Raine of Fire

by Susan Stradiotto

Sparks fly when an exiled Fae prince and a straight-laced detective team up to solve a murder.

Banished by his mother from Faerie, Raine Abarta wants nothing more than to entertain people on the streets of Wickney, Wisconsin. But when the daughter of a prominent senator stumbles upon his show, he’s drawn into her world and her mother’s murder.

When Raine takes his act down to the police department with intentions of helping solve the puzzle–or, uh, the “case”–he meets the ultra-serious Detective Kennedi Craine. To his dismay, she views him as nothing more than a charlatan, but when has that ever stopped him?

Kennedi’s latest case is open and shut, more of a paperwork and media hassle than a case. Senator La Point, after all, was holding the smoking gun over his wife’s lifeless body. So, when a random guy off the street walks in telling her she’s wrong, she sends him on his merry way. At least she thinks she does. As he keeps popping up, she begins to wonder if he’s on to something. And when he broaches a situation from her past, she just can’t leave him alone.

Raine helps her solve another small case, and she starts to wonder if there might be something more to both mysteries before her.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy

380 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 22, 2022

About the author

Susan Stradiotto is passionate about the written word, whether it is in her own writing or her editing practice. She is a fan of well-told stories. Susan is always searching for unique voices and stories that tell a truth. As Neil Gaiman said in his master class, “Write the truest story you can.” She believes that is what makes a story sing.

Susan is an author of fantasy and romance and has professional editorial experience with genres such as romance, memoir, mystery/thriller, cozy mystery, fantasy, and women’s fiction. She attended Capella University for her BS in Information Technology and the University of Chicago’s Graham School for her professional editing certification. She lives in Eden Prairie with her husband, a hoard of Bernese Mountain Dogs, and one Miniature Dachshund.

Instagram: @susanstradiotto or https://www.instagram.com/susanstradi...

Author website, worldbuilding blog, and book reviews: https://susanstradiotto.com

Author Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/susanstradio...

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/susanstradi...

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@susanstradiotto


Write-In-Progress
A serial novel based on George MacDonald’s 𝑃ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑠: 𝐴 𝐹𝑎𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒 𝑅𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑀𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑊𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛.

Reviews

[astarion's bhaal babe (wingspan matters) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saw this reviewer describe this as tv-show Lucifer with fae and I downloaded it faster than Tom Ellis dropping hellow dettective's.

I've got to say, at first I thought this was going to be a solid 4/5-star read. I found the writing (and the format) a bit crowdy, but I enjoyed the way Raine and Kennedi were introduced and the mystery aspect sounded promising.
Unfortunately, what seemed to be the main plot, soon started to get lost among a variety of POVs that switched too quickly; I honestly thought this was going to be an urban fantasy thriller, but a few chapters in, the author simply had too many irons in the fire to properly focus on what could have been a promising mystery story with fae and co.
I still recommend it to whoever might seem interested in it because, overall, it wasn't a bad book.
I also didn't mind the main characters, and I could tell the chemistry was there and it was well done. Perhaps maybe something more could have come from that chemistry.

Like I said in one of my updates, had the author toned down the fantasy subplot a bit, this would have been a perfect bookish counterpart of Castle and Lucifer.
Not that anyone could ever compare to Nathan Fillion, but...it's nice to dream, anyway.




I received an advance review copy for free by BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read July 2022:
I got to the read this last year as part of Susan's beta team; to say I was excited about seeing the finished book would be an understatement. This book is even better with the little hiccups out of the way! The two MCs have amazing banter, the story is great, there are Fae and a mystery.
I don't know why you haven't already pre-ordered it?!
Also it may end up being a series, YAY!


Original May 2021 (4star):
I was lucky enough to be a beta reader for this book.
Stradiotto melds Fae culture with a quirky detective story in a fantastic way.
Reminded me of the TV show Castle or The Mentalist, but with Fae folk.
Highly entertaining, and I am so excited that she has hinted this will be a series!!!
Really looking forward to reading the final publication.

