(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

The International Archaeology Association (IAA) is responsible for keeping all things supernatural under wraps. They’re also responsible for ruining the promising archaeology career of Alix Hiboux, better known as Owl.
Needless to say, Owl’s still a little sore about that.
Just to keep Owl’s life lively, the IAA has opened a bounty on the two designers of World Quest, the online RPG that is much, much more than it seems. Owl needs to locate the notorious gaming duo before the other mercenaries do. But finding the gamers won’t be easy since every clue points to them hiding out in the legendary lost city of Shangri-La. Not to mention that the last time Owl and the game designers spoke, their conversation didn’t exactly end on the best note…
Meanwhile, undercurrents of supernatural politics are running amok in Tokyo, dragging Owl and her friends into a deadly game of wits with an opponent who calls himself the Electric Samurai. The cost of losing? All-out civil war between two powerful supernatural factions.
All in all, just another great day on the job.

This is the third book in the Adventures of Owl - and I would have to say that it is the best so far.

What attracted me to this series was that it took urban fantasy and the supernatural and took it to a place that is rarely visited. Instead of vampires and werewolves, we get magical antiquities and supernatural politics. A great combination.

What needs to be said is that this book isn't as fun and frivolous as the previous two books. Sure, Owl is still sassy and witty, but there is a real serious tone to this novel, digging right into the "meat" of the series and setting. Still lots of action and snappy dialogue as well, but I do appreciate this book taking a step back a little and really growing the characters and building the world a little more.

The one quibble I have is that it seems to have gotten away a little from being "urban" fantasy. I would love to see more of the "real world" included next time around.

Would definitely recommend this book - but only after you have read the first 2 books.


Paul
ARH

In this third book, Owl is still a disgruntled, dismayed, frequently clueless, misunderstood and disgraced anthropologist. She is an antiquities thief who can’t seem to avoid tripping over dangerous supernaturals. Owl is still working for a dragon, Mr. Kurosawa and his aide Lady Siyu. Alix seems a little less clueless in this book but still ends up in serious trouble. The bulk of the plot is centered around dealing with the Electric Samurai.



The author does a nice job setting the stage and introducing the protagonist as a bright, talented, strong and impulsive character. Luckily she has some level headed friends who bail her out of most of the jams she initiates. Rynn, incubus, is still on again and off again as Alix’s boyfriend. Captain, her Egyptian Mau cat proves that cats actually help with thievery. A hapless elf and the creators of a RPG also play a part in this story.



Owl seems to gather enemies like a dog boarded in a kennel gathers fleas. They seem to reproduce geometrically. She and Rynn are battling mercenaries as well as IAA thugs. Tombs and traps play a part in this book as well.

I enjoyed the character and the book.

Another great book in the Owl series! I may have enjoyed this one even more than the others. The search for Shangri La has always been fascinating to me, and this story revolves around that premise. Owl's usual snarkiness was in full effect, as well as the high action these books are known for. There were some surprises at the end, so I'm REALLY ready for the next book. Too bad that doesn't come out until next year. :(

This series kicks ass! I can't wait for the next installment.

I’ve really enjoyed Kristi Chrish’s Owl series, these books are adventurous and full of sassy, supernatural fun. Owl and the Electric Samurai stuck with this tried and true formula, giving readers exactly what they expect from Alix Hiboux, better known as Owl, antiquities thief for hire.

I had a hard time getting into this one, perhaps because it’s been a while since I’ve read the other Owl books. However, once I refamiliarized myself with this world, it all came back to me quickly and ended on a high note. The roaring adventure, the witty comments, the supernatural creatures and all the exciting magical lore is still ever present.

Sticking with the tagline of “Indiana Jane”, The Electric Samurai is probably the closest to an Indiana Jones feel of all the Owl books and I loved it. The last half of the book in a booby-trapped tomb with evil elves sacrificing a supernatural to a hungry magic suit very much made up for the slow start and reignited my interest in Owl’s adventures.

