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Bitten
Women of the Otherworld series #1
by Kelley Armstrong

Quick Take:

World Immersion: 9/10
Magic/Tech/Strange System: 8/10
Character Connection: 10/10
Pacing & Plot Snap: 9/10
Brain Cinema Rating: 5/5
Full British Rating: 8.5/10 (With trigger warning) Full BritishThis one barely made the Full British bar, but listen: TRIGGER WARNING. Sexual Assault. Do be careful walking in lightly.Non-Affiliate Author Link: Kelley Armstrong's Website

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Fated
Alex Verus series #1
by Benedict Jacka

What's up, my nuggets?Urban Fantasy dorks, if you love your wizards a little less inclined to save the world and a lot more inclined to avoid trouble, meet Alex Verus! Unlike Harry Potter-Even though this is totally adult Harry Potter and I love it. No insult, I absolutely love it. This world is so fun to be in. I actually used to sit around wondering "What would adult Harry Potter be like?".Thank you Benedict!, signed, The Biggest Harry Potter Dork on her block.Anyway. Alex just wants to run his magic shop in Camden and keep his nose clean. A current day Camden that feels so real I kinda feel like I just got back from a vacation. Like, you ever read a book and have to remind yourself you didn't just actually see a crazy series of events take place? This book has that weird "Did I half remember this?" feeling.Bravo for immersion. This was a wow. Benedict Jacka subtle flexes his ability to paint with words. I'm so here for it.I respect writing like an art form. I genuinely love the way he uses his favorite tools. Clean, sharp execution with these beautiful little runs of vivid description that crackle through the text.I see what you did there. I see what you did there.Some people might criticize his exposition. Sure. Fine. I appreciate your comments. Don't care. How dare you insult my opinion with your opinion. Glad to know we don't appreciate writing the same way.Thankfully I don't review books based upon the standards of the all mighty publishing industry. I review them for people who are afflicted with a vivid imagination. Can we continue?Alex is an angry fellow that trouble has a way of finding. Often. Dragging him into London's incredibly dangerous magical underworld. This book is a masterclass in tight plotting, clever magic, and characters who are anything but black and white. A plot doesn't need to be deep to be good. It doesn't have to be lavish with the ornaments of twists and turns to be a great read. But, seriously, get ready to question everyone's motives. I liked that Jacka showed restraint while still coloring deeply. And that he unapologetically made Alex ruthless.Thanks for not coping out and deciding "Every character must be noble."Let's be honest.All of our role models eventually go to prison.I don't think that's wrong. I think his moral ambiguity kept the tight plot a violin string. I dug it.What makes Fated so utterly compelling is its unique magic system, especially Alex's divination. It’s so well thought out and used in such smart ways. The world-building is seamless, making you believe in a London where light mages and dark mages secretly wage war, and Alex is always just one wrong choice away from disaster.One criticism though, Benedict. Please explain the CCTV issue. I hope you did in later books. I mean magic duels in the street... ya know... I'm gonna hand waive it only because Marvel got away with 30 trillion dollars in damages between movies for years and no one pointed out New York's Money Glitch.I guess Thanos got rid of the bill during #TheSnappening too, huh?It’s got a brilliant, almost noir-ish mystery vibe, high stakes, and a protagonist you can't help but root for, even when he's being a bit of a reluctant hero. And a bit of a shit. And I do mean that. Dive in, you won't regret seeing all the possibilities. Rock solid magic system. So good you’ll kind of be mad you didn’t think of it first.Even if you don't like Alex, I think we need to appreciate immersion in characters you don't have to like to enjoy. That's the lesson with Verus for me so far.Can't wait to read more, but swear to waffles? Sometimes I wanna push Alex down the stairs and swear it was an accident.But that's what's cool about him.

