A Touch of Brimstone (Magic of the Damned #1) by McKenzie Hunter - Starting September 12th 2021

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

They say you should never make a deal with the devil, but what about with the Prince of the Underworld?

Fresh off a breakup and an eviction, I started my day like any other: a book in one hand, a coffee in the other, and faking that can-do attitude inspirational memes are made of. I was ready to take on the world—and I did.

Unfortunately, it was the Underworld.

One freak accident later, I’m standing face to face with the sexy-as-sin and dangerously powerful Prince of the Underworld. He has a few burning questions for me—like how a mere human unlocked the door to the Underworld’s prison and released its prisoners.

I’d sure as hell like to know, too, because I have no freaking clue.

Now, instead of a forgettable bookstore clerk, I’m newly famous for doing the impossible. The wrong people want to thank me, and the rest want me dead. Spoiler alert: The Dark Prince definitely doesn’t want to thank me.

I’ll do anything to get my life back to normal and he’ll do anything to recapture the escapees. We make a deal: He’ll keep my enemies at bay, and I’ll find a way to return the prisoners.

What could possibly go wrong?

[Aly]

Ch 1-6 (view spoiler)[ Luna's ex is a real piece of work. I want Dominic to make him go away.
I wonder why someone chose Luna as the one to get the book and ring? Does Luna have any magic? (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ch 7-12 (view spoiler)[ This has gotten slow. I hoped Luna would be out with Dominic tracking down the escaped creatures, not going over spell books and bickering with him. Let's get some action going! (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ch 13-17 (view spoiler)[ A bit of action there and we got to see supernaturals on the other side of the issue. I still think this is fairly boring and the romance is nonexistent. (hide spoiler)]
Ch 18-End (view spoiler)[ I am curious about why Peter chose Luna, but this was so blah that I don't think I'll continue. We learned very little about Luna, there were only 2 kisses, and Dominic isn't that special to me. (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Sorry I'm late! Life is always interesting.

16%

(view spoiler)[Well, Jackson is a right douchebag. He sounds like an arrogant prick. I am glad that Luna put him in his place and didn't fall for his lies. I can't believe he had the nerve to suggest what he did to her. Like, for real? I am glad that she told him off. And Ava? Total backstabber. Good riddance.

The three people staring at Luna is kind of weird. Her interaction with the guy was just odd.

A shimmering wall? Like, a portal? Maybe. And was that a werewolf or maybe a hell hound or something? Why would it place its paws on her shoulders and then run off? (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Aly wrote: "Ch 1-6"

(view spoiler)[I agree. Jackson was just awful. He was entitled and arrogant and just a straight-up douchebag. I can't believe he had the nerve to suggest that Lina should get back with him and allow him to still see Ava. Like a throuple. Such a disgusting ass. Maybe he'll get what's coming to him. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Glad you were able to get to this!

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

26%

(view spoiler)[I don't really like the narrative so far. It feels unbelievable. Luna's reactions and thought process are not very convincing considering the things that she has seen and experienced so far. It makes the reading feel a bit choppy and like it is missing something.

This author certainly uses a lot of big words. It's like she's sitting there with a thesaurus on hand so she doesn't have to use common words that mean the same thing. Like she's trying to make the book sound smarter. Every time I come across one I want to roll my eyes.

The writing really trips me up. It's a little stiff. When I read an exceptional story it feels like my favorite comfy chair. Reading this book is like sitting on one of the chairs in a waiting room. The writing doesn't feel very polished. If I had to describe it, I would call it the bare bones of a story. The story is there but the writing doesn't have any sort of signature or personality. The little things that bring a story together and give it that little something extra is missing.

The world-building is very detailed. There are thorough descriptions of places, people, and smells so it's easy to imagine things.

While the writing may not be for me, I can appreciate the original premise of the story. I like the ideas, I just don't think that they were executed very well. (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

51%

(view spoiler)[I really don't understand why or how the escaped prisoners would magically be returned to their cells if Luna were killed. Killing her supposedly breaks the spell but wasn't the spell already cast? As in, past tense?

Well, Helena was kind of a psycho. No empathy at all.

Anand doesn't seem too bad.

Nailah seems nice. It sucks that Dominic was manipulating Luna to keep working. (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

79%

(view spoiler)[I'm kind of bored. Dominic and Luna are holed up in this mansion poring over books and nothing else is happening.

I really don't understand how they are going to give Luna a witch's magic. Are they just going to transfer it to her for a short time? And if so, how are they going to do that?

We know that Dominic's father is the Lord of the Underworld, but we still don't know exactly what he is. Is he a fallen angel or a demon? It's never stated. And he has a combination of magic and supernatural traits. More so than the other supernatural races. I wonder if the reason we don't know his classification us a plot device and we'll find out later on or if the author just didn't put it in.

I wonder if Luna already has magic? Why would the spell book room make her feel so uneasy if she didn't have any magic?

I wonder who that other group was that attacked them? And did Luna resist Rei's compulsion? (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Aly wrote: "Ch 7-12 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Same. There's not very much action and it got boring really quickly. (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Aly wrote: "Ch 13-17 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yeah, I liked getting a bit of action but it was confusing. There were the Awakeners and then there was that other group of people. But you're right. It was still kind of boring and there is no romance. I don't feel the slightest bit of chemistry between these two. (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Aly wrote: "Glad you were able to get to this!"

Yup, if only I liked it more. =P

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Finished

(view spoiler)[Wow, I am so underwhelmed. I don't even know what I can say about this book. It was boring and the romance was a joke. I didn't like the writing at all. I kind of want to know what happens next but at the same time I don't know if I want to sit through another book with this kind of narration. The cliffhanger at the end was kind of underwhelming as well. And I figured out that it was Peter early on. -sigh- (hide spoiler)]