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Power Trips #1
Bargaining Power
A cryptanalyst’s assistant must turn secret agent when she discovers a magical conspiracy to overthrow the government.
Best-laid plans seldom survive contact with the enemy, a truth violently thrown at Mercedes Cartier when a seemingly ordinary trip turns into a battle for survival. Within hours, Mercedes finds herself being hunted by the nine prefects who rule the nation. They have noticed her, and now they’re giving her a choice: join them in their sinister plot or disappear forever.
Mercedes plays along at first, and then makes plans with her cryptanalyst boss to catch the prefects in their own trap. But before they can even begin, things go horribly, bizarrely wrong.
The clock is ticking, and her enemies are powerful, both politically and magically. All that’s left is cleverness, determination, and a really, really good bluff.
Best-laid plans seldom survive contact with the enemy, a truth violently thrown at Mercedes Cartier when a seemingly ordinary trip turns into a battle for survival. Within hours, Mercedes finds herself being hunted by the nine prefects who rule the nation. They have noticed her, and now they’re giving her a choice: join them in their sinister plot or disappear forever.
Mercedes plays along at first, and then makes plans with her cryptanalyst boss to catch the prefects in their own trap. But before they can even begin, things go horribly, bizarrely wrong.
The clock is ticking, and her enemies are powerful, both politically and magically. All that’s left is cleverness, determination, and a really, really good bluff.
- GenresFantasy
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 16, 2019
9 people are currently reading
368 people want to read
About the author
Deborah J. Natelson
10 books23 followersMy older books are published under the name D.J. Natelson
Some writers talk about discovering their passion, but the truth is that I’ve always been a writer. Even when I had plans to have other careers, writing was an unquestioning part of it. Working full time, I wrote. In school and at university, I wrote. Until the day I die, I will write.
Thank you for reading.
Some writers talk about discovering their passion, but the truth is that I’ve always been a writer. Even when I had plans to have other careers, writing was an unquestioning part of it. Working full time, I wrote. In school and at university, I wrote. Until the day I die, I will write.
Thank you for reading.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 31, 2020
Bargaining Power is the first book in the Power Trips series, and I'm hooked.
This story expertly bends and blends genres. We have action, adventure, suspense, mystery, and fantasy. It's intelligent, but also surprisingly playful. I can pretty much guarantee it's unlike any other book you've read.
The writing is immersive. I fell into Mercedes' world and forgot everything around me.
The characters are fantastic. They're unique, complex, and totally alive. I loved them all.
My one complaint, if it is a complaint, is that we end with a cliffhanger of sorts. Cliffhangers are often deal-breakers for me, because I really dislike them. But I'm not even mad about this one. The major plot issues are resolved, and we're left with the seeds for book 2. Now I need book 2, which I'm patiently awaiting. Sort of. Well, not really patiently at all. I might be sending Ms. Natelson telepathic messages to hurry up and write.
*I received a review copy from the publisher.*
This story expertly bends and blends genres. We have action, adventure, suspense, mystery, and fantasy. It's intelligent, but also surprisingly playful. I can pretty much guarantee it's unlike any other book you've read.
The writing is immersive. I fell into Mercedes' world and forgot everything around me.
The characters are fantastic. They're unique, complex, and totally alive. I loved them all.
My one complaint, if it is a complaint, is that we end with a cliffhanger of sorts. Cliffhangers are often deal-breakers for me, because I really dislike them. But I'm not even mad about this one. The major plot issues are resolved, and we're left with the seeds for book 2. Now I need book 2, which I'm patiently awaiting. Sort of. Well, not really patiently at all. I might be sending Ms. Natelson telepathic messages to hurry up and write.
*I received a review copy from the publisher.*
December 29, 2019
You know a book is good when it keeps you up to two in the morning! It was totally worth it, too.
"Bargaining Power" is a gripping action adventure spy thriller with a dash of fantasy. It follows the attempts of Mercedes, a secretary-turned-spy whose sheer audacity gets her into bad situations as often as it gets her out of them, to thwart a plot to kill the king of Carina, the fictional country where the book is set. The book is full of awesome action scenes, great world-building, and a plot that keeps you guessing.
Here's my favorite part, though: "Bargaining Power" is intelligent. Every twist is earned. There aren't any handy deus-ex-machinas; the characters have to earn their survival. You know how sometimes you read a book and you come across a dangerous situation and you think, "You idiot. If I were there, I'd have . . ."? Well, in this book, there's this *amazing* scene where despite the fact that *every single decision* the protagonist makes is the intelligent, "right" one, the one you, O genre-savvy reader in your comfortable chair would have made, she *still* ends up in a horrifying, edge-of-your-seat, "I know we're barely into the book so she can't be doomed but she's totally doomed" situation.
Like I said, that scene is near the beginning of the book. It only gets more interesting from there.
