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✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans)

April 26 2016

Previous rating: 8 stars. I was young and naïve when I first read this book. New rating : 10 stars. Now I am old and wise and stuff. ➽ And the moral of this reread is : <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1542793590ra/26627948.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> And also: <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1521048110ra/25213771.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> And also, also: <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1425717579i/13921549.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> Until next time. <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="19cc7b9a-322d-4754-829a-3a1b1f9f3e7f" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="19cc7b9a-322d-4754-829a-3a1b1f9f3e7f"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1458191736ra/18454083.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> You're welcome.</label> · Book 2: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1700723191" rel="nofollow noopener">Witches' Banes</a> ★★★★★ · Book 3: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1740468074" rel="nofollow noopener">See No Evil</a> ★★★★★ · Book 4: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1775001337" rel="nofollow noopener">Scorpion Trap</a> ★★★★★ · Book 5: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2020525424" rel="nofollow noopener">Serpent's Game</a> ★★★★★ · Book 6: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1775001337" rel="nofollow noopener">Edge of Forever</a> ★★★★★ · Short-story: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1774628839" rel="nofollow noopener">Chase the Dark</a> ★★★★★ <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1479540926i/21203689._SX540_.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> [Original review: July 2016] Actual rating: 8 stars. Oh man, this is good. SO GOOD. Some silly people out there think I'm slightly biased when it comes to Pippa DaCosta. I wonder why. I just happen to think Awesome Pippa DaCosta is Awesome (APDiA™), that is all. And that she can do no wrong. And that she is 100% fail proof, no matter what she writes. Does that make me a manic, rabid fangirl? Nope nope nope. Absolutely not. I'm a grown <s>decapod</s> woman, in case you haven't noticed. I don't do ridiculous, immature stuff. Nuh-uh. Not me. <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1468689744i/19737214._SX540_.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> Oh Spiderman, you self-righteous wimp, just shut up and go back to spinning your silly webs, or whatever it is you do in your spare time. Shortest and Crappiest Short and Crappy Review Ever (SaCSaCRE™) time! Yay! ➽ 7 reasons why you HAVE to read this book: ① Because APDiA™ wrote it← this is me not being biased. At all. Nope nope nope. Absolutely not and all that crap. ② Because Ace is, in pure, glorious Pippa DaCosta fashion, gloriously fucked up. And isn't quite allergic to violence. And he kinda sucks people's souls up, too. Which is pretty yummy, if you ask me. Doing the Preemptive Kidnapping Thing (PKT™) on him was quick and magnificent thinking on my part. The Nameless One is MINE, people. ALL MINE. Touch him and I'll go all feral kitty cat on you, à la Shining. And let me tell you, it won't be pretty. <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1468689744i/19737215.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> ③ Because there is blood-and-gore-yay from the very first pages. So delicious. ④ Because I'm a sucker for mythology. And when slightly unhinged, somewhat devious, kinda cunning gods from the Egyptian pantheon start roaming the streets of New York, I be like: <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1468050961ra/19660037.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> How many times have you come across ancient Egyptian dudes and chicks in a UF story, my Little Barnacles? Ha. That's what I thought. I'm telling you, my tiny arthropods, UF doesn't get much hotter/original/refreshing than this. ⑤ Because I'm a sucker for pain and suffering and love it when Pippa "The Wicked" DaCosta turns me into an emotional wreck and breaks the little heart I don't have in tiny pieces. Repeatedly. It's beautiful. ⑥ Because, in typical APDiA™ fashion, this is pure, undiluted, fast-paced, action-packed coolness. And it makes me feel like: <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1468690595ra/19737342.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> ⑦ And because APDiA™ wrote it. Obviously ← this is me not being biased. At all. Nope nope nope. Absolutely not and all that crap <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="7fcc5be2-7d8a-4970-a635-8777690f7cf2" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="7fcc5be2-7d8a-4970-a635-8777690f7cf2">Watch me not fangirl and weep, my Little Barnacles: <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1468689744ra/19737216.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1468689744ra/19737217.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1429512261ra/14597971.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></label> You are, as usual, very welcome. And stuff. PS: APDiA™ is a writing machine, and the next instalment in this series should be released in August 2016. More mature reviewing coming right up, so stay tuned. ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.</["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]>

c

carol.

October 30 2017

<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1509340553i/24310740.jpg" width="300" height="280" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> I'm a bit bummed, because my friends have such enthusiastic reviews and now I'm going to harsh all over their mellow. It could be the Kindle; I'm not known for loving the format. But the writing was awkward, the plotting scattered, and DaCosta relies on titillation over world-building. "Instantly told two of the worlds’ most powerful deities exactly what I didn’t want them to know: that I’d prefer to be anywhere else but here with them." Believe me, they know. Because you've already told us you hate them, and when you follow it up with "There was a time I'd screamed at him, raged, thrown my fists, and gotten myself strung up for my efforts," it makes the previous statement pretty much meaningless drama. "Somehow, I smiled, and not for the first time, I secretly wished Osiris had. Could that sentence be any more awkward? We have a number of problems/crimes, beginning with lead Ace Dante following some kids from a summoning and now possessed by a demon; an ex-wife wanting a favor investigating the deaths of pregnant women; his mom requesting he visit her in the Underworld; and a hard-core favor for Osiris. There's also a spoiler thing <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="2a076cca-adb2-406d-a380-5b81d3ee111b" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="2a076cca-adb2-406d-a380-5b81d3ee111b"> the child he didn't know he had in danger</label>. Too many plots jammed together in one book does indeed make for "non-stop action" as DaCosta claims, but to make it even more "fun," only one of those is completely resolved in this book. I knew it was going to end in a cliffhanger from my friends' reviews, but I didn't think there would be quite so many sub-plots. Speaking of plotting, although the opening scenes sort of set up a detection scenario, Dante does very little actual detecting. His 'investigation' consists of asking <s>deux ex machinas</s> his agency partner or his police contact for information. <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1509340553i/24310739._SX540_.jpg" width="300" height="220" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> I honestly didn't get develop much feeling for the main character either, consumed as he was by regret, self-loathing and hate, in between periods of frustrated sexual energy and ecstasy at eating souls (really, George Costanza in a nutshell). Dante lacks any agency; through most of the book he's only reacting to situations he is ordered to by others, acting because he sees no other option <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="c3749f30-f13e-49ab-b8df-3ac0b9743dd7" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="c3749f30-f13e-49ab-b8df-3ac0b9743dd7"> using his sword in front of his daughter</label> and acting because other people pushed him into it <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="099771b7-9914-4a8e-85b3-c7e12e7a9669" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="099771b7-9914-4a8e-85b3-c7e12e7a9669">sex with his ex-wife.</label> That ends up requiring a lot of back-story to justify, which isn't always done. Upside: less filler. Downside: lots of incomprehensible "I'm forced to do it" in ways that don't create sympathy or understanding. I finished, although largely out of obligation to book OCD, making it just above one star. <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1509340553i/24310738.jpg" width="360" height="300" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]>

H

Helen 2.0

May 25 2017

Short, engaging, original. Fabulous antihero lead. Loved it. Buddy read with the Pippa fangirls at <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/148935-dust-off-your-machalo-it-s-time-for-another-buddy-read" rel="nofollow noopener">MacHalo's</a>. Ace Dante was once a nameless monster in the Ancient Egyptian underworld, judging the souls of mortals and eating those he found unworthy. But his taste for souls grew out of control; as punishment, he was banished to earth and cursed to obey the god Osiris unconditionally. 500 years later, Ace does odd jobs in New York, fixing magical problems with his demonic business partner Shukra and his soul-eating sword Alystair. Cool premise, right? The story gets going when Ace's ex-wife Bast, goddess of cats and protector of pregnant women, comes asking for help around the same time Osiris calls on him with a job for the first time in decades. Ace has his hands full with murders, conspiracies, and shocking reveals. Never a boring moment with this man! Though short, Hidden Blade is packed with action, mystery, and emotion. I personally got way too emotionally involved in the book and had to reach for <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30899389-witches-bane" rel="nofollow noopener">Book 2</a> the second I finished this. Highly recommend! Pippa DaCosta does not disappoint.

R

Robin (Bridge Four)

