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Stolen Hearts #1
Hex and the City
Leon Alcantara is a real son of a witch.
The last in a proud line of witches, he’s come to test his small magic in the big city. Stealing enchanted artifacts pays the rent, but the competition is fierce. And handsome. And great at magic, too.
But Maximilian Drake and his dark, brooding glances are the least of Leon’s problems. A chain of anomalies surges through the city, strange distortions in reality that threaten both Dos Lunas and its people.
Suspected by the arcane authorities, Leon is forced to work with his nemesis to clear his name. But Max is so secretive over his shrouded past. Can he even be trusted? Leon must decide before the anomalies destroy the city — and his entire life.
The last in a proud line of witches, he’s come to test his small magic in the big city. Stealing enchanted artifacts pays the rent, but the competition is fierce. And handsome. And great at magic, too.
But Maximilian Drake and his dark, brooding glances are the least of Leon’s problems. A chain of anomalies surges through the city, strange distortions in reality that threaten both Dos Lunas and its people.
Suspected by the arcane authorities, Leon is forced to work with his nemesis to clear his name. But Max is so secretive over his shrouded past. Can he even be trusted? Leon must decide before the anomalies destroy the city — and his entire life.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2023
102 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
Nazri Noor
52 books393 followersHi, I'm Nazri, a Filipino-Malaysian author based in California. I’m trilingual, but I really only write in English. I can also speak just enough Sindarin and Valyrian to impress absolutely no one. My urban fantasy novels focus on realistic heroes who use wits, style, and their wildly unpredictable magic to (try) and save the day. Think sass and class, while kicking ass.
My influences come from horror and fantasy: HP Lovecraft, Anne Rice, George R.R. Martin, Chuck Palahniuk, Terry Pratchett, and Neil Gaiman. Growing up I was shaped by the Blood Sword, Fighting Fantasy, Lone Wolf, and Grey Star game book universes. I'm also inspired by video games, specifically the Castlevania, Final Fantasy, and Persona series.
TL;DR: I'm a huge nerd. And yes, that's my real hair. I try to donate it to the American Cancer Society as often as I can. Also, have you heard? You can get a free book at www.NazriNoor.com.
My influences come from horror and fantasy: HP Lovecraft, Anne Rice, George R.R. Martin, Chuck Palahniuk, Terry Pratchett, and Neil Gaiman. Growing up I was shaped by the Blood Sword, Fighting Fantasy, Lone Wolf, and Grey Star game book universes. I'm also inspired by video games, specifically the Castlevania, Final Fantasy, and Persona series.
TL;DR: I'm a huge nerd. And yes, that's my real hair. I try to donate it to the American Cancer Society as often as I can. Also, have you heard? You can get a free book at www.NazriNoor.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
June 4, 2025
Yeah,we know! From at first we meet. They were bound to mess up them bed sheets.
What grabbed me is that in this world, finders are cat burglars that are known. As long as they aren't in the business of finding objects with world ending capabilities. They are left to their own devices. Oh and don't tell the humans. Can't forget that first rule.
Yeah know what I'd like. Can't we (the readers) well at least this reader...Get more information on these magic families.
What grabbed me is that in this world, finders are cat burglars that are known. As long as they aren't in the business of finding objects with world ending capabilities. They are left to their own devices. Oh and don't tell the humans. Can't forget that first rule.
Yeah know what I'd like. Can't we (the readers) well at least this reader...Get more information on these magic families.
October 26, 2023
I've given this a B- for narration and a B for content at AudioGals. 3.5 stars rounded up.
Even though he’s already got two unfinished series on the go, Nazri Noor is clearly not one to let the grass grow under his feet! Hex and the Cityis the first book in the new Stolen Hearts series, which introduces two new and engaging protagonists and an interesting magic system alongside the author’s trademark strong worldbuilding, snappy banter and clever plotting.
Leon Alcantara is the last in a long line of witches. He’s young, scrappy, brash and cocky, and has been living mostly by the seat of his pants since his mother died, moving from place to place (mostly around California) and making a (scratchy) living as a finder, someone who uses his talents to recover (or steal) items upon request. Most finders work for a particular Spider – or contractor – and try to keep under the radar of the Masques, the mysterious magical cops.
When the book begins, Leon is on a simple retrieval job. He’s been tasked with finding a red velveteen bag full of dust, and is carefully searching the house he’s been sent to when he realises he’s not alone. It’s not uncommon for more than one finder to be assigned to the same job, but Leon has never come across one while working – until now
Maximilian Drake is all about routine, discipline and precision, and plans his finding jobs to the smallest detail – so the last thing he expects when he arrives at the house is to discover there’s another finder looking for the bag, too. Max can’t help but notice the guy’s cocksure charisma – and how attractive he is – but when he tries bluffing that he’s a member of the family come for a visit, Max isn’t buying; despite the flirtatiousness and swagger, there’s a potentially dangerous edge and a gleam in his eye that Max recognises as competition. Both of them want to find the bag and will do whatever it takes to get it; but as they finally realise where it must be, they’re stopped in their tracks at the sight of a strange, shadowy creature – an arcane underground ninja – with the bag in hand leaping from the window.
Needless to say, Leon and Max part on less than cordial terms and hope never to see each other again. Max is still furious at having all his plans screwed up by some cocky kid and annoyed at himself for liking that shit-eating grin and the twinkling eyes as they’d raked over him… but before he can think about it too much, he gets a message from the Jade Spider telling him about a magical anomaly downtown, and suggesting that maybe whoever is causing it is making use of the contents of the stolen bag. When Max arrives to check things out, it’s clear that whatever is going on is much more than just a simple anomaly – a collision of the natural and supernatural – and that he isn’t the only one who was warned about it. Leon is there, too – and to Max’s surprise (and not a small amount of displeasure) – suggests that maybe they should work together to try to find out what’s happening.
If you’ve listened to Nazri Noor’s other m/m fantasy series, you’ll know he likes an enemies-to-lovers romance, so it’s no surprise that there’s one here, too. Max and Leon are total opposites in both their outlook and approach – Max is disciplined, precise and organised, Leon is more of a pantser – and their magical styles and abilities are completely different but, as they slowly discover, complementary. There’s an instant spark of mutual attraction, and their chemistry crackles from the get-go, but the attraction is combined with an equal amount of irritation, which is what they both try to focus on. They very quickly work out how to push each other’s buttons and their banter is sharp and funny, and they start to get under each other’s skin, but as they get to know more about each other, that initial attraction turns from lust to genuine affection and protectiveness as they learn to trust each other and work together. And while we leave them in a good place at the end of the book with an HFN, there is clearly more of the road to travel – we learn that Max isn’t exactly who he appears to be, and there’s a major plot-point related to Leon that goes largely unexplored, and which I assume we’ll return to in future books – so their relationship feels well-paced given they’ve just met and are still in the early stages of figuring each other out.
The worldbuilding here is, once again, intricate and fascinating. In this world, ‘the normals’ have no idea of the existence of the supernatural, and the magic system is based around a variety of cultures and traditions. The author does a great job of drip feeding the information we need to build up a picture of the society he’s created – about its structure and the power struggles within it. We learn about the great magical dynasties, the underground network of the Spiders and the enigmatic Masques, and we meet Max’s friends Roscoe and Johnny, a “pair of savvy mages” who run Unholy Grounds, a kind of neutral-zone coffee/cocktail bar.
The storyline about the thief and the anomalies doesn’t reach a conclusion here, but Mr. Noor can always be relied upon to deliver an tense and exciting finale, and in this one, our heroes are literally caught up in a race against time.
Unlike the Arcane and Wild Hearts series (and, I believe, all Mr. Noor’s other books), the Stolen Hearts series is written in dual PoV, so we get to hear from both protagonists. I’m not quite sure that was necessary; Mr. Noor is more than talented enough to be able to make single PoV work, and I didn’t feel there was enough of a difference in Max and Leon’s voices – as written – to have made it necessary. But part of that might be because the characters aren’t always sufficiently differentiated in the performance.
