new storylines and adventures. Lots of action and suspense lead the way with sly humor punctuating the storyline, helping to break the serious emotional onslaught.
The romance in here is delicate. It’s fragile; held together by frayed hope and once abandoned dreams and remains so as these two damaged individuals struggle to overcome years of conditioning and their lack of trust. Though you won’t get much physical contact and if you read Night Blade, you’d know why. *side eye* But the emotional connection is there and continues to slowly strengthen as they both try to come to terms with their feelings and what has happened. Damon takes some major steps to make up for what he did and I like that Kit allows it.
We see all our favorite characters from previous installments. Doyle is rapidly becoming one of my favorites, especially with his actions in Night Blade. We learn some very interesting news regarding him and I am eager to see where Daniel’s takes him.
Damon. Damon, Damon, Damon. I loved him, hated him, and am now on the fence with him right now. He screwed up and he needs to prove to me that he is now on board and better understands the gift that he so carelessly handled. The witches continue to have Kit’s back and seriously, this woman needs all the help she can get.
The ending comes at you hard and fast, taking your breathe as you watch Kit dig deep through her fear and apathy, learning that she is not as broken as she thinks and that the strength and talent she possesses has always been inside her.
I recommend this series to everyone who enjoys a darker Urban Fantasy that reviles in deception, betrayal, and hope. A word of advice though-if you have not read the first 2 of this series, then you will not understand this last one. This is a convoluted series that builds upon itself with each new book. The arc is long reaching and not self explanatory. Characters evolve and bleed over into to each story with no pause in between.
Rating: A
There are mild spoilers from Night Blade in here so read at your own risk. You’ve been warned. No whining once you're finished.
Kit Colbana was broken mentally, physically, and emotionally by the end of Night Blade. Broken Blade is her journey to pick up the pieces and live again. She has lost an important piece of herself, a piece that in her mind defines her. We see a different Kit in here then the previous two books. She is scared. So, so scared. The fear is a physical entity that slams into you over and over. Daniels does a fabulous job of bringing all the emotions Kit is feeling to life. Your heart once again aches for this woman whose life has been nothing more than a continuous cycle of pain and heartbreak. Especially when the one person she lefts down all her guards for and allows into her heart walked away, leaving her bereft and emotionally crushed.
Basturd!!!
As the story unfolds, Daniel’s blends the storylines perfectly. We watch as Kit heals at her own rate, using some unconventional means to try and win back herself while taking a case to retrieve a magical relic. I enjoyed the mixture of mythology Daniel’s uses to build main conflict and expand the world; opening the way to new storylines and adventures. Lots of action and suspense lead the way with sly humor punctuating the storyline, helping to break the serious emotional onslaught.
The romance in here is delicate. It’s fragile; held together by frayed hope and once abandoned dreams and remains so as these two damaged individuals struggle to overcome years of conditioning and their lack of trust. Though you won’t get much physical contact and if you read Night Blade, you’d know why. *side eye* But the emotional connection is there and continues to slowly strengthen as they both try to come to terms with their feelings and what has happened. Damon takes some major steps to make up for what he did and I like that Kit allows it.
We see all our favorite characters from previous installments. Doyle is rapidly becoming one of my favorites, especially with his actions in Night Blade. We learn some very interesting news regarding him and I am eager to see where Daniel’s takes him.
Damon. Damon, Damon, Damon. I loved him, hated him, and am now on the fence with him right now. He screwed up and he needs to prove to me that he is now on board and better understands the gift that he so carelessly handled. The witches continue to have Kit’s back and seriously, this woman needs all the help she can get.
The ending comes at you hard and fast, taking your breathe as you watch Kit dig deep through her fear and apathy, learning that she is not as broken as she thinks and that the strength and talent she possesses has always been inside her.
I recommend this series to everyone who enjoys a darker Urban Fantasy that reviles in deception, betrayal, and hope. A word of advice though-if you have not read the first 2 of this series, then you will not understand this last one. This is a convoluted series that builds upon itself with each new book. The arc is long reaching and not self explanatory. Characters evolve and bleed over into to each story with no pause in between.
Rating: A
January 18, 2022
This book was still a five star read, but was very different to the first two, here are a few reasons why.
The title is very appropriate Kit is slowly trying to piece herself back together after what happened in book two, so the actions side of things is more low key in the first part of the book. That is not to say that there still isn't plenty going on, there definitely is, and after the half way point the action is back to the pace you enjoyed when you read the first two books.
Still loving this series and reaching for the next book🥰.
Happy Reading📚📗📙📒📚📘📕📗📚📒📙📗📚📘📗📖📙📚📗📖
The title is very appropriate Kit is slowly trying to piece herself back together after what happened in book two, so the actions side of things is more low key in the first part of the book. That is not to say that there still isn't plenty going on, there definitely is, and after the half way point the action is back to the pace you enjoyed when you read the first two books.
Still loving this series and reaching for the next book🥰.
Happy Reading📚📗📙📒📚📘📕📗📚📒📙📗📚📘📗📖📙📚📗📖
January 9, 2014
Spoilers
This was pretty good, it was more enjoyable than the previous two installments. The heroine was easier to like, the world was built upon, and the bad-guy-of-the-week wasn't as lame as usual.
-What's what: Kit recovering from being tortured by a sadistic vampire, she's quit her investigating job and works in her friend's bar, she's as the title suggest broken, she likes to repeatedly mention how broken she is, her abusive ex (Damon/cat alpha) wants her back after dumping her for no reason. Kit for some reason still loves Damon even after he abandoned her, she wants her life back to normal so she returns to investigating, it's not long before she's hired to find a vase which turns out to be Pandora's box, of course things get crazy and Kit has to save the day.
-I found Kit mostly insufferable before this installment, I hated how she acted like a badarse when she constantly got her arse kicked. I also hated how she kept panting after Damon when he'd done nothing but be abusive towards her.
In this one Kit realised she wasn't all that, she seemed to know her limits, it also helped that she wasn't all over Damon 24/7. I liked how she was focused on trying to fix herself first and foremost before dealing with her love or work life. I was expecting her to get back with Damon just so he could heal her or some bullshit, I'm glad that didn't happen. She still annoyed me at times but for the most part, I quite liked her. I'm guessing she'll get back with Damon in the next book and I'll go back to hating her.
-It was irritating how Kit's friends pushed her to get over her torture and get back to normal. They should have respected her time to recover, instead of constantly nagging her. The dicks.
-I rolled my eyes at Kit getting a tattoo of Damon's leopard over her scars so it could remind her of her journey or some rubbish. Who the hell gets a tattoo of an ex that let them down and betrayed them just months earlier?! Kit's reasoning behind her decision was unconvincing — the only reason the author made her make such a nonsensical decision was because Kit will eventually get back with Damon, and the tattoo will end up being romantic and it'll be a permanent reminder of her love for him or some rubbish. Ugh, I'd rather Kit had acted realistically and gotten a different tattoo and then when she inevitably got back with Damon she could have got another one of him. At least that would have made sense unlike her getting one of him when he broke her heart and trust.
-I loathed Damon. All he'd done throughout his relationship with Kit was use her, lie to her, and betray her. The only reason he was even interested in her in the first place was because she could help him figure out what Doyle was. He never even had the decency to tell her that Doyle wasn't just a cat shifter but was also aneira like her. Once he'd gotten enough information about the aneira/warrior race out of her, he dumped her, and the only reason he wants her back is because he feels guilty that she was tortured by a sadistic vampire.
Oh, and Damon didn't even apologise or give an explanation as to why he dumped her in the first place or why he couldn't wait two hours for her. If he loved her as much as he claimed then he wouldn't have let her go so easily and he would have given their relationship a chance. Why hasn't Kit asked him why she wasn't worth waiting two hours for? Why hasn't she questioned his so called love for her? What's stopping him from having a hissy fit in the future and dumping her again?
-Pretty much all the characters were cliched… There were the motherly figures who Kit liked, the younger female characters that were bitchy who Kit hated, and the growly male characters who wanted to protect Kit. Then there was Kit who like every UF heroine loved her weapons, had a tragic past, and had never been in love before meeting the hero. There wasn't any originality.
-Why do pretty much all UF/PNR/YA heroes act the same way? They're always growling, narrowing their eyes, popping and twitching their jaws, raising their brows, and flexing their muscles. Ugh, I've never met any guy who constantly repeats the same dozen actions over and over again all day every day.
-It was good getting to know the history behind the world and the various supernaturals.
-Overall, I enjoyed it… Mainly because Kit was finally somewhat interesting and was away from Damon and their rubbish romance. Unfortunately, I suspect Kit will go back to her insufferable self in the next book and will no doubt be panting after Damon again.
This was pretty good, it was more enjoyable than the previous two installments. The heroine was easier to like, the world was built upon, and the bad-guy-of-the-week wasn't as lame as usual.
-What's what: Kit recovering from being tortured by a sadistic vampire, she's quit her investigating job and works in her friend's bar, she's as the title suggest broken, she likes to repeatedly mention how broken she is, her abusive ex (Damon/cat alpha) wants her back after dumping her for no reason. Kit for some reason still loves Damon even after he abandoned her, she wants her life back to normal so she returns to investigating, it's not long before she's hired to find a vase which turns out to be Pandora's box, of course things get crazy and Kit has to save the day.
-I found Kit mostly insufferable before this installment, I hated how she acted like a badarse when she constantly got her arse kicked. I also hated how she kept panting after Damon when he'd done nothing but be abusive towards her.
In this one Kit realised she wasn't all that, she seemed to know her limits, it also helped that she wasn't all over Damon 24/7. I liked how she was focused on trying to fix herself first and foremost before dealing with her love or work life. I was expecting her to get back with Damon just so he could heal her or some bullshit, I'm glad that didn't happen. She still annoyed me at times but for the most part, I quite liked her. I'm guessing she'll get back with Damon in the next book and I'll go back to hating her.
-It was irritating how Kit's friends pushed her to get over her torture and get back to normal. They should have respected her time to recover, instead of constantly nagging her. The dicks.
-I rolled my eyes at Kit getting a tattoo of Damon's leopard over her scars so it could remind her of her journey or some rubbish. Who the hell gets a tattoo of an ex that let them down and betrayed them just months earlier?! Kit's reasoning behind her decision was unconvincing — the only reason the author made her make such a nonsensical decision was because Kit will eventually get back with Damon, and the tattoo will end up being romantic and it'll be a permanent reminder of her love for him or some rubbish. Ugh, I'd rather Kit had acted realistically and gotten a different tattoo and then when she inevitably got back with Damon she could have got another one of him. At least that would have made sense unlike her getting one of him when he broke her heart and trust.
-I loathed Damon. All he'd done throughout his relationship with Kit was use her, lie to her, and betray her. The only reason he was even interested in her in the first place was because she could help him figure out what Doyle was. He never even had the decency to tell her that Doyle wasn't just a cat shifter but was also aneira like her. Once he'd gotten enough information about the aneira/warrior race out of her, he dumped her, and the only reason he wants her back is because he feels guilty that she was tortured by a sadistic vampire.
Oh, and Damon didn't even apologise or give an explanation as to why he dumped her in the first place or why he couldn't wait two hours for her. If he loved her as much as he claimed then he wouldn't have let her go so easily and he would have given their relationship a chance. Why hasn't Kit asked him why she wasn't worth waiting two hours for? Why hasn't she questioned his so called love for her? What's stopping him from having a hissy fit in the future and dumping her again?