[Sophia Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The TV show "Lucifer" but with fae is the best way to describe it! A murder mystery set in a university town in Wisconsin, I'm totally in! You got the hot fae with mysteries and a smoldering smirk. Sign me up for the whole series!

[Jessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun and breezy blend of the Fae world and some good old fashioned detective work. The ‘working’ relationship between Raine and Kennedi was one of frustration(hers), playfulness(his), crimefighting, and Fae magic and it was written so well. I thought it was an interesting take on the Fae world and how faeries were traversing in the human realm. I enjoyed the mystery that they had to solve and how Kennedi worked through all of the confusing signs she’d see in relation to Raine. I also thought it was interesting how the humans knew the faeries were real and in their world.

Overall, it was a fun read and I’m looking forward to more from the author.

I received a free copy of this book via Susan Stradiotto's Fantasy Street Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda (The Arizona Bookstagrammer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Raine of Fire (A Wickney Mystery Novel) by Susan Stradiotto ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: High Fantasy/Urban Fantasy. Location: Wickney, Wisconsin, USA. Time: Late Autumn to Winter, Present.

Being a faerie isn’t against the law, but many humans fear them. That’s why faeries glamour their appearance.

SERIES REGULARS:
Raine Abarta (Fae prince). Banished from Faerie by his mother the queen, he just wants to be a street entertainer while keeping his addiction under control. An audience’s delight makes stars twinkle at the edges of his vision. He’s a memory walker with a levity addiction-he gets high on human emotions.

Ultra-serious Kennedi Craine (police detective) is straight-laced, and slow to warm up to others. When she was 9, her father disappeared, her mother had a mental breakdown, and Kennedi was sent to foster care. Her temper comes out when Raine nicknames her “Ken”, and she holds deep anger toward her absent father.

THIS BOOK: Kennedi has an open & shut case: Senator William La Pointe was found holding a gun over his wife’s dead body. When Raine walks into the police station and tells her she’s wrong, she thinks he’s a random charlatan. After he shares more, she wonders if he actually knows something. In fact, Kennedi decides this might be a deeper mystery than she thought. Meanwhile, Raine has suspicions of his own about Ken. To solve the murder, Raine’s family problems, and Ken’s personal issues, they must travel from Wickney to Faerie and back again.

The narrative skips back and forth between Raine and Ken, but changes are labeled. The book reads a bit slow at first as we get to know the characters amidst the murder of the senator’s wife. Action speeds up and slips from Urban Fantasy into High Fantasy as the characters travel to Faerie and deal with Fae issues. I’d say High Fantasy is the author’s forte, with clever world building and interesting characters. Many plot moves concern Fae issues, abilities, and locations.

Stradiatto is known for adult fantasy/romance books focusing on relationships. This book fits her fantasy/relationship mode with a quiet hint of a future romance. She develops a friendship between the main characters slowly and carefully, with room for development in future books. I definitely want to know more about Raine and Ken, and it’s 4 bright Fae stars from me! 🌵📚💁🏼‍♀️” Thank you to BookSirens, Bronzewood Books, and Susan Stradiotto for this early copy. Publishes 8/22/2022.

[Kristjan · Rating 3 out of 5]

As promised … an urban fantasy about a crime fighting duo with echos of the TV show “Castle” (and elements of “Lucifer” and a few from the Dresden files such as tech issues). It comes across a bit “pulpy” at times and the humor can be a bit forced, but over all, it was an enjoyable read (for somebody who is a fan of all of the previously mentioned inspirations). There are a few surprises as they investigate an apparent open and shut case of murder that seems a bit too pat … So a mischievous fairy “nudges” the hard as nails lady detective to dig a little deeper and finds that a few things just don’t add up … with the case AND with her meddling Samaritan whose knows more than he should ... because he can’t admit that he is actually a creature of magic when there is an entire Police Dept dedicated to hunted down his “kind.” That makes this a fast/light read without a lot of depth … which is why it was more fun that I expected … so I may pick up the sequel to see where it goes from here.

I was given this free advance review copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

#RaineOfFire #BookSirens.

