Mini Reviews: Deadly Curiosities Series – Deadly Curiosities, Vendetta, Tangled Web

 
 

In Deadly Curiosities, Cassidy (a psychometric), Teag (a weaver), and Sorren (a vampire) work together to figure out why there is a sudden spike in hauntings and murders in Charleston. In Vendetta, Sorren’s immortally long past catches up with him when an old enemy starts targeting those he loves and threatens the city with powerful magic and supernaturals. In Tangled Web, a powerful entity starts targeting Teag and his weaver magic. This is a series I’d wanted to try for a while, and I’ve been enjoying it! Enjoy my mini reviews for these three books in the Deadly Curiosities series!


Deadly Curiosities by Gail Z. Martin

Book Cover - Deadly Curiosities by Gail Z. Martin
Title: Deadly Curiosities
Author: Gail Z. Martin
Publisher: Solaris
Book Number: Book 1
Pages: 277
Rating: 4 stars
 
Review:

I liked this! All the characters were sweet, likeable, and believable. This was one of those books that went for realism and subtlety in the characters so they all felt like just normal, decent people. Sorren, the vampire, was adorably protective of Cassidy and Teag, and for some reason I wasn't expecting that. There was no romance (at least not in this book), which I feel is rare to find in urban fantasy with a female lead. There was a complex, detailed mystery involving the supernatural (mostly ghosts) that the author clearly put a lot of thought into. Also some cool magic, what with Cassidy's psychometry (reading memories in objects) and Teag's weaving (weaving fabric to store magic and also weaving data and information). Overall, this was some solidly good urban fantasy.

*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2020 // Format: eBook*

Recommended For:
Anyone who likes urban fantasy without romance, magic, ghosts, likeable and realistic characters, and complex mysteries for the characters to solve.

 
 

Vendetta by Gail Z. Martin

Book Cover - Vendetta by Gail Z. Martin
Title: Vendetta
Author: Gail Z. Martin
Publisher: Solaris
Book Number: Book 2
Pages: 274
Rating: 4 stars
 
Review:

This was another great, solid urban fantasy story! I love that these are the kinds of characters whose complexity isn't in your face, but it's there under the surface, and you catch glimpses of it as Cassidy (the MC) catches glimpses of it. My only "problem" is that, so far, Cassidy is a great character---believable and likeable---but the least interesting. I would love to know more about Teag and Anthony and especially Sorren. But I really do appreciate the realism of how they're all portrayed. And this book had more emotion. I really felt for Sorren, being alive so long, losing everyone he cares about, being so lonely. On the flip side, I felt more so than ever the sweetness and strength of the love between Teag and Anthony. The plot this time was easier for me to follow, but no less well thought-out and full of magic, ghosts, and other supernatural beings. I enjoyed this even more than the first and look forward to getting to know these characters more!

*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2021 // Format: eBook*

Recommended For:
Fans of Book 1 in Gail Z. Martin's Deadly Curiosities series. Anyone who likes urban fantasy without romance, magic, ghosts, likeable and realistic characters, and complex mysteries for the characters to solve.

 
 

Tangled Web by Gail Z. Martin

Book Cover - Tangled Web by Gail Z. Martin
Title: Tangled Web
Author: Gail Z. Martin
Publisher: SOL Publishing
Book Number: Book 3
Pages: 244
Rating: 4 stars
 
Review:

*I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley. This has not influenced my review.*

I enjoyed this! But I was a little disappointed after the last book. What I liked about Book 2 was that I felt like I was getting to know the characters more, and I felt more invested in the story because they had more personal connection to and emotional stakes in what was happening. This one felt kind of distanced and didn't really add much, in my opinion, to the characters' personal stories or development.

It was also a little disorienting to go from, "I guess I'll go on a date with this side character who has hardly been in the story," at the end of the second book to, "He's my partner now!" at the start of the third. And he was still barely in the story. It just feels weird to barely know this character who is clearly important to the main character.

The characters were still well-written in a subtle, realistic, and nuanced way though. And this one still had lots of magic and ghosts and supernatural happenings, as well as a mystery to figure out and some action.

Overall, this one didn't leave a huge impression on me, but it was still well-written, still some solid urban fantasy, and I enjoyed it and look forward to more.

*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2021 // Format: eBook*

Recommended For:
Fans of Books 1 and 2 in Gail Z. Martin's Deadly Curiosities series. Anyone who likes urban fantasy without romance, magic, ghosts, likeable and realistic characters, and complex mysteries for the characters to solve.

 
 
 
 

Talk to me!

Have you read any of these books in the Deadly Curiosities series?
Do you like when books have an intricate mystery?
Do you like when characters' complexity is kind of under the surface?

 
 
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Your Thoughts

 

6 thoughts on “Mini Reviews: Deadly Curiosities Series – Deadly Curiosities, Vendetta, Tangled Web

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  1. Greg

    Ooh Gail Martin. I ALMSOT picked up Deadly Curiosities a few years ago, was all gung ho to read it but got sidetracked and didn’t. Thse sound pretty good though.