I’ve listened to John Solo a few times and have given him some good grades, but I stopped listening to him a couple of years back, because while he does do some things very well, the things that bugged me about his performances – his tendency to over-exaggeration and odd phrasing – were irritating me more – not less – over time and I decided to quit while I was ahead. When Nazri Noor announced Mr. Solo would be narrating this series, I was disappointed – Greg Boudreaux and Zachary Johnson are really tough acts to follow, and John Solo just isn’t in the same league – and I wasn’t sure I’d be listening to this series. But I enjoy the author’s work and decided to give it a go – but as expected, the narration is a very mixed bag. When Mr. Solo speaks ‘normally’, he’s pleasant to listen to, but any hint of tension – whether it’s action or sexual – and out comes ‘movie-trailer-announcer-guy’ and it’s like nails down a blackboard. At these times – and sadly, there are many – everything is over-emphasised, proper phrasing goes out the window and Mr. Solo adds this weird kind of tremor/warble to his voice (it’s very much the Michael Dean School of Narrating – if you’ve listened to Mr. Dean, you’ll know what I mean). The pacing is fine and the secondary characters are clearly differentiated, with good female voices – but there are times where the two leads sound too alike so it’s hard to tell them apart without listening to the dialogue tags. As a whole, the narration isn’t terrible, and if you can hear past the things that bother me about Mr. Solo’s performances, then you’ll probably enjoy this one a lot more than I did – but I think I’ll be sticking to print for the rest of this series.
Mr. Solo’s quirks are just too intrusive to make story and performance feel like a cohesive whole, so although I enjoyed Hex and the City for the story, the narration was too distracting for me to be able to give it an outright thumbs up.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals.
Even though he’s already got two unfinished series on the go, Nazri Noor is clearly not one to let the grass grow under his feet! Hex and the Cityis the first book in the new Stolen Hearts series, which introduces two new and engaging protagonists and an interesting magic system alongside the author’s trademark strong worldbuilding, snappy banter and clever plotting.
Leon Alcantara is the last in a long line of witches. He’s young, scrappy, brash and cocky, and has been living mostly by the seat of his pants since his mother died, moving from place to place (mostly around California) and making a (scratchy) living as a finder, someone who uses his talents to recover (or steal) items upon request. Most finders work for a particular Spider – or contractor – and try to keep under the radar of the Masques, the mysterious magical cops.
When the book begins, Leon is on a simple retrieval job. He’s been tasked with finding a red velveteen bag full of dust, and is carefully searching the house he’s been sent to when he realises he’s not alone. It’s not uncommon for more than one finder to be assigned to the same job, but Leon has never come across one while working – until now
Maximilian Drake is all about routine, discipline and precision, and plans his finding jobs to the smallest detail – so the last thing he expects when he arrives at the house is to discover there’s another finder looking for the bag, too. Max can’t help but notice the guy’s cocksure charisma – and how attractive he is – but when he tries bluffing that he’s a member of the family come for a visit, Max isn’t buying; despite the flirtatiousness and swagger, there’s a potentially dangerous edge and a gleam in his eye that Max recognises as competition. Both of them want to find the bag and will do whatever it takes to get it; but as they finally realise where it must be, they’re stopped in their tracks at the sight of a strange, shadowy creature – an arcane underground ninja – with the bag in hand leaping from the window.
Needless to say, Leon and Max part on less than cordial terms and hope never to see each other again. Max is still furious at having all his plans screwed up by some cocky kid and annoyed at himself for liking that shit-eating grin and the twinkling eyes as they’d raked over him… but before he can think about it too much, he gets a message from the Jade Spider telling him about a magical anomaly downtown, and suggesting that maybe whoever is causing it is making use of the contents of the stolen bag. When Max arrives to check things out, it’s clear that whatever is going on is much more than just a simple anomaly – a collision of the natural and supernatural – and that he isn’t the only one who was warned about it. Leon is there, too – and to Max’s surprise (and not a small amount of displeasure) – suggests that maybe they should work together to try to find out what’s happening.
If you’ve listened to Nazri Noor’s other m/m fantasy series, you’ll know he likes an enemies-to-lovers romance, so it’s no surprise that there’s one here, too. Max and Leon are total opposites in both their outlook and approach – Max is disciplined, precise and organised, Leon is more of a pantser – and their magical styles and abilities are completely different but, as they slowly discover, complementary. There’s an instant spark of mutual attraction, and their chemistry crackles from the get-go, but the attraction is combined with an equal amount of irritation, which is what they both try to focus on. They very quickly work out how to push each other’s buttons and their banter is sharp and funny, and they start to get under each other’s skin, but as they get to know more about each other, that initial attraction turns from lust to genuine affection and protectiveness as they learn to trust each other and work together. And while we leave them in a good place at the end of the book with an HFN, there is clearly more of the road to travel – we learn that Max isn’t exactly who he appears to be, and there’s a major plot-point related to Leon that goes largely unexplored, and which I assume we’ll return to in future books – so their relationship feels well-paced given they’ve just met and are still in the early stages of figuring each other out.
The worldbuilding here is, once again, intricate and fascinating. In this world, ‘the normals’ have no idea of the existence of the supernatural, and the magic system is based around a variety of cultures and traditions. The author does a great job of drip feeding the information we need to build up a picture of the society he’s created – about its structure and the power struggles within it. We learn about the great magical dynasties, the underground network of the Spiders and the enigmatic Masques, and we meet Max’s friends Roscoe and Johnny, a “pair of savvy mages” who run Unholy Grounds, a kind of neutral-zone coffee/cocktail bar.
The storyline about the thief and the anomalies doesn’t reach a conclusion here, but Mr. Noor can always be relied upon to deliver an tense and exciting finale, and in this one, our heroes are literally caught up in a race against time.
Unlike the Arcane and Wild Hearts series (and, I believe, all Mr. Noor’s other books), the Stolen Hearts series is written in dual PoV, so we get to hear from both protagonists. I’m not quite sure that was necessary; Mr. Noor is more than talented enough to be able to make single PoV work, and I didn’t feel there was enough of a difference in Max and Leon’s voices – as written – to have made it necessary. But part of that might be because the characters aren’t always sufficiently differentiated in the performance.
I’ve listened to John Solo a few times and have given him some good grades, but I stopped listening to him a couple of years back, because while he does do some things very well, the things that bugged me about his performances – his tendency to over-exaggeration and odd phrasing – were irritating me more – not less – over time and I decided to quit while I was ahead. When Nazri Noor announced Mr. Solo would be narrating this series, I was disappointed – Greg Boudreaux and Zachary Johnson are really tough acts to follow, and John Solo just isn’t in the same league – and I wasn’t sure I’d be listening to this series. But I enjoy the author’s work and decided to give it a go – but as expected, the narration is a very mixed bag. When Mr. Solo speaks ‘normally’, he’s pleasant to listen to, but any hint of tension – whether it’s action or sexual – and out comes ‘movie-trailer-announcer-guy’ and it’s like nails down a blackboard. At these times – and sadly, there are many – everything is over-emphasised, proper phrasing goes out the window and Mr. Solo adds this weird kind of tremor/warble to his voice (it’s very much the Michael Dean School of Narrating – if you’ve listened to Mr. Dean, you’ll know what I mean). The pacing is fine and the secondary characters are clearly differentiated, with good female voices – but there are times where the two leads sound too alike so it’s hard to tell them apart without listening to the dialogue tags. As a whole, the narration isn’t terrible, and if you can hear past the things that bother me about Mr. Solo’s performances, then you’ll probably enjoy this one a lot more than I did – but I think I’ll be sticking to print for the rest of this series.