[The Book Dragon's Hoard by A.V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic murder mystery embedded in a portal fantasy. Whether you love a good puzzle or a human-fae slow burn clean paranormal romance, you'll find something to love about this book. I absolutely adored the world building. I've been on a roll lately, reading quite a few books based on the Cletic legends of the fae, and I simply love how different each author's take is on this theme. Stradiotto has some really amazing ideas and the implementation is superb. I definitely appreciate this exploration of the source material! And the murder mystery? Well, it's incredible. I honestly didn't figure it out until Kennedi did. The twists and turns kept me guessing the entire way! Absolutely loved it.

As for the characters, well they were brilliant. Their mannerisms had them popping off the page for me in a way characters rarely do. Raine was so much fun. I totally enjoyed his tricky fae nature with the added cultural elements Stradiotto has woven in, which are particular to her version of the fae. He was definitely a very interesting character and he made me chuckle a few times. Kennedi is the oh-so-serious detective who needs to lighten up a bit and Raine was the perfect medicine for her. They make a fantastic love-hate team.

[Stephanie B. Whitfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous mixture of the real life, a fantasy world of fae and murder mystery. This played out in my mind like a tv series, fun, exciting, drawing me in to each detail. Looking forward to the next book, if there is one, to know more about Raine!

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was what I was looking for in fantasy detectives, it was a really well done story. The world was interesting and I liked the way the magic was used. The characters were interesting and I hope to see more with them.

I received a free copy of this book via Susan Stradiotto's Fantasy Street Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Julia Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although not a romance novel, this book had that tension aspect that makes me imagine a romance happening in the background. Definite Lucifer vibes (as others have said). Not a book for straight mystery fans. More of a book for the light-hearted cozy side of mystery. Fantasy explodes though.

[Annabelle Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading this book, I wasn’t familiar with the Fae world and had a lot of questions. I’m glad my introduction was managed by one of the most delightful characters on the page – Raine Abarta. A devilishly mischievous guy in both his worlds, he enticingly dropped his veils, and coaxed me into his life with a smile on my face. A complex plot, incredible world-building, and multi-faceted characters. I can’t wait for more!

[TaniaRina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light Urban Fantasy
A cozy with quirky characters and a touch of sadness to make it more credible (well, on the human level at least).

IRL reference:
Marlena Evans! She was the only normal person in soap opera history…

Definitely want to read more about how our Peter Pan-man fits into the crime-solving community and what new skills Ken uses in her job.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the murder mystery in a story of banished fae to be fun and the characters enjoyable. The main characters play well off of each other . I did not see all the twists coming and was pleasantly surprised with this twist on fairy. The characters in this book are very relatable and even the secondary players we get more complex peeks into who they are. This is a well rounded out world I will enjoy coming back.
I received this book free from BookSirens and am happy to leave this reveiw.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raine is a magician and exciled Fae Prince . Detective Kennedy Craine is investigating a murder he inserts himself into. This book is filled with Fae lore, glamour and intrigue. Raine's love of puzzles keeps him interested in the murder and actually prods Kennedy in her investigation with hints, clues, and "nudges". I was a little confused in some interactions in fairy and felt like I was missing some background but overall I was fascinated with the story and felt it was a very original idea. It's interesting to picture humans and fae in the same world with prejudices on both sides I received an ARC of this book and this is my voluntary opinion.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good ideas, but could do with more depth

For fans of ‘dynamic duo’ detectives – Castle and Beckett, Brennan and Booth, Chloe and Lucifer – the premise of this novel will be intriguing. The parallels are obvious and clearly intentional; the novel references the first of these three pairings more than once by name.

In fact, having watched all of the above myself, ‘Fae performer meets human detective, and they solve cases together’ sounded like my sort of thing. The initial sample and its introduction of the male protagonist – Raine, a fire-juggling street performer who is also a Fae – further sparked my curiosity. The first chapter is well written, sets the scene well and successfully hooks the reader. Personally, I also really enjoyed the choice of title.

Raine of Fire explores some interesting and enjoyable ideas, including Raine’s struggle with a slight addiction to human levity (‘slight’ because this isn’t so out of control that it causes serious issues). This adds substance and dimension to the character and might make for some interesting developments in further instalments of the series. Readers may be keen to find out more about various aspects of Raine's history and any challenges and conflicts it might cause him in the future.