I can't wait for the sequel.
"Bargaining Power" is a gripping action adventure spy thriller with a dash of fantasy. It follows the attempts of Mercedes, a secretary-turned-spy whose sheer audacity gets her into bad situations as often as it gets her out of them, to thwart a plot to kill the king of Carina, the fictional country where the book is set. The book is full of awesome action scenes, great world-building, and a plot that keeps you guessing.
Here's my favorite part, though: "Bargaining Power" is intelligent. Every twist is earned. There aren't any handy deus-ex-machinas; the characters have to earn their survival. You know how sometimes you read a book and you come across a dangerous situation and you think, "You idiot. If I were there, I'd have . . ."? Well, in this book, there's this *amazing* scene where despite the fact that *every single decision* the protagonist makes is the intelligent, "right" one, the one you, O genre-savvy reader in your comfortable chair would have made, she *still* ends up in a horrifying, edge-of-your-seat, "I know we're barely into the book so she can't be doomed but she's totally doomed" situation.
Like I said, that scene is near the beginning of the book. It only gets more interesting from there.
I can't wait for the sequel.
January 20, 2020
Not your average urban fantasy
Forget everything the blurb about this book said. It’s a much better book than that will lead you to think. It’s a mystery, it’s fantasy, it’s well written and will keep you in the edge of your seat. Hands down one of the best books I have read (and I read a lot of books). If I try to summarize it it will ruin the amazing plot twists. Just trust me, it’s not a romance masquerading as urban fiction, it’s not liberal bs masquerading as a story, it’s a rare unicorn or a purple squirrel- a really good story with some amazingly unexpected but all to clear after the fact plot twists that actually has a real ending while letting you know there are more adventures yet to be had. It’s good.
Forget everything the blurb about this book said. It’s a much better book than that will lead you to think. It’s a mystery, it’s fantasy, it’s well written and will keep you in the edge of your seat. Hands down one of the best books I have read (and I read a lot of books). If I try to summarize it it will ruin the amazing plot twists. Just trust me, it’s not a romance masquerading as urban fiction, it’s not liberal bs masquerading as a story, it’s a rare unicorn or a purple squirrel- a really good story with some amazingly unexpected but all to clear after the fact plot twists that actually has a real ending while letting you know there are more adventures yet to be had. It’s good.
April 26, 2023
Thrilling, but so much deeper than just the action...which grips you throughout the entire book. I've never read anything else like it. Brilliant. Original. Intriguing. A little bit creepy, a little bit fairy tale, a little bit spy novel, and big bonus points for the adorable fluffy dog! Haha. Seriously, do NOT miss this book!
June 7, 2020
Couldn't finish
This book feels like book two in a series, there's all this back story that hinted at and is extremely relevant to the plot but it's not in the first few chapters. I don't enjoy books where your not even really sure what the plot is and this one feels that way.
This book feels like book two in a series, there's all this back story that hinted at and is extremely relevant to the plot but it's not in the first few chapters. I don't enjoy books where your not even really sure what the plot is and this one feels that way.
February 15, 2020
I enjoyed this action packed, suspense, with a kick axx female lead! It’s a great start to a series, can’t wait for #2! I won this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 14, 2023
A very original mix of spy thriller and urban fantasy. It's set on a secret island in the Atlantic, where shipwrecks have provided it with population and technology over the centuries. So they have cars, cell phones & TV, but no contact with the outside world. The heroine, Mercedes, is the personal assistant to a cryptoanalyst, and they are working frantically to stop an assassination plot against the king - but first they have to infiltrate the plotters.
The villainess, Theodora, is the personified Spirit of Deals & Bargains, and any deals made with her will be twisted against you in the worst possible way. She has a mysterious hold on Mercedes's boss, and is now attaching herself to Mercedes's beloved brothers.
The ending wraps up the main plot in a satisfying way, while leaving some important questions unanswered. (Like, why is the king such a weirdo?) So I'm hoping Book 2 shows up soon.
The villainess, Theodora, is the personified Spirit of Deals & Bargains, and any deals made with her will be twisted against you in the worst possible way. She has a mysterious hold on Mercedes's boss, and is now attaching herself to Mercedes's beloved brothers.
The ending wraps up the main plot in a satisfying way, while leaving some important questions unanswered. (Like, why is the king such a weirdo?) So I'm hoping Book 2 shows up soon.
December 19, 2020
There is so much to say about this book precisely because this book has so much to say. It is a truly unique and genre-bending novel set on a fictional lost island somewhere near Brazil, where centuries of kings, knights, and prefects have evolved into a modern society called Carina, which is much like our own. Bargaining Power is part suspense, part cyber thriller, part paranormal. The title and cover are accurate, while not even coming close to letting us know what we're in for.