-Pretty much all the characters were cliched… There were the motherly figures who Kit liked, the younger female characters that were bitchy who Kit hated, and the growly male characters who wanted to protect Kit. Then there was Kit who like every UF heroine loved her weapons, had a tragic past, and had never been in love before meeting the hero. There wasn't any originality.
-Why do pretty much all UF/PNR/YA heroes act the same way? They're always growling, narrowing their eyes, popping and twitching their jaws, raising their brows, and flexing their muscles. Ugh, I've never met any guy who constantly repeats the same dozen actions over and over again all day every day.
-It was good getting to know the history behind the world and the various supernaturals.
-Overall, I enjoyed it… Mainly because Kit was finally somewhat interesting and was away from Damon and their rubbish romance. Unfortunately, I suspect Kit will go back to her insufferable self in the next book and will no doubt be panting after Damon again.
February 12, 2023
Kit is left to pick up the pieces after tHe harrowing events in the last book. But how many times can a person come back from hell, isn't it enough just that she survived, how can anyone expect her to recover from what was done to her. Her greatest gift/strength was stolen from her and she will never be able to get it back, no matter her friends telling her magic may be able to fix things. Then there's the physical and emotional trauma, Jude succeeded in breaking her, her will, her spirit everything that made Kit, Kit, he took it all and she doesn't know how to get it back. But, her friends are starting to push her, trying to make her step back into the world outside her haven. After some harrowing therapy (Anaerin style) Kit manages to take a job, it's just a small one, tracking down a shifter teen for his ex girlfriend...... Easy peasy .......... But this small chore sets in motion a chain of events that might mean the end of everything and all Kit can do is hang on by her fingernails and try not to be swept away..............
January 9, 2014
Expected Release Date: January 6, 2013
Publisher: Shiloh Walker, Inc.
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://jcdanielsblog.com
My Source for This Book: Netgalley (AND purchased on Amazon)
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 3, Colbana Files
Series Best Read In Order: YES.
Steam Level: Chaste
Pet Peeves: None
Favorite Tropes: Tattoos, Realistic Recovery Times, More than one male protagonist but no real love triangle
G-d I love this series. There aren't many times that I will purchase my own copy of the book after having received the Advanced Review Copy before the publishing date, but I gladly snagged a copy of this one from Amazon as soon as it was available, because I like to put my money where my mouth is, and this is a series I will support to the end.
First things first, I do think that it's important to read, at bare minimum, Night Blade before picking this book up. There is so much that happens in that book that shapes Kit's reality in this one that you'd be doing yourself a disservice in skipping it.
Once again, the author takes us on a hell of an emotional ride, but this time ending with a much more positive outlook than we ended on in Night Blade.
Don't get me wrong, readers looking for a "quick fix" of Kit's own personal issues stemming from the end of the previous book, or those expecting a lot of progression on the relationship between Kit and Damon may wish to wait until the next book is available, because Kit's problems are not ones that can be magically fixed by a few kind words and soft kisses. She has a long way to go until she's "all better". But I will tell you that I have rarely been as emotionally invested in a fictional character as I am with Kit, and the progress that she does make -- the victories as well as the losses that she experiences in this book, simply make my heart sing.
This is probably a little bit spoilery, so I'm marking it as such, but [spoiler]I loved Kit's tattoos. Not only the vivid imagery of the design itself, but the symbolism behind them and the physical and emotional ordeal of her getting magical ink. [/spoiler]
One of the best things about this book was probably the pacing. It was perfect, covering so much material but never feeling rushed, nor did the action and emotional roller coaster lag.
The one thing that made me pause was the editing in a few spots -- namely when talking about the blade called Death. His introduction had a few moments that felt a bit redundant, though on the re-read I can see how it was important to impress certain characteristics of his upon the reader. I did double check to make sure this hadn't been changed in my Amazon copy before mentioning it, as my original notes come from reading a more loosely edited copy, and the part in question is identical. A minor issue, to be sure, but it was still something that jumped out at me enough to have made it into my notes.
I would also like to take a second to mention how much I love Justin. I admit that I didn't care for him when he was first introduced into the series, mainly because I feared for the appearance of a love triangle, but I'm very happy to say that he's completely exceeded all expectations I had for him. He's not only a true friend to Kit when she so desperately needs one, but he's an intriguing character as well. We get more information about his past as well as his abilities, and I have to say, I'm liking the progression that his character has made.
There are quite a few other gems that I'm avoiding mentioning in my review because I think they're too much of a spoiler, but know that the characters you love in this series all play large parts. Some will break your heart, and others will help to heal them, and no, I won't ruin things by telling you what to expect on those fronts.
On top of that are a few little dropped hints here and there, about both Kit's aneira roots as well as her future in a world where Jude still exists, that I hope I'm reading right, because if so they're going to be some incredible additions to future books.
This book had me cringing, gasping, crying, and cheering -- not always in that order. I was very pleased that this book left us with a more hopeful note than the last one, and though I'm already dying to get my hands on the next book, I didn't feel as though the ending were a true cliff-hanger, as the ending of Night Blade was.
Overall, I of course loved it. Recommended for fans of emotionally damaged heroines learning to live again, of kick-ass Urban Fantasy action, and of really fun twists on old mythology.
A very solid 4.5/5 Stars
Publisher: Shiloh Walker, Inc.
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://jcdanielsblog.com
My Source for This Book: Netgalley (AND purchased on Amazon)
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 3, Colbana Files
Series Best Read In Order: YES.
Steam Level: Chaste
Pet Peeves: None
Favorite Tropes: Tattoos, Realistic Recovery Times, More than one male protagonist but no real love triangle
G-d I love this series. There aren't many times that I will purchase my own copy of the book after having received the Advanced Review Copy before the publishing date, but I gladly snagged a copy of this one from Amazon as soon as it was available, because I like to put my money where my mouth is, and this is a series I will support to the end.
First things first, I do think that it's important to read, at bare minimum, Night Blade before picking this book up. There is so much that happens in that book that shapes Kit's reality in this one that you'd be doing yourself a disservice in skipping it.
Once again, the author takes us on a hell of an emotional ride, but this time ending with a much more positive outlook than we ended on in Night Blade.
Don't get me wrong, readers looking for a "quick fix" of Kit's own personal issues stemming from the end of the previous book, or those expecting a lot of progression on the relationship between Kit and Damon may wish to wait until the next book is available, because Kit's problems are not ones that can be magically fixed by a few kind words and soft kisses. She has a long way to go until she's "all better". But I will tell you that I have rarely been as emotionally invested in a fictional character as I am with Kit, and the progress that she does make -- the victories as well as the losses that she experiences in this book, simply make my heart sing.
This is probably a little bit spoilery, so I'm marking it as such, but [spoiler]I loved Kit's tattoos. Not only the vivid imagery of the design itself, but the symbolism behind them and the physical and emotional ordeal of her getting magical ink. [/spoiler]
One of the best things about this book was probably the pacing. It was perfect, covering so much material but never feeling rushed, nor did the action and emotional roller coaster lag.
The one thing that made me pause was the editing in a few spots -- namely when talking about the blade called Death. His introduction had a few moments that felt a bit redundant, though on the re-read I can see how it was important to impress certain characteristics of his upon the reader. I did double check to make sure this hadn't been changed in my Amazon copy before mentioning it, as my original notes come from reading a more loosely edited copy, and the part in question is identical. A minor issue, to be sure, but it was still something that jumped out at me enough to have made it into my notes.
I would also like to take a second to mention how much I love Justin. I admit that I didn't care for him when he was first introduced into the series, mainly because I feared for the appearance of a love triangle, but I'm very happy to say that he's completely exceeded all expectations I had for him. He's not only a true friend to Kit when she so desperately needs one, but he's an intriguing character as well. We get more information about his past as well as his abilities, and I have to say, I'm liking the progression that his character has made.
There are quite a few other gems that I'm avoiding mentioning in my review because I think they're too much of a spoiler, but know that the characters you love in this series all play large parts. Some will break your heart, and others will help to heal them, and no, I won't ruin things by telling you what to expect on those fronts.
On top of that are a few little dropped hints here and there, about both Kit's aneira roots as well as her future in a world where Jude still exists, that I hope I'm reading right, because if so they're going to be some incredible additions to future books.
This book had me cringing, gasping, crying, and cheering -- not always in that order. I was very pleased that this book left us with a more hopeful note than the last one, and though I'm already dying to get my hands on the next book, I didn't feel as though the ending were a true cliff-hanger, as the ending of Night Blade was.
Overall, I of course loved it. Recommended for fans of emotionally damaged heroines learning to live again, of kick-ass Urban Fantasy action, and of really fun twists on old mythology.
A very solid 4.5/5 Stars
December 15, 2017
4.5 stars
After the heartbreaking ending of Night Blade, I was very anxious to read the next book, to find out how Kit will deal with the nightmare that she survived. And naturally, there were some serious expectations - I'm very pleased to say that they were actually exceeded.
The next part of my review will contain serious spoilers for the first two books in the series, so reader beware.
And while we're on the topic, I would recommend everyone to read the first two books before starting this one.
I should probably explain what the book is about: Kit Colbana is an Aneira warrior (think Amazons, the whole female warriors bit at least), well half Aneira, the half bit being the reason she doesn't really get along with her brethren. She left that world and is making her way as a PI. And she was content. And then came in Damon - a cat shifter, an alpha and her lover. Things were bright and shiny for a while, and then everything went horribly wrong. Kit was captured by a crazy vampire and tortured. Now, she is trying to deal with the nightmares, and the broken trust.
The only thing she really wants to do is to be left alone to lick her wounds - the world, unfortunately, isn't cooperating. She was hired to find an old relic (trust me, saying no was not an option), and she will have to do everything in her power to stay alive (and of course, save the world as well).
As I already mentioned, the book was great. Kit is an amazing heroine, who manages to claw her way back to sanity with a well of inner strength. Love her.
The world itself is very well done, the action thrilling, but what really gets to me are the characters. Kit, T.J., Goliath, Doyle (*sigh*) and of course Damon.
Now, unlike the first two books, the focus is much less on romance. And that is perfectly natural - Kit went through hell, and Damon, well he made a really bad mistake so I wouldn't buy her just jumping back into his arms (no matter how much I wanted it). But they are slowly getting there.
All in all, a great read and I can't wait for the next book in the series! :-)
ARC received from the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
After the heartbreaking ending of Night Blade, I was very anxious to read the next book, to find out how Kit will deal with the nightmare that she survived. And naturally, there were some serious expectations - I'm very pleased to say that they were actually exceeded.
The next part of my review will contain serious spoilers for the first two books in the series, so reader beware.
And while we're on the topic, I would recommend everyone to read the first two books before starting this one.
I should probably explain what the book is about: Kit Colbana is an Aneira warrior (think Amazons, the whole female warriors bit at least), well half Aneira, the half bit being the reason she doesn't really get along with her brethren. She left that world and is making her way as a PI. And she was content. And then came in Damon - a cat shifter, an alpha and her lover. Things were bright and shiny for a while, and then everything went horribly wrong. Kit was captured by a crazy vampire and tortured. Now, she is trying to deal with the nightmares, and the broken trust.
The only thing she really wants to do is to be left alone to lick her wounds - the world, unfortunately, isn't cooperating. She was hired to find an old relic (trust me, saying no was not an option), and she will have to do everything in her power to stay alive (and of course, save the world as well).