Once you get to know him a little better, however, Raine somewhat loses his initial charm. Some of this may be intentional; the over-confident and lovably obnoxious ladies’ man who gets under the female detective’s skin is a well-known trope. Unfortunately, Raine may get under readers’ skins just enough to become unlikeable. His often rather patronising banter with the two junior detectives (Harley and Vic) at the expense of their ‘boss lady’ isn’t particularly endearing. In fact, it seems strange that the other half of this novel’s duo – Detective Kennedi Craine – keeps Raine around, and that she doesn’t react more strongly to the unprofessional comments and antics of her junior colleagues. This may have been mitigated by giving the reader a little more context; what is Kennedi’s history with Harley and Vic? Have they known each other long and well enough for this sort of thing to be acceptable?

It also seems odd that Kennedi barely considers Raine a viable suspect, given his obvious links to the case her team are investigating, as well as Raine’s strange powers of persuasion. Once these characters get to know each other a little better, there may be reason for Kennedi to eliminate him as a suspect. However, these reasons are never made entirely clear and there is still plenty of opportunity to doubt his motives for wanting to be close to the case.

This is one of the novel’s main shortcomings: Kennedi, as a protagonist, and also as a detective, seems a little passive, especially – but not just – around Raine. Yes, she finds him irritating and she often tells him so. However, she never goes so far as to profoundly question his interest in the case, his involvement, or his motivation for following her around. Nor does she stop him tagging along whenever he pleases. While, as a Fae, he is undoubtedly handy at getting information out of suspects and witnesses, unfortunately - together with the lack of actual solid police work the reader gets to experience - the detectives look a little incompetent. It also seems disappointing for Kennedi to allow Raine to patronise and boss her around when he is so clearly invading her turf.

Subjecting Kennedi to more than one rather contrived, awkward moment of innuendo with Raine, always in the presence of her junior officers and at her expense, also takes away both strength and agency from the character. Overall, the novel repeatedly misses opportunities for Kennedi to assert herself. Too often, she is relegated to passively watching from the side lines while others decide her fate. This seems to be partly a problem of perspective; showing certain key moments from Kennedi's rather than Raine's point of view and allowing the reader to experience her reaction first hand, may have been the more empowering choice.

Without wanting to reveal too much, it may have been helpful to the reader to make Kennedi's journey of discovery, understanding and acceptance of the mystery of her past a little clearer. The development of both protagonists' thought processes, motivations, and feelings is somewhat hard to follow throughout, and readers may end up a little confused, possibly even alienated. To an extent, I understand this may be intentional – Fae are mercurial creatures, not just in this novel. As such, unpredictability and abrupt shifts in mood and intention somewhat work for Raine, a Fae man caught between two worlds, under pressure from his family, while also grappling with the confusion he experiences after meeting Kennedi.

Kennedi seems to oscillate substantially between rational thought, confusion, denial, and acceptance. Again, this is somewhat understandable, considering the situation she finds herself in. It is perhaps less forgivable, however, given that she starts her journey from the perspective of a human with apparently little experience or previous interaction with the Fae – and a detective, no less. That in mind, the story could have focused more on the rational, inquisitive side of her, as she journeys through both her case and the secrets of her past.

Initially, readers may be confused by the novel’s status quo. It seems clear from the outset that some characters know that Fae exist, however, it is not apparent whether their existence is a known fact of life and how they fit into society. It appears that the reader is supposed to deduct this from the characters' interactions, but it is actually quite confusing, and readers may initially feel like they're missing something. Within the wider context, it also seems strange that Kennedi never really acts on her suspicion that Raine may be Fae, and that Raine's interest in the case doesn't raise more questions.

The resolution of the murder mystery is somewhat frustrating. The police plot lacks depth and the case takes the backseat compared to the fantastical elements, which seem altogether better developed. As a result, the reader isn’t given sufficient clues to work out who the perpetrator is. The perpetrator’s confession is obtained by questionable means. There may be an interesting angle for a later instalment here, if someone questioned the police work, but overall, the novel feels a bit confused over what its main plot is.

