From Goodreads: Growing up not far from the road to Chinta on the edge of the Jungle Dragon, Tallen is excited to have her two brothers home. Recent times have been hard, Tallen herself barely surviving an attack by a derelict stranger in their very own barn.

The war that never was has relieved them of their duty at Chinta, so much so, that her father, the Sergeant of the Guard, is able to return for a visit, bringing news of a possible suitor for Tallen, given that she is almost of that age.

Tallen is not sure what she wants, and the man her father brings home is not what anyone expected. But at least she knows that her family has her best interests at heart when the pompous, self-interested merchant’s son is sent back to Chinta.

The aftermath of the Offworlder’s quest remains uncertain, the battle apparently lost. But for a reluctant Tallen, the journey is only just beginning, upon a path from which there may be no return.

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Tallen, a character briefly met in Quest of the Demon, is back and the center of attention in this new book by M.L. Sawyer.  A much darker book than the original, Sawyer dives deep into the world of a young woman betrayed and looking for revenge.  Though I felt terribly sorry for Tallen throughout much of the book, I found her to be an extremely strong, very well written character.  And, though I didn’t always agree with her choices, I completely understand where she is coming from and how grief and anger can cloud a person’s judgment.  Sawyer has created a very real character in that of Tallen, and I truly enjoyed reading her story. 

Again, Sawyer has left the ending of the novel open for a sequel, and I am very interested to know what happens next for Tallen, especially as there is much foreshadowing throughout the novel.  I also really enjoyed how Sawyer tied events from Quest of the Demon to those with Tallen, and I am excited to read more of both stories.  Three and a half stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: Beheaded by a statue that came alive?

In Victorian London, the head of a rich writer in the hands of Hindu goddess Kali would certainly indicate so and raises some peculiar questions.

Trying to find out whether the killer was even human, Inspector Lestrade decides to consult two detectives – one, the premier authority in the crime field, the other, famed ghost hunter Jason Dark.

Despite the overwhelming evidence, Dark and Siu Lin reckon there might be an even more sinister force at work than they originally suspected – and a nemesis returns!
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This is the tenth, and final novella (for now) in the Jason Dark series, and I must say I have had a blast reading and reviewing these novellas.  Henkel has created a series for the paranormal junky that has multiple gothic elements and rivals Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series.  Speaking of which, in this final novella, we do meet Holmes in the flesh!  Up until this point there have been a few implication of Holmes, as rivalry almost, but in this novella, the rivalry becomes blatantly clear and Holmes continually scoffs at Jason Dark’s theories of the paranormal.  Lestrande brings together the two great masterminds and their sidekicks in a battle of the wits, and while it may seem like Homles wins, there is more than meets the eye afoot in this great mystery of the decapitated man. 

Of course, Holmes is extremely smart, but also brash and brazen; nobody in the novella likes him, and with good reason.  I thought it was ingenious of Henkel to write Doyle’s mastermind into his own series and I liked the subtle snubs toward Holmes as the novella progressed.  This is a fantastic end to such a great series, and I am eagerly awaiting more! Four stars.

I received a copy of this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: Conjured from the bowels of the abyss by ancient magic, the Terrorlord has one desire — to open the Seven Gates of Hell and unleash the horrors of the undead upon mankind.
Reliving the nightmares of his youth where an encounter with the Terrorlord left him scarred for life, Jason Dark must once again confront the powerful gatekeeper from Hell before his reach and power spiral out of control. With the help of Siu Lin, the ghost hunter will have to put an end to the Terrorlord’s dark reign before he can devour our world in his evil blackness.

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Although the ninth book in the series, this is the first in depth look into Jason Dark’s background.  We learn about his father and how Dark originally was introduced to ghost hunting and the like.  I really liked that Jason is vulnerable in this novella.  He is affected by his past in a way he never expected to be affected again, making him a character who needs to be saved in this novella.  Because of this, Siu Lin, Dark’s sidekick, has much more up front involvement and I really enjoyed seeing much more of her.  H.G. Wells is also back in this novella and it was a very nice change to see the more minor characters take on a bigger role, especially as Siu Lin is such a kick butt heroine.  Four stars.

