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Legends Unleashed #1
Don't Say My Name
Say my name...
They tell you I bring death and carnage. They believe I'm a curse, one that's contagious.
But they're wrong.
I was locked away for protecting the innocent. And while my name does bring violence and bloody destruction, it's only to those whose very souls are corrupted by the violence and hatred they harbor within.
So say my name if you need my help. I'm Bloody Mary, and I promise I'm more than a legend; I'm a witch with the power to save you.
But when four sinfully sexy men make promises to free me from my prison, for the first time in my life, I need to trust someone else to save me. Because the dark powers that trapped me long ago aren't about to let me go free, at least not without a fight.
DON'T SAY MY NAME is a paranormal reverse harem with a tough, sarcastic heroine, four unique supernatural men, and steamy scenes that will leave you breathless. So if you're looking for something with a spooky edge and some humor that will leave your mouth watering, click to grab your copy.
They tell you I bring death and carnage. They believe I'm a curse, one that's contagious.
But they're wrong.
I was locked away for protecting the innocent. And while my name does bring violence and bloody destruction, it's only to those whose very souls are corrupted by the violence and hatred they harbor within.
So say my name if you need my help. I'm Bloody Mary, and I promise I'm more than a legend; I'm a witch with the power to save you.
But when four sinfully sexy men make promises to free me from my prison, for the first time in my life, I need to trust someone else to save me. Because the dark powers that trapped me long ago aren't about to let me go free, at least not without a fight.
DON'T SAY MY NAME is a paranormal reverse harem with a tough, sarcastic heroine, four unique supernatural men, and steamy scenes that will leave you breathless. So if you're looking for something with a spooky edge and some humor that will leave your mouth watering, click to grab your copy.
196 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2020
570 people are currently reading
811 people want to read
About the author
Helen Scott
102 books1,253 followersUSA Today bestselling author Helen Scott spends her time alternating between fantasy and reality. She likes to think she’d be sorted into Hufflepuff and would have been a Physical Kid from Brakebills. Her days are fueled by tea and cuddles from her four-legged kids and amazing husband in their home in the Chicago suburbs.
When not reading or writing, Helen can be found baking, enjoying a walk in the woods, crafting, or playing video games. She’s a lover of sushi and K-Dramas and is convinced there is magic in the world if you know where to look.
Whether paranormal or contemporary, Helen loves writing sassy, kick-butt heroines and drool-worthy love interests. She's the author of the House of Wolves and Magic series, the Cerberus series, and the Of Demons and Dragons series.
Subscribe to Helen’s newsletter for a free book to get started on the adventure today! https://geni.us/HelenScottNewsletter
When not reading or writing, Helen can be found baking, enjoying a walk in the woods, crafting, or playing video games. She’s a lover of sushi and K-Dramas and is convinced there is magic in the world if you know where to look.
Whether paranormal or contemporary, Helen loves writing sassy, kick-butt heroines and drool-worthy love interests. She's the author of the House of Wolves and Magic series, the Cerberus series, and the Of Demons and Dragons series.
Subscribe to Helen’s newsletter for a free book to get started on the adventure today! https://geni.us/HelenScottNewsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
November 7, 2022
Bloody Mary for me was always a horror filled fairy tale. However here, heroine Mary aka Mae is actually both victim and savior banished by warlocks to the mirror realm. In times of need Mary appears in the mirror begging pleading with those who may need her form of rescuing. Wherever there is a mirror Mary can appear and should you call her name three times she’ll come and slay your demons for good. I really enjoyed the plot of this book as there’s so much going on and the magical world the authors built is rather overwhelming but exciting. A rag tag group of men, Mary’s eventual harem I’m guessing, while all magical and powerful in their own ways have been tracking down weird murder cases where Mary is the culprit. They’re more like a modern day ghost hunting supernatural group and one of them wants nothing more than to free Mary from the mirror realm. Poor Mary has watched the world go by while she’s been stuck behind mirrors for far too many years but there are just as many people who want to keep her there and powerless that her freedom will not be easy and come at a heavy cost. This was a pretty out there read and I really enjoyed it, can’t wait to see what mysteries the rest of the trilogy holds.
June 1, 2020
DNF
This started off really interesting and then it just wasn't any more which was disappointing. Sort of had a insta love vibe and I wasn't digging it. Also I realised how far along I was in the book and nothing had really happened?
Na
This started off really interesting and then it just wasn't any more which was disappointing. Sort of had a insta love vibe and I wasn't digging it. Also I realised how far along I was in the book and nothing had really happened?
Na
August 22, 2020
TBD
It would be nice if 1/2 stars were available as an option, because this book strides the line.
On the positive side, the book started from a perspective that the urban legend of Bloody Mary refers to a real person. The authors quickly established Mae as a vivacious and interesting character. These characteristics carried through the first and second book in the series (the third has not been released as of the writing of this review).
It was disappointing that the introduction of the male characters was comparatively lackluster. They are Sam & Dean Winchester-esq hunters searching for/investigating a serial killer, but when they discover that the murderer is a woman suddenly they want to help her escape the mirror realm where she was imprisoned...so she can kill more freely? Apparently their sexual attraction supersedes the whole murder-is-bad concept.