The writing makes for a quick and easy read, although the prose seems unnecessarily wordy sometimes; some repetitions and awkward phrases rather disrupt the flow.

The author presents some great ideas that I would enjoy finding out more about. However, I felt it would have benefited from a little more development and depth.

This is obviously the first in a series and the potential for intriguing developments in future instalments is obvious. It will be interesting to watch these characters grow as they continue to solve cases and navigate the challenges of their worlds and relationships.

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ilona Nurmela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Castle meets Lucifer (but with fae) - loved it!

Raine is fae, he’s been banished to the human realm and survives as a street performer. Detective Kennedi Craine is investigating a murder when Raine offers to help her and the book twists into a topsy-turvy investigation across realms. The Raine-Craine name choice for the 2 MCs was curious, but intentional, I think. The vibe reminded me of the televised Lucifer series where the sidekick paranormal butted in all the time. Some of the place descriptions felt very noir. I loved the glass that holds all memory - very Prince of Persia. With the murder vic’s family and the detective all harbouring long-lost family secrets, this was a treat to see unravel. Can’t wait to see what Ken & Raine will solve next & as the duo is hilarious together, I am really really hoping for a fated mates romance here, fingers crossed.

Recommended for lovers of urban fae fantasy, murder mysteries, portal fantasy and PNR.

[Lisa Able · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had to choose one thing that I loved most about this, it would be that it was predictable without being predictable. What I mean by that is that while I was able to guess some things, there were still enough plot twists that I was surprised & wrong at other times. Raine & Ken's easy banter was fun & highly entertaining to hear. Added bonus, I've never read any faerie books like this, even though some elements gave subtle vibes of things that already exist.

I was provided an advanced reader copy for my honest review.

[Darrah Steffen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read. Liked the buddy cop aspect with a fantasy twist

[Winnifred D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I went into this expecting more of a steam-punkish mystery-romance, but I still enjoyed it. The plot gets off to a rollicking start, with the H, Raine, pretty much stealing all of the scenes he's in. He's a roguish, charming, theatrical character who reminds me of Tom Ellis in the TV show "Lucifer"--not in how he's described physically, but in his personality. He's funny and unique, comically inserting himself into the life of a hard-nosed detective, Kennedi, who is investigating what seems like an open-and-shut case of murder.

Kennedi is a bit harder to get a handle on. She's tough and direct, but at times I felt that she was more focused on pushing Raine away than investigating the worthwhile leads he suggests. There's a big one early on that she drags her feet about and then she suddenly seems to completely lose her temper with, and faith in, Raine.

My favorite aspect of the first part of the book is the tension of Kennedi not being able to put a finger on how Raine knows the things he knows, and Raine trying to hide the truth about his identity from her while still steering her in the right direction in the murder case. Raine is an enigma, and a lot more clever than she's realized.

The second half of the book shifts to a heavy fantasy focus, with a lot of world-building involving the fae. I don't typically read books in the fantasy genre, and I have to admit to being confused by some of the terms used (I just had to go with context clues). I also felt that the storyline became a bit disjointed toward the end, with the fae-dimension plot drawing attention from the mystery.

I do like this writer's style, and the banter between Raine and Kennedi is a lot of fun. This book reminds me of "Lucifer", rather than "Castle", with its supernatural elements and sly sexual innuendo. I was just a little disappointed in the lack of romance between the MC's. Raine actually spent more time thinking about the daughter of the man they're trying to clear, and the conniving woman he doesn't want to marry, than Kennedi.

Steam level: 1. I would consider this a "sweet and clean" or "cozy" fantasy/mystery, except for some of the language (Kennedy's vocabulary is frequently R-rated).

Overall, this book is creative and distinctive, just not quite as much of a mystery-romance as I was hoping.

I received a free copy of this book via Susan Stradiotto's Fantasy Street Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Basil Zarahoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Raine of Fire

This was definitely not my cup of tea.

