The cover says this is the start of a new series but this book is listed as #3 and it seems like it was not the beginning. Obviously a bunch of story had already happened and I continually wished I'd read it. As to this book, the plot and magic elements were clear and easy to follow, the writing was good and I enjoyed the characters for the most part. There was one character who I thought I was going to like but then I didn't then I did , then I didn't....

Then it ended on a MASSIVE cliff hanger. That's not really a good way to make me want to keep on with a series. I would rather like your characters then have them end to the story at hand in a happyish way. There can be threads left hanging but not cutting off in the middle of a scene as happened here.

Honestly I would have given it higher stars except for that ending. ( )

This new title from Laura Bickle, scheduled for a December release, is given the description as "the first in a new series" (The Wildlands) on Amazon, though it is actually the continuation of the Dark Alchemy series, which includes Dark Alchemy and Mercury Retrograde. I do think a reader would have to be somewhat familiar with the first two books to get the most out of Nine of Stars. What I love about this series is that it's not quite definable, genre-wise. Is it Urban Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy, or something else - Weird Western? That makes it a bit difficult to classify to my patrons, but any chance I get, I recommend this series for adventurous readers.

This time out, we have a new protagonist, the skinwalker/wolf "Nine" and a new antagonist, Owen, the current sheriff and relative of the evil, now deceased, Sal Rutherford, and the author smoothly switches the narrative between the various characters. Ms. Bickle is a great writer, with well-developed characters, smooth dialogue and a setting that is beautifully described. I was cold reading this book, and I live in Texas! Petra and Gabe's relationship progresses in this book, and we suffer along with Gabe as he adjusts to mortality and the death of the Lunaria and the Hanged men. The Evil-Bad Skinflint Jack is a suitably creepy character for our heroes to vanquish. Great job on this one, and I'll be impatiently waiting to see what happens in the next book. ( )