The mirror realm where Mae is imprisoned is where the book falls apart. Mae has been trapped in the realm for “thousands of years”, but the legend of Bloody Mary started in the 15th or 16th century with the Queen. In the mirror realm there are no structures of any kind, meaning that Mae hasn’t bathed or brushed her teeth or hair in more than a millenia, so how is she both clean and modern? Mae wears modern clothing, quotes her favorite movies, and is sexually sophisticated. In fact, there is no learning curve at all when the men are finally able to bring her back to earth.
Since all paranormal books are series these days, the authors have no compunction about introducing many ideas in the first book that remain completely unresolved. Instead they focus on Mary-Sue-ing Mae into an inexplicably unstoppable god-killer. I was curious about the powers that the men possess and wanted to learn more about Mae, but the 2nd book goes nowhere, too.
It would be nice if 1/2 stars were available as an option, because this book strides the line.
On the positive side, the book started from a perspective that the urban legend of Bloody Mary refers to a real person. The authors quickly established Mae as a vivacious and interesting character. These characteristics carried through the first and second book in the series (the third has not been released as of the writing of this review).
It was disappointing that the introduction of the male characters was comparatively lackluster. They are Sam & Dean Winchester-esq hunters searching for/investigating a serial killer, but when they discover that the murderer is a woman suddenly they want to help her escape the mirror realm where she was imprisoned...so she can kill more freely? Apparently their sexual attraction supersedes the whole murder-is-bad concept.
The mirror realm where Mae is imprisoned is where the book falls apart. Mae has been trapped in the realm for “thousands of years”, but the legend of Bloody Mary started in the 15th or 16th century with the Queen. In the mirror realm there are no structures of any kind, meaning that Mae hasn’t bathed or brushed her teeth or hair in more than a millenia, so how is she both clean and modern? Mae wears modern clothing, quotes her favorite movies, and is sexually sophisticated. In fact, there is no learning curve at all when the men are finally able to bring her back to earth.
Since all paranormal books are series these days, the authors have no compunction about introducing many ideas in the first book that remain completely unresolved. Instead they focus on Mary-Sue-ing Mae into an inexplicably unstoppable god-killer. I was curious about the powers that the men possess and wanted to learn more about Mae, but the 2nd book goes nowhere, too.
June 21, 2020
3.5.
I have to say I was seduced by this cover, after spending ages trolling through books trying to decide what I wanted to read.
I was also sold on the concept of a book about the legend of Bloody Mary.
I liked this well enough, but it was missing the wow factor for me, or at least something that could hook me in.
The plot was really involved around getting Mary out of the mirror and the narrative voice flickers between Mary and the guys. I'm not sure I found any of them massively interesting in terms of characterisation, although what they were was inventive and, had the world building been properly explained, or fully realised in the book itself, then that would have been a plus.
Maybe it is a spin off from another series? It had that vibe that I was missing something.
If the srocnd book was out now I would probably pick it up immediately, as the ending finished with an interesting set up for the next book, but this series smay way fall into the grey zone in my memory of 'books that were okay'.
I would still definitely recommend it though, as the concept is original for a RH, which is pretty difficult to do nowadays!
I have to say I was seduced by this cover, after spending ages trolling through books trying to decide what I wanted to read.
I was also sold on the concept of a book about the legend of Bloody Mary.
I liked this well enough, but it was missing the wow factor for me, or at least something that could hook me in.
The plot was really involved around getting Mary out of the mirror and the narrative voice flickers between Mary and the guys. I'm not sure I found any of them massively interesting in terms of characterisation, although what they were was inventive and, had the world building been properly explained, or fully realised in the book itself, then that would have been a plus.
Maybe it is a spin off from another series? It had that vibe that I was missing something.
If the srocnd book was out now I would probably pick it up immediately, as the ending finished with an interesting set up for the next book, but this series smay way fall into the grey zone in my memory of 'books that were okay'.
I would still definitely recommend it though, as the concept is original for a RH, which is pretty difficult to do nowadays!
May 11, 2020
Hey Guys if you are a big fan of the re-telling of myths or fairytails, I have a good one right here. Helen Scott and Lacy Carter Anderson have done a great job in Don't Say My Name.
Here we get to meet the female lead Mae who is such a great character to read about because she fights for those who cannot fight for themselves. I love protective female leads and Mae fits it perfectly. So I was rooting for her from the beginning, and grew to love her more as the story progressed.
Next we meet the guys, which of course are all different and bring to Mae different things that she needs from each one. Oh yeah and can I also say how much I love reading multiple POV, I enjoy reading the guys thoughts just as much as the females.
So if your looking for a good new series to read on, one with great authors, great plot, fast paced, that is full of action, drama, and just a dang good story. Here you go!!!
Here we get to meet the female lead Mae who is such a great character to read about because she fights for those who cannot fight for themselves. I love protective female leads and Mae fits it perfectly. So I was rooting for her from the beginning, and grew to love her more as the story progressed.
Next we meet the guys, which of course are all different and bring to Mae different things that she needs from each one. Oh yeah and can I also say how much I love reading multiple POV, I enjoy reading the guys thoughts just as much as the females.
So if your looking for a good new series to read on, one with great authors, great plot, fast paced, that is full of action, drama, and just a dang good story. Here you go!!!
May 8, 2020
Wow...Helen Scott has once again kicked off a new series with a huge bang! And this series has it all...a powerful and dangerous FMC, Mae, who fights for those that cannot fight for themselves and takes out the evil in the world, in her own way (all be it a bloody deadly way!). As soon as I started to read her story I was completely engrossed and invested in what happened to her and how she was to be saved. Mae is an intense, dark and dangerous character that I cannot wait to read more about!
Then we meet the four powerful men..they are all so different and all bring something unique to this story. We get to read about them all individually and like always Helen Scott does gives us the insight into them all through the multiple POV. This is the beauty of the story and how we get to know them all on a deeper level. However, we really get to know Hunter in this book and his connection to Mae...He is a powerful and dangerous fae but he really had his vulnerable side that Mae rally helps him get though. I cannot wait to to see more with the other three in future books.
This is a book that is quick to read, is full of actions, drams, death, power and vulnerability where you would not expect it. I loved reading this book and as soon as I finished I wanted more immediately...highly recommend new series by a very talented author! Bring on book two.
Then we meet the four powerful men..they are all so different and all bring something unique to this story. We get to read about them all individually and like always Helen Scott does gives us the insight into them all through the multiple POV. This is the beauty of the story and how we get to know them all on a deeper level. However, we really get to know Hunter in this book and his connection to Mae...He is a powerful and dangerous fae but he really had his vulnerable side that Mae rally helps him get though. I cannot wait to to see more with the other three in future books.
This is a book that is quick to read, is full of actions, drams, death, power and vulnerability where you would not expect it. I loved reading this book and as soon as I finished I wanted more immediately...highly recommend new series by a very talented author! Bring on book two.
dnf
July 16, 2020I read all the chapter with Mae and Hunter just out of curiosity and they were ok. But I skipped everything else, and still managed to understand the gist of the plot. It's dense and drags on a bit.
September 23, 2020
My main issue with this book is that I have literally no idea how old the MC is or when she was sent into the mirror realm (even a rough century would be fine). Some things make it seem like she's thousands of years old, and some scenes make it seem as if she went into the mirror in America's colonial era, but she's wearing a bra in the mirror realm. I assumed she only had what she was sent in with, but her clothing is never really described, so idk. Was she able to summon clothes for herself? We also never get any idea about the potential life span of any of the supernatural races/species, so that doesn't help.
This may all seem like a relatively minor question, but it was very distracting to me, and I didn't get any answers in book 2.
This may all seem like a relatively minor question, but it was very distracting to me, and I didn't get any answers in book 2.
April 5, 2021
Whoa
Bloody freaking Mary. Ok so I am loving the premise of the story. Three supernatural creatures are trying to save Mary from the mirror realm. Not entirely sure what’s going on, but can’t wait to read the next book.
Bloody freaking Mary. Ok so I am loving the premise of the story. Three supernatural creatures are trying to save Mary from the mirror realm. Not entirely sure what’s going on, but can’t wait to read the next book.
August 3, 2020
3.5 stars!
January 14, 2022
Hij was leuk. Maar niet dat ik zeg wauw. Toch wil ik ergens deel 2 enzovoort ook lezen😅🙈 want dit was een beetje erg kort boekje.
May 18, 2020
I thought the premise of the book was really interesting: Bloody "Mae" Mary is a witch imprisoned (for reasons that are still unclear) and is promised freedom by the four potential love interests. The mystery behind Mae's imprisonment is what first drew me into reading the book because I was really curious as to why she was trapped in the first place, but unfortunately it fell flat for me in the end, especially with the love interests (I really could care less about a harem).
For instance, Mae has been imprisoned for centuries, so I anticipated a wisdom that matches her very old age and an "edge" to her that only people who have seen and done a lot of messed up shit would have. However, I didn't see much of that in her character after the first chapter. Once she met the love interests, it felt like the cool factor plummeted well below zero. I just wish the story had focused more on her. She was already mysterious as is, so the back-and-forth POVs between the five characters limited the amount of time we had getting to know her character. The love interests also lacked a lot of depth. They felt very generic, and I found it difficult to tell them apart (except for Hunter since the dude spent the most time with Mae, so it wasn't really hard to differentiate him from the others). Their only purpose seemed to be breaking Mae out of her "prison," besides that the story could've been without them--I just did not feel engaged emotionally, by any of them.
The book ends in a cliffhanger which kind of made me feel irritated since it actually got interesting towards the very end. I might read the next book because of the ending, but other than that it's not at the top of my list of books that I want to read. Overall it had a lot of potential and could have been really great, but there wasn't enough of the heroine to keep it interesting.
