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Rifter #1
Demon Riding Shotgun
Possessed by a demon since she was eleven years old, Mira Fuentes maintains a fragile alliance with the snarky soul who shares her body. Together they hunt down unstable Rifters-- demon-controlled humans bent on causing chaos in the mortal realm. But when a routine hunt leads to a powerful Rifter with plans for Baltimore, Mira quickly finds herself in over her head and at the top of the city's Most Wanted.
Recently retired from the PTF after losing his partner, Ty Williams now works for the Baltimore PD and keeps his distance from cases involving magic. But when a person dies of clearly magical causes and the PTF doesn't have any agents to spare, Ty is the closest thing the department has to an expert. Saddled with a new partner he doesn't want and a mountain of self-doubt, it's his job to track down a suspect who looks suspiciously like the one-night-stand he brought home from the bar last night.
Mira will have to set her trust issues aside and enlist the help of a man determined to uncover her secrets if she hopes to learn the identity of the demon's host and prevent the human race from becoming meat puppets for the denizens of the Rift.
Recently retired from the PTF after losing his partner, Ty Williams now works for the Baltimore PD and keeps his distance from cases involving magic. But when a person dies of clearly magical causes and the PTF doesn't have any agents to spare, Ty is the closest thing the department has to an expert. Saddled with a new partner he doesn't want and a mountain of self-doubt, it's his job to track down a suspect who looks suspiciously like the one-night-stand he brought home from the bar last night.
Mira will have to set her trust issues aside and enlist the help of a man determined to uncover her secrets if she hopes to learn the identity of the demon's host and prevent the human race from becoming meat puppets for the denizens of the Rift.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 30, 2021
33 people are currently reading
1445 people want to read
About the author
L.R. Braden
13 books406 followersL.R. Braden is a bestselling, multi-award-winning author of dark-yet-hopeful urban fantasy stories. Her published works include the Magicsmith series, the Rifter series, and several works of shorter fiction.
A bit of a recluse, she enjoys collecting skills that may (or may not) prove useful in the event that she is suddenly transported to an inhospitable alternate reality. Since that hasn't happened yet, she mostly spends her days weaving fantastic tales, playing with her family, and getting lost on purpose.
Her writing has won many awards, including the Eric Hoffer Book Award for Sci-fi/Fantasy, the Next Generation Indie Book Award for Paranormal Fiction, and the Imadjinn Award for Best Urban Fantasy.
Connect with her online at https://www.lrbraden.com
A bit of a recluse, she enjoys collecting skills that may (or may not) prove useful in the event that she is suddenly transported to an inhospitable alternate reality. Since that hasn't happened yet, she mostly spends her days weaving fantastic tales, playing with her family, and getting lost on purpose.
Her writing has won many awards, including the Eric Hoffer Book Award for Sci-fi/Fantasy, the Next Generation Indie Book Award for Paranormal Fiction, and the Imadjinn Award for Best Urban Fantasy.
Connect with her online at https://www.lrbraden.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
January 3, 2022
I LOVED this book. It’s got fun. It’s got depth. It’s definitely going to stick with me. It’s going to hard to do it justice in a review, but here goes. The premise, characters, and world are unique and compelling. There are a couple of trigger warnings (see the end of this review), but nothing graphic or extreme.
THE CHARACTERS:
Mira’s not normal for a human. The demon she shares a body with is no normal demon. It’s an unlikely partnership, but it works. Mira is a rifter, a human possessed by a demon. But unlike other rifters, Mira and her demon found a way to share a body for years without it being destroyed by the strain of housing a demon. Unlike other demons, Mira’s demon is happy to let her remain in control of her body whenever possible. Mira’s demon is just interested in helping Mira, protecting the two of them, and bringing murder and mayhem to the demons on Earth that are hurting humans. It’s a strange partnership and an even stranger friendship.
Mira and her demon have numerous mental conversations throughout the book. They’re always interesting and Braden avoids confusion by showing Mira’s thoughts in italics and the demon’s thoughts enclose by < > symbols. Mira and her demon also have have distinctly different voices, speech patterns, and personalities. They’re both snarky and sarcastic, but with completely different styles.
Mira is a practitioner (of magic), with a big power boost courtesy of her demon. Mira’s powers are imaginative, vividly described, and just downright cool. Example: “Wiggling her fingers Mira grabbed hold of a shadow and pulled it around her like a cape.” Coolest camouflage ever. Her powers are far from absolute and they come with plenty of catches. With great power comes great danger if you lose control. She uses their powers to help people, protect people, and protect herself. To do this, she hunts demons who hurt innocents. Officially, she’s a normal PI. The world is not friendly to practitioners, and it’s certainly worse for rifters. Mira’s tough, but lonely. Mira’s past has left her a bit of a cynic, but she never gives up fighting for what’s right.
Mira’s demon chose her because she’s a fighter with a good heart who will risks herself to protect others. This demon first found young Mira in trouble and came to her aid. It’s not like the demon isn’t getting plenty out of the deal. She found a rare human that is not only moral and trustworthy, but is also compatible, capable and willing to live as a joined creature, two consciousnesses sharing one body. A good match for a demon with a (metaphorically) good heart hidden behind snark and sarcasm. I’m pretty sure Mira’s demon is secretly a bit of a romantic and optimist.
Mira’s demon is just that: hers. Her partner. Her friend. Loyal to her. Concerned not just with Mira’s survival, but her happiness. Mira and her demon genuinely care about each other, treat each other as equals, and know each other better than anyone.
The other major character is Detective Ty Williams: a cop who doesn’t trust his instincts after losing his last partner. When Mira becomes a suspect, Ty must decide whether to trust his instincts and believe Mira is trying to stop the real bad guys. Ty’s intuition, confusion, grief, guilt, and drive to do good are raw and compelling. He clearly struggles with PTSD, but he’s never portrayed as weak or incompetent because of it. In fact, it highlights just how strong and skilled he is.
I grew to love Mira, her demon, and Ty for their depth of character, bravery, intelligence, and uniqueness. Every mistake they made only made me love them more.
THE PLOT:
A routine demon hunt puts Mira and her demon on the trail of a sinister plot brewing in Baltimore. This investigation soon gets Mira wanted by the police. How could she run away when people could be in danger from this mysterious sinister plot? The mysteries in this book will have you on the edge of your seat.
THE WRITING:
As a spin off from the Magicsmith series, this book is set in a fully-realized world with a well developed magic system and history. However, this series-starter definitely delves boldly into new conflicts and uncharted waters. I didn’t read the Magicsmith series before reading this and had no problems, so this new series can definitely stand on its own. Although after reading this book, I’m eager to dig into the Magicsmith series set in the same universe!
