Kindling the Moon (Arcadia Bell Series #1)

This was good

Where I can't really say I couldn't put this book down (I did several times) - it still kept my interest. It was different and I hope she continues with these characters. I really enjoyed the interaction she had with Lon and Jupe. I would recommend this book and author.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

FANTASTIC new Urban Fantasy series!

Originally posted as "Spaz Reviews" at Wicked Lil Pixie dot com.
I will start out with saying I was smitten with this book right from the beginning. Ms. Bennett does a wonderful job with creating a unique twist on demons and how they are identified by one another. Each Earthbound demon, and anything else preternatural, has a halo around their heads, which helps each other to identify the other with a diffused colorful cloud. The humans are deemed "savages", slang for humans who don't believe in anything paranormal, which I really got a kick out of. The AErthyric demons that are usually the scarier ones that are safely tucked away on another plane can be summoned by talented magicians, with the proper rituals and seals. I enjoyed this world and mythology building and was sucked right in to it.

Arcadia "Cady" is a really cool heroine. She is strong without being the tough-talking over-the-top badass. She has sublime powers in magic and she uses a caduceus, not swords and guns. Hello COOL! I love sword and gun toting heroines, don't get me wrong, but this was just such a nice change of pace. Everything from her really cool colored hair, to her unique magical abilities, to her modesty over her powers is completely refreshing and charming. {Arcadia was also the name of a favorite pop group of mine formed in 1985 by Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor of Duran Duran, and my 80s Pop Culture Whore self had to point that out!!} *swoon*

But I digress. for all these reasons above, she instantly became a favorite heroine for me. Even though Cady had one or two dum-dum moments where I felt like she should have seen something coming, they were forgivable because of the overall nature of her character. What I loved the most about her was that she was very honest with herself over her faults. This is huge for me. There is nothing I can't stand more than a heroine who is oblivious of her own issues, thus belching said issues all over everyone else, and in some cases blaming them for it. There was no self-pity in Cady's way of life, she just wanted to do what was right, for her parents. and particularly for Lon and Jupe.

Which next leads me to the hero, Lon. Holy cannoli did I melt over Lon. He is mysterious, aloof, intense, and yet so much more than he initially appears to be. He is finally someone that Cady can share her secrets with and he respects them and treasures them in a way someone (Cady!) deserves. What I loved the most about him and this story was that Lon helped Cady for no other hidden motive aside from initially admitting he wanted to get in to her pants. There was no ultimate betrayal on his part, which often happens nowadays in UF series. And even when he overreacted about something, and made my heart go "owwwwwwchieeeee" for Cady, he called himself on it and corrected it.

This was a fantastic debut to a new series I am very excited over, and a must-read for all lovers of Urban Fantasy, with such a compelling and believable romance. I was left dying to know what happens to the characters after I grew so very fond of them all. Everyone: look out for this author, she's someone to sit up and take notice of! Waiting for the next book in the series, Summoning the Night, is going to be agony!

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Wonderful Debut- Can't wait to read more

Kindling the Moon is a wonderful, fast paced debut by author Jenn Bennett. There's action, mystery, magic, demons, betrayal, love, lust and family bonds. This story is filled with fascinating and dynamic characters that I can't wait to read more of in future books. If you're a fan of Urban Fantasy with a touch of spicy romance then you'll really enjoy this one.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

The Bennett universe opens with a terrific refreshing urban fantasy thriller

In Morella, California, Arcadia Bell co-owns Tambuku Tiki Lounge where some of her ebst customers are demons. Cady is not her birth name as seven years ago, her parents, Enola and Alexander Duval were accused of killing three rival mage occultists of the Luxe Order. Although they insisted they were innocent, they could not prove it. Thus the Duval family went into hiding with the cooperation of their order.

However, Cady is shook when a tape on the news shows her parents have been sighted having returned to the States. The Luxe Order supported by other occults want the three Duval's dead, but Caliph Superior of her occult gives her an alternate choice of proving her parents' innocence before she and they become sacrificial road kill. Cady needs to find the Aethyric Albino Demon who actually murdered the trio in order to learn who made the paranormal commit the atrocity. She teams up with earthbound demon Lon Butler whose halo differs from the norm for his race. Neither expected to find a ruthless bounty hunter and the Luxe Order stalk them while the clues lead hell.

The Bennett universe opens with a terrific refreshing urban fantasy thriller starring a delightful mage in peril and the demon who accompanies her on her impossible quest to identify the real killer before the other occults execute her and her family. The keys to this fabulous first fantasy are the various creatures that populate Jenn Bennett's vision of California seem real and the energy of Cady who is the energizer bunny but under hostile conditions. With an unexpected incredible twist, Kindling of the Moon is a fabulous thriller.

Harriet Klausner

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Great start to a new series

I really enjoyed this urban fantasy. It has the right amount of action, suspense, romance and comedy.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

cant wait for book 2

Loved it!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great book, worth the read!

This was a very enjoyable first in the series. I'm excited to see where she goes with the next one and seeing the characters progress. Well written.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great New Author!

Just the right amount of drama, romance, humor, and betrayal this book grabs you from the begining and dosnt let go. Jenn Bennett gives you great charecters and a story that is entertaining. A new twist on magic Kindling The Moon is just the right book for readers having a hard time sifting through the masses of Urban Fantasy books out there.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Original and completely engrossing urban fantasy

I already raved about this a couple weeks back on goodreads when I read an advanced copy of this. Now that I'm buying my own copy, I thought I'd say it again here. Fantastic, original world-building and a fast-paced mystery are only the tip of the iceberg. It's the characters that really sing in this one and make the world seem so real. A great blend of humor, horror, and romance. I didn't want the story to end!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Terrible! Skip this one! At the core of this book are a lot of

Terrible! Skip this one!

At the core of this book are a lot of good ideas. Unfortunately, they were hamstrung by unpleasant and unlikeable characters, plot contrivances to ramp up the sexual tension, and a clunky romance. I actually found myself repulsed by how blithely Arcadia and Lon "roofied" each other as well as other people, cast spells willy nilly without questioning the morality of what they were doing, and didn't seem to care about the consequences of their actions.

I was also disappointed that Arcadia seemed to care more about her relationship with Lon than about, oh you know, TRYING TO SAVE HERSELF AND HER FAMILY. There should have been real urgency to solve the mystery, but time and again, the plot took a back seat to Arcadia and Lon being goofy over each other. There's more, but I've already wasted enough time on this one. Do yourself a favor and find something else to read.

Different, romantic, highly recommended

Slow start, but completely engaging once Lon and his son enter the picture. Original worldbuilding. Great characters that feel very real. One of my fav new UF series.

Loads of fun!

I very much enjoyed this book. While the ending could have been better motivated, Bennett has a delightful sense of humor, does a great job with her characters and setting, and she keeps the story moving.

Same old, same old

Weak story with weak characters. Typical of the kind of paranormal romances seen in the last few years. Main character talks tough, but spends book being rescued. Too many pages spent on worrying about the guy and not enough on a real plot. Read only if you have nothing else better to read.

0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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