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Legacy #1
Double-Sided Magic
This is an Alternate Cover Edition for ASIN: B01MQF5KPT.
I am Levy Michaels. Once my kind were the hunters—now we are the hunted
Supernaturals are out of the closet but I have to stay hidden because of the type of magic I possess. I’m a Legacy. It sounds like the title should come with reverence, a trust fund, or at the very least a cool backstory—instead it comes with a death sentence.
I have to hide in plain sight and pretend to be just human. I’m pretty good at it. I live a simple and somewhat normal life, and I work in antique acquisitions. Everything’s going fine until a dangerous and enchanted dagger that was once in my possession is stolen. I didn’t think things could get any worse until I woke up next to a dead shifter, fae, and mage, without any memory of the past twenty-four hours.
Considered guilty of murder by most of the magical community and humans, I must work with Gareth, the sexy and dangerous leader of the Supernatural Guild. If he’s as good as rumored, it’s only a matter of time until he discovers the truth about me—then being found guilty of murder is the least of my worries.
I am Levy Michaels. Once my kind were the hunters—now we are the hunted
Supernaturals are out of the closet but I have to stay hidden because of the type of magic I possess. I’m a Legacy. It sounds like the title should come with reverence, a trust fund, or at the very least a cool backstory—instead it comes with a death sentence.
I have to hide in plain sight and pretend to be just human. I’m pretty good at it. I live a simple and somewhat normal life, and I work in antique acquisitions. Everything’s going fine until a dangerous and enchanted dagger that was once in my possession is stolen. I didn’t think things could get any worse until I woke up next to a dead shifter, fae, and mage, without any memory of the past twenty-four hours.
Considered guilty of murder by most of the magical community and humans, I must work with Gareth, the sexy and dangerous leader of the Supernatural Guild. If he’s as good as rumored, it’s only a matter of time until he discovers the truth about me—then being found guilty of murder is the least of my worries.
202 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2016
4604 people are currently reading
3734 people want to read
About the author
McKenzie Hunter
78 books1,094 followersMcKenzie Hunter is the author of urban fantasy, dark fantasy, and paranormal romance books. She discovered early that new adventures were just a page-turn away; all she had to do was read a book. She’s had her share of escapades from hanging out with vamps, joining the chaos of shifter packs, creating spells with witches, and avoiding deals with the fae.
When she isn't working on her next book, she’s reading, binge-watching TV, or disappearing into her own world during nature walks (probably on the lookout for magical beings—or maybe not).
Want to chat with McKenzie Hunter, discuss her books in her readers group or stay up to date with new releases, see cover reveals first, and participate in exclusive giveaways? Click the link: https://mckenziehunter.com/social-links/
When she isn't working on her next book, she’s reading, binge-watching TV, or disappearing into her own world during nature walks (probably on the lookout for magical beings—or maybe not).
Want to chat with McKenzie Hunter, discuss her books in her readers group or stay up to date with new releases, see cover reveals first, and participate in exclusive giveaways? Click the link: https://mckenziehunter.com/social-links/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 497 reviews
August 9, 2017
I keep thinking that there's an interesting story in there, somewhere, and I just can't find it. At 53% in, you'd think it'd start to manifest. There's the core of an interesting idea around Levy. She's a remnant of a magical race that all the other supernaturals joined the humans to wipe out—and not without good cause. The "Legacy" had their own city and were crazy powerful and decided they'd like to be the only ones with magic around and started a spell that began killing off all the other magical types. So they were stopped and with the consequence that they'd weeded out the weak (leaving the strong magical folks) and got themselves an automatic death sentence whenever they're pulled out of hiding. And since this happened in relatively recent memory, Levy owns both the guilt of her heritage and the frustration in being personally innocent. So yeah, lots of potential for interesting dynamics there.
Unfortunately, it all feels rather flat in execution. The characters are shallow and motivations don't survive any kind of scrutiny. Levy puts up with some things that, well, ew (this jerk you've told to go away is putting his hands on your back to guide you around town finding a restaurant? Why are you finding a restaurant with him, again?!?) and then freaks all over others that seem kind of mild, really (oh no, please don't make me undo my updo!) And don't get me started on someone who is arrested for a batch of murders she couldn't possibly have committed just because she also happened to be knocked out at the place where the bodies are found—as if everybody looked at the totally human-looking chick and thought it perfectly reasonable that she could take out a shifter, a mage, and a vampire all by herself and not even be bleeding. Oh, and be knocked out when the police arrived? How stupid is literally everybody in this town, anyway? I'm sorry, but I'd think the difficulty would be in trying to convince anyone she might be the one who murdered them.
Anyway, flat story and flat characters and dialogue that I think is supposed to be banter but lacks wit, charm, or even relevance. And that's before you get to the smirking and grimacing and other over-broad stage direction. It's overdone enough that I'm going to stop looking for a deeper story or for the characters to finally gel into something not-shallow. It's a shame as I think the setup had great potential.
Unfortunately, it all feels rather flat in execution. The characters are shallow and motivations don't survive any kind of scrutiny. Levy puts up with some things that, well, ew (this jerk you've told to go away is putting his hands on your back to guide you around town finding a restaurant? Why are you finding a restaurant with him, again?!?) and then freaks all over others that seem kind of mild, really (oh no, please don't make me undo my updo!) And don't get me started on someone who is arrested for a batch of murders she couldn't possibly have committed just because she also happened to be knocked out at the place where the bodies are found—as if everybody looked at the totally human-looking chick and thought it perfectly reasonable that she could take out a shifter, a mage, and a vampire all by herself and not even be bleeding. Oh, and be knocked out when the police arrived? How stupid is literally everybody in this town, anyway? I'm sorry, but I'd think the difficulty would be in trying to convince anyone she might be the one who murdered them.
Anyway, flat story and flat characters and dialogue that I think is supposed to be banter but lacks wit, charm, or even relevance. And that's before you get to the smirking and grimacing and other over-broad stage direction. It's overdone enough that I'm going to stop looking for a deeper story or for the characters to finally gel into something not-shallow. It's a shame as I think the setup had great potential.
September 26, 2021
This was an okay book. It did what I wanted it to do which was pass the time and hold me over until the next book I wanted to read was released. The characters weren't all that memorable and secondary characters even less so. The story was somewhat interesting but I never connected with the heroine.
I disliked how the heroine looked down on her roommate and supposed BFF. The heroine criticized her vegan lifestyle, the exercise she *always* eyeroll did (yoga and pilates), and that she actually liked other paranormal creatures (because the heroine was terrified of them but not for the reasons you might think). It became annoying how much the heroine would complain about the vegan food that was always available to her. If you're going to throw such a fit every time it's there then effing make something for yourself. Sheesh!
The love interest was just there and he was okay-ish? I don't know what to think of him and the ending really lit a fire under the heroine's butt, that's for sure. We'll see if I'll stick with this series til the end.
I disliked how the heroine looked down on her roommate and supposed BFF. The heroine criticized her vegan lifestyle, the exercise she *always* eyeroll did (yoga and pilates), and that she actually liked other paranormal creatures (because the heroine was terrified of them but not for the reasons you might think). It became annoying how much the heroine would complain about the vegan food that was always available to her. If you're going to throw such a fit every time it's there then effing make something for yourself. Sheesh!
The love interest was just there and he was okay-ish? I don't know what to think of him and the ending really lit a fire under the heroine's butt, that's for sure. We'll see if I'll stick with this series til the end.
October 9, 2022
Double-Sided Magic is book one in the Legacy series by McKenzie Hunter and narrated by Stacey Glemboski.
This is my first taste of McKenzie Hunter and narrator Stacey Glemboski.
Double-Sided Magic started off a little bumpy due to some repetition in the dialogue that centered around the world-building and why the Legacy’s must hide, but it soon smoothed out and I was swept away.
Levy is a Legacy, a creature that is supposed to not exist. They where hunted and all killed off, but some believe they still live and so, they are still hunted to this day. Levy hides, lives like a human, and try's to stay out of the way, but soon finds herself rubbing shoulders with the leader of the Supernatural Guild who will kill her if he knew what she is. Levy is not like her ancestors, but for those that lived through what the Legacy did; they don’t care. She doesn’t seek power and doesn’t want what happened in the past to happen again. She just wants a normal live. I really enjoyed Livy.
