CURSED VAMPIRE

Cursed Vampire by Brogan Thomas
Book 3 in the Creatures of the Otherworld series
Narrated by Poppy Royana
Genre: urban fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobook

About Cursed Vampire:

Half unicorn, half bloodsucker, all trouble. When her secret gets out, can this feisty teenager survive?

Tru Dennison’s life feels like a sick joke. Barely coping with the loss of her adoptive grandad, the seventeen-year-old can’t believe it when her no-good uncle kicks her to the curb. And now stuck working two hectic jobs to save up for a place, a shifter customer biting her is the last thing the magical hybrid needs…

Already battling a mysterious illness she can’t seem to shake, Tru is terrified the incident will reveal her hidden bloodline to the supernatural community. And when the shock and the wound cause her sickness to intensify, frightened teen fears saving her life could only make it all so much worse.

Will Tru’s rebel soul be enough to protect her when she becomes the prize in a paranormal tug-of-war?

Source: Info in the "About Cursed Vampire" was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57680186-cursed-vampire on 27/06/2021.

Audiobook Sample :

Buy Link(s):

 

My Thoughts:

Most of what I am going to say about this book, I have already said in my review of the first two books, Cursed Wolf and Cursed Demon. All three books have great story telling quality, wonderful world building, and characters to love!

Unfortunately when I bought this book when it first came out, there was no audiobook version yet. So I had to read this book the old fashioned way :(... it still finished way too quickly!

Empirical Evaluation:

Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 5
Ending = 4
World building = 5
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = 5
Plot = 4
Narration = 4.5

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 cherries

Books In The Creatures of the Otherworld Series:

 

Books In The Rebel of the Otherworld Series:

Amazon

Amazon

Amazon

Books In The Bitten Chronicles Series:

Amazon

Amazon

Amazon

Meet The Author

About Brogan Thomas:

Brogan lives in Ireland with her husband and their eleven furry children: five furry minions of darkness (aka the cats), four hellhounds (the dogs), and two traditional unicorns (fat, hairy Irish cobs).

In 2019 she decided to embrace her craziness by writing about the imaginary people that live in her head. Her first love is her number-one favourite furry child Bob the cob, then reading. When not reading or writing, she can be found knee-deep in horse poo and fur while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.

broganthomas.com | twitter | facebook | instagram | bookbub | pinterest | youtube | amazon | goodreads

The Narrator

About Poppy Royana:

Born and raised in the South East but finding her home in the North, Poppy is a bi British Narrator based in not too sunny Manchester. With experience in musical theatre, Poppy is both a singer and a book lover and teaches singing when she’s not found narrating in her booth.

Poppy’s voice could possibly be mistaken at times for Olivia Colman’s so we’d like to think that, in our opinion, Poppy has an award-winning voice. She sounds warm and uplifting whilst being articulate and crisp; and not only that but she can nail sarcasm to a T. There’s really not much Poppy can’t do!

www.poppyroyanaaudio.com | twitter | facebook | instagram | linkedin | goodreads

FTC Disclosure:
The ebook and audiobook copies of the book were purchased with private funds.
No money received for this review.

THIS KINGDOM WILL NOT KILL ME

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews
Book 1 in the Maggie The Undying series
Narrated by Kristen Sieh
Genre: portal fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobook

About This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me:

When Maggie wakes up cold, filthy and naked in a gutter, it doesn’t take her long to recognize Kair Toren. It’s a city she knows intimately from the pages of a famously unfinished dark fantasy series — one she’s been obsessively reading and re-reading, while waiting years for the final novel.

Her only tools for navigating this gritty world of rival warlords, magic and mayhem? Her encyclopaedic knowledge of the plot, the setting and the characters’ ambitions and fates. But while she quickly discovers she cannot be killed (though many will try!), the same cannot be said for the living, breathing characters she’s coming to love — a motley band that includes a former lady’s maid, a deadly assassin, various outrageous magical creatures and a dangerously appealing soldier. Soon, instead of trying to return home, she finds herself enmeshed in the schemes — and attentions — of duelling princes, dukes and villains. This all while trying to save them and the kingdom of Rellas from the ending she’s seen on the page: a cataclysmic war.

Source: Info in the "About This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me" was taken from amazon on 25/08/2025.

Buy Link(s):

 

My Thoughts:

This book got pre-ordered just because these authors are auto-buy for me. But I was having a hard time getting into the story. Portal fantasy is not my genre. Having said that, I seem to be reading a lot of them lately...

I was having a hard time reading the story for the first half of the book. I thought that a "not their best book" gotta happen sometime and I thought that this was it. However, it did pick up towards the end.

The ending was good but it was the epilogue that ruined it. Having said that, it was still a pleasurable read. Couldn't wait to read the next book in the series!

This is my first Kristen Sieh listen and I would buy audiobooks by her again.