Quick Take:

World Immersion: 9/10
Magic/Tech/Strange System: 10/10
Character Connection: 8/10
Pacing & Plot Snap: 9/10
Brain Cinema Rating: 4/5
Full British Rating: 8.5/10 Certified Full British
Non-Affiliate Author Link: Benedict Jacka's Website

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Magic Bites
Kate Daniels series #1
by Ilona Andrews

Whats up, my nuggets?If you want your Urban Fantasy to hit you like an angry stepchild, then you NEED Kate Daniels in your life. And even if you don't think you need it in your life, I'm telling you that you're wrong.Just accept that.This book drops you into a post-magic-apocalypse Atlanta where magic crashes, messing with technology and bringing all sorts of monstrous creatures out to play. Kate is a sword-wielding mercenary with a seriously dangerous past, and she’s probably the only person equipped to deal with the insane magical kerfuffles that pop out of fat air.Yes I used kerfuffle in a sentence. What you didn't see is me misspell the word "sentence" right after and stare at the word for 60 full seconds trying to figure out HOW I misspelled it.Don't act like you've never done that, I'm just awkward enough to admit it. You're better than me."I have the moral high ground, Anakin!"This world is gritty, brutal, and utterly captivating. Seriously, the way magic and technology clash here is, in the words of King Julian:"Pwetty Amazing."I won't spoil it here, but it's definitely worth experiencing on your own. You'll love the way magic is written and the consequences of it in the world. It's very well fleshed out and fun to watch characters engage with. It feels alive, and I know that term gets thrown around very "buzzwordy" in the industry of reviews, but this one actually lives up to the hype. For a person with a vivid imagination you'll absolutely appreciate it. I know I do as an auti.What makes Magic Bites so phenomenal is how quickly you're immersed in this deadly, fascinating version of Atlanta. The magic of the world isn't just a backdrop, as I said before. It's a living, breathing force that shapes everything, and the creatures are legitimately terrifying.Like, legit terrifying.
Double stamped it, no reversies.Kate herself is an absolute queen of snark and badassery, always ready with a sharp retort or an even sharper blade. It’s action-packed, fast-paced, and builds a foundation for one of the coolest, most expansive Urban Fantasy worlds out there. I'm a little mad I have such a crazy backlog because I actually wanna read more of this series.Unfortunate.

Quick Take:

World Immersion: 9/10
Magic/Tech/Strange System: 9/10
Character Connection: 9/10
Pacing & Plot Snap: 9/10
Brain Cinema Rating: 5/5
Full British Rating: Full BritishNon-Affiliate Author Link: Ilona Andrews Website

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Moon Called
Mercy Thompson series #1
by Patricia Briggs

What's up, my nuggets?Okay, Urban Fantasy dorks, if you haven't met Mercy Thompson, you are seriously missing out on a legend! She's a coyote shapeshifter, a mechanic with a cool classic car, and she lives in the Pacific Northwest surrounded by werewolves, vampires, and fae.What could go wrong, right?
Everything, apparently!Side note: What the hell is going on with the Pacific Northwest that it keeps attracting man-eating mythological beings? This has been going on since before Bella Swan. I think we need to hire a team of investigators.This book throws you headfirst into a world where supernaturals are out of the closet like the French Quarter, but still have plenty of secrets and dangerous politics. Mercy is tough, independent, and always getting into trouble she absolutely didn't ask for, but she kicks butt while doing it.All the butt actually.
So much butt she has to pack two pairs of shoes. Believe me, I checked, there are no more butts left to be kicked. There's just cheeks. everywhere.This world felt so freakin’ real to me, not just because of the gritty setting, but because of the deep dives into shifter pack dynamics and vampire lore. I could write a whole second review on the rules of this unbelievably cool world.Look, I was a Twi-Hard back in the day, but this might be a second favorite supernatural haunt for my secret vampire it.I closet heart vampires so bad I'm thinking about writing a series of my own for everyone to ignore (if they're smart!).Patricia Briggs builds a community (albeit a very dangerous one) that you can't help but get invested in. It’s got action, intriguing mysteries, and characters that quickly feel like complicated friends. Sometimes for better or worse depending on what kind of friends you have.Not judging…Prepare to be obsessed with a world where the supernatural is just trying to live (and sometimes eat) amongst us. Zero pretentious mouth dabbing after.