We are treated to action, adventure, a murder mystery, and a plot that runs deep and won’t conclude in this installment. There is also a possible budding romance, but that is in the background. Not sure what to make of the love interest, yet.
Audio: I had a good time with the audiobook. Stacey Glemboski did a good job on the different voices and I could pick out all the characters. The narrator kept the story flowing and by the end I wanted to dive into the next audiobook in the Legacy series.
Double-Sided Magic was a bit slow to start, but by the end I wanted more and went out and bought the next audiobook. I can’t wait to see where the overall ARC goes and the possible romance. If you enjoy Urban Fantasy in all its uniqueness; then this novel might be for you.
Rated: 4 Stars
This is my first taste of McKenzie Hunter and narrator Stacey Glemboski.
Double-Sided Magic started off a little bumpy due to some repetition in the dialogue that centered around the world-building and why the Legacy’s must hide, but it soon smoothed out and I was swept away.
Levy is a Legacy, a creature that is supposed to not exist. They where hunted and all killed off, but some believe they still live and so, they are still hunted to this day. Levy hides, lives like a human, and try's to stay out of the way, but soon finds herself rubbing shoulders with the leader of the Supernatural Guild who will kill her if he knew what she is. Levy is not like her ancestors, but for those that lived through what the Legacy did; they don’t care. She doesn’t seek power and doesn’t want what happened in the past to happen again. She just wants a normal live. I really enjoyed Livy.
We are treated to action, adventure, a murder mystery, and a plot that runs deep and won’t conclude in this installment. There is also a possible budding romance, but that is in the background. Not sure what to make of the love interest, yet.
Audio: I had a good time with the audiobook. Stacey Glemboski did a good job on the different voices and I could pick out all the characters. The narrator kept the story flowing and by the end I wanted to dive into the next audiobook in the Legacy series.
Double-Sided Magic was a bit slow to start, but by the end I wanted more and went out and bought the next audiobook. I can’t wait to see where the overall ARC goes and the possible romance. If you enjoy Urban Fantasy in all its uniqueness; then this novel might be for you.
Rated: 4 Stars
June 2, 2017
It is a really good story and the plot and magical world is interesting. But, a big BUT here, the characters lack in depth and aren't in any way interesting. The dialogues are often immature as well as the thought process. Furthermore the storyline and dialogues are constantly interrupted with useless repetitions and information not needed. This occurs in blocks dissecting the dialogues and the story line which makes it impossible to enjoy and read the book in a fluent go. The writing is way from well done. I just skipped at least 70% of uselessness by just jumping from one spoken word to the next.
I have no clue how that rating can happen with such low quality in the writing style.
I have no clue how that rating can happen with such low quality in the writing style.
May 20, 2024
⭐⭐⭐.5/5 -- (Rounded up because the storyline felt unique and didn't focus completely on the romance!)
HOWEVER - It's really complex, and I think I enjoyed it -> but I would've enjoyed a physical copy more. There's a lot to unpack in the world-building on this one, and that's hard for me on an audiobook.
**Almost no romantic action but A LOT of tension?
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HOWEVER - It's really complex, and I think I enjoyed it -> but I would've enjoyed a physical copy more. There's a lot to unpack in the world-building on this one, and that's hard for me on an audiobook.
**Almost no romantic action but A LOT of tension?
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August 6, 2017
If you have read my reviews for Linsey Hall's Dragon's Gift series or my reviews for Ella Summer's Dragon Born series then you can pretty much stop here. These books are just the same thing, mixed up a little and repackaged. Are these three writers all the same person, telling the same story and just laughing at us for continuing to buy their books?
I only gave this book three stars. Not that it isn't a good story. It is. Not that it isn't well told. It is, mostly. Interesting? Yes. Adventurous? Yes. Characters that I can like with wit and charm? Yes. But as in the other series I have mentioned: it is exactly the same story. Chewed up, spit back out, and with a shiny new title. Even the hot guy who is the romantic interest is just as smug, arrogant, and bossy as they were in the other series. Please, if you want to write the same story (beautiful, smart, wicked-cool warrior woman who just happens to be sentenced to die by the magical community for a matter of her birth, so she hides her magic until it is needed to save the world) could you PLEASE, PLEASE make the hot guy love interest at least someone she can relax with and fall in love with and trust and who respects her rights and her feelings? Is it too much to ask that he isn't a jerk who forces her and somehow she likes it? That's just old and tired and totally not how love is supposed to work. So PLEASE.
Ok, three stars. Worth a read. Probably would have given it four stars if I hadn't already read this exact series two times already.
I only gave this book three stars. Not that it isn't a good story. It is. Not that it isn't well told. It is, mostly. Interesting? Yes. Adventurous? Yes. Characters that I can like with wit and charm? Yes. But as in the other series I have mentioned: it is exactly the same story. Chewed up, spit back out, and with a shiny new title. Even the hot guy who is the romantic interest is just as smug, arrogant, and bossy as they were in the other series. Please, if you want to write the same story (beautiful, smart, wicked-cool warrior woman who just happens to be sentenced to die by the magical community for a matter of her birth, so she hides her magic until it is needed to save the world) could you PLEASE, PLEASE make the hot guy love interest at least someone she can relax with and fall in love with and trust and who respects her rights and her feelings? Is it too much to ask that he isn't a jerk who forces her and somehow she likes it? That's just old and tired and totally not how love is supposed to work. So PLEASE.
Ok, three stars. Worth a read. Probably would have given it four stars if I hadn't already read this exact series two times already.
July 12, 2019
Slow start
February 1, 2018
4 Stars... This book started off a little rocky for me primarily due to some repetition in the dialogue that seemed centered around the world building, however, several chapters in and I found myself becoming increasingly invested in the story... A world where all types of supernaturals (Mages, Vampires, Shifters, Witches, etc) coexist harmoniously with the humans after suffering the “Cleanse” several decades ago... One woman, in hiding due to her supernatural abilities, gets thrust into a devious plot that threatens to expose her and potentially end her existence; add in the handsome but brooding shifter and the sexy but sinister vampire and you get a thrilling journey that twists the reader through this magical mystery... I will definitely continue with the series and look forward to how this story will continue to unravel:)
April 19, 2017
4.5- good neroine and nice world building if not for a bit of info dump at the beginning. Good hero type character too
May 11, 2018
Interesting world, sometimes I felt like I couldn't follow the character conversations or there were weird jumps between but it was enjoyable enough
January 4, 2023
Die Story war grundsätzlich echt ok, wenn auch nichts Neues, ich hab mich im Laufe des Lesens auch mit dem Schreibstil angefreundet und die Charaktere waren auch sympathisch, wenn auch ein wenig flach.
Alles in allem eine nette Unterhaltung für Zwischendurch.
Alles in allem eine nette Unterhaltung für Zwischendurch.
March 17, 2023
Voici un début de série qui promet.
Levy est une héroïne très secrète qui n’hésite pas à se mettre en danger pour résoudre une enquête, peut-être un excès de confiance dans ses pouvoirs… J’ai bien aimé le fait qu’elle soit en cavale mais qu’elle n’agisse pas comme si elle l’était.
Le background est assez intéressant et offre de multiples possibilités de développement. J’aime aussi que les créatures magiques soient très variées.
L’action est bien maîtrisée et on dévore les mots sans s’en apercevoir. J’ai beaucoup aimé le style de l’auteure qui est assez punchy
Concernant la romance, elle est au second plan voir troisième car on a des petites évocations de ce qu’il pourrait advenir sans pour autant que ça se concrétise. Ça crée une tension qui est vraiment pas mal couplée à l’action.
En tout cas je ressors de ma lecture enchanté et je poursuivrais la série avec plaisir.