As is always the case, Owl stirred up a bunch of trouble and the book leaves us on a cliff wondering how she’s going to fix this mess. Charish keeps pumping out adventure after adventure and I’m sure she, and Owl, have plenty more tricks up their sleeves.

I love the Owl series and was extremely happy to have my request to read and review the latest title approved. For lovers of paranormal/mystery adventures with a hefty dose of faeries and other creatures. Not to be missed.

Owl and the Electric Samurai (The Owl Series) is a wild read! I love these characters and the cross between urban fantasy and Indiana Jones. The characters and storyline are very well-developed. Owl is employed by a Dragon in Vegas to find magical artifacts. Owl loves to screw with the IAA (International Archeology Assoctiation) and does everything in her power to do it. She usually uses an RPG game named World Quest to help her located items. The creators of this game have gone missing and is wanted by the IAA. Owl is trying to find them before the IAA. She also is sent to find magical armor the the dragon. All the clues point to it being in Shangri-La. Now she has different paranormals wanting the armor  and the creators of the game. Who will get to them first? I have fell in love with this series!! I also recommend this book and series to everyone. I give OWL AND THE ELECTRIC SAMURAI 5/5 STARS.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review, which has not altered or influenced my opinion.

I’ve been following this seres and am really enjoying it, which surprises me to a point because there is quite a bit of politics in it. Although, my enjoying it might be because our sharp main character is quite against being involved in said supernatural politics. This series keeps on getting more and more in-depth and Owl finds herself drawn deeper and deeper into trouble the more she attempts to avoid it. It’s so much fun I can’t help but become addicted to the writing style, which is a bit sarcastic as well as detailed and surprising.

Owl is still my favorite character, her hard-headed ness is admirable and quite awesome, even though she does cause more problems than she fixes at times, it does keep the world interesting. She also does a whole lot of yelling, but not nearly as much as Texas. Adding to the interest, I have an added appreciation for Rynn and his immense patience for Owl and his ability to figure out just about everything. I would not mind shoving Carpe off a cliff, which isn’t something I usually think when it comes to a character, but he’s a special case. I also have the strange desire to become friends with Hermes, I feel he would be an interesting fellow to get to know…

This book delved deeper into the game of World Quest and where it came from and the developers. It also is interesting because of all of the little details that end up becoming so important, I love the way Ms. Charish thinks basically everything through. I would highly recommend this for anyone who wants an adventure story full of nonstop action. Four out of five from me! Highly recommend for the adventure lover who doesn’t mind a large dash of supernatural influence. That cliffhanger isn’t fair, so send me the next book asap PLEASE!!!!

I loooooooved the first two owl books, and this is even better! I can not WAIT for the next one in the series.

I felt that I was really at a disadvantage when it came to this novel because of my lack of knowledge on this series and the characters. There was a lot going on and not everything made sense. You definitely need to read this series in order in order to really understand and appreciate all that is going on. I've decided not to rate this book or post my review on Goodreads because I don't think any of my comments would be a fair assessment of this novel since I didn't do my due diligence and read this series properly. I would recommend this novel to anyone who is a fan of this series or is looking to start a new urban fantasy/supernatural series!

This is another fun outing in this Indiana Jones-esque adventure fantasy series. While Owl is searching for the creators of World Quest, she is tasked with finding a supernatural suit of armor that will grant the wearer with great power, but at a terrible price.

This book continues the excitement of the first two books in this series. Owl shows real character growth in this book. She is no longer a treasure junkie, she is now more concerned with the safety of her friends and community. She has improved in her dealings with supernatural creatures.

While I enjoyed this book, I wish it features less of Rynn, Owl's lover. After three books I still haven't warmed to the character. He's very protective and paternalistic and always second guesses Owl's decisions. I would have loved to see more of Nadya, Mr. Kurosawa and Siyu.

Four stars: A smart, sophisticated, thrilling series with plenty of paranormal.

There is never a dull moment for Owl, or Alix. She is busy trying to get her cat back from the clutches of the evil Naga. The IAA is after her, demanding that she find the two lost developers of World Quest, a role playing game that Alix loves. Then the stakes get higher when Alix is tasked to find an electric suit, that has dangerous and destructive powers. Supposedly if she finds this suit, it will prevent an all out civil war between two of the big supernatural forces. Unfortunately the people who sent her on the task, aren't being forthright. The more Alix learns, the more she realizes that the suit most not be found as it destroys the user, and who knows what else it is capable of razing. Can Alix once again elude those who are out to do her harm?
What I Liked:
*This third book is the best yet. I love the complexity and the sophistication of this series. If you want a book steeping with paranormal, unusual archaeological artifacts, plenty of action and danger, and some fascinating characters, this is a series to read. It keeps getting better and better.
*As I mentioned, this series is complex. This book is no exception. There are many mingling story lines to keep track of before they merge into one. It was interesting seeing how everything came together, and I certainly wasn't prepared for some of the final developments. If you want a sophisticated and entertaining UF read, look no further.
*I love the archaeological references in this one. The books definitely have an Indiana Jones vibe to them. This time around, Alix is hunting for an Electric War Suit as well as searching for the mythical city of Shangri La. So much fun!
One complaint that I have had with the previous books, was the immaturity and rash behavior of Owl. *Thankfully, she has grown so much in this book. I liked that she was more thoughtful in her decisions. I didn't see the sophomoric behavior that I disliked in the other books. I am liking this new Owl.
*The plot is complex, riveting and action packed. So many interesting twists and turns, all leading up to a stunning finale. I can't wait for more.
And The Not So Much:
*Ugh! The book ends with a big, fat, dramatic cliffhanger. The finale leaves the fate of a favorite character uncertain. I need the answers now.
*I was bothered that a story line involving Alix's friend, Nayda, kept coming up, but then nothing came of it. What was the deal with that?
*Even though I enjoyed the story, I found it dragging a bit. I think it got a little too long, and I grew tired of the constant chases. Still it was fun to read.

Owl and the Electric Samurai is an outstanding addition to an excellent series. I love the sophistication and complexity of this series, plus there are terrific archaeology hunts as well as plenty of paranormal. If you are on the hunt for a fun and exciting Urban Fantasy series, this is one to try. It has become a favorite of mine.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated fro this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

This is the third book in the Adventures of Owl series. This was a well done continuation of the Adventures of Owl series. I really enjoyed this book a lot.

This series is finally getting into a broader story involving Owl and the more powerful supernatural powers surrounding her. A lot of people want Owl’s help with both legal and illegal projects. It was interesting to watch Owl try to get away from her thieving past so that Rynn respects her more. I am curious to see if she will move into more heroic pursuits or continue in her thieving ways.

I really enjoy all the archaeological tomb raiding types of adventures in this series. Reading about all the crazy booby traps and treasures found is a lot of fun.

I also continue to enjoy Owl as a character. Owl does grow and change some throughout this book (I had an issue with lack of character growth in book 2, so this was nice to see). She is trying to get used to working on a team and trying to get a grasp on this whole "save the world thing" versus her normal "steal from everyone".

Overall I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a lot of fun to read. This is a very creative series and I like how blends tomb raider type story elements with paranormal aspects. I would recommend to fans of urban fantasy/paranormal series who enjoy adventure in their stories.

Thanks Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and netgalley for this ARC.

Goes beyond expectations of awesome to make this series a must read for any fantasy fan

OWL AND THE ELECTRIC SAMURAI by Kristi Charish is the third book in the Adventures of Owl series. Filled with danger and double-crosses, Owl and her trusty sidekick Captain face of mercenaries, the IAA as they battle to stop a supernatural war. Filled with snark, zany characters and excellent adventures Charish delighted me with this action-packed tale.

Owl dubs the suit of armor the Electric Samurai, and I loved all the tidbits we uncover about it during Owls quest. Her cases cross when her search for the missing designers has her hunting for the legendary lost city of Shangri-La. Intense and action-packed, with a few twists, including an unlikely ally, kept me flipping the pages. Owl once again has to handle betrayals, deals and outsmarting supernatural entities and beings. While Owl still makes rash decisions and leaps head first we do see listen and accept help from others.

Owl is a modern day Indian Jones who finds herself collecting antiquities for Mr. Kurosawa, a red dragon who owns and runs the Japanese Circus Casino in Las Vegas. In this third installment, Owl finds herself contracted out to the Elves to retrieve a supernatural suit of armor. The IAA wants her to locate the missing designers of World Quest, and the IAA has merchantries on her tail. Such is the life of Owl. Thankfully she has Rynn, her succubus boyfriend, Captain her supernatural sniffing cat and others like Nadya. Let us not forget a certain World Quest elf named Carpe, who almost got them all killed in the last book.

I absolutely love the characters in this book from a particular snake to Captain the cat who kills me with his antics. The romantic thread is kept to a minimum which isn't surprising considering all of the trouble Owl finds herself in. It was fun to see them work side by side, or should I say, watch Rynn try to keep Owl out of trouble.

While each book features a new adventure or quest, there is an overall story arc, character growth and more that make it essential to read or listen to these books in order.

Nadya wasn't present as she is off in Tokyo dealing with power plays. This was an interesting thread that teases us. Possibly for the next book, OWL AND THE TIGER THIEVES. Thankfully we won't have to wait long as it releases on September 25th of this year. Charish left us with a cliffhanger that has me counting down the days!

This is an urban fantasy that has plenty of suspense, mystery and adventure. No sex though there is a relationship between Owl and Ryan. No cats were hurt in the reading or writing of this book. There are some parts that are somewhat graphic with dismemberment. There are Elves, Vampires, Zombies, Naga, Dragon and assorted other supernaturals involved.
Things are kind of hairy again with Owl. It seems like she can never relax. She has to find the video game masters because she’s afraid that if IAA get hold of them, they’ll be toast. She has to find the Electric Samurai suit or she is toast. Her elven friend may or may not be trusted. Ryan acts weird – besides being an incubus. Captain was taken, but he’s returned with his tail in a bunch, but otherwise unharmed.
I feel defensive of Owl through the book because it feels like Ryan isn’t always on her side. Granted, she is a thief, but still. Also, granted that Owl is not always the most mature and is heavily motivated by money and treasure. I also feel like she’s often put between a rock and a hard place. Her skills are used and somewhat abused, as is Owl herself. She is one smart cookie and a tough one at that.
I can tell you that I love this series. I usually don’t take to anti-heroes or “black hats” and that is what I’d categorize Owl as. She is a thief and steals artifacts for other beings to use for their benefit, BUT if it is too dangerous, Owl will be sure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
The writing is smooth and the action is fast. It’s an easy read – I didn’t have to struggle to figure out motivations or hidden clues. I could relax and take the ride without fear of missing any symbolic references or clues.

I enjoy this supernatural paranormal series. Owl is a for hire thief of ancient magical treasure. She usually ends up giving the treasure to the good guys instead of the evil bad guys who hire her. This book has her running from IAA, the elves, a mercenary group and even her friends. She's searching for an ancient cursed suit of armor that will enable the wearer to rule the world. To find the the armor she uses the RPG of Texas and Michigan to find Shangri La . Owl is a great hero for this series. Can't wait for book 4.

Owl and the Electric Samurai, Kristi Charish

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Sci-fi and Fantasy

I loved the first two novels but this one was, to be honest, a bit of a slog :-(
I've loved Owl, her kind of skewed world views, and yet underneath you know she cares deeply for her friends, that she's moral, will always do the right thing, for people anyway even if artifacts are a bit of a grey area....but in this book she came over as a bit self centred, kind of blowing off issues that her best friend Nadya was dealing with, acting pretty cold towards Rynn at times.

I love Rynn, but in this book they felt more like two people working together who didn't really like or respect each other, and though its clear Rynn cares deeply for Owl, would do almost anything to keep her safe she really wasn't looking out for what was going on in his life, seeing his POV, seeing what he was worried about, didn't really take Nadya's issues seriously, only as far as they affected her.
This book seemed to be Only Worry About What Concerns Owl...and I didn't like that, that wasn't the person I knew from book one. 
Then too there's the whole Electric Samurai...its not Owl V the ES, its Owl searches for the ES. The Electric Samurai itself doesn't really come into play til the end.

I had issues with Owl and Rynn jumping form one hot-spot to another, escaping by the skin of their teeth, jumping from country to country, and the non stop action that was hit, done and over just in time for the next issue got dull.
I wanted more in depth detail, to know exactly how they did things, how they escaped, not toss in a few whiz bangs and they're out, but that's how each drama began to feel to me. Just more of the same, another place where everyone wants a piece of Owl and she escape barely to fall into the next drama. 
I'd have liked a bit more day to day details, more conversations that didn't just involve "how are we getting out of this mess" type of thing. Less skin of teeth and bombs, less Carpe doing some amazing tech stuff, characters suddenly dropping in unexpectedly and a little more reality.
Back to one of my bugbears, the This just couldn't happen problem. There's an IT Acronym IFTTT (If this then that) where if one thing happens its the trigger for another action, and when I'm reading I want to believe that if this one thing/action/event is real it could trigger a defined reaction, but too often in this story I didn't feel the first issue could be real, it lacked that believability factor, which meant that the action that followed felt wrong to me. 

There were parts I enjoyed, and the whole story is so unique that it was really refreshing to read when the series started, but now its seems to have moved away from that and I just need a little less action a little more conversation....A bit more reality even though its fantasy.
How does Owl get from country to country without getting stopped at usual channels ect, without ever having any luggage? She never seems to eat or drink, need to shower, sleep, feed Captain, you know, all the everyday dross that makes a story feel real.
I don't need loads, just a little to ground her, make things feel real.
She just flips from one country at the end of a chapter and on first page of next chapter she's where she needs to be, and I'm thinking "but how??" Especially given Captain is with her. Travelling with a huge cat isn't easy...and where does she keep getting cat carriers? 
It is a very complex world blending real world with the fantasy game playing base Shangri-La, but it felt increasing detached to me from the characters and settings we started out with in book one.

Then the ending...no.........How could Kristi leave us like that? I'd almost decided this was it for me, wondering whether I really wanted to continue with the series but I can't stop at this point, I'll have to see how it plays out and hope a return to the styles of books one and two are forthcoming. 

Stars: Three, a bit hard going this installment. Hopefully book four will bring a return to the style of the first two.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

Who ever described Owl as a young female Indian Jones was so spot on, so much so that the person deserves a prize. There isn't a better phrase or a better character that comes to mind when I think of this series as a whole. It is just so much stinking fun. And like our beloved hero Indian Jones, you just know that with each new installment an exciting new adventure and outrageous predicaments are just around the corner.

With danger, the odd supernatural, magic, and spells truly lurking in every dark and creepy crevice and cavern she can fin, this story keeps you on edge with one wild adventure after another. With just the right amount of romance to keep it interesting but not taking over the real heart of the story which truly is all about the escapades she can get herself into, and of course out of with the help of a whole lot of friends and friend-enemies a like.

If you have been on the cusp of trying this series, my advice to you is this, step off that edge and do it. Fly face first, feet first, into the non-stop history, adventure, and fun that inevitably awaits you.

Be prepared though, this one ends on one heck of a cliffhanger. I can't wait for more!

https://lynns-books.com/2017/05/15/owl-and-the-electric-samurai-the-adventures-of-owl-3-by-kristi-charish/
Without doubt Kristi Charish’s third instalment of the Adventures of Owl definitely took this series to the next level for me and was my favourite so far. If you haven’t read the previous novels then be aware that spoilers may be lurking below.

In the latest instalment Alix Hiboux, or Owl as she is better known, really finds herself between a rock and a hard place with conflicting priorities and demands. If you haven’t read the series, Alix, with a promising career in archeology to look forward to, was used as a scapegoat by the IAA (The International Archaeology Association who regulate and keep under wraps anything and everything related to the supernatural). Finding herself with zero job opportunities to look forward to Alix resorted to the one thing where she could put her skills to use – acquiring, or stealing if you want to put it another way, antiquities.

As the Electric Samurai begins Alix is given an assignment by her boss Mr Kurosawa, who happens to be a dragon with something of a volatile temper. His assistant, Lady Situ is a Naga who can and will hold a grudge and currently seems to hold one against Alix. Basically, there’s no way that she can refuse this job even though it’s far from ideal and involves finding a magical suit of armour that transforms to fit into the period in which it’s used. It seems the suit gives the wearer great powers, although it does require a high price in return. The elves are keen to get their hands on the suit and in order to prevent war in the supernatural world the Dragon has agreed to their request. It’s not going to be easy to find the Electric Samurai. It’s last location is unrecorded and nobody has a clue what it looks like. And, to make matters worse Rynn is very unhappy with the involvement of the elves as through past experience he has learnt that they are sometimes economical with the truth.

At the same time, the IAA are pushing Alix to find the location of the World Quest designers. They’re keen to question them about human magic and think Alix stands the best chance of finding them. Alix is keen to find them, not least to give them a warning. World Quest has become an invaluable tool for her in mapping out antiquities around the world. Again, the two are not going to be easy to find. They seem to have disappeared into thin air and rumour has it that they’ve found the legendary city of Shangri-La. What a temptation for Alix – to go after the lost city. Unfortunately, time is short and the IAA, not content with coercing her have seen fit to hire mercenaries by way of additional encouragement.

There is plenty going on in this book. There’s a lot of supernatural politics that left me not really knowing who to trust or if I should trust anybody at all. There are plenty of exotic locations. There is a deal of cat and mouse type activity and nothing is as it first seems.

So, why is this book my favourite so far? Well, I felt it had more depth than the previous instalments – which isn’t a criticism of the previous two at all, just that this one has a different tone somehow. It could be related to the fact that Alix seems to be becoming more notorious and in doing so seems to be really entrenching herself amongst the supernaturals, it could be to do with the fact that Rynn and Alix seem to have reached a different stage in their relationship where things didn’t always seem to be going so well, or it could simply be that the stakes were so much higher. But, this definitely had a different pace and feel.

The usual characters are not all as evident. Nadya is off dealing with issues at her bar and Captain starts the story in the custody of the Naga although his release is eventually negotiated. This time around the story focuses much more on Alix and Rynn. There is a very good reason for this which I won’t go into here but this new focus helps to shine a light on some of the cracks that are starting to show in the relationship. We certainly learn a little more about Rynn which I thought was really interesting. I’m not going to say that it answers everything but it certainly makes a good start. In terms of Alix. She’s still as reckless and impulsive as ever but again there was something different in her character. I can’t quite put my finger on it but it felt like the relationship is becoming more serious somehow, it’s passed the giddy infatuation stage and is at the point where they’re both starting to really question each other.

In terms of criticisms. I don’t really have any to be honest. I think the only thing that occasionally popped into my mind is a random feeling of surprise that the majority of Alix’s archaeological work seems to require more research on a computer than actual field work. That being said she does then jet off to Nepal, China and Tokyo!

I won’t say too much more. I just really enjoyed this one, it felt less fun maybe than the previous two books in that the stakes are higher and Alix and Rynn felt more vulnerable somehow, almost desperate, the settings were great to read about and the author throws in a few unexpected surprises in relation to both of the quests.

Finally, I have to mention the ending. The earlier parts of the story may have enjoyed a gentler build than previous books but the ending certainly comes out all guns blazing. I just loved the route that Charish took, not least because I really hadn’t seen it coming and it was such a shock! Literally, I had to stop reading and have a little reread and I don’t mind saying that inside my head I was saying ‘nooooooo’ – and that was right when the book ended. Yes, it ends on a cliffhanger, I can admit I’m not a lover of cliffhangers but I think I was still so surprised by everything that I had barely a chance to register anything beyond the sound of my mouth flopping open. This wait is going to be so hard – no pressure Ms Charish but when is the next book due?? Enquiring minds need to know.

I received a copy courtesy of the publisher through Netgalley, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.