Took It Right to the Edge and Kept Me Enthralled

One of these days I'm going to stop settling back in amazed surprise when I read/listen to these authors' books. Seriously! I already thought this was a fantastic series and I was all in, but this latest installment in the Innkeeper Chronicles series just raised the bar even higher.

Dina, her latest group of guests, and Gertrude Hunt Inn are in the fight for their very lives. This was nearly non-stop dangerous excitement and, when it wasn't, it was intense character and relationship development action that left me blinking back tears. Oh, and the cherry on top? We get the alien's take on the human tradition of Christmas- laughed so hard the tears came.

I loved that part of Dina's family finally makes an appearance, more of the favorite side characters, and, Hallelujah, more on Dina's romance with Sean. Dina is really brought to the brink in this one and she continues to grow through each trial put before her.

There are some surprises and heart=stopping twists to this one. It will resonate with readers and real world issues even though, as usual, there are aliens to encounter both good, shades of gray, and deeply flawed.

Oh, and that little bell-ringer sentence at the very end made me groan and prepare myself for a long (im)patient wait to see what that thread will produce. That said, there was such great progress made for other threads (ahem smoldering hot Sean and Dina scenes) and closure for the main conflict that I don't mind.

Renee Raudman is the voice of Dina and the Innkeeper Chronicles Cast of Characters. I have sung her praises through three installments now. But see, she, too, rose to the occasion for the depths of emotions and desperation this book produced and more than met the challenge.

This fantastic blend of Urban Fantasy and Sci-Fi is a treat not to be missed. Do yourself a favor and snag these for your own reading/listening pleasure.

12 people found this helpful

Another awesome installment!!!

This is the third installment of the Innkeeper Chronicles, and I loved it as much as the first. Loved the characters from the previous books and the authors have introduced new characters that are just as great.

Action, laughs, a little romance, one of the best Urban Fantasy series out there. A well written story and another great performance by the narrator. You can't go wrong. If you haven't read the first two books I suggest you go back and read them in order, you won't be sorry.

6 people found this helpful

Love this series! Such possibilities!

An open world with fantasy and sci-fi elements disguised as a romance!
Very well written and narrated. I like the cast of characters and the new races we meet in each story.

4 people found this helpful

Enjoyed it

Good story good characters waiting to see what happens next. Love the world building lots of imagery.

4 people found this helpful

Sweep yourself away....

Yes, sweep yourself away into Dina's world! I love this story and am completely invested in the characters, their lives and all of the activities that take place at Gertrude Hunt. I laughed, I cried and in awe of how well these authors weaves tales with such detail and imagination. Dina and Sean's relationship grows. Dina gets a message that her sister needs her, and she sweeps away to another world with Sean and Arland. Previous interactions with George creates a dire situation that requires Dina to make a huge decision. The intrigue ensues and everyone is involved. The battle scenes are amazing and the twists and turns keeps you very engaged. An opportunity arises for Dina to find her parents. The cost is great. Does she take it? Get the book and find out for yourself. I am so looking forward to the next story.

6 people found this helpful

This narrator is awful

I've got all Ilona Andrew's books on print, so this is the first time I've heard this author, and I have to say in hate her. She sounds old, her voice for Dina is high pitched, I find her inflection of tone to be off with the intention of the authors, and when she made Helen's "growling" sound I about fell put of my chair. The narrator makes Dina sound weak and I just couldn't get into her performance.

Anything by Ilona Andrew's is the absolute best and the story itself is phenomenal, but I'll never listen to another book narrated by this narrator ever again.

2 people found this helpful

lots of killing

Any additional comments?

One of the things I've enjoyed about this series up to this point is that the plot advancement wasn't coming through a sea of monsters to be killed. Sadly, that seems to be a go-to for these authors and they didn't resist in this one. Outside the morass of slayage, there were some interesting new characters, some clever turns, some funny bits, some suspense. The main characters continue to evolve. I'll keep reading. But I do hope the next book won't be so heavy on the carnage; it takes up time that could be spent in more interesting ways.

2 people found this helpful

Love this series and this book is just as good.

Good book. Great characters, an interesting plot and good world building. A taste of what's to come without a cliff hanger.

Narrator on all her books is the same and she always does a great job.

2 people found this helpful

Angst and action, not much plot

The second book in this series was fabulous -- a great mystery wrapped in great characters -- this third book was just action, action, action, action, action …. angst, worry, action, angst, worry, action, and repeat a dozen times. If you like adrenaline, this is your book. If you like a good solid plot, go back to book two.

1 person found this helpful

a strong continuance of the series

The narrator is exceptional in this story-being able to evoke emotion in how the story is being read. A very gifted voice artist!!!

The story itself is about an Innkeeper- Dina, who's protection of her guests is of the utmost importance. This protection almost costs her her life- in every book.

In this story she is trying to protect a group of people who have almost died out. As payment for her protection, She can ask one question of a mighty being who has to be formed from nine separate parts. The question that the protected guests are asking is where their next home is, and they're giving her the last question to find her parents.

The author is exquisite in her ability to plot and tell a story. The character's are very interesting, including the vampires and the werewolf who is her boyfriend.

The world building is fantastic but like many other authors nowadays, when it comes to religions, and the Creator, she prefers to have none and goes to great lengths to explain and prove in her world (s) how beliefs are all made up and leads to extremism in some -- ulitimately it gives a kind of depressing feel. This anti-religion vibe which says beliefs of any kind are used to make the locals feel good or to control --is a crutch for plot points. (if you are an athiest it's great, if not sad, and really it's just fiction and my opinion)

so-- I do sort of recommend this book ( not that anyone will read this review) it's strong and- well written. It sort of depressed me but may not bug anyone else. besides I love these characters!

1 person found this helpful