Une nouvelle auteure à suivre pour ma part…
Levy est une héroïne très secrète qui n’hésite pas à se mettre en danger pour résoudre une enquête, peut-être un excès de confiance dans ses pouvoirs… J’ai bien aimé le fait qu’elle soit en cavale mais qu’elle n’agisse pas comme si elle l’était.
Le background est assez intéressant et offre de multiples possibilités de développement. J’aime aussi que les créatures magiques soient très variées.
L’action est bien maîtrisée et on dévore les mots sans s’en apercevoir. J’ai beaucoup aimé le style de l’auteure qui est assez punchy
Concernant la romance, elle est au second plan voir troisième car on a des petites évocations de ce qu’il pourrait advenir sans pour autant que ça se concrétise. Ça crée une tension qui est vraiment pas mal couplée à l’action.
En tout cas je ressors de ma lecture enchanté et je poursuivrais la série avec plaisir.
Une nouvelle auteure à suivre pour ma part…
November 15, 2017
McKenzie has done it again! Another fantastic read - once I started there was no putting the book down and I finished it in one sitting.
Levy is my favourite female character ever! She is sassy, sarcastic and can hold her own against anyone. Savannah is just as awesome and I love the sisterly bond that she has with Levy. Again McKenzie has created an interesting world for the reader and I was hooked from the very first paragraph. I was invested with all the characters and that has never happened before, usually there is a character or two that I have disliked or not been interested in but not this time. And Gareth. . . oh Gareth - he is just wonderful! I love his arrogance, but it is never too overbearing which makes him so loveable. His relationship with Levy is just fantastic to read and I can't wait to see what happens next between them.
I have read this book multiple times I love it that much and can't wait to get stuck into book 2!
Levy is my favourite female character ever! She is sassy, sarcastic and can hold her own against anyone. Savannah is just as awesome and I love the sisterly bond that she has with Levy. Again McKenzie has created an interesting world for the reader and I was hooked from the very first paragraph. I was invested with all the characters and that has never happened before, usually there is a character or two that I have disliked or not been interested in but not this time. And Gareth. . . oh Gareth - he is just wonderful! I love his arrogance, but it is never too overbearing which makes him so loveable. His relationship with Levy is just fantastic to read and I can't wait to see what happens next between them.
I have read this book multiple times I love it that much and can't wait to get stuck into book 2!
January 9, 2017
OH d@mn, I'm creepy, too!
This is a great start to what looks like will be a kicka$$ series.
Creepy but hawt Vamp- check
Sexy Alpha shifter- double check
Bada$$ heroine that's funny and has sass too- double freakin check
I was glued to Double-sided Magic. It literally didn't have a dull moment. I can't wait for book 2. Will definitely be reading Mckenzie Hunter's other series and stick with Legacy Series.
This is a great start to what looks like will be a kicka$$ series.
Creepy but hawt Vamp- check
Sexy Alpha shifter- double check
Bada$$ heroine that's funny and has sass too- double freakin check
I was glued to Double-sided Magic. It literally didn't have a dull moment. I can't wait for book 2. Will definitely be reading Mckenzie Hunter's other series and stick with Legacy Series.
January 17, 2020
Awesome start to the series. This book is very well written. You can't help but love the main character Levy because she's kick butt, compassionate, sarcastic and has a sense of humor. This story is full of action, mystery, and amazing characters!! I couldn't put It down! Can't wait for the next book
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June 17, 2025On my -5 to +5 scale the book has a rating minus 3. This is up for a rewrite next and I doubt that anyone will read this.
These boring books are tedious to deal with, so I will step away to the YouTube. This review was made possible by - Doctor Who/They Break My Heart - RecklessGirl100, Red Glasgow, Agro Squirrel Narrates, AllShorts, Kirkpattiecake, LuckyBlackCat, ScaredKetchup, Keffals, The Ritual Kitchen with Laura May, RevolutionarythOt, A Lil Bit Mads, Reads with Rachel, Squire, Northern Narrowboaters, Sailing Melody, Outlaw Bookseller, Lena Down Under, Mynameismarines, ThePrimeChronus, May, Nicole Chilaka-Ukpo, Cruising Crafts, Ben and Emily, Boat Time, Sailing Melody, Fit 2B Read, Terrible Writing Advice, Kyiv Post, May Moon Narrowboat, Lily Simpson, Jay Exci, Nini Music, Princess Weekes, Geo Girl, Gutsick Gibbon, Novara Media, Combat Veteran Reacts, Myocore, Mythology and Fiction Explained, With Olivia, Abney Park, Broken Peach, CTV News, Gingers are Black, Stanzi, FAFO, Matriarchetype, The Juice Media, Honest Political Ads, Fun Size Reader, KernowDamo, Ivie Anita, Britta Bohler, Fundie Fridays, Alysotherlife, Central Crossing, Military History Visualised, The Nonsense Free Editor, Hoots, PPR Global, Megalithhunter, Hello Future Me, Sci-Fi Scavenger, Wes O'Donnell, Democratic Penguin Republic, Scallydandling About the Books, Amie's Literary Empire, The New Enlightenment with Ashley, Ukraine Calling, Dr Ben Miles, Brandon Talks, Nikki's Book Nook, Interesting Times, Savy Writes Books, Times Radio, Viva La Dirt League, Harbo Wholmes, Brandon Fisichella, Naughty Nana DUZ, KernowDamo, The Bands of HM Royal Marines, Scott Bradlee's Postmodern, Jukebox, Anton Pretov, Lavar, Cambrian Chronicles, Military Aviation History, The Great War, Real Time History, Queen Penguin, Dark Brandon, Some More News, Roisin's Reading, Tale Foundry, Nikki Carreon, Kaz Rowe, Yarmak - Ragnarok, Strange Aeons, Lisa McLeod, Female Warriors - Teresatessa, Dr Becky, Lady of the Library, Bart's Book Space, Weirdo Book Club, Philosophy Tube, Books and Lala, Book Furnace, Broken Peach, Willow Talks Books, Riverboat Jack, Leena Norms, Aid Thompsin, Hetty and the Jazzalato Band, Welsh Viking, The Leftist Cooks, Ukraine Calling, Kyiv Post, Sarah Z, Renegade Cut, Lady of the Library, Eugenia from Ukraine, Renegade Cut, World War Two, The Great War, Reads with Rachel, FullofLit, Petrik Leo, Anton Petrov, A Cup of Nicole, ATP Geopolitics, Reese Waters, Science Fiction with Damien Walter, Lurie Daniel Favors, The Shogunate, Prime of Midlife, Shitty Book Club, Read Rant Review, Eva Schubert, What Vivi did next, Yoyomi, Think Ukraine, Jean's Thoughts, The Military Show, Owen Jones, Brigitte Empire, Michael Lambert, Red Pen, Dana Andersen, Amodelwhosread, Clouds and Sky, Camper Vibe, Acollierastro, Zoe Bee.
Recently an idiot whilst insulting a very engaging essayist, complained to her that I list channels with other trans creators. WTF is wrong with US males. I realised then that a Trigger Warning might be needed. To him and his fellows be aware that among the channels I list include archaeologist, anarchist, cis, physicist, essayist, bi, Irish, tall, asexual, socialist, lesbian, WOC, red haired, mathematician, blond, trans, Swedish, asexual, economist, political historian and other female creators or as the sane refer to them Women. Another danger are channels with communist, other BIPOC, Welsh, other LGBTQ+, fashion historian, Cornish, anarchist, writer, hobbyist, gamers and other creators or as the sane think of them Human Beings. If the voices insist that you visit them, I recommend emergency therapy, developing a hobby (not to include assaulting women, which is mental illness) or perhaps a Catholic exorcism. My feelings towards these are similar to those of the 13 Ukrainian marines defending Snake Island, when their surrender was demanded by the Russian navy. Their response was "Russian warship, go f@ck yourself". Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the Heroes. Crimea is Ukraine.
The typical Amazon romance. Troubled girl meets very bad man, the S.A. is done and the love now exists. For character description only sexual identity, hotness, bods, boobs and promises of rough sex are the extent. This includes casting women as pick me girlies or emotionally stunted mean girls and children of both sexes seeking love. Men are portrayed as various models of hot which transcends any other factor in a main character's view of the male's usually terrifying anti-social personality.
