Hunting Fiends for the Ill-Equipped is book three in The Guild Codex: Demonized series by Annette Marie and narrated by Cris Dukehart.

While Robin seems popular with many readers, I just can't get into her as a heroine. Three books in, she shows virtually zero personal growth or initiative. I lost count of how many times I rolled my eyes at her whiny demeanor, indecisiveness, and painful awkwardness. Her lack of combat skills, assertiveness, and critical thinking make her feel far too weak to anchor the story, turning her perspective into a genuinely frustrating read.

I really don't feel any romantic chemistry between Robin and Zylas, and I honestly wish the story would keep them as platonic allies instead. All the constant blushing and stuttering makes me cringe. They work so much better as close friends protecting each other out of mutual necessity and loyalty rather than lovers.

As for the plot, far too much is happening at once, and very little actually gets resolved. I'm left with more questions than answers. However, I loved Ezra’s appearance—completely brightened up that part of the book—and seeing Kit and Lienna was a treat. It was also great to see a different perspective on the events that took place in Druid Vices and a Vodka.

Audio: As always, Cris Dukehart delivers a flawless performance. Her narration made the audiobook a genuinely enjoyable listen.

Ultimately, The Guild Codex: Demonized series isn't quite for me. I'm primarily pushing through it to get the complete world-building and cross-series perspective within the universe.

Rated: 3 Stars

Cursed is the first book in the Fallen Siren series by S. J. Harper, narrated by Johanna Parker. Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing this at 70%. I just couldn’t get invested in the story, and it ended up being a bit of a disappointment.

My first thought when I started listening was that the narration sounded overly familiar, as if I’d heard these exact character voices in another audiobook before, though I couldn’t place which one. There was nothing inherently wrong with the performance, but it didn’t stand out either—it was just average.

As for the characters, Emma is supposed to be an ancient Siren, but her personality and mannerisms didn’t reflect that at all. While I understand she’s trying to blend into modern society, this is written in the first person. Even in her internal monologues, if the text hadn’t explicitly stated her age, I never would have guessed it. Living for centuries is a heavy weight, and that weight was completely missing from her voice. Her love interest, Zack, was nice and sweet, but ultimately uninteresting. Honestly, I found myself completely uninvested in Emma’s romantic arc.

I originally picked this up for the mythology, but the world-building fell surprisingly flat. For a heroine who has been around since the age of the Greek gods, we learn very little about what actually happened to the rest of the pantheon. We know Demeter hangs around, but where are all the other gods?

Overall, the pacing was slow and dragged out. I was expecting a lot more mythology, adventure, and mystery, but the story simply failed to ignite.

Note: I also came across a few Goodreads reviews mentioning that author S. J. Harper is a co-writing pen name involving Samantha Sommersby (aka Lori James, former owner of All Romance Ebooks (ARe) which had a huge scandal back in 2016.) Online Blog Article: All Romance Ebooks (ARe) Update On Closure and Lori Jame

Rated: DNF 70%

Druid Vices and a Vodka is book six in The Guild Codex: Spellbound series by Annette Marie and narrated by Cris Dukeheart.

Another action-packed, high-stakes adventure, this is the most intense installment in the series yet. Druids, demons, summoners, and witches await in this fast-paced, character-driven urban fantasy.

The stakes couldn't be higher, and there is so much on the line for everyone! Fortunately, Tori has grown immensely over the course of the series. Though she’s still as vulnerable and delightfully stubborn as ever, her emotional strength and fierce dedication to her friends make her incredible to root for—even if her physical strength is still catching up!

Tori is desperate to help Ezra, who is bound to a demon with time rapidly running out. When she’s also called on to assist Zak—aka the Ghost—a chain reaction of events unfolds, dragging her friend Kai into the fallout. Who will survive? Will friendships withstand the trial, and can love still bloom? What follows ripped my heart out, made me scream, and kept me on the edge of my seat. Tori is kickass and loyal to a fault, making her struggles painful to watch—but gads, is she clever.

Audio: Cris Dukeheart is truly the voice of this series and these characters. She does a stellar job of capturing every emotional nuance and setting the perfect tone for each moment. I’m thoroughly enjoying these audiobooks and highly recommend them!

Rated: 4.5 Stars

Undertow by Willa Blackwood—narrated by Sarah Sampino—is book two in The Carolina Files. Although each entry presents an individual mystery for the Whitlow family, I highly recommend listening/reading in publication order due to the series overall arc surrounding the stone beneath Whitlow Manor.

Though she never wanted the role, Tula Whitlow has become the de facto leader of the Whitlow sisters. This installment treats readers to a dark, suspenseful mystery involving missing and murdered teens, demonic symbols, ancient rituals, secrets, and demonic possession.

Although Tula takes center stage, we get a deeper look at her sisters and aunt this time around. We follow Tula as she tries to figure out what’s happening in town and save the kids, all while her mother urges her from afar to deal with the stone under Whitlow Manor. Tula clearly feels unprepared, but with the danger mounting, she has to step up. That said, Tula and some of the other characters did frustrate me at times by getting into situations where the danger was obvious and easily avoidable.

There is a slow-burn romance with a sexy vampire named Victor, though it remains a secondary subplot with minimal progression in this book. Personally, I would have loved to see more of Victor in the story!

While I don’t love any of the sisters, they are tolerable enough, though Aunt Ruby and our sexy vampire Victor are definitely my favorite characters. Something about this installment felt a bit off for me, and I couldn’t fully connect with it—perhaps because the story veered away from cozy mystery territory into much darker vibes.

Audio: Sarah Sampino does a fantastic job with the narration, perfectly capturing Tula, the secondary characters, and the overall tone of the story. Her character voices are enjoyable and bring a wonderful Southern charm to the performance. Honestly, I don’t think I would have finished this novel if I hadn’t listened to the audiobook, so I highly recommend going the audio route!

Rated: 3 Stars Audio Narration: 4 Stars