BOOK REVIEW: BLOOD GAMBLE BY MELISSA F. OLSON

Title: Blood Gamble

Author: Melissa F. Olson
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Published on: July 25, 2017 by 47North

If there is one city that Scarlett Bernard hates, it’s Las Vegas. But when the cardinal vampire of Los Angeles convinces her to go investigate a new vampire-themed stage show, Scarlett quickly finds herself shoulder-deep in sequins, slot machines, and Old World intrigue.

The show’s creators are vampire celebrities Arthur and Lucy Holmwood, who once inspired characters from the original Dracula. Now, however, they have no qualms about announcing their true status to the human world, endangering the secrecy of the Old World and Scarlett’s mission to keep it hidden.

But before she can begin untangling the Holmwoods’ motives, Scarlett also discovers that their new production has attracted more than just fans: Las Vegas’s many vampires are suddenly disappearing, and rumors are flying that actual vampire hunters may have followed Arthur and Lucy to town.

Now, without her allies, her bargest, or her frequent partner Jesse Cruz, Scarlett must navigate a new underworld of secrets and murders in a city where nothing is ever as it seems. And the stakes have never been higher.

By now, Scarlett Bernard should need no introduction. Blood Gamble is book five in her series, and eight overall in the Old World Chronology. In this book, Scarlett finds herself trying to solve a problem unlike any she’s ever faced before. The timing isn’t great, as Scarlett broke up with her werewolf boyfriend Eli at the end of Midnight Curse. They both realized they had changed so much over the years. Scarlett and Eli were no longer right for each other. The two still remain good friends. And at least, Scarlett has her old roommate Molly (a vampire) back in her life.

The past four books in Scarlett’s series all took place in Los Angeles. Now, the new case brings with it a change of scenery. Dashiell, the cardinal vampire of LA, is the one who tasks Scarlett with looking into an issue. There’s a vampire-related show, Demeter, being performed in Las Vegas. Dashiell wants to make sure it doesn’t expose the Old World. Scarlett is reluctant to go at first, as she really doesn’t like Las Vegas. With a little…encouragement from Dashiell, Scarlett has no choice but to relent. She’ll just be a scout anyway. The case doesn’t appear like it’ll be as big as Scarlett’s previous ones.

BOOK REVIEW: MIDNIGHT CURSE BY MELISSA F. OLSON

Title: Midnight Curse

Author: Melissa F. Olson
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Published on: February 7, 2017 by 47North

Scarlett Bernard is used to cleaning up messes. As a human who cancels out any magic around her, Scarlett’s job is to keep the supernatural world hidden—at any cost.

But on the eve of the Vampire Trials, a two-day tribunal that allows the otherworldly community to air their grievances, Scarlett receives a blood-soaked message from Molly, her estranged former roommate. Molly, a vampire, had been living with twelve human college students…and in one terrible night, she slaughtered them all.

Scarlett believes Molly’s been set up, but no one else in the Old World agrees with her. Meanwhile, the true perpetrator is determined to make sure Molly goes on trial for the massacre—and the penalty is death.

With less than two days to prove her friend’s innocence, Scarlett calls on former LAPD detective Jesse Cruz to help her dig into Molly’s past. But no one—Molly included—wants Scarlett and Jesse to bring the terrible truth to light.

The original protagonist of the Old World Chronology, Scarlett Bernard, is back for another adventure. This is an urban fantasy that takes place in contemporary LA. Scarlett is a null, a human capable of negating magic around her. She last appeared in Hunter’s Trail. Midnight Curse takes place after the Boundary Magic trilogy, set in the same world. It’s not necessary to read those books beforehand, though.

Three years have elapsed since Scarlett’s last big case. She’s still working as a crime scene cleaner for the vampire, witch, and werewolf factions. Scarlett is also in a relationship with Eli, the beta of the werewolf pack. Things appear to be going great with them. Scarlett also still has the bargest whose loyalty she won in Hunter’s Trail. For those who don’t know, a bargest is a huge dog magically endowed with immense strength and endurance. Dashiell, the cardinal vampire of LA, charged Scarlett with looking after the bargest, whom she named Shadow.

BOOK REVIEW: BOUNDARY HAUNTED BY MELISSA F. OLSON

Title: Boundary Haunted

Author: Melissa F. Olson

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Published on: December 3, 2019 by 47North

Months after her battles in Wyoming, Allison “Lex” Luther is still struggling with the aftereffects of the psychic attack she suffered—and with the new developments in her own magic.

Then Lex’s boss, the cardinal vampire of Colorado, passes along a strange request from her counterpart in Atlanta. Hundreds of Civil War spirits have abruptly vanished in Beau Calhoun’s territory, and he wants Lex to figure out why. In exchange, Beau can help her understand boundary magic, which runs in his family line as well.

Despite her trepidation, Lex journeys to the Deep South, where she discovers that ghosts are everywhere…and that her host’s intentions are more complicated than he promised. It seems his teenage descendant is being hunted, and both Beau and Lex fear the young woman’s boundary blood may have made her a target.

With Atlanta’s history looming over her every move, Lex will have to face Beau’s ghosts—and her own—to prevent a boundary magic attack she never dreamed possible.

 

 

Here it is: the fifth (and hopefully not last) book in the Boundary Magic series. It takes place in Melissa F. Olson’s Old World stories. Boundary witch Allison “Lex” Luther is back for another adventure. This time it’s not Maven—her boss and the cardinal vampire of Colorado—who gives her an assignment. Lex is surprised to hear someone has requested her assistance. Maven got a call from Abner Calhoun, the cardinal vampire of Atlanta. He wants Lex to help him sort out a problem with ghosts in his city. Lex is apprehensive at first, though. In the previous book, she suffered a terrible psychic attack done with wraiths—the most wicked kind of ghosts. Since then, Lex has had a sort of phobia of them. Understandably, Lex isn't in a hurry to go to one of the most haunted cities in the country.

Lex hasn't told anyone about her issue, though. She mostly agrees to go to Atlanta to help Maven. The latter's been working to set up a countrywide government for the Old World. If Lex convinces Calhoun to lend his support, Maven's project will be one step closer to becoming reality. In preparation for this, Maven's also been teaching Lex about Old World politics. Calhoun is known for being rather...eccentric. Lex thinks Maven has a low opinion of him, but the latter denies this, claiming Calhoun's just unusual. The guy did earn a funny nickname, because he turned four of his buddies and dubbed them the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

BOOK REVIEW: BOUNDARY BROKEN BY MELISSA F. OLSON

Title: Boundary Broken

Author: Melissa F. Olson

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Published on: March 19, 2019 by 47North

Years ago, boundary witch Allison “Lex” Luther made a promise to an alpha werewolf. Now, just when the supernatural community in Colorado is enjoying a period of hard-won peace, the alpha turns up at Lex’s door to call in his marker. Two of his pack members have disappeared in the Colorado sand dunes, and he needs safe passage to hunt for them.

With her friend Simon Pellar along for backup, Lex ventures into the dunes to search for the missing couple…but what they find is only the opening move in an ambitious assault against those who hold power in the Colorado Old World. An old enemy has returned to tear their peace apart, and Lex is soon embroiled in politics she doesn’t understand, from a time before she had magic.

To save her friends and her way of life, Lex will have to cross every line she’s drawn since learning what she is—and it may still be too late.

After taking a break from the series, Melissa F. Olson is back with the latest Boundary Magic novel. This book takes place a while after the events of Boundary Born. The Old World has enjoyed a good period of peace. Things have been so calm that the protagonist, boundary witch Lex Luther, is chomping at the bit. Maven (her boss and the cardinal vampire of Colorado) hasn’t had any big assignments for Lex in a while. Lex is eager to do something a little more exciting than running errands. Little does she know, she’s about to find out how real the proverb “be careful what you wish for” is.

An unexpected visitor comes calling at Lex’s house. He’s Ryan Dunn, the alpha of the Cheyenne werewolf pack. Lex owes him an old favor, and he’s come to collect. Ryan wants Lex and Quinn (a vampire enforcer and Lex’s boyfriend), as Maven’s representatives, to escort him to the Dunes. A couple of his wolves went missing there. When Lex calls Maven to let her know, the latter only gives the go-ahead because of the owed favor. The operation needs to be done in secrecy, though. At least that isn't out of Lex's and Quinn's experience.

BOOK REVIEW: HUNTER'S TRAIL BY MELISSA F. OLSON

Title: Hunter's Trail

Author: Melissa F. Olson

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Published on: September 2, 2014 by 47North

Actions have consequences--a lesson Scarlett Bernard is learning the hard way. As a "null," Scarlett has always been able to negate the powers of the supernatural beings that surround her. But now her reckless decision to permanently change Eli from a werewolf to a human has left the Los Angeles werewolf pack in shambles, and upset the balance of power among the city's supernatural factions. To make matters worse, Scarlett's employers discover that a newly changed werewolf is running amok in the city. To catch the rogue werewolf, Scarlett will need help from both Eli and Detective Jesse Cruz of the LAPD...a situation that will force her to finally choose between them.

However, Scarlett and her friends aren't the only ones on the hunt--someone else is chasing the wolf. Someone with no reservations about collateral damage. Now Scarlett and her allies must stop both the rogue wolf and the deadly hunter before the full moon rises and all hell breaks loose.

Filled with the same suspense and wit readers loved in Dead Spots and Trail of Dead, this may be Scarlett Bernard's most harrowing adventure yet....

Here is the latest book in Melissa F. Olson’s Scarlett Bernard trilogy. The previous one ended with a doozy of a cliffhanger, so Hunter’s Trail picks up almost right afterward. Scarlett, the protagonist, is a “null”, a human capable of negating magic within a radius around her. She lives in a fictional LA where other supernatural beings live in relative peace. The three factions (witches, vampires, and werewolves) rule with equal power. Scarlett uses her ability to erase magical traces from crime scenes, keeping the Old World secret from humans.

Scarlett Bernard has solved two major Old World-related cases so far. She was injured in the last one, after a showdown with the main villain. There were major casualties in the struggle. Some of them were because of Eli—the beta werewolf of LA’s pack and a love interest of Scarlett’s. Eli fell under the influence of wolfberry, a plant that causes werewolves to go berserk. He ended up killing people before Scarlett showed up to handle the situation. The experience leaves Eli angry with himself. Scarlett, who wasn’t thinking clearly after so much stress, made a reckless decision. She turned Eli back into a human, thinking it would make his life easier.

BOOK REVIEW: TRAIL OF DEAD BY MELISSA F. OLSON

Title: Trail of Dead

Author: Melissa F. Olson

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Published on: June 4, 2013 by 47North 

As a null, Scarlett Bernard possesses a rare ability to counteract the supernatural by instantly neutralizing spells and magical forces. For years she has used her gift to scrub crime scenes of any magical traces, helping the powerful paranormal communities of Los Angeles stay hidden. But after LAPD detective Jesse Cruz discovered Scarlett’s secret, he made a bargain with her: solve a particularly grisly murder case, and he would stay silent about the city’s unearthly underworld.

Now two dead witches are found a few days before Christmas, and Scarlett is once again strong-armed into assisting the investigation. She soon finds a connection between the murders and her own former mentor, Olivia, a null who mysteriously turned into a vampire and who harbors her own sinister agenda. Now Scarlett must revisit her painful past to find Olivia—unless the blood-drenched present claims her life first.

After solving a pivotal case in the previous book, Scarlett Bernard’s place in the Old World is more secure. She’s a null, a human who negates all magic around them. Thanks to this power, Scarlett works as a crime scene cleaner for LA’s supernatural groups. Trail of Dead picks up after a hiatus of several weeks. Scarlett flew to New York to meet with another null and learn more about what their power can do. This would be a big help for future missions.

Scarlett barely puts one foot back in LA before Detective Jesse Cruz approaches her. He’s another main protagonist and a love interest for Scarlett. Jesse had been waiting for her arrival so he could ask about a new crime scene. At the moment, though, Scarlett and Jesse’s relationship is strained. They like each other, but issues keep holding them back. One of them is Jesse’s expressed dislike of Scarlett’s job. This is because she sometimes makes dead bodies disappear. When they have obvious signs of magical harm, Scarlett can’t allow the police to see them. Jesse is a righteous cop and won’t condone tampering with evidence in such a drastic and permanent way.

BOOK REVIEW: DEAD SPOTS BY MELISSA F. OLSON

Title: Dead Spots

Author: Melissa F. Olson

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Published on: October 30, 2012 by 47North 

Scarlett Bernard knows about personal space: step within ten feet of her, and any supernatural spells or demonic forces are instantly defused—vampires and werewolves become human again, and witches can’t get out so much as a “hocus pocus.” This special skill makes her a null and very valuable to Los Angeles’s three most powerful magical communities, who utilize her ability to scrub crime scenes clean of all traces of the paranormal to keep humanity, and the LAPD, in the dark.

But one night Scarlett’s late arrival to a grisly murder scene reveals her agenda and ends with LAPD’s Jesse Cruz tracking her down to strike a deal: he’ll keep quiet about the undead underworld if she helps solve the case. Their pact doesn’t sit well with Dash, the city’s chief bloodsucker, who fears his whole vampire empire is at stake. And when clues start to point to Scarlett, it’ll take more than her unique powers to catch the real killer and clear her name.

This is the book that started the author’s Old World saga. It’s an urban fantasy series set in our contemporary world, only with supernatural creatures. Witches, vampires, and werewolves are the three main races. The protagonist, Scarlett Bernard, plays a special role in this world. She’s a null, a rare being who can cancel out all magic within a certain radius around her. Scarlett works as a crime scene cleaner for the ruling members of Los Angeles’s Old World. She does this to erase all supernatural traces, keeping humans from learning about them.

Scarlett’s main boss is Dashiell, the cardinal vampire of LA. In this city, the three supernatural factions rule with about equal power. Scarlett works for them all. She hasn’t had any particularly noteworthy job, until now. Dashiell calls Scarlett to a crime scene in a park. There, she comes upon a scene so horrible it would shock even seasoned policemen. Unfortunately, rookie detective Jesse Cruz arrives before Scarlett can deal with the scene. Even more, a werewolf runs away right in front of Cruz’s eyes. Shell-shocked, Cruz makes a deal with Scarlett. He’ll keep quiet about the Old World if Scarlett helps him solve the case. With Dashiell’s reluctant blessing, Scarlett agrees.

BOOK REVIEW: BOUNDARY BORN BY MELISSA F. OLSON

Title: Boundary Born

Author: Melissa F. Olson

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Published on: June 21, 2016 by 47North

Something wicked is at work in Colorado’s supernatural community. Vampires are being paralyzed or killed with poison…a weapon favored by witches. This offense threatens to break apart the already-fractured alliance between witches and the undead.

The state’s cardinal vampire, Maven, summons boundary witch Allison “Lex” Luther to stop the killing before it ignites a war. Lex has barely started investigating when she gets another surprise: the biological father she’s never met arrives on her doorstep. He has answers to all of Lex’s questions about her bloodline, but getting those answers could mean betraying the life she’s already built.

Then the next vampire is poisoned—and this time it’s Maven herself. The new evil that hunts Lex is powerful and ruthless enough to stop the strongest supernatural creature in the state. In order to find such a killer, Lex will have to face down her own birthright and call on every ally—both living and dead.

This is the third installment of the Boundary Magic series. The protagonist, boundary witch Lex Luther, is back for another adventure. She narrowly managed to save the day in the previous book. After weeks of dealing with the aftermath, Lex gets to settle down for a bit. Also, as thanks for her service, Lex's boss Maven grants her permission to let her brother-in-law John Wheaton know she’s a witch. This happens before the book starts, so the reader doesn’t get to see it happen. It appears that John didn’t take the news well. He takes Charlie and some of their family on a trip away from Colorado. Lex isn’t happy, but she at least knows Charlie will be safe away from Boulder.

It doesn’t take long before new trouble arises. Maven discovers that some of her vampires have been poisoned with a rare strain of belladonna. If there’s anything Maven hates, it’s that plant. And it so happens that belladonna is most commonly used by witches. The only clan in Boulder is the Pellars, who are Maven's allies. If the attacks continue, it could start a war. Maven sends her right hand, Quinn, along with Lex to stop the attacks.

BOOK REVIEW: BOUNDARY LINES BY MELISSA F. OLSON

Title: Boundary Lines

Author: Melissa F. Olson

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Published on: October 13, 2015 by 47North

Fitting into the Old World isn’t going very well for Boulder boundary witch Allison “Lex” Luther: she may have earned a place in a vampire’s service, but now it seems as if every supernatural creature in town has found a reason to hate her. And when Lex and her partner are assigned to investigate the suspicious disappearance of two vampires during the night of the full moon, they find themselves with more questions than answers.

Was it murder…or mutiny?

The crusade for answers will lead Lex all over the Colorado Old World, from a prison cell for a broken werewolf to a haunted Denver brothel. And when Lex determines the responsible party, the hunt is just beginning: something has been awakened in Boulder, something as old and powerful as it is terrifying. Only the woman with death in her blood can stop what’s coming.

Rookie boundary witch Lex Luther is back in this second installment of the Boundary Magic series. It starts not long after the events of the previous book. Lex is still getting used to her new life as a powerful witch. And things aren’t too easy. Most of the other Boulder witches are rather frigid toward Lex. They fear her for the death magic in her blood. Despite this, Lex notices that something else is bothering the witches. Not even Hazel Pellar—the leader witch—can explain what it might be.

Maven is also back, and with an increased role. She's Lex's boss and the cardinal vampire of Colorado. The two struck up an alliance in the previous book. Lex became Maven's fixer in exchange for the protection of her baby niece, Charlie Wheaton. And now, Maven has an assignment for Lex. There is a situation going on in the state border. Some of Maven's vampires have gone missing. Lex heads there with Quinn (her vampire love interest and Maven's right hand). Their bond has grown quite a bit since the events of the previous book. Quinn has already done things for Lex without expecting anything in return. And Lex falls for Quinn more every day despite only being able to see him when the sun is down.

BOOK REVIEW: BOUNDARY CROSSED BY MELISSA F. OLSON

Title: Boundary Crossed

Author: Melissa F. Olson

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Published on: May 1, 2015 by 47North

After her twin sister’s brutal murder, former US Army Sergeant Allison “Lex” Luther vowed to protect her niece, Charlie. So when two vampires try to kidnap the baby, it quickly turns into a fight to the death—Lex’s death, that is.

She wakes up to two shocking discoveries: she has miraculously survived the fight, and baby Charlie is a “null,” gifted with the ability to weaken supernatural forces...and a target for creatures who want to control that power. Determined to guarantee her niece’s safety, Lex makes a deal with the local vampires. She sets out with the mysterious—and undead—“fixer” Quinn to track down whoever’s responsible for the kidnapping, sharpening her newfound magic skills along the way. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous her powers become.

Boundary Crossed is a dark, thrilling journey into a world where the line between living and dead isn’t nearly as solid as it appears...

I got this book as a Kindle First Reads deal. The cover caught my eye first, and then I read the synopsis. Boundary Crossed presents an interesting take on witches. In this book’s universe—called the “Old World” by supernatural beings—witches don’t use wands. The term “witch” applies to both genders as well. Boundary Crossed takes place in Boulder, Colorado. The protagonist is Allison“Lex” Luther (I know). She’s an ordinary woman and ex-soldier in her early thirties, who works at a convenience store. Lex is there one night when she stumbles upon a pair of strangers who have kidnapped her baby niece, Charlie. After a brutal fight, Lex saves Charlie, but at the cost of her own life…or so it appears.

Sometime later, Lex is in the hospital when a strange man shows up. He’s Quinn, who claims to be a police detective. After a few questions, Quinn confirms something but feels puzzled by Lex’s obliviousness. He reveals to Lex that she’s a witch, and that he and Charlie’s kidnappers are vampires. At first Lex thinks Quinn is nuts. She’s soon convinced by a guy named Simon Pellar, a member of the local witch clan.