I bailed at the 84% point because the story revolves around the sexual attraction of the main character and the shifter who will end her if he discovers she has powers. Her parents were killed by the same people when she was 15 and she spent eight years masking her magical nature, learning to support herself disguised as a human and being very careful.
The killer vampire wishes to "date" her, which does not fit this world. Romance in similar societies do not include dating. There are two options for a human. One is for the human to disappear or two have a higher ranked vampire order the first vampire off.
The main character's roommate is her best friend with whom she has shared her past. She also encourages the MC to do the sex with the vampire assassin, The roommate also wants the MC to join her in vampire bar hopping. This is Riverdale High girls meet Twilight, with Sabrina the teenage witch in the background. The characters are ridiculous. The interactions are ridiculous. An eleven year old reading this book would have questions.
Romance genre average writing level is eleven years old according to the NYT but is marketed to adults. This type of story normalises lack of editing, uneven prose, contrivance as plot driver, paper thin background universe, no character development, dialogue to make a writing instructor cry, misogyny, ableism, racism and plot hole. In all fairness low end US science fiction is more badly written with much the same flaws, insane female representation, Toxic Masculinity as the main character model and a writing level of perhaps ten years old.
While these might well be entertaining on occasion, I suspect that fans must come away dissatisfied more often than not. A steady diet of these will affect imagination and critical thinking. I finally ended my Unlimited sub, as my love of reading slipped away. I gave up hope in finding new good genre fiction through Amazon.
BookTube 😍 was a nice restart for my fiction searches. These channels host reader communities who challenge writing norms and question the execution of both these in fiction. These are curious, thoughtful readers interested in all aspects of the bookish world. The environments are far different to that of Goodreads.
Erotica has historically made interesting reading, especially in granting an insight into the society which produced it. Smut can be highly entertaining and is certainly good for the soul. Print porn can be well written and be much more exciting as a result. Science Fiction from its inception was a description and a criticism of society. Alternative pasts and futures are contrasted with the current social reality. These are the big ideas that define the genre. This is missing from Amazon "editor" picks, Kindle loan selections and Goodreads recommendations. Visits to BookTube provide validation of the feelings engendered by problematic books.
It seems to me that this trend of the poorly written child's story is a reflection of consumerist society. I have watched many essayists who challenge, give serious thought to and explore the phenomenon in depth. They bring insights to the questions of why and how these standards were created. I had no coherent answers to these questions before encountering BookTube. The ridiculously poor quality recommended on Amazon, Kindle and Goodreads drove me away from print entirely two years or so ago. By immersing myself in my previously favourite writers and books, I was able to recognise the Amazon, Kindle, Goodreads assault on the acceptable.
Please consider treating this as potentially hostile site. 🤔
Goodreads discourse does not exist, since the site has two purposes. The first is creation of the consensus regarding low quality writing. The second is to strengthen the Amazon drive towards monopoly.
As example, I wrote a short six or seven sentence negative review of Powers of the Earth, a badly written, boring but popular storyline in which a libertarian hero with the aid of the military overthrow the US government because our hero does not like taxes. It is a juvenile salute to the sociopathic January 6, 2021 hero. The writer Travis Corcoran self-described as veteran, employee of an unnamed US agency, a proud libertarian and advocate for the return of chattel slavery, admirer of Putin's Moscow.(other US employees had questions of that last). In hindsight he is the MAGA template. He and his friends were repeating what are now Republican Party/MAGA complaints and threats in defence of a book that I am not sure that even the writer had read. Personal threats are the Kindle, Goodreads version of literary discussion.
A communist (myself) wrote that this was a dangerous though common theme, as well as being badly written. Apparently that incensed a small mob of US patriots, who found nothing good to say about that sad book, which made sense since the only commenter who had the book on his shelf was the writer. They had opinions about my intelligence, socialists, my political philosophy and the writing of history. They were apoplectic when my response was not argument but "Have a good day then". I was alleged a "narcissist" in several comments for my refusal to stroke their scarily ignorant self-importance. Irony, thy name is Amazon. I erased my original comment laden review and my rewrite includes a partial chronology of Kindle and Goodreads manipulations of my review pages and service. It will be completed at some point.
Claes Rees Jr aka cgr710 now ka Clayton R Jesse Jr (who no longer identifies as Nazi) wrote a final comment to my revision of that drivel. He declared that They had won (?). Goodreads have masked that comment as they had across all the reviews which I had revisited.
They had launched a veritable flood of truly vile misogynistic, racist and anti-LGBTQ comments against my listed channels. This continues still and began more than three years ago. The Oxford astrophysicist physicist, the canal boating couple, the games hobbyist, the wonderful essayists and all the other female creators were unimpressed with the US male. The world's overabundance of ugliness was increased and They had delivered a perfect self-portrait of the snowflake (nasty US male of anti-human views lacking self-awareness or restraint) to a multinational audience. It seems this was a Victory. Goodreads discourse, Yay ?? USA, Yay ??
This behaviour is now acceptable across US media, both political parties and YouTube. I begin to believe Their claim to speak for all US readers. Unfortunately it has been exported to Europe.
I need to cleanse the spirit for a bit after reliving the above. This next was made possible by YouTube channels - Lexi aka NewlyNova, Anna from Ukraine, Kyiv Independent, Skip Intro, Ember Green, Books with Brittany, G K Reads, Jadyn Rylee, Sideprojects, SciFi Odyssey, Elena Taber, Olly Richards, Hailey in Bookland, Cover in French, Ship Happens, The Narrowboat that James Built, Ben and Emily, Lynn Saga, Holly the Cafe Boat, Camper Vibe, Knitting Cult Lady, Ukraine Matters, Leeja Miller, Katy Montgomerie, Slaggy Book Club, ThePrimeChronus, The Skaldic Bard, Hildegard von Bingin', The Moody Reader, The New Enlightenment with Ashley, APTN News, Olive's Book Nook, Julia Galef, According to Alina, Caelan Conrad, Mia Mulder, The Creative Penn, Jess Owens, Hetty and the Jazzalato Band, Kayla Kamper, The EzeeeKat, Bizarre Beasts, Mythology and Fiction Explained, KrimsonRogue. Ash L G. J Draper, Bernadette Banner, Anton Petrov, Ben Miller, Kat Abughazaleh, Don't F@ck with Ukraine, Operator Starsky, Jake Broe, Kyiv Post, Turn Left, Joe Blogs, Raw News and Politics, The Bitchuation Room, The Sword and the Pen, Dungeon Dad, Dungeons and Discourse, Grungeon Master, Adele Marie, Gingertail, HonestlySophie, Red Viburnam Song, The Juice Media, Mercado Media, Jean's Thoughts, Scholars Shelf, Eckharts Ladder, Templin Institute, Andrewism, Hoots, Puddles Pity Party, SK Media, HBomberGuy, The Confused Adipose, Yoyomi, Brandon Talks, D'Angelo Wallace, Kazachka, Think Ukraine, Aid Thompsin, Tale Foundry, BooksWithEmilyFox, Supertanskiii, Keffals, Liz Webster, Jen the Librarian, Anka Daily News, Belle of the Ranch, Book Furnace, The_Miracle_Aligner, Parkrose Permaculture, Book Belle.
Ominous music begins. 😊 Writers and readers of very poorly written Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance have doxxed, stalked, threatened and physically confronted readers who wrote their issues with certain books. Goodreads are a site on which few readers respond to that violence. BookTubers do. Science fiction readers on this site either join the abuse or ignore it which says much about the membership. Amazon themselves have taken no action against the deranged.
Kindle/Goodreads gave my sparse message history to this psychotic crowd. This enabled a request through Pine Gap Centre that Australian Intelligence interrogate the one friend whom I occasionally messaged. That attempt at my personal history failed and left two outraged customers. Amazon only became concerned as we publicised that event.
Most comments to my reviews are now masked entirely, when only the member name had been. The lurkers whom I was not Allowed to unfriend all disappeared and I received a message that Kindle will no longer support Goodreads. These and other actions were it seems, attempts to hide various visible harassment from other readers. A promise of dismissal of certain employees and an apology might have sufficed prior to the Australian affair.
