Ruby Loren

My first read from author Ruby Loren was extremely well written, the characters, well developed. I’m a character reader, I get into the characters. Who and what they are. Why they do the things they do. The things that make the reader get invested into the characters and thereby the story. This edition of The Lavender of Larch Hall came with a second book, The Starling’s Summer ( Haley Argent #2), as a bonus book. After reading it I so enjoyed it that I went out and got The Swallows Storm (Haley Argent #1).… (mais)

A fair start

Excellent characterization, you want to follow along. I had to rate it downward a bit though, for two reasons:
Firstly due to a pet peeve of mine, which is to create an evidently smart character & then have them do something so bizarrely stupid that it's out of character. Usually this is done to increase the ACTION or drama to try to increase engagement. To me it's too much at the expense of believability, and I have to throw it down for a time.
Second, the plot is a little weak, but not so much as to create an unbelievable moment, and it is done reasonably, if a bit juvenile at times… (mais)

3 stars
Hazel Salem is from a magical family but has no magic herself, or does she. She's the main character in this new to me Cozy witch mystery series. She a writer who has inherited her mothers apothecary in a town where witchcraft is practiced out in the open. A murder happens before the book begins and Hazel who has created a local magazine for some income because her dead mother's apothecary produces little income, decides to investigate and possibly gain some interest in her magazine.
Hazel has two cats one a talking cat named Hemlock

“Hazel… The whole point of having a familiar is that you don’t need to talk to yourself like a crazy person. I’m here to guide you, like cat Yoda. Cat Yoda who you should give coffee.”

The earliest clue you have that Hazel may indeed have some magic.
Jeese Heathen is a powerful magic user that shows up, in the end he saves Hazel but you are never really sure if she can trust him.

“Mark my words. Things are going to change around here, and you’re involved.”

I enjoyed the book, the banter between characters, the possible love triangle between Tristan and Jesse. It's a short book 200 page book that keeps the plot moving so there isn't a ton of character development, but I like them well enough to be looking forward to the next book in the series.

Cozies Reading Challenge… (mais)

4 stars
I thought this was better then the first book, the characters are more developed and Hazel solves the mystery on her own The book has some Harry Potter moments in fact at one point

He saw my thoughts written across my face. “Fine. But you don’t understand, and I know you’ll say ‘make me understand’, but I can’t, not yet. It isn’t the right time.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Are you Dumbledoring me?”

and also like Harry Hazel thought to have no magic may in fact be the most powerful witch of all, and possibly is the daughter of a witch and devil.

The story ends on a cliffhanger as Aunt Linda is arrested and taken away by a powerful magician from the Witch Council, but before that we witness the mayor making a sketchy deal so a couple of series recurring mysteries. The love triangle with Jeese and Tristan never occured as Tristan hardly appears in book 2 at all

Aside from a lighter tone this reminds me of Kim Harrison's Hollows series.

Cozies Reading Challenge… (mais)