Quick Take:

World Immersion: 9/10
Magic/Tech/Strange System: 9/10
Character Connection: 8/10
Pacing & Plot Snap: 9/10
Brain Cinema Rating: 5/5
Full British Rating: Full British
(So close this one is a Full British just off vibes! But TRIGGER WARNING. There's Sexual Assault themes in this one. Careful. SERIOUS trigger warning).Non-Affiliate Author Link: Patricia Briggs' Website

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Rivers of London
Peter Grant series #1
by Ben Aaronovitch

What's up, my nuggets?If you thought London was just a city of red buses and bad tea, prepare to have your mind blown…Okay, look, it IS red buses and bad tea, depending on where you go, but still.Prepare to have your mind blown!This book is the epitome of sophisticated, witty Urban Fantasy, and we’re complete dorks for it at QF. Meet Peter Grant, a probationary constable who, by sheer accident mind you, stumbles into the world of magic and becomes the apprentice of the last officially sanctioned English muffins.I mean wizards.This book is set in modern day London, and the police are apparently in on the fact that there's magic in the world. There's a department for it on the decline it seems, and magic in this world is kind of "Sciency" as opposed to a chosen trait or something. I thought that was cool. The world also seems to assume that if you kinda work at it, a normal person might actually be able to learn magic. That was a cool concept.The story is two fold. There's a sort of Gangs of New York situation going on between factions and Peter Grant is basically there to be the negotiator. The mediator, if you will.
What I love is that with all of this mundanity going on, London isn't just bricks and mortar; it's a living entity with moody river gods, haunted Tube stations, and a secret magical society lurking beneath its historical streets. The blend of police procedural with supernatural weirdness? Absolute genius. I love when a writer tucks a magical world inside of ours. Stuffing it in there like a delicious hot pocket of world building goodness. And pizza filling.I like my hot pockets with pizza filling.Totally unrelated, I just thought that I should mention.The only difference is Rivers of London is fresh, never frozen.The other bit of the book is it's crime element. People committing violent crimes for a mysterious reason we find out about later on in the book.What truly makes this world sing is its dry, sardonic humor and how deeply magic is woven into the city's fabric. It feels like it’s supposed to be there. It isn’t a weirdly forced ‘secret world’ trope. It’s the version you really, really want to be real. Aaronovitch makes London a character itself, steeped in history and populated by genuinely eccentric individuals, both human and supernatural. It's smart, it's charming, and it pulls you into a secret London. A proper British magical adventure. Pinky’s up ladies. This is top shelf darjeeling in magical form.Now, I'll say this much:Please do not let the hype trick you into thinking this book was built "deep". It's not. It's a very lived-in story, vividly described. I've her criticism about "long chapters" but to those of us who love sitting in a world and really living in spaces, it felt fine. I'd argue people criticizing the chapter length likely have a fairly short attention span or are readers who don't dig the appeal of well sizzled words. If 30+ page chapters bother you, you've kinda failed the mission with this one.It's a dense but light read. The plot isn't insanely deep or earth shattering, it's just a damn good read deserving of it's place among the highest rated books in its genre.And for auti's and Vivid Minds? This is for us.

Quick Take:

World Immersion: 9/10
Magic/Tech/Strange System: 9/10
Character Connection: 8/10
Pacing & Plot Snap: 7.5/10
Brain Cinema Rating: 4/5
Full British Rating: No.Not Quite. I wanted this to be better, but it wasn't bad in the least. Very enjoyable and as far as Brain Cinema goes? Solid.Non-Affiliate Author Link: Ben Aaronovitch's Website

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Rosemary and Rue
October Daye series #1
by Seanan McGuire

What's up my nuggets?This one is a mood. And that mood is "dark, beautiful, and probably going to hurt your feelings in the best way." Rosemary and Rue introduces us to October "Toby" Daye, a half-human, half-fae private investigator who's been through the wringer.After a fourteen-year curse turned her into a fish (seriously, you'll see), she comes back to find her old life gone and the fae world of San Francisco more treacherous than ever.No, really. I'm not being koi.And rimshots were had by all.This isn't your fluffy, sparkly fae; this is the real, brutal, political, and utterly captivating ones. This story's got murder, ancient grudges, and a heroine who just can’t seem to catch a break. Seanan really likes tormenting Toby.Isn't it messed up how the characters you love the most get treated the worst by you?Such is life. As above so below.What grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go is the sheer depth of this fae world tucked into California. It feels incredibly old and dangerous, with layers upon layers of lore and power struggles. Toby herself is such a beautifully flawed character; you just want to hug her and then shove her out of the way of danger simultaneously.This is something I attribute to Seanan McGuire's writing. It's tight and efficient and while the kinetics and motion don't QUITE slap the way I like, what I will say is it still scratches my world-building and lore love. While I wouldn't lie and say this is the most immersive read, the world-building was super solid. I felt the fae world and wanted to live in it. I didn't feel like the story was dragging my attention along.The mysteries are genuinely intriguing, pulling you deeper into a hidden society where beauty masks deadly intentions. If you love your Urban Fantasy with rich, complex world-building and a side of existential angst, as I pointed out earlier, you need this in your life.Like, yesterday.Just a side note- because it needs to be said- this is easily one of the strongest character performances in a book.Ever.And by performance, I mean the writer made this character in away that made her feel like someone you can actually come to understand. Seanan has humanized October Daye in a way that makes you love her. The world is deep and rich, the character is perfect in my opinion, and while the pacing isn’t perfect, it’s imperfect in the best way. It meanders. It lets you live in the world. As a sensory reader who loves world-building, while it didn't give me the kinetics I love, it gave me everything else. I tend to appreciate writing like art. I don't look for it to be more than it is. I look for a good read.I wouldn’t change a thing.

