I remember raving about Mary Calmes’ first book, Raven in the Woods so when I found out she wrote a second, I went out and picked it up.
Demon and the Raven picked up some time after the first book. Xander Corey is happy. He’s engaged to Lorne MacBain, the Chief of Police and love of Xander’s life, his land is happy, he got his part time job back at the library. Everything is good.
Until it isn’t. He is found by one of the nymphs who tells him that one of theirs, one the Xander knew, has been murdered. Not just murdered but obliterated by a demon.
The townspeople are losing sleep, getting cranky. The bees are dying, cats are missing. Two self-proclaimed witches in town have been attacked. One fatally, the other saved by Xander and Lorne.
And it’s up to them to find out what is happening in their town and stop it before it destroys Ospery.
This was such a delight to read. I loved slipping back into Ospery, New York. It was like I never left. With Lorne living with Xander now, the love affair between the non-magical Chief of police and Corvus, the land and the cottage where he and Xander live is just adorable. I want pomegranates! It made me giggle that it seems the cottage loves Lorne more than Xander at times and I appreciate that.
The story went by so fast I didn’t even realize. That’s how good and engaging the story is. One moment at was 20% into the story, and then I was almost finished. I could have read another 100 pages of this book without blinking an eye. The story was fantastic, the climax was engaging and Lorne just engaging with gods and goddesses like it’s another Thursday just made me smile. One of my favorite people this time around was Father Dennis. The way that priest just takes in everything without blinking was superb.
And the ending…
I do love a happy ending.
But if Mary Calmes wants to write another in this series, I will happily read it.
In case you haven’t heard all over the commercials and your devices. It’s Prime Week. But since we here at Mouse’s Reading Nook love independent book sellers, we’re instead supporting Bookshop.org’s Anti-Prime Week Sale. July 8th through 11th. Looking for your new favorite book? Shop there instead of Amazon. Support local and independent booksellers instead of Bezos, he has enough money.
I know the two Raven books from Calmes are only on Kindle but if you like them and enjoy the author, Bookshop.org has many of her other books on sale.
Did I mention free shipping? Stock your bookshelves and you don’t have to pay for shipping! Because of their Anti-Prime sale, I’ll be showcasing Bookshop.org this month and back to our local booksellers in August. By then I’ll have the links for all of our showcased bookstores arranged under the link.
We’re in the waning of summer. Where the weather is hot and muggy and the crickets and cicada’s are singing and the last vestiges of summer are being squeezed out before school starts again. Enjoy the summer friends, it’s moving too fast and will be gone too soon. In the meantime, enjoy yourself and remember to relax and curl up with a good book.
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