myworldinwordsandpages

*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review at my request.

Someone is looking to set Anne up, get her in serious trouble with the Oddsmakers who rule the city. Or so Anne thinks. No one's to do magic around normal people, and someone adds a dragon to the firework display, hoping it will point to Anne with her dragon familiar. After facing the Oddsmakers, Anne learns from Vale what her mom was looking for when she died. A necromancy artifact. Anne is determined to find this artifact, and learn who killed her parents on that mountainous road years ago and maybe find her Uncle who's missing.

Anne Moody's mom and uncle have each had their own task to perform for the Oddsmakers, and failed. Per the Oddsmakers, Vegasso was the first to arrive to capitalize on their failure, others will follow. But before Anne can know what the task was her family was to perform, she must prove she and her ancestors are not traitors. Or her life and those of her friends will be forfeit.

Jenna is a new narrator to me. I like when she gives a sound to one voice as though spoken into a room that has a large feel to it the distant echo-y voice. This extra really is awesome to get in an audio book. I enjoyed Jenna as she voiced the character's personalities. The audio felt seamless along with the cadence and emotions feeling to flow smoothly as she brought the story to life for us.

I've not read or listened to the first book. I know, that's out of character for me. But I liked the sound of the book and had to give it a go. It's all okay though. It's easy to pick up with the characters, world, and story in this second book without reading the first. The beginning of the book lists out who the characters are to each other and what they are. We learn about the Oddsmakers and even get mention of what happened in the first book as we head into what happens on the Fourth of July in Nevada as Anne and her friends sit watching fireworks in the desert.

I enjoyed the blend of friends that Anne has, and her love interest. The world here is full of supernaturals - monkey shifter, gargoyle, fortune teller, wolf shifter water fae, and Anne herself who's dragon blood, and these are just Anne's close friends. Anne is a great person that's also of a diverse nationality. I love the writing of her as she's a normal, regular person as she should be, in a supernatural world. Anne and her dragon familiar are connected. But the connection could draw Anne to be a dragon if she gives to much when using Lucky, which is not a good thing. It's so tempting yet so dangerous that she could lose herself. And she will be watched by he Oddsmakers who rule the supernatural in the city because of her heritage.

There is more to Vale than meets the eye. We start to see this here, but I think there is more to come out and want to learn about him. I want to see Anne with her other friends too. But there is more to the past with her parents and uncle. We learn about what happened to her parents, but there was something else with her mom and what she was searching for at the Oddsmakers demand. Also, Anne's uncle is still missing. I am curious about them all.

I know it sounds like we don't get answers, but we do. I just have a feeling there is more than meets the eye with it all. I look forward to the series as it all unfolds for us and the characters.

Something in the story telling reminds me of Linsey Hall's Urban Fantasy series. If you enjoy one author, you may enjoy the other.

I like the creation of a world with many supernaturals in Las Vegas. There is so much that can happen there and lots of space to happen in. Anne having a potential danger with her dragon heritage. And we get a feel there is more to Vale.

Overall, after writing my thoughts, I've found I really enjoyed the story and want to read/listen to more books with Anne and her friends.