(End Note: In my opinion, the book should have been made longer to allow more page-time for the heroine's development and world building, especially because the fast read left me feeling confused by the ambiguity of her "mysterious" background. If you're going to make her mysterious, then throw out some breadcrumbs here-and-there to keep the mystery interesting. It was frustrating to read because the story barely touched the surface of who the heroine is and what her past may be like.)
For instance, Mae has been imprisoned for centuries, so I anticipated a wisdom that matches her very old age and an "edge" to her that only people who have seen and done a lot of messed up shit would have. However, I didn't see much of that in her character after the first chapter. Once she met the love interests, it felt like the cool factor plummeted well below zero. I just wish the story had focused more on her. She was already mysterious as is, so the back-and-forth POVs between the five characters limited the amount of time we had getting to know her character. The love interests also lacked a lot of depth. They felt very generic, and I found it difficult to tell them apart (except for Hunter since the dude spent the most time with Mae, so it wasn't really hard to differentiate him from the others). Their only purpose seemed to be breaking Mae out of her "prison," besides that the story could've been without them--I just did not feel engaged emotionally, by any of them.
The book ends in a cliffhanger which kind of made me feel irritated since it actually got interesting towards the very end. I might read the next book because of the ending, but other than that it's not at the top of my list of books that I want to read. Overall it had a lot of potential and could have been really great, but there wasn't enough of the heroine to keep it interesting.
(End Note: In my opinion, the book should have been made longer to allow more page-time for the heroine's development and world building, especially because the fast read left me feeling confused by the ambiguity of her "mysterious" background. If you're going to make her mysterious, then throw out some breadcrumbs here-and-there to keep the mystery interesting. It was frustrating to read because the story barely touched the surface of who the heroine is and what her past may be like.)
December 8, 2020
Not for me
I wanted to like this book, the idea is intriguing and different from anything I've read before. But I feel like the story was told in small pieces that didn't fit together. Every chapter was a different pov and they didn't flow well together at all. When I'd get to the next chapter and I just wanted to see where that part of the story was going, it'd jump to someone/something else, and we'd get a different part of the story that felt out of place. And the writing style wasn't for me, I had a hard time following the writing and that made it more confusing to me than anything. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll try to read the rest of this series.
I wanted to like this book, the idea is intriguing and different from anything I've read before. But I feel like the story was told in small pieces that didn't fit together. Every chapter was a different pov and they didn't flow well together at all. When I'd get to the next chapter and I just wanted to see where that part of the story was going, it'd jump to someone/something else, and we'd get a different part of the story that felt out of place. And the writing style wasn't for me, I had a hard time following the writing and that made it more confusing to me than anything. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll try to read the rest of this series.
April 10, 2021
Interesting concept
The book itself was meh. It was a very interesting concept, and I was really excited to read it, but more information and cool things happened to the side characters, then the main ones. Fang and the adopted sister was more interesting, and the harpies were interesting to. It seemed like the story was like a bunch of unfinished short excerpts from different books put together, than one cohesive book about Bloody Mary and her hunters. The book seemed rushed. It felt like when reading it like the authors had writers block and decided to write a different book leaving those parts in, before remembering it was a book about Bloody Mary.
The book itself was meh. It was a very interesting concept, and I was really excited to read it, but more information and cool things happened to the side characters, then the main ones. Fang and the adopted sister was more interesting, and the harpies were interesting to. It seemed like the story was like a bunch of unfinished short excerpts from different books put together, than one cohesive book about Bloody Mary and her hunters. The book seemed rushed. It felt like when reading it like the authors had writers block and decided to write a different book leaving those parts in, before remembering it was a book about Bloody Mary.
July 1, 2021
So much more than I was expecting!!
I did not have high hopes for this book, I’ve been in a serious low streak at finding good ones...BUT THIS!! It was seriously everything I could have asked for. This book was so exciting with tons of twists and turns. It wasn’t cliche at all, I’ve literally never read anything remotely like this. I loved it.
My absolute favorite part is how the heroine is a legitimate badass. She is awesome! I loved the lore. I really liked the guys too. I will definitely reread this book several times.
I don’t want to give anything away, but I suggest you read this series. You won’t regret the it.
I did not have high hopes for this book, I’ve been in a serious low streak at finding good ones...BUT THIS!! It was seriously everything I could have asked for. This book was so exciting with tons of twists and turns. It wasn’t cliche at all, I’ve literally never read anything remotely like this. I loved it.
My absolute favorite part is how the heroine is a legitimate badass. She is awesome! I loved the lore. I really liked the guys too. I will definitely reread this book several times.
I don’t want to give anything away, but I suggest you read this series. You won’t regret the it.
February 17, 2021
These two authors coming together was one of the greatest things ever.
Their writing is fantastic and you just feel like you are there in the world with these characters.
And this cover?
Absolutely gorgeous.
It totally captures EXACTLY what this book is about.
Everyone knows the legend of Bloody Mary.
But what if it wasn't exactly what we assumed?
What if she was a witch on the side of good trying to protect women and children from everyday monsters? Not just the ones from imagination.
Mae is a paranormal creature of legend who was sent into the mirror realm by warlocks afraid of her power and what she was doing in society.
They feared her.
However, they didn't except that she would still have the ability to help those that called her name.
Mae is a fierce woman.
She hasn't allowed the centuries of loneliness to get to her.
Though she still have a lot of rage piled inside of her at the unfairness of her situation.
When four paranormal creatures pair up and tell her they are going to save her, she doesn't get her hopes up.
It's something that has been tried in the past with no success.
However, she is surprised when they don't give up on her after their failed attempt.
One even travels into the mirror realm with her.
In this story, Mae has four suitors for her harem.
Grim, whose name is actually Azrael, is a reaper-hence the nickname. He is your typical moody bad boy, though he has a few tricks up his sleeve.
Ellis. I don't want to give away hi supernatural trait because you don't learn til later on what he is, but it will definitely throw you for a loop. Or maybe not. He is the go-with-the-flow type guy.
Hunter is a dark fae. He is traumatized by his past and wants to do good with his powers. Though many take one look at him and make a snap judgement. Doesn't help that he is covered in scars.
Alastair is a warlock. He has a more distinguished look about him, and is the researcher for their little group.
Each of them are completely different, but fall for Mae almost instantly.
However, I classify this book as a medium burn.
There is only one person in the harem that has steamy scenes with Mae in this book.
Overall, this is a fantastic read.
I devoured it and rushed to get the other two in the series because I was dying to know what happens next.
This book is told from multiple points of view. You have most of the from Mae, but you do get some from the boys, and you even get some unknown characters/side characters.
With that being said, it does end on a slight cliffhanger. Not too terribly bad, but you will definitely be wanting to know what happens next.
Their writing is fantastic and you just feel like you are there in the world with these characters.
And this cover?
Absolutely gorgeous.
It totally captures EXACTLY what this book is about.
Everyone knows the legend of Bloody Mary.
But what if it wasn't exactly what we assumed?
What if she was a witch on the side of good trying to protect women and children from everyday monsters? Not just the ones from imagination.
Mae is a paranormal creature of legend who was sent into the mirror realm by warlocks afraid of her power and what she was doing in society.
They feared her.
However, they didn't except that she would still have the ability to help those that called her name.
Mae is a fierce woman.
She hasn't allowed the centuries of loneliness to get to her.
Though she still have a lot of rage piled inside of her at the unfairness of her situation.
When four paranormal creatures pair up and tell her they are going to save her, she doesn't get her hopes up.
It's something that has been tried in the past with no success.
However, she is surprised when they don't give up on her after their failed attempt.
One even travels into the mirror realm with her.
In this story, Mae has four suitors for her harem.
Grim, whose name is actually Azrael, is a reaper-hence the nickname. He is your typical moody bad boy, though he has a few tricks up his sleeve.
Ellis. I don't want to give away hi supernatural trait because you don't learn til later on what he is, but it will definitely throw you for a loop. Or maybe not. He is the go-with-the-flow type guy.
Hunter is a dark fae. He is traumatized by his past and wants to do good with his powers. Though many take one look at him and make a snap judgement. Doesn't help that he is covered in scars.
Alastair is a warlock. He has a more distinguished look about him, and is the researcher for their little group.
Each of them are completely different, but fall for Mae almost instantly.
However, I classify this book as a medium burn.
There is only one person in the harem that has steamy scenes with Mae in this book.
Overall, this is a fantastic read.
I devoured it and rushed to get the other two in the series because I was dying to know what happens next.
This book is told from multiple points of view. You have most of the from Mae, but you do get some from the boys, and you even get some unknown characters/side characters.
With that being said, it does end on a slight cliffhanger. Not too terribly bad, but you will definitely be wanting to know what happens next.
September 10, 2020
Bloody Mary. A eerie legend to scare or a living legend who’s more real than anyone realizes?
I was so much more intrigued than I expected. I was gripped by the first chapter and the rest of the book matched well with the tone it set.
Bloody Mary, or Mae, has been trapped in the mirror realm for centuries. She had been forced inside to remain forever by warlocks who feared her. She’s grown accustomed to the loneliness and has used her powers to help others in dire need. Through her gruesome heroics, she attracts the attention of four supernaturals. They have their own private investigation agency and have been looking into the mirror related murders. When they realize the situation Mae is in, they want to help her and for the first time in a very long time, Mae isn’t alone.
The multiple POVs really helped flesh out the story and I think it really pushed the boundaries of what the plot could have been confined to. With different sub plots converging into the one, it was great to see the pay off at the end.
The romance aspect is kind of slow burn and at the same time, very much not. Hunter is the only one we really see Mae connect with because of the circumstances, but I’m sure things will pick up with the others in the second book. With Hunter, things developed quickly because they felt a connection to each other. For obvious reasons, Hunter is my favorite lol. She has an attraction to the others but hasn’t had a chance or want to explore it. I’m sure that’ll change very soon.
I’m excited to see where the story goes from here, especially with the reveals from the end of the book. I hope to see more avenging by Mae and bloodshed for the horrible people she encounters. Definitely recommend for those who are into a different version of the Bloody Mary story than I’ve ever seen.
I was so much more intrigued than I expected. I was gripped by the first chapter and the rest of the book matched well with the tone it set.
Bloody Mary, or Mae, has been trapped in the mirror realm for centuries. She had been forced inside to remain forever by warlocks who feared her. She’s grown accustomed to the loneliness and has used her powers to help others in dire need. Through her gruesome heroics, she attracts the attention of four supernaturals. They have their own private investigation agency and have been looking into the mirror related murders. When they realize the situation Mae is in, they want to help her and for the first time in a very long time, Mae isn’t alone.
The multiple POVs really helped flesh out the story and I think it really pushed the boundaries of what the plot could have been confined to. With different sub plots converging into the one, it was great to see the pay off at the end.
The romance aspect is kind of slow burn and at the same time, very much not. Hunter is the only one we really see Mae connect with because of the circumstances, but I’m sure things will pick up with the others in the second book. With Hunter, things developed quickly because they felt a connection to each other. For obvious reasons, Hunter is my favorite lol. She has an attraction to the others but hasn’t had a chance or want to explore it. I’m sure that’ll change very soon.
I’m excited to see where the story goes from here, especially with the reveals from the end of the book. I hope to see more avenging by Mae and bloodshed for the horrible people she encounters. Definitely recommend for those who are into a different version of the Bloody Mary story than I’ve ever seen.
May 13, 2020
While I didn't quite love this books as much as I thought I would from the premise and that first chapter, I still really liked it - and I will continue the series as the books drop. Bloody Mary... what's not to love there? We've all heard of her, and most of us have tried to summon her visage in the mirror as the pre-teens we all once were.
This Reverse Harem takes that legend and builds upon it, giving Mary, Mae, a history filled with betrayal and magic - and a present saving victims lost to the fists and desires of their tormentors. It's a good premise, really. How many times have YOU cried in front of the mirror? Alone, in the bathroom? I know I've cried plenty in the supposed privacy, but for some, those tears are birthed by dark circumstances few of us wish to contemplate. Enter Bloody Mary, who, in her captivity, serves as the silent heroine the lost so desperately need. And now, there is a group of mismatched supernaturals who wish to save her for a change...
It's messed up and rather fascinating, two of my favorite things. The only reason this didn't gain a 5 star from me was the way the narrative stumbled in places, or advanced in odd ways that the authors seemingly believed the reader would just understand. Banshees? Why? I needed more explanation there, along with a few other events that made me pause. Regardless, this was still a good book.
This Reverse Harem takes that legend and builds upon it, giving Mary, Mae, a history filled with betrayal and magic - and a present saving victims lost to the fists and desires of their tormentors. It's a good premise, really. How many times have YOU cried in front of the mirror? Alone, in the bathroom? I know I've cried plenty in the supposed privacy, but for some, those tears are birthed by dark circumstances few of us wish to contemplate. Enter Bloody Mary, who, in her captivity, serves as the silent heroine the lost so desperately need. And now, there is a group of mismatched supernaturals who wish to save her for a change...
It's messed up and rather fascinating, two of my favorite things. The only reason this didn't gain a 5 star from me was the way the narrative stumbled in places, or advanced in odd ways that the authors seemingly believed the reader would just understand. Banshees? Why? I needed more explanation there, along with a few other events that made me pause. Regardless, this was still a good book.
May 12, 2020
Say my name...
They tell you I bring death and carnage. They believe I'm a curse, one that's contagious.
But they're wrong.
I was locked away for protecting the innocent. And while my name does bring violence and bloody destruction, it's only to those whose very souls are corrupted by the violence and hatred they harbor within.
So say my name if you need my help. I'm Bloody Mary, and I promise I'm more than a legend; I'm a witch with the power to save you.
But when four sinfully sexy men make promises to free me from my prison, for the first time in my life, I need to trust someone else to save me. Because the dark powers that trapped me long ago aren't about to let me go free, at least not without a fight.
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
They tell you I bring death and carnage. They believe I'm a curse, one that's contagious.
But they're wrong.
I was locked away for protecting the innocent. And while my name does bring violence and bloody destruction, it's only to those whose very souls are corrupted by the violence and hatred they harbor within.
So say my name if you need my help. I'm Bloody Mary, and I promise I'm more than a legend; I'm a witch with the power to save you.
But when four sinfully sexy men make promises to free me from my prison, for the first time in my life, I need to trust someone else to save me. Because the dark powers that trapped me long ago aren't about to let me go free, at least not without a fight.
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 28, 2021
So our heroine, Mae (Bloody Mary) is trapped in a desolate mirror realm where she wanders between mirrors to help people (usually women or young people) who are in need of her. The four heroes (Ellis, Hunter, Grim, and Allistair) are looking for her because they don't know that the bad guys she kills to save the people are bad guys because the victims don't talk. Anyway, they figure out she's a good guy and start a quest to try to get her out.
Hunter, a horribly scarred fae, is my favorite kind of stereotypical tortured hero. The mystery surrounding getting her out of the mirror held my attention...less so. I wanted more romance and less mystery. However, that is not to say that those parts were bad by any means. They provided incredibly interesting world-building and character-building--I just really wanted to see Hunter and Mae, and the other guys and Mae.