Quantitative Evaluation:

Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 5
Ending = 4
World building = 5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (14 hrs listening time)
Plot = 4.5
Narration = 5

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries

Books In The Maggie The Undying Series:

 

Meet The Authors

About Ilona Andrews:

Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Oregon with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.

www.ilona-andrews.com | twitter | facebook | tiktok | goodreads

The Narrator

About Kristen Sieh:

KRISTEN SIEH is a stage, television, and voice-over performer. She was a member of the original cast of the Tony® Award-winning Broadway musical The Band’s Visit, and a founding member of the Brooklyn-based theater company The TEAM, writing and performing half a dozen new plays in the U.S. and abroad. Her TV credits include recurring roles on House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, and Boardwalk Empire.

instagram | goodreads

FTC Disclosure:
The ebook and audiobook were purchased with private funds.
No money received for this review.

ASHES OF THE EMPIRE

Ashes Of The Empire by D.E. Sherman
Book 3 in the Keiran: The Eternal Mage series
Narrated by Rylee Kuberra and John Joseph Rogers
Genre: fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobook

About Ashes Of The Empire:

It’s been four years since Keiran learned the truth of what happened to his world.

Four years of research and marshaling his resources, four years of experimentation in a futile attempt to recover a faint echo of all that has been lost. His refuge has grown in size and population, and he’s begun to spread knowledge of the old ways of magic in an attempt to revive the lost art to humanity.

There are no more answers to be found at home, and it’s time Keiran sees what’s out there with his own eyes. Armed with more mana than ever, he leaves his sanctuary to explore what’s left of the old kingdoms of the world and plumb their depths for lost secrets.

What he finds is a civilization wrapped up in mysteries and lies, ones that could threaten to break the world a second time.

Keiran will have to untangle it all before it’s too late.

Source: Info in the "About Ashes Of The Empire" was taken from amazon on 30/03/2025.

Buy Link(s):

 

My Thoughts:

Another chunk of a bigger book. Plot started in book 1 and the ending is presumably will be in book 5. Not recommended to be read on its own.

In this book my interest kinda waned. Maybe because there is a bigger threat that outclassed our hero? Maybe it was something else... Anyway, just another installment in the story. Pleasurable read if you are already following the series. I imagine it would be mighty confusing if you are not.

The longest book in the series thus far. And my least favourite.

Once again, Rylee Kuberra and John Joseph Rogers did a wonderful job of bringing this book to life!

Quantitative Evaluation:

Story telling quality = 4
Character development = 5
Story itself = 3.5
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 1
World building = 5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (20 hours and 1 minute listening time)
Plot = 1
Narration = 5

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 cherries

Books In The Keiran: The Eternal Mage Series:

 

Meet The Author

About D.E. Sherman:

D.E. Sherman grew up reading fantasy and tried his hand at writing his first novel on an old MS-DOS text editor program when he was seven years old. That story didn't pan out; maximum character limits were a thing back then. Undeterred, he kept writing on other platforms, reading full-time, devouring JRPGs, and playing D&D, and he is now the author of the Keiran, God Machine, and Ascendant series. He also writes under the pen name 'EmergencyComplaints.'

Timeless Wind Publishing | twitter | amazon | goodreads

The Narrators

About Rylee Kuberra:

I am Rylee Kuberra and I am what I like to call a storyteller at heart and an artist by trade.

I’m an actress, audiobook narrator, and creative collaborator who’s passionate about giving voice to stories that deserve to be heard, seen, and experienced. Whether I’m on stage, in front of the camera, or behind the mic, my goal is to bring truth and honesty to every story I am breathing life into.

I’ve narrated over 150 audiobooks available on Audible, working with publishers such as Simon & Schuster, Podium, Tantor, Royal Guard Publishing and more! My voice has become home to everything from YA heroines and historical dramas to gritty thrillers and rich fantasy worlds. My goal? To make the listener forget they’re listening — and instead, feel like they’re living the story. Because, who doesn’t want to get lost in a different world for a bit?

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my little corner of the internet. It truly means the world to me. Whether you're here out of curiosity, collaboration, or just stumbled upon this page - I'm so glad you’re here.

If something sparked your interest or you'd like to create something together, I’d love to hear from you. Let’s make something meaningful.

www.ryleekuberra.com | twitter | facebook | instagram | tiktok | goodreads

About John Joseph Rogers:

From San Diego, CA, John struggled with reading until he picked up reading aloud for his family at the urging of a very dedicated teacher. Since then he has enjoyed being able to immerse himself and listeners in a variety of worlds and characters. With a background in narration and stage acting, he lends depth to characters through a grand variety of voices, accents, dialects, and mannerisms.

johnrogersvoice.com | instagram | linkedin | goodreads

FTC Disclosure:
The ebook and audiobook were purchased with private funds.
No money received for this review.