As I already mentioned, the book was great. Kit is an amazing heroine, who manages to claw her way back to sanity with a well of inner strength. Love her.
The world itself is very well done, the action thrilling, but what really gets to me are the characters. Kit, T.J., Goliath, Doyle (*sigh*) and of course Damon.
Now, unlike the first two books, the focus is much less on romance. And that is perfectly natural - Kit went through hell, and Damon, well he made a really bad mistake so I wouldn't buy her just jumping back into his arms (no matter how much I wanted it). But they are slowly getting there.
All in all, a great read and I can't wait for the next book in the series! :-)
ARC received from the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2013
Reading is such a personal moment and experience that writing a review is always going to be about oneself.
Broken Blade brought this series in my personal preferred "top-of-the-pops" shelf. It won't be meaning much for you, but it says to me the book pushed all my good buttons. World and heroine. The world-building got a shove with new info and the heroine represents what I want to read about a woman. That we can be beaten, defeated, hurt, that we think we might be lost. But in the end we are still here, alive and ready (well, almost) to kick ass.
My preferred heroines, and Kit is right there with the others, are not uber women unable to be defeated. They are strong women who know the taste of defeat and are able to keep going. And this is the reason I dislike the HP-like "regular" romance (where a woman is given a prize as a keeper of place, hers. Martyrs whose idea of strength is never mine.)
As I was saying ratings and reviews tell you more about me than about the book.
This is not a book you can't read on its own. You'll probably get the story, but lose so much of it, it's not worth it. If you read the first and the second novel you know what Kitasa is going through.
This is the story of her first steps into "normality", the story of her survival a brutal (and I mean brutal) past (near and far away).
But as often the case life does throw curved balls, and so does here. Her first steps are not the baby ones she thought to take and brings some surprises with them.
At the end of the pages you'll be still left wondering. I do not doubt she's going to get back on her feet again, but how she's going to come back is still shrouded in mystery.
Now I hate myself for having to wait an other year. Damn. I'll have to read it again on January when my pre-order will be delivered.
Arc courtesy of publisher via Netgalley
Broken Blade brought this series in my personal preferred "top-of-the-pops" shelf. It won't be meaning much for you, but it says to me the book pushed all my good buttons. World and heroine. The world-building got a shove with new info and the heroine represents what I want to read about a woman. That we can be beaten, defeated, hurt, that we think we might be lost. But in the end we are still here, alive and ready (well, almost) to kick ass.
My preferred heroines, and Kit is right there with the others, are not uber women unable to be defeated. They are strong women who know the taste of defeat and are able to keep going. And this is the reason I dislike the HP-like "regular" romance (where a woman is given a prize as a keeper of place, hers. Martyrs whose idea of strength is never mine.)
As I was saying ratings and reviews tell you more about me than about the book.
This is not a book you can't read on its own. You'll probably get the story, but lose so much of it, it's not worth it. If you read the first and the second novel you know what Kitasa is going through.
This is the story of her first steps into "normality", the story of her survival a brutal (and I mean brutal) past (near and far away).
But as often the case life does throw curved balls, and so does here. Her first steps are not the baby ones she thought to take and brings some surprises with them.
At the end of the pages you'll be still left wondering. I do not doubt she's going to get back on her feet again, but how she's going to come back is still shrouded in mystery.
Now I hate myself for having to wait an other year. Damn. I'll have to read it again on January when my pre-order will be delivered.
Arc courtesy of publisher via Netgalley
January 7, 2014
Kit Colbana considers herself broken. What she endured at the end of Night Blade would break almost anyone. But despite what she believes, her spirit is not beyond repair. That’s what this entire book is about: her journey as she tries to find herself again and rebuild the inner core of strength she fears is gone for good.
The entire first half of the book is focused almost exclusively on Kit’s heartache and struggle. She is hiding out with TJ and Goliath in Wolf Haven. She is terrified of the outside world; she feels incapable of returning to her old life. The scars from Jude’s attacks still mark her skin and her spirit. But she starts claiming herself back one small step at a time. And before you know it, she has accepted a small case, easing her out of her hideaway, back into her office –and Damon’s lair.
The small case piggybacks into a bigger one, which ends up dominating the second half of the book. The action was fairly good, but what readers are ultimately going to latch onto is how Kit is healing and reconnecting with the people in her life. Of course, Damon is the key figure here, and their dynamic is wonderfully complicated. No one can deny the love they feel for one another, but so much has happened. As upset as I was with Damon in the last book, I found myself forgiving him here. While his suffering is nothing compared to Kit’s, his heartbreak and remorse are palpable. I wanted so much for them to find their way through this. But these books don’t make things easy for the characters. It’s a difficult path, but one I couldn’t look away from.
I also found myself really drawn to the dynamic that has evolved between Kit and Damon’s pack. It was… unexpected. And it’s impossible not to love young Doyle. There are major developments with him that are sure to have repercussions in future books.
Overall, I thought the book was very well done. It didn’t emotionally overwhelm me like the last book. But that’s because it was about healing instead of destruction. I appreciate that Kit’s recovery is not a quick fix, but rather, an evolution… one I look forward to continuing in the next book.
Rating: B
*ARC provided by author for review
The entire first half of the book is focused almost exclusively on Kit’s heartache and struggle. She is hiding out with TJ and Goliath in Wolf Haven. She is terrified of the outside world; she feels incapable of returning to her old life. The scars from Jude’s attacks still mark her skin and her spirit. But she starts claiming herself back one small step at a time. And before you know it, she has accepted a small case, easing her out of her hideaway, back into her office –and Damon’s lair.
The small case piggybacks into a bigger one, which ends up dominating the second half of the book. The action was fairly good, but what readers are ultimately going to latch onto is how Kit is healing and reconnecting with the people in her life. Of course, Damon is the key figure here, and their dynamic is wonderfully complicated. No one can deny the love they feel for one another, but so much has happened. As upset as I was with Damon in the last book, I found myself forgiving him here. While his suffering is nothing compared to Kit’s, his heartbreak and remorse are palpable. I wanted so much for them to find their way through this. But these books don’t make things easy for the characters. It’s a difficult path, but one I couldn’t look away from.
I also found myself really drawn to the dynamic that has evolved between Kit and Damon’s pack. It was… unexpected. And it’s impossible not to love young Doyle. There are major developments with him that are sure to have repercussions in future books.
Overall, I thought the book was very well done. It didn’t emotionally overwhelm me like the last book. But that’s because it was about healing instead of destruction. I appreciate that Kit’s recovery is not a quick fix, but rather, an evolution… one I look forward to continuing in the next book.
Rating: B
*ARC provided by author for review
March 1, 2014
Not as concise as the previous one, it read a bit all over the place. Bucketfuls of angst that got a little tiring after a while. Damon and Kit had tons of angst going for them. They are both pining after one another and everyone is on their business telling Kit to go back to Damon, that he is suffering and shit.
December 28, 2013
*Genre* Paranormal Romance
*Rating* 4-4.5
*My Thoughts*
BROKEN BLADE is one of the best books I've read in 2013. The story takes place 4 months after the end of NIGHT BLADE where we find Kit living in Wolf Haven. Kit, severely depressed, angry, withdrawn from facing anyone except T.J., and Goliath, faces some challenges to her psyche which won't allow her to move forward and put the past behind her. I love the title of this book. It is definitely appropriate after what happened in Night Blade.
As a person who has experienced my own brand of hell, and continues to suffer through painful nightmares, depression, and anger issues (PTSD) even today, I could totally relate to what Kit was going through and that made me understand her struggles and hesitation even more. It made me that much more interested to see where Kit's path would take her while dealing with the aftermath of NIGHT BLADE since every single day is still a struggle to get up, and wanting to live, and trying not to leave everyone who loves you behind so that you can crawl back into that darkness that refuses to let you go.
I think BROKEN BLADE is the perfect story for Kit. She's gone from a badass warrior attached to her blade, to questioning everything she's ever fought for, to wondering if she'll ever use the blade again, to slowly realizing that life needs to go on in order for her to survive. I will say that I would NOT recommend that you just jump in to BROKEN BLADE without reading BLADE SONG and NIGHT BLADE. The continuation of the storyline is something that Daniels does well. Even though there is a summation of the events that happened previously, you really need to read Kit's experiences so that you get a better understanding of her struggles to move forward and resume her job as an investigator and yes, a killer.
I will say that my favorite secondary character in Broken Blade is Doyle. Doyle is a fascinating character that you will love reading about. His past is cloudy and murky and there are still plenty of questions as to his parentage since the first time we met him in BLADE SONG. I love the fact that Doyle is protective of Kit. I loved that his tracking abilities are above reproach and that HE was responsible for finding Kit in NIGHT BLADE. I can't wait to see where Daniels takes Doyle's story from here.
As to the romance front of Broken Blade, I will say this to those who read the first two stories; Lower your expectations. You can NOT expect KIT to just jump back into the saddle when she is fighting her own sanity and wherewithal and facing yet more difficult challenges when she faces an OLD LEGEND. You can not expect KIT to suddenly open up her doors to anyone when there is so much background noise that needs to be filtered out first. I will also say that I think Kit and Justin are an interesting couple that needs to be explored further. I'm especially fascinated by Justin's Metallurgy abilities. I also haven't totally forgiven Damon for his actions in NIGHT BLADE. He needs to allow KIT time to find herself.
There are so many different directions that Daniels can take this series from here that I am excited at the possibilities. There are definitely challenges facing Kit in the form of her evil grandmother, the fact that Doyle has a surprise or two to face which may affect Kit, and there is a looming challenge that I will not spoil under the threat of death. The future definitely looks bright for the Colbana Files!
*Recvd via NetGalley 11/03/2013* Expected publication: January 6th 2014 by Shiloh Walker, Inc.
*Rating* 4-4.5
*My Thoughts*
BROKEN BLADE is one of the best books I've read in 2013. The story takes place 4 months after the end of NIGHT BLADE where we find Kit living in Wolf Haven. Kit, severely depressed, angry, withdrawn from facing anyone except T.J., and Goliath, faces some challenges to her psyche which won't allow her to move forward and put the past behind her. I love the title of this book. It is definitely appropriate after what happened in Night Blade.
As a person who has experienced my own brand of hell, and continues to suffer through painful nightmares, depression, and anger issues (PTSD) even today, I could totally relate to what Kit was going through and that made me understand her struggles and hesitation even more. It made me that much more interested to see where Kit's path would take her while dealing with the aftermath of NIGHT BLADE since every single day is still a struggle to get up, and wanting to live, and trying not to leave everyone who loves you behind so that you can crawl back into that darkness that refuses to let you go.
I think BROKEN BLADE is the perfect story for Kit. She's gone from a badass warrior attached to her blade, to questioning everything she's ever fought for, to wondering if she'll ever use the blade again, to slowly realizing that life needs to go on in order for her to survive. I will say that I would NOT recommend that you just jump in to BROKEN BLADE without reading BLADE SONG and NIGHT BLADE. The continuation of the storyline is something that Daniels does well. Even though there is a summation of the events that happened previously, you really need to read Kit's experiences so that you get a better understanding of her struggles to move forward and resume her job as an investigator and yes, a killer.
I will say that my favorite secondary character in Broken Blade is Doyle. Doyle is a fascinating character that you will love reading about. His past is cloudy and murky and there are still plenty of questions as to his parentage since the first time we met him in BLADE SONG. I love the fact that Doyle is protective of Kit. I loved that his tracking abilities are above reproach and that HE was responsible for finding Kit in NIGHT BLADE. I can't wait to see where Daniels takes Doyle's story from here.