Mr. Solo’s quirks are just too intrusive to make story and performance feel like a cohesive whole, so although I enjoyed Hex and the City for the story, the narration was too distracting for me to be able to give it an outright thumbs up.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals.
July 8, 2023
DNF ~15%
I had a good feeling about this one but, alas, it was not meant to be. Interesting concept and world-building, but the writing just was not for me. Both of the characters were unbelievably grating--they felt almost like caricatures they were so OTT--and the attraction felt really forced.
I had a good feeling about this one but, alas, it was not meant to be. Interesting concept and world-building, but the writing just was not for me. Both of the characters were unbelievably grating--they felt almost like caricatures they were so OTT--and the attraction felt really forced.
August 3, 2023
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Hex and the City is the first book in a new series by Nazri Noor and the magic system and world building are engaging and fun. Regular people have no idea the supernatural exists, and magic has many disciplines based on both culture and tradition. I really liked how complex the world was, and how the author managed to take an interesting twist with the magic system. Leon and Max are the perfect example, as they are opposites in every way. Not just their personality, with Leon being more laid back and go with the flow and Max rigid in his discipline, but the way they use their magic as well.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Hex and the City is the first book in a new series by Nazri Noor and the magic system and world building are engaging and fun. Regular people have no idea the supernatural exists, and magic has many disciplines based on both culture and tradition. I really liked how complex the world was, and how the author managed to take an interesting twist with the magic system. Leon and Max are the perfect example, as they are opposites in every way. Not just their personality, with Leon being more laid back and go with the flow and Max rigid in his discipline, but the way they use their magic as well.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
July 31, 2023
This was a fun start to a new series by Nazri Noor. Leon and Max are both “finders” in the arcane underground. Leon is a fly by the seat of his pants “witch boy” and Max is a mage who tries to plan his heists down to the last detail. They meet on a job when they realise the same contractor or “Spider” has hired them both to find a certain item and when it is literally stolen out from under their noses they are forced to work together to reclaim it while avoiding the “Masques”, a mysterious law enforcement group in the arcane underground. They are enemies at first sight but as they are forced to work together, and share an apartment, they realise they have been too quick to judge the other and they actually like what they see under the surface. There’s also an interesting backstory involving Leon and I am very intrigued in where that is going to go. I am very interested in continuing this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
July 8, 2023
They're chasing after a bag of magical glitter. And fighting off feelings for each other. Good sexy fun. Good chemistry. Good worldbuilding. When they finally gave in, it was so hot, my kindle moaned. Cannot wait for more from this series.
July 10, 2023
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I'm confused, honestly.
This was my first time reading the author, and I'm not sure I liked the style. Sometimes I did, sometimes I didn't. The same happens with the plot. Did I like it? Some parts yes, for sure. Others… I'm conflicted, and confused by them.
I like the beginning of the story. We meet Leon and Max, both finders of magical objects in exchange for money. And it turns out both were hired for the same job, and they end up fighting to be the ones who find the velveteen bag they were hired to collect.
Things get complicated when a third party appears and takes the bag… And much more when the thief starts using the contents of the bag, creating magical anomalies all over the city.
Leon and Max's banter was one of the things I liked the most. We can't say they are enemies to lovers, since there's no real enmity there. Just rivalry. And completely opposites personalities.
Max is calm and composed, he's used to an elegant and fine lifestyle and likes to prepare ahead of time. Leon, on his hand, lives day by day. He's alone in America and jumps from city to city, scraping by with whatever money he earns.
While Max is broody and grumpy, Leon is cheerful and bright. Their chemistry is high since the first time they meet, as neither can deny to themselves feeling attracted to the other, but they don't act on it since they clash once and again. This builds the tension while they focus on catching the anomalist.
Then things get more… duh. Uninteresting? It's not exactly that, I guess I just stopped being so into the story.
I mean… the worldbuilding is interesting enough, but it feels vague, like there's a mix of many things that are just too abstract.
We have a Filipino MC who is a "bruho", and even though he's supposed to have a particular way of practicing magic… he doesn't use it that much? Maybe the author will develop this further in upcoming books, but for not it felt vague, like the author wanted to intoeixed something "different" but didn't care to develop the idea (same happens with him being the only man in a line of bruhas).
Max's magic felt more consistent, but as they explained his magic is something he created for himself, so I still don't understand how things work in this universe, exactly.
And then we have the dragon goddess. And I don't mean to include spoilers here, so I'm just gonna say I guess this will have an impact in upcoming books, but, again, for now it seems just another thing that feels vague and "just there". It doesn't add to this first book, and really, IMO, giving Leon this power will diminish his bruho essence, but I could be wrong here.
Overall, I can't say I didn't like it since it's an easy read that made me enjoy the ride. But the comedy was what I liked more. I couldn't feel interested in the anomalist and, really, Max's secret was pretty obvious (but maybe that's me knowing Brillante means shiny or diamond in Spanish, so 1+1…). The romance is ok, their banter is amazing at first and then things start shifting… I liked them together, but that's it.
I will probably continue reading the series, because why not. And knowing myself I will try reading the author's other series too.
I'm confused, honestly.
This was my first time reading the author, and I'm not sure I liked the style. Sometimes I did, sometimes I didn't. The same happens with the plot. Did I like it? Some parts yes, for sure. Others… I'm conflicted, and confused by them.
I like the beginning of the story. We meet Leon and Max, both finders of magical objects in exchange for money. And it turns out both were hired for the same job, and they end up fighting to be the ones who find the velveteen bag they were hired to collect.
Things get complicated when a third party appears and takes the bag… And much more when the thief starts using the contents of the bag, creating magical anomalies all over the city.
Leon and Max's banter was one of the things I liked the most. We can't say they are enemies to lovers, since there's no real enmity there. Just rivalry. And completely opposites personalities.
Max is calm and composed, he's used to an elegant and fine lifestyle and likes to prepare ahead of time. Leon, on his hand, lives day by day. He's alone in America and jumps from city to city, scraping by with whatever money he earns.
While Max is broody and grumpy, Leon is cheerful and bright. Their chemistry is high since the first time they meet, as neither can deny to themselves feeling attracted to the other, but they don't act on it since they clash once and again. This builds the tension while they focus on catching the anomalist.
Then things get more… duh. Uninteresting? It's not exactly that, I guess I just stopped being so into the story.
I mean… the worldbuilding is interesting enough, but it feels vague, like there's a mix of many things that are just too abstract.
We have a Filipino MC who is a "bruho", and even though he's supposed to have a particular way of practicing magic… he doesn't use it that much? Maybe the author will develop this further in upcoming books, but for not it felt vague, like the author wanted to intoeixed something "different" but didn't care to develop the idea (same happens with him being the only man in a line of bruhas).
Max's magic felt more consistent, but as they explained his magic is something he created for himself, so I still don't understand how things work in this universe, exactly.
And then we have the dragon goddess. And I don't mean to include spoilers here, so I'm just gonna say I guess this will have an impact in upcoming books, but, again, for now it seems just another thing that feels vague and "just there". It doesn't add to this first book, and really, IMO, giving Leon this power will diminish his bruho essence, but I could be wrong here.
Overall, I can't say I didn't like it since it's an easy read that made me enjoy the ride. But the comedy was what I liked more. I couldn't feel interested in the anomalist and, really, Max's secret was pretty obvious (but maybe that's me knowing Brillante means shiny or diamond in Spanish, so 1+1…). The romance is ok, their banter is amazing at first and then things start shifting… I liked them together, but that's it.
I will probably continue reading the series, because why not. And knowing myself I will try reading the author's other series too.