This tale was told with fantastic imagery without slowing the story down. I was able to picture just about everything that happened. The pacing of this book was perfect, which is very rare. Things are constantly moving and never rushed. The plot has plenty of great twists and turns. The ending is satisfying, mostly happy, unpredictable, believable, and sets things up for the next book. I eagerly await the next books with excitement and anxious hope that they are just as good as this one.
THE THINGS THAT BUGGED ME (AT FIRST):
There were a couple things in this book I had some qualms about and kept bugging me. But then I realized that they’re supposed to. Things aren’t supposed to be black and white, simple, or easy in this book. They’re supposed to be murky. These things were supposed to be problematic. The things that bothered me at first turned out to give the story moral complexity and depth and create a world full of shades of grey. A world where both darkness and hope can coexist in a story, just like they so often do in the real world.
Here’s the first thing that bugged me:
Here’s the second thing:
Warnings: self-harm (with no suicidal intent), sex (1 scene only, not very graphic). The content of these warnings is further discussed above in the THE THINGS THAT BUGGED ME (AT FIRST) section.
Thanks to Bell Bridge Books and NetGalley for a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
THE CHARACTERS:
Mira’s not normal for a human. The demon she shares a body with is no normal demon. It’s an unlikely partnership, but it works. Mira is a rifter, a human possessed by a demon. But unlike other rifters, Mira and her demon found a way to share a body for years without it being destroyed by the strain of housing a demon. Unlike other demons, Mira’s demon is happy to let her remain in control of her body whenever possible. Mira’s demon is just interested in helping Mira, protecting the two of them, and bringing murder and mayhem to the demons on Earth that are hurting humans. It’s a strange partnership and an even stranger friendship.
Mira and her demon have numerous mental conversations throughout the book. They’re always interesting and Braden avoids confusion by showing Mira’s thoughts in italics and the demon’s thoughts enclose by < > symbols. Mira and her demon also have have distinctly different voices, speech patterns, and personalities. They’re both snarky and sarcastic, but with completely different styles.
Mira is a practitioner (of magic), with a big power boost courtesy of her demon. Mira’s powers are imaginative, vividly described, and just downright cool. Example: “Wiggling her fingers Mira grabbed hold of a shadow and pulled it around her like a cape.” Coolest camouflage ever. Her powers are far from absolute and they come with plenty of catches. With great power comes great danger if you lose control. She uses their powers to help people, protect people, and protect herself. To do this, she hunts demons who hurt innocents. Officially, she’s a normal PI. The world is not friendly to practitioners, and it’s certainly worse for rifters. Mira’s tough, but lonely. Mira’s past has left her a bit of a cynic, but she never gives up fighting for what’s right.
Mira’s demon chose her because she’s a fighter with a good heart who will risks herself to protect others. This demon first found young Mira in trouble and came to her aid. It’s not like the demon isn’t getting plenty out of the deal. She found a rare human that is not only moral and trustworthy, but is also compatible, capable and willing to live as a joined creature, two consciousnesses sharing one body. A good match for a demon with a (metaphorically) good heart hidden behind snark and sarcasm. I’m pretty sure Mira’s demon is secretly a bit of a romantic and optimist.
Mira’s demon is just that: hers. Her partner. Her friend. Loyal to her. Concerned not just with Mira’s survival, but her happiness. Mira and her demon genuinely care about each other, treat each other as equals, and know each other better than anyone.
The other major character is Detective Ty Williams: a cop who doesn’t trust his instincts after losing his last partner. When Mira becomes a suspect, Ty must decide whether to trust his instincts and believe Mira is trying to stop the real bad guys. Ty’s intuition, confusion, grief, guilt, and drive to do good are raw and compelling. He clearly struggles with PTSD, but he’s never portrayed as weak or incompetent because of it. In fact, it highlights just how strong and skilled he is.
I grew to love Mira, her demon, and Ty for their depth of character, bravery, intelligence, and uniqueness. Every mistake they made only made me love them more.
THE PLOT:
A routine demon hunt puts Mira and her demon on the trail of a sinister plot brewing in Baltimore. This investigation soon gets Mira wanted by the police. How could she run away when people could be in danger from this mysterious sinister plot? The mysteries in this book will have you on the edge of your seat.
THE WRITING:
As a spin off from the Magicsmith series, this book is set in a fully-realized world with a well developed magic system and history. However, this series-starter definitely delves boldly into new conflicts and uncharted waters. I didn’t read the Magicsmith series before reading this and had no problems, so this new series can definitely stand on its own. Although after reading this book, I’m eager to dig into the Magicsmith series set in the same universe!
This tale was told with fantastic imagery without slowing the story down. I was able to picture just about everything that happened. The pacing of this book was perfect, which is very rare. Things are constantly moving and never rushed. The plot has plenty of great twists and turns. The ending is satisfying, mostly happy, unpredictable, believable, and sets things up for the next book. I eagerly await the next books with excitement and anxious hope that they are just as good as this one.
THE THINGS THAT BUGGED ME (AT FIRST):
There were a couple things in this book I had some qualms about and kept bugging me. But then I realized that they’re supposed to. Things aren’t supposed to be black and white, simple, or easy in this book. They’re supposed to be murky. These things were supposed to be problematic. The things that bothered me at first turned out to give the story moral complexity and depth and create a world full of shades of grey. A world where both darkness and hope can coexist in a story, just like they so often do in the real world.
Here’s the first thing that bugged me:
Here’s the second thing:
Warnings: self-harm (with no suicidal intent), sex (1 scene only, not very graphic). The content of these warnings is further discussed above in the THE THINGS THAT BUGGED ME (AT FIRST) section.
Thanks to Bell Bridge Books and NetGalley for a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2022
I'm a fan of this author and was looking forward to this book. I was not disappointed! It reminds me of the work of Ilona Andrews, which I also love, with expansive world building and powerful characters. Mira may be possessed by a demon but she maintains her spirituality and humanity. Ty, a police detective with a history of working on a supernatural task force, has suffered loss and struggles with believing in himself. Their relationship grew and changed throughout the book and has plenty of potential. I loved this book and look forward to more adventures. I read this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2023
Please tell me the end of Demon Riding Shotgun means author L.R. Braden realised she has gold on her hands and - hopefully - 10 new book ideas in her head where main character Mira plays 'angel' with her demon?!