Recently a seventh ex-employee of EBay was sentenced for harassment of a couple who produce a small ecommerce channel deemed unkind to EBay. They were awarded multi-millions of pounds and the ex-employee had been the EBay Chief of Global Security or some such. The above are all things to think about.
Any temporary immunity you might currently enjoy, rests on the whims of a certain type of member and Goodreads employee. In less than 24 hours after the US election results, global markets and supply chains are in an uproar and Trump is undoubtedly well chuffed. His party who without a doubt have Russian donors and the 600+ influencers being belatedly investigated as being Russian paid propagandists are also exultant. The MAGA followers of same have already launched mass terror campaigns against women including legalisation of rape, anonymous texts to black Americans promising their enslavement, other POC and LGBTQ+ citizens have received promises of violence and more. Amazon have embedded the cowardly cruelty which is a historical bedrock of US culture.
I suggest a few precautions to make this site exposure safer until you replace your Amazon kit and move to a better reader site. BookTubers can direct you to alternative e-readers, Storygraph, Fable and others.
Remove all personal information from the site profile and avoid messaging. Remove the lurker, those friends who never post. They are monitors not admirers. Given the Goodreads penchant for Altering customer pages, screenshots of the odd, the ugly or the threatening are invaluable.
Do Not use Kindle Files, Email, Contacts or Calendar. To use those functions are very dangerous, unless as many US readers you assume that you are immune. Do Not "purchase" books as you own the device not the titles and Amazon will delete them if your Amazon account closes. I made the mistake of purchasing several hundred titles as my contempt for Unlimited titles increased. I have had service interrupted for days at a stretch and my keyboard was continually distorted for more than a year, which is now magically restored.
To implement the above measures cost nothing, to not might well do. These animals, members and employees alike embrace no non-Randian morality, are the best of them fascist sympathisers and They are US patriots with all that implies. Ominous music ends. 😊
Be careful and may we all enjoy Good Reading! 🤗
Some of my favourite channels.
Bobbing Along, The Queer Kiwi, A Day of Small Things. TVP News, Nicole Chilaka-Ukpo, Tom Nicholas, Munecat, Lily Simpson, AllShorts, Honest Government Ads, Novara Media, Willow Talks Books, Ben and Emily, Anna Gramling, Patrick(H)Willem, The Gaze, Kiko1006, Tom Powell, SciFi Odyssey, Chess Vibes, J. Draper, Vlad Vexler, UATV English, The New Enlightenment with Ashley, Andrewism, Think Ukraine, What Rae Reads, Prime of Midlife, Cruising Alba, World Science Festival, Science Insanity, The Kavernacle, Silicon Curtain, No Justice, Cruising Crafts, Ship Happens, Bart's Book Space, Wurld, Bookslike Whoa, Bookpilled, Strange Aeons, Ponderful, Octopus Lady, The Russian Dude, Lady Knight the Brave, Fraser Cain, Media Death Cult, Kathy's Flog in France, Tara Mooknee, Lily Alexandre, Lilly's Expat Life, May, Evie Lupine, Michael Lambert, Inside Russia, Eileen, Leena Norms, Cecelia Blomdahl, Hello Future Me, Jay Exci, Lydia Loves Timelines, Jessie Gender, Time Tinkerer, Wednesday Addams. - Paint it Black, Tale Foundry, Snappy Dragon, Viva La Dirt League, Dominic Noble, Girls Rock Asia, Times Radio, Gutsick Gibbon, Planarwalker, Megalithhunter, Karolina Zebrowska, Harbo Wholmes, Aid Thompsin, AllShorts, Sami and Books JammiDodger, Lady of the Library, Ukraine Calling, Amanda Rae, The Welsh Viking, Zoe Baker, Yanis Varoufakis, UNTV, The British Museum, What Vivi did next, JohnTheDuncan, Renegade Cut, Library Ladder, SandRhoman History, France 24, Terrible Writing Advice, Alexa Donne, Verilybitchie, Savy Writes Books, Sci-Fi Odyssey, Physics Girl, Zoe Bee, UNTV, Reese Waters, Engineering with Rosie, Linguoer Mechanic, Historian's Craft, Dungeons and Discourse, Ministry of Miniatures, Belle of the Ranch, Owen Jones, Philosophy Tube, Nini Music, Supertanskiii, Keffals, The Gaze, Bayraktar Song, Welcome to Ukraine, Natasha's Adventures, The Bands of HM Royal Marines, DW News, NFKRZ, Book Furnace, Widebeam and Wellingtons, Sanctioned Ivan, Steve Shives, Certifiably Ingame.
I wish you a glorious morning, a refreshing afternoon, a pleasant evening, a wonderful night and May we all continue learning.
Denial of Evil, is Complicity.
These boring books are tedious to deal with, so I will step away to the YouTube. This review was made possible by - Doctor Who/They Break My Heart - RecklessGirl100, Red Glasgow, Agro Squirrel Narrates, AllShorts, Kirkpattiecake, LuckyBlackCat, ScaredKetchup, Keffals, The Ritual Kitchen with Laura May, RevolutionarythOt, A Lil Bit Mads, Reads with Rachel, Squire, Northern Narrowboaters, Sailing Melody, Outlaw Bookseller, Lena Down Under, Mynameismarines, ThePrimeChronus, May, Nicole Chilaka-Ukpo, Cruising Crafts, Ben and Emily, Boat Time, Sailing Melody, Fit 2B Read, Terrible Writing Advice, Kyiv Post, May Moon Narrowboat, Lily Simpson, Jay Exci, Nini Music, Princess Weekes, Geo Girl, Gutsick Gibbon, Novara Media, Combat Veteran Reacts, Myocore, Mythology and Fiction Explained, With Olivia, Abney Park, Broken Peach, CTV News, Gingers are Black, Stanzi, FAFO, Matriarchetype, The Juice Media, Honest Political Ads, Fun Size Reader, KernowDamo, Ivie Anita, Britta Bohler, Fundie Fridays, Alysotherlife, Central Crossing, Military History Visualised, The Nonsense Free Editor, Hoots, PPR Global, Megalithhunter, Hello Future Me, Sci-Fi Scavenger, Wes O'Donnell, Democratic Penguin Republic, Scallydandling About the Books, Amie's Literary Empire, The New Enlightenment with Ashley, Ukraine Calling, Dr Ben Miles, Brandon Talks, Nikki's Book Nook, Interesting Times, Savy Writes Books, Times Radio, Viva La Dirt League, Harbo Wholmes, Brandon Fisichella, Naughty Nana DUZ, KernowDamo, The Bands of HM Royal Marines, Scott Bradlee's Postmodern, Jukebox, Anton Pretov, Lavar, Cambrian Chronicles, Military Aviation History, The Great War, Real Time History, Queen Penguin, Dark Brandon, Some More News, Roisin's Reading, Tale Foundry, Nikki Carreon, Kaz Rowe, Yarmak - Ragnarok, Strange Aeons, Lisa McLeod, Female Warriors - Teresatessa, Dr Becky, Lady of the Library, Bart's Book Space, Weirdo Book Club, Philosophy Tube, Books and Lala, Book Furnace, Broken Peach, Willow Talks Books, Riverboat Jack, Leena Norms, Aid Thompsin, Hetty and the Jazzalato Band, Welsh Viking, The Leftist Cooks, Ukraine Calling, Kyiv Post, Sarah Z, Renegade Cut, Lady of the Library, Eugenia from Ukraine, Renegade Cut, World War Two, The Great War, Reads with Rachel, FullofLit, Petrik Leo, Anton Petrov, A Cup of Nicole, ATP Geopolitics, Reese Waters, Science Fiction with Damien Walter, Lurie Daniel Favors, The Shogunate, Prime of Midlife, Shitty Book Club, Read Rant Review, Eva Schubert, What Vivi did next, Yoyomi, Think Ukraine, Jean's Thoughts, The Military Show, Owen Jones, Brigitte Empire, Michael Lambert, Red Pen, Dana Andersen, Amodelwhosread, Clouds and Sky, Camper Vibe, Acollierastro, Zoe Bee.