June 29, 2023
This is a fantastic start to what promises to be a very entertaining series. Max and Leon are are each lone-wolf like finders unknowingly hired for the same case—retrieve a satchel of magic dust. Seems easy enough, right? Of course, chaos ensues. Magic, dragons, mystery and totally undeniable chemistry make this book a blast to read. I read it in one sitting—I just couldn’t stop! Like most of this author’s other books, the end provides a satisfying HFN and a conclusion that leaves you wanting more but isn’t a horrible cliff hanger. I can’t wait for the next book!
As a side note, I don’t typically like dual POV books because I feel like it takes a certain skill level to pull it off well and I’ve seen it done poorly more often than not. The dual POV in this book is fantastic. Max and Leon really read like two completely different (and completely awesome) characters. You don’t even really need the chapter titles to tell you which head you’re in—it’s just obvious by the way the character thinks.
As a side note, I don’t typically like dual POV books because I feel like it takes a certain skill level to pull it off well and I’ve seen it done poorly more often than not. The dual POV in this book is fantastic. Max and Leon really read like two completely different (and completely awesome) characters. You don’t even really need the chapter titles to tell you which head you’re in—it’s just obvious by the way the character thinks.
March 3, 2025
I liked how this book started out all jagged and chaotic; like a mirror to their lives and new relationship. Then, as the story progressed, they got to know each other and their relationship developed, the writing settled and smoothed out, turning into quite a nice story. Max, so tough and brooding has an absolutely gooey center and falls for Leon remarkably fast. Leon, young, alone, and scared, lives on a mixture of bravado and luck. Max can see straight through him, and for once, Leo might just have a safe place to make a home.
I listened to the audio book, and enjoyed it, with the very large exception of how the narrator said cocktails with a weird emphasis on the cock part of the word. Like every time he said it he was making a dirty joke. That got old and became annoying really fast.
I listened to the audio book, and enjoyed it, with the very large exception of how the narrator said cocktails with a weird emphasis on the cock part of the word. Like every time he said it he was making a dirty joke. That got old and became annoying really fast.
Read
August 29, 2023DNF 42%
December 7, 2025
Hmmm... is this work translated & possibly some things got kinda lost in translation?! Because, hummmmm..... 🤔
Brillante does NOT mean diamond in Spanish, it means shiny or bright, usually words that can be used to describe diamonds but it does not mean diamond nor is it a synonym for diamonds!
Diamante means diamonds in Spanish, Portuguese & Italian, possibly Romanian also... I'm going to go out on a limb & say that it's probably the universal word for diamonds in all the Romance languages...
Brujo (Bruho) simply means a male witch, in Spanish, Portuguese, etc... most words are gendered.
Bruja (Bruha) means female witch... basically, words ending in a - are feminine, words ending in o - are masculine. That's it...
Simplest examples; Luna (moon) is always female, Sol (sun) is always male 🤷♀️
In the Philippines they use an H instead of a J, that's all... it's both pronounced the same & has the same meaning 🤷♀️
Those weird mis-translations are really throwing me off & killing my immersion...
Anyhoo's... I AM mostly enjoying the story, however Leon is both a walking hazard & WAY too melodramatic...
I'm surprised he ever manages to "find" anything in between his sneezing, cursing & wanting to fellate his buddy on "heists".
One minute my guy is losing his mind over fingerprints, the next he's desperate to either go down on Max or give him a handjob, it's not really clear, but that's a whole heap of a lot more DNA & a mess than some easily wiped fingerprints 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
Also, they're trespassing at that point & anyone could return to the shop at any time for any reason... keep it in your pants until you escape & get somewhere safe, for the love of all that is merciful!
& he only knew about the families because Max told him about them, so WHY in all that is holy is he losing his goddamned mind?!
One of my pet hates is when an MC who is keeping a secret of their own gets angry at another MC for also having secrets 🤦♀️...
They barely know each other at that point, Max doesn't really owe him any explanations, however he has helped him, fed him, provided him with shelter, transportation & companionship, including introducing him to his friends for the past 2 whole days... what's he being a drama queen for?!
& I'm so very sorry, but can they really be considered such good friends?! Surely they know that Max doesn't just let anyone know & it's Max's business & secret to tell... if he so wishes, so WHY TF would they tell someone they've only met twice before, so basically a stranger their best friend's secret without their friend's permission?! That's kind of fuckery IMO!
Not bad, definitely entertaining, however by the end of the book, I'm left scratching my head..
The villain gets away, we never find out WHAT exactly he was hoping to accom9 or the reason behind his actions... 3🤔
At the start of the book, Leon is granted new powers, which are only used once, so honestly, I didn't really get the point of it.
Also, the reasoning for giving him the extra powers is a bit nonsensical... it's kinda like a thief robbing someone's house & the homeowner decides that the best course of action is to offer up their house to the thief... it didn't really make any sense to me, but I had been hoping that it would play more of a part in the story, but it was honestly a pointless power, as Max had the same power, so he could've easily used that spell anyways & I didn't really understand why Max didn't use dissipate at the end...
It was good, but a bit too much all over the place without a concise destination beyond acting as a meet cute for the couple.
Also, WHY did Leon move around so much?! There wasn't any real reason behind it, so he could've just stayed put... much ado was made about nothing.
Like I said, it was entertaining, but also baffling 🤷♀️
Brillante does NOT mean diamond in Spanish, it means shiny or bright, usually words that can be used to describe diamonds but it does not mean diamond nor is it a synonym for diamonds!
Diamante means diamonds in Spanish, Portuguese & Italian, possibly Romanian also... I'm going to go out on a limb & say that it's probably the universal word for diamonds in all the Romance languages...
Brujo (Bruho) simply means a male witch, in Spanish, Portuguese, etc... most words are gendered.
Bruja (Bruha) means female witch... basically, words ending in a - are feminine, words ending in o - are masculine. That's it...
Simplest examples; Luna (moon) is always female, Sol (sun) is always male 🤷♀️
In the Philippines they use an H instead of a J, that's all... it's both pronounced the same & has the same meaning 🤷♀️
Those weird mis-translations are really throwing me off & killing my immersion...
Anyhoo's... I AM mostly enjoying the story, however Leon is both a walking hazard & WAY too melodramatic...
I'm surprised he ever manages to "find" anything in between his sneezing, cursing & wanting to fellate his buddy on "heists".
One minute my guy is losing his mind over fingerprints, the next he's desperate to either go down on Max or give him a handjob, it's not really clear, but that's a whole heap of a lot more DNA & a mess than some easily wiped fingerprints 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
Also, they're trespassing at that point & anyone could return to the shop at any time for any reason... keep it in your pants until you escape & get somewhere safe, for the love of all that is merciful!
& he only knew about the families because Max told him about them, so WHY in all that is holy is he losing his goddamned mind?!
One of my pet hates is when an MC who is keeping a secret of their own gets angry at another MC for also having secrets 🤦♀️...
They barely know each other at that point, Max doesn't really owe him any explanations, however he has helped him, fed him, provided him with shelter, transportation & companionship, including introducing him to his friends for the past 2 whole days... what's he being a drama queen for?!
& I'm so very sorry, but can they really be considered such good friends?! Surely they know that Max doesn't just let anyone know & it's Max's business & secret to tell... if he so wishes, so WHY TF would they tell someone they've only met twice before, so basically a stranger their best friend's secret without their friend's permission?! That's kind of fuckery IMO!
Not bad, definitely entertaining, however by the end of the book, I'm left scratching my head..
The villain gets away, we never find out WHAT exactly he was hoping to accom9 or the reason behind his actions... 3🤔
At the start of the book, Leon is granted new powers, which are only used once, so honestly, I didn't really get the point of it.
Also, the reasoning for giving him the extra powers is a bit nonsensical... it's kinda like a thief robbing someone's house & the homeowner decides that the best course of action is to offer up their house to the thief... it didn't really make any sense to me, but I had been hoping that it would play more of a part in the story, but it was honestly a pointless power, as Max had the same power, so he could've easily used that spell anyways & I didn't really understand why Max didn't use dissipate at the end...
It was good, but a bit too much all over the place without a concise destination beyond acting as a meet cute for the couple.
Also, WHY did Leon move around so much?! There wasn't any real reason behind it, so he could've just stayed put... much ado was made about nothing.
Like I said, it was entertaining, but also baffling 🤷♀️
July 27, 2023
a great beginning to what looks to be a fabulous series !
Rating: 4.5 🌈
Hex and the City starts off a new series, Stolen Hearts, by Nazri Noor, and I’m happy to share that’s it’s a very exciting start indeed.
The beginning was a titch rocky for me as I’m not a fan of the insufferably vain ,so self-indulgently awesome as to be stupid , main character. Especially when that’s the first voice the reader “hears” as they drop into the narrative.
But that quickly turns into something else, a more layered reality when a second main character and different perspective is added. Then we see that the first character’s voice and projection isn’t exactly what the reality is.
And that changes everything.
Leon Alcantara or Witch Boy as he’s called, is a finder. He’s the last of his line. A bruho, a male witch. But he’s constantly on the run, barely making it, moving from place to place. Hardly the careless happy image he’s projecting at the beginning of the story. He may be good looking but he’s seriously not the strongest , successful player in town and he knows it. And we soon see exactly where Leon stands by looking at him through the eyes of another finder.
That’s Maximilian Drake. A mysterious man of wealth who still lives as a finder, he sees the ragged clothes Leon wears and will come to hear Leon’s history of subsistence and endurance.
Noor completely brings us into the universe he’s creating, slowly leaving us bits of knowledge about the world, its structure, and the struggles within. We get the criminal families, and the Masques, a strange enigmatic group of magical law enforcement agents wearing their own masks that cover magical crimes. One of which is the basis of the story here.
The author creates a fascinating story around a semi-lawful culture of Spiders, a group of beings that accumulate wealth of knowledge of ,well, everything, and the finders they send out for things. A hunt that brings Max and Leon together with huge complications. The more the hunt goes wrong, the more creative and layered the characters and plot becomes as the author expands on the history, relationships, and world building.
It goes on to explore what the characters relationship might turn into, what mysteries their backgrounds hold, and the layers Noor is still working into the series. All of which are very compelling.
The second book, Elixir of Strife, will be released soon. I can’t wait. I’m highly recommending you begin your Stolen Hearts journey with Hex and the City. It’s a great beginning to what looks to be a fabulous tale!
Stolen Hearts:
- [x] Hex and the City #1
- [ ] Elixir of Strife #2 - July 28,2023
- [ ] All Out of Flux #3 -Sept 29,2023
Rating: 4.5 🌈
Hex and the City starts off a new series, Stolen Hearts, by Nazri Noor, and I’m happy to share that’s it’s a very exciting start indeed.
The beginning was a titch rocky for me as I’m not a fan of the insufferably vain ,so self-indulgently awesome as to be stupid , main character. Especially when that’s the first voice the reader “hears” as they drop into the narrative.
But that quickly turns into something else, a more layered reality when a second main character and different perspective is added. Then we see that the first character’s voice and projection isn’t exactly what the reality is.
And that changes everything.
Leon Alcantara or Witch Boy as he’s called, is a finder. He’s the last of his line. A bruho, a male witch. But he’s constantly on the run, barely making it, moving from place to place. Hardly the careless happy image he’s projecting at the beginning of the story. He may be good looking but he’s seriously not the strongest , successful player in town and he knows it. And we soon see exactly where Leon stands by looking at him through the eyes of another finder.
That’s Maximilian Drake. A mysterious man of wealth who still lives as a finder, he sees the ragged clothes Leon wears and will come to hear Leon’s history of subsistence and endurance.
Noor completely brings us into the universe he’s creating, slowly leaving us bits of knowledge about the world, its structure, and the struggles within. We get the criminal families, and the Masques, a strange enigmatic group of magical law enforcement agents wearing their own masks that cover magical crimes. One of which is the basis of the story here.
The author creates a fascinating story around a semi-lawful culture of Spiders, a group of beings that accumulate wealth of knowledge of ,well, everything, and the finders they send out for things. A hunt that brings Max and Leon together with huge complications. The more the hunt goes wrong, the more creative and layered the characters and plot becomes as the author expands on the history, relationships, and world building.
It goes on to explore what the characters relationship might turn into, what mysteries their backgrounds hold, and the layers Noor is still working into the series. All of which are very compelling.
The second book, Elixir of Strife, will be released soon. I can’t wait. I’m highly recommending you begin your Stolen Hearts journey with Hex and the City. It’s a great beginning to what looks to be a fabulous tale!
Stolen Hearts:
- [x] Hex and the City #1
- [ ] Elixir of Strife #2 - July 28,2023
- [ ] All Out of Flux #3 -Sept 29,2023
July 10, 2023
Hex and the City
Nazri Noor
The Boy with the Dragon, Achoo
Noor is back, this time with a new series starter.
Leon Alcantara - Witch Boy, twenty-one - can be found on the spider network, where 'spiders' allocate jobs to relic finders like him.
His current job is in Dos Lunas, sneaking into a house to find a particular velveteen bag of dust, and it's worth a lot of money. Which is why the client probably approached more than one finder.
Leon realises this when he's caught by another finder, Max; ruggedly handsome, and fit, Maximilian Drake is all about preparedness and discipline with his jobs.
Unlike Leon, who in just a few minutes manages to get under his skin.
Leon is from a long line of bruha from his Philppines' ancestry and the first bruho (magical boy) in his family.
Before they have a chance to fight it out over who gets the bag, they're undercut by a shadowy figure who nabs the prize and absconds with it.
The Jade Spider, Vera, isn't happy with the two finders for losing the relic, and so, the only viable choice left is for the men to work together after she texts them both to deal with anomolies popping up in the city.
Between the Masques - magical police - a goddess and the arcane families, Leon needs all the extra help he can get.
Where Leon is like a naughty school boy, flirty and charming, Max is brusque, proper, a pseudo Bond/cat burglar type charm to him.
Now forced together, the chemistry between them sizzles.
There's snark, banter, bickering and flirting.
Sort of like a gay Mulder and Scully scenario, if you will; logical organised Max and chaotic, charismatic Leon.
Yet both hide secrets from each other and the world. Leon is always running from place to place, and one thing he would love, is to stop running. To belong somewhere.
Max hides the secret of who he is.
The worldbuilding is excellent, with the noir vibe of Silks and the hipster/paranormal vibe of coffee shop Unholy Grounds, which works a little like Switzerland, or the bar in the Dresden Files.
Meaning, a sort of truce to do no harm between the supernatural and magical creatures who stop by for coffee. Or as Max puts it, "a refuge for those who lived on the fringes of human reality."
Johnny and Roscoe who run the coffee shop/bar are old friends of Max and are great characters too.
Tina, Max's other best friend is scary and lethal, but pretty nice with it.
There's danger, rogue magic, laughter, vulnerabilities and very hot scenes included.
It ends with a HFN and lots of potential and story threads for book two.
I loved this.
Nazri Noor
The Boy with the Dragon, Achoo
Noor is back, this time with a new series starter.
Leon Alcantara - Witch Boy, twenty-one - can be found on the spider network, where 'spiders' allocate jobs to relic finders like him.
His current job is in Dos Lunas, sneaking into a house to find a particular velveteen bag of dust, and it's worth a lot of money. Which is why the client probably approached more than one finder.
Leon realises this when he's caught by another finder, Max; ruggedly handsome, and fit, Maximilian Drake is all about preparedness and discipline with his jobs.
Unlike Leon, who in just a few minutes manages to get under his skin.
Leon is from a long line of bruha from his Philppines' ancestry and the first bruho (magical boy) in his family.