As to the romance front of Broken Blade, I will say this to those who read the first two stories; Lower your expectations. You can NOT expect KIT to just jump back into the saddle when she is fighting her own sanity and wherewithal and facing yet more difficult challenges when she faces an OLD LEGEND. You can not expect KIT to suddenly open up her doors to anyone when there is so much background noise that needs to be filtered out first. I will also say that I think Kit and Justin are an interesting couple that needs to be explored further. I'm especially fascinated by Justin's Metallurgy abilities. I also haven't totally forgiven Damon for his actions in NIGHT BLADE. He needs to allow KIT time to find herself.
There are so many different directions that Daniels can take this series from here that I am excited at the possibilities. There are definitely challenges facing Kit in the form of her evil grandmother, the fact that Doyle has a surprise or two to face which may affect Kit, and there is a looming challenge that I will not spoil under the threat of death. The future definitely looks bright for the Colbana Files!
*Recvd via NetGalley 11/03/2013* Expected publication: January 6th 2014 by Shiloh Walker, Inc.
January 10, 2014
4.5 stars
If you’re like me and constantly on the hunt for terrific Urban Fantasy and you haven’t read JC Daniels’ Kit Colbana series, you’re missing out. Emotional turmoil, heart stopping action, with an outstanding lead couple make for an unforgettable read. Broken Blade is especially heavy on the angst , and it had me tearing up in several places.
Kit still really hasn’t come to terms with what happened to her in Night Blade and suffers from nightmares that leave her cowering in the closet and clutching a knife. She’s no longer with Damon, and does little more than tend bar for her friend TJ. Kit’s lost and hurting and that comes across exquisitely within the text. Part of Kit’s process to heal herself is getting tattooed, but even that comes with a price of recalling horrible memories. She decides to take an easy job tracking down a shifter for a pregnant woman, but knows that she’ll eventually have to have it out with her werecat ex, Damon.
“… You’ve proved yourself worthy of him, but we’ve proven ourselves not worthy of you”. – Chang – Damon’s right hand man. This was just one of the many parts where I had to grab myself a tissue. Kit was basically tortured trying to prove Damon’s innocence in the last book and watching her put herself back together piece by piece was heartbreaking. The first half of the book essentially deals with Kit trying to make peace with who she is now and the damage that was done by Jude. She interacts with both Damon and Justin, and the book goes into depth about Justin’s backstory. I very much appreciated this as the last two books have been relatively light on the details regarding Justin.
The whole book is an ode to the saying of showing, not telling. Whether Kit is reacting with her weapons, or becoming nauseous because of flashbacks, it’s always done by her doing something and very little internal monologue.
The second half fell down a bit for me, as it focuses on a mysterious woman who hires Kit to find her a special vase. Something seems hinky to Kit, but she accepts the job anyways. The more interesting aspect of that particular plotline was the origin of the aneira, weres, and vampires. What they were meant to do. I found that bit fascinating and wanted to have it expanded upon even more than it was.
The first half was an emotional rollercoaster, and the second was more geared towards action – but it was a fantastic all-around read. If you’re looking for fresh urban fantasy with a hell of heroine, check out the Kit Colbana series!
- Ronnie
If you’re like me and constantly on the hunt for terrific Urban Fantasy and you haven’t read JC Daniels’ Kit Colbana series, you’re missing out. Emotional turmoil, heart stopping action, with an outstanding lead couple make for an unforgettable read. Broken Blade is especially heavy on the angst , and it had me tearing up in several places.
Kit still really hasn’t come to terms with what happened to her in Night Blade and suffers from nightmares that leave her cowering in the closet and clutching a knife. She’s no longer with Damon, and does little more than tend bar for her friend TJ. Kit’s lost and hurting and that comes across exquisitely within the text. Part of Kit’s process to heal herself is getting tattooed, but even that comes with a price of recalling horrible memories. She decides to take an easy job tracking down a shifter for a pregnant woman, but knows that she’ll eventually have to have it out with her werecat ex, Damon.
“… You’ve proved yourself worthy of him, but we’ve proven ourselves not worthy of you”. – Chang – Damon’s right hand man. This was just one of the many parts where I had to grab myself a tissue. Kit was basically tortured trying to prove Damon’s innocence in the last book and watching her put herself back together piece by piece was heartbreaking. The first half of the book essentially deals with Kit trying to make peace with who she is now and the damage that was done by Jude. She interacts with both Damon and Justin, and the book goes into depth about Justin’s backstory. I very much appreciated this as the last two books have been relatively light on the details regarding Justin.
The whole book is an ode to the saying of showing, not telling. Whether Kit is reacting with her weapons, or becoming nauseous because of flashbacks, it’s always done by her doing something and very little internal monologue.
The second half fell down a bit for me, as it focuses on a mysterious woman who hires Kit to find her a special vase. Something seems hinky to Kit, but she accepts the job anyways. The more interesting aspect of that particular plotline was the origin of the aneira, weres, and vampires. What they were meant to do. I found that bit fascinating and wanted to have it expanded upon even more than it was.
The first half was an emotional rollercoaster, and the second was more geared towards action – but it was a fantastic all-around read. If you’re looking for fresh urban fantasy with a hell of heroine, check out the Kit Colbana series!
- Ronnie
January 6, 2014
At a time when I find myself more enamored with contemporary books, this urban fantasy romance series seriously impresses me. First let me say you must read the books in order, as this is the continuing story of Kit Colbana. The end of the last book was devastating. Kit was kidnapped by a vampire, and tortured beyond all belief. But she was eventually rescued and is now starting the very slow process of getting her life back. Kit is such a kick ass heroine, seeing her down and out is truly a hard thing to read. I think this author does such a great job not rushing Kit back to health. It’s hell to read, but it makes sense. Kit not only suffered physical and mental abuse, but she lost the magical connection she had to her sword, which is like losing a limb. Also because of everything that went down, her relationship with Damon, her were-cat lover has stopped. Damon and his cats are dealing with the fact that they could not prevent Kit from being captured last book. Damon tells Kit he will wait for as long as it takes for her to get to a place where she is able to return to him (oh swoon Damon) even if that means it never happens (that’s true romance y’all.)
Kit has to find her way on her own though. With a little push from some friends, Kit finds herself back at her office, taking on small jobs. She has agreed to help track down the boyfriend of a pregnant girl, which leads her to Damon and his cats, which leads her to facing things she sooooo doesn’t want to face. Even though Damon and Kit are not yet ready for physical romance, the tension that simmers between them is so tangible. Damon is so intense, and yet patient and gentle (although still very growly).
This ‘simple’ case Kit takes on of course takes a very dangerous and powerful turn. Doyle and Justin both have a lot of page time and some impactful things are learned.
As I’ve read each of the books in this series, I’ve never wanted the book to end. I’m satisfied with the ending, but I’m never ready for the words ‘the end’ to appear. The world is so fascinating and the characters are so well written. My only complaint with this one is that I wish events in the previous book had been rehashed just a bit more in the beginning. I couldn't quite remember all the details and the beginning started a little fuzzy for me. So if you are in the same boat, maybe a quick skim of book two would be a good place to start. I hope JC Daniels is writing fast!
Kit has to find her way on her own though. With a little push from some friends, Kit finds herself back at her office, taking on small jobs. She has agreed to help track down the boyfriend of a pregnant girl, which leads her to Damon and his cats, which leads her to facing things she sooooo doesn’t want to face. Even though Damon and Kit are not yet ready for physical romance, the tension that simmers between them is so tangible. Damon is so intense, and yet patient and gentle (although still very growly).
This ‘simple’ case Kit takes on of course takes a very dangerous and powerful turn. Doyle and Justin both have a lot of page time and some impactful things are learned.
As I’ve read each of the books in this series, I’ve never wanted the book to end. I’m satisfied with the ending, but I’m never ready for the words ‘the end’ to appear. The world is so fascinating and the characters are so well written. My only complaint with this one is that I wish events in the previous book had been rehashed just a bit more in the beginning. I couldn't quite remember all the details and the beginning started a little fuzzy for me. So if you are in the same boat, maybe a quick skim of book two would be a good place to start. I hope JC Daniels is writing fast!
September 23, 2017
Reviewed for: Where the Night Kind Roam
Ok folks, here is another review I’ve been sitting on for quite some time. I really should have reviewed this book like a month ago. Oops, but here is my go at it.
Broken Blade by J.C. Daniels is the third book in the Kit Colbana Files series. It picks up a couple of months after the end of Night Blade, which about broke my heart. Night Blade was a gut wrenching novel that made Broken Blade highly anticipated.I was wondering how J.C. Daniels was going to follow up from the emotional upheaval from its predecessor and I have to say I wasn’t disappointed with this book. The first half of the book had us going through Kit’s recovery from the trauma of her capture. She was barely existing in this life when her friends basically pulled her from her oblivion. She had some serious pain to work through and we took that journey with her, I swear I had tears ready to go for most of the first half of the book. In the beginning she could barely get out of bed but through her friends she started to find her inner strength and survival instincts and more and more the Kit we know and love starts to come back. Her first case back in the swing of things is fairly easy but it brings her back to Damon which is another heartbreak, the guilt he carries and her feelings of betrayal run deep and it is something they have to work through if they are ever going to find their way back. I swear when he says that he will wait for her forever I about choked up all over again. The second half of the book, while not fully healed Kit is definitely back and kicking! She takes a case that she is pretty sure that she should not take, one that brings her face to face with one of the original evils. Kit and her old pal Justin have to work closely together on this one and the young Doyle can’t stay away. He plays an instrumental role in her case and we find out some secrets about his past. This third book in the installment while not as gut-wrenching as the second, is no slouch and I ended up thoroughly enjoying it. I definitely recommend this series to the Urban Fantasy fans out there.
Rating:
5
*ARC was provided through Netgalley for an honest review n other compensation was provided.
Ok folks, here is another review I’ve been sitting on for quite some time. I really should have reviewed this book like a month ago. Oops, but here is my go at it.
Broken Blade by J.C. Daniels is the third book in the Kit Colbana Files series. It picks up a couple of months after the end of Night Blade, which about broke my heart. Night Blade was a gut wrenching novel that made Broken Blade highly anticipated.I was wondering how J.C. Daniels was going to follow up from the emotional upheaval from its predecessor and I have to say I wasn’t disappointed with this book. The first half of the book had us going through Kit’s recovery from the trauma of her capture. She was barely existing in this life when her friends basically pulled her from her oblivion. She had some serious pain to work through and we took that journey with her, I swear I had tears ready to go for most of the first half of the book. In the beginning she could barely get out of bed but through her friends she started to find her inner strength and survival instincts and more and more the Kit we know and love starts to come back. Her first case back in the swing of things is fairly easy but it brings her back to Damon which is another heartbreak, the guilt he carries and her feelings of betrayal run deep and it is something they have to work through if they are ever going to find their way back. I swear when he says that he will wait for her forever I about choked up all over again. The second half of the book, while not fully healed Kit is definitely back and kicking! She takes a case that she is pretty sure that she should not take, one that brings her face to face with one of the original evils. Kit and her old pal Justin have to work closely together on this one and the young Doyle can’t stay away. He plays an instrumental role in her case and we find out some secrets about his past. This third book in the installment while not as gut-wrenching as the second, is no slouch and I ended up thoroughly enjoying it. I definitely recommend this series to the Urban Fantasy fans out there.