Recently an idiot whilst insulting a very engaging essayist, complained to her that I list channels with other trans creators. WTF is wrong with US males. I realised then that a Trigger Warning might be needed. To him and his fellows be aware that among the channels I list include archaeologist, anarchist, cis, physicist, essayist, bi, Irish, tall, asexual, socialist, lesbian, WOC, red haired, mathematician, blond, trans, Swedish, asexual, economist, political historian and other female creators or as the sane refer to them Women. Another danger are channels with communist, other BIPOC, Welsh, other LGBTQ+, fashion historian, Cornish, anarchist, writer, hobbyist, gamers and other creators or as the sane think of them Human Beings. If the voices insist that you visit them, I recommend emergency therapy, developing a hobby (not to include assaulting women, which is mental illness) or perhaps a Catholic exorcism. My feelings towards these are similar to those of the 13 Ukrainian marines defending Snake Island, when their surrender was demanded by the Russian navy. Their response was "Russian warship, go f@ck yourself". Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the Heroes. Crimea is Ukraine.
The typical Amazon romance. Troubled girl meets very bad man, the S.A. is done and the love now exists. For character description only sexual identity, hotness, bods, boobs and promises of rough sex are the extent. This includes casting women as pick me girlies or emotionally stunted mean girls and children of both sexes seeking love. Men are portrayed as various models of hot which transcends any other factor in a main character's view of the male's usually terrifying anti-social personality.
I bailed at the 84% point because the story revolves around the sexual attraction of the main character and the shifter who will end her if he discovers she has powers. Her parents were killed by the same people when she was 15 and she spent eight years masking her magical nature, learning to support herself disguised as a human and being very careful.
The killer vampire wishes to "date" her, which does not fit this world. Romance in similar societies do not include dating. There are two options for a human. One is for the human to disappear or two have a higher ranked vampire order the first vampire off.
The main character's roommate is her best friend with whom she has shared her past. She also encourages the MC to do the sex with the vampire assassin, The roommate also wants the MC to join her in vampire bar hopping. This is Riverdale High girls meet Twilight, with Sabrina the teenage witch in the background. The characters are ridiculous. The interactions are ridiculous. An eleven year old reading this book would have questions.
Romance genre average writing level is eleven years old according to the NYT but is marketed to adults. This type of story normalises lack of editing, uneven prose, contrivance as plot driver, paper thin background universe, no character development, dialogue to make a writing instructor cry, misogyny, ableism, racism and plot hole. In all fairness low end US science fiction is more badly written with much the same flaws, insane female representation, Toxic Masculinity as the main character model and a writing level of perhaps ten years old.
While these might well be entertaining on occasion, I suspect that fans must come away dissatisfied more often than not. A steady diet of these will affect imagination and critical thinking. I finally ended my Unlimited sub, as my love of reading slipped away. I gave up hope in finding new good genre fiction through Amazon.
BookTube 😍 was a nice restart for my fiction searches. These channels host reader communities who challenge writing norms and question the execution of both these in fiction. These are curious, thoughtful readers interested in all aspects of the bookish world. The environments are far different to that of Goodreads.
Erotica has historically made interesting reading, especially in granting an insight into the society which produced it. Smut can be highly entertaining and is certainly good for the soul. Print porn can be well written and be much more exciting as a result. Science Fiction from its inception was a description and a criticism of society. Alternative pasts and futures are contrasted with the current social reality. These are the big ideas that define the genre. This is missing from Amazon "editor" picks, Kindle loan selections and Goodreads recommendations. Visits to BookTube provide validation of the feelings engendered by problematic books.
It seems to me that this trend of the poorly written child's story is a reflection of consumerist society. I have watched many essayists who challenge, give serious thought to and explore the phenomenon in depth. They bring insights to the questions of why and how these standards were created. I had no coherent answers to these questions before encountering BookTube. The ridiculously poor quality recommended on Amazon, Kindle and Goodreads drove me away from print entirely two years or so ago. By immersing myself in my previously favourite writers and books, I was able to recognise the Amazon, Kindle, Goodreads assault on the acceptable.
Please consider treating this as potentially hostile site. 🤔
Goodreads discourse does not exist, since the site has two purposes. The first is creation of the consensus regarding low quality writing. The second is to strengthen the Amazon drive towards monopoly.
As example, I wrote a short six or seven sentence negative review of Powers of the Earth, a badly written, boring but popular storyline in which a libertarian hero with the aid of the military overthrow the US government because our hero does not like taxes. It is a juvenile salute to the sociopathic January 6, 2021 hero. The writer Travis Corcoran self-described as veteran, employee of an unnamed US agency, a proud libertarian and advocate for the return of chattel slavery, admirer of Putin's Moscow.(other US employees had questions of that last). In hindsight he is the MAGA template. He and his friends were repeating what are now Republican Party/MAGA complaints and threats in defence of a book that I am not sure that even the writer had read. Personal threats are the Kindle, Goodreads version of literary discussion.
A communist (myself) wrote that this was a dangerous though common theme, as well as being badly written. Apparently that incensed a small mob of US patriots, who found nothing good to say about that sad book, which made sense since the only commenter who had the book on his shelf was the writer. They had opinions about my intelligence, socialists, my political philosophy and the writing of history. They were apoplectic when my response was not argument but "Have a good day then". I was alleged a "narcissist" in several comments for my refusal to stroke their scarily ignorant self-importance. Irony, thy name is Amazon. I erased my original comment laden review and my rewrite includes a partial chronology of Kindle and Goodreads manipulations of my review pages and service. It will be completed at some point.
Claes Rees Jr aka cgr710 now ka Clayton R Jesse Jr (who no longer identifies as Nazi) wrote a final comment to my revision of that drivel. He declared that They had won (?). Goodreads have masked that comment as they had across all the reviews which I had revisited.
They had launched a veritable flood of truly vile misogynistic, racist and anti-LGBTQ comments against my listed channels. This continues still and began more than three years ago. The Oxford astrophysicist physicist, the canal boating couple, the games hobbyist, the wonderful essayists and all the other female creators were unimpressed with the US male. The world's overabundance of ugliness was increased and They had delivered a perfect self-portrait of the snowflake (nasty US male of anti-human views lacking self-awareness or restraint) to a multinational audience. It seems this was a Victory. Goodreads discourse, Yay ?? USA, Yay ??
This behaviour is now acceptable across US media, both political parties and YouTube. I begin to believe Their claim to speak for all US readers. Unfortunately it has been exported to Europe.
I need to cleanse the spirit for a bit after reliving the above. This next was made possible by YouTube channels - Lexi aka NewlyNova, Anna from Ukraine, Kyiv Independent, Skip Intro, Ember Green, Books with Brittany, G K Reads, Jadyn Rylee, Sideprojects, SciFi Odyssey, Elena Taber, Olly Richards, Hailey in Bookland, Cover in French, Ship Happens, The Narrowboat that James Built, Ben and Emily, Lynn Saga, Holly the Cafe Boat, Camper Vibe, Knitting Cult Lady, Ukraine Matters, Leeja Miller, Katy Montgomerie, Slaggy Book Club, ThePrimeChronus, The Skaldic Bard, Hildegard von Bingin', The Moody Reader, The New Enlightenment with Ashley, APTN News, Olive's Book Nook, Julia Galef, According to Alina, Caelan Conrad, Mia Mulder, The Creative Penn, Jess Owens, Hetty and the Jazzalato Band, Kayla Kamper, The EzeeeKat, Bizarre Beasts, Mythology and Fiction Explained, KrimsonRogue. Ash L G. J Draper, Bernadette Banner, Anton Petrov, Ben Miller, Kat Abughazaleh, Don't F@ck with Ukraine, Operator Starsky, Jake Broe, Kyiv Post, Turn Left, Joe Blogs, Raw News and Politics, The Bitchuation Room, The Sword and the Pen, Dungeon Dad, Dungeons and Discourse, Grungeon Master, Adele Marie, Gingertail, HonestlySophie, Red Viburnam Song, The Juice Media, Mercado Media, Jean's Thoughts, Scholars Shelf, Eckharts Ladder, Templin Institute, Andrewism, Hoots, Puddles Pity Party, SK Media, HBomberGuy, The Confused Adipose, Yoyomi, Brandon Talks, D'Angelo Wallace, Kazachka, Think Ukraine, Aid Thompsin, Tale Foundry, BooksWithEmilyFox, Supertanskiii, Keffals, Liz Webster, Jen the Librarian, Anka Daily News, Belle of the Ranch, Book Furnace, The_Miracle_Aligner, Parkrose Permaculture, Book Belle.