Before they have a chance to fight it out over who gets the bag, they're undercut by a shadowy figure who nabs the prize and absconds with it.
The Jade Spider, Vera, isn't happy with the two finders for losing the relic, and so, the only viable choice left is for the men to work together after she texts them both to deal with anomolies popping up in the city.
Between the Masques - magical police - a goddess and the arcane families, Leon needs all the extra help he can get.
Where Leon is like a naughty school boy, flirty and charming, Max is brusque, proper, a pseudo Bond/cat burglar type charm to him.
Now forced together, the chemistry between them sizzles.
There's snark, banter, bickering and flirting.
Sort of like a gay Mulder and Scully scenario, if you will; logical organised Max and chaotic, charismatic Leon.
Yet both hide secrets from each other and the world. Leon is always running from place to place, and one thing he would love, is to stop running. To belong somewhere.
Max hides the secret of who he is.
The worldbuilding is excellent, with the noir vibe of Silks and the hipster/paranormal vibe of coffee shop Unholy Grounds, which works a little like Switzerland, or the bar in the Dresden Files.
Meaning, a sort of truce to do no harm between the supernatural and magical creatures who stop by for coffee. Or as Max puts it, "a refuge for those who lived on the fringes of human reality."
Johnny and Roscoe who run the coffee shop/bar are old friends of Max and are great characters too.
Tina, Max's other best friend is scary and lethal, but pretty nice with it.
There's danger, rogue magic, laughter, vulnerabilities and very hot scenes included.
It ends with a HFN and lots of potential and story threads for book two.
I loved this.
July 26, 2023
Book one in a new series by Nazri Noor. I have been gradually reading my way through Arcane Hearts by the same author, so there is some familiarity with the writing style.
This is a quick-moving plot and romance. Leon and Maximillian (Max) are “finders”, who have been contracted to find an object – just so happens to be the same object - and the heist goes awry. Now thrown together to solve the mystery behind the object, sparks fly between the two very different characters. Leon is barely scratching out a living as he moves from city to city in search of jobs and sanctuary, while Max is privileged and living comfortably with his very structured routines.
This is a “brain candy” book: light, sweet, easy to read, and entertaining. What I enjoy with these is the magical creativity and the worldbuilding. Each magic user pulls either from a certain lineage or background, like Leon being a Filipino witch. I so enjoy that magical diversity and would like to see those differences expounded upon. What niggles at me are characters who are too perfect in appearance. Perfect countenance, chiseled eight-pack abs, bulging biceps – I’m bombarded with “perfection” enough in media, I like my characters to be more grounded and realistic. Rough around the corners, so to speak.
Nazri Noor also has a good balance of supporting characters – the supportive friends as family, the enigmatic bodyguard, and the annoying magical police. The humor is subtle with little quips and jabs inserted throughout which I quite enjoyed.
Overall, ‘Hex in the City’ is a fast-paced, fun, engaging read set in the urban fantasy world of Dos Lunas, California. This is perfect for vacation, that commute read, or chilling out after a long day at work. I’m looking forward to seeing where this series will go.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
This is a quick-moving plot and romance. Leon and Maximillian (Max) are “finders”, who have been contracted to find an object – just so happens to be the same object - and the heist goes awry. Now thrown together to solve the mystery behind the object, sparks fly between the two very different characters. Leon is barely scratching out a living as he moves from city to city in search of jobs and sanctuary, while Max is privileged and living comfortably with his very structured routines.
This is a “brain candy” book: light, sweet, easy to read, and entertaining. What I enjoy with these is the magical creativity and the worldbuilding. Each magic user pulls either from a certain lineage or background, like Leon being a Filipino witch. I so enjoy that magical diversity and would like to see those differences expounded upon. What niggles at me are characters who are too perfect in appearance. Perfect countenance, chiseled eight-pack abs, bulging biceps – I’m bombarded with “perfection” enough in media, I like my characters to be more grounded and realistic. Rough around the corners, so to speak.
Nazri Noor also has a good balance of supporting characters – the supportive friends as family, the enigmatic bodyguard, and the annoying magical police. The humor is subtle with little quips and jabs inserted throughout which I quite enjoyed.
Overall, ‘Hex in the City’ is a fast-paced, fun, engaging read set in the urban fantasy world of Dos Lunas, California. This is perfect for vacation, that commute read, or chilling out after a long day at work. I’m looking forward to seeing where this series will go.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
July 31, 2023
4.5 stars
This review and much more can be found at Love Bytes Reviews.
Leon Alcantara is the last of his line of witches. He and his mother moved from the Philippines to California. Then she died and Leon is left alone a young witch on his own. He scratches out a living as a “finder” of arcane things for the “spiders” in Dos Lunas. The one night on a job he runs across Maximillian Drake, another finder.
Max has many many secrets. He’s a favorite of one of the spiders as well. He’s wildly attracted to the “witch boy” finder that he tangles with on a job. But then strange things start happening. Anomalies that could attract the normals. The Masques are watching and there could be big trouble for both Leon and Max. If they can’t find out who is behind this, they are both in a world of hurt.
This was so fun! I’ve not read anything by this author before, but I’ll be sure to rectify that. I loved these two opposite characters. They are so hilariously perfect together. The banter was fabulous. Getting dual POV’s made the story so engaging too. I was pulled in from the first page 🙂 I really liked the world building here. A very cool take on magic and witches and the “unseen” world hidden from the normals. These two have completely different personalities, lives and experiences, yet the chemistry between them is hot hot hot! The reveals? Very clever. The slow burn? Perfection. It’s a very effective push/pull relationship. I loved all the cultural references too. I really cannot wait for the next book 😀 Highly recommended – particularly for fans of urban fantasy. Great start to a new series.
This review and much more can be found at Love Bytes Reviews.
Leon Alcantara is the last of his line of witches. He and his mother moved from the Philippines to California. Then she died and Leon is left alone a young witch on his own. He scratches out a living as a “finder” of arcane things for the “spiders” in Dos Lunas. The one night on a job he runs across Maximillian Drake, another finder.
Max has many many secrets. He’s a favorite of one of the spiders as well. He’s wildly attracted to the “witch boy” finder that he tangles with on a job. But then strange things start happening. Anomalies that could attract the normals. The Masques are watching and there could be big trouble for both Leon and Max. If they can’t find out who is behind this, they are both in a world of hurt.
This was so fun! I’ve not read anything by this author before, but I’ll be sure to rectify that. I loved these two opposite characters. They are so hilariously perfect together. The banter was fabulous. Getting dual POV’s made the story so engaging too. I was pulled in from the first page 🙂 I really liked the world building here. A very cool take on magic and witches and the “unseen” world hidden from the normals. These two have completely different personalities, lives and experiences, yet the chemistry between them is hot hot hot! The reveals? Very clever. The slow burn? Perfection. It’s a very effective push/pull relationship. I loved all the cultural references too. I really cannot wait for the next book 😀 Highly recommended – particularly for fans of urban fantasy. Great start to a new series.
June 30, 2023
This was a story that begins with excellent world building and found family building too. Leon Alcantara has recently lost his mom and he is now the last in a long history of kitchen witch. After making his way to the U.S. to join his mother he is now alone and lonely. He has made his way to Dos Lunas, a town of normals, paranormals and magic, he is scraping the "barrel of existence." He is now a "Finder" for the Spider's who send their workers out to steal back or simply steal exotic, magic or highly valuab prizes for the Spiders to pass along to their clients. In the house where he is to steal a red velvet bag of a glittery substance for Jade, his Spider boss. Unfortunately she has also sent Max, another Finder in her stable of thieves. While fighting who is to get the prize, another shadowy...possibly human gets the bag and disappears. After that the two men are at each other's throats. Can these two men, one who has some magic, but not a lot and one who is full of himself, is as handsome as a movie star and obviously has a lot more money than Leon make it as a team? Or get over themselves enough to let their true feelings for each other come to fruition? And then... what about the dragon? We fans of Nazri Noor find ourselves with another fine series to heat up our kindle with.
