Cursed Moon by Jaye Wells
Series: Prospero's War #2
Published by Orbit
Published on: August 12, 2014
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 400
Format: eBook
Source: Library
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When a rare Blue Moon upsets the magical balance in the city, Detective Kate Prospero and her Magical Enforcement colleagues pitch in to help Babylon PD keep the peace. Between potions going haywire and everyone's emotions running high, every cop in the city is on edge. But the moon's impact is especially strong for Kate who's wrestling with guilt over falling off the magic wagon.
After a rogue wizard steals dangerous potions from the local covens, Kate worries their suspect is building a dirty magic bomb. Her team must find the anarchist rogue before the covens catch him, and make sure they defuse the bomb before the Blue Moon deadline. Failure is never an option, but success will require Kate to come clean about her secrets.
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I was glad to get back into the world of Detective Kate Prospero. They are coming up on Halloween, but also a Blue Moon, which isn’t good for magic. Magic is more potent and people are taking advantage and stirring up trouble. Her MEA (Magical Enforcement Agency) team are helping the BPD just to keep things calm. That is until one of the major coven leaders is robbed.
Aphrodite Johnson is the leader of the O Coven. S/he is the Hierophant of the Mystical Coven of the Sacred Orgasm. S/he is also a hermaphrodite. S/he is literally half male and half female. As in draw a line down the center of her body and one side was very feminine and the other very masculine. One side is usually in charge, which you can tell by mannerisms and voice. You use the pronouns that go with that gender. If you aren’t in her/m present you use the combo pronouns or just use her/m name. Kate also has a past with Aphrodite. Her mom was very high up in this coven.
In this story, Kate has to find the person who stole some pretty potent rape potions that were stolen from Aphrodite. The thief seems to stay one step ahead of her team. He keeps the team running circles. Especially when someone really important ends up dead. Her Uncle Abe, who is in prison and the leader of one of the most powerful covens in the Cauldron, wants to help, but Kate doesn’t want his help because it will come with a price. Kate is also fighting some demons and guilt from actions in the previous story. Her relationship with Danny and Pen are strained. Even Baba is worried about her.
Again, I had a great time with all the characters. Most are back in the picture. The MEA team, Morales, Mez, Shadi and Gardner. Her neighbor and mundane witch, Baba. Danny, Kate’s little brother that she is raising. Pen, her best friend. John Volos, her ex-boyfriend and up and coming city figure. He is somewhere between a villain and a good guy. He hasn’t really shown his cards yet. We also get to meet Uncle Abe for the first time.
This was again a great story. It is has a wonderful mix of action, magic, characters, snark and suspense to keep me turning the pages. I really love the interesting characters she creates. They are so unique, especially Aphrodite and Little Man and Mary. I love seeing the detective work, but I also really enjoy seeing her struggle with real life. The issues with Danny and Pen and even Baba while still getting her job done is something I can see even mundane cops having problems with. I can’t wait to see where the series go from here.
I should mention that you really want to start with book one in this series, though things are explained pretty well in this book. But I think to really understand Kate’s struggles with what happened in the first book, you need to experience it first.
Her smug look made me want to punch that makeup off her face. She thought she’d somehow discovered a weakness. She was wrong, though. Weakness came from shame, and I was not ashamed of my mom or my past. And maybe if I kept repeating that over and over in my head, I’d finally believe it.
Mean, I could handle, but mean and stupid was a lethal combination.
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 My Review  |
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I’m Melanie and I live in Ohio. I have two horses and a dog. I’m an animal lover, avid book reader and audiobook listener. I like to live vicariously through fictional characters. I enjoy reading and listening to mostly fictional books in the paranormal genre, including Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance and Horror. My favorite paranormal creatures are shifters, doesn’t matter the flavor.
I love the quotes! I think I just might go check the first book out on Amazon, they sound like my kind of read. I like a female protagonist with spunk. 😉
kindlemom1 recently posted…Review: Burn Bright by Patricia Briggs
She does have a lot of spunk. It is a series that I’ve really enjoyed so far.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Goblin Hero by Jim C. Hines (@mlsimmons, @JimCHines)
I need to get back to this series! I enjoyed the first one, but for some reason haven’t gotten back to it. I’m glad you enjoyed it! She makes some interesting characters.