Rating:
5
*ARC was provided through Netgalley for an honest review n other compensation was provided.
April 6, 2018
So I finally finished this and I liked it but it was hard to get through. Partially this was my mood but mostly was how this was written. It starts right where the last left off. Kit is recovering at the bar where she once healed before, with the wolves. She sees herself as broken and won't leave the bar. Damon cannot enter the bar as it is a wolf bar. Finally her friend tells her it is time to get out. She goes and gets a tattoo. This is cathartic and it is a magical tattoo. She is trying to cover her scars and her pain. Well this is a story in itself and is the first 1/3 of the book.
Then T.J., the owner of the bar, tells her to take a job a points her in a direction. She goes to see a girl, turns out to be a witch and she is looking for a boy. She is preggers. The boy is a cat, so Kit has to get involved with the cats in order to find the boy and save the girl. This gets emotional for her because she has to confront the cats and Damon. Well, there is the 2nd story. Girl needs saving, boy needs to take responsibility.
So she finally decides to go back to her office and see how it goes. Justin is there to help and a client of unimaginable magical strength comes in to hire her. Well, here is a real story, FINALLY and we are well over 1/2 way through the book. She wants to find a vase and has old, old gold coins to pay. Now Kit has to research. She finds out she is a bad bad entity and the fight begins. It ends up involving the witches and cats, who would think? right. So lots of information dumping here in the history of the bad entity, the history of the witches, how all the witches, vampires, weres, and aneira came to be and the balance that is supposed to take place.
Well putting all that info dump on top of Justin's story, Kit's information on tattoos, the story of the girl, and the woo is me. Lots of info dump, lots of self whining, and finally a story. Pretty damn good story at the end but way too late to save the slowness of all the rest.
Damn Goodreads and their saving reviews with pop ups. Lost a whole damn review because they use pop ups. Have to go to book to MAKE SURE NOT to lose a 1/2 hour of a review.
Then T.J., the owner of the bar, tells her to take a job a points her in a direction. She goes to see a girl, turns out to be a witch and she is looking for a boy. She is preggers. The boy is a cat, so Kit has to get involved with the cats in order to find the boy and save the girl. This gets emotional for her because she has to confront the cats and Damon. Well, there is the 2nd story. Girl needs saving, boy needs to take responsibility.
So she finally decides to go back to her office and see how it goes. Justin is there to help and a client of unimaginable magical strength comes in to hire her. Well, here is a real story, FINALLY and we are well over 1/2 way through the book. She wants to find a vase and has old, old gold coins to pay. Now Kit has to research. She finds out she is a bad bad entity and the fight begins. It ends up involving the witches and cats, who would think? right. So lots of information dumping here in the history of the bad entity, the history of the witches, how all the witches, vampires, weres, and aneira came to be and the balance that is supposed to take place.
Well putting all that info dump on top of Justin's story, Kit's information on tattoos, the story of the girl, and the woo is me. Lots of info dump, lots of self whining, and finally a story. Pretty damn good story at the end but way too late to save the slowness of all the rest.
Damn Goodreads and their saving reviews with pop ups. Lost a whole damn review because they use pop ups. Have to go to book to MAKE SURE NOT to lose a 1/2 hour of a review.
Read
June 7, 2022Un premier tome qui ressemblait beaucoup à Kate Daniels, d'où il fallait pas mal se détacher. Un deuxième tome pour moi un peu moins enthousiasment, j'attendais donc ce 3ème pour me donner une idée globale de la série et j'ai beaucoup aimé. Je suis donc de nouveau en attente de la suite.
J'ai trouvé que ce tome prenait vraiment bien en compte la situation du T2 et prenais le temps de travailler sur les états d'âme de l'héroïne, ce sera peut-être trop pour certains lecteurs mais je trouve essentiel cette prise de conscience sur ses émotions.
Petit à petit, Kit reprend du poil de la bête mais progressivement et de façon encore assez hésitante, elle a beaucoup dans le T2 et doit donc se reconstruire, se refaire confiance dans ses capacités et essayer d'avancer... sans pour autant oublier.
Côté romance, c'est quelque chose de logique et ça remet non pas à 0, mais ça relance quand même un peu la séduction pour la suite. Je continue donc conquise par cette petite série qui propose tous les ingrédients d'un bon Urban Fantasy.
J'ai trouvé que ce tome prenait vraiment bien en compte la situation du T2 et prenais le temps de travailler sur les états d'âme de l'héroïne, ce sera peut-être trop pour certains lecteurs mais je trouve essentiel cette prise de conscience sur ses émotions.
Petit à petit, Kit reprend du poil de la bête mais progressivement et de façon encore assez hésitante, elle a beaucoup dans le T2 et doit donc se reconstruire, se refaire confiance dans ses capacités et essayer d'avancer... sans pour autant oublier.
Côté romance, c'est quelque chose de logique et ça remet non pas à 0, mais ça relance quand même un peu la séduction pour la suite. Je continue donc conquise par cette petite série qui propose tous les ingrédients d'un bon Urban Fantasy.
August 21, 2019
I read this as part of the The Colbana Files Boxed Set
Really good story. I'm hoping there is a 5th story because I can't wait to find out what happens in Wolfs Haven. 4 stars.
Really good story. I'm hoping there is a 5th story because I can't wait to find out what happens in Wolfs Haven. 4 stars.
November 6, 2013
Very very satisfying follow-up to the horrific events that occurred in the previous book! Full review coming.
May 25, 2023
After the harrowing events of Book 2, Kit is just trying to survive day to day and allow herself some time to heal, if only her friends would stop pushing. I did like that the author didn’t just have her get over the torture and abuse but you walked through her brokenness with her. Part of trying to recover, she took on another job that turns out to be the hunt for a magical object. Revelations about Doyle are made I’m I’m living that storyline, the witches have her back, as do TJ, Justin and Gideon. Now to sort out the mate thing with Damon.
May 17, 2015
It's official this series has sucked me in. Despite myself I'm going to follow it to the bitter end. It's ensnared me and I can't look away. Each book is an adrenaline rush. While the first book had tiny (super tiny!) echoes of Kate Daniel, this series is so faraway from it that there is no comparing the two. The Colbana Files have definitely come into their own. Especially after the events of the last book and the cliffhanger.
The first part of the book finds Kit back in Wolf Haven. I enjoy that the 4 months of terror after the events of the last book are spoken about, but not beaten into readers heads. Readers are jumping in as Kit finally decides she wants to rebuild herself, remake herself. Which is a good move. To be honest I found Kit's earlier panic attacks (especially in book one) to be over the top and annoying. More like an excuse to make Damon become a hero, and very forced (cough, farced) hero. Daniels did a good job here. I was moved a number of times. Before certain things started to rub me the wrong way. Which is normal for this series.
It's funny how certain rude alpha leads click with me and some don't. Damon didn't click with me in the first book, and there was no time for him to build as a character. Why does it have to happen in the first book? Plus it made no sense for Kit to just jump head first with him. Maybe if the emotions where there, but I didn't trust him. Sure he was putting his life on the line for Kit trying to kill anyone who was willing to give her up to her grandmother. But he dumped her when one bump happened. One fight where he accused Kit of not trusting him. When in reality it was him. And it's never addressed. Even without a certain character “speaking for him” he dumped her. Called it quits. You don't play games when a relationship is that new. I could go on but know. (But I will say he went behind her back, told her nothing and creating a problem. And an opportunity for the bad guy.)
In the end this book and some of the actions from the last do make understand why Kit loves/needs him. In the end I think her best friend Colleen states it best:
Sexual Content: Making out, dark memories, sexual humor, and nothing too over the top.
3/5- Adored it, just a few minor details held it back.
Originally posted at Book Whispers.
The first part of the book finds Kit back in Wolf Haven. I enjoy that the 4 months of terror after the events of the last book are spoken about, but not beaten into readers heads. Readers are jumping in as Kit finally decides she wants to rebuild herself, remake herself. Which is a good move. To be honest I found Kit's earlier panic attacks (especially in book one) to be over the top and annoying. More like an excuse to make Damon become a hero, and very forced (cough, farced) hero. Daniels did a good job here. I was moved a number of times. Before certain things started to rub me the wrong way. Which is normal for this series.
“I heard no music, but I'd stopped expecting to hear any, so that was fine.”Fact is a lot of Kit's true problems are her mind set. After what happened to her it's totally understandable. There's no way coming out of that without your mind f-ed up. It just got tiring when she would continuously beat herself down. Doubting her self so deliberately. Then contradicting, lying, and other tiring things occur. And then when a super powerful witch with more knowledge tells her that magical wounds heal, she basically smacks that down. Puts her head in the sand. Which is what got her into the trouble she was in in the last book. That's not being stubborn. No that's being stupid. (Which is probably why it became so tiring here.)
“I can't stand on my own if you're always there to pick me up.”Words Kit states when she decides she's serious about remaking herself. About making herself strong. But it's only lies. As she turns around thinking: “He didn't have to know that it hurt to say it. Hurt like I was cutting out my heart.” Moving. But there was a lot of Damon time. Sometimes I think authors forget how to build suspense. That a newly introduced storyline doesn’t always need to be answered or solved in one book. Though I have high hopes the next book is going to be Damon light.
It's funny how certain rude alpha leads click with me and some don't. Damon didn't click with me in the first book, and there was no time for him to build as a character. Why does it have to happen in the first book? Plus it made no sense for Kit to just jump head first with him. Maybe if the emotions where there, but I didn't trust him. Sure he was putting his life on the line for Kit trying to kill anyone who was willing to give her up to her grandmother. But he dumped her when one bump happened. One fight where he accused Kit of not trusting him. When in reality it was him. And it's never addressed. Even without a certain character “speaking for him” he dumped her. Called it quits. You don't play games when a relationship is that new. I could go on but know. (But I will say he went behind her back, told her nothing and creating a problem. And an opportunity for the bad guy.)
In the end this book and some of the actions from the last do make understand why Kit loves/needs him. In the end I think her best friend Colleen states it best:
“. . . but that son-of-a-bitch does love you . . . and you love him.”This series is an addiction, a rush. Despite things I don't like about it I can't look away. Especially now. There's too many things I do like and I've even grew fond of the things I don't like. The cast of characters are awesome and I love so many of them. Villains, good guys, and everyone in between. The grammar errors are not as noticeable, just small ones now. Misplaced words/letters. Instead of “Not yet” it's “No yet”. Stuff like that. And I know most readers probably won't notice it. The Colbana series improves with each new book. And again leaves on another epic cliffhanger. Oh, here I come Edged Blade.
Sexual Content: Making out, dark memories, sexual humor, and nothing too over the top.
3/5- Adored it, just a few minor details held it back.
Originally posted at Book Whispers.
January 7, 2014
After the events of Night Blade tore my heart apart I was eager to dive in to Broken Blade and see what happens next. Kit had been tortured and broken by a vampire, a step away from killing herself rather than endure more, before she was rescued by her friends and her lover. In Broken Blade we read as Kit tries to cope with the aftermath of her torture and eventually try to pull together a semblance of her former life. But, when she takes what looks like a simple job in an attempt to start her life again, it open’s a Pandora’s box full of problems…
Night Blade completely awed me, it left me a slobbery teary mess by the last page, with the horrific intensity as you read Kit get tortured by a sadistic monster and her obvious trauma when she is rescued, all expertly written by J.C. Daniels. Maybe it was a little inevitable that the book after those events wouldn’t quite be as enthralling, it was still heartbreaking and emotional; however, it never provoked quite the same reaction as Night Blade.