April 23, 2025
Leon Alcantara drifts from city to city eking out a living as a magical ‘Finder’ for Spiders, magical beings who use their networks to establish the existence of magical objects. Let’s just say Leon doesn’t ask permission to take these objects. On a routine heist, he encounters another finder, Maximilian Drake, and in the ensuing tussle, a third, more dangerous thief makes off with the item and chaos ensues. Needless to say Leon and Max aren’t impressed with each other but circumstances require them to work together to stop the chaos.
I’ve loved previous Nazri Noor books but felt this supernatural grumpy / sunshine romance didn’t live up to previous efforts. There didn’t seem to be enough world-building, I think Nazri assumed previous knowledge a little too much. I also felt the romance got in the way of the heist plot, which seemed to consist of the occasional emergence of a chaotic event that needed to be hosed down rather than a genuine tracking of the perpetrator. I understand that this is the first in a series, but by the end, only the romance was resolved and that was a bit frustrating. On the plus side, I really enjoyed Leon and Max and their fun enemies-to-lovers banter and I’m intrigued by the dragon goddess story arc so I’ll chase up the next book. 🎧 Voice acting hero John Solo gives another great performance on the audio.
I’ve loved previous Nazri Noor books but felt this supernatural grumpy / sunshine romance didn’t live up to previous efforts. There didn’t seem to be enough world-building, I think Nazri assumed previous knowledge a little too much. I also felt the romance got in the way of the heist plot, which seemed to consist of the occasional emergence of a chaotic event that needed to be hosed down rather than a genuine tracking of the perpetrator. I understand that this is the first in a series, but by the end, only the romance was resolved and that was a bit frustrating. On the plus side, I really enjoyed Leon and Max and their fun enemies-to-lovers banter and I’m intrigued by the dragon goddess story arc so I’ll chase up the next book. 🎧 Voice acting hero John Solo gives another great performance on the audio.
June 28, 2023
First in series (Stolen Hearts). Paranormal. Rivals to lovers. Opposites attract. Found family. Slow burn. Dual POV. Leon is new to Dos Lunas, and he is already on his first heist in town, he needs the payoff to remain in his squalid apartment, oh and to eat. He never expects to run into Max, another finder that is drool worthy and very uptight, but they both lose out to a surprise visitor and now have to work together to retrieve the item. Both Leon and Max wield magic, but are total opposites in the way they approach life and their jobs. Their attraction, bantering and constant one-upmanship was so fun to read, there is plenty of action, and some interesting secondary characters that are introduced. Every single interaction between Leon and Max was entertaining and the world build was just the right amount to get this series off to a start but with enough curiosity about the future to look forward to reading more stories. Leon and Max are capable, smart, funny, and endearing, with different backgrounds and a lot to learn from each other. Plenty of steam, with these likable guys and a story that has Max asking Leon to stick around and Leon actually wanting to give Dos Lunas and Max a chance.
September 2, 2023
I feel very confused.
I don’t know anything about anything. The world building was pretty much nonexistent and the information to piece things together was stilted and lacking. I’m still not sure what’s up with either MC.
It’s an interesting concept, though, and with the general plea for more—though I’m not sure how to explain what I mean by more without going off and writing an essay—ringing in my head, I think I’ll continue the series to figure it all out. It honestly feels like I missed a starter series that included all of the lore and world building this book lacked.
The mechanics were… look, things were a mess. The writing was choppy and everything felt like it was stuttering. The pace was awkward, made even worse by the lack of details. I’m not saying it was bad, but I am saying it needs some TLC. I’m not a big fan of books that leave me feeling confused and irritated with no real promise of things becoming clearer or having questions answered. And I’m a firm believer that proper punctuation is sexy.
3/5. We’re going to round up because the idea is there, the potential is there, but I’m going to need something to go on from the next installment to make it worth continuing.
I don’t know anything about anything. The world building was pretty much nonexistent and the information to piece things together was stilted and lacking. I’m still not sure what’s up with either MC.
It’s an interesting concept, though, and with the general plea for more—though I’m not sure how to explain what I mean by more without going off and writing an essay—ringing in my head, I think I’ll continue the series to figure it all out. It honestly feels like I missed a starter series that included all of the lore and world building this book lacked.
The mechanics were… look, things were a mess. The writing was choppy and everything felt like it was stuttering. The pace was awkward, made even worse by the lack of details. I’m not saying it was bad, but I am saying it needs some TLC. I’m not a big fan of books that leave me feeling confused and irritated with no real promise of things becoming clearer or having questions answered. And I’m a firm believer that proper punctuation is sexy.
3/5. We’re going to round up because the idea is there, the potential is there, but I’m going to need something to go on from the next installment to make it worth continuing.
August 4, 2023
Finder Leon is in Dos Lunas to earn some cash before moving on. When he encounters another finder, Max, on a job, the two realise they are competing for the same item...and they aren't the only ones on the case. Deciding to team up in effort to thwart the mysterious third person, they're drawn together in more ways than one.
This new series from Mr. Noor moves is set in the same universe as his previous series, but introduces a completely new area to explore, with different facets than have been revealed in previous series. As always, the world-building, pacing, and character development are all excellent. I have come to expect some snark, and this novel delivers aplenty (and I'm so here for it!)
I really like the new setting - I'm excited to see what this new city has to offer the arcane underground! I also am looking forward to learning more about some of the new elements that have been introduced. It was fantastic to see a couple of characters we've encountered before reappear! I think this might be my favourite among Mr. Noor's series starts so far!
I received an ARC via the author.
This new series from Mr. Noor moves is set in the same universe as his previous series, but introduces a completely new area to explore, with different facets than have been revealed in previous series. As always, the world-building, pacing, and character development are all excellent. I have come to expect some snark, and this novel delivers aplenty (and I'm so here for it!)
I really like the new setting - I'm excited to see what this new city has to offer the arcane underground! I also am looking forward to learning more about some of the new elements that have been introduced. It was fantastic to see a couple of characters we've encountered before reappear! I think this might be my favourite among Mr. Noor's series starts so far!
I received an ARC via the author.
July 8, 2023
Hex and the City is the first book in Nazri Noor’s Stolen Hearts, and it was one that had me super excited. There were many things promised in this that tick all my boxes, which is why I had high hopes. Unfortunately, it seems I was not the right reader for the book.
I can certainly see many being interested by this storyline, yet the style of storytelling did not work for me. It felt like it was trying too hard to be quirky and fun, which is not a bad thing in itself. What made it difficult for me was the way it seemed to read the same no matter which character we were following. I wanted there to be a difference between them, yet it was the same attempt at quirky throughout. Such a thing left me feeling like everything was the same, which left me disconnected from the story. Add in the fact that everything happened so quickly with this one, and I found myself wishing there had been more depth.
As I said, this seems to be a case of me being the wrong reader for the book. I am sure many will enjoy this quick read, yet it failed to hit me in the way I had hoped.
I can certainly see many being interested by this storyline, yet the style of storytelling did not work for me. It felt like it was trying too hard to be quirky and fun, which is not a bad thing in itself. What made it difficult for me was the way it seemed to read the same no matter which character we were following. I wanted there to be a difference between them, yet it was the same attempt at quirky throughout. Such a thing left me feeling like everything was the same, which left me disconnected from the story. Add in the fact that everything happened so quickly with this one, and I found myself wishing there had been more depth.
As I said, this seems to be a case of me being the wrong reader for the book. I am sure many will enjoy this quick read, yet it failed to hit me in the way I had hoped.
July 8, 2023
Witch Boy and Max, on the hunt!
4,5 stars. Great start of a new series. The story is set in a world where magic and paranormals are real. They are controlled by their own authorities and people are unaware of them.