June 21 2017

Well, well, well this is proof that you can write a UF fantasy series and not have a vampire or shifter in sight and it still is good. <img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1484755053ra/21749873.gif" width="400" height="226" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> The good news is that I enjoyed this so I shouldn’t have to worry about any of xXSarahXx”s crustaceans coming across land and sea to pinch me into submission. ❤️❤️❤️The High Points ❤️❤️❤️ Unconventional Main Character. Ace is cursed, a semi-reformed eater of souls, hey staying on the wagon is hard when souls are so delicious. He is stuck on earth working with his worst enemy and I immediately l♡ved him. He is not a good man, he has a past and from the glimpses we get it looks to be blacker than pitch. But I love a project. <blockquote> They call me devil, liar, thief. In whispers, they call me Soul Eater. They’re right. I’m all those things—and more." </blockquote> Rarely Used Egyptian Mythology: It isn’t my favorite but when done right it can be a lot of fun. Especially if you twist that Isis/Osiris relationship into some of it’s creepiest intonations and play on the brother/sister/husband/wife stuff. It is kind of disgusting if you think on it too long. Still the Gods are truly messed up and it seems that Ace is stuck in their pocket. An Ex-Wife that is the Queen of Cats: The only thing worse than having an ex-wife, is having one that exhibits all those fun games that cats play. <blockquote> Her thing was cats. I’d once woken in her bed surrounded by hundreds of felines— or maybe it had been thirty. Thirty cats sure felt like a hundred when they were watching you sleep. She was a cat— a big-ass jungle cat with claws like janbiya daggers who liked to pretend she was a person, or maybe it was the other way around. The lines had blurred. A lot had blurred in twenty years. </blockquote> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1498451284i/23127563.jpg" width="400" height="325" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> Best Frenemies Relationship Ever: What is worse than being cast out of your home world and bound to a gods will? Being sent there to work with your worst enemy. Shu might hate Ace but he is her only safeguard against being torn apart by the demons of hell. So while she might try to torture him a little and antagonize him a lot he is the only thing between her and a devastating end so she at least tries to make sure he doesn’t get killed. <blockquote> “I know a girl like you.” I tightened my dangling grip on Alysdair. “All tongue.” …. “Don’t get me wrong,” I pushed the words through my teeth, “there’s a lot the right girl can do with her tongue, but my friend’s is as sharp as a dagger and cuts like one too.” </blockquote> These are short and jam packed at about 180-200 pages you are in and then it is over. It is nice to have a story laid out boom boom boom like that and then you are done and off to the next one. ☠☠☠ The Low Points ☠☠☠ These roll in around 200 pages and so there isn’t a lot of time for fluff or filler. I don’t want a lot. But I totally wanted so much more about Ace, Shu, the curse, their past and everything else that was going one. It was a great start to a series I just really only got a taste and needed more. The God Craziness Might Not Be for Everyone: Straight up there are a few twisted scenes in this where Ace is made to watch some orgyesk situation or a God getting their rocks off. It was a bit graphic and I was fine with it but just a heads up to if you are sensitive to scenes like that. <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="7a2b2994-f94c-411e-aed6-ddd690421989" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="7a2b2994-f94c-411e-aed6-ddd690421989"> <blockquote> Osiris grunted, deep and low, and then let out a strangled groan that rolled on and on until I wished I had brought Alysdair along so I could fall on the sword and put an end to my misery. “No, no…” Osiris crooned. “You don’t swallow the nectar. Spit, dear.” She did. I heard everything— smelled it too. Bile burned the back of my throat. </blockquote> <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="0110069e-1210-4470-9536-1288e7dd62d7" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="0110069e-1210-4470-9536-1288e7dd62d7"> I’m super excited to continue with more Pippa DaCosta works as this seems like it will be an exciting and interesting ride. Pre Review My very first Pippa DaCosta book. I better like it or I'm pretty sure that <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7298986-sarah-former-nefarious-breeder-of-murderous-crustaceans" rel="nofollow noopener">xXSarahXx</a> will send her crustacean army to pincer me to death or submission. Reading with the Wednesday UF Crew at <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/148164-buddies-books-and-baubles" rel="nofollow noopener"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1484867277i/21762466.jpg" width="400" height="130" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"></a></label> </label></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]>

C

Choko

May 22 2017

*** 4.25 *** A buddy read with the MacHalo Freaks, because we love us some Pippa!!! Another fun, exciting, engaging and dynamic book by Pippa, who seems to do no wrong ever! In typical fashion she plunges us in a world full of demons, gods and everything in between. Ace Dante, the Nameless One from the underworld, has been cursed with a multi-faceted curse, which has bound him on our world with one of the gods from the Egyptian Pantheon, to an ex-demon-witch, and who knows what else, making him one very cranky, scrued-up dude with a soul-eating sword. His ex-wife, a cat-goddess Bastet, hires him to discover who is killing young pregnant women and makes it impossible to resist by dropping a huge shock on him... From here on everything would be a spoiler, so just prepare yourself for a ton of scrued-up deities and some action! I personally wanted to strangle the horrible self-serving bastards, but I have to trust that the author is going to get them for all the pain they inflict from pure boredom! In Pippa we trust??? I would recommend this quick read to all Urban Fantasy and action enthusiasts, and a must read for this authors' fans. Now I wish you all Happy Reading and many more wonderful books to come!!!

S

Sarah

April 27 2016

Final Review: I don't know how she does it but Pippa DaCosta consistently comes up with exciting new ideas and Hidden Blade is a breath of fresh air for urban fantasy fans. Egyptian mythology is fascinating but it's actually very underused in UF so I couldn't be more thrilled about this series. Imagine a modern day New York that is actually run by ancient Egyptian gods who are hiding in plain sight. The mayor and his wife? You might not know to look at them but that's Osiris and his wife (and sister) Isis. They've been married for over 3,000 years so even though they're still crazy in love that's bound to put a strain on any relationship! Our main character Ace, also known as the Nameless One, is a soul eater and, alongside his business partner Shu, he protects the streets of New York from demons and things that go bump in the night. When his ex-wife Bast (AKA Bastet, goddess of cats and protector of the innocent) asks for his help investigating the murders of a group of pregnant young girls who were living under her protection Ace finds himself caught up in something bigger than he could have imagined. Already trapped in the effects of a powerful curse Ace now ends up with an even bigger target on his back and caught between the sights of two vengeful gods. This is such a hard book to review because I want to tell you how amazing it is but I don't want to give you spoilers. Pippa DaCosta creates such brilliantly multilayered characters and Ace is one of her best. Thanks to his soul eater abilities he's full of darkness and constantly battles between his desires to devour everyone in his path and his hope to become something more, something better. You'll discover the details of his curse for yourself when you read the book but it's certainly a harsh punishment for his crimes and you can't help but root for him even when he teeters on the edge of doing terrible things. The Egyptian gods are as crazy as they are powerful and you definitely wouldn't want them as an enemy. Hidden Blade is full of action, the author doesn't shy away from sending her characters to hell and back and I'm not going to lie that makes for a gut wrenching read at times. This book will take you through every emotion you can think of and may turn you into an emotional wreck at times but it is so, so worth it. Brilliant world building, fascinating mythology, wonderful multilayered characters that you will either love or love to hate and a fast moving storyline that will keep you turning the pages until the end - Pippa DaCosta most certainly has another hit on her hands and I for one can't wait to get my hands on the sequel! Source: Received from publisher via <a href="http://www.netgalley.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">NetGalley</a> in exchange for an honest review 9th July: OMG OMG OMG I HAVE AN ARC!!! I'm dying of excitement right now & that email has been sitting unread in my inbox for THREE DAYS! How did I miss it???? Great news: it's the weekend and I'm nearly finished my current book so guess what I'm starting next? LOL April 2016: I don't even need to see a blurb for this one. It's written by Pippa DaCosta and therefore I NEED IT! Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie!!!

E

Emma

July 10 2017

I flatter myself that I am quite discerning about urban fantasy- after all there is a LOT of it out there and a LOT of it isn't great. So I was a little sceptical going into this new series. However several goodreads friends have read this series recently and with overwhelmingly good reviews, so I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon. And wow! That is one decision I don't regret. This was fantastic! I don't even really like Egyptian story lines, but this was so well done. It's a short book but the world building is seamless. It's dark too and how the story plays out is quite sad. The protagonist is different because he is not a good guy but he is the Good Guy. I really liked this. Plan to read the rest of the series and in fact, by about halfway through had already bought books 2 and 3. A very different urban fantasy with not a vampire or shapeshifter in sight! Recommended.

S

Steven

June 22 2017

3.5 stars rounded up. It would have been a full four but I felt that the end didn't really tie up the plot very well and make it feel complete. I loved the Egyptian mythology and have high expectations that book two will feel more complete and take the story to a higher level of awesome.

P

Pippa DaCosta

April 26 2016

UPDATE: FREE EVERYWHERE <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1461763232i/18908507._SY540_.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy">

M

Milda Page Runner

October 13 2017

As I’m blitzing through the third book in a row it’s probably time to review the start of this series. :) Engaging and fast paced urban fantasy set in New York. Paranormal side of the story is based on Egyptian mythology and old gods which is a nice change from usual vampires and werewolves. Main character is not exactly a goody two shoes and series turn out to be darker and edgier than it appears at the first glance. It could proudly sit on the shelf next to Sandman Slim and Daniel Faust. Not quite as philosophical and noir as Sandman Slim and not quite as well written as Daniel Faust, in my opinion though it excels in pacing/suspense/action department. Plenty of unexpected twists that keep you on the edge of the seat and the author doesn’t soften the blows – there is hardly a moment to breath and so it’s a series that is hard to put down once you start. Worldbuilding and characterisation are interesting if a bit sketchy in the first book, but fill in and acquire depth as you go on. Some humour and sarcasm which lightens but doesn’t overwhelm intensity and overall darker atmosphere of this series. Highly recommended to urban fantasy and darker fantasy readers.

Hidden Blade

Comming soon...

Hidden Blade Reviews (274)