Ominous music begins. 😊 Writers and readers of very poorly written Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance have doxxed, stalked, threatened and physically confronted readers who wrote their issues with certain books. Goodreads are a site on which few readers respond to that violence. BookTubers do. Science fiction readers on this site either join the abuse or ignore it which says much about the membership. Amazon themselves have taken no action against the deranged.
Kindle/Goodreads gave my sparse message history to this psychotic crowd. This enabled a request through Pine Gap Centre that Australian Intelligence interrogate the one friend whom I occasionally messaged. That attempt at my personal history failed and left two outraged customers. Amazon only became concerned as we publicised that event.
Most comments to my reviews are now masked entirely, when only the member name had been. The lurkers whom I was not Allowed to unfriend all disappeared and I received a message that Kindle will no longer support Goodreads. These and other actions were it seems, attempts to hide various visible harassment from other readers. A promise of dismissal of certain employees and an apology might have sufficed prior to the Australian affair.
Recently a seventh ex-employee of EBay was sentenced for harassment of a couple who produce a small ecommerce channel deemed unkind to EBay. They were awarded multi-millions of pounds and the ex-employee had been the EBay Chief of Global Security or some such. The above are all things to think about.
Any temporary immunity you might currently enjoy, rests on the whims of a certain type of member and Goodreads employee. In less than 24 hours after the US election results, global markets and supply chains are in an uproar and Trump is undoubtedly well chuffed. His party who without a doubt have Russian donors and the 600+ influencers being belatedly investigated as being Russian paid propagandists are also exultant. The MAGA followers of same have already launched mass terror campaigns against women including legalisation of rape, anonymous texts to black Americans promising their enslavement, other POC and LGBTQ+ citizens have received promises of violence and more. Amazon have embedded the cowardly cruelty which is a historical bedrock of US culture.
I suggest a few precautions to make this site exposure safer until you replace your Amazon kit and move to a better reader site. BookTubers can direct you to alternative e-readers, Storygraph, Fable and others.
Remove all personal information from the site profile and avoid messaging. Remove the lurker, those friends who never post. They are monitors not admirers. Given the Goodreads penchant for Altering customer pages, screenshots of the odd, the ugly or the threatening are invaluable.
Do Not use Kindle Files, Email, Contacts or Calendar. To use those functions are very dangerous, unless as many US readers you assume that you are immune. Do Not "purchase" books as you own the device not the titles and Amazon will delete them if your Amazon account closes. I made the mistake of purchasing several hundred titles as my contempt for Unlimited titles increased. I have had service interrupted for days at a stretch and my keyboard was continually distorted for more than a year, which is now magically restored.
To implement the above measures cost nothing, to not might well do. These animals, members and employees alike embrace no non-Randian morality, are the best of them fascist sympathisers and They are US patriots with all that implies. Ominous music ends. 😊
Be careful and may we all enjoy Good Reading! 🤗
Some of my favourite channels.
Bobbing Along, The Queer Kiwi, A Day of Small Things. TVP News, Nicole Chilaka-Ukpo, Tom Nicholas, Munecat, Lily Simpson, AllShorts, Honest Government Ads, Novara Media, Willow Talks Books, Ben and Emily, Anna Gramling, Patrick(H)Willem, The Gaze, Kiko1006, Tom Powell, SciFi Odyssey, Chess Vibes, J. Draper, Vlad Vexler, UATV English, The New Enlightenment with Ashley, Andrewism, Think Ukraine, What Rae Reads, Prime of Midlife, Cruising Alba, World Science Festival, Science Insanity, The Kavernacle, Silicon Curtain, No Justice, Cruising Crafts, Ship Happens, Bart's Book Space, Wurld, Bookslike Whoa, Bookpilled, Strange Aeons, Ponderful, Octopus Lady, The Russian Dude, Lady Knight the Brave, Fraser Cain, Media Death Cult, Kathy's Flog in France, Tara Mooknee, Lily Alexandre, Lilly's Expat Life, May, Evie Lupine, Michael Lambert, Inside Russia, Eileen, Leena Norms, Cecelia Blomdahl, Hello Future Me, Jay Exci, Lydia Loves Timelines, Jessie Gender, Time Tinkerer, Wednesday Addams. - Paint it Black, Tale Foundry, Snappy Dragon, Viva La Dirt League, Dominic Noble, Girls Rock Asia, Times Radio, Gutsick Gibbon, Planarwalker, Megalithhunter, Karolina Zebrowska, Harbo Wholmes, Aid Thompsin, AllShorts, Sami and Books JammiDodger, Lady of the Library, Ukraine Calling, Amanda Rae, The Welsh Viking, Zoe Baker, Yanis Varoufakis, UNTV, The British Museum, What Vivi did next, JohnTheDuncan, Renegade Cut, Library Ladder, SandRhoman History, France 24, Terrible Writing Advice, Alexa Donne, Verilybitchie, Savy Writes Books, Sci-Fi Odyssey, Physics Girl, Zoe Bee, UNTV, Reese Waters, Engineering with Rosie, Linguoer Mechanic, Historian's Craft, Dungeons and Discourse, Ministry of Miniatures, Belle of the Ranch, Owen Jones, Philosophy Tube, Nini Music, Supertanskiii, Keffals, The Gaze, Bayraktar Song, Welcome to Ukraine, Natasha's Adventures, The Bands of HM Royal Marines, DW News, NFKRZ, Book Furnace, Widebeam and Wellingtons, Sanctioned Ivan, Steve Shives, Certifiably Ingame.
I wish you a glorious morning, a refreshing afternoon, a pleasant evening, a wonderful night and May we all continue learning.
Denial of Evil, is Complicity.
November 3, 2018
Good story. Seemed a little slow at times, but overall a good story.
April 14, 2021
Unique world and interesting story. Characters are entertaining. Looking forward to the next book!
July 8, 2022
Mon avis en Français
My English review
This is a novel I had heard a lot of good things about and so I bought it. It took me a while to get into it, but I must say that I had a great time.
Levy is a Legacy, a creature that is not supposed to exist anymore. Those like Levy are hunted and exterminated; she hides and lives as a simple human. A few hunters occasionally come after her, but she always manages to get away… until now. Her latest job, a magic dagger, puts her in the spotlight. She was trying to stay out of the way, but finds herself rubbing shoulders with the leader of the Supernatural Guild who would kill her if he knew who she was. Yes, because she is part of a race that has many powers and has killed millions to amass even more. But Levy is not like that, she doesn’t seek power, she just wants to live a normal life. Unfortunately, suspected of murder, she will have to find out who is trying to trap her and will also understand very quickly that what we think is gone, is never really.
This novel is a rather classic UF and I can say that I had a good time with the characters. There are only four volumes in the series, which is reasonable and I can’t wait to discover the sequel. Because that ending? Arghh I can’t wait to see what Levy will do!
My English review
This is a novel I had heard a lot of good things about and so I bought it. It took me a while to get into it, but I must say that I had a great time.
Levy is a Legacy, a creature that is not supposed to exist anymore. Those like Levy are hunted and exterminated; she hides and lives as a simple human. A few hunters occasionally come after her, but she always manages to get away… until now. Her latest job, a magic dagger, puts her in the spotlight. She was trying to stay out of the way, but finds herself rubbing shoulders with the leader of the Supernatural Guild who would kill her if he knew who she was. Yes, because she is part of a race that has many powers and has killed millions to amass even more. But Levy is not like that, she doesn’t seek power, she just wants to live a normal life. Unfortunately, suspected of murder, she will have to find out who is trying to trap her and will also understand very quickly that what we think is gone, is never really.