Witch boy Leon is lighthearted, fun-loving and impulsive. Max is broody and has secrets. When they met on a job they may have felt attraction, but it was accompanied by a hefty dose of distrust. I enjoyed reading about their shenanigans. The story had enough storyline and suspense to keep it interesting. There is some romance, but not overly much. The characters are very likable and I liked how protective their friends are of each other.
If you like magic, dragons, fun and opposites, you should definitely try this one. If you download a sample you will get a good impression of the writing style. I found that the story itself got better and better the further I got into it.
I voluntarily decided to write this review based on an ARC of this story. This review reflects my honest opinion.
4,5 stars. Great start of a new series. The story is set in a world where magic and paranormals are real. They are controlled by their own authorities and people are unaware of them.
Witch boy Leon is lighthearted, fun-loving and impulsive. Max is broody and has secrets. When they met on a job they may have felt attraction, but it was accompanied by a hefty dose of distrust. I enjoyed reading about their shenanigans. The story had enough storyline and suspense to keep it interesting. There is some romance, but not overly much. The characters are very likable and I liked how protective their friends are of each other.
If you like magic, dragons, fun and opposites, you should definitely try this one. If you download a sample you will get a good impression of the writing style. I found that the story itself got better and better the further I got into it.
I voluntarily decided to write this review based on an ARC of this story. This review reflects my honest opinion.
July 10, 2023
The last of his line, Leon Alcantara travels from city to city scraping out a living as a finder of magical artifacts. He lands in Dos Lunas and his latest mission finds competition is keen to retrieve the artifact. That competition is also very sexy and desirable – too bad his attitude detracts, but just barely. With anomalies sprouting up around the city, he is forced to work with his nemesis, Maximillian Drake, to clear his name and stop the anomalies. He just has to get around Max’s secrets.
Hex and the City creates an incredible world filled with supernatural creatures, magic and a type of magical law enforcement, that also fixes magical calamities. Leon and Max really know how to push each other’s buttons. Their conversations make for great reading. The plot in very well done drawing us in until we cannot put the book down, fanatically turning the pages to see what happens next. It is delightful that this is book one as this is one world we should come to know and enjoy.
Hex and the City creates an incredible world filled with supernatural creatures, magic and a type of magical law enforcement, that also fixes magical calamities. Leon and Max really know how to push each other’s buttons. Their conversations make for great reading. The plot in very well done drawing us in until we cannot put the book down, fanatically turning the pages to see what happens next. It is delightful that this is book one as this is one world we should come to know and enjoy.
October 2, 2025
Cool start to a series. Classic first book issues… lots of loose ends, spotty back stories, innuendo without further explanation. But I do actually really like urban fantasy, and I think the author does a decent job of explaining how the magic stays “underground” in a modern world.
I really enjoyed both main characters, and thankfully, there wasn’t an annoying amount of paper thin side characters. It was just enough that I want to keep reading to find out more. Also, the length was just right to keep me interested. I can’t stand when a first book in a series tries to do it all. This one is very reasonable.
Narration note: that was a trip. Solo is a very animated narrator. A little on the side of too much, at times, but he totally got the context cues to modulate his voice with a whisper or a laugh to his tone. His interpretation of the intimate moments though, nope. Same for the few Spanish words, ehhh.
I really enjoyed both main characters, and thankfully, there wasn’t an annoying amount of paper thin side characters. It was just enough that I want to keep reading to find out more. Also, the length was just right to keep me interested. I can’t stand when a first book in a series tries to do it all. This one is very reasonable.
Narration note: that was a trip. Solo is a very animated narrator. A little on the side of too much, at times, but he totally got the context cues to modulate his voice with a whisper or a laugh to his tone. His interpretation of the intimate moments though, nope. Same for the few Spanish words, ehhh.
June 30, 2023
New PNR series with different mages, all sorts of supernaturals, dragons, great dual POV, what's not to like! Noor gives us Leon, Witch boy, drifting finder since the death of his mother, barely getting by, and Max, moneyed finder, settled with a wonderful found family. Our MC's clash while trying to find a magical relic, inadvertently becoming involved in a magical mess. The "police" get involved. Leon and Max want to recover the relic while also solving the mess. While they are recovering and solving, they realize they work together as partners and also have yummy chemistry. Leon is introduced and adopted by Max's wonderful found family (because Max's blood family, boo hiss!). The worldbuilding really fleshes out the narrative, I so want to hang out at Unholy Grounds! I love the wrapup of the suspense arc as well as the HFN for our finders. Th next one will be about them, but would love a story about two secondary characters. Will definitely be reading it!
June 29, 2023
3.5/5 This was a really interesting world that I enjoyed learning about. For me, the ratio was a bit off with the enemy-to-lovers bit, and we spent too long with Leon and Max sniping at one another and not liking one another/not getting along. I wasn’t a huge fan of the intimate moments, I wanted more (positive) emotion behind it, and I felt like they weren’t there yet. I was happy with where they were by the end of the book, I just wanted them to get closer sooner. I enjoyed the mystery and Max’s friends, the possibilities with the Spiders and the Masques and Dos Lunas. There’s a lot of potential in this world, and I really like that Leon has found options here, and that he and Max have worked out how to work together despite their different ways of doing things.
I received an ARC from GRR. This is my honest review.
I received an ARC from GRR. This is my honest review.
July 10, 2023
There is something about going to the city to prove yourself. Leon is a witch trying to make his way and show himself that he can make it in a place that is so different from where he comes from. He finds that he is not the only one who can do what he does and that doing what he does has consequences that he cannot always control. Max is a good find for him, even though he is not always sure that that is the case. They wind up working together and also giving in to the strong chemistry they have. This was such an engaging start to the series, introducing us not only to Leon and Max but the found family that helps sustain Max and comes to take Leon in as well. He needs it. I am looking forward to seeing where things go with these folks next.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 6, 2023
3,5 stars for a solid first book in a new series.
Like with the Arcane Heart's series, this new world is really interesting, and the MCs have a lot of potential.
I really enjoyed how this enemies to Lovers troupe developed ... and although the Lovers part is true, this is definitely only the start of a relationship. So the next books will be interesting in the development part.
The idea of the story was really good, but I got the impression that the focus of the author was mainly on the introduction of the world and characters and, therefore, neglected a bit the storyline.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed it, and I am really looking forward to the next book
Like with the Arcane Heart's series, this new world is really interesting, and the MCs have a lot of potential.
I really enjoyed how this enemies to Lovers troupe developed ... and although the Lovers part is true, this is definitely only the start of a relationship. So the next books will be interesting in the development part.
The idea of the story was really good, but I got the impression that the focus of the author was mainly on the introduction of the world and characters and, therefore, neglected a bit the storyline.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed it, and I am really looking forward to the next book
July 9, 2023
Max and Leon are interesting, strong-willed characters and their dynamic is charged with fun, competition, and more than a little chemistry. There’s some delightful world building that weaves together magic, the paranormal, and the everyday , a truly intriguing premise, and lots of potential. I liked the sparks between the main characters and enjoyed their interactions for the blend of strong attraction, sharp banter, and competitiveness– this is rivals-to-lovers with lots to like along the way, and lots of potential for future installments of the series. Well worth a read. 4.5 stars.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
July 9, 2023
I have been a fan of Nazri Noor's writing ever since reading A Touch of Fever (Book 1 in the Arcane Hearts series). I love the world-building. the unique magics, his down-on-their-luck heroes, and their rich, arrogant rivals (who become friends and lovers). This book is no exception. I loved the banter and snark, the mysteries, the humor, and the begrudging slow-burn romance. The book doesn't end in HEA, because it's a series so there is more to come; however there is a satisfactory HFN conclusion. This book was so fun, and I am eager for the next in the series.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
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