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Shadows of Asphodel #3
Specters of Nemesis
Until death do us part.
When Ardis and Wendel abandon the battlefields of Prussia and Austria-Hungary, they expect anonymity in America. Perhaps assassins and bloodshed will be no more than a distant nightmare. But not even the bustle of New York City offers them peace. Together, they must fight to escape the shadows of their pasts, and avoid a far more terrible future.
Faced with a nemesis, one question remains. How far would you go to save the one you love?
When Ardis and Wendel abandon the battlefields of Prussia and Austria-Hungary, they expect anonymity in America. Perhaps assassins and bloodshed will be no more than a distant nightmare. But not even the bustle of New York City offers them peace. Together, they must fight to escape the shadows of their pasts, and avoid a far more terrible future.
Faced with a nemesis, one question remains. How far would you go to save the one you love?
282 pages, ebook
First published February 13, 2018
4 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
Karen Kincy
24 books751 followersKaren Kincy writes books when she isn’t writing code. She has a BA in Linguistics and Literature from The Evergreen State College, and an MS in Computational Linguistics from the University of Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 6, 2018
Completely unrealistic and poorly inspired. The execution isn't bad, but there is not much to salvage to begin with.
Ardis and Wendel are shadows of their former selves, even their bantering feels stretched and tired, and the attempt to compensate with bedroom activities falls quite short (or, positively superfluous).
Overall an okay book because it's a quick read, but the perplexing plot didn't help any, nor did chapter 22.
I would recommend this series only up to the second book, this last installment is just a filler and doesn't really contribute to the main storyline, I could have safely skipped it.
1.5 stars.
“How are you feeling?” he said.
“Tired.” She grimaced. “One too many brushes with death.”
He shrugged. “You haven’t brushed my hair yet.”
She laughed. “You’re just a necromancer.”
“Just?”
“Not Death incarnate.”
“My enemies would beg to differ.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t put that on your résumé.”
Ardis and Wendel are shadows of their former selves, even their bantering feels stretched and tired, and the attempt to compensate with bedroom activities falls quite short (or, positively superfluous).
Overall an okay book because it's a quick read, but the perplexing plot didn't help any, nor did chapter 22.
I would recommend this series only up to the second book, this last installment is just a filler and doesn't really contribute to the main storyline, I could have safely skipped it.
1.5 stars.
“How are you feeling?” he said.
“Tired.” She grimaced. “One too many brushes with death.”
He shrugged. “You haven’t brushed my hair yet.”
She laughed. “You’re just a necromancer.”
“Just?”
“Not Death incarnate.”
“My enemies would beg to differ.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t put that on your résumé.”
February 14, 2018
Steampunk romance with a hot, renegade, disinherited necromancer & former prince of Prussia?
Now, i've been waiting for this book for damn ages. Or to be more exact, for like 3-4 years.
4 years of some very painful, very longish personal earnings for a much needed happy ending.
Which is not surprising considering that i have a major weakness for kick-ass heroines who take no crap from any guy and for the men who manage to win them over. And steampunk.
Lots and lots of steampunk.
And Ardis?
Always did, always will.
Now, i would have adored some more descriptions and steampunk -ish vibes, along with a bigger picture of the story, but Ardis and Wendel more than managed to make up for that.
Well, Wendel I and Wendel II did.
OK, i kinda liked those parts very much, but i'm kinky like that.
Unfortunately this book wraps up one of my favorite couple's stories with quite the HEA. Halfway through i've almost gave up on it considering Wendel's shocking admission and Ardis's loss.
F**k you too, Thorsten Magnusson, f**k you too. I didn't have many expectations from you as a or even as a horrible human being but the things you did give you the undefeated title of "Prick of the Century"
Jin Hua, or otherwise known as the Badass Mom of the Year, totally rocked, tho and had a very open mind regarding unimpressive things like time traveling, royalty, necromancy and hoards of deadly assassins.
I knew there was a solid reason why i loved her.
So, not only do we get double the trouble, but we also get double the steamy level and double the present in the epilogue.
You'll have to read the book in order to find out what i mean by that.
Like i did the moment this gem was out. Basically like this:
Seriously now, you hafta.
Wendel is too much of a hot mess and Ardis is too much of a tough cookie for you not to.
Now, i've been waiting for this book for damn ages. Or to be more exact, for like 3-4 years.
4 years of some very painful, very longish personal earnings for a much needed happy ending.
Which is not surprising considering that i have a major weakness for kick-ass heroines who take no crap from any guy and for the men who manage to win them over. And steampunk.
Lots and lots of steampunk.
And Ardis?
Always did, always will.
Now, i would have adored some more descriptions and steampunk -ish vibes, along with a bigger picture of the story, but Ardis and Wendel more than managed to make up for that.
Well, Wendel I and Wendel II did.
OK, i kinda liked those parts very much, but i'm kinky like that.
Unfortunately this book wraps up one of my favorite couple's stories with quite the HEA. Halfway through i've almost gave up on it considering Wendel's shocking admission and Ardis's loss.
