Sara M. Harvey

I started out not being terribly sure about this; too many unexplained things were happening at once. However...

THEN THE TWISTS BEGAN TO HAPPEN.

The story of a Steampunk Buffy haunted by ghosts (literally) and undermined worse by her lack of self-confidence than by the betrayals of everything she holds dear.

I think I went through the last 3/4 of the book with the word "No!" on my lips the entire time, like when someone's telling you a particularly juicy piece of gossip. I only wished it had been much, much longer.… (meer)

I didn't expect much of this book, but I was wrong. The Angel of Joy and the Angel of Vengeance live as roommates in New York City in human forms for a year. They try to enjoy the human experience -- shopping, Chinese take-out, chocolate, blogs, snow, etc. At the end, they must determine whether to remain on earth as mortals, or return to the heavens as angels. A very sweet read that will leave you smiling, though I wept at the end. Don't judge this one by the cheap-looking cover; the inside is worth reading.… (meer)

"I am Portia Gyony," she repeated, and the world bent slightly around the edges.

What would it be like to witness a battle between celestial beings? Sort of like The Convent of the Pure by Sara M. Harvey. Portia is a demon hunter and a Nephilim, a descendant of human and angel. Still mourning the death of her lover Imogen, yet protected by the ghost of Imogen, Portia is trying to complete her training to become a full member of the Gyony (demon hunter Nephilim as opposed to magic user or necromancer Nephilim) community.

Instead she is pulled into a plot to over throw the Primacy, the ruling council of the Nephilim, by a dark-hearted sect of necromancers, one of which helped her keep Imogen at her side after her tragic death. Portia isn't just a tool in the necromancer plot, she is the plot, one of the rare "Pure Bloods", a direct child of an angel and human.

The Convent of the Pure is a fast paced dark fantasy with steampunk elements. The world is rich and enticing, the only real flaw is it's short length. The world really could support a full length book, if not a series as Portia and Imogen are engaging, their romance a sweet up point against the dark tenseness of the world setting. Portia is strong without being snarky or bitchy. There's no stress over her ability to "hang with the boys", no real issue of gender roles at all, which is refreshing. The action is large scale and satisfying without being too easy or overwhelming.

Overall The Convent of the Pure is an excellent, enjoyable tale sure to appeal to readers of dark fantasy, urban fantasy and even paranormal romance.… (meer)