The protagonist, a smart, determined woman named Mercedes, works for Carinan Security Service and is out to save the king from an assassination plot. Her brothers, her boss, and plenty of others will face dark forces as she weaves her way through multiple dangers. She proves to be a real bad-ass, tough and resilient, while vulnerable as well. It is at times thought-provoking, humorous, brilliant, suspenseful, and creepy. It deals with family issues, moral and ethical quandaries, and with the costs of bargaining with evil.
For readers who usually stick within certain genres, this is a difficult book to define. The title is something you might find on a legal thriller. The gun-toting woman on the front implies a suspense novel. The cryptic figures in the background suggest a cyber thriller. Then, the blurb on the back suggests something more along the lines of paranormal fantasy. It is all of these things, yet it could leave readers scratching their heads for the first hundred pages, wondering what to expect from the next two hundred and sixty--if they are willing to get that far. For those who persist, for those looking for something different and memorable, it is a story handled deftly in the hands of Ms. Natelson.
The protagonist, a smart, determined woman named Mercedes, works for Carinan Security Service and is out to save the king from an assassination plot. Her brothers, her boss, and plenty of others will face dark forces as she weaves her way through multiple dangers. She proves to be a real bad-ass, tough and resilient, while vulnerable as well. It is at times thought-provoking, humorous, brilliant, suspenseful, and creepy. It deals with family issues, moral and ethical quandaries, and with the costs of bargaining with evil.
For readers who usually stick within certain genres, this is a difficult book to define. The title is something you might find on a legal thriller. The gun-toting woman on the front implies a suspense novel. The cryptic figures in the background suggest a cyber thriller. Then, the blurb on the back suggests something more along the lines of paranormal fantasy. It is all of these things, yet it could leave readers scratching their heads for the first hundred pages, wondering what to expect from the next two hundred and sixty--if they are willing to get that far. For those who persist, for those looking for something different and memorable, it is a story handled deftly in the hands of Ms. Natelson.
May 1, 2020
On the outside, our heroine is a secretary, but she is also so much, much more. Which is a good thing as nothing is at it seems.
This is a bit of an odd duck, part mystery, part fantasy, part modern action and I am not sure what else. It is a wonderful mix of genres that provides a dose of the familiar and the turns it on its ear. The story is well written, easy to read and just fun to read. The action is fast paced and well plotted, with well developed and intelligent characters. I really loved our heroine and her ability to step up to any challenge. Overall, a fascinating and fun read. I can't wait to read more by this author.
Highly recommended
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
This is a bit of an odd duck, part mystery, part fantasy, part modern action and I am not sure what else. It is a wonderful mix of genres that provides a dose of the familiar and the turns it on its ear. The story is well written, easy to read and just fun to read. The action is fast paced and well plotted, with well developed and intelligent characters. I really loved our heroine and her ability to step up to any challenge. Overall, a fascinating and fun read. I can't wait to read more by this author.
Highly recommended
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
March 10, 2020
What a fun book to read! It is one of the most original and creative books I have read. One minute you think you know what will happen next, and then you turn the page, and find out that there is much more to the Island of Argo Navis than you can imagine. I enjoyed getting to know the characters -- there were heroes, villians, and dangerous creatures all hoping to further their cause. I highly recommend reading this book and joining the adventure by following the Area Prefects, Prefect knights, Kingsmen, and others to find out if King Emil II can survive the very serious and real threat to his life. I cannot wait to read the next book!!
November 15, 2022
The story is written in the first person, and borderline breaks the fourth wall as the book is written like a diary; thus, engaging. However, it takes a while to realise magic is involved in what initially feels like a contemporary thriller and espionage narrative. The story is slow at the beginning, then picks up with pace, before returning to a slow narrative with a lack of action. In addition, the paragraph breaks are either random scribbles or have a meaning to them since the protagonist is a cryptanalyst's assistant - which would be a nice touch.
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.
March 1, 2020
Bargaining Power by Deborah J. Natelson is an awesome story to read. This is book number one in this awesome start to a brand new series writen by a brand new auhtor to read. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about fantasy and thrillers.
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.
August 27, 2023
This one had me all over the place. While I really enjoyed the build of things, some things just felt underdeveloped. And some things felt OVERdeveloped. Just too much. Over all, not bad though. Good storyline. Maybe just some development here and there.
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.
March 1, 2020
This is a fantastic thriller that grabbed me and would not let me stop reading! Very thrilling and amazingly compelling and I loved it. I am looking forward to Power Trips book #2.
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.
Want to read
April 27, 2020***Goodreads Giveaway***
July 28, 2021
Thrilling, but so much deeper than just the action...which grips you throughout the entire book. I've never read anything else like it. Brilliant. Original. Intriguing. A little bit creepy, a little bit fairy tale, a little bit spy novel, and big bonus points for the adorable fluffy dog! Haha. Seriously, do NOT miss this book!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews