Next on my list of favorite reads & authors:
#13
Niki Slobodian Series
by: J.L. Murray
Moving on to the next awesome series on my list, the Niki Slobodian series. I picked up the first book in the series as a freebie on Amazon, the cover just spoke to me! I have to say this was one great read. I quickly found myself buying the rest of the series. I saw a perfect description for this series...think Jim Butcher meets Buffy the Vampire Salyer! The premise of this world is there are Normals and Abnormals and one these groups....guess which one....is being persecuted. Meet Niki...she is a detective and an abnormal but don't be fooled she is tough as hell. I love the story, some seriously intense moments....definitely different than most of your paranormal reads, but so interesting and a definitely worthy of the five star rating. For my urban fantasy/paranormal genre lovers, if you are looking for a new series to dive into, I highly recommend this one! The reading order is as follows:
Book One - Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
Niki Slobodian sees things – things that aren't supposed to be there. Labeled an Abnormal by New Government, her name is tacked onto the Registry, which seems to be getting longer these days. Now she can't work or she'll end up the same place as her father: in prison. But with no money coming in, Niki's getting desperate. So when a mysterious client offers to get her off the Registry in exchange for taking his case, Niki jumps at the chance. All she has to do is round up a homicidal Dark that's escaped from Hell and is cruising around the city in borrowed bodies. The murders are piling up, with Niki's notorious father somehow involved, and Niki's running out of time. And it seems the Dark isn't the only thing that escaped...
Amazon Buy Link: http://amzn.com/B0073998MC
(at the time of this posting, you can download for FREE! Prices are subject to change at any time, please double check before one-clicking.)
Book Two - The Devil is a Gentleman
Where Niki goes, death is never far behind. Everyone Niki Slobodian knows hates Congressman Frank Bradley. He is the father of New Government, after all. He started the Registry, and the world adopted it. Bradley is the man who separated Abnormals and Normals, and made it a crime for Abbies to exist. So when Bradley shows up at Niki's door bearing a terrible secret, then promptly disappears, she feels compelled to dig deeper. But the more Niki uncovers, the more danger she is in. A mysterious organization is out for her blood - literally - and her father's criminal past may not be as self-serving as she thought. There is also the matter of Niki's inscrutable employer Sam and the secret of his identity. With help from her partner Bobby Gage, Niki finds out just how little she knew about her family, and the truth of who she really is.
Amazon Buy Link: http://amzn.com/B0086D3PM8
(at the time of this posting, you can download for FREE! Prices are subject to change at any time, please double check before one-clicking.)
Book Three - Before The Devil Knows You're Dead
The worlds are out of balance. The Creator is missing. And the war between Heaven and Hell has begun.
Niki Slobodian came back, but there were side effects. She is filled with a strange power no one seems to be able to explain. Not even Sam. She is also plagued with strange visions whenever she touches anyone. This does nothing but complicate the fact that she may be the reason for the war raging in the streets of her own city. A war that could mean the end of humanity.
Niki has always done whatever she had to for the people she loves, but this time is different. With carnage escalating and the people she cares for in danger, Niki and Sam must work together to save what is left of the world they both love. And with a psychotic archangel trying to assume the post of the Creator, with one slim chance to right the balance, the odds are against them.
Nothing is ever easy for a Slobodian. Not even stopping a war that could unmake the world.
Amazon Buy Link: http://amzn.com/B009LTL8SE
Book Four - The Devil Was An Angel
"You're not human anymore, Niki. You're one of us now."
Niki Slobodian knows loss. She knows tragedy. But she has never known this kind of pain. After the war the Archangel Michael waged on her city, Niki is dealing with the loss of her loved ones. And the haunting suspicion that everything was her fault. As well as her new duty to help all the lost souls cross over.
But when Niki's only living friend, Bobby Gage, comes up missing, she has to take action. She enlists the help of Lucifer and together they learn that Bobby has been tracking Kane, the man who murdered his family, and who is now killing again, leaving a trail of mutilated corpses all across the globe. And with the power to disappear unnoticed, it seems an impossible feat to find him and stop him.
But Niki is familiar with the impossible. And she would do anything to help her only living friend. Anything.
Amazon Buy Link: http://amzn.com/B00CTXW6BM
Book Five - The Devil's Backbone
“What does Death fear?”
Niki has been to Hell and back to find a single shred of something to call a life. As Death, she has very little time to do anything but usher the lost souls to their resting places. But when Lucifer, the reason for her taste of happiness, comes up missing, Niki has to face how she feels about him. And about the prospect of losing him.
At the same time, there is something stalking the living of the World. Something from another place…somewhere far from the reaches of Heaven or Hell. And someone is opening up holes in the world and letting the monsters out.
Niki has to make a choice: save her only chance at something good, or fulfill her duties as Death and save humanity. But something is coming. Something bigger and more terrifying that could put all the worlds in peril. Something even the Creator fears. With all the angels out of commission, Niki might be the World’s — and the devil’s — last chance at survival.
And in case she didn't have enough to deal with, the Creator has given Niki another gift...
Amazon Buy Link: http://amzn.com/B00KW0392E
A Few Awesome Quotes:
“Eli joined Bobby in laughter. “Oh, Niki, we know you can't help it. But you're like a bull that goes into a china shop, blows everyone away, breaks all the china, and then kicks all the bodies for good measure.”
― J.L. Murray, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
“If you think you know anything else about this war, you are wrong. It is war. Both sides hate, and lie, and kill.”
― J.L. Murray, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
“You want me to stop the war that you started,” said Michael. “All that time among humankind has weakened your mind, just like theirs. None of them want to take responsibility for their own actions, and they plead with others to ignore their actions and erase the consequences.”
― J.L. Murray, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Social Media Links:
Website: http://www.jlmurraywriter.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jlmurraywriter/?ref=br_rs
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5618396.J_L_Murray
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jlmurraywriter
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Check out this review... ;-)
What does Death fear?
By LauraK on July 15, 2014
I read this book as soon as it was available, but I haven't been ready to write a review until now. I have loved every minute of this series, and I have been privileged to witness the evolution and growth of Niki's character. Knowing this would be the final book in the series, I was very anxious to read it. I was anxious to see where it would go, how it could possibly end, but also worried about poor Niki who had already been through so much.
I can't stand reviews with spoilers, so I promise not to ruin any of the book for readers. But I will say that I am very happy with the way this series was wrapped up. It stayed true to the previous books, with heart-stopping action, snarky banter and no nonsense kick assery. And of course there was also pain and death and gore and tragedy. Niki wasn't meant for a traditional happy ever after, but she gets a fitting and satisfying send off in this last book.
Perhaps my favorite part of the book was the central theme, What does Death fear? I love the way JL Murray is able to personify mythical entities (Death, Lucifer, the Creator, and others). She creates real, rounded personalities for them, and they are credible characters. I certainly never would have guessed that I would be all teary eyed over the romantic liaison between Death and Lucifer! And the idea that there is always something or someone greater or more powerful out there, that every being has someone or something to answer to, is very thought provoking.
So, as sad as I am to say goodbye to Niki, at least this book will keep me thinking of her with a smile.
I can't stand reviews with spoilers, so I promise not to ruin any of the book for readers. But I will say that I am very happy with the way this series was wrapped up. It stayed true to the previous books, with heart-stopping action, snarky banter and no nonsense kick assery. And of course there was also pain and death and gore and tragedy. Niki wasn't meant for a traditional happy ever after, but she gets a fitting and satisfying send off in this last book.
Perhaps my favorite part of the book was the central theme, What does Death fear? I love the way JL Murray is able to personify mythical entities (Death, Lucifer, the Creator, and others). She creates real, rounded personalities for them, and they are credible characters. I certainly never would have guessed that I would be all teary eyed over the romantic liaison between Death and Lucifer! And the idea that there is always something or someone greater or more powerful out there, that every being has someone or something to answer to, is very thought provoking.
So, as sad as I am to say goodbye to Niki, at least this book will keep me thinking of her with a smile.
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Kickass cover art, kickass story and kickass characters. Yep, you guessed it, this series is kickass awesome ;-) I was so happy to discover several new books by J.L. Murray, After the Fire and Blood Day. I will be checking these out very soon!
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zgirlthesupsclub@outlook.com
Thank you for stopping by my Supe Friends! Be sure to swing by again soon, I will be posting #14 on my list of awesome book/series reads. Until then....Happy Reading!!
-Z Girl ❤️
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