I received a copy of thei novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: An ancient curse resurfaces. From deep within the English forests, a hideous creature threatens to re-emerge, stronger than ever. Meanwhile, young girls are disappearing from the streets of London, and rumors of heinous rituals abound.

Fearing for her very life, a young actress working at the famed Lyceum Theatre calls desperately on Jason Dark for help. On the eve of Walpurgis Night, the Geisterjäger meets another formidable enemy as he comes face to face with the Blood Witch. Who will prevail?
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Henkel again intertwines his novella with history as Bram Stoker is introduced at his Lyceum theater.  I absolutely love the literary references and how Henkel keeps writing these famous writers into his work… first H.G. Wells, then Jules Verne, and now Bram Stoker.  Although Stoker is only in the novel in passing, with few lines, it makes a literary buff, such as myself, giddy.

This was a very interesting story about lycanthropes and witches, bringing them together as an ancient curse wreaks havoc on London.  It is another very well written, unique tale that I recommend in this gothic, mystery series.  Three stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exhange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: The unexpected death of their next door neighbor rattles occult detectives Jason Dark and Siu Lin. But does a woman in good health simply drop dead by dawn? The Geisterjäger is not convinced and suspects something more wicked and sinister is at work in London. As his investigation leads him down to the seedy underbelly of society, things more mysterious than he expected reveal themselves, making it clear that the ghost hunter will need all of his skills and resources to put an end to the horrors that stalk the night.

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I love that each of Henkel’s novellas begins with a death of some sort.  I’m onto the seventh book in the series, and I’m just now making this observation, but even so, I absolutely love it.  I think it adds to the mystery of the novellas as we then have to figure out, alongside Jason Dark and Siu Lin, what happened and why.

This was a really interesting story, especially as I didn’t have a clue who the culprit was and was taken aback when I finally did find out, at the same time as Jason Dark.  I really enjoyed this novella as it deals with one of those vendors that pawn off fake medication, reminding me very much of a scene in Pete’s Dragon. I just thought this was great, and I loved watching Jason Dark and the other characters as they began to figure out the cause of all the deaths throughout London, starting with their next-door neighbor.  This is the first novella is which the death strikes close to home and is a more personal matter than the others, and I truly enjoyed it!  Four stars.

I received a copy of this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: A quaint seaside town seems the ideal place for an English summer holiday. Little do its inhabitants suspect, that a century-old curse is about to throw their idyllic existence into turmoil and terror. Wraith-like, the black ghosts of undead mariners spread their cloak of horror over Pegwell Bay, the lure of their cursed gold too much for most to resist. Can Jason Dark and Siu Lin find the key to unlock their secrets and lift the curse from beyond the grave before more innocent townspeople die, or will some villainous trickery put even their own lives in jeopardy.

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This is another great, unique novella by Henkel, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!  I absolutely adored the references to Sherlock Holmes, Watson, H.G Wells, and Jules Verne!  Though Watson was referenced before in Theater of Vampires,  I somehow overlooked the connection between him and Holmes, and feel a little sheepish about it, but that aside, it is blatantly obvious in this story that Henkel is combining characters across history to spur his novella on, and it’s fantastic!  I now know who Herbert really is from Dr. Prometheus and watching Waston interact with Jason Dark was extremely interesting! Though a brief sighting of Holmes resides within the pages of this novella, I am truly hoping that we will meet him in the flesh as the series continues. 

But, Holmes and references to other literary characters aside, this novel is amazing.  There were many different things going on and I love that Jason Dark and Siu Lin are again outside London solving a paranormal mystery.  Five stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: After the passage of the Anatomy Act, surgeons have access to legally obtained corpses. Yet a few individuals persist in making their illicit living from grave-robbing. And what exactly is the research of the mysterious Dr. Prometheus, who purchases these dead bodies? Could it have any connection to the wild stories regarding re-animated corpses shuffling about in some of the seedier areas of London? When Scotland Yard’s finest are baffled, Jason Dark is called in to investigate, not realizing the dangers that lie in wait even for a seasoned investigator of the occult.

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Constable Lestrade is brought back again in this fifth novella by Henkel, and the situation is just a profound as ever.  Henkel combines gothic elements from the Frankenstein era as well as elements from Sherlock Holmes in this well written story about Dr. Prometheus and his evil intents.  I really enjoyed this combination of elements as Henkel alludes to the characters of history as well as within other exceptional novels.

A new character also comes on the scene in this novel, a young man named Herbert, who joins the characters Jason Dark and Siu Lin as they battle against evil to save mankind from the devil himself.  Although the plotline of this novel isn’t as original as I hoped it to be, it is still extremely well written and worth the read.  Three stars.

I received a copy of this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: When our world becomes a mere pawn in an epic battle between Heaven and Hell, Jason Dark faces a challenge that threatens to shatter the very fabric of reality. As immortal angels die and harbingers of death and destruction escape the fiery pits of hell itself, the Geisterjäger and his companions receive a desperate call for help! Will they be able to save mankind in the face of an onslaught of demons or will our fate burn as brightly as the streets of London?

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This is the first novella within the series that pulls past characters and accessories from previous novellas.  In terms of characters, Heaven on Fire revisits one of the evil demons within Demon’s Night, the first book in the series.  The cross from Ghosts Templar also plays an important role within this novella.  And, while I still stand by previous statements that Henkel’s novellas are standalone productions, I think the reader will find it extremely beneficial to have read both Demon’s Night and Ghosts Templar before reading this novella, especially as it glosses over some facts that readers may need in order to understand Heaven on Fire completely. 

While I enjoyed this novella on the whole, I wasn’t as interested in the storyline as I had been with Henkel’s previous work.  The writing, of course, is just as well done as all Henkel’s other novellas, but I found I wasn’t as drawn into this story as I’d hoped to be.  Three stars. 

I received a copy of this novella fromt he author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: In this horror adventure, a well-known police acquaintance asks Jason Dark to discreetly look into the case of a missing Chief Constable, which is out of Scotland Yard’s jurisdiction. When Dark and Siu Lin arrive in Swanage, however, they find that the quaint English seaside village hides more than its share of horrible secrets. Ghosts Templar is filled with ruined castles, ghostly hoof beats in the night, and a series of macabre murders, which swirl amidst rumors that undead Templar knights have awakened to exact a bloody revenge. Investigate if you dare.
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This is, by far, my favorite novella in the series so far!  While I really enjoyed Demon’s Night and Theater of Vampires, Ghost’s templar swept me off my feet!  It’s completely unique and original, and I absolutely love the gothic feel, the sense of olden days, and the mystical allusions of life and death.  This is a superb story, bringing back our two amazing, kick butt character, Jason Dark and Siu Lin as they embark on a mission given to them by none other than Constable Lestrade himself, a character right out of Sherlock Holmes!!!

This novella is very well written and captivating.  I love both the imagination Henkel possesses and his master storytelling abilities!  I am really enjoying the series, especially as each novella has been, so far, a standalone piece that and can be read at your leisure, though most will be read in one sitting as they’re short enough but just long enough to produce a feeling of a job well done when finished. Great story!  Five stars.

I received a copy of this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: When stage magic isn’t what it seems, Jason Dark turns to an old friend for help. Explore the shadows of the Victorian Theater with London’s most famous Geisterj as he confronts vampire horrors beyond anything yet confronted. Theater of Vampires is a gothic story of betrayal, discovery, and horror in the tradition of the Grand Guignol. The only admission price needed is your courage.

This is the second volume in a series of gothic horror adventures where Jason Dark, a fearless and resourceful ghost hunter, sets out to solve a supernatural mysteries.

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Henkel has written yet another interesting novella involving Jason Dark, ghost hunter, though his profession isn’t only ghosts.  His first battle, in Demon’s Night, dealt with demons, and now this book deals with vampires.  Of course, I found this novella very interesting, especially as these vampires are hiding in plain sight, performing at a theater; and their performance is not for the squeamish. 

Henkel does a superb job tying all loose ends together in this novella while bringing both Jason Dark and Siu Lin back in this enticing story where not everyone is what they seem. I really enjoy that these novellas seem to be stand-alone texts and can be read out of order.  Since the texts don’t necessarily tie in with one another, it does give the reader some say over what they want to read.  However, both this novella and Demon’s Night are superbly written and I suggest reading them both, in order; I am excited to read the next installment and see what new gothic horror Henkel comes up with! Four stars.