As you've gathered from that very first sentence, yes, I'm quite enamoured by this standalone that was -in a way - a follow up of the “Magicsmith series”. A series I haven't read by the way, but certain mentions of Demon Riding Shotgun's magic history - like a Fae War and its human casualties, and human magic practitioners suddenly being treated like terrorists - made me realise I was definitely missing some background info. And, yup. GoodReads provided the title & info of an earlier Braden series about exactly that :).
While I noticed those mentions as rather particular and thus probably as part of the same universe, you don't need to read Magicsmith before you can start Demon Riding Shotgun. It is indeed the promised stand- alone. And trust me, if you're new to L.R Braden, that's excellent news. You can start right away and lose yourself in the story.
[Hooked]
Losing myself in the story is exactly what I did from the very first page. The best books – not a guarantee, but still - usually draw you in the moment you start reading. It only takes a few paragraphs to know who and what our bad-ass main character is and often a mere chapter to discover the beginnings of the possible mess she finds herself in – also known as the plot. Demon Riding Shotgun, an Urban Fantasy novel with a tiny touch of romance by price-winning author L.A. Braden does that, too. In this case, it IS a guarantee.
I was hooked from the get go, and am not ashamed to say I was inwardly yelling - and even groaning out loud things like "Ooooh SH*T!”, “ Yes, take thàt! ", “Dang, this is going to bite her in the tight denim clad behind!”, or "How could you be so stupid!??” In other words: I was thoroughly invested in Mira Fuentes trying to hunt evil while being on the run herself. The story is so action-packed without becoming 'been there, done that', I would be surprised if you, like myself, didn't try to read this novel in one go...forgetting (or ignoring) you needed to pee.
[Mira (and) who?]
What's it all about? Mira Fuentes gets possessed by a female demon at age 11. Afraid to hurt her family as a newly minted rifter, she runs away. As soon as she's more in control of her powers and turns out to be “balanced”, she occupies her time with saving humanity from evil. More specifically, she has been tracking other demon-possessed ever since. Rifters who aren't “balanced”, nor have a moral compass. While their body is decaying, they cause chaos and kill.
When she unexpectedly encounters a very powerful rifter with scary plans for the city, Mira (and her sarcastic second soul) soon finds herself in huge trouble. She has no idea how to stop her adversary, and while only trying to help, SHE is suddenly on the Most Wanted list.
The core part of Mira's magic and why she is who she is and does what she does is the Demon possession. You expect anger, a bitterness towards the demon, and a possible self- hate now that she's no longer the girl she was. While some blame gets pushed around, this is actually not what the author shows.
What I particularly enjoyed in Demon Riding Shotgun is the bond between the two, specifically the constant banter between Mira and her demon lifter. They've become bff's of a sort, and Miss Demon's snarky remarks about Mira's behaviour - even in or directly after dangerous situations - had me both chuckle AND embrace both 'women'.
[Believable Balance]
Mira is damaged as a result of her childhood, all the years alone where she practically lived on the fringes of society – scared to be caught as an unregistered practitioner, a big no no - and because she can't escape the idea of being a killer emotionally. Even though she knows rationally she's preventing worse by hunting rifters. Plus, there's little else she can do to/ for them.
It's obvious L.R. Braden created a tortured soul with a self-created “job” that can be seen by others as vigilante behaviour, or even evil. Still, she's obviously inherently good. The fact that her demon keeps trying to make her connect with others says a lot. And not just about their bond. It's a layered part of the book and ties in with the world, the 'Rift', the author created for demons and how they live and exist there. If I might go as far: it's even essential to the plot, in the most black-and-white way, though.
The construct Braden came up with to explain, and even show marginally, how the demon's and Mira's “balance” works as opposed to regular rifters was both original and interesting. Also very believable.
It makes the whole magical part of the book extra fascinating, not to mention the parts where the demon IS indeed riding shotgun.
[Action and layers]
And those moments do exist. They're needed to keep the balance between two souls and mostly when there's danger. But like every good writer would choose, 90% of those moments coincide with essential events. The action scenes in the book are well written and exciting. And when the demon needs to take control, even override Mira to be as powerful as can be, you won't hear a thing happening around you. You're there. Maybe wringing your hands?
Well, that could happen if the emotional chaos our leading lady is in during and certainly after some events hits you in the feels. It makes Demon Riding Shotgun an Urban Fantasy novel with deeper layers if you let it. At times, Braden indirectly positions the question; which perspective is right? Mira's or the demon's. The police's or our main character's? What would you do if you had the facts and the control? Are you black, white, or morally grey?
Before you think you might be buying a psychological drama... don't worry: Mira's psyche simply creates more dimension in what otherwise would be a typical bad-ass witch. You can focus on the moral ambiguity we see every now and then - and subsequently entertain certain questions - or just let the story flow. That's easily done.
What's more: her baggage influences her conscious decisions on a regular basis, and I'm not afraid to say they're rarely the best. And those decisions lead to her getting in trouble more than you can count. These are the parts where I groaned out loud. But when emotions are involved, whether it's annoyance, happiness, sadness, or satisfaction related to events and characters, we can usually speak of a good book. I can only describe Demon Riding Shotgun as a fast-paced, engrossing, unexpected, and tension filled magical work.
Some last, but not least, points. Anyone not interested in or fed up with the big romantic parts in most female written Urban Fantasy: this book barely has that. Romance. The term “tiny touch” is truly applicable. Yes, there is a man and attraction, and in the end it is clear they are both interested. However, while this Detective (duh!) plays a big role in the story, that role isn't necessarily of a romantic partner. It's of Police Detective, of someone with experience with paranatural practitioners, of another person with emotional scars, and of someone who could be – quite important - a potential ally. But you won't find the lovey-dovey story that's so common in other titles of this genre. This also means, despite major hints in that direction, there are no graphic sex scene(s). (Or maybe 'not yet').
While I enjoy the type of Urban Fantasy where the romance is well written and will eventually strengthen the character(s) [f.e. Kate Daniels series or Chicagoland Vampires] and storyline, I detest the gratuit yummy detective or hotty but scary supernatural that's Alpha male, not to mention in love within 2 chapters. Usually making the fantasy storyline secondary. In that regard, I could even say Braden's Demon Riding Shotgun was refreshing.
Also refreshing: I didn't see the true big bad coming at all. Even though as a reader, you're in Mira's head all the time and know a part of the “Big Scary Plan” from the very beginning. It's the icing on the cake named Demon Riding Shotgun. The ending, it is a standalone after all, finds our balanced rifter safe and the bad guys gone. However, that same ending leaves a door wide open. A portal if you will. I wouldn't be surprised if Braden treats us to more stories from and related to the Rift. Actually, if they're just as action-packed and well written, one can only hope so! (Edit 8 August 2023: Wow, exactly a year later L.R. Braden posts a message saying a second book is being released this year! This is now a series! End of September, peeps!)