Isn’t it weird how we do that sometimes? We love a book, but let the series fall off for whatever reason. Just too many fun books/authors out there.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Goblin Hero by Jim C. Hines (@mlsimmons, @JimCHines)
Oh! You reminded me. I was going to check and see if my library had these after I read your review of book one. Glad its still going well through book two.
Sophia Rose recently posted…The Great Pick Up Line – Quote Me On This! Blogger Edition
I hope your library has it. If not, try requesting it.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Goblin Hero by Jim C. Hines (@mlsimmons, @JimCHines)
Those covers are so distinctive. As soon as I saw this one, I knew exactly which series this was. These sound so good but I haven’t read them yet. I’m glad this was another good one for you!
They do catch your eye, don’t they? I can’t wait to tackle book three.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Goblin Hero by Jim C. Hines (@mlsimmons, @JimCHines)
Well that’s sure an original story line. Sounds good.
Mary Kirkland recently posted…Apartment Life #16
This is a very original story line. I wish I had started this series sooner.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Goblin Hero by Jim C. Hines (@mlsimmons, @JimCHines)
Maybe I should try book 1 :=)
blodeuedd recently posted…Joint Discussion: Gold for Steel
You really should.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Goblin Hero by Jim C. Hines (@mlsimmons, @JimCHines)
Sounds like a good series. I am going to recommend my library get it and hope that they do. 🙂
Stormi Johnson recently posted…The Week In Review #182
I hope they do too. I think you would enjoy this series, Stormi.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Goblin Hero by Jim C. Hines (@mlsimmons, @JimCHines)
I really enjoyed these so much. I listened to the entire series when she was scheduled to be at NOLA Storycon in 2016. Let’s just be clear I always ship the wrong guy in her books. Except maybe this time! She says maybe. There will be more coming now after a break. I love the same police work while raising her brother and trying to figure out her own life. Anne
I think the real life stuff and the stuff with her brother are what really sets this series apart. You just don’t see that in most UF series.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Goblin Hero by Jim C. Hines (@mlsimmons, @JimCHines)
This series really sounds fantastic! I have the first book on audio and hope to listen to it somewhat soon. I assume that I will be wanting the rest of the books as soon as I get started. Glad you enjoyed this one, Melanie!
Carole recently posted…Stacking the Shelves #108
I started off reading this series because at the time, I was unemployed, so I was reading more than listening. Now that I have a job again, I’m going to pick up book three on audio. Yes, you will want the rest of the books ASAP. 🙂
Melanie recently posted…Review: Goblin Hero by Jim C. Hines (@mlsimmons, @JimCHines)
This looks good. I have book one on my TBR and I think I have it on my kindle (maybe a freebie at one time). I’ll have to try. Thank’s for the review.
Angela recently posted…Angel’s Weekly Book Releases: 2/26 – 3/2
I think Book One was a freebie at one time. I hope you give it a try. I think you will enjoy it, Angela.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Goblin Hero by Jim C. Hines (@mlsimmons, @JimCHines)
Oh yea… starting with book one with these. Usually you have to follow in order with UF. I think you keep moving this series up for me and I really need to get to it!!
Melissa (Books and Things) recently posted…Animal Treat Cookbook: Biscuits Pour Animaux by Cassandra Bouclé
I like the sound of this book. Seems there’s a lot going on and that’s nice the author handles all the different elements so well. I always like a bit of mystery/ suspense in my paranormal books. That Aphrodite character sounds interesting with how s/he is both genders literally. Great review!
Lola recently posted…Review: Wriggle & Sparkle by Megan Derr
This series has some really interesting characters. I’ve really enjoyed the series so far.
Melanie recently posted…Fresh Meat: February 25 to March 3 — 20 Speculative Fiction Releases
Sounds like this one is chock full of fantastic characters, entertainment and magic! It has been so long since I read a book with magic!
Naomi Hop recently posted…American Queen by Sierra Simone ~ Review & Swoon Thursday
This series is so unique. I highly recommend it.
Melanie recently posted…Review: The Snows of Windroven by Jeffe Kennedy (@mlsimmons, @jeffekennedy)