Broken Blade could almost be broken in two halves, the first half we watch as Kit tries to cope with the everyday and is pushed by her friends to start living life again. And although interesting and tragic this section of the book was fairly slow meaning the book took a while to get going, which would be expected I imagine if Kit had gone to her normal self after her ordeal I would have thrown the it down in disgust. The second half of Broken Blade was when it started to get a little more interesting as Kit focuses on a case that turns far more complex than she ever expected. This brought some action into the book and sped up the pace of the book, making it a lot more exciting.
What really made Broken Blade shine for me though was Damon, Kit’s kind-of former lover, and the way he was treating Kit. If I wasn’t already in love with Damon, I would be head over heels by now, his love and devotion to Kit really came through in this book and seeing his pain over what happened to Kit was almost as hard to see as Kit’s pain.
This was a great read, maybe not my favourite installment in the series, but it left many intriguing plot lines open and was packed full of emotion and a little bit of action, I can’t wait to read the next in Colbana Files series.
*ARC provided by publisher
October 20, 2015
After the previous book, Night Blade, I was slightly scared to read Broken Blade, I mean the title alone scared me a bit. And what happened to Kit in Night Blade….well, let's just say J.C. Daniels ripped out my bookish heart and actually had me crying when Night Blade ended. Kudos to the author, she isn't pulling her punches with the storyline. The Colbana Files series is an incredibly well written, well thought out Urban Fantasy series with a main character that kicks ass and has me rooting for her non-stop.
When Broken Blade begins, Kit is broken, thanks to that jackass vampire, Jude - hate him by the way. She isn't how she has been in the two previous books, she's living in Wolf Haven, working at her friend TJ's bar. Her spark is kinda gone and her connection to her sword is severed. Healing, she is avoiding her home, her office, and her mate - the wonderfully delicious and one of my favorite male leads, ever - Damon.
As she embarks on getting her feet back under her, she basically shows the definition of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and moving forward. When Justin, her friend, decides to stay around and work a case with her, that's when the crazy supernatural shenanigans come into play. The case is really awesome, I don't want to give spoilers, but a lot of stuff happens and major changes happen with her friends.
I love this series, it has quickly become one of my favorites. Every character is fascinating and I can't help but root for them to come out the other side of whatever misadventure they get into. The romance between Kit and Damon takes a back seat this time, but there were definite moments that left me with a smile on my face.
J.C. Daniels knocked it out of the park with this book. I can not wait for book 4, I have a feeling this series is just going to get better and better as it goes along. If you haven't picked up these books, you are really missing out. I can't recommend them enough.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Originally posted on Me, Myself & Books Blog
http://memyselfandbooksblog.blogspot.com
When Broken Blade begins, Kit is broken, thanks to that jackass vampire, Jude - hate him by the way. She isn't how she has been in the two previous books, she's living in Wolf Haven, working at her friend TJ's bar. Her spark is kinda gone and her connection to her sword is severed. Healing, she is avoiding her home, her office, and her mate - the wonderfully delicious and one of my favorite male leads, ever - Damon.
As she embarks on getting her feet back under her, she basically shows the definition of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and moving forward. When Justin, her friend, decides to stay around and work a case with her, that's when the crazy supernatural shenanigans come into play. The case is really awesome, I don't want to give spoilers, but a lot of stuff happens and major changes happen with her friends.
I love this series, it has quickly become one of my favorites. Every character is fascinating and I can't help but root for them to come out the other side of whatever misadventure they get into. The romance between Kit and Damon takes a back seat this time, but there were definite moments that left me with a smile on my face.
J.C. Daniels knocked it out of the park with this book. I can not wait for book 4, I have a feeling this series is just going to get better and better as it goes along. If you haven't picked up these books, you are really missing out. I can't recommend them enough.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Originally posted on Me, Myself & Books Blog
http://memyselfandbooksblog.blogspot.com
May 28, 2014
This was awesome.
I was worried that the end of this one would be a huge cliffhanger but it was great. It leaves you intrigued to find out more, definitely some unanswered questions but it was still immensely satisfying. Excited for the next one but i don't mind the wait. I've read the first 3 books in about 5 days so a break is probably necessary!
4.5 stars
Also great improvement on the book cover! I swear they're missing out on readers for this incredible series with the sad mess the first two books have for covers. *sigh*
I was worried that the end of this one would be a huge cliffhanger but it was great. It leaves you intrigued to find out more, definitely some unanswered questions but it was still immensely satisfying. Excited for the next one but i don't mind the wait. I've read the first 3 books in about 5 days so a break is probably necessary!
4.5 stars
Also great improvement on the book cover! I swear they're missing out on readers for this incredible series with the sad mess the first two books have for covers. *sigh*
January 20, 2015
That was a good read. Anxiously awaiting Feb's book release.
May 22, 2021
Sigh
I will start off by saying that J.C. Daniel's does have a way with sucking you into this world and the storyline. I read 3 books in 2 days and that's saying something for her world building.
Beware there are spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk.
Going to apologize in advance because this will be all over the place as I'm still in my feelings abt this series..
So much of the base of this story reminds me of Kate Daniels. And I don't say that lightly. Too many things. Even the loss in this book of the all wise mother figure. And I don't mean this at all in a good way. If you read the Kate Daniels series and then this, you will be highly disappointed. Kate is more fleshed out and this seems like a copycat that falls short. And there similarities are still so blatant that you can't help but compare the 2.
Throughout this series I was halfway between trying to have faith in Kit and wanting to shake the ish out of her. I felt for her when she had been captured and honestly don't think there needed to be a rape aspect mentioned. I don't know why that made me tear up. It didn't really do anything to the storyline. The loss of her sword was more than enough. Also I hate the mantra she says. It irks me when I see it on the page! It's similar to the gunslinger mantra but again comes across as...little sister trying to be like big sister.
I hated the fact that she felt she needed Damon so much. You have this woman who is supposed to be a strong bada$$ chic and then she shatters because he decides he no longer wants her. I also get the usual let's have a woman in his circle like him but come on. I hated the character Sam but let's be honest, that much blame or violence shouldn't have been laid at her feet. Why is Damon surprised that Sam likes him when Kit has mentioned it before, same with the fact that Sam picked up Kit's call. Damon already walked out on her and didn't look back because she was on a case and couldn't tell him why. He knows that her job entails some level of secrecy because that's why he hired her in the first book but now all of a sudden it's an issues? Help me help you sir. She asked him to trust her and to give her 2 hours, he turned it on her and walked away from her. He didn't trust her enough and left her. Same dude who was saying how permanent his decision to choose her was. He is a horrible ass partner and if she was my friend and I was Colleen, I swear I would hex her into never seeing him again instead of telling her he loved her. Nah she deserves way better.
Why not also be angry at Chang who also dismissed her once she was no longer Damon's pet. Now after she's been hurt he regrets it. #boybye.
I like the string of women introduced in this series who are all interesting in their own ways. Colleen, Tate, Es, even the big crazy in this book. Speaking of the big crazy, the battle with her was not satisfying. She dies so quickly and doesn't really cause them any harm. What?! I have no issue with how she died but expected more of a fight from her. They go thru all these underlings, get to her and all it takes is one shot to kill her. This ancient powerful being and she goes down just like that. We couldn't have her put up a bit more of a fight?
Also why is Kit so slow on picking up on clues? In the last book anyone could see Jude would come for her, Damon also put a target on her...literally and as Alpha he never thought to make sure she had extra protection to begin with. He has marked her for life and still didn't care enough abt her to take that into consideration. Just tossed her aside because of his ego. I honestly would rather have her get with Justin. A connection between them makes more sense. And I don't understand how she didn't see the connection w Doyle. People keep telling her that the issue w her sword can be fixed but she doesn't even want to try to see if this is the case? She would rather wallow in self pity? Same with the hints abt her grandmother.
I think what irks me the most is there is so much potential here and it just continously falls short and maybe that is because I've read the Kate Daniels series. I think If I didn't read that before this I wouldn't be as critical of this storyline. But when you read that and then come across this, it's almost like you are getting punked. If sooooo many things weren't similar that comparison wouldn't even come up. Yes storylines in this genre are alway going to be familiar but this was next level. I hope after her grandmother eventually comes after her, this starts to diverge and not feel as similar to the Kate Daniels storyline.
I will start off by saying that J.C. Daniel's does have a way with sucking you into this world and the storyline. I read 3 books in 2 days and that's saying something for her world building.
Beware there are spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk.
Going to apologize in advance because this will be all over the place as I'm still in my feelings abt this series..
So much of the base of this story reminds me of Kate Daniels. And I don't say that lightly. Too many things. Even the loss in this book of the all wise mother figure. And I don't mean this at all in a good way. If you read the Kate Daniels series and then this, you will be highly disappointed. Kate is more fleshed out and this seems like a copycat that falls short. And there similarities are still so blatant that you can't help but compare the 2.
Throughout this series I was halfway between trying to have faith in Kit and wanting to shake the ish out of her. I felt for her when she had been captured and honestly don't think there needed to be a rape aspect mentioned. I don't know why that made me tear up. It didn't really do anything to the storyline. The loss of her sword was more than enough. Also I hate the mantra she says. It irks me when I see it on the page! It's similar to the gunslinger mantra but again comes across as...little sister trying to be like big sister.
I hated the fact that she felt she needed Damon so much. You have this woman who is supposed to be a strong bada$$ chic and then she shatters because he decides he no longer wants her. I also get the usual let's have a woman in his circle like him but come on. I hated the character Sam but let's be honest, that much blame or violence shouldn't have been laid at her feet. Why is Damon surprised that Sam likes him when Kit has mentioned it before, same with the fact that Sam picked up Kit's call. Damon already walked out on her and didn't look back because she was on a case and couldn't tell him why. He knows that her job entails some level of secrecy because that's why he hired her in the first book but now all of a sudden it's an issues? Help me help you sir. She asked him to trust her and to give her 2 hours, he turned it on her and walked away from her. He didn't trust her enough and left her. Same dude who was saying how permanent his decision to choose her was. He is a horrible ass partner and if she was my friend and I was Colleen, I swear I would hex her into never seeing him again instead of telling her he loved her. Nah she deserves way better.
Why not also be angry at Chang who also dismissed her once she was no longer Damon's pet. Now after she's been hurt he regrets it. #boybye.
I like the string of women introduced in this series who are all interesting in their own ways. Colleen, Tate, Es, even the big crazy in this book. Speaking of the big crazy, the battle with her was not satisfying. She dies so quickly and doesn't really cause them any harm. What?! I have no issue with how she died but expected more of a fight from her. They go thru all these underlings, get to her and all it takes is one shot to kill her. This ancient powerful being and she goes down just like that. We couldn't have her put up a bit more of a fight?
Also why is Kit so slow on picking up on clues? In the last book anyone could see Jude would come for her, Damon also put a target on her...literally and as Alpha he never thought to make sure she had extra protection to begin with. He has marked her for life and still didn't care enough abt her to take that into consideration. Just tossed her aside because of his ego. I honestly would rather have her get with Justin. A connection between them makes more sense. And I don't understand how she didn't see the connection w Doyle. People keep telling her that the issue w her sword can be fixed but she doesn't even want to try to see if this is the case? She would rather wallow in self pity? Same with the hints abt her grandmother.
I think what irks me the most is there is so much potential here and it just continously falls short and maybe that is because I've read the Kate Daniels series. I think If I didn't read that before this I wouldn't be as critical of this storyline. But when you read that and then come across this, it's almost like you are getting punked. If sooooo many things weren't similar that comparison wouldn't even come up. Yes storylines in this genre are alway going to be familiar but this was next level. I hope after her grandmother eventually comes after her, this starts to diverge and not feel as similar to the Kate Daniels storyline.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2014
Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2014/01/02/...
When we last left Kit, her whole world had been broken. She was rescued from her kidnapper, but not until after she had been beaten down to a shell of nothing. Now, she is being forced back into the land of the living, and she is not very happy about it. Staying in her cocoon at Wolf Haven, Kit isn’t taking any cases, she isn’t seeing any of her shifter friends, and she is barely getting through each day.
But a case drops into her lap, and Kit finds herself chasing down leads and slowly getting back into the groove of doing what she does best. But her friends play a big part of her case, and although Kit is finding a way to move on in life, not all of her friends will be so lucky.
This book killed me. I can’t even begin to tell you how gutted I was at the end of the last book. After everything Kit had to go through, and then losing her ability to trust Damon and anyone else, absolutely brought me to tears. I was devastated, and this book picks up in the midst of that devastation. Kit is still broken, she can’t call her sword, she can’t sleep without horrific nightmares, and she can’t even walk out into the bar where she has always been safe without giving herself a pep talk. Seeing her this beaten down was so emotional, and Daniels didn’t pull any emotional punches. I spent much of the first part of this book in tears.
I don’t want to give anything away about the case that Kit works on, especially since it has such a huge impact on her group of friends and way of life, but I can say it was incredible. The little nuggets of information that Kit follows is twisty and kept me guessing as I turned each page. I love the way she had to slowly make her way out into the world all while doing what she does best, working to solve a puzzle.
One of the things that Daniels does best is create such incredible secondary characters. Between TJ and Goliath and Justin, Kit has an amazing support system that she is able to fall back on in her time of need. With Doyle and Chang and Damon and the other cats, she has a new family ready to help her get back to the strong and confident woman she is. I love each and every character in this book, so whenever Daniels puts them through the ringer, she kills me a little more each time.
The relationship between Kit and Damon is also such a strong driving factor in why I love this series so much. Damon and Kit have gone through a lot in their relationship. They have been to hell and back and they are still in the middle of a disaster. Damon wants Kit to come back, and she just isn’t ready for more. Despite the fact that I wanted nothing more than Kit to fall into his open arms and make up, I loved the way their relationship progressed, and didn’t progress in this book. They both have a lot to think about and work through before they can even think about getting back into a healthy relationship, and I loved that they both recognized that and respected it. I can’t wait to see how exactly Kit and Damon move on from here, but I know it’s going to be epic.
This book is definitely one that readers will want to pick up at the first book. Although someone could probably understand what is going on, there will be so much missed with just picking this book up on its own. However, that being said, this series has quickly become one of my favorite urban fantasy series ever. I love Kit. I love Damon. I love the fact that their relationship is complicated and hard and that they are trying to work at it, slowly but surely. Fans of urban fantasy and romance alike should absolutely pick up this series!
All in all I thought this was an incredible third installment of the Colbana Files series. There are so many different aspects of the world that Daniels has given sneak peaks into, and I can’t wait to find out more about Kit’s family, what crazy case she’ll take next, and how her relationship with Damon will progress. There are so many wonderful and incredible aspects to this series, I can’t even tell you how anxious I am for more.
I give Broken Blade an A+
When we last left Kit, her whole world had been broken. She was rescued from her kidnapper, but not until after she had been beaten down to a shell of nothing. Now, she is being forced back into the land of the living, and she is not very happy about it. Staying in her cocoon at Wolf Haven, Kit isn’t taking any cases, she isn’t seeing any of her shifter friends, and she is barely getting through each day.
But a case drops into her lap, and Kit finds herself chasing down leads and slowly getting back into the groove of doing what she does best. But her friends play a big part of her case, and although Kit is finding a way to move on in life, not all of her friends will be so lucky.
This book killed me. I can’t even begin to tell you how gutted I was at the end of the last book. After everything Kit had to go through, and then losing her ability to trust Damon and anyone else, absolutely brought me to tears. I was devastated, and this book picks up in the midst of that devastation. Kit is still broken, she can’t call her sword, she can’t sleep without horrific nightmares, and she can’t even walk out into the bar where she has always been safe without giving herself a pep talk. Seeing her this beaten down was so emotional, and Daniels didn’t pull any emotional punches. I spent much of the first part of this book in tears.
I don’t want to give anything away about the case that Kit works on, especially since it has such a huge impact on her group of friends and way of life, but I can say it was incredible. The little nuggets of information that Kit follows is twisty and kept me guessing as I turned each page. I love the way she had to slowly make her way out into the world all while doing what she does best, working to solve a puzzle.
One of the things that Daniels does best is create such incredible secondary characters. Between TJ and Goliath and Justin, Kit has an amazing support system that she is able to fall back on in her time of need. With Doyle and Chang and Damon and the other cats, she has a new family ready to help her get back to the strong and confident woman she is. I love each and every character in this book, so whenever Daniels puts them through the ringer, she kills me a little more each time.
The relationship between Kit and Damon is also such a strong driving factor in why I love this series so much. Damon and Kit have gone through a lot in their relationship. They have been to hell and back and they are still in the middle of a disaster. Damon wants Kit to come back, and she just isn’t ready for more. Despite the fact that I wanted nothing more than Kit to fall into his open arms and make up, I loved the way their relationship progressed, and didn’t progress in this book. They both have a lot to think about and work through before they can even think about getting back into a healthy relationship, and I loved that they both recognized that and respected it. I can’t wait to see how exactly Kit and Damon move on from here, but I know it’s going to be epic.
This book is definitely one that readers will want to pick up at the first book. Although someone could probably understand what is going on, there will be so much missed with just picking this book up on its own. However, that being said, this series has quickly become one of my favorite urban fantasy series ever. I love Kit. I love Damon. I love the fact that their relationship is complicated and hard and that they are trying to work at it, slowly but surely. Fans of urban fantasy and romance alike should absolutely pick up this series!
All in all I thought this was an incredible third installment of the Colbana Files series. There are so many different aspects of the world that Daniels has given sneak peaks into, and I can’t wait to find out more about Kit’s family, what crazy case she’ll take next, and how her relationship with Damon will progress. There are so many wonderful and incredible aspects to this series, I can’t even tell you how anxious I am for more.
I give Broken Blade an A+
January 3, 2014
Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: A-
Kit was broken at the end of Night Blade. She was tortured, beaten…and worse by a vampire and now, weeks after her rescue, she’s struggling day and night to put herself back together. She’s not sure she can or really if she even wants to get back to what had been her normal life. She’s moved back to Wolf Haven and is tending bar while she deals with her nightmares and the extreme panic and fear she feels whenever a vampire is near. Her trusted blade that would sing and was a part of Kit is no more and that loss is just one of many that Kit’s dealing with. She hasn’t had contact with Damon, the alpha who had marked her as his, since she’s been back even though he’s trying his hardest to see her. There’s no other way to describe Kit as the story opens, she’s truly broken. Her life is broken, her mind, her spirit but it just takes one step in the right direction to get her moving and that first step is to cover the horrible scars left on her neck from her attack. She has a magical tattoo created and that process, while painful, begins to slowly heal her. It’s a long road for sure and even by book’s end Kit is still recovering, but the tattoo and the all the painful memories it brings up is the first step she takes to move on with her life.
Also helping to move things along is a job that comes her way. Justin is back as her partner and this simple job of finding a person that can easily be done by talking to Damon turns into a huge problem when Kit is hired to find an ancient vase for someone very, very, very old and powerful. Kit’s two cases are connected and while I’m not saying the name of the person who hires Kit (I found it to be a fun reveal), all hell is threatening to break loose and Kit has to not only find the vase but figure out which is the lessor of two evils: destroying the vase or giving it to its rightful owner.
It’s impossible to not feel for Kit in Broken Blade. She’s lost, hurt, terrified, all things that I wouldn’t have normally associated with Kit earlier in the series. While I don’t necessarily like to see heroines beaten down, there is something strong and fierce about a heroine who goes through something horrible and comes out the other side stronger and better for it. I have no doubt this will be Kit’s journey, but when I think about the hell she went through growing up and now this, enough is enough! I’m not sure I can take more beat downs when it comes to Kit and I hope this serves as the springboard for her to become stronger, fiercer and I really just don’t want to see her suffer as much as she has in the past.
Her relationship with Damon was over in her mind at the end of Night Blade and I appreciated that some truths came out about the events that happened prior to Kit’s capture in Night Blade that directly impacted her relationship with Damon. The romantic in me (yes I know, dangerous to think these thoughts with an urban fantasy book) believes that Kit and Damon will find their way back together, but it’ll be a long road and they don’t have a clear resolution by book’s end. That isn’t to say they don’t share some sweet moments, but it’s all part of Kit’s rebuilding process.
I find myself enjoying this series more and more with each new book and it’s one I’d definitely recommend. Kit is a heroine who is easy to like, easy to feel for and she’s a strong character that has no problem leading this series and weaving throughout all the various relationships she has with supporting characters. I didn’t like seeing Kit broken, but I’m very much enjoying her journey and can’t wait to see how she puts her life and her relationships back together again.
Blog rating: A-
Kit was broken at the end of Night Blade. She was tortured, beaten…and worse by a vampire and now, weeks after her rescue, she’s struggling day and night to put herself back together. She’s not sure she can or really if she even wants to get back to what had been her normal life. She’s moved back to Wolf Haven and is tending bar while she deals with her nightmares and the extreme panic and fear she feels whenever a vampire is near. Her trusted blade that would sing and was a part of Kit is no more and that loss is just one of many that Kit’s dealing with. She hasn’t had contact with Damon, the alpha who had marked her as his, since she’s been back even though he’s trying his hardest to see her. There’s no other way to describe Kit as the story opens, she’s truly broken. Her life is broken, her mind, her spirit but it just takes one step in the right direction to get her moving and that first step is to cover the horrible scars left on her neck from her attack. She has a magical tattoo created and that process, while painful, begins to slowly heal her. It’s a long road for sure and even by book’s end Kit is still recovering, but the tattoo and the all the painful memories it brings up is the first step she takes to move on with her life.
Also helping to move things along is a job that comes her way. Justin is back as her partner and this simple job of finding a person that can easily be done by talking to Damon turns into a huge problem when Kit is hired to find an ancient vase for someone very, very, very old and powerful. Kit’s two cases are connected and while I’m not saying the name of the person who hires Kit (I found it to be a fun reveal), all hell is threatening to break loose and Kit has to not only find the vase but figure out which is the lessor of two evils: destroying the vase or giving it to its rightful owner.
It’s impossible to not feel for Kit in Broken Blade. She’s lost, hurt, terrified, all things that I wouldn’t have normally associated with Kit earlier in the series. While I don’t necessarily like to see heroines beaten down, there is something strong and fierce about a heroine who goes through something horrible and comes out the other side stronger and better for it. I have no doubt this will be Kit’s journey, but when I think about the hell she went through growing up and now this, enough is enough! I’m not sure I can take more beat downs when it comes to Kit and I hope this serves as the springboard for her to become stronger, fiercer and I really just don’t want to see her suffer as much as she has in the past.