Quick Take:

World Immersion: 7.5/10
Magic/Tech/Strange System: 9/10
Character Connection: 10/10
Pacing & Plot Snap: 7/10
Brain Cinema Rating: 3.5/5
Full British Rating: Full BritishI changed my mind about this one on a second read. I like October Daye so much as a character. She sold me.Non-Affiliate Author Link: Seanan McGuire Website

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Storm Front
The Dresden Files #1
by Jim Butcher

This was a wow. I’d heard about it but didn’t expect to like it this much! If you haven't met Harry Dresden yet, stop what you're doing right now.Put down the cheese sandwich.
Assuming you eat cheese sandwiches. Though honestly, cheese only? That is kind of bizarre.This book kicks off one of the most iconic Urban Fantasy series ever, dragging you into a Chicago where magic is real, often messy, and always dangerous. Harry's a wizard-for-hire (You’re a wizard, Harry! - Couldn’t resist), complete with a snarky attitude, a battered old car, and a knack for finding trouble. Tons of it.I won't lie to you and say this book is dripping with detail, but Jim Butcher does one thing really right: kinetic motion, cause and effect and the like. It feels serviceable enough in the margins to paint mental pictures, but the action and combat are where it shines. The world-building is very serviceable. Not the best I've seen, but not the worst.The thing to remember is: That stuff isn't the point.This debut delivers a gritty, fast-paced dive into a world of vampires, fae, demons, and the very human wizard caught in the middle. It's got everything an Urban Fantasy dork like me lives for: cool magic in a familiar city, witty dialogue, and a hero who just can't catch a break. Shout out to underdogs everywhere. I love a good underdog story.And trust me, Harry is the consummate underdog. He’s broke, lives in a crappy place and lives the life of a guy who seems to attract punches to the face. He’s basically every D&D character who rolled a natural 1 on Charisma but a natural 20 on "What’s the worst thing that could happen to me… like… right now." You can't help but root for the guy, even when he's making the worst decisions.What makes Storm Front so good is how quickly it immerses you. You immediately get a feel for Harry's struggles and the hidden magical underbelly of Chicago. I love the way the magic of this series stays in your nostrils like perfume in an elevator. While the series definitely grows and gets even more epic, this is where you fall in love with Harry and his chaotic life. It's a proper ride, full of unexpected twists and genuinely fun characters that just scream “you there, I’ll have another!”I will have another. When I get through my TBR. Oof!

Quick Take:

World Immersion: 8/10
Magic/Tech/Strange System: 8/10
Character Connection: 9/10
Pacing & Plot Snap: 8/10
Brain Cinema Rating: 4/5
Full British Rating: YesNon-Affiliate Author Link: Jim Butcher's Website

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Vicious
Villains series #1
by V.E. Schwab

