Synopsis and Book details: Cold-blooded kidnappers. Long-lost magic. When things get serious, she goes full Sherlock. Ashira Cohen takes pride in being the only female private investigator in Vancouver. With her skills, her missing persons case should be a piece of cake. She wasn’t counting on getting bashed in the skull, revealing a hidden tattoo and supernatural powers she shouldn’t possess. Or the bitter icing on top: a spree of abductions and terrifying ghostly creatures on a deadly bender. And don’t even get her started on the golems. Reluctantly partnered with her long-time nemesis Levi, the infuriating leader of the magic community, Ash resolves to keep her focus on the clue trail and off their sexual tension because WTF is up with that? But with a mastermind organization pulling strings from the shadows and Levi’s arrogance driving her to pick out his body bag, can Ash rescue the captives and uncover the truth or will the next blood spilled be her own? Listening length: 8 hours, 45 minutes Published January 23rd 2020 by Deborah Wilde My thoughts:
Blood and Ash is the first book in Deborah Wilde's new urban fantasy series set in Vancouver, Canada. Ashira (Ash) Cohen has been pursuing her childhood dream of becoming the best possible private investigator possible. She inherited her love of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson fictional world from her father Adam Cohen who used to read to her Conan Doyle's books. Then one day Adam just walked out of Ashira and her mother's life never to be seen again. Ash went through a difficult time trying to accept her father's decision. She also vouched to herself never to be a victim or 'a mark' of somebody else's games or tricks. We meet Ash as she is doing a surveillance job on a rebellious teenager Charlotte Rose. The taskthat was supposed to be a piece of cake almost lands Ash herself in hot trouble as she discovers that her client hid her daughter's magic powers. Being a mundane, Ash is banned from working cases like that. She could lose her licence, but this is the least of her worries. During the fight she got a superficial wound on her head that damaged a magic tattoo that Ash didn't have any idea about. Keen to investigate her own case, Ash also makes a life-altering discovery- she suddenly develops an odd kind of blood magic that isn't even supposed to exist. Now she is in big trouble with the head of the local magic community Levi Montefiore. The world-building in this book was just brilliant. Based on Jewish culture references, it was original and kept my interest throughout the book. Ash is a strong protagonist. Snarky, independent, prone to dropping an occasional f-bomb, she is also a loyal friend and a decent person who has her heart in the right place. I adored Priya, Ash's best friend, flatmate and the only collaborator. Add steamy romance with tall, dark and handsome Levi who also happens to be Ash's childhood friend/nemesis. Hollie Jackson did a wonderful job of giving all these characters (and many others) their unique voices. From Ash's begging for morning coffee voice to Charlotte Rose's teen sulkiness, Levi's irresistible charm and Priya's unfaltering enthusiam, Hollie Jackson showed a great range of expression. I also found that I never wanted to listen at a slower or faster rate, The story had a great flow and at the end of every chapter I wanted to hear just another one, until I listened to the whole book. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audiobook and now I can't wait to find out what is going to happen in the next instalment of the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Te Da media for the audiobook review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
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