J.A. Ironside
Author of Slice of Death: An Urban Fantasy Thriller: (Harker & Blackthorn, Book One)
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A rare re-read worthy paranormal mystery with true friendships and realistic character growth! I will definitely be reading the rest of the series (and possibly everything else J. A. Ironside’s ever written).
THE CHARACTERS & PREMISE:
Meet Amy: the sarcastic, bubbly, intelligent, kind, conflict-averse, brave, protective, nerdy, confident, driven, psychic, telekinetic, bi physicist I didn’t know I needed in my (literary) life. She’s got a unique ability to weaponize optimism and a surplus of curiosity. Her boss hates her and it’s hard to be taken seriously as an unusually young, petite, feminine, blonde physics PhD doing post-doc research. She really would prefer to avoid the supernatural and focus on physics, if only supernatural trouble would stop following her. But when the supernatural comes for her or those she cares about, she isn't going to run away.
Now some creature’s haunting her in what she really, really hopes are just her nightmares. Her clairvoyance has taken over the rest of her dreams. Her long-neglected psychic abilities have escalated from passive powers to out-of-control telekinesis with a penchant for blowing up electronics. She’s terrible at dating and her roommate, Eddie, doesn’t believe in magic. Her psychic intuition is finding suspicious activity everywhere. She keeps chasing a very rude woman around town that her psychic intuition is screaming she’s meant to help. All the while leaving a trail of exploding electronics in her wake. Will any lamp survive the chaos?
It’s a good thing she’s not working alone for long. She teams up with Bex, a zoologist having a really bad week, and Steve, an old friend of her sister’s that is in the know about the supernatural and an expert in myths, lore, and history. Pretty soon they’re fast friends and a paranormal investigative team sure to see more “cryptid adventures and psychic shenanigans” in their future.
Bex is all rough edges, brutal honesty, sneaky selflessness, rude resilience, and jaded vulnerability. She’s driven, intense, intimidating, tall, impatient, sharp-tongued, and has quite a temper. She's a quick-thinking, control freak that projects confidence. She may not like or trust people, but she understands them. She has no patience for social niceties, but she’s got a good heart. She’s brave, impulsive, loyal, selfless, and has a great sense of humor. And she’ll be damned if she can’t understand magic as rational phenomena current scientific knowledge can’t fully understand yet. She’s a force to be reckoned with.
Steve is all social shyness, nervous loneliness, and endless academic curiosity. He’s plenty scared of facing magical foes without magic of his own, but he’s brave, loyal, and stubborn enough to face them for those he cares about without a moment’s hesitation. He’s patient, kind, cautious, calm, focused, and intelligent. He carries the perceptive wisdom of an observant introvert and a steady confidence in his knowledge and expertise.
Amy is the protagonist, but she isn’t always the star of the show or the one who saves the day mostly by herself. She’s not blind to her own faults and mistakes. Weak is one thing she isn’t. She doesn’t overshadow other main characters. Each member of the team brings something to the table and it’s truly a team effort when they stop the baddie. They’re a team of equals.
THE CHARACTER WRITING:
The characters (protagonists, antagonists, and everything in between) leap off the page and feel real. I was totally immersed in the story and invested in the main characters as they evolved. The main characters all learn and grow in this book. However, they don’t grow to be perfect. In fact, for some, they learned to not try too hard to be perfect. They’re not stagnant or flat. They’ve got backstories and a variety of interests, including ones not relevant to the plot. They’re all brilliant at some things and hopeless about others. Each has their own way of understanding magic and how it fits into the rational, scientific world. They’re adults and they act like it. They all just ooze personality.
I relate to these characters SO MUCH. It’s pretty rare that I relate to not one, but nearly all the main characters: Amy, Rebecca, Steve, and even Eddie. (Although, I might be biased about Amy, being a girly, chipper, young female physicist myself.)
While there is a romantic side-plot, it’s the friendships that take center stage in this tale. Some of the friendships are old and evolving. Others are formed brand new. These relationships don’t form or deepen instantly, but slowly and organically. This book shows friends that are empathetic with each other, nonjudgmental, call each other on their sh*t, and learn from each other. They’re not unrealistically mature or perfect. They sometimes fight. These friends are forgiving and understanding of each other’s mistakes, but not to the point of sainthood or being unrealistically willing to apologize. They’re supportive and protective, but not overbearing with each other. They keep each other honest and they like it that way. These are true, heartwarming, and realistic friendships we have here.
In particular, the burgeoning friendship between Amy, Bex, and Steve really resonates as meaningful for me. They just … fit. Their unique individual strengths and weaknesses complement each other. As a team, they balance each other. They make each other better, as all friends should.
There are multiple strong female characters and impressive LGBTQ characters. The protagonist is both. Ironside doesn’t make a big deal out of Amy’s sexual orientation. She’s just a woman who happens to date both women and men. Her orientation isn’t even explicitly labeled. It’s kind of perfect. Eddie’s identity as a trangender man is dealt with thoughtfully and without eclipsing the rest of his personality and life or reducing him to a stereotype. It doesn’t define his character, but it is portrayed as something that gives him insight into what it’s like to have people assume you’re something you’re not based purely on appearances and the importance of accepting the people for who they are.
THE PLOT WRITING:
The paranormal mystery plot was just the right amount of scary. Enough to keep you in suspense and without being over-the-top-horror-that-gives-me-nightmares level scary. Like all good mysteries, there are enough clues for you to have a sporting chance at correctly predicting some things, but not enough to put all the pieces together properly or spoil the big surprises. There are some weird jungle scenes in first person that don’t seem to make sense at first, but they totally do make sense eventually.
THE WORLD AND OTHER BOOKS:
Ironside has expertly woven real-world history, historical mysteries, the modern world, and supernatural elements closely derived from obscure folklore together in this urban fantasy world. At the end of the book, there’s a very interesting author’s note detailing the real life folklore and mythology that went into this book.
Slice of Death is the starter book of a spin-off series of Ironside’s Unveiled series. Events from the original series are referenced and some characters from that series make appearances. You don’t need to have read the Unveiled series to understand and enjoy this one. The magic system is fully developed and creative. As a spin off, the world is already fully-realized. Like most great spinoff series, you get the sense that the author already knows the characters well enough that each is sharply defined easily, consistently, and thoroughly in the beginning of this book.
This book could be read as a stand alone and has a satisfying resolution to the immediate plot arc. There is enough room to grow and set-up for long term plot arcs that it also serves as a great series starter. The immediate mystery is solved, but some questions are left unanswered. The bad guys’ immediate goal is thwarted but their long term goals remain a mystery and (some
of them) remain a threat.
WARNINGS: recreational drug use (one character smoking pot in one minor scene)
I received a free e-copy of this book via BookSirens. I am writing this review completely honestly and voluntarily.… (more)
THE CHARACTERS & PREMISE:
Meet Amy: the sarcastic, bubbly, intelligent, kind, conflict-averse, brave, protective, nerdy, confident, driven, psychic, telekinetic, bi physicist I didn’t know I needed in my (literary) life. She’s got a unique ability to weaponize optimism and a surplus of curiosity. Her boss hates her and it’s hard to be taken seriously as an unusually young, petite, feminine, blonde physics PhD doing post-doc research. She really would prefer to avoid the supernatural and focus on physics, if only supernatural trouble would stop following her. But when the supernatural comes for her or those she cares about, she isn't going to run away.
Now some creature’s haunting her in what she really, really hopes are just her nightmares. Her clairvoyance has taken over the rest of her dreams. Her long-neglected psychic abilities have escalated from passive powers to out-of-control telekinesis with a penchant for blowing up electronics. She’s terrible at dating and her roommate, Eddie, doesn’t believe in magic. Her psychic intuition is finding suspicious activity everywhere. She keeps chasing a very rude woman around town that her psychic intuition is screaming she’s meant to help. All the while leaving a trail of exploding electronics in her wake. Will any lamp survive the chaos?
It’s a good thing she’s not working alone for long. She teams up with Bex, a zoologist having a really bad week, and Steve, an old friend of her sister’s that is in the know about the supernatural and an expert in myths, lore, and history. Pretty soon they’re fast friends and a paranormal investigative team sure to see more “cryptid adventures and psychic shenanigans” in their future.
Bex is all rough edges, brutal honesty, sneaky selflessness, rude resilience, and jaded vulnerability. She’s driven, intense, intimidating, tall, impatient, sharp-tongued, and has quite a temper. She's a quick-thinking, control freak that projects confidence. She may not like or trust people, but she understands them. She has no patience for social niceties, but she’s got a good heart. She’s brave, impulsive, loyal, selfless, and has a great sense of humor. And she’ll be damned if she can’t understand magic as rational phenomena current scientific knowledge can’t fully understand yet. She’s a force to be reckoned with.
Steve is all social shyness, nervous loneliness, and endless academic curiosity. He’s plenty scared of facing magical foes without magic of his own, but he’s brave, loyal, and stubborn enough to face them for those he cares about without a moment’s hesitation. He’s patient, kind, cautious, calm, focused, and intelligent. He carries the perceptive wisdom of an observant introvert and a steady confidence in his knowledge and expertise.
Amy is the protagonist, but she isn’t always the star of the show or the one who saves the day mostly by herself. She’s not blind to her own faults and mistakes. Weak is one thing she isn’t. She doesn’t overshadow other main characters. Each member of the team brings something to the table and it’s truly a team effort when they stop the baddie. They’re a team of equals.
THE CHARACTER WRITING:
The characters (protagonists, antagonists, and everything in between) leap off the page and feel real. I was totally immersed in the story and invested in the main characters as they evolved. The main characters all learn and grow in this book. However, they don’t grow to be perfect. In fact, for some, they learned to not try too hard to be perfect. They’re not stagnant or flat. They’ve got backstories and a variety of interests, including ones not relevant to the plot. They’re all brilliant at some things and hopeless about others. Each has their own way of understanding magic and how it fits into the rational, scientific world. They’re adults and they act like it. They all just ooze personality.
I relate to these characters SO MUCH. It’s pretty rare that I relate to not one, but nearly all the main characters: Amy, Rebecca, Steve, and even Eddie. (Although, I might be biased about Amy, being a girly, chipper, young female physicist myself.)
While there is a romantic side-plot, it’s the friendships that take center stage in this tale. Some of the friendships are old and evolving. Others are formed brand new. These relationships don’t form or deepen instantly, but slowly and organically. This book shows friends that are empathetic with each other, nonjudgmental, call each other on their sh*t, and learn from each other. They’re not unrealistically mature or perfect. They sometimes fight. These friends are forgiving and understanding of each other’s mistakes, but not to the point of sainthood or being unrealistically willing to apologize. They’re supportive and protective, but not overbearing with each other. They keep each other honest and they like it that way. These are true, heartwarming, and realistic friendships we have here.
In particular, the burgeoning friendship between Amy, Bex, and Steve really resonates as meaningful for me. They just … fit. Their unique individual strengths and weaknesses complement each other. As a team, they balance each other. They make each other better, as all friends should.
There are multiple strong female characters and impressive LGBTQ characters. The protagonist is both. Ironside doesn’t make a big deal out of Amy’s sexual orientation. She’s just a woman who happens to date both women and men. Her orientation isn’t even explicitly labeled. It’s kind of perfect. Eddie’s identity as a trangender man is dealt with thoughtfully and without eclipsing the rest of his personality and life or reducing him to a stereotype. It doesn’t define his character, but it is portrayed as something that gives him insight into what it’s like to have people assume you’re something you’re not based purely on appearances and the importance of accepting the people for who they are.
THE PLOT WRITING:
The paranormal mystery plot was just the right amount of scary. Enough to keep you in suspense and without being over-the-top-horror-that-gives-me-nightmares level scary. Like all good mysteries, there are enough clues for you to have a sporting chance at correctly predicting some things, but not enough to put all the pieces together properly or spoil the big surprises. There are some weird jungle scenes in first person that don’t seem to make sense at first, but they totally do make sense eventually.
THE WORLD AND OTHER BOOKS:
Ironside has expertly woven real-world history, historical mysteries, the modern world, and supernatural elements closely derived from obscure folklore together in this urban fantasy world. At the end of the book, there’s a very interesting author’s note detailing the real life folklore and mythology that went into this book.
Slice of Death is the starter book of a spin-off series of Ironside’s Unveiled series. Events from the original series are referenced and some characters from that series make appearances. You don’t need to have read the Unveiled series to understand and enjoy this one. The magic system is fully developed and creative. As a spin off, the world is already fully-realized. Like most great spinoff series, you get the sense that the author already knows the characters well enough that each is sharply defined easily, consistently, and thoroughly in the beginning of this book.
This book could be read as a stand alone and has a satisfying resolution to the immediate plot arc. There is enough room to grow and set-up for long term plot arcs that it also serves as a great series starter. The immediate mystery is solved, but some questions are left unanswered. The bad guys’ immediate goal is thwarted but their long term goals remain a mystery and (some
of them) remain a threat.
WARNINGS: recreational drug use (one character smoking pot in one minor scene)
I received a free e-copy of this book via BookSirens. I am writing this review completely honestly and voluntarily.… (more)
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- Works
- 45
- Also by
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- #240,526
- Rating
- 4.6
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Loch & Quay is the second installment of the Harker & Blackthorn series. It’s even better than book 1! It could be read as stand alone, but it also continues the story arc of the team’s clash with the nefarious and shadowy Evergreen Tech. There’s just enough clues about that long-term mystery to keep me hatching new theories.
THE PREMISE:
The cryptid team investigates Loch Ness! Psychic physicist Amy, folklore and history expert Steve, and zoologist Rebekah are hired to debunk a recent series of Loch Ness monster sightings. Amy’s roommate, Eddie, and his new girlfriend, Meghan, tag along on the ride (minus the cryptid-investigating part of the trip). At Loch Ness, the team encounter possibly falsified Loch Ness monster evidence, some seriously unhinged monster hunters, and some clues indicating there might just be a real cryptid living in Loch Ness. The unhinged, harpoon-wielding monster hunters might just be more dangerous than any cryptid around.
THE MYSTERY AND PLOT:
JA Ironside incorporates both fictional and real-life accounts of alleged Loch Ness monster sightings, folklore, mythology, and some original fictitious elements into the story. It’s quite clever and cool. This created a fresh, fascinating, and unique mystery plot and fresh take on the Loch Ness monster. There’s lots of unexpected twists and turns, great pacing, plenty of action.
THE CHARACTERS:
Character development and relationships aren’t rushed but are always progressing. I’m totally invested in each of the main characters and this second installment of the series has only made me love them more. With the exception of the ever-mysterious Evergreen Tech lurking behind the scenes, the antagonists are pretty well drawn and three-dimensional too.
None of the characters feel static or unchanging, heroes and villains alike. Once again, none of the main characters are perfect, stupid, wildly incompetent, always right, or always wrong. They all have their own skills, strengths, and weaknesses.
A mark of great character development is that you can take almost any line of dialogue in this book and know which main character said it without checking the rest of the sentence for the explicit specification of who was talking. You know the main characters well enough to be able to tell what is or isn’t in character for them. Yet, there still so much to learn about each of them and so much room for growth.
I’m even invested in the new character, Meghan. While not booksmart like most of the main characters, Meghan is much more smart, perceptive, and overall awesome than she seems at first. She’s one of those characters that you can’t help but end up loving by the end of the book. This book also fills in the Eddie character a bit more, which made him really grow on me.
THE ROMANCE:
I’m really starting to dislike Amy’s girlfriend, Sienna, but that’s okay because I’m pretty sure that relationship won’t last. I’m definitely starting to get passive aggressive/manipulative vibes off of Sienna and Amy seems to be finding their relationship to be emotionally unfulfilling. But, I did catch some hints of a new slow burn romance on the horizon for Amy that I’m totally rooting for. Also, I totally have a bunch of ships for this series now. I wish there was a big fandom for this series.
I received a free e-copy of this book via BookSirens and have since purchased a copy as well. I am writing this review completely honestly and voluntarily.… (more)