Rating: Do I still need to say it? Five stars, Demon lovers! A great read for every female lead Urban Fantasy enthusiast. Particularly if you don't want to be distracted by a full-on love story. The magic wins, so do you.
NB. Netgalley provided me with an ARC. I'm leaving this honest review voluntarily.
As you've gathered from that very first sentence, yes, I'm quite enamoured by this standalone that was -in a way - a follow up of the “Magicsmith series”. A series I haven't read by the way, but certain mentions of Demon Riding Shotgun's magic history - like a Fae War and its human casualties, and human magic practitioners suddenly being treated like terrorists - made me realise I was definitely missing some background info. And, yup. GoodReads provided the title & info of an earlier Braden series about exactly that :).
While I noticed those mentions as rather particular and thus probably as part of the same universe, you don't need to read Magicsmith before you can start Demon Riding Shotgun. It is indeed the promised stand- alone. And trust me, if you're new to L.R Braden, that's excellent news. You can start right away and lose yourself in the story.
[Hooked]
Losing myself in the story is exactly what I did from the very first page. The best books – not a guarantee, but still - usually draw you in the moment you start reading. It only takes a few paragraphs to know who and what our bad-ass main character is and often a mere chapter to discover the beginnings of the possible mess she finds herself in – also known as the plot. Demon Riding Shotgun, an Urban Fantasy novel with a tiny touch of romance by price-winning author L.A. Braden does that, too. In this case, it IS a guarantee.
I was hooked from the get go, and am not ashamed to say I was inwardly yelling - and even groaning out loud things like "Ooooh SH*T!”, “ Yes, take thàt! ", “Dang, this is going to bite her in the tight denim clad behind!”, or "How could you be so stupid!??” In other words: I was thoroughly invested in Mira Fuentes trying to hunt evil while being on the run herself. The story is so action-packed without becoming 'been there, done that', I would be surprised if you, like myself, didn't try to read this novel in one go...forgetting (or ignoring) you needed to pee.
[Mira (and) who?]
What's it all about? Mira Fuentes gets possessed by a female demon at age 11. Afraid to hurt her family as a newly minted rifter, she runs away. As soon as she's more in control of her powers and turns out to be “balanced”, she occupies her time with saving humanity from evil. More specifically, she has been tracking other demon-possessed ever since. Rifters who aren't “balanced”, nor have a moral compass. While their body is decaying, they cause chaos and kill.
When she unexpectedly encounters a very powerful rifter with scary plans for the city, Mira (and her sarcastic second soul) soon finds herself in huge trouble. She has no idea how to stop her adversary, and while only trying to help, SHE is suddenly on the Most Wanted list.
The core part of Mira's magic and why she is who she is and does what she does is the Demon possession. You expect anger, a bitterness towards the demon, and a possible self- hate now that she's no longer the girl she was. While some blame gets pushed around, this is actually not what the author shows.
What I particularly enjoyed in Demon Riding Shotgun is the bond between the two, specifically the constant banter between Mira and her demon lifter. They've become bff's of a sort, and Miss Demon's snarky remarks about Mira's behaviour - even in or directly after dangerous situations - had me both chuckle AND embrace both 'women'.
[Believable Balance]
Mira is damaged as a result of her childhood, all the years alone where she practically lived on the fringes of society – scared to be caught as an unregistered practitioner, a big no no - and because she can't escape the idea of being a killer emotionally. Even though she knows rationally she's preventing worse by hunting rifters. Plus, there's little else she can do to/ for them.
It's obvious L.R. Braden created a tortured soul with a self-created “job” that can be seen by others as vigilante behaviour, or even evil. Still, she's obviously inherently good. The fact that her demon keeps trying to make her connect with others says a lot. And not just about their bond. It's a layered part of the book and ties in with the world, the 'Rift', the author created for demons and how they live and exist there. If I might go as far: it's even essential to the plot, in the most black-and-white way, though.
The construct Braden came up with to explain, and even show marginally, how the demon's and Mira's “balance” works as opposed to regular rifters was both original and interesting. Also very believable.
It makes the whole magical part of the book extra fascinating, not to mention the parts where the demon IS indeed riding shotgun.
[Action and layers]
And those moments do exist. They're needed to keep the balance between two souls and mostly when there's danger. But like every good writer would choose, 90% of those moments coincide with essential events. The action scenes in the book are well written and exciting. And when the demon needs to take control, even override Mira to be as powerful as can be, you won't hear a thing happening around you. You're there. Maybe wringing your hands?
Well, that could happen if the emotional chaos our leading lady is in during and certainly after some events hits you in the feels. It makes Demon Riding Shotgun an Urban Fantasy novel with deeper layers if you let it. At times, Braden indirectly positions the question; which perspective is right? Mira's or the demon's. The police's or our main character's? What would you do if you had the facts and the control? Are you black, white, or morally grey?
Before you think you might be buying a psychological drama... don't worry: Mira's psyche simply creates more dimension in what otherwise would be a typical bad-ass witch. You can focus on the moral ambiguity we see every now and then - and subsequently entertain certain questions - or just let the story flow. That's easily done.
What's more: her baggage influences her conscious decisions on a regular basis, and I'm not afraid to say they're rarely the best. And those decisions lead to her getting in trouble more than you can count. These are the parts where I groaned out loud. But when emotions are involved, whether it's annoyance, happiness, sadness, or satisfaction related to events and characters, we can usually speak of a good book. I can only describe Demon Riding Shotgun as a fast-paced, engrossing, unexpected, and tension filled magical work.
Some last, but not least, points. Anyone not interested in or fed up with the big romantic parts in most female written Urban Fantasy: this book barely has that. Romance. The term “tiny touch” is truly applicable. Yes, there is a man and attraction, and in the end it is clear they are both interested. However, while this Detective (duh!) plays a big role in the story, that role isn't necessarily of a romantic partner. It's of Police Detective, of someone with experience with paranatural practitioners, of another person with emotional scars, and of someone who could be – quite important - a potential ally. But you won't find the lovey-dovey story that's so common in other titles of this genre. This also means, despite major hints in that direction, there are no graphic sex scene(s). (Or maybe 'not yet').
While I enjoy the type of Urban Fantasy where the romance is well written and will eventually strengthen the character(s) [f.e. Kate Daniels series or Chicagoland Vampires] and storyline, I detest the gratuit yummy detective or hotty but scary supernatural that's Alpha male, not to mention in love within 2 chapters. Usually making the fantasy storyline secondary. In that regard, I could even say Braden's Demon Riding Shotgun was refreshing.
Also refreshing: I didn't see the true big bad coming at all. Even though as a reader, you're in Mira's head all the time and know a part of the “Big Scary Plan” from the very beginning. It's the icing on the cake named Demon Riding Shotgun. The ending, it is a standalone after all, finds our balanced rifter safe and the bad guys gone. However, that same ending leaves a door wide open. A portal if you will. I wouldn't be surprised if Braden treats us to more stories from and related to the Rift. Actually, if they're just as action-packed and well written, one can only hope so! (Edit 8 August 2023: Wow, exactly a year later L.R. Braden posts a message saying a second book is being released this year! This is now a series! End of September, peeps!)
Rating: Do I still need to say it? Five stars, Demon lovers! A great read for every female lead Urban Fantasy enthusiast. Particularly if you don't want to be distracted by a full-on love story. The magic wins, so do you.
NB. Netgalley provided me with an ARC. I'm leaving this honest review voluntarily.
November 23, 2021
This book is set in the same world as the authors Magicsmith series although its not the Fae that dominate here but actually Demons ! Mira has shared her body with a Demon since she came into her powers as a child and now together to survive they hunt down the Rifters who prey upon humans. Whilst staking out a Rifter Mira spots someone else who it seems just might know more about why she has survived and not burned up after being possessed. Mira is about to discover that she's not the only human who can successfully ride along with a Demon symbiot but it's not safe for Mira as those in power want to contain and ultimately lock her up !
I thoroughly enjoyed this and if you enjoy urban fantasy than I wholeheartedly recommend this author and her work. With characters that leap off the page and unique world building her books are exciting, entertaining and just such fun to read.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
I thoroughly enjoyed this and if you enjoy urban fantasy than I wholeheartedly recommend this author and her work. With characters that leap off the page and unique world building her books are exciting, entertaining and just such fun to read.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
February 23, 2022
I am a die hard fan of the Magicsmith series... So I was incredibly excited to read a new and hands-down equally engrossing story in the Magicsmith realm. Mira is a gritty kickass MC who has been aware of and living in the shadows of the non-human world most of her life. She was possesed by a demon at the age of eleven and I absolutely love the inner dialog with her inner demon.
I truly loved the uneasy alliance formed with Ty. Although they both had reservations about the partnership they made an amazingly affective team. I truly hope to see more of Ty and Mira this was a wonderful glimpse into a beloved world for me. I hope to see more from them and dare I say other Magicsmith characters.
I'm dying for more of this world it is incredibly compelling with vivid world-building and fasinating well developed characters! This is a must read! And if you haven't checked it out delve into the Magicsmith universe it's incredible you won't regret it!!!
I truly loved the uneasy alliance formed with Ty. Although they both had reservations about the partnership they made an amazingly affective team. I truly hope to see more of Ty and Mira this was a wonderful glimpse into a beloved world for me. I hope to see more from them and dare I say other Magicsmith characters.
I'm dying for more of this world it is incredibly compelling with vivid world-building and fasinating well developed characters! This is a must read! And if you haven't checked it out delve into the Magicsmith universe it's incredible you won't regret it!!!
November 27, 2021
I quite enjoyed this author’s Magicsmith series, so I was excited for this new novel set in the same universe. Mira, the main character, had a small part in the first series, but one of the reasons I loved this book was that you don’t need to have read the previous series to enjoy this one fully. Mira is also not your standard character, and she has her flaws. Ty is the same. I loved how there was a slow buildup with Mira and Ty, and how we followed both of their stories in parallel. I know this is supposed to be a standalone, but I really, really hope the author changes her mind because there is so much potential in this world, and I would love to see more. Well-written urban fantasy leaving you wanting more. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
August 18, 2024
"Demon Riding Shotgun" by L.R. Braden was an excellent read. I enjoyed Mira's character so much. Mira has had a demon inside her since she was 11 years old. She is constantly fighting it. She has spent years taking out the Rifters of the world and trying to keep everyone safe from them. After a night out, Mira goes to a bar and runs into Ty. Ty is an officer with the Baltimore Police Department. They have a one night stand, and he finds out that Mira is the number one suspect for a murder that happened that night. My favorite part is when Ty is helping some children out of a building that is about to collapse. While Mira is trying to help by doing what she does. This is book one in the "Magicsmith: Rifter" series, and I can't wait to continue in it.
March 28, 2022
I haven't read any of the Magicsmith series (or realized that I was starting a spin-off), but this was a great novel and stood alone just fine. The world building and plot were straightforward, but unique and compelling. Told in a duology, both characters were nuanced and fascinating with overlapping timelines that added a push to the plot that kept it moving quickly forward. This was a fun but propulsive story. I can't wait for more (and need to go back and read the previous books).
#netgalley copy
#netgalley copy
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December 13, 2021Supernatural meets Venom in this fast-paced spinoff about a demon-possessed witch who hunts her own kind to protect the human world she's no longer entirely a part of.
This urban fantasy detective story is set in the same world as my award-winning Magicsmith series, but with all new characters. You don't need to have read any of my other books to enjoy this stand-alone mystery.
Learn more at https://www.lrbraden.com
This urban fantasy detective story is set in the same world as my award-winning Magicsmith series, but with all new characters. You don't need to have read any of my other books to enjoy this stand-alone mystery.
Learn more at https://www.lrbraden.com
August 29, 2024
Oh but I loved everything about this book. Mira and her demon cracked me up from the get-go!
I already had a grasp on the world from the Magicsmith series (also fabulous) so I was pulled in quickly as I learned about rifters. Mira is intriguing and I enjoyed the PI angle as she navigated the rifter issue.
Well-written and I look forward to reading everything by this author!!!
I already had a grasp on the world from the Magicsmith series (also fabulous) so I was pulled in quickly as I learned about rifters. Mira is intriguing and I enjoyed the PI angle as she navigated the rifter issue.
Well-written and I look forward to reading everything by this author!!!
December 6, 2021
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
Demon Riding Shotgun, by author L.R. Braden, is a story that takes place after the events of, Of Mettle and Magic. In this world, Demons dwell in the Rift which is chaotic energy that connects all the realms. Demons can't manifest without a physical body and that's when a Rifter is created. Mira Fuentes is a rifter, a human possessed by a demon. But unlike other rifters, Mira and her demon found a way to share a body since she was 11 years old without it being destroyed. The demon preserves her free will and lets her make her own choices, even bad ones.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
Demon Riding Shotgun, by author L.R. Braden, is a story that takes place after the events of, Of Mettle and Magic. In this world, Demons dwell in the Rift which is chaotic energy that connects all the realms. Demons can't manifest without a physical body and that's when a Rifter is created. Mira Fuentes is a rifter, a human possessed by a demon. But unlike other rifters, Mira and her demon found a way to share a body since she was 11 years old without it being destroyed. The demon preserves her free will and lets her make her own choices, even bad ones.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
May 8, 2025
This book was so good! I haven't read the author's Magicsmith series but didn't feel lost at all, so while it may help it's clearly not essential.
Our FMC Mira Fuentes has shared her body with demon since she was 11, when she came into her magic, and it's caused her no end of problems, it's also her best friend. In order to survive, Mira and her demon hunt down the Rifters who prey on humans and that's how this book begins. After successful Rifter hunt, Mira goes to a bar and runs into Ty, an officer with the Baltimore Police Department. They end up having a one night stand, so of course, Mira is the number one suspect for the murder he's investigating.
This was an excellent book, well written with a gripping, page turning plot. I especially love that Mira's demon is usually the voice of reason in her head. I enthusiastically recommend this series for fans of well written Urban Fantasy with a snarky sidekick (or demon) and well crafted and twisty mysteries.
I'm clearly going to have to read her Magicsmith series.
Our FMC Mira Fuentes has shared her body with demon since she was 11, when she came into her magic, and it's caused her no end of problems, it's also her best friend. In order to survive, Mira and her demon hunt down the Rifters who prey on humans and that's how this book begins. After successful Rifter hunt, Mira goes to a bar and runs into Ty, an officer with the Baltimore Police Department. They end up having a one night stand, so of course, Mira is the number one suspect for the murder he's investigating.
This was an excellent book, well written with a gripping, page turning plot. I especially love that Mira's demon is usually the voice of reason in her head. I enthusiastically recommend this series for fans of well written Urban Fantasy with a snarky sidekick (or demon) and well crafted and twisty mysteries.
I'm clearly going to have to read her Magicsmith series.
April 26, 2025
So first of all, I loved this book and this world. What I didn’t know until I read some of the other reviews is that this is a spinoff series. Did it take anything away from me understanding what was going on? No. In my opinion, the author does a great job referencing moments in the other series to offer some clarity for what is happening to the FMC, Mira and the MMC, Ty.
I also really enjoyed the banter between Mira and her demon and the explanation of why the demon chose her. It also goes into an explanation of the rift and how the demon accesses her magic.
There is a lot going on in this book, with world building, character development and references to what the human race is currently facing but it didn’t feel rushed or confusing to me.
This isn’t the first time I have either picked a book in a series to read or one in an author’s already established world and I doubt it will be my last. That being said, it didn’t feel like I came into the middle of something. It felt like its own world.
Will I read her other books? Almost definitely (Pesky little thing called a TBR), but I will most definitely continue on with this series. I want to see what adventures Ty, Mira and her demon get caught up in.
If you like morally gray characters and a world that feels familiar yet isn’t, this might be the book for you.
Happy reading!
I also really enjoyed the banter between Mira and her demon and the explanation of why the demon chose her. It also goes into an explanation of the rift and how the demon accesses her magic.
There is a lot going on in this book, with world building, character development and references to what the human race is currently facing but it didn’t feel rushed or confusing to me.
This isn’t the first time I have either picked a book in a series to read or one in an author’s already established world and I doubt it will be my last. That being said, it didn’t feel like I came into the middle of something. It felt like its own world.
Will I read her other books? Almost definitely (Pesky little thing called a TBR), but I will most definitely continue on with this series. I want to see what adventures Ty, Mira and her demon get caught up in.
If you like morally gray characters and a world that feels familiar yet isn’t, this might be the book for you.
Happy reading!
February 6, 2022
It’s a police/detective story where demons, fae and magic are added to the mix. There is nothing particularly new about this specific story; so if you like that style of story, this should hit the sweet spot. The story opens with a demon possessed vigilante hunting another ‘rifter' that was killing innocents; but Mira is something different, having obtained a working balance with her demon (who can periodically take charge of her body and carry on amusing conversations) where most simply go nuts and burn up. When the party is interrupted by a second rifter, we begin to see a developing conspiracy among the demons that doesn’t sound good the home team humans … unfortunately the incident draws the attention of the Baltimore PD and a washed up paranormal cop who also happened to have been her demon’s one night-stand (with her body of course).
What follows is a bit of a cat and mouse game with the demon spawn and “Mr Yummy” while the hero attempts to find the big bad while remaining in the shadows … because bad things happen when the authorities get their hands on an unregistered [magic] practitioner, much less something that should not even exist (a stable rifter). Ultimately this was a fun diversion that kept me up passed midnight as I read through to the end. I look forward to the next installment.
I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#DemonRidingShotgun #NetGalley.
What follows is a bit of a cat and mouse game with the demon spawn and “Mr Yummy” while the hero attempts to find the big bad while remaining in the shadows … because bad things happen when the authorities get their hands on an unregistered [magic] practitioner, much less something that should not even exist (a stable rifter). Ultimately this was a fun diversion that kept me up passed midnight as I read through to the end. I look forward to the next installment.
I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#DemonRidingShotgun #NetGalley.
December 6, 2021
Demon riding shotgun by L.R Braden.
Possessed by a demon since she was eleven years old, Mira Fuentes maintains a fragile alliance with the snarky soul who shares her body. Together they hunt down unstable Rifters-- demon-controlled humans bent on causing chaos in the mortal realm. But when a routine hunt leads to a powerful Rifter with plans for Baltimore, Mira quickly finds herself in over her head and at the top of the city's Most Wanted.
I really enjoyed this book. Brilliant. I loved the story. I loved Miras character. 5*.
Possessed by a demon since she was eleven years old, Mira Fuentes maintains a fragile alliance with the snarky soul who shares her body. Together they hunt down unstable Rifters-- demon-controlled humans bent on causing chaos in the mortal realm. But when a routine hunt leads to a powerful Rifter with plans for Baltimore, Mira quickly finds herself in over her head and at the top of the city's Most Wanted.
I really enjoyed this book. Brilliant. I loved the story. I loved Miras character. 5*.
November 24, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. This author is one I have come to know as always delivering a unique story. Mira should be.self.surviving. She is anything but. Her story is one of conflict and survival. The ending was not what I was expecting and I like that. I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and freely leave this honest review.
November 29, 2021
I won this in a giveaway and I'm so excited to get to read it! Seems like it'll be an action packed one.