There were a number of reasons why this was heavy sledding for me. The first third of the story was strange and meandering, a complete lack of purpose. It could be that this was meant to establish a sense of mood and place but for me it just dragged on and on.

The central character did not engage my attention, to the contrary it was the secondary character which caught my eye. Again this could have been intentional for the development of mood and place, but it was just annoying to me.

The Enfield No#2 revolver was loaded with the .38 S&W cartridge a miserable round with the same punch as a .22 rimfire. If the victim was wearing heavy clothes this cartridge was more likely to bruise than to penetrate. Also all use the extremely heavy double-action mechanism which required both strength and steadiness to fire and hold on target. Not a likely choice for a woman unused to exercise. Lastly, you cannot use a silencer with a revolver. I know Stephen King doe s all the time and if you sell as many book as he does I suppose you can, but it is not possible in the real world. The gap between the cylinder and frame allows gas to escape and would defeat the muffling effects of a muzzle break.

The largest problem with this work is that it cannot make up its mind what sort of story it wants to be. Is it a mystery? Is it an urban romance, or a Fae story? Is it the story of a changeling coming into its powers or is it a story of merging worlds? It tried to weave all of these elements together and fails on all counts.

But the lack of engagement of the central character is the weakest part. If this was meant to be a character trickster like Loki of Norse mythology it simply does not work. If it was supposed to be charming in its eccentricity it doesn’t work.

If you can wade through the first half dozen chapters this work picks up speed and has an acceptable plot line, just hang in there and wait for the change

[Grace Carlisle · Rating 5 out of 5]

While police procedurals and whimsical fantasy might not seem like they’d go together at first glance, Stradiotto mixes them perfectly in this book.

As expected of a whodunnit, there’s a steady stream of plot twists that kept me reading. Once I reached the third act, I could barely stand to put the book down until I’d finished it.
The main characters’ personalities contrasted well, and the side characters each stand out in their own way. I appreciated the inclusion of a nonbinary character.

Stradiotto puts her own spin on faerie lore in an interesting way, and I enjoyed gradually learning about fae magic, politics, and the world of Faerie throughout the story. The description of Faerie was lovely, and the setting seems full of potential for many more stories set in this world.

The only thing that pulled me out of the story was a point where Kennedi, our detective main character, draws and aims her gun at a nonviolent suspect. It didn’t sit well with me, especially contrasted with the otherwise lighthearted story.

Overall, I had a fun time reading and trying to guess the twists and turns as I went. I’m excited to see what else is in store.

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout in exchange for an honest review.

[Helen Garraway · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy to read fantasy novel about an arrogant fae prince banished to the mortal world and his inability to resist a puzzle. Solving puzzles provides fae with a rush, and they tend to be absorbed by the puzzle until they complete it. Raine's path crosses that of Kennedi, a detective working on the case Raine stumbles over.

Stradiotto did too good a job of making Raine an arrogant fae, only out to profit from the humans he has to live with. It took a long time to connect to him, especially the way he continually nudges humans to do what he wants, and even then I'm still not sold. He's not that likeable, not until he realises he's more concened for Kennedi's safety that his own.

I liked Kennedi, and sympathise with her having to put up with Raine. There is more to Kennedi than it seems and it will be interesting to see where her story goes. There are a lot of unanswered questions about her and the fae that are left to intrigue us.

Stradiotto fleshes out a realistic world where magical fae and humans co-exist and has introduced us to characters you'll either love or hate. How Raine and Kennedi's relationship will develop, you'll just have to wait for the next book to find out.

[Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting take on a Fae fantasy in a mystery novel. Raine Abarta has been exiled from his mothers Faerie court, and is making his living in Whickney, Wisconsin as best he can. Not only does he become intrigued with a Senators daughter, whose mother has been murdered but then add to the mix Detective Kennedi Craine, and you’ve got ‘Castle’ with Fae (the TV series which Raine refers to several times).

