Tag Archives: Alexandria Bellefleur

New Urban Fantasies Perfect for Halloween: Slayers of Old and The Devil She Knows

22 Oct

Slayers of Old
by Jim C. Hines
What happens if “chosen ones” don’t die young, but live to Old Age? Hines has created a funny, charming fantasy that follows three retired heroes who open a bookshop and gift store in Salem, MA only to find that something unexpected is lurking in town. Temple is an aging wizard who derives power from his family’s ancestral home. Jenny is a former slayer in the Buffy vain, who got fed up with being used and decided to chose a different path for herself. Anette is a former PI, half succubus/half human grandmother. The three represent standard urban fantasy tropes, but with hot flashes and c-pap machines. I think it is nice to see a trend where fantasy focuses on the older generation entering the next life phase now as well as young adults, just beginning their journeys. I’ve read several high fantasy books with this focus, but it was enjoyable to see an urban fantasy spin. Slayers of Old will be a fun read for any generation, but if you’re middle age or older it will especially hit hard. You can listen to a variety of Hine’s other works on Hoopla as digital audiobooks.

The Devil She Knows
by Alexandria Bellefleur
When Samantha Cooper’s girlfriend, Hannah, rejects her proposal, she is both dumped and left homeless; it seems like things couldn’t get any worse. Then Samantha is accosted by Daphne, a beautiful blond with a penchant for pink, in an elevator with a devil’s bargain to get Hannah back. She can have 6 wishes if she just signs over her soul. It is a deal that Samantha should, but of course doesn’t refuse. The twists lead to some funny and also disastrous results for Samantha who must come to terms with whether Hannah was truly her soulmate and if a nightmare demon might actually be her dream girl. The Devil She Knows is a fun romantic romp that also is a good read for those in the process of breaking up with it’s focus on evaluation of one’s own self-worth and finding a love who can appreciate a person for who they truly are. I also enjoyed and would recommend Bellefleur’s debut novel Written in the Stars, a 2021 Lambda Literary Award Winner, which is available from Hoopla along with her other previous novels in ebook and audiobook.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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Charming Romances: A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic and Written in the Stars

9 Apr

A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic
by J. Penner
A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic is the first in a previously self-published, Adenashire series now being published next Tuesday as a new special hardcover edition with new scenes from The Poisoned Pen Press, who publishes my favorite Phryne Fisher Mystery series. This a charming cozy fantasy for those who are looking for a Legends and Lattes read-a-like. The stakes are low, but the romance and recipes created are sweet when Arleta, a human woman, enters an eleven baking competition. She worries her lack of magic will keep her from winning the competition and even more importantly winning the heart of the head judge’s handsome and kind son. The story has strong themes about being open to friendship and that it is ok sometimes to ask for help as well as giving it. I felt Arleta was very relatable as a character and I enjoyed seeing her journey. I loved the idea of ice fairies being used for cooling the warm baked goods for icing so I wish there had been a bit more fantasy elements at times since sometimes the food, ingredients and cooking equipment seemed a bit too modern and “real world” for the fantasy setting, but on the whole I found the story to be a page turner and I look forward to reading the other two novels in the series focusing on Arleta’s BFFs. We will also see a fourth added in the fall that follows the next chapter in Arleta’s life post her happily ever after.

Written in the Stars
by Alexandria Bellefleur
In Written in the Stars, Darcy Lowell is setup by her brother, Brendon, on a blind date with Elle Jones, his new business partner, both women find each other attractive, but Darcy views astrologer Elle as being flaky and Elle thinks Darcy is a stuck up bore. But when Darcy fibs to her brother that the date went great something he then tells Elle about in front of her mom, both women decide to make a pact to act like they are dating through the holiday season. But when New Years rolls around both women are left wondering if perhaps they are more complimentary than they first believed. I enjoyed the banter between the two women and seeing how they both learned to open their minds and hearts as they learned more about each other. I listened to the audiobook version performed by Lauren Sweet, who has narrated over 100 audiobooks including several New York Times and USA Today bestsellers. If you enjoy Written in the Stars, you should also check out Hang the Moon which focuses on Brendon finding love and Count Your Lucky Stars which tells the story of Margot, Darcy’s fellow astrologer and bff.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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