Title: The Hour of Dust and Ashes
Series: Charlie Madigan #3
Author: Kelly Gay | Author Website
Available: Now
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Reading Level: Adult
Source: Publisher
*Series Spoilers Below*
Description from Goodreads:
To save her sister, she must stop a silent killer. . . .
Protecting Atlanta from the off-world criminals of Underground is tough enough, but now Detective Charlie Madigan and her siren partner, Hank, learn that the addicts of the offworld drug ash have begun taking their own lives. Ash makes humans the perfect vessels for possession, and something or someone is leading them to their deaths. Charlie is desperate to save her addicted sister, Bryn, from a similar fate. As New Year’s Eve approaches and time runs out, Charlie makes a deadly bargain with an ancient race of beings and embarks on a dangerous journey into hellish Charbydon with Hank and the Revenant Rex to save Bryn and make it back before it’s too late. Only, for one of them, coming home means facing a fate worse than death. . . .
Quotable Quotes:
“Before we go,” he said as I turned to him, “I think this is the part where we’re supposed to kiss before facing mortal danger.”
“Says the guy who is pretty much immortal.” I pointed out.
My thoughts:
Oh how I love this series! Kelly Gay has tackled the Urban Fantasy genre and created a series that breaks the mold. She weaved a complex plot that didn’t leave me feeling confused. World building doesn’t get better than this! While reading I was torn between the desire to fly through the pages as quickly as I could and slowly savoring each word. Part of me was dying for the conclusion, but at the same time I didn’t want to see the newest action packed installment of Charlie’s crazy life come to an end.
So it isn’t just the world building that has me fangirling over this series. The characters are stellar, and the stellarness (is that a word?) doesn’t stop with the main character. The secondary characters are also full of awesome. They each have such distinct personalities and voices. Rex is the comedian in the group, but I love that we’re seeing a more sensitive side as the series progresses. Charlie’s sweet daughter Emma seems to be following in mom’s badass footsteps. Then there is Hank. I’m not shy when it comes to my love for Charlie’s Siren partner. He is just the right mix of brave, cocky, and sarcastic. Exactly how I like my book boyfriends! Charlie’s sister, Bryn, and her boyfriend Aaron round out the plot not only in the personality department, but also with their super cool mage powers. This is such an eclectic group of supernatural characters and each one is developed perfectly.
The Hour of Dust and Ashes is an amazing mix of the sarcastic dialogue and edge of your seat action I’ve come to expect from this series, but at the same time we see more vulnerable moments with the characters. They’re letting their guards down and finding out it is ok to not always be the hero. A few scenes were absolutely heartbreaking. My emotions were all over the place while reading, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love every minute of it. There is also just the right amount of romance, and I won’t deny the fact I earned more than a few strange looks from my husband for giggling out load or having a silly grin on my face while reading. This is a series that just keep getting better and better. Kelly Gay is doing an absolutely fabulous job of creating a world that hooks readers and characters you’ll consider friends.
I only have two complaints about The Hour of Dust and Ashes to address. 1. The wait for Hank to finally show up in a scene was pure torture. Man I love that Siren, but I will admit the suspense while waiting and wondering hurt so good. AND 2. That ending! Holy crap! Not a cliff hanger really, but the perfect set up for book 4 will have me seriously pining during the long wait for the next installment.
If you love Urban Fantasy this is a series you don’t want to miss!
My Rating:
Books in this series:
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