This novel is a rather classic UF and I can say that I had a good time with the characters. There are only four volumes in the series, which is reasonable and I can’t wait to discover the sequel. Because that ending? Arghh I can’t wait to see what Levy will do!
May 4, 2019
Full review: https://girlswithguns.org/double-side...
Hunter has put some obvious thought into the universe and its rules, making it certainly one with scope for development, though some additional exposition would have helped with certain aspects. I’m also not certain this is the best place to have started. Hearing about The Cleanse in a “previously, on…” kinda way, seems like a waste of an epic opportunity. There’s an origin story for Levy, which could well have been more interesting than the one actually told. Still, I wouldn’t be entirely averse to reading more of her adventures, though it would likely be a case of waiting for a 99-cent sale on Amazon, rather than paying full-price.
Hunter has put some obvious thought into the universe and its rules, making it certainly one with scope for development, though some additional exposition would have helped with certain aspects. I’m also not certain this is the best place to have started. Hearing about The Cleanse in a “previously, on…” kinda way, seems like a waste of an epic opportunity. There’s an origin story for Levy, which could well have been more interesting than the one actually told. Still, I wouldn’t be entirely averse to reading more of her adventures, though it would likely be a case of waiting for a 99-cent sale on Amazon, rather than paying full-price.
November 13, 2016
I decided to read this book after reading the reviews and it was an entertaining read. Levy was my kind of woman who is kick ass and takes charge of the situation. There was a little bit of romance between her and Gareth but it did not overpower the story line or hinder them in their quest to find the Necro Spear. Due to the fact that they are on opposite sites the chemistry was just on simmer but not the instant love that is typical of these types of stories. So many unanswered questions that left me wanting to know what happens next and I am looking forward to the next book.
August 5, 2017
(3.5 stars) This reminded me a little of Harper's 'Blood Destiny' series. I'm intrigued enough to move onto book 2.
October 1, 2021
I can't believe I haven't found this series before.
This book, in particular, fit together really well for me, but the whole series is solid.
It's got all the fun aspects of urban fantasy -- inventive magic, badass heroine, a complex relationship between the mundane and the paranormal.
Go read it already!
This book, in particular, fit together really well for me, but the whole series is solid.
It's got all the fun aspects of urban fantasy -- inventive magic, badass heroine, a complex relationship between the mundane and the paranormal.
Go read it already!
November 20, 2017
It was weird for me. It could have been good, but it just had too much information that was unnecessary and it detracted from the story itself. There wasn’t enough dialogue to like any of the characters.
October 10, 2018
4.5 - Really good, impossible to put down. Will definitely be continuing the series. I love when a person is hiding what they are but not seeing how this can end well - we shall see. A Few plot holes but the the wolf and vamp are intriguing and the roommate is hilariously fun. Full review to come.
September 22, 2017
Definitely had the 'feel' of Helen Harper's Blood Destiny series, but of course the story is entirely different.
25 yrs ago The Legacy were blamed for the Cleanse, wherein all other magical creatures were supposed to die. The Legacy wanted to be the only magic users on the planet, so no more shifters, vamps, witches, mages or anything else. The way the Cleanse worked, though, killed the weakest first, so humans that had magical ancestors died first, then the weakest of the supernaturals. That left the strongest ones, and they threw everything into breaking the veil hiding the Legacy and killing them all. Some escaped.
Levy, is a Legacy, hiding in plain sight as a human, so she isn't killed. She wasn't born at the time of the Cleanse, and her parents weren't involved either, but they were lucky and escaped the genocide. Since then they've both been killed.
Levy comes to the attention of the Magic Council when she is discovered with 3 dead bodies, all supes, in the park, in the middle of the night. She has absolutely no memory of what happened. Gareth, Cave Lion, is the Head of the Shifter Guild and a member of the Magic Council and he is intrigued with Levy. That is just the beginning of the adventure.
25 yrs ago The Legacy were blamed for the Cleanse, wherein all other magical creatures were supposed to die. The Legacy wanted to be the only magic users on the planet, so no more shifters, vamps, witches, mages or anything else. The way the Cleanse worked, though, killed the weakest first, so humans that had magical ancestors died first, then the weakest of the supernaturals. That left the strongest ones, and they threw everything into breaking the veil hiding the Legacy and killing them all. Some escaped.
Levy, is a Legacy, hiding in plain sight as a human, so she isn't killed. She wasn't born at the time of the Cleanse, and her parents weren't involved either, but they were lucky and escaped the genocide. Since then they've both been killed.
Levy comes to the attention of the Magic Council when she is discovered with 3 dead bodies, all supes, in the park, in the middle of the night. She has absolutely no memory of what happened. Gareth, Cave Lion, is the Head of the Shifter Guild and a member of the Magic Council and he is intrigued with Levy. That is just the beginning of the adventure.
May 17, 2025
Supernaturals are out of the closet but I have to stay hidden because of the type of magic I possess. I’m a Legacy. It sounds like the title should come with reverence, a trust fund, or at the very least a cool backstory—instead it comes with a death sentence.
I have to hide in plain sight and pretend to be just human. I’m pretty good at it. I live a simple and somewhat normal life, and I work in antique acquisitions. Everything’s going fine until a dangerous and enchanted dagger that was once in my possession is stolen. I didn’t think things could get any worse until I woke up next to a dead shifter, fae, and mage, without any memory of the past twenty-four hours.
Considered guilty of murder by most of the magical community and humans, I must work with Gareth, the sexy and dangerous leader of the Supernatural Guild. If he’s as good as rumored, it’s only a matter of time until he discovers the truth about me—then being found guilty of murder is the least of my worries.
Genres
Urban Fantasy
Paranormal
I have to hide in plain sight and pretend to be just human. I’m pretty good at it. I live a simple and somewhat normal life, and I work in antique acquisitions. Everything’s going fine until a dangerous and enchanted dagger that was once in my possession is stolen. I didn’t think things could get any worse until I woke up next to a dead shifter, fae, and mage, without any memory of the past twenty-four hours.
Considered guilty of murder by most of the magical community and humans, I must work with Gareth, the sexy and dangerous leader of the Supernatural Guild. If he’s as good as rumored, it’s only a matter of time until he discovers the truth about me—then being found guilty of murder is the least of my worries.
Genres
Urban Fantasy
Paranormal
October 18, 2021
Pacing didn't work for me. MC's ruminations were often repetitive. Also didn't really feel the chemistry between the two MCs. One reviewer described it as stilted and I'm inclined to agree.
Content felt both dense and lacking in depth simultaneously. Levy didn't impress me, Savannah annoys me, Gareth is a nuisance.
I'm a mood reader and have been dealing with more fatigue than usual lately so this might have something to do with it. But I didn't really enjoy this one and did a lot of skimming. I don't think I'll be seeing this through.
Content felt both dense and lacking in depth simultaneously. Levy didn't impress me, Savannah annoys me, Gareth is a nuisance.
I'm a mood reader and have been dealing with more fatigue than usual lately so this might have something to do with it. But I didn't really enjoy this one and did a lot of skimming. I don't think I'll be seeing this through.
August 15, 2018
Liked the story but the heroine is mediocre
The plot is interesting but Olivia isn’t very likable. I don’t mind how stubborn or independent she is, it’s that she doesn’t pick her battles well. Why would you purposely piss off extremely powerful beings, especially when you’re trying to lay low?
The plot is interesting but Olivia isn’t very likable. I don’t mind how stubborn or independent she is, it’s that she doesn’t pick her battles well. Why would you purposely piss off extremely powerful beings, especially when you’re trying to lay low?
February 24, 2019
So a strong 4.5 read. Such a crap ending, but sure makes me want to move on to book two. I enjoyed this story and enjoyed the story on the magic and such. I look forward to how things progress and how Levy may or may not come clean. She will have to in some cases, we shall see how that goes. If you like magic, shifters and vamps you may well enjoy this.
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