I love the interaction between Raine and Kennedi (or Ken, as Raine insists on calling her), and as the book goes on it becomes even more interesting. Add in the Faerie realm and the characters there and it turns into a really good Murder mystery, with some very nice world building, especially the Light and Dark sides of the Fae. I found it a smidgen slow starting and I’d like to know more about Raines’ life, and Kennedis’ family dynamic, but I’m sure we’ll get more of it in the next books in the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fresh and imaginative spin on the Fae. The Fae are treated as second class citizens and are forced to glamor themselves and hide in the human world.
Raine Abarta is a puzzle addict which is common in the fae. Kennedi Craine is a competent detective with the best record for closing her cases in her department. She is working a case when Raine pops into her investigation. She politely sends him on his way. He comes back snooping in her investigation again. She has to decide if she should arrest him or keep an eye on him.
The character development in this book is spectacular. This is a complete novel with no cliffhanger. It feels like it might be the first in a series- maybe.. I can hope. Anyway this would be a good book for fans of paranormal fantasy, cozy mysteries, and crime stories. This would be a good fit for fans of Bones, Warehouse 13, or Eureka.

I received a free copy of this book via Susan Stradiotto's Fantasy Street Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
This was a miss for me, but I'm not sure why. It has a lot good things going for it, but I still struggled to connect. I struggled at the beginning because I felt like I was missing pieces, I could have used more world building, explanations, or something.
The murder that draws the two MC's together gets lost in the shuffle and ends up being anticlimactic, which felt like a waste. There was just too much switching back and forth, not only with POV, but the characters kept losing focus or focusing on other things. It made the whole book feel jumbled to me.
Overall, I would still say that if the synopsis catches your eye, you should try it. Looking at other reviews it is a hit for a lot of people, so I might be the outlier.

I received a copy of this book from BookSirens, but my opinions are given freely.

[Douglas Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When magic mixes with the real world, things get rather complicated. Our heroine is finding this out first hand with the, alleged, help of our hero. They are either going to make great partners or kill each other. At this point, it is undecided which way things will go.

This is and urban fantasy story involving the fae, which always means trouble. The story is well written and easy to read with an intriguing setup that takes a bit of time to get used to. The characters are nicely done and annoy each other just enough to make a great match. The plot is a bit convoluted, but that just makes it fun to watch it unfold. Overall, this book was a lot of fun and I look forward to exploring more by this author.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book via Susan Stradiotto's Fantasy Street Team for review purposes

[Pamela Sewell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Sirens eARC. Raine of the Amaryllis fae court passes his exile in the mortal realm as a street performer. One afternoon his interest is caught by a passerby and he follows her to the local cop shop. Detective Kennedi Craine is a by the book no nonsense type and she has little patience for this odd intruder. Fae love puzle solving and Raine sees the investigation into the recent murder of a senator's wife as just that...crime solving is puzzle solving. His unusual abilities do make a contribution and a bond is formed. The character development was strong and I liked that the focus was friendship over romance. I found the writing a little uneven at times but overall an entertaining whimsical read.

[Marie Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really well done police procedural mystery/fae realm portal fantasy mash-up. I'm invested in both realms' storylines that somehow blended together seamlessly with the murder investigation without feeling too over-the-top or heavy.

There were also a lot of characters and ideas to introduce, but all of it was done clearly. I was able to guess the suspect, but wasn't able to figure out the motive myself. It took me a little while to get into, but I don't think it was the story or the writing that caused it; I had just read a couple other supernatural mysteries and usually I space out books with similar subjects more than I did this time.

I'm really looking forward to more.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kennedy Craine strong female Police Detective with a problem. It’s not the murder she is working in, rather a fickle Fae in the human world called Raine Abarta who believes the main suspect is not guilty. This book has a lot going for it; an interesting murder mystery, and lots of humour. However for me there were too many things that were never explained or just seemed dropped in for no reason or because they are there I suspect to lead on to threads in the next book but are not needed at all for this story. Thank you to Bronzewood Books and BookSirens for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

[Michelle Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good read but there was just something that made me not love it not sure what, but I did enjoy it.

Had a bit of a new take on fae in a modern world was a good surprise. It was different but had elements of familiarity which was good.

I enjoyed Raine and Kennedie's verbal sparring and hope that they might end up as more in a future book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.