 I received a copy of this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: A series of bizarre deaths leaves the victims unnaturally desiccated and decaying, sending Jason Dark into the dangerous world of the London dockyards in search of a supernatural murderer. But is the paranormal investigator prepared to duel a full-fledged demon on a Hell-bent mission to create chaos and catastrophe throughout the earth, a fiend determined to wreak more death and destruction than his even more ominous Master?

This is the first volume a series of gothic horror adventures where Jason Dark, a fearless and resourceful ghost hunter, sets out to solve a supernatural mystery.

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I was really impressed with this novella and am excited to read all of Henkel’s work after having read this first installment in the Jason Dark series.  Henkel is a fabulous writer, and this novella is like a Sherlock Holmes story intertwined with paranormal elements and demon activity. 

Henkel doesn’t waste any time with preliminary information, but rather jumps right into the action of the story, making it the reader’s job to keep up.  While the reader isn’t given any background information concerning who exactly Jason Dark is, or where he hails from, it becomes quickly apparent that Dark is a kick butt character intent on saving others and ridding the world of evil demons, one at a time.  I liked the idea that Dark isn’t completely known to us either as Henkel presented him in a rather shrouded light, creating even more elements of gothic mystery as the story unfolds.

I especially enjoyed the multiple perspectives of this story as Henkel shifts between Jason and the demon he is in pursuit of, giving the reader more glimpses into the story to aid the plot along.  I haven’t yet pinpointed the time period of this series, as I’ve only read this first piece, but I’m thinking it’s sometime in the early 1900s based on the carriages and other context clues Henkel adds to his story, and that is a time period I vastly enjoy!  Four stars.

I received a copy of this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review

From Goodreads: Reid Alexander’s life is an open book. His Hollywood celebrity means that everything he does plays out in the public eye. Every relationship, every error in judgment is analyzed by strangers. His latest mistake totaled his car, destroyed a house and landed him in the hospital. Now his PR team is working overtime to salvage his image. One thing is clear—this is one predicament he won’t escape without paying for it.

Dori Cantrell is a genuine humanitarian—the outward opposite of everything Reid is about. When his DUI plea bargain lands him under her community service supervision, she proves unimpressed with his status and indifferent to his proximity, and he soon wants nothing more than to knock her off of her pedestal and prove she’s human.

Counting the days until his month of service is over, Dori struggles to ignore his wicked magnetic pull while shocking him with her ability to see past his celebrity and challenging him to see his own wasted potential. But Dori has secrets of her own, safely locked away until one night turns her entire world upside down. Suddenly their only hope for connection and redemption hinges on one choice: whether or not to have faith in each other.

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Although this novel doesn’t follow all the beloved characters from Between the Lines and Where You Are, it does follow Reid Alexander, the self assured, conceited, yet dreamy actor we all love to hate, and let me tell you, he is hot in this novel!

I wasn’t sure how much I was going to enjoy this story as it left out my favorite characters, Graham and Emma, but Webber is a master storyteller, creating more amazing characters, such as Dori, while also giving the reader an even closer look into Reid’s soul.  I loved it.  I absolutely did, and I am in awe of Webber’s sheer writing abilities.  I was drawn into the story from the very first page, and while Reid was his normal cocky self in the beginning of the novel, the reader is able to see him begin to transition and tap into his softer side, a side he hides from everyone, as he works alongside Dori completing his community service.  It’s a beautiful tale that wrapped me up until the final page, where I sat breathless and wishing for more.

This novel is extremely well written, but reader beware, it does have a darker side to it as well.  Not everything works out for the best for those involved within the pages, and I was shocked by one of the developments.  Although completely plausible, I wasn’t ready for it, even though I was aware, before reading, that there were some extremely sad elements within it.  But, it makes this novel that much stronger and believable, and I’m anxious for the next book in this series, which I hope continues Reid and Dori’s journey. Five stars.

 I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Check out all the books in this awesome series!

Between the Lines (#1)

Where You Are (#2)

Good For You (#3)

Here Without You (#4)