Her relationship with Damon was over in her mind at the end of Night Blade and I appreciated that some truths came out about the events that happened prior to Kit’s capture in Night Blade that directly impacted her relationship with Damon. The romantic in me (yes I know, dangerous to think these thoughts with an urban fantasy book) believes that Kit and Damon will find their way back together, but it’ll be a long road and they don’t have a clear resolution by book’s end. That isn’t to say they don’t share some sweet moments, but it’s all part of Kit’s rebuilding process.
I find myself enjoying this series more and more with each new book and it’s one I’d definitely recommend. Kit is a heroine who is easy to like, easy to feel for and she’s a strong character that has no problem leading this series and weaving throughout all the various relationships she has with supporting characters. I didn’t like seeing Kit broken, but I’m very much enjoying her journey and can’t wait to see how she puts her life and her relationships back together again.
January 6, 2014
Review originally posted at http://fictionvixen.com/review-broken...
To say that I have been anticipating the third book in the Colbana Files would be a huge understatement. The ending of the second book, Night Blade, left me gasping for air, clutching my Kindle, desperate to find out how Kit recovers from her captivity and torture and how she will continue in her relationship with Damon. I’ve gone back and reread this book, especially the ending, numerous times and each one of those times I’m left with the same ache in my chest. Broken Blade was definitely one of my most anticipated upcoming releases.
The Kit at the beginning of this book is scared and sad and very lost. Not sure who she is anymore, having lost the bond with her blade and currently stuck in a cycle of nightmares and pain. She’s taken refuge at Wolf Haven, a place where she feels safe, tending bar and hiding out under the protection of Goliath and TJ. This Kit made me sad, she seemed so small and fragile, not the strong badass I’ve grown to love at all. The first part of this book moves at a slower pace as the broken Kit slowly fights to regain the lost pieces of herself and put it all slowly back together. At first being goaded by her friends into venturing out of the safety of Wolf Haven and then ultimately by finding a way to confront her fears and conquer them. All the while the reader has a sense that Damon is stalking Wolf Haven, trying to get to his lost lover, sensing her need and wanting to protect her. The Damon I was so angry with at the end of the last book is gone, replaced by a man who is himself a little shattered by Kit’s trauma.
Once Kit finally decides to get back out in the world, the story picks up. She accepts a job helping a young woman find the father of her unborn baby and this takes her back to the Lair. It seems Damon isn’t the only one who realizes that they let Kit down in a very fundamental way. Just when she thinks the original job is finished and she can slowly move back in to her office and go back to work a bigger job lands on her desk and this is one she doesn’t dare say no to. But to get it done she’ll have to have the help of Justin and confront her demons faster than she ever thought she’d be able to .
I have to say I thought this story was paced perfectly, slow at first as Kit is overcoming the horrific events of the previous installment then gradually picking up speed as the plot started to unfold. Everything I wanted to happen in this story does. As much as I was anticipating this book, I was also a little bit afraid of it too. Ms. Daniels held nothing back in book two, taking Kit places I never thought she would go, putting her and readers through the wringer and emotionally devastating all of us. I really had no idea where she would take us now. I shouldn’t have been worried, Kit may have been damaged at the beginning, but she’s a fighter and it was a wondrous thing watching her find her strength again. There’s almost a desperation between Damon and Kit as they work out their differences and decide if they can be with each other again. It’s going to take time for this couple, but ultimately I think readers will be pleased by how they are taking it slow this time around.
Even though Broken Blade starts off on a somber note, it ends giving readers hope and for this I was very thankful. This is still one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series, and a must read for fans of this genre. Final Grade- A
Favorite Quote:
“I don’t care how long it takes. I’ll wait. I…” He clenched his jaw and went silent. Then, each word coming slowly, he said, “You told me you weren’t ready to hear what I had to say, and that’s fine. I’ll wait for that, too. I’ll wait forever.”
To say that I have been anticipating the third book in the Colbana Files would be a huge understatement. The ending of the second book, Night Blade, left me gasping for air, clutching my Kindle, desperate to find out how Kit recovers from her captivity and torture and how she will continue in her relationship with Damon. I’ve gone back and reread this book, especially the ending, numerous times and each one of those times I’m left with the same ache in my chest. Broken Blade was definitely one of my most anticipated upcoming releases.
The Kit at the beginning of this book is scared and sad and very lost. Not sure who she is anymore, having lost the bond with her blade and currently stuck in a cycle of nightmares and pain. She’s taken refuge at Wolf Haven, a place where she feels safe, tending bar and hiding out under the protection of Goliath and TJ. This Kit made me sad, she seemed so small and fragile, not the strong badass I’ve grown to love at all. The first part of this book moves at a slower pace as the broken Kit slowly fights to regain the lost pieces of herself and put it all slowly back together. At first being goaded by her friends into venturing out of the safety of Wolf Haven and then ultimately by finding a way to confront her fears and conquer them. All the while the reader has a sense that Damon is stalking Wolf Haven, trying to get to his lost lover, sensing her need and wanting to protect her. The Damon I was so angry with at the end of the last book is gone, replaced by a man who is himself a little shattered by Kit’s trauma.
Once Kit finally decides to get back out in the world, the story picks up. She accepts a job helping a young woman find the father of her unborn baby and this takes her back to the Lair. It seems Damon isn’t the only one who realizes that they let Kit down in a very fundamental way. Just when she thinks the original job is finished and she can slowly move back in to her office and go back to work a bigger job lands on her desk and this is one she doesn’t dare say no to. But to get it done she’ll have to have the help of Justin and confront her demons faster than she ever thought she’d be able to .
I have to say I thought this story was paced perfectly, slow at first as Kit is overcoming the horrific events of the previous installment then gradually picking up speed as the plot started to unfold. Everything I wanted to happen in this story does. As much as I was anticipating this book, I was also a little bit afraid of it too. Ms. Daniels held nothing back in book two, taking Kit places I never thought she would go, putting her and readers through the wringer and emotionally devastating all of us. I really had no idea where she would take us now. I shouldn’t have been worried, Kit may have been damaged at the beginning, but she’s a fighter and it was a wondrous thing watching her find her strength again. There’s almost a desperation between Damon and Kit as they work out their differences and decide if they can be with each other again. It’s going to take time for this couple, but ultimately I think readers will be pleased by how they are taking it slow this time around.
Even though Broken Blade starts off on a somber note, it ends giving readers hope and for this I was very thankful. This is still one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series, and a must read for fans of this genre. Final Grade- A
Favorite Quote:
“I don’t care how long it takes. I’ll wait. I…” He clenched his jaw and went silent. Then, each word coming slowly, he said, “You told me you weren’t ready to hear what I had to say, and that’s fine. I’ll wait for that, too. I’ll wait forever.”
November 22, 2021
Une saga qui monte en puissance. J’avais eu du mal avec le premier opus mais la fin m’avait surprise donc j’avais heureusement poursuivi. Le contentement est arrivé avec le deuxième et ce tome valide mon addiction.
C’est une suite donc la chronique ne peut être trop longue et fournie, mais je vous la garantis sans spoile et je vous invite à me rejoindre dans l’aventure de Kit Colbana.
Nous retrouvons notre tueuse à quelques mois des derniers événements. En pleine reconstruction, elle se cache et essaye de trouver d’où tirer la force de renaître. Elle est paralysée et semble penser qu’elle ne pourrait s’en sortir.
Les émotions concernant cet aspect sont à vif. Les souvenirs des précédents drames sont toujours en tête. Le sentiment de honte, de trahison. C’est intense et l’auteure a très bien géré cela. Mon coeur a tout subi et j’adore cette souffrance. Un combat qui commence, mais le chemin malgré les embûches en voudra la peine.
Pour autant, une nouvelle affaire va se présenter. Une jeune fille à la recherche d’un garçon pour lui annoncer une nouvelle, une femme si mystérieuse et ancienne à la recherche d’un objet atypique. La révélation de légende et les vraies significations.
Une intrigue bien menée, l’addiction se mêle à notre lecture pour comprendre les liens, apprendre l’histoire et chercher à définir les stratégies. Une partie que j’aime de plus en plus donc j’ai été totalement conquise.
Pour cela, Kit devra être épaulée. TJ et Goliath auront été là à chaque étape et vont continuer à lui fournir de l’aide et de l’amitié. Un duo magistral et que j’aime beaucoup et je suis si heureuse des choix de Kit dans ce dernier chapitre.
Puis Justin et ses révélations concernant son travail. Une amitié en oubliant leur histoire amoureuse. Un personnage encore complexe donc je n’ai pas tellement d’avis sur celui-ci.
Mais surtout l’aide des chats. Se retrouve face à lui qui nous a promis monts et merveilles pour ensuite nous abandonner. C’est l’heure de la confrontation et surtout des révélations. Dire que j’ai aimé cette partie est peu dire. Rien n’est facile, ça prend son temps. La tension est là, mais l’amour surtout qui se construit encore et j’ai hâte de savoir ce que nous réserve la suite.
Un tome remplit d’émotions. J’ai adoré ma lecture et c’est une saga que je continuerais jusqu’au grand final. Une saga urban fantasy que je recommande !
C’est une suite donc la chronique ne peut être trop longue et fournie, mais je vous la garantis sans spoile et je vous invite à me rejoindre dans l’aventure de Kit Colbana.
Nous retrouvons notre tueuse à quelques mois des derniers événements. En pleine reconstruction, elle se cache et essaye de trouver d’où tirer la force de renaître. Elle est paralysée et semble penser qu’elle ne pourrait s’en sortir.
Les émotions concernant cet aspect sont à vif. Les souvenirs des précédents drames sont toujours en tête. Le sentiment de honte, de trahison. C’est intense et l’auteure a très bien géré cela. Mon coeur a tout subi et j’adore cette souffrance. Un combat qui commence, mais le chemin malgré les embûches en voudra la peine.
Pour autant, une nouvelle affaire va se présenter. Une jeune fille à la recherche d’un garçon pour lui annoncer une nouvelle, une femme si mystérieuse et ancienne à la recherche d’un objet atypique. La révélation de légende et les vraies significations.
Une intrigue bien menée, l’addiction se mêle à notre lecture pour comprendre les liens, apprendre l’histoire et chercher à définir les stratégies. Une partie que j’aime de plus en plus donc j’ai été totalement conquise.
Pour cela, Kit devra être épaulée. TJ et Goliath auront été là à chaque étape et vont continuer à lui fournir de l’aide et de l’amitié. Un duo magistral et que j’aime beaucoup et je suis si heureuse des choix de Kit dans ce dernier chapitre.
Puis Justin et ses révélations concernant son travail. Une amitié en oubliant leur histoire amoureuse. Un personnage encore complexe donc je n’ai pas tellement d’avis sur celui-ci.
Mais surtout l’aide des chats. Se retrouve face à lui qui nous a promis monts et merveilles pour ensuite nous abandonner. C’est l’heure de la confrontation et surtout des révélations. Dire que j’ai aimé cette partie est peu dire. Rien n’est facile, ça prend son temps. La tension est là, mais l’amour surtout qui se construit encore et j’ai hâte de savoir ce que nous réserve la suite.
Un tome remplit d’émotions. J’ai adoré ma lecture et c’est une saga que je continuerais jusqu’au grand final. Une saga urban fantasy que je recommande !
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