F**k you too, Thorsten Magnusson, f**k you too. I didn't have many expectations from you as a or even as a horrible human being but the things you did give you the undefeated title of "Prick of the Century"
Jin Hua, or otherwise known as the Badass Mom of the Year, totally rocked, tho and had a very open mind regarding unimpressive things like time traveling, royalty, necromancy and hoards of deadly assassins.
I knew there was a solid reason why i loved her.
So, not only do we get double the trouble, but we also get double the steamy level and double the present in the epilogue.
You'll have to read the book in order to find out what i mean by that.
Like i did the moment this gem was out. Basically like this:
Seriously now, you hafta.
Wendel is too much of a hot mess and Ardis is too much of a tough cookie for you not to.
June 26, 2018
*Source* Kindle Unlimited
*Genre* Dieselpunk, Romance
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Specters of Nemesis is the third and final installment in author Karen Kincy's Shadows of Asphodel series. The year is 1914, co-protagonist Ardis escaped from dark past fleeing from America to becoming a mercenary for the Archmages of Vienna. She's tried hanging up her sword but there are way too many enemies still kicking. She's survived assassins, an airship crash, the Imperial Russian Army, and a disgraced former Persian Prince who just happens to be an necromancer and assassin.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Genre* Dieselpunk, Romance
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Specters of Nemesis is the third and final installment in author Karen Kincy's Shadows of Asphodel series. The year is 1914, co-protagonist Ardis escaped from dark past fleeing from America to becoming a mercenary for the Archmages of Vienna. She's tried hanging up her sword but there are way too many enemies still kicking. She's survived assassins, an airship crash, the Imperial Russian Army, and a disgraced former Persian Prince who just happens to be an necromancer and assassin.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
June 29, 2018
WELL. It's over!
This was so good, unexpectedness all the way. Angstier than the previous ones (but also kinkier, omg ardis xD)
So glad I read these books :'D
Ardis x Wendel 5evah
This was so good, unexpectedness all the way. Angstier than the previous ones (but also kinkier, omg ardis xD)
So glad I read these books :'D
Ardis x Wendel 5evah
November 6, 2018
I was looking forward to this book for so long that I was kind of disappointed in what we got. I'm a little conflicted over it because there were some parts that I enjoyed, but others that I was more like 'what the fuck is happening?' Not because I was confused, more because it made no sense. And the whole thing with Wendel seemed completely random and unbelievable. That's the part that I never really could get behind and, because it was almost the whole premise of the book, is what frustrated me. Krampus is still around and I do love that bird though. And Ardis's mother shows up as well and actually turned out to be a pretty good character.
Wendel and Ardis come to America to escape the war. In order to make money for them, Wendel takes up a job working for a group called Nemesis. Let's just say it's not a safe or good group. When one of his missions goes badly, he ends up in the hospital after being shot in the chest. Now let's throw in some time travel and *poof* you get the rest of the story. Someone has come back in time to stop something tragic from happening and they will not stop until every single person they come across is dead. Ardis gets caught in the middle of that and in the middle of her own problems when the police blackmail her into becoming a spy for them. There's tons of fighting and even more death by the time we find out who was responsible for starting this whole mess. Probably should have seen it coming too. For the most part, I liked the end. Except this
I do so love Wendel . Ardis really frustrated me here though.
Overall, even though I was frustrated for much of it, this was a good book and I'm glad these two finally were able to find the peace they sought in the end.
Wendel and Ardis come to America to escape the war. In order to make money for them, Wendel takes up a job working for a group called Nemesis. Let's just say it's not a safe or good group. When one of his missions goes badly, he ends up in the hospital after being shot in the chest. Now let's throw in some time travel and *poof* you get the rest of the story. Someone has come back in time to stop something tragic from happening and they will not stop until every single person they come across is dead. Ardis gets caught in the middle of that and in the middle of her own problems when the police blackmail her into becoming a spy for them. There's tons of fighting and even more death by the time we find out who was responsible for starting this whole mess. Probably should have seen it coming too. For the most part, I liked the end. Except this
I do so love Wendel . Ardis really frustrated me here though.
Overall, even though I was frustrated for much of it, this was a good book and I'm glad these two finally were able to find the peace they sought in the end.
April 28, 2018
Good conclusion
If you liked the first two books, you will likely enjoy how Ardis and Wendel's story was wrapped up here.
I halfway wanted Ardis' mom to confront and deal with Thorston. I had this idea of her being some closet ninja, especially after she was revealed she had pull with the Chinese mafia. But the way he was dealt with worked, too.
If you liked the first two books, you will likely enjoy how Ardis and Wendel's story was wrapped up here.
I halfway wanted Ardis' mom to confront and deal with Thorston. I had this idea of her being some closet ninja, especially after she was revealed she had pull with the Chinese mafia. But the way he was dealt with worked, too.
July 28, 2018
Well, we went some....odd places with this one! Still fun & enjoyable though.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews