Maggie for Hire: an Urban Fantasy that wasn't my taste

Maggie for Hire is the first book in the Maggie McKay Magical Tracker series by Kate Danley. Maggie is a 30-something Irish brunette in Los Angeles and she tracks the monster who roam the streets of Los Angeles. She gets the call to catch them and return them to the dimension where they belong. Maggie soon teams up with an elf named Killian as she learns her uncle has teamed up with the very monsters she hunts. Now she is in a race against time and a fight for everyone’s life as she needs to find a magical object stop the looming apocalypse. Is she up for the fight? Can she find this object in time?

Maggie For Hire is an Urban Fantasy story that intrigued me as I read the description. I thought it was like Supernatural (2005-2020) and eagerly dived into the book. Right off the bat, Maggie is abrasive and non-nonsense. Usually I enjoy these characteristics, however, in this case, Maggie was annoying. She is the typical hero, “I’m a loner and I don’t need help” but secretly is afraid to need help and ask for it. I usually don’t mind abrasive language but the language, and humor, which is meant to be edgy and witty, fell short. I wasn’t funny. I haven’t read Urban Fantasy books in a while, unfortunately, Maggie for Hire isn’t for me. However, you enjoy Urban Fantasy stories, you may enjoy Maggie for Hire as well as the rest of the series.

Maggie For Hire

is available in paperback and eBook

Olde Robin Hood: an enjoyable take on the Robin Hood legend

Olde Robin Hood by Kate Danley is an origin story for the famous Robin Hood. From his start as a simple farmer who is skilled with a bow and arrow. After a run-in with the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, Robin hides in the “haunted” Sherwood Forest where he is guided by the birds and animals. He finds Little John, another man on the run from the Sheriff, and together they form a plot to seek revenge on the Sheriff and his men while helping others who cannot fight against him. Soon his cousin, Will Scarlocke, aka Will Scarlett, joins them in their plan and word begins to spread about the heroics of Robin Hood who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. Robin finds himself enemy number one with the Sheriff and his right-hand man, Sir Guy of Gisborne. With the help of Sir Richard and his niece, the Maid Marian, Robin sets out to rid Nottingham of the evil Sheriff once and for all.

I love books based on the Robin Hood legend. I was intrigued when I found Kate Danley’s version. Based on the original medieval ballads, Ms. Danley weaves an adventure story worthy of Robin Hood. I also enjoyed that she incorporated the pagan tradition of the Green Man legend into her story. While I enjoyed reading Olde Robin Hood, my only compliant is that the final battle with the Sheriff was over far too quickly. With such a buildup, I expected more of a confrontation between the two men. Overall, I enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about Robin Hood and his fight about the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Olde Robin Hood

is available in paperback and eBook

The Dark of Twilight: a fantasy adventure

The Dark of Twilight by Kate Danley is the first book in the Twilight Shifters series. The story opens as Aein, a young girl, begins her new position in Lord Arnkell’s guard. She is being sent on her new assignment to the eastern borders. Unfortunately, something strange happens when she arrives to the border and she is sent back to Lord Arnkell by her partner, Lars, to raise the alarm of a new threat. Lord Arnkell seems unconcerned but sends reinforcements to the eastern border. Some time later, at a great feast, something terrible happens. The people have fallen under a trouble curse and now it is up to Aein to find a cure before it is too late. Will she be able to find a cure? Is there someone or something behind this terrible curse?

The Dark of Twilight was an enjoyable yet simplistic story. It was an easy read as the story moved along quickly, moving from action to action without much downtime. Unfortunately, I doubt I will continue the trilogy. I did not care for the main character, Aein, as she acts more like a lovesick teenager than a warrior in a royal guard. As a villain, Lord Arnkell is weak. Aein has two potential love interests and the attempts at a love triangle is also weak. Maybe the love triangle will get more intense with the other books, but I have no interest to read further. However, I see teen readers enjoying it and those who enjoy fantasy stories.

The Dark of Twilight

is available in paperback and eBook