January 25, 2022
Demon Riding Shotgun is part of the world from the Magicsmith series by L. R. Braden. This book does refer to events in the previous books, and has characters returning readers will recognize, but new readers could pick up the story line here fairly easily.
Possessed by a demon since she was eleven years old, Mira Fuentes maintains a fragile alliance with the snarky soul who shares her body. Together they hunt down unstable Rifters— demon-controlled humans bent on causing chaos in the mortal realm. But when a routine hunt leads to a powerful Rifter with plans for Baltimore, Mira quickly finds herself in over her head and at the top of the city's Most Wanted. Recently retired from the PTF after losing his partner, Ty Williams now works for the Baltimore PD and keeps his distance from cases involving magic. But when a person dies of clearly magical causes and the PTF doesn't have any agents to spare, Ty is the closest thing the department has to an expert. Saddled with a new partner he doesn't want and a mountain of self-doubt, it's his job to track down a suspect who looks suspiciously like the one-night-stand he brought home from the bar last night. Mira will have to set her trust issues aside and enlist the help of a man determined to uncover her secrets if she hopes to learn the identity of the demon's host and prevent the human race from becoming meat puppets for the denizens of the Rift.
Demon Riding Shotgun is a book that takes the Magicsmith universe and runs with great characters and a fresh angle. I enjoyed getting to see more of Mira, since she had peaked my curiosity in the previous books. I thought Mira, Ty, and the secondary characters were all dynamic and well crafted. The individual trauma and hang ups will be continuous factors and how they have been handled thus far has been fantastic, and I am eager to see how they shape the future of the characters and adventures to come. I will admit that I saw a twist or two coming pretty far off, but I enjoyed the ride. I thought the balance of explaining the world to newcomers and refreshing details to returning readers was very well done, and I never really felt like there were information dumps to slog through, which can sometimes happen in fantasy. I like the direction this story arc is going and I can see great potential for action, mystery, romance, and some serious character development as the series continues. I am intrigued by Mira and want to see so much more of here interacting with Ty- and how he copes with everything.
Demon Riding Shotgun is a great start to a new story arc and I am excited to see where it takes me.
Possessed by a demon since she was eleven years old, Mira Fuentes maintains a fragile alliance with the snarky soul who shares her body. Together they hunt down unstable Rifters— demon-controlled humans bent on causing chaos in the mortal realm. But when a routine hunt leads to a powerful Rifter with plans for Baltimore, Mira quickly finds herself in over her head and at the top of the city's Most Wanted. Recently retired from the PTF after losing his partner, Ty Williams now works for the Baltimore PD and keeps his distance from cases involving magic. But when a person dies of clearly magical causes and the PTF doesn't have any agents to spare, Ty is the closest thing the department has to an expert. Saddled with a new partner he doesn't want and a mountain of self-doubt, it's his job to track down a suspect who looks suspiciously like the one-night-stand he brought home from the bar last night. Mira will have to set her trust issues aside and enlist the help of a man determined to uncover her secrets if she hopes to learn the identity of the demon's host and prevent the human race from becoming meat puppets for the denizens of the Rift.
Demon Riding Shotgun is a book that takes the Magicsmith universe and runs with great characters and a fresh angle. I enjoyed getting to see more of Mira, since she had peaked my curiosity in the previous books. I thought Mira, Ty, and the secondary characters were all dynamic and well crafted. The individual trauma and hang ups will be continuous factors and how they have been handled thus far has been fantastic, and I am eager to see how they shape the future of the characters and adventures to come. I will admit that I saw a twist or two coming pretty far off, but I enjoyed the ride. I thought the balance of explaining the world to newcomers and refreshing details to returning readers was very well done, and I never really felt like there were information dumps to slog through, which can sometimes happen in fantasy. I like the direction this story arc is going and I can see great potential for action, mystery, romance, and some serious character development as the series continues. I am intrigued by Mira and want to see so much more of here interacting with Ty- and how he copes with everything.
Demon Riding Shotgun is a great start to a new story arc and I am excited to see where it takes me.
January 3, 2022
Demon Riding Shotgun is packed with intrigue, magic, thrilling action, and multifaceted characters.
Mira shares her body and soul with a demon and the two of them have a fragile co-existence going on. They have made it their mission to hunt down and destroy Rifters, humans possessed by demons who go around causing chaos wherever they go. In Baltimore Mira runs up against an immensely powerful Rifter and finds herself in the crosshairs of the local law.
Ty wants nothing to do with magic after his PTF partner died. But the PTF is still struggling to get back on their feet and Ty is the Baltimore PD’s only cop with magical experience. He is hellbent on capturing Mira but it turns out things are not what they seem to be.
Mira and her demon were super interesting. They talked to each other all the time and sometimes the demon got to have control of the body, but mostly it was Mira in charge. This is where the title of the book comes in. The two of them have been alone for so long, it was hard for Mira to work with Ty to rid the world of the dangerous Rifter.
Ty started out bundling all magic users together, they are bad news and should be stopped. But the more he tracked Mira, the more he realized things are not as black and white as he’d like to think they are. He was very thorough in his investigation, despite his aversion to anything magic related. Ty has severe PTSD from his experiences with the PTF and the book described that quite deftly. I really felt Ty’s pain.
This is a spin-off of the Magicsmith series, which I also loved. You don’t have to read that series first, but the world will make a lot more sense if you do. This book has completely new characters and a new direction.
Ty and Mira are both interesting and complex. Each has their own set of secrets and pain and their development throughout was skillfully done. This book also has the same exciting writing and nail-biting action that I’ve come to expect through the Magicsmith series.
I can definitely recommend this if you like fantasy. There is romance, but it’s not super steamy and it’s not the main focus of the book.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 11, 2024
This author is new to me and I really enjoyed this new series by L.R. Braden. I did not read the author’s other series, Magicsmith, so I didn’t know that this series is set in the same world. There are references to that series but I didn’t feel lost reading this book. But I do plan on starting Magicsmith.
This book follows Mira who is a loner with a guarded secret. She’s a Rifter. She’s been possessed by a demon since age 11 however they were able to form a relationship and occupy the same body. Mira hunts other demons Rifters that do harm to humans. Mira is hot on the heels of a particularly bad demon when she runs across hot detective Ty Williams. Ty recently left the paranormal task force after losing his friend and is looking for a fresh start doing “normal” police work. Unfortunately, Ty is sucked back into the paranormal world when magic related deaths and disappearances occur in Baltimore. Ty and his new partner are tasked with solving the deaths.
I really felt for Ty. He is struggling with PTSD and getting through this investigation brings up bad memories. His professionalism is called into question when he discovers that he knows one of the suspects in the murders, Mira.
It was hard for me to like Mira. She has a truly sad backstory that has made her a stubborn loner that refuses help. She’s scared to death to form connections and possibly hurt others which I get but her attitude and extreme mistrust was somewhat annoying. However, I did really like the demon that possessed Mira. She is fun and funny and she is really the only friend and partner that Mira has. It will take all of them to solve this murder mystery.
This story is funny, sad, emotional, and action filled. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to the author L.R. Braden, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
This book follows Mira who is a loner with a guarded secret. She’s a Rifter. She’s been possessed by a demon since age 11 however they were able to form a relationship and occupy the same body. Mira hunts other demons Rifters that do harm to humans. Mira is hot on the heels of a particularly bad demon when she runs across hot detective Ty Williams. Ty recently left the paranormal task force after losing his friend and is looking for a fresh start doing “normal” police work. Unfortunately, Ty is sucked back into the paranormal world when magic related deaths and disappearances occur in Baltimore. Ty and his new partner are tasked with solving the deaths.
I really felt for Ty. He is struggling with PTSD and getting through this investigation brings up bad memories. His professionalism is called into question when he discovers that he knows one of the suspects in the murders, Mira.
It was hard for me to like Mira. She has a truly sad backstory that has made her a stubborn loner that refuses help. She’s scared to death to form connections and possibly hurt others which I get but her attitude and extreme mistrust was somewhat annoying. However, I did really like the demon that possessed Mira. She is fun and funny and she is really the only friend and partner that Mira has. It will take all of them to solve this murder mystery.
This story is funny, sad, emotional, and action filled. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to the author L.R. Braden, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
December 6, 2021
Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of DEMON RIDING SHOTGUN (Book 1 of the MagicSmith Universe Novels), by L.R. Braden, in exchange for an honest review. Mira Fuentes is unique. She’s survived being constantly possessed by a demon since she was eleven years old; most demon possessions end quickly with the rapid deterioration and death of the host. Mira and her demon have managed to form a precarious balance and maintain it by hunting down and dining upon those unstable demon-controlled humans. Mira stumbles upon a nefarious demonic plot and determines she needs to thwart the evil plan and to save the world. Mira’s illegal, and arguably murderous, antics come to the attention of Baltimore Police Department officer Ty Williams. From then on, Mira is being hunted by the law as she seeks answers. Mira may have to make a leap of faith in order to achieve her goals.
I like the Magic Smith series and was excited to see another book by this author. It was a solid start to a newish series.
#DemonRidingShotgun #NetGalley
I like the Magic Smith series and was excited to see another book by this author. It was a solid start to a newish series.
#DemonRidingShotgun #NetGalley
December 13, 2021
I really liked reading this spin-off story featuring Mira. We got her back story in this book. I knew she was a badass in “Of Magic and Mettle” when she helped Alex learn more about her practitioner magic but I didn’t know that she tracks down and kills other rifters that are harming humans. In this story, Mira uncovers a sinister plot by some rifters, who like her, have managed not to burn out. She has to find a way to stop their plot without getting captured by the PTF for being un unregistered practitioner. Along the way she meets handsome and sexy, Ty Williams, an officer with the Baltimore PD, Ty used to work for the PTF but after a tragic accident in which his partner was killed, wants nothing to do with magic or paranormal beings. Will he assist her or take her into custody? I really like the Magicsmith series and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am looking forward to the next book in this spin-off series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 29, 2021
I really liked reading this spin-off story featuring Mira. We got her back story in this book. I knew she was a badass in “Of Magic and Mettle” when she helped Alex learn more about her practitioner magic but I didn’t know that she tracks down and kills other rifters that are harming humans. In this story, Mira uncovers a sinister plot by some rifters, who like her, have managed not to burn out. She has to find a way to stop their plot without getting captured by the PTF for being un unregistered practitioner. Along the way she meets handsome and sexy, Ty Williams, an officer with the Baltimore PD, Ty used to work for the PTF but after a tragic accident in which his partner was killed, wants nothing to do with magic or paranormal beings. Will he assist her or take her into custody? I really like the Magicsmith series and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am looking forward to the next book in this spin-off series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own
February 5, 2022
L. R. Braden starts a fun series in the world of his Magicsmith universe. Demon possession usually kills the bearer, but somehow Mira Fuentes has reached a truce with her demon and is mostly in control except when Demon Riding Shotgun (paper from Bell Bridge Books) is necessary to survive. Her demon survives by eating demons who possess people. Unfortunately there’s another, and more powerful demon who has found a way to survive in the human world. That demon has a plan to move the demon universe closer to the real one with a magic spell that involves killing many people. Only with the help of a burnt out cop, Ty Williams, mourning the loss of a partner, can Mira avoid the cops chasing her, and somehow save the world. Lots of fun and potential sequels
June 2, 2024
Demon Riding Shotgun by LR Braden is a paranormal mystery romance novel. This is book 1 in the Rifter series which apart of The Magicsmith world. The world building in this novel is superb. You can really picture and almost touch everything that is in the novel. The plot is so intricate and it really captures your attention. It’s a good thing we try to keep reviews spoiler free because I would struggler delving into it all.
Mira is a Rifter, she is possessed by a d3mon, but her and her d3mon get along and can co exist in her body. Most can not do that. There is some other rifter doing things to people. Now she must help a detective named Ty figure out who.
This was an interesting start to a spin off series. I can not wait to read more of the series and books.
Mira is a Rifter, she is possessed by a d3mon, but her and her d3mon get along and can co exist in her body. Most can not do that. There is some other rifter doing things to people. Now she must help a detective named Ty figure out who.
This was an interesting start to a spin off series. I can not wait to read more of the series and books.
November 19, 2021
Mira kicks butt in this amazingly fun urban fantasy / super hero / mystery. Her quirky superpower of living with a friendly demon in her head is at once hilarious and endearing. The action is intense. The characters are intriguing. I couldn’t put it down until the end, and the end was the best part.
January 1, 2024
I loved this story! I was hooked and constantly needed to know what was about to happen. It was very unique in the way the demon has ahold of the main character Mira. Ty was a pretty good love interest in the story but I liked how it really focused on Mira instead of being drowned in a love story. I would recommend this to a friend in a heartbeat.
March 7, 2024
I absolutely love love loved this book I finally finished it last night it was fast paced well written didn't see the plot twist st the end that kept me reading
March 7, 2024
I absolutely loved this book want to read all of her books now read it on netgalley shelf app
March 13, 2024
Absolutely love it
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