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Uncanny Kingdom
Uncanny Kingdom, Volume Two
The UK is under siege by supernatural forces, and it’s up to three unlikely heroes to save the realm from annihilation...
A witch’s familiar who is the last surviving member of a slaughtered coven...
A ghost detective atoning for his mortal sins...
And a bumbling warlock who chases fearsome monsters, but can't remember why.
Can these improbable champions repel the creatures that lurk in the shadows and protect the UK from calamity, or will the sceptred isle sink beneath a tide of demons and fiends?
Mystery, scares, and the paranormal collide in this gripping urban fantasy set. Uncanny Kingdom, Volume Two, collects the second books of three series:
From London Coven is Nightmare Realm
From Spectral Detective is Corpse Reviver (original title "Something Rotten")
From Dark Lakes is Blood Stones.
A witch’s familiar who is the last surviving member of a slaughtered coven...
A ghost detective atoning for his mortal sins...
And a bumbling warlock who chases fearsome monsters, but can't remember why.
Can these improbable champions repel the creatures that lurk in the shadows and protect the UK from calamity, or will the sceptred isle sink beneath a tide of demons and fiends?
Mystery, scares, and the paranormal collide in this gripping urban fantasy set. Uncanny Kingdom, Volume Two, collects the second books of three series:
From London Coven is Nightmare Realm
From Spectral Detective is Corpse Reviver (original title "Something Rotten")
From Dark Lakes is Blood Stones.
490 pages, Paperback
Published June 2, 2018
About the author
David Bussell
37 books179 followersDavid Bussell is a best-selling British author renowned for his contributions to the urban fantasy genre. He is the co-creator of the Uncanny Kingdom, a series that explores a secret Britain teeming with paranormal suspense stories. His notable works include the "Spectral Detective" series. David's writing prowess has been recognized with the P.G. Wodehouse New Comic Writer Award. Beyond his literary achievements, he is an avid fencer, a lover of synthwave music, and a committed comic book fan.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 11, 2017
If you haven't read Familiar Magic, Fresh Hell and Magic Eater, stop now and go and get them immediately. They are the first books in these three series (London Coven, Ghosted and Dark Lakes), all set in the Uncanny realm, and whilst each book stands alone, everything will make more sense and be more enjoyable if you read them in order and there are some character overlaps between the series. I love the books, the characters, the stories, the writing, the sarcasm and the utter Englishness of everything.
Nightmare Realm (London Coven series Book 2))
After the hellish creature that Stella faced in Familiar Magic, she now faces a seemingly impossible task. An entity is putting London's children to sleep permanently and Stella does not think she is strong enough to deal with the situation. She has help from David, the "normal" policeman, help that he isn't even aware of, and also from Jake Fletcher (from the Ghosted series) who she meets for the first time. Again the story is a rollercoaster of a ride and Stella is a strong, feisty and confident character, even when dealing with childhood emotions, something she has never experienced.
I love this series and the Ghosted series also. They are now firm favourites and long may they continue.
I received a copy of this book from the author but voluntarily decided to write a review and this is my own uninfluenced opinion.
Something Rotten (Ghosted series Book 2)
I loved this book as much as the first. Jake is still trying to balance out the red in his ledger by helping other ghosts to go on to the afterlife, while trying to avoid any contact from the afterlife himself. He is no longer under their radar and has to step up his game this time to be allowed to stay in London. He is just as sarcastic and funny second time around and the whole book is hugely enjoyable.
It is beautifully written and the characters of Jake and his band of helpers are developing nicely. The only thing I didn't like is that it is too short! I was enjoying it so much I didn't want it to end.
I received an Advance Reader's Copy but this review is my own opinion and is not influenced by the author.
Blood Stones (Dark Lakes series Book 2)
What a great follow up to Magic Eater. Joseph learns his true name, Eva swears even more this time (if that's possible), the fox continues to scare the pants off Joseph with his sudden appearances and Maya Myers, having lost her partner Sam Samm, has a new partner, Detective Martins (whose first name is never stated but if it's not Martin, I'll eat my hat). The action all takes place in the idyllic setting of the Lake District where the supernatural runs rampant again and the wildlife gets in on the action this time, and I don't mean just the fox. Joseph has a lot on his plate to deal with and muddles his way through despite not really having a clue how to solve his problems.
The writing is good, the story entertaining and the characters are excellent. Eva cracks me up and definitely deserves her own series.
There are three separate series (London Coven, Ghosted and Dark Lakes) that are all part of the Uncanny Kingdom. All the books can be read as standalones, even though they overlap slightly, but if you love one of these books, you'll love them all. They are a real treat. The authors David and Matthew certainly know how to spin a yarn and I'm very glad to have found them and hope that they continue with the Uncanny Kingdom for a long time.
I received an Advance Reader's Copy but this review is my own opinion and is not influenced by the author.
Nightmare Realm (London Coven series Book 2))
After the hellish creature that Stella faced in Familiar Magic, she now faces a seemingly impossible task. An entity is putting London's children to sleep permanently and Stella does not think she is strong enough to deal with the situation. She has help from David, the "normal" policeman, help that he isn't even aware of, and also from Jake Fletcher (from the Ghosted series) who she meets for the first time. Again the story is a rollercoaster of a ride and Stella is a strong, feisty and confident character, even when dealing with childhood emotions, something she has never experienced.
I love this series and the Ghosted series also. They are now firm favourites and long may they continue.
I received a copy of this book from the author but voluntarily decided to write a review and this is my own uninfluenced opinion.
Something Rotten (Ghosted series Book 2)
I loved this book as much as the first. Jake is still trying to balance out the red in his ledger by helping other ghosts to go on to the afterlife, while trying to avoid any contact from the afterlife himself. He is no longer under their radar and has to step up his game this time to be allowed to stay in London. He is just as sarcastic and funny second time around and the whole book is hugely enjoyable.
It is beautifully written and the characters of Jake and his band of helpers are developing nicely. The only thing I didn't like is that it is too short! I was enjoying it so much I didn't want it to end.
I received an Advance Reader's Copy but this review is my own opinion and is not influenced by the author.
Blood Stones (Dark Lakes series Book 2)
What a great follow up to Magic Eater. Joseph learns his true name, Eva swears even more this time (if that's possible), the fox continues to scare the pants off Joseph with his sudden appearances and Maya Myers, having lost her partner Sam Samm, has a new partner, Detective Martins (whose first name is never stated but if it's not Martin, I'll eat my hat). The action all takes place in the idyllic setting of the Lake District where the supernatural runs rampant again and the wildlife gets in on the action this time, and I don't mean just the fox. Joseph has a lot on his plate to deal with and muddles his way through despite not really having a clue how to solve his problems.
The writing is good, the story entertaining and the characters are excellent. Eva cracks me up and definitely deserves her own series.
There are three separate series (London Coven, Ghosted and Dark Lakes) that are all part of the Uncanny Kingdom. All the books can be read as standalones, even though they overlap slightly, but if you love one of these books, you'll love them all. They are a real treat. The authors David and Matthew certainly know how to spin a yarn and I'm very glad to have found them and hope that they continue with the Uncanny Kingdom for a long time.
I received an Advance Reader's Copy but this review is my own opinion and is not influenced by the author.
September 14, 2017
Another great collection. Another astounding bargain. The Uncanny Kingdom books are quite simply superb and this anthology is a great way of getting into them.
Here's my book by book review.
Nightmare Realm
I love Stella Familiar. She's just the kind of kick-a** heroine I look for and the whole concept of a human(oid) familiar continuing with her mission after her three maker-witches were murdered, is both original and a riot. (As an aside, I still mourn the loss of those three witches, even if they only appeared in the prequel that you can get for free from the author.)
The lead characters, Stella and Detective David Tyler, have great chemistry and I love the dialogue beyeeen them. The plot with its (horrifying to me) evil that puts children to sleep forever, is truly well done. The supporting characters are excellent. If anything, I like this book even more than book 1 and I thought that one was excellent. Bottom line is that this book is simply a fun-blast and highly recummended.
My only complaint is the very ending where MV Stott decided to tease me about the next book. No, it's not a real cliffhanger as the actual story in Nightmare Realm is fully resolved by then, but it still leaves me hanging and sorta panting for the next book. Having said that, it was a pretty neat teaser so I don't know if I'd want it cut. I'm torn and conflicted. Despite that, this book was so good that I'm going to have to give it five stars, something I rarely do.
Something Rotten
"When the dead start killing the living, the only person who can stop them is a man stuck between life and death."
Darn catchy line - for a darn good book. I love the whole idea of Jake Fletcher the ghost PI. Every book in this series, from the prequel Death Day to this book, has been superb. Here our intrepid detective learns that someone is reviving corpses and using them as assassins. Not your ordinary case, but for a guy who outclasses Dresden (sorti Jim Butcher) you just know he has what it will take. Sure enough we get there, bit boy oh boy is the trip time o'fun.
Highly recommended.
Blood Stones
The Uncanny Kingdom urban fantasies are an incredible grouping of connected series of stories. I've read two other of these series (London Coven and Ghosted ) so far, and based on Blood Stones and it's predecessor book Magic Eater, The Dark Lakes series Is well on the way to being another major winner.
"I'm telling you, life was a whole lot easier back when I was an oblivious idiot." Yup, that pretty much sums things up for our hapless warlock with a slowly recovering memory hero Joseph Lake (though he learns his true name in this book). MV Stott knows how to mix humor with urban fantasy and just the right amount of horror better than almost anyone (his Uncanny Kingdom co-conspirator David Bussell being another in the small group of folks with this super-power). Add in a superb plot, a real riot of snarky, fun, superbly drawn characters (I adore foul-mouthed Eva, though Maya Myers is loads of fun too and the fox is simply great). The result? Another truly fun ride that I strongly recommend.
Here's my book by book review.
Nightmare Realm
I love Stella Familiar. She's just the kind of kick-a** heroine I look for and the whole concept of a human(oid) familiar continuing with her mission after her three maker-witches were murdered, is both original and a riot. (As an aside, I still mourn the loss of those three witches, even if they only appeared in the prequel that you can get for free from the author.)
The lead characters, Stella and Detective David Tyler, have great chemistry and I love the dialogue beyeeen them. The plot with its (horrifying to me) evil that puts children to sleep forever, is truly well done. The supporting characters are excellent. If anything, I like this book even more than book 1 and I thought that one was excellent. Bottom line is that this book is simply a fun-blast and highly recummended.
My only complaint is the very ending where MV Stott decided to tease me about the next book. No, it's not a real cliffhanger as the actual story in Nightmare Realm is fully resolved by then, but it still leaves me hanging and sorta panting for the next book. Having said that, it was a pretty neat teaser so I don't know if I'd want it cut. I'm torn and conflicted. Despite that, this book was so good that I'm going to have to give it five stars, something I rarely do.
Something Rotten
"When the dead start killing the living, the only person who can stop them is a man stuck between life and death."
Darn catchy line - for a darn good book. I love the whole idea of Jake Fletcher the ghost PI. Every book in this series, from the prequel Death Day to this book, has been superb. Here our intrepid detective learns that someone is reviving corpses and using them as assassins. Not your ordinary case, but for a guy who outclasses Dresden (sorti Jim Butcher) you just know he has what it will take. Sure enough we get there, bit boy oh boy is the trip time o'fun.
Highly recommended.
Blood Stones
The Uncanny Kingdom urban fantasies are an incredible grouping of connected series of stories. I've read two other of these series (London Coven and Ghosted ) so far, and based on Blood Stones and it's predecessor book Magic Eater, The Dark Lakes series Is well on the way to being another major winner.
"I'm telling you, life was a whole lot easier back when I was an oblivious idiot." Yup, that pretty much sums things up for our hapless warlock with a slowly recovering memory hero Joseph Lake (though he learns his true name in this book). MV Stott knows how to mix humor with urban fantasy and just the right amount of horror better than almost anyone (his Uncanny Kingdom co-conspirator David Bussell being another in the small group of folks with this super-power). Add in a superb plot, a real riot of snarky, fun, superbly drawn characters (I adore foul-mouthed Eva, though Maya Myers is loads of fun too and the fox is simply great). The result? Another truly fun ride that I strongly recommend.
August 18, 2017
What a great way to read book 2 from each of the Uncanny book series. I love these books. Full of hilarious scenes and horrible one liners, they are great reads. Plus they are not huge epic books that take forever to read, instead just the right length to read in one sitting with enough time to recover your breath from laughing too hard.
Nightmare Realm (London Coven series Book 2)
Stella is back and working with David, kind of, trying to save London's children. Jake even shows up to meet Stella and join the fun. Well written, I laughed my way through the story and waited to see what crazy thing Stella would do or say for that matter.
Something Rotten (Ghosted series Book 2)
What a great sequel to Fresh Hell. Jake is back and just as obnoxious, but in a great way, as before. The book was full of wisecracks and blundering around as he tried to solve the latest rash of ghosts. Now that his police contact DI Stronge can see the real him, more funny conversations and scenes abound. Just like the first book I was hooked by the end of the first paragraph and read it all at once to see what trouble Jake would get into. I was not disappointed! Full of hysterical scenes, one liners, crazy friends/uncommon contacts, and a good mystery thrown in to round out the story I was not disappointed. Even though I was given a free copy this book, this is my honest review - it was worth the read. I never stopped laughing.
Blood Stones (Dark Lakes series Book 2)
Joe and Eva are back for book 2 that is just as funny and irreverent as book 1. Joe manages to get himself in trouble again but technically he knows exactly what he got himself into, well just one part of his life. The rest of what happens in the story not so much. Well written, I laughed through most of the book when I was not groaning. Plus Joe learns a little bit more about his past and Fox and Red Queen do show up a few times just to make things more interesting. I received a free copy and my honest review is that I was totally entertained as I read this one all in one setting as I just had to see what Joe would end up getting entangled in this time.
Nightmare Realm (London Coven series Book 2)
Stella is back and working with David, kind of, trying to save London's children. Jake even shows up to meet Stella and join the fun. Well written, I laughed my way through the story and waited to see what crazy thing Stella would do or say for that matter.
Something Rotten (Ghosted series Book 2)
What a great sequel to Fresh Hell. Jake is back and just as obnoxious, but in a great way, as before. The book was full of wisecracks and blundering around as he tried to solve the latest rash of ghosts. Now that his police contact DI Stronge can see the real him, more funny conversations and scenes abound. Just like the first book I was hooked by the end of the first paragraph and read it all at once to see what trouble Jake would get into. I was not disappointed! Full of hysterical scenes, one liners, crazy friends/uncommon contacts, and a good mystery thrown in to round out the story I was not disappointed. Even though I was given a free copy this book, this is my honest review - it was worth the read. I never stopped laughing.
Blood Stones (Dark Lakes series Book 2)
Joe and Eva are back for book 2 that is just as funny and irreverent as book 1. Joe manages to get himself in trouble again but technically he knows exactly what he got himself into, well just one part of his life. The rest of what happens in the story not so much. Well written, I laughed through most of the book when I was not groaning. Plus Joe learns a little bit more about his past and Fox and Red Queen do show up a few times just to make things more interesting. I received a free copy and my honest review is that I was totally entertained as I read this one all in one setting as I just had to see what Joe would end up getting entangled in this time.
March 9, 2019
Hook, line and sinker
I absolutely love all the stories of the Uncanny Kingdom. It's such an exciting, unique and enjoyable series. I'm becoming attached to all the characters...especially Joseph Lake, our hapless warlock. He just stumbles from one near death experience to the next! The characters are all well written and have their own set of skills and style. It's great that the stories are set in the UK, as their is lots of history and folklore for the authors to draw upon. The London Coven is set in places in my local area, so it feels really real and tangible. The humour in the books is so natural, it sometimes takes you by surprise making you laugh out loud. I'm definitely going to read the rest of the books in the series. The Uncanny Kingdom is right near the top on my favourites list.
I absolutely love all the stories of the Uncanny Kingdom. It's such an exciting, unique and enjoyable series. I'm becoming attached to all the characters...especially Joseph Lake, our hapless warlock. He just stumbles from one near death experience to the next! The characters are all well written and have their own set of skills and style. It's great that the stories are set in the UK, as their is lots of history and folklore for the authors to draw upon. The London Coven is set in places in my local area, so it feels really real and tangible. The humour in the books is so natural, it sometimes takes you by surprise making you laugh out loud. I'm definitely going to read the rest of the books in the series. The Uncanny Kingdom is right near the top on my favourites list.
October 13, 2017
In Nightmare Realm we are again on another roller coaster ride with Stella Familiar and her sidekick Detective David Tyler. They are trying to save the children from the evil that attacks in their sleep and the children never wake up from. They are joined with Jake Fletcher from the Ghosted series. Unexpected twists and turns. Unable to put down.
Each book leaves us eager for the next book in this series. Highly recommend all of them. I voluntarily received an advanced readers copy of this book and loved every page of it. This was my honest opinion.
Each book leaves us eager for the next book in this series. Highly recommend all of them. I voluntarily received an advanced readers copy of this book and loved every page of it. This was my honest opinion.
June 7, 2020
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Great stories. Great characters. Greatly entertaining. Love the Uncanny Kingdom and the tales of the people therein. Can't wait for the next set of stories.
Great stories. Great characters. Greatly entertaining. Love the Uncanny Kingdom and the tales of the people therein. Can't wait for the next set of stories.
July 3, 2022
Great Read
This continues the great storyline that is based in the Uncanny Kingdom. Three stories centred around the different storylines. Great reading from start to finish.
This continues the great storyline that is based in the Uncanny Kingdom. Three stories centred around the different storylines. Great reading from start to finish.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews