Jen Karner

I was caught up in the novel before I realized the genre, but I am very glad that I chose to continue as this is one excellent book! I loved the spunky, paranormal hunter named Dani Black who was determined to kill Spectre, a man that couldn't stay dead, she learns of a weapon in Dawson, Maryland, Dani sets her sights on avenging her friend and partner. If this so called veilblade had the power to kill the monster for good then she was determined to cut him up in pieces and fling his body show more parts to the wind. Once in Dawson, Dani finds herself bewitched by the lovely Emilie Lockgrove who survived a house fire that killed her mom and severely burned her sister and had just returned to the town that she swore to never return as Spectre wanted her for his own as she looked like her deceased relative. Cinders of Yesterday has nonstop action with Dani facing all kinds of deadly wraiths at Spectre beck and call who tends to leave dead bodies where ever he goes and I can't imagine what book two can outdo this one! show less

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Cinders of Yesterday

Thank you to LibraryThing and City Owl Press for a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this book review.

What should have been a routine hunt, turned horribly wrong when Spectre appeared and murdered Dani’s partner. Many hunters have tried to take down Spectre, but the necromancer refuses to die. Now Dani is his new target as she chases down rumors of a weapon able to kill him. When her search leads to Dawson Maryland, show more she will cross paths with Emilie Lockgrove, a woman whose history is tied to Spectre. Together they will have to face Spectre, or die trying.

Cinders of Yesterday started off with strong Supernatural vibes. Dani is a tough as nails hunter, willing to risk her life to take down monsters. She moves from place to place, never settling for too long, chasing down leads. Sound familiar? Her attitude is sharp and her skills are on point. On the other hand, while Emilie may not be a battle hardened veteran, she isn’t helpless either. Both characters share a tragic past tied to Spectre and balance off one another. The two make quite the pair as they use their strengths to survive.

Throughout the novel, Dani drops small facts about hunters and their culture. It’s just enough to give readers a taste of the world they live in. The basics are easy enough to discern, but I would have enjoyed learning more about Dani’s life as a hunter before the events of this novel. There is so much detail spent developing the town of Dawson and Emilie’s history, but the closest look at Dani’s hunter past is her partner’s death. And while readers do learn about Dani’s history before she became a hunter, it is not given the same amount of detail as Emilie’s history.

However, Cinders of Yesterday will still keep you entertained as Dani and Emilie team up to take on Spectre. The fight scenes are intense and action packed. And while there isn’t as much fighting as you may expect, the story is filled with suspense, drama, and close calls. There is even a little romance woven into the plot as well. All in all, this was an enjoyable urban fantasy read. show less

YES, I am ready for second book in the Legacy of Shadows Series. This one was fun to read, very good story and solid characters. The two lead characters Emilie Lockgrove and Dani Black were fun to get involved with and the town of Dawson was truly different. Magic items and mediums mixed well and Spectre added a real neat villain. Nothing really terribly new with the idea or the story but well done and very enjoyable to read and yes, I am ready for Book 2.