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Siren Song #1
The Wicked City
Whatever June Coffin says, goes—literally. And it’s not just because she’s a chain smoking rebel. As a Siren, June has the ability to force people to obey any command she voices. But in a world where those with supernatural powers quickly become lab rats for science, she’d rather look out for herself than fight on the front lines…until her similarly gifted twin brother, Jason, is captured by Chicago’s Institute of Supernatural Research.
To save Jason, June has no choice but to enter a hidden world of conspiracy, murder—and strange bedfellows—including a widowed paranormal advocate whose memory June accidentally erased, and a fiery paranormal separatist leader. Soon the lines between attraction and strategic alliance become blurred. But in a city exploding with paranormal crossfire, and her brother’s life at stake, June will have to face her inner demons and finally take a stand.
To save Jason, June has no choice but to enter a hidden world of conspiracy, murder—and strange bedfellows—including a widowed paranormal advocate whose memory June accidentally erased, and a fiery paranormal separatist leader. Soon the lines between attraction and strategic alliance become blurred. But in a city exploding with paranormal crossfire, and her brother’s life at stake, June will have to face her inner demons and finally take a stand.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2015
11 people are currently reading
425 people want to read
About the author
Megan Morgan
25 books118 followersMegan Morgan is an award-winning paranormal and contemporary romance author from Cleveland, Ohio. She lives on the often-wintry shores of Lake Erie with her spoiled cat and adult son, both of whom shed too much.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
September 9, 2015
Wicked fun!
I adored June Coffin and her dirty, dirty chain smoking potty mouth. I also like that the author chose to write this in third-person, rather than first, because it gave the reader a chance to get inside more heads than just June's. Urban Fantasy seems rife and overloaded with books written in first, so this was certainly a nice change of pace. I really liked the creativity that Morgan took with building her supernaturals, that was a really interesting and unique spin that I haven't encountered before in the genre. Morgan also writes in a really good, simplistic fashion, which made Wicked City really flow quickly. Even with the simplicity, there weren't any details lacking -- the world was rich, the characters were dimensional and multi-layered, as was the plot.
Some things I wasn't overly fond of -- at times, certain passages were a bit clunky and repetitive.
As an example: "Sam, Micha, and June got out. Cindy got out as well, practically snarling, and Robbie got out and went around..." This, to me, seems very repetitive with one (or more) too many "got out's". The other thing I wasn't such a fan of was the relationship between June and Micha, it didn't seem organic, it seemed forced and therefore off-putting. It could also be because I found Micha to be a weak, watered down version of a man. Especially when you put him next to Sam, the Dynamo. I'm hoping that perhaps Morgan entertains the idea of Sam and June having a relationship in the future. Based on the minuscule amount of time they spent together, one-on-one, there seems to be a little something there. I want a lot of something there between those two.
3.5 Stars
I truly enjoyed this first installment in Megan Morgan's Siren Song series and look forward to the next book, The Bloody City. I recommend this if you're looking for something fun, fluffy and quick with a unique spin on supernaturals (and a potty-mouthed leading lady :) )
**eARC provided by Kensington/Lyrical Press via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
I adored June Coffin and her dirty, dirty chain smoking potty mouth. I also like that the author chose to write this in third-person, rather than first, because it gave the reader a chance to get inside more heads than just June's. Urban Fantasy seems rife and overloaded with books written in first, so this was certainly a nice change of pace. I really liked the creativity that Morgan took with building her supernaturals, that was a really interesting and unique spin that I haven't encountered before in the genre. Morgan also writes in a really good, simplistic fashion, which made Wicked City really flow quickly. Even with the simplicity, there weren't any details lacking -- the world was rich, the characters were dimensional and multi-layered, as was the plot.
Some things I wasn't overly fond of -- at times, certain passages were a bit clunky and repetitive.
As an example: "Sam, Micha, and June got out. Cindy got out as well, practically snarling, and Robbie got out and went around..." This, to me, seems very repetitive with one (or more) too many "got out's". The other thing I wasn't such a fan of was the relationship between June and Micha, it didn't seem organic, it seemed forced and therefore off-putting. It could also be because I found Micha to be a weak, watered down version of a man. Especially when you put him next to Sam, the Dynamo. I'm hoping that perhaps Morgan entertains the idea of Sam and June having a relationship in the future. Based on the minuscule amount of time they spent together, one-on-one, there seems to be a little something there. I want a lot of something there between those two.
3.5 Stars
I truly enjoyed this first installment in Megan Morgan's Siren Song series and look forward to the next book, The Bloody City. I recommend this if you're looking for something fun, fluffy and quick with a unique spin on supernaturals (and a potty-mouthed leading lady :) )
**eARC provided by Kensington/Lyrical Press via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
October 7, 2024
**I received this book for free from (Publisher) via (NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
*Genre* Paranormal Romance
*Rating* 3.0
*My Thoughts*
The Wicked City is the first book in the Siren Song series by Megan Morgan, a new to me author who is known for writing paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and erotica. I am leaning towards this story being more in the Paranormal Romance genre than Urban Fantasy. The sex scenes alone are what we normally see in the Paranormal Romance genre, not UF.
The main character for The Wicked City is June Coffin, a Siren (aural captivator) who loves to chain smoke, drink whiskey and wine, and has tattooed nearly her entire body. Along with her twin brother Jason, they are brought to Chicago where the Institute for Supernatural Research is located after June unfortunately exposes them to the paparazzi.
*Full Review Posting @ Gizmos Reviews 03/17/2015* Link to Follow
Published March 3rd 2015 by KENSINGTON
*Genre* Paranormal Romance
*Rating* 3.0
*My Thoughts*
The Wicked City is the first book in the Siren Song series by Megan Morgan, a new to me author who is known for writing paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and erotica. I am leaning towards this story being more in the Paranormal Romance genre than Urban Fantasy. The sex scenes alone are what we normally see in the Paranormal Romance genre, not UF.
The main character for The Wicked City is June Coffin, a Siren (aural captivator) who loves to chain smoke, drink whiskey and wine, and has tattooed nearly her entire body. Along with her twin brother Jason, they are brought to Chicago where the Institute for Supernatural Research is located after June unfortunately exposes them to the paparazzi.
*Full Review Posting @ Gizmos Reviews 03/17/2015* Link to Follow
Published March 3rd 2015 by KENSINGTON
January 17, 2015
June had escaped the paranormal institute, and forced to leave her brother behind in the fire fight.
During her escape, she unfortunately wiped the memory of the only man she knows in Chicago, Micha, who now has no memory of his wife.
While looking for help in rescuing her brother, she meets numerous members of a paranormal activist group who is working to snuff out the institute and their ways.
Can they help June rescue her brother... and if so, at what cost?
I hate a love hate relationship with the heroine in this book. At times he came across very immature when speaking to others, to the point I would have thought I was reading a YA book.
Overall though I enjoyed this book and the plot. Will be looking to read the next installment.
This book contains sexual situations and language.
**I received a digital copy of this book in exchange of an honest review**
During her escape, she unfortunately wiped the memory of the only man she knows in Chicago, Micha, who now has no memory of his wife.
While looking for help in rescuing her brother, she meets numerous members of a paranormal activist group who is working to snuff out the institute and their ways.
Can they help June rescue her brother... and if so, at what cost?
I hate a love hate relationship with the heroine in this book. At times he came across very immature when speaking to others, to the point I would have thought I was reading a YA book.
Overall though I enjoyed this book and the plot. Will be looking to read the next installment.
This book contains sexual situations and language.
