Holly‘s review of Blade Song (Colbana Files, Book 1) by J.C. Daniels
Kit Colbana—half breed, assassin, thief, jack of all trades—has a new job: track down the missing ward of one of the local alpha shapeshifters. It should be a piece of cake.So why is she so nervous? It probably has something to do with the insanity that happens when you deal with shifters—especially sexy ones who come bearing promises of easy jobs and easier money.Or maybe it’s all the other missing kids that Kit discovers while working the case, or the way her gut keeps screaming she’s gotten in over her head. Or maybe it’s because if she fails—she’s dead.If she can stay just one step ahead, she should be okay. Maybe she’ll even live long to collect her fee…
Does this count as a new-to-me author if it’s a pen name I haven’t read before? Probably not. But I might list it as a NtM author anyway.
This is the new, first-person series by author Shiloh Walker, writing as J.C. Daniels. First-person can be hit or miss for me. I think Daniels has a good writing voice. It was a bit slow in the beginning, but it wasn’t long before I was pulled into the story.
Kit Colbana is a private detective who has been contacted to find the missing nephew of head shapeshifter in town. She generally steers clear of shifters, but she isn’t given much of a choice about taking this job. Add into it the watchdog they send to keep an eye on her and her chances of staying alive went from slim to..almost non-existent.
I found this to be an enjoyable novel. There were times the wiring seemed repetitive and I struggled to connect to the hero of the story since we were never inside his head. In the beginning he’s a total jerk, but his reasons are explained later and they made sense. I did have trouble with their relationship at the end. I don’t think enough time was given to them as a couple to make the resolution believable.
Otherwise I found the storyline engaging and the heroine interesting. Kit is strong and vulnerable, which works to make her easy to relate to. The world is interesting, if a little on the busy side (which is a personal thing, not a reflection of the story itself. I prefer my paranormal to be straight one thing or another, not a collection of all things). I’m anxious to see where Daniels takes things.
I’m sort of annoyed that I read this book. Had I known it was going to be a continuing series featuring the same protagonists I’d probably have waited. I want the next book now. I hate waiting.
3.75 out of 5
This book is Self Published. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
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