Overall, I think it was a really solid book. I do think it was a bit typical of the genre, but the world-buidling gave it a lot of depth that others lack. I think as the series progresses it will become really epic.
Hunter, a horribly scarred fae, is my favorite kind of stereotypical tortured hero. The mystery surrounding getting her out of the mirror held my attention...less so. I wanted more romance and less mystery. However, that is not to say that those parts were bad by any means. They provided incredibly interesting world-building and character-building--I just really wanted to see Hunter and Mae, and the other guys and Mae.
Overall, I think it was a really solid book. I do think it was a bit typical of the genre, but the world-buidling gave it a lot of depth that others lack. I think as the series progresses it will become really epic.
May 3, 2020
OMG! This story is amazing. It had me from the very beginning. It drew me in and didn’t want to let go. It is a stunning piece of work that has mystery, suspense, and drama throughout it. The characters Mary, Hunter, Ellis, Alastair, and Grim have these secrets that you feel the need to draw out. They are magnificently created and their personalities have a draw to them like cake to ice cream. It is an original story that Helen Scott and Lacey Carter Anderson have beautifully developed together. I am not one to give spoilers as I do like to read them in a review myself. I feel it takes away from reading the story. With that being said I will say that this is one nonstop mystery that is a must read and this story will not disappoint. I am sad I now have to wait until the next book comes out as I am super excited for it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 9, 2020
Say my name to save yourself. Mae, also called Bloddy Mary has been trapped in the Mirror Realm for eons by a powerful mage family. But she has found another way to help those in need. If a woman or child is in danger and calls her name three times, she can go through a mirror and kill their oppressor and then she has to go back to the Mirror Realm. It is a lonely, desolate place. When four private investigators/supernaturals, finally find out who has been doing these killings and leaving a bloody handprint on the inside of mirrors, they call her and try to help her. But to release her they will have to go up against vampires, powerful mages, and banshees. And what no one knows is that a powerful being has been pulling strings to get her entrapped, and if she gets free he will come for her and no one will be safe. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
May 13, 2020
I never would have come up with this twist on a common urban legend but here you go and it's a good one 🤔😏😏😏. There's a lot going on and I hope the next book continues to deliver and follow through on the various story lines that running through this book because I will tell you I'm intrigued to know what happens next.
What happens to Grim's sister at the hands of the vampires? Who is the mysterious 'Master' at the end the as awakened and what does it mean? And most importantly of all why was bloody Mary trapped in the Mirror Realm all those centuries ago?
Right now, this book has left me with more questions than answers which can be good because I have a fire in that burns to read the next book to get answers. I really hope the next book comes out soon and that there are more answers than questions because I really enjoyed this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What happens to Grim's sister at the hands of the vampires? Who is the mysterious 'Master' at the end the as awakened and what does it mean? And most importantly of all why was bloody Mary trapped in the Mirror Realm all those centuries ago?
Right now, this book has left me with more questions than answers which can be good because I have a fire in that burns to read the next book to get answers. I really hope the next book comes out soon and that there are more answers than questions because I really enjoyed this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 20, 2020
Our heroine is none other than Bloody Mary, but she helps the innocent, those with no one else to turn to. Imprisoned long ago by those less scrupulous, it will take all our heroes to break her out.
This is the first book in the series which is a paranormal reverse harem story with some horror elements (many blood and violence). The story is well written and comes with an interesting cast of characters. My favorite is of course our heroine. who has a nice bit of depth to her, although I am hoping for more in future books. We only get to delve into one of our heroes in this book, so I expect to see more of the others in future books. The story has lots of action and generally moves at a good pace. And while I could have done with a bit less of the horror element, it was not overwhelming or too distracting. Overall, I enjoyed the story and am curious to see where it goes next.
Recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes
This is the first book in the series which is a paranormal reverse harem story with some horror elements (many blood and violence). The story is well written and comes with an interesting cast of characters. My favorite is of course our heroine. who has a nice bit of depth to her, although I am hoping for more in future books. We only get to delve into one of our heroes in this book, so I expect to see more of the others in future books. The story has lots of action and generally moves at a good pace. And while I could have done with a bit less of the horror element, it was not overwhelming or too distracting. Overall, I enjoyed the story and am curious to see where it goes next.
Recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes
August 17, 2020
I think this could be the start of something great
I love this twist on Bloody Mary. And I love her. Mae is the perfect balance of tough but soft, without crazy mood-swings that some heroins seem to have. The 4 male love interests have good back stories though we don't have all the details of those just yet, I'm definitely interested. ...I'm not quite sure what their ages are? There was a little confusion at the end of the book where Mae sees someone that she recognizes as being involved with trapping her...but she's been trapped for hundred of years and the person she recognized is not old or dead so how is that possible? I think there was room to make Mae a little more dark and twisted or even just a little broken. This concept would make for a great dark romance.
Overall though, it keeps you entertained. The side characters are all interesting and I hope we see more of them in the books to come or maybe even a couple spinoffs.