**I received a digital copy of this book in exchange of an honest review**
February 27, 2015
Mon avis en Français
My English review
I was immediately intrigued when I saw the novel, it must be said that the mention of sirens always attracts me right away. I always particularly appreciate the feature of this kind of characters in urban fantasy. Still, I think I expected too much, the sirens finally did not deliver what I wanted and it lacked of a little punch, of action in the story to really take me but I will talk about that later.
June is a siren but she does not handle very well her powers. Besides with her brother, she has always preferred to stay on the margins of society rather than taking place to front in the media battle between the paranormal and humans. However, our young heroine will end up thrust into this world when her brother is kidnapped and she manages to escape just in time. But while he finds himself in a well-kept institute where someone experiences all sorts of things on him, June will do everything to help him and save him. For this, she will team up with the supernatural leader, Sam, but also with a young woman Cindy or even Misha, the man she has accidentally erased the memory of his recently deceased wife. But nothing will be easy and our heroine could fall in love with this man.
I had a little trouble with June. She is pretty minx in some cases and in others really vulgar and I struggled to make the connection between the two sides of her personality. She seemed to have a completely different nature and I quite struggle with the whole thing. I did not really understand her relationship with Misha , knowing if it was real or just a passing fancy in her life. It was quite strange to see how she reacted about that. After, it’s true that the story is still interesting and I was curious to see how it was going to be solved but something was missing … I’ve not really managed to get into the story or to enjoy the characters. I think the novel will please to others.
My English review
I was immediately intrigued when I saw the novel, it must be said that the mention of sirens always attracts me right away. I always particularly appreciate the feature of this kind of characters in urban fantasy. Still, I think I expected too much, the sirens finally did not deliver what I wanted and it lacked of a little punch, of action in the story to really take me but I will talk about that later.
June is a siren but she does not handle very well her powers. Besides with her brother, she has always preferred to stay on the margins of society rather than taking place to front in the media battle between the paranormal and humans. However, our young heroine will end up thrust into this world when her brother is kidnapped and she manages to escape just in time. But while he finds himself in a well-kept institute where someone experiences all sorts of things on him, June will do everything to help him and save him. For this, she will team up with the supernatural leader, Sam, but also with a young woman Cindy or even Misha, the man she has accidentally erased the memory of his recently deceased wife. But nothing will be easy and our heroine could fall in love with this man.
I had a little trouble with June. She is pretty minx in some cases and in others really vulgar and I struggled to make the connection between the two sides of her personality. She seemed to have a completely different nature and I quite struggle with the whole thing. I did not really understand her relationship with Misha , knowing if it was real or just a passing fancy in her life. It was quite strange to see how she reacted about that. After, it’s true that the story is still interesting and I was curious to see how it was going to be solved but something was missing … I’ve not really managed to get into the story or to enjoy the characters. I think the novel will please to others.
February 8, 2015
3.5 stars
*** I received an ARC from Kensington - Lyrical Press through NetGalley for an honest review. Expected publication date: 2/24/2015 ***
June, a Siren, falls under the category of paranormal but due to things that happened in her past, she has done everything she can to live a normal life, until she and her twin, Jason, get cajoled into going to Chicago and The Institute. Not long after they arrive things go to hell in a hand basket and June finds herself in the middle of a situation she spent her whole life trying to avoid.
June was an interesting character and I can’t say that I didn’t like her, but there were quite a few moments where I had the urge to smack her. She could go from being a snarky badass to a sullen teenager in two seconds flat, and her lack of edit button could be off putting to some, but I still couldn’t help but like her. She just felt real. While she was strong, she wasn’t a total badass all the time and her reactions to some things were pretty funny. I also found it interesting how little she knew about the situation in Chicago, but it fit since she has done all she can to maintain a normal life.
The rest of the cast of characters: Jason, Micha, Sam, Cindy, Muse, Robbie, Serendipity et al. All made the story fun to read, especially Cindy, They also served to give the world more depth because of the different roles they occupied in it. While this book/series is touted as paranormal romance, I’d classify it more as urban fantasy. There is a romantic element and a few sexy moments, but it’s not the main focus of this book and there are still a few things up in the air when it comes to that relationship, though I wouldn’t put it in total cliffhanger area.
Overall, I enjoy this book, there were times it dragged due to the authors attention to detail, which was not a bad thing and I believe others may enjoy it quite a bit, so I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next for the Siren and her cohorts.
*** I received an ARC from Kensington - Lyrical Press through NetGalley for an honest review. Expected publication date: 2/24/2015 ***
June, a Siren, falls under the category of paranormal but due to things that happened in her past, she has done everything she can to live a normal life, until she and her twin, Jason, get cajoled into going to Chicago and The Institute. Not long after they arrive things go to hell in a hand basket and June finds herself in the middle of a situation she spent her whole life trying to avoid.
June was an interesting character and I can’t say that I didn’t like her, but there were quite a few moments where I had the urge to smack her. She could go from being a snarky badass to a sullen teenager in two seconds flat, and her lack of edit button could be off putting to some, but I still couldn’t help but like her. She just felt real. While she was strong, she wasn’t a total badass all the time and her reactions to some things were pretty funny. I also found it interesting how little she knew about the situation in Chicago, but it fit since she has done all she can to maintain a normal life.
The rest of the cast of characters: Jason, Micha, Sam, Cindy, Muse, Robbie, Serendipity et al. All made the story fun to read, especially Cindy, They also served to give the world more depth because of the different roles they occupied in it. While this book/series is touted as paranormal romance, I’d classify it more as urban fantasy. There is a romantic element and a few sexy moments, but it’s not the main focus of this book and there are still a few things up in the air when it comes to that relationship, though I wouldn’t put it in total cliffhanger area.
Overall, I enjoy this book, there were times it dragged due to the authors attention to detail, which was not a bad thing and I believe others may enjoy it quite a bit, so I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next for the Siren and her cohorts.
March 6, 2015
This was definitely an entertaining novel. The thing that stood out to me the most was June's amazing voice (she's the only POV). The characters are well-written, the writing is great, and the story itself is interesting. There was a huge OMG moment about 75% of the way in, and I hadn't even realized I was that far into the book. A captivating book for sure.
Just so you know upfront, it's a bit different than most HEA's. June and Mischa (her 'love' interest) do get together at the end, but they were never really apart because for most of the book they were having a casual relationship. Their story ended on a positive/optimistic note, but their saga continues so to speak (I'm assuming this will be a series). And although it was a casual relationship, there was tension between them, making you want to root for them. Also, June is a very tough/rough around the edges character, and at first, I had trouble relating/connecting to her. I realized part-way through that I wished she had a bit more vulnerability about her -- something softer that I could've emotionally related better to -- but that's highly specific to me and what I look for in a heroine. Those 2 things are probably the only things keeping it from a 5-star.
I'd definitely recommend it for those looking for a different type of paranormal romance. Being that it's entertaining and well-written, it's worth it. It's a great start to what I'm sure will be an awesome series.
Just so you know upfront, it's a bit different than most HEA's. June and Mischa (her 'love' interest) do get together at the end, but they were never really apart because for most of the book they were having a casual relationship. Their story ended on a positive/optimistic note, but their saga continues so to speak (I'm assuming this will be a series). And although it was a casual relationship, there was tension between them, making you want to root for them. Also, June is a very tough/rough around the edges character, and at first, I had trouble relating/connecting to her. I realized part-way through that I wished she had a bit more vulnerability about her -- something softer that I could've emotionally related better to -- but that's highly specific to me and what I look for in a heroine. Those 2 things are probably the only things keeping it from a 5-star.
I'd definitely recommend it for those looking for a different type of paranormal romance. Being that it's entertaining and well-written, it's worth it. It's a great start to what I'm sure will be an awesome series.
Read
February 8, 2015DNF 70%
You know its not going good when you start skimming the "good" parts. THE WICKED CITY is just not for me. For an urban fantasy book, the action is pretty low key. No guns-a-blazing, no tense confrontations, no throbbing suspense. And maybe its just me, but when I saw "Siren" on the blurb, I was expecting a different kind of heroine. Sure, June has tons of personality, and super bad hygeine, but as far as her Siren powers are concerened, I'm left wanting for more, and ultimately I'm unimpressed & underwhelmed. Is that the extent of her voice? Is there more to her person? Where's the prophecy? Now I have a better appreciation for prophecies in UF.
And what's up with the psych squad? This feels more like sci-fi than UF-paranormal. Even the succubus was translated into something like a sex witch or some other "tele". It eventually became a brain stand-off & I got bored. If you have all these supes, at least make shit fly! Set things on fire! Give me something awe inspiring!!
THE WICKED CITY, in fairness, is a quick read. It just lacked a lot of oomph & the rest of the characters felt flat. June is good but she's not enough to carry this novel all by herself.
You know its not going good when you start skimming the "good" parts. THE WICKED CITY is just not for me. For an urban fantasy book, the action is pretty low key. No guns-a-blazing, no tense confrontations, no throbbing suspense. And maybe its just me, but when I saw "Siren" on the blurb, I was expecting a different kind of heroine. Sure, June has tons of personality, and super bad hygeine, but as far as her Siren powers are concerened, I'm left wanting for more, and ultimately I'm unimpressed & underwhelmed. Is that the extent of her voice? Is there more to her person? Where's the prophecy? Now I have a better appreciation for prophecies in UF.
And what's up with the psych squad? This feels more like sci-fi than UF-paranormal. Even the succubus was translated into something like a sex witch or some other "tele". It eventually became a brain stand-off & I got bored. If you have all these supes, at least make shit fly! Set things on fire! Give me something awe inspiring!!
THE WICKED CITY, in fairness, is a quick read. It just lacked a lot of oomph & the rest of the characters felt flat. June is good but she's not enough to carry this novel all by herself.
April 1, 2015
Oh, really great book! Really enjoyed it, and yeah, just such a great premise, and Iknow I'll have to read more of this series!
June 28, 2020
Feels like a young author with promise but has some maturing to do. Interesting plot line but sometimes I was left scratching my head as to why the characters reacted the way they did and what they were thinking.
Read
November 5, 2024An interesting setup with a brassy MC. The beginning and end had me turning pages but I was less intrigued by the planning and action scenes in the middle.
March 2, 2015
UPDATE: This book is out today!!
This book was such a pleasant surprise.
To say that I have been underwhelmed by the books I have been receiving on netgalley lately would be a huge understatement, and then this book comes along and revives my belief in good quality characters and a solid story.
The Wicked City is a novel based around June Coffin, a sassy, sarcastic Siren, who can make you do anything she wants, with the power of her voice. She has recently escaped from a place called The Institute, where she and her twin brother were being studied, for what purpose, she doesn't know. While she managed to escape when the tests started to get more and more invasive, The Institute still holds her brother, Jason, and now June is forced to work with people she barely knows or trusts, in order to get Jason back. Throw in two hot men vying for her attention, each with their own complications and this is one hell of a story.
I think I related to our heroine more than the average leading lady, because June, like me, has food allergies, loves wine and has a good appreciation for hot men. Her disdain for hipsters was hilarious and her wit, sarcasm and self-deprecation really helped me relate to her and really get behind her as the story progressed.
The story line was entertaining, and kept me guessing most of the way through. It’s not very often that I am thinking about a book while I am not reading it, but that is exactly what I was doing, I was actively trying to think about where the story might be heading, and then I would be even more excited to pick the book back up and see if my suspicions were confirmed. While I guessed one of the major plot twists long before it was revealed, there were plenty of other things that took me by surprise and kept me entertained.
We are introduced to two love interests in this book, Micha, the tall, blonde haired, blue eyed man who originally helps June to escape from The Institute and Sam, our Tall, Dark and Handsome hero who is moving heaven and earth to help June get her brother back. I usually hate love triangles, but in this novel, I didn't mind so much. I think I am on team Sam, and that might just be because I love sexual tension and am a sucker for anyone Tall, Dark & Handsome.
The love scenes in this are steamy, they are not by any means the focus of this book, which leads me to say that this is closer to an urban fiction than a paranormal romance, but if you are after an interesting story that will keep you guessing, with more than a dash of love in there, then this is the book for you.
The supporting characters in this were what helped the story to really jump off the page. Their banter with June actually had me laughing out loud at several points while I was reading and I am still smiling just thinking about it, this book is good.
This book has elements to it that reminded me of The Disillusionst Trilogy by Carolyn Crane, but I liked the supernatural forces and the backdrop of this novel more, and actually liking both of the love interests has helped this surpass Ms. Crane's offering.
This book does have a solid conclusion to it, but I can see there is definitely potential for it to be turned into a series, and I would be very interested to read the next installments, if this were the case.
Enjoyable, witty and well written, I applaud Megan Morgan on a very well executed debut full length novel.
3.5 Stars.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was such a pleasant surprise.
To say that I have been underwhelmed by the books I have been receiving on netgalley lately would be a huge understatement, and then this book comes along and revives my belief in good quality characters and a solid story.
The Wicked City is a novel based around June Coffin, a sassy, sarcastic Siren, who can make you do anything she wants, with the power of her voice. She has recently escaped from a place called The Institute, where she and her twin brother were being studied, for what purpose, she doesn't know. While she managed to escape when the tests started to get more and more invasive, The Institute still holds her brother, Jason, and now June is forced to work with people she barely knows or trusts, in order to get Jason back. Throw in two hot men vying for her attention, each with their own complications and this is one hell of a story.
I think I related to our heroine more than the average leading lady, because June, like me, has food allergies, loves wine and has a good appreciation for hot men. Her disdain for hipsters was hilarious and her wit, sarcasm and self-deprecation really helped me relate to her and really get behind her as the story progressed.
The story line was entertaining, and kept me guessing most of the way through. It’s not very often that I am thinking about a book while I am not reading it, but that is exactly what I was doing, I was actively trying to think about where the story might be heading, and then I would be even more excited to pick the book back up and see if my suspicions were confirmed. While I guessed one of the major plot twists long before it was revealed, there were plenty of other things that took me by surprise and kept me entertained.
We are introduced to two love interests in this book, Micha, the tall, blonde haired, blue eyed man who originally helps June to escape from The Institute and Sam, our Tall, Dark and Handsome hero who is moving heaven and earth to help June get her brother back. I usually hate love triangles, but in this novel, I didn't mind so much. I think I am on team Sam, and that might just be because I love sexual tension and am a sucker for anyone Tall, Dark & Handsome.
The love scenes in this are steamy, they are not by any means the focus of this book, which leads me to say that this is closer to an urban fiction than a paranormal romance, but if you are after an interesting story that will keep you guessing, with more than a dash of love in there, then this is the book for you.
The supporting characters in this were what helped the story to really jump off the page. Their banter with June actually had me laughing out loud at several points while I was reading and I am still smiling just thinking about it, this book is good.
This book has elements to it that reminded me of The Disillusionst Trilogy by Carolyn Crane, but I liked the supernatural forces and the backdrop of this novel more, and actually liking both of the love interests has helped this surpass Ms. Crane's offering.
This book does have a solid conclusion to it, but I can see there is definitely potential for it to be turned into a series, and I would be very interested to read the next installments, if this were the case.
Enjoyable, witty and well written, I applaud Megan Morgan on a very well executed debut full length novel.
3.5 Stars.
"I hang out with my friends in shitty bars, I like whiskey and wine and I've never figured out how to have a boyfriend for more than six months. I'm a mess, but it's my life. It's normal, compared to all this. I just want a normal life."
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2015
Reviewed for Confessions From Romaholics
Review copy kindly provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review
The author had an interesting premise for The Wicked City a story about normals and paranormals living together in the open in this alternative world . However this isn’t with out the problems. The Wicked City offers a somewhat intimate look at these problems with the city of Chicago dissented showing all of its glory as different groups decided to take a stand and make a changes that seem better in their eyes for their race at a cost for others.
Our heroine, June is a Siren and is wanted to help the paranormals and agreed to come to Chicago to the paranormal institute with her twin Jason. However she discovers that everything isn’t she believes it was with institute and manages to escape. Leaving her brother at the institute hands and she know she needs to get him out A.S.A.P.
However that is only the beginning and this book follow hers escapades as she tries to recover her brother and deal with the human hero Micah who she can’t decided whether to hate or love. He doesn’t remember what happened thanks to June and seems a little bit manipulated. I found their relationship to be a bit weird as the whole prisoner thing and the fact his wife has just died. Oh and she was working at the institute. The only saving grace is they are playing around not willing to make it serious and hopefully with the changes that seem to be come in the second novel things will become clear.
And the only the beginning as June is forced to see out the last people she wants to be associated with now that she knows the truth about the institute. She wants to be normal and hide away but instead she has become entangled up in the paranormal world . Specifically paranormal activist group who is determined to take the institute down once for all and want June help. It doesn’t matter that her brother inside and sees her risking her life to rescue her brother. But will she be successful with so much opposition. Chicago is about to become a battlefield.
Wicked City does deliver Chicago that is fitting of the name with the various characters that appear in the book . However I felt that we need more, like a prologue of however our heroine June and her brother got into the mess that they did with the paranormal institute. When we open this book we get straight into the action. It need a bit more ooph and June need to be more the kickass heroine she was written to be instead of one who seemed more fitting for a new adult/ young adult book
That why I can only give this 3.5 couples even though I wanted to rate it higher, the character of June need to embody the role , personal she was given. As she didn’t fit this different paranormal tale and stood out for all the wrong reasons . It is a pity as this book is pretty entertaining once it gets going.
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Review copy kindly provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review
The author had an interesting premise for The Wicked City a story about normals and paranormals living together in the open in this alternative world . However this isn’t with out the problems. The Wicked City offers a somewhat intimate look at these problems with the city of Chicago dissented showing all of its glory as different groups decided to take a stand and make a changes that seem better in their eyes for their race at a cost for others.
Our heroine, June is a Siren and is wanted to help the paranormals and agreed to come to Chicago to the paranormal institute with her twin Jason. However she discovers that everything isn’t she believes it was with institute and manages to escape. Leaving her brother at the institute hands and she know she needs to get him out A.S.A.P.
However that is only the beginning and this book follow hers escapades as she tries to recover her brother and deal with the human hero Micah who she can’t decided whether to hate or love. He doesn’t remember what happened thanks to June and seems a little bit manipulated. I found their relationship to be a bit weird as the whole prisoner thing and the fact his wife has just died. Oh and she was working at the institute. The only saving grace is they are playing around not willing to make it serious and hopefully with the changes that seem to be come in the second novel things will become clear.
And the only the beginning as June is forced to see out the last people she wants to be associated with now that she knows the truth about the institute. She wants to be normal and hide away but instead she has become entangled up in the paranormal world . Specifically paranormal activist group who is determined to take the institute down once for all and want June help. It doesn’t matter that her brother inside and sees her risking her life to rescue her brother. But will she be successful with so much opposition. Chicago is about to become a battlefield.
Wicked City does deliver Chicago that is fitting of the name with the various characters that appear in the book . However I felt that we need more, like a prologue of however our heroine June and her brother got into the mess that they did with the paranormal institute. When we open this book we get straight into the action. It need a bit more ooph and June need to be more the kickass heroine she was written to be instead of one who seemed more fitting for a new adult/ young adult book
That why I can only give this 3.5 couples even though I wanted to rate it higher, the character of June need to embody the role , personal she was given. As she didn’t fit this different paranormal tale and stood out for all the wrong reasons . It is a pity as this book is pretty entertaining once it gets going.
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February 3, 2015
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
Whatever June Coffin says, goes—literally. And it’s not just because she’s a chain smoking rebel. As a Siren, June has the ability to force people to obey any command she voices. But in a world where those with supernatural powers quickly become lab rats for science, she’d rather look out for herself than fight on the front lines…until her similarly gifted twin brother, Jason, is captured by Chicago’s Institute of Supernatural Research.
To save Jason, June has no choice but to enter a hidden world of conspiracy, murder—and strange bedfellows—including a widowed paranormal advocate whose memory June accidentally erased, and a fiery paranormal separatist leader. Soon the lines between attraction and strategic alliance become blurred. But in a city exploding with paranormal crossfire, and her brother’s life at stake, June will have to face her inner demons and finally take a stand.
Can I just say...Wow! What a great story. The Wicked City is so much different from any UF or paranormal romance book out there right now. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and Megan Morgan left me wanting more! Her writing is so descriptive and creative I felt as if I was inside the story.
I love finding new authors about to make it big and Miss Morgan is certainly one to watch out for! She is a great writer with so much talent. Her characters are well developed, each has his or her own special something that makes them stand out, and not to mention their pretty kickass! I really fell in love with The Wicked City, and I can't wait to see what's in store for us next.
June was a great protagonist. She was funny, witty, and never boring or complacent. June was an all around badass.Her sarcasm and self-deprecation really helped me relate to her. Well, that and the fact that she has amazing taste in men. Over all I think as a lead character she was everything she should be, and then some.
June has two men in her life in The Wicked City. Micha is the blue eyed, blonde, and an all American boy. He is very sweet throughout the story and I really liked how he and June meshed. Then we have Sam. Sam is exactly the opposite of Micha. Mysterious, tall, dark, and handsome. He is definitely hot, and what's makes him even more sexy are the lengths he is willing to go to for our June.
The only problem I had with The Wicked City was that in the beginning it was hard to get into the story. I was a little confused as to what was going on, and at some points I was utterly lost. However,after the first few chapters I found my way. I got so into the book that I couldn't put it down. Over all this was a fantastic read and I am so glad I got the chance to review it!
I would recommend this book to all lovers of Paranormal Romance.
Whatever June Coffin says, goes—literally. And it’s not just because she’s a chain smoking rebel. As a Siren, June has the ability to force people to obey any command she voices. But in a world where those with supernatural powers quickly become lab rats for science, she’d rather look out for herself than fight on the front lines…until her similarly gifted twin brother, Jason, is captured by Chicago’s Institute of Supernatural Research.
To save Jason, June has no choice but to enter a hidden world of conspiracy, murder—and strange bedfellows—including a widowed paranormal advocate whose memory June accidentally erased, and a fiery paranormal separatist leader. Soon the lines between attraction and strategic alliance become blurred. But in a city exploding with paranormal crossfire, and her brother’s life at stake, June will have to face her inner demons and finally take a stand.
Can I just say...Wow! What a great story. The Wicked City is so much different from any UF or paranormal romance book out there right now. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and Megan Morgan left me wanting more! Her writing is so descriptive and creative I felt as if I was inside the story.
I love finding new authors about to make it big and Miss Morgan is certainly one to watch out for! She is a great writer with so much talent. Her characters are well developed, each has his or her own special something that makes them stand out, and not to mention their pretty kickass! I really fell in love with The Wicked City, and I can't wait to see what's in store for us next.
June was a great protagonist. She was funny, witty, and never boring or complacent. June was an all around badass.Her sarcasm and self-deprecation really helped me relate to her. Well, that and the fact that she has amazing taste in men. Over all I think as a lead character she was everything she should be, and then some.
June has two men in her life in The Wicked City. Micha is the blue eyed, blonde, and an all American boy. He is very sweet throughout the story and I really liked how he and June meshed. Then we have Sam. Sam is exactly the opposite of Micha. Mysterious, tall, dark, and handsome. He is definitely hot, and what's makes him even more sexy are the lengths he is willing to go to for our June.
The only problem I had with The Wicked City was that in the beginning it was hard to get into the story. I was a little confused as to what was going on, and at some points I was utterly lost. However,after the first few chapters I found my way. I got so into the book that I couldn't put it down. Over all this was a fantastic read and I am so glad I got the chance to review it!
I would recommend this book to all lovers of Paranormal Romance.
June 23, 2015
Originally posted on Mar 3 2015 at Butterfly-o-Meter Books:
In a Flutter: Different
Fluttering Thoughts:
Worldbuilding: For a UF, the Siren Song series has a pretty low key fantasy element. In fact, it tends to “translate” the fantasy into a Sci-Fi-ish note in a way (telepathy, telekinesis, aural captivator, so on). I was hoping for a really fantasy-flavored read when I got the book, that’s true, but I found the approach interesting and more on the unconventional side. You guys know I like the unconventional side, lol.
Characters: June, the MC, is the kind of character you’ll either hate or love, I think. I’m not sure there’s a middle ground here. I for one loved her. She had a lot of attitude, and I’m a huge fan of tats&attitude in a chick. She liked what she liked, and the world be screwed. Kudos to her for that. At times she came off as petulant maybe, but a lot of that came from her sort of quirky sense of humor, and I found it fun and not annoying. She’s a very flawed and unapologetic female MC and I seriously love that :) What I didn’t much like was how little she seemed to personally drive the plot. More on that below, lol. I would have liked June to be the triggering factor more.
The rest of the cast was fun, but I can’t say any of them won my heart. Okay, except Dipity, lol. I loved the cat. Micha was the kind of understated mancandy I don’t much fall for. The June/Micha tangent was hot, there was some nice chemistry there, but I can’t say I was “sold” on it all the way. There’s room to grow there, lol. Sam was intriguing and I wanna find out more about him, and I liked Muse.
Plot: The story was more suspense I guess than actual action. Since I’m not a hardcore fan of agitated action, I didn’t mind that. If you’re more of an action fan, it might feel kind of slow to you. A lot of the action was more group-driven than MC-driven, and pretty low key for a UF.
Writing: Third person, past tense narrative from June’s POV. Since she’s quite snarky and fun, it made the style a very likable choice for me. It’s a very visual style, descriptive enough to paint the pictures in your head.
Curb Appeal: Awesome cover, hooking blurb – it does suggest “unconventional”, which it is.
All in all, I found The Wicked City interesting and I think I’d love to read the next installments in the series. It’s fun, quick reading, reasonably fast paced, liked the humor (always a big plus for me!) and a lot of potential. I’m curious to see where the series will go in time.
I recommend it if you’re into quirky characters, not that agitated action and newish but not overly done perspectives on the paranormal world.
In a Flutter: Different
Fluttering Thoughts:
Worldbuilding: For a UF, the Siren Song series has a pretty low key fantasy element. In fact, it tends to “translate” the fantasy into a Sci-Fi-ish note in a way (telepathy, telekinesis, aural captivator, so on). I was hoping for a really fantasy-flavored read when I got the book, that’s true, but I found the approach interesting and more on the unconventional side. You guys know I like the unconventional side, lol.
Characters: June, the MC, is the kind of character you’ll either hate or love, I think. I’m not sure there’s a middle ground here. I for one loved her. She had a lot of attitude, and I’m a huge fan of tats&attitude in a chick. She liked what she liked, and the world be screwed. Kudos to her for that. At times she came off as petulant maybe, but a lot of that came from her sort of quirky sense of humor, and I found it fun and not annoying. She’s a very flawed and unapologetic female MC and I seriously love that :) What I didn’t much like was how little she seemed to personally drive the plot. More on that below, lol. I would have liked June to be the triggering factor more.
The rest of the cast was fun, but I can’t say any of them won my heart. Okay, except Dipity, lol. I loved the cat. Micha was the kind of understated mancandy I don’t much fall for. The June/Micha tangent was hot, there was some nice chemistry there, but I can’t say I was “sold” on it all the way. There’s room to grow there, lol. Sam was intriguing and I wanna find out more about him, and I liked Muse.
Plot: The story was more suspense I guess than actual action. Since I’m not a hardcore fan of agitated action, I didn’t mind that. If you’re more of an action fan, it might feel kind of slow to you. A lot of the action was more group-driven than MC-driven, and pretty low key for a UF.
Writing: Third person, past tense narrative from June’s POV. Since she’s quite snarky and fun, it made the style a very likable choice for me. It’s a very visual style, descriptive enough to paint the pictures in your head.
Curb Appeal: Awesome cover, hooking blurb – it does suggest “unconventional”, which it is.
All in all, I found The Wicked City interesting and I think I’d love to read the next installments in the series. It’s fun, quick reading, reasonably fast paced, liked the humor (always a big plus for me!) and a lot of potential. I’m curious to see where the series will go in time.
I recommend it if you’re into quirky characters, not that agitated action and newish but not overly done perspectives on the paranormal world.
January 26, 2015
See the full review - including quotes and similar book recommendations - on GraveTells here (live on February 26, 105): http://gravetells.com/paranormal-roma...
This book definitely took some time to get into; I was sorely tempted to put it down in the first two chapters, and then decreasingly periodically after that. By the time I got to 40% though, I didn't want to put it down!
The cons...
The characters are difficult to connect with at first. The author's style of narration is satiric, almost flat. Once I had a better understanding of who June Coffin was and what elements of her personality were most borrowed for the tone of the narrative, I had an "ah hah!" moment. The mood of the story is heavily colored by June's prickly persona, so as you get to know June better, you inherently start to understand more nuances of the storytelling, with its underlying humor and sarcasm. That knowledge was hard won though, and since there were several plot pieces that seemed inconsistent, a less tolerant reader may be tempted to just stop reading (I certainly was!). The story just feels like something is off, like a sweater that doesn't quite fit and but you can't really put your finger on exactly why. In the prologue of the book, Ms. Morgan talks about how The Wicked City evolved and how June's character was layered together, one aspect at a time. I highly recommend you start there, as that foreword actually gives a lot of good insight into June and the story's pacing, or you may never make it to...
The pros...
The little details scattered throughout the early story that seemed indulgent and inconsequential? Totally come together in the last 20% of the story. I practically flew through those last chapters and didn't want it to end. I actually came to really like June and her caustic personality; under all that gruff is a gal I bet a lot of us identify with on some level...
I also had trouble identifying the romantic interest... and you know what? I actually like that. I came into this story expecting paranormal romance and got a nice big serving of urban fantasy, and I'm proud to say that I - ultimately - thoroughly enjoyed it. This is not a story meant to be told in one book. I can't wait to see what happens with June, Sam, Jason, Micha, and Muse.
This book definitely took some time to get into; I was sorely tempted to put it down in the first two chapters, and then decreasingly periodically after that. By the time I got to 40% though, I didn't want to put it down!
The cons...
The characters are difficult to connect with at first. The author's style of narration is satiric, almost flat. Once I had a better understanding of who June Coffin was and what elements of her personality were most borrowed for the tone of the narrative, I had an "ah hah!" moment. The mood of the story is heavily colored by June's prickly persona, so as you get to know June better, you inherently start to understand more nuances of the storytelling, with its underlying humor and sarcasm. That knowledge was hard won though, and since there were several plot pieces that seemed inconsistent, a less tolerant reader may be tempted to just stop reading (I certainly was!). The story just feels like something is off, like a sweater that doesn't quite fit and but you can't really put your finger on exactly why. In the prologue of the book, Ms. Morgan talks about how The Wicked City evolved and how June's character was layered together, one aspect at a time. I highly recommend you start there, as that foreword actually gives a lot of good insight into June and the story's pacing, or you may never make it to...
The pros...
The little details scattered throughout the early story that seemed indulgent and inconsequential? Totally come together in the last 20% of the story. I practically flew through those last chapters and didn't want it to end. I actually came to really like June and her caustic personality; under all that gruff is a gal I bet a lot of us identify with on some level...
I also had trouble identifying the romantic interest... and you know what? I actually like that. I came into this story expecting paranormal romance and got a nice big serving of urban fantasy, and I'm proud to say that I - ultimately - thoroughly enjoyed it. This is not a story meant to be told in one book. I can't wait to see what happens with June, Sam, Jason, Micha, and Muse.
May 23, 2016
This book was a nice easy and quick read, which I really did enjoy reading about and I will continue with the other books in this series. My only issue with the book was that I felt that some of the characters could have done with more of an introduction and clearer backstory.
The main characters are June and Micha, June is the bad ass tattooed and pierced siren that is on an almost desperate mission to her brother. Micha is a guy who June has always appreciated from afar since he was married but since the death of his wife and something I felt wasn’t explained properly that brought him together with June. The two start engaging in a physical and romantic relationship as they try to reason with the people needed to escort them on their mission. The two characters when together are really great but I especially like June even when she’s on her own.
There are a lot of secondary characters in this book but for me the most noteworthy included Jason, Sam and Cindy. Jason is June’s twin brother who has been captured and held against his will by the paranormal ‘Institute’, it is June’s determination to get him free that helps the others form an alliance. Sam is a wealthy upper class member of the paranormal community owning through an agreement a stretch of land / building in Chicago, he helps June’s cause and joins the rebellion against the ‘Institute’. Cindy is a friend of Sam’s, she also plays a big role in rescuing Jason.
The storyline is similar to other books I’ve read but it was still highly enjoyable. The pacing was good although I wished there was more of an introduction to some of the characters and would have appreciated a better explanation of the backstory of the characters.
3.5 stars a decent read
The main characters are June and Micha, June is the bad ass tattooed and pierced siren that is on an almost desperate mission to her brother. Micha is a guy who June has always appreciated from afar since he was married but since the death of his wife and something I felt wasn’t explained properly that brought him together with June. The two start engaging in a physical and romantic relationship as they try to reason with the people needed to escort them on their mission. The two characters when together are really great but I especially like June even when she’s on her own.
There are a lot of secondary characters in this book but for me the most noteworthy included Jason, Sam and Cindy. Jason is June’s twin brother who has been captured and held against his will by the paranormal ‘Institute’, it is June’s determination to get him free that helps the others form an alliance. Sam is a wealthy upper class member of the paranormal community owning through an agreement a stretch of land / building in Chicago, he helps June’s cause and joins the rebellion against the ‘Institute’. Cindy is a friend of Sam’s, she also plays a big role in rescuing Jason.
The storyline is similar to other books I’ve read but it was still highly enjoyable. The pacing was good although I wished there was more of an introduction to some of the characters and would have appreciated a better explanation of the backstory of the characters.
3.5 stars a decent read
March 7, 2015
**I received an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review**
June Coffin has what the scientists call a hypnotic voice phenomenon, or an invasive persuasion. June's twin brother's name is Jason and they are both sirens. June saw Micha Bellevue give a lecture at the Chicago Institute for Supernatural Research. She had been held captive there but broke out. June needed to get out of Chicago but couldn't until she got Jason out of the institute where he was being held captive. Micha was a paranormal activist but still believed in the institute. June is staying at Cindy's house while she tries to figure out a way to rescue Jason. Cindy's friend Robby is telepathic and also a powerful telekinetic. Cindy and Robby take June to see Sam Haain. he is the leader of the Paranormal Alliance. Sam has all kinds of connections within the city. Using an Oracle of Death, they are told not to go to the institute but to have him brought out in public instead and for him to get to Ethan Roberts. Ethan Roberts is the lead paranormal reporter for the Tribute. There is also the Secular Normalists of Chicago, a dastardly force that is spreading misinformation and blatant ignorance about paranormals.
I feel June loves her brother and is very determined to rescue him even at the cost of her own life. Yet she's also very attracted to Micha although she also feels guilty as his wife was recently murdered trying to help June and Jason escape.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. There are a lot of turns that June goes through. I like the way the book ended. I would recommend the book to anyone that enjoys paranormal books.
June Coffin has what the scientists call a hypnotic voice phenomenon, or an invasive persuasion. June's twin brother's name is Jason and they are both sirens. June saw Micha Bellevue give a lecture at the Chicago Institute for Supernatural Research. She had been held captive there but broke out. June needed to get out of Chicago but couldn't until she got Jason out of the institute where he was being held captive. Micha was a paranormal activist but still believed in the institute. June is staying at Cindy's house while she tries to figure out a way to rescue Jason. Cindy's friend Robby is telepathic and also a powerful telekinetic. Cindy and Robby take June to see Sam Haain. he is the leader of the Paranormal Alliance. Sam has all kinds of connections within the city. Using an Oracle of Death, they are told not to go to the institute but to have him brought out in public instead and for him to get to Ethan Roberts. Ethan Roberts is the lead paranormal reporter for the Tribute. There is also the Secular Normalists of Chicago, a dastardly force that is spreading misinformation and blatant ignorance about paranormals.
I feel June loves her brother and is very determined to rescue him even at the cost of her own life. Yet she's also very attracted to Micha although she also feels guilty as his wife was recently murdered trying to help June and Jason escape.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. There are a lot of turns that June goes through. I like the way the book ended. I would recommend the book to anyone that enjoys paranormal books.
March 16, 2015
PLOT IN A NUTSHELL
This story revolves around June Coffin, a Siren who’s accidentally had her twin brother caught by the evil scientist enemies because of her big mouth. After accidentally wiping the mind of a guy she’s just met, Micha, and having his wife killed to escape, she teams up with the paranormal alliance leader, Sam, and basically spends the rest of the book trying to save her brother from their evil clutches.
MY THOUGHTS
This book was a little hard to get into, there was a lot of mystery and I felt I had to work a little too hard to start with, I almost put it down, but in the end was glad I didn’t. The author’s take on the urban fantasy/paranormal romance genre was refreshing. The protagonist, June was not your usual ass-kicking chick, but instead, a little crude, allergic to everything, and covered in tattoos. She had the usual attitude and big mouth you’d expect the lead female to have in this genre, and the sex drive too, but I was still drawn to each character’s uniqueness and enjoyed the plot being a little something more political than just battle after battle. I really liked the individual characters and the raw edge the author gave a lot of them. The story was quirky at times, but well thought out. You can tell the author writes erotic fiction as her other genre, sometimes I found there was a little bit TMI in that respect, but I would read the next in the series.
BOOK COVER REVIEW
Yes, the cover looks similar to a standard PR or UF book cover, but I feel as though the typography is a little undercooked. With so much bare background, there is room to play with the font to make it stand out more.
This story revolves around June Coffin, a Siren who’s accidentally had her twin brother caught by the evil scientist enemies because of her big mouth. After accidentally wiping the mind of a guy she’s just met, Micha, and having his wife killed to escape, she teams up with the paranormal alliance leader, Sam, and basically spends the rest of the book trying to save her brother from their evil clutches.
MY THOUGHTS
This book was a little hard to get into, there was a lot of mystery and I felt I had to work a little too hard to start with, I almost put it down, but in the end was glad I didn’t. The author’s take on the urban fantasy/paranormal romance genre was refreshing. The protagonist, June was not your usual ass-kicking chick, but instead, a little crude, allergic to everything, and covered in tattoos. She had the usual attitude and big mouth you’d expect the lead female to have in this genre, and the sex drive too, but I was still drawn to each character’s uniqueness and enjoyed the plot being a little something more political than just battle after battle. I really liked the individual characters and the raw edge the author gave a lot of them. The story was quirky at times, but well thought out. You can tell the author writes erotic fiction as her other genre, sometimes I found there was a little bit TMI in that respect, but I would read the next in the series.
BOOK COVER REVIEW
Yes, the cover looks similar to a standard PR or UF book cover, but I feel as though the typography is a little undercooked. With so much bare background, there is room to play with the font to make it stand out more.
March 29, 2015
I thought this book was way cool. The main character has an amazing way of telling the story- of course that credit really goes to the author. There's an institute for paranormals. You see, people have categories now. And those with something special about them really don't want anyone else to know.
June needs to get her brother out of the institute she escaped from. June's a rough take charge kinda girl. I loved that about her. She's not the soft or vulnerable type. She also sometimes needs to maybe grow up just a little. She's a Siren, and she wants to live a normal life. She doesn't want her paranormal side to rule her life. But then her twin Jason and her somehow get talked into this institute. Yeah lots of chaos ensues and she is stuck right where she spent her whole time trying to avoid.
There are some great side characters, her brother, her kinda boyfriend Micha, Sam, Cindy is hilarious. I always have a tendency to love the side characters because they bring such depth and complexity to the stories. June's wanting to hide has also kept her out of the knowledgeable loop with the human/paranormal things. Her escape brings about her need to find her brother and learn a whole lot more than she thought she understood.
The writing is well done and I liked the story line. I'm not real sure how I feel about Micha and June with a relationship, but I look forward to seeing how it will progress. Overall I liked this story and I want to read more!! :) 4 PAWS!!
June needs to get her brother out of the institute she escaped from. June's a rough take charge kinda girl. I loved that about her. She's not the soft or vulnerable type. She also sometimes needs to maybe grow up just a little. She's a Siren, and she wants to live a normal life. She doesn't want her paranormal side to rule her life. But then her twin Jason and her somehow get talked into this institute. Yeah lots of chaos ensues and she is stuck right where she spent her whole time trying to avoid.
There are some great side characters, her brother, her kinda boyfriend Micha, Sam, Cindy is hilarious. I always have a tendency to love the side characters because they bring such depth and complexity to the stories. June's wanting to hide has also kept her out of the knowledgeable loop with the human/paranormal things. Her escape brings about her need to find her brother and learn a whole lot more than she thought she understood.
The writing is well done and I liked the story line. I'm not real sure how I feel about Micha and June with a relationship, but I look forward to seeing how it will progress. Overall I liked this story and I want to read more!! :) 4 PAWS!!
June 6, 2016
Life hasn't been easy for June Coffin. She and her twin brother Jason are sirens, but both are reluctant to use their powers. They just want a normal life, but making a living is hard. The Chicago Institute of Supernatural Research offers them some money with a smile and then uses them as lab rats. June escapes, but Jason does not. She needs to rescue him and enters into world of paranormal conspiracy to do so. June has no idea what she's gotten herself into, but when the world comes crashing down around her, she must find out the truth or be destroyed with it.
An impishly marvelous start to this paranormal series. Great world building with how the supernaturals of the world are trying to gain acceptance and make lives for themselves, and all the politics and conflicts over them. This story made me laugh, gasp, and fan myself. The author has a talent for detail, and I loved she used paranormal beings that we don't often see in this genre.
June is a super strong protagonist. Loved all her tattoos, cursing, and kick butt attitude. Yet she isn't only a saucy mouth. She's vulnerable and emotional. I didn't quite get her relationship with Misha even though I understand her conflict about it. I was far more interested in Sam and the tension between him and June. Lots of fantastic characters: Muse, Jason, and Cindy. I hope to see more of them in the next books. And yes, I will pick up the next one!
An impishly marvelous start to this paranormal series. Great world building with how the supernaturals of the world are trying to gain acceptance and make lives for themselves, and all the politics and conflicts over them. This story made me laugh, gasp, and fan myself. The author has a talent for detail, and I loved she used paranormal beings that we don't often see in this genre.
June is a super strong protagonist. Loved all her tattoos, cursing, and kick butt attitude. Yet she isn't only a saucy mouth. She's vulnerable and emotional. I didn't quite get her relationship with Misha even though I understand her conflict about it. I was far more interested in Sam and the tension between him and June. Lots of fantastic characters: Muse, Jason, and Cindy. I hope to see more of them in the next books. And yes, I will pick up the next one!
February 27, 2015
Not a bad start for a UF debut!
We're introduced to a modern-day Chicago where paranormals with varying abilities are persecuted, a series of "normals" are rather opposed to them, and an apparently innocuous Institute studies these paranormals but has some rather dodgy scientists with less than savoury intentions.
The story launches right into the action, which had me a tad confused until I caught up a few chapters later. Our MC, June, is heavily tattooed and pierced, chain-smoking, potty-mouthed, crude, witty, brave and loyal. She's not always likeable, but really, I like my protagonists sassy and unpredictable.
After her twin is captured by the Institute, June teams up with a number of unlikely characters, including the amnesiac husband of one of the researcher's killed in June's escape, the pervy schmuck who is also the leader of the Paranormal Alliance, and a number of cohorts with mindreading and telekinetic abilities.
What follows involves a lot of political manuovering, unlikely allies, June having to prove her worth, rescue attempts, betrayals and a number of near-death experiences. While the book wasn't flawless - I have some reservations about June and the romance- it was certainly enjoyable, and things have been set up nicely for the sequel.
ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
We're introduced to a modern-day Chicago where paranormals with varying abilities are persecuted, a series of "normals" are rather opposed to them, and an apparently innocuous Institute studies these paranormals but has some rather dodgy scientists with less than savoury intentions.
The story launches right into the action, which had me a tad confused until I caught up a few chapters later. Our MC, June, is heavily tattooed and pierced, chain-smoking, potty-mouthed, crude, witty, brave and loyal. She's not always likeable, but really, I like my protagonists sassy and unpredictable.
After her twin is captured by the Institute, June teams up with a number of unlikely characters, including the amnesiac husband of one of the researcher's killed in June's escape, the pervy schmuck who is also the leader of the Paranormal Alliance, and a number of cohorts with mindreading and telekinetic abilities.
What follows involves a lot of political manuovering, unlikely allies, June having to prove her worth, rescue attempts, betrayals and a number of near-death experiences. While the book wasn't flawless - I have some reservations about June and the romance- it was certainly enjoyable, and things have been set up nicely for the sequel.
ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2017
I should say first of all that I don’t normally read steamy romances, and since a big part of the story falls into this environments, I’m afraid a have to confess it didn’t’ really do anything for me.
But fortunately, other elements of the story are more SF, more adventure and even more mysteries, and I enjoyed these quite a lot.
My favourite part is the political plot. I really enjoyed the kind of society depicted in this novel, a society where paranormal people exist, live in among normal people and are discriminated against and feared. So political movements arise to take down the paranormals on one side, or fight for paranormal people’s rights on the other and the general environment sounds very realistic to me, not to mention ripe for a lot of action to happen.
June, the protagonist and a reluctant paranormal, is in the more interesting position to tell this story. She is a siren, someone who can control people with the power of her voice, had escaped the lab where she and her twin brother were studied like guinea pigs and now has joined forces with the ‘rebels’ to try and save her brother.
The pace is a bit slow in places, but overall it’s a fun read.
But fortunately, other elements of the story are more SF, more adventure and even more mysteries, and I enjoyed these quite a lot.
My favourite part is the political plot. I really enjoyed the kind of society depicted in this novel, a society where paranormal people exist, live in among normal people and are discriminated against and feared. So political movements arise to take down the paranormals on one side, or fight for paranormal people’s rights on the other and the general environment sounds very realistic to me, not to mention ripe for a lot of action to happen.
June, the protagonist and a reluctant paranormal, is in the more interesting position to tell this story. She is a siren, someone who can control people with the power of her voice, had escaped the lab where she and her twin brother were studied like guinea pigs and now has joined forces with the ‘rebels’ to try and save her brother.
The pace is a bit slow in places, but overall it’s a fun read.
January 15, 2015
Wow, apparently this story was 7 years in the making. I can see why, it is certainly a labour of love, and for that alone I give full credit to the author.
The writing is very descriptive. Every detail intimately described, body features, facial features, clothing, what everyone was wearing at all times, environment and character characteristics. Paranormal activity, vampires, ghosts, tattoo's , piercings, food intolerances, beverages, alcohol likes and dislikes, and on and on.
Readers who love an abundance of detail will LOVE this story.
Me, I got bored, and dare I say skimmed a great deal wanting to get to the 'meat of the story'. I realise in doing so I probably missed some vital details.......which there were plenty of.
I so do not want to pull this story apart so lets just say, 'it's me, not you.'
Final note: I am not normally a cover whore but this one pulled me in, which in all honesty probably wasn't a good thing for the author. Like I said, she did good! It just wasn't my cuppa.
ARC provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley
The writing is very descriptive. Every detail intimately described, body features, facial features, clothing, what everyone was wearing at all times, environment and character characteristics. Paranormal activity, vampires, ghosts, tattoo's , piercings, food intolerances, beverages, alcohol likes and dislikes, and on and on.
Readers who love an abundance of detail will LOVE this story.
Me, I got bored, and dare I say skimmed a great deal wanting to get to the 'meat of the story'. I realise in doing so I probably missed some vital details.......which there were plenty of.
I so do not want to pull this story apart so lets just say, 'it's me, not you.'
Final note: I am not normally a cover whore but this one pulled me in, which in all honesty probably wasn't a good thing for the author. Like I said, she did good! It just wasn't my cuppa.
ARC provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley
March 2, 2015
Paranormal abilities are no longer a secret and with that comes different groups trying to decide what is right for the people. June Coffin is an aural captivator or better known as a siren. She can use her voice to control what people do. She is full of rebellion and doesn’t take lip from anyone. Her talents, and that of her twin Jason, had always been a secret until she accidently let it slip to a news reporter that she was tattooing and the reporter ran with the story.
Occasionally, I read the foreword at the beginning of a book but not often. I did this time and found that the author had a very deep connection to this book and her characters. I hoped that I would feel that connection when I read the book and I was not disappointed. Filled with different types of paranormal abilities and lots of action this book was a great read. I really look forward to the next book but hope that the authors doesn’t take another 7 years to write it.
Occasionally, I read the foreword at the beginning of a book but not often. I did this time and found that the author had a very deep connection to this book and her characters. I hoped that I would feel that connection when I read the book and I was not disappointed. Filled with different types of paranormal abilities and lots of action this book was a great read. I really look forward to the next book but hope that the authors doesn’t take another 7 years to write it.
February 24, 2015
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story is slow moving in the beginning until you get to know more about the characters. June is siren who is tryingmto help her captured brother.that is being help at a paranormal institute. She was able to escape but unfortunately her brother wasn't so lucky. She has a small number of people in the paramormal community that are willing to help her. There is some mature situations and fighting. This is a series but it didn't really catch me but everyone is entitled to their opinion so if your an avid paramormal reader it might be up your alley
The story is slow moving in the beginning until you get to know more about the characters. June is siren who is tryingmto help her captured brother.that is being help at a paranormal institute. She was able to escape but unfortunately her brother wasn't so lucky. She has a small number of people in the paramormal community that are willing to help her. There is some mature situations and fighting. This is a series but it didn't really catch me but everyone is entitled to their opinion so if your an avid paramormal reader it might be up your alley
January 22, 2015
Oh, June. She's like the relative at the dinner table who everyone is afraid might suddenly offer loud and embarrassing commentary in her townie accent. She struggles between wanting to avoid and wanting to attract attention. While she pretends disdain, she's also trapped in Chicago, trying to find a way to find and rescue her brother. She's alternately untouchable and vulnerable.
I found myself a bit confused at times because dear moody June seems to belong in a YA novel. Overall generally well-written with just enough mystery that I'm curious what the next book will offer.
I found myself a bit confused at times because dear moody June seems to belong in a YA novel. Overall generally well-written with just enough mystery that I'm curious what the next book will offer.
September 26, 2015
I absolutely loved this book! From start to finish I was entranced with June Coffin's story and I can't wait to read more! I also am very interested to see what happens between June and Misha. I fell in love with these two and hope that they both get that happy ever after that they both deserve!
Looking for a paranormal book that you just can't put down? Then you need to grab this book! The Wicked City will have you constantly on the edge of your seat wondering what's going to happen next!
Looking for a paranormal book that you just can't put down? Then you need to grab this book! The Wicked City will have you constantly on the edge of your seat wondering what's going to happen next!
September 14, 2015
Overall, I liked this book. The plot was engaging, the characters were interesting, and it wasn't the same old trope you read everywhere. My only complaint was the main character. June felt like she was rebellious for the sake of being rebellious. and crass strictly for shock value, which made it harder to immerse myself in the storyline. That said, it was still a well written, engaging story, and I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series.
July 2, 2016
Apparently my review was deleted. It's been about 8 weeks and I hardly remember this book. Just a whole lot of annoying sexual tension and talking about the main character's piercings a lot. I forgot her name. June I think. The world building took a backseat to that and although I have the second book I probably won't bother to read it, since I hardly remember this one...
June 21, 2016
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I enjoyed the action, the adventure, and I fell in love with the characters instantly. The characters were sarcastic, funny, and very interesting-the authors character development was amazing. This book was interesting from the beginning to the end. What a great find-I can't wait to see what happens next.
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