What's up, my nuggets?Urban Fantasy dorks, if you've ever secretly rooted for the bad guy (or wondered if the good guy was just a villain in disguise), then you NEED this book intravenously introduced to your blood stream via drip. This book drops you into a world where near-death experiences can unlock incredible, dangerous superpowers, creating what they call ExtraOrdinaries, or EOs. Our protagonists, Victor Vale and Eli Ever, are two ex-best friends, now bitter rivals, obsessed with each other and with power.And probably waffles.
If I had super powers I’d be obsessed with waffles.Don’t act like that’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever heard me say.Vicious isn't the kind of book that's necessarily dripping with description. It definitely has enough. What makes it cinematic Brain Cinema is the fact that V.E. Schwab uses tight, concise sentences to sell pace and intention.It's an emotionally driven tale that puts us in morally gray positions that feel righteously earned. V.E. Schwab punches with words. I really love that. There isn't an appeal to descriptive prose as often as there is an appeal to efficient prose. Schwab is a literary pugilist, selecting blocks of words to sell ideas and moments in a way that one can only call META. Most Efficient Tactic Available.I respect that so hard.This isn't your flashy superhero story; it's a gritty, dark dive into obsession, revenge, and the terrifying consequences of wielding extraordinary abilities in a very ordinary, messed-up world. Yeah; that means people who didn’t deserve it end up getting the business.What gripped me and pulled me in about Vicious is how Schwab masterfully blurs the lines between hero and villain. You'll find yourself questioning who to root for, if anyone, as the narrative jumps through time, revealing layers of betrayal and ambition. It’s kinda hard to get me to dislike the good guy a little. Wasn’t hard this time, but the master stroke is in understanding WHY. Schwab is a force in this book. The powers are incredibly cool and uniquely personal to each character's death experience.The magic system.Frankly?V.E. Schwab wants you to know that you are now watching a master at work.It's smart, intense, and utterly compelling, proving that sometimes, the most fascinating stories are about the monsters we make ourselves.Get ready to pick your side... or just enjoy the chaos! This was great brain cinema. Definitely worth the price of admission.

Quick Take:

World Immersion: 9/10
Magic/Tech/Strange System: 10/10
Character Connection: 9/10
Pacing & Plot Snap: 9/10
Brain Cinema Rating: 4/5
Full British Rating: Full BritishNon-Affiliate Author Link: V.E. Schwab's Website

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Harry Potter series #1
by J.K. Rowling

What's up, my nuggets?Fellow dorks, let's talk about the OG modern Portal Fantasy/Urban Fantasy. I call it Portal Fantasy because of fireplace travel and alley portals. And because Hogwarts probably ruined all other magical schools for everyone.Even you.Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is pure, unadulterated, concentrated wonder. Without a doubt, hands down my favorite series of all time. I'm an absolute biased dork about this one and I won't be convinced I'm wrong.You meet Harry, stuck under the stairs because Uncle Vernon is an absolute jerk and then BOOM!All of a sudden there’s owls, magic letters, every flavor beans, dudes in turbans, singing hats and a one-way ticket to a hidden world of wands, spells, and chocolate frogs!You didn’t hear me.
I said CHOCOLATE. FREAKIN’. FROGS!J.K. Rowling builds a world that's so immersive, you'll spend the rest of your life desperately checking your mail for an invitation to the school we all wish we went to. And no I'm not talking about Beauxbatons.Every detail, from the moving staircases to the sorting hat, just screams "I want to live here right now and forever."Even though I have never officially declared a house (I kinda know what it'll be) I've been a fan of this series for so long I'm practically an honorary member of them all.What makes this book such a monumental hit is how effortlessly it pulls you through that magical portal. You discover the wizarding world right alongside Harry, feeling every gasp of awe, every moment of fear, and every spark of friendship. The magic system is deceptively simple at first, but it quickly blossoms into something truly enchanting. And honestly, the characters? Harry, Ron, Hermione (Shout out to the people who know how to pronounce it. She was “Hermy-on” before I saw the movies years ago)- they’re basically family. It’s got a perfect blend of mystery, adventure, and cozy school vibes. Yes, you will sit around wondering for hours what house you’d be in too.Yes, you will sit around for hours wondering which class you’ll be in. Just like the rest of us.Stop lying.I’m still on the fence though. About my House, honestly- part of me is Gryffindor for the courage, but a big part is Slytherin for the ambition and resourcefulness... I know, right? Slytherin.We listen and we don’t judge. :|This book is comfort food for the soul, but like, magical comfort food.
Magical comfort food that’s probably Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Maybe Golden Grahams.Don’t @ me.

Quick Take:

World Immersion: 10/10
Magic/Tech/Strange System: 9.5/10
Character Connection: 9/10
Pacing & Plot Snap: 9.5/10
Full British Rating: 9.5/10 Full BritishFull Bias too. This book is perfect. Masterpiece. Entire series. I do not care what you say. Feel however you want to feel about it. I'm not questioning you crying over your favorite things from childhood.Non-Affiliate Author Link: J.K. Rowling's Website

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