Description:
Holidays are worse than a full moon for making people crazy. In Harborsmouth, where many of the residents are undead vampires or monstrous fae, the combination may prove deadly.
Ivy Granger, psychic private investigator, returns to the streets of Harborsmouth in this addition to the bestselling urban fantasy series.
Holidays are Hell, a point driven home when a certain demon attorney returns with information regarding a series of bloody murders. Five Harborsmouth residents have been killed and every victim has one thing in common–they are fae. Whoever is killing faeries must be stopped, but they only leave one clue behind–a piece of mistletoe floating in a pool of the victim’s blood.
The holidays just got interesting. Too bad this case may drive Ivy mad before the New Year. Heck, she’ll be lucky to survive Christmas.
Blood and Mistletoe is an Ivy Granger series novella.
BONUS: Blood and Mistletoe contains an Ivy Granger series Pronunciation Guide.
Review:
This series began with Shadow Sight which rated Fours Stars. The sequel is even better! I always recommend going in order with series but if you are looking for a holiday read, you can probably jump into this one straight on–it’s number 1.5.
This is EJ Stevens’ Urban Fantasy series. Her Young Adult series begins with She Smells the Dead, also excellent.
The challenge of this Blood and Mistletoe is a completely new foe–a special breed of dark fairy.
1. Macabre and cheer
There is an interesting mixture of the normal Christmas fixings—like mistletoe—interspersed with darker elements–like blood.
Part of the motivation of the killer is a dark and twisted love that centers around a dead lover.
The theme is just creepy enough to leave me on edge without being too graphic to turn my interest.
2. A tight story
Having hit her stride, EJ pares this book down to it’s essentials. The key points of the first novel play in this book as well, like her protection of the orphan Marvin, her preference to trudge the grungy city on foot, and the fae romance from book one.
It’s a very good sequel in that sense, and I appreciate the focus and deliberation this requires.
Best of all–EJ doesn’t info-dump. That is, she shows you her world Harborsmouth, she doesn’t spend pages telling you about it.
While I do wish I had seen a little more of what happens when Ivy turns the off the lights with her first boyfriend, I still feel like the plot satisfied me.
3. That index awesome!
When I read book one there wasn’t an index or pronunciation guide. I am very pleased there is one now!
EJ always has a way of incorporating lesser known folklore and mythology.
In Sum:
Once again this is an entertaining read from E J Stevens. I recommend treating yourself or a friend to this volume to celebrate the holidays!
More about Blood and Mistletoe:
What inspires the Unusual Creatures of EJ STEVENS? See her Guest Post