I love this twist on Bloody Mary. And I love her. Mae is the perfect balance of tough but soft, without crazy mood-swings that some heroins seem to have. The 4 male love interests have good back stories though we don't have all the details of those just yet, I'm definitely interested. ...I'm not quite sure what their ages are? There was a little confusion at the end of the book where Mae sees someone that she recognizes as being involved with trapping her...but she's been trapped for hundred of years and the person she recognized is not old or dead so how is that possible? I think there was room to make Mae a little more dark and twisted or even just a little broken. This concept would make for a great dark romance.
Overall though, it keeps you entertained. The side characters are all interesting and I hope we see more of them in the books to come or maybe even a couple spinoffs.
May 8, 2020
Wow, just wow. This was something really unique. The world created for this story need yet to deliver all his secrets. The main characters and protagonist need as well. We don’t know full extend of their powers nor completely what they are. We learn everything step by step, little detail after another. Mae (or Mary) is really one in a kind, there is not many things that make her cringe anymore. She suffered a lot and some more. But yet there is this goodness in her. She is powerful, a fighter. And those four hunters, despite having their own share of difficult past, feel the deep need to help her. And they do, fighting all odds, and suffer quite much on the way. Gambling with death and sieving blood. It was great story which keep you more and more invested in it with each word. Tension was raising progressively. It is perfect. I loved it.
May 12, 2020
I really enjoyed this series opener! The idea of Bloody Mary being a saviour was fab. That she was trapped in a mirror realm until needed, not so fun. However, she meets 4 hunters that also help the innocent and things begin to move sideways for all of them. This is listed as a RH story, and Mae is attracted to all of them, but she feels 'greedy' and really just bonds to Hunter in this book, the broody fae that's trying to help her get her freedom. The other 3 guys are doing their part, though, in dangerous ways: by stealing from powerful warlocks, making deals with vampires and meeting with the queen of the banshees. There's a lot going on in this book but it really feels like a prequel to me. So much more to find out and so much more, um, bonding between Mae and the guys to happen, not to mention finding out who 'he' is. Good fun!
May 12, 2020
This book caught my attention by just the cover and then the blurb. So I was immediately intrigued. So we meet Mae aka Bloody Mary. There is a bit of mystery to this book. So we find that there are a string of deaths with some odd evidence such as blood on the inside of the mirror? Say what, yes and when I read that I was blown away. So now I am invested with the book. What is the story behind Bloody Mary? Then you have Alastair, Hunter, Grim and Elias who are hunters or like the supernatural police. They answer a call one night and everything changes. So what could possibly happen? Well Bloody Mary cannot escape her prison? The guys are determined to help her out. Well, by the time I got to the end, I was wanting more. I need more asap and cannot wait.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 15, 2020
Ever wonder about Bloody Mary the tails you herd as a kid about nought calling her name or she would get you. Well in this updated version Bloody Mary is many things she is a victim trapped for millennium in the Mirror Realm by powerful wizards all for helping those in need. She is also a helper to those with good intentions women and children but those with a darkness in them she is vengeance in all its frightening bloody mess. And as to why she's so bloody well its the mirror it cuts her every time she's summoned what lies ahead for Mae (Bloody Mary) will depend on 4 different men they will steal, barter and who knows what to free her it will require cunning and trust because nought everyone wants Mary to escape someone just wants her gone others want the realm she's in to disappear.
I was allowed to read and advance copy of this book via Booksprout and this is my honest review.
I was allowed to read and advance copy of this book via Booksprout and this is my honest review.
August 20, 2020
Good.
On the lower end of a 4 star read. I was feeling like a legend retelling, and this definitely hit the spot. I haven’t read a Bloody Mary story before, so I did enjoy it, though I think I was expecting more bloodshed. (I also kept feeling the urge to watch that episode of Supernatural.😝)
On the slow to medium burn side, the characters were interesting and fun to read. I am hoping for more character depth and development in the next book. Bloody Mary was definitely no damsel in distress, she seemed pretty happy to help people by killing their monsters for them. I think she was my favourite part of the book actually. She had the confident and kind, mixed with a dark side thing going on.
I will definitely read the next book. Especially after the ending to this one. It was a pretty strong hook, almost feels like a cliffhanger, but it’s not. It just REALLY made me want to know what is going to happen next.
On the lower end of a 4 star read. I was feeling like a legend retelling, and this definitely hit the spot. I haven’t read a Bloody Mary story before, so I did enjoy it, though I think I was expecting more bloodshed. (I also kept feeling the urge to watch that episode of Supernatural.😝)
On the slow to medium burn side, the characters were interesting and fun to read. I am hoping for more character depth and development in the next book. Bloody Mary was definitely no damsel in distress, she seemed pretty happy to help people by killing their monsters for them. I think she was my favourite part of the book actually. She had the confident and kind, mixed with a dark side thing going on.
I will definitely read the next book. Especially after the ending to this one. It was a pretty strong hook, almost feels like a cliffhanger, but it’s not. It just REALLY made me want to know what is going to happen next.
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