Dina is an Innkeeper for people visiting Earth from all across the galaxies. She's prepared to house and help all sorts of creatures and her main directive is to keep her guests safe at all costs. Sometimes her guests need more help than others and the subsequent disasters Dina has to endure differ for each of the three books inside Volume 1.

The world building in this series is particularly amazing. The way Andrews incorporated what appears to be a magical inn with the more scientific aspects of space flight and alien life, and then managed to place it all on Earth was perfectly crafted. The next time I go past a B&B, I know I will be wondering if maybe that's an Inn just like Dina's.

Dina herself was a joy to read as well. She's powerful, but flawed in such a way that she seems so real. Sean is also all too real. The balance he maintains between his werewolf half, his life on Earth, and his life among the stars really brings him to life. Every scene with one of them alone is interesting, but when Dina and Sean are together I can't help hoping for more.

What a great series of books. I had the pleasure of reading these when the author published them online as a serial, but it was great to get to re-read them after her final editing and grouping into this book. I"m very much looking forward to the next continuation.

Considering that I really enjoyed the last two, I was very happy that this entry in the series was just as good as the last two. It was derailed a bit by the religious genocide that was used to propel the plot, but it was an interesting motivation and it gave Dina a bad guy that was easy to hate.

We meet Dina's sister in this installment, and I find that she is the least developed character considering we are introduced to three other new types of aliens, the innkeeper police (ad-hoc), and Sean's parents too.

The other interesting plot point is that Sean and Dina finally get together, rather than just sharing longing looks whenever they have a spare moment.

I really loved this book. Casting werewolves and other fanciful creatures as the main characters was a fresh approach to story-telling, and the writing was full of clever dialog; I guarantee that after reading this novel, you'll think of them differently as well. Enchanting book leaves me breathlessly awaiting Volume Two. Well done, Ilona!

When I requested The Innkeeper Chronicles Volume 1 from NetGalley, I had no idea I was actually getting three novels. The binge reader in me was quite happy though.

First off, if you’ve read the blurb above you may have gathered that this is a magical ride with all kinds of imaginative characters thrown in. In fact, the worldbuilding in these novels is pretty incredible…and great. Merchants who are foxes. Mischievous scaled creatures zoom helter skelter on out-of-this-world bikes. Vampires, but not the sparkly kind. Werewolves. And the Innkeeper with her magical inn.

The characters are pretty wonderfully drawn and realistic. In the last novel when Dina and her sister, Maud, are interacting, it’s very much like real sisters with the teasing and blunt viewpoints. The relationship between Dina and Sean has a great progression to it as well. There’s heat, but there’s also hesitancy, trying to determine if what they feel is a result of being in danger or if they really feel what they feel.

In the first and last books, the action is pretty much nonstop. In the middle one, there was more drama and it felt like less action and Sean, the smartass werewolf hero (whom I adore) was not in it as much so it just felt like it dragged. However, there were plenty of surprises as there were in all three novels.

As I am discovering, Ilona Andrews not only manages to write a kickass story, but writes funny as well. So, yep, I was literally laughing out loud.

This set of three novels comes in at 768 pages with illustrations. The illustrations seemed very well done and this may be one of the occasions where my eReader doesn’t do a book justice because I’m sure that the illustrations are much better than what I was seeing.

The only reason why I haven’t given this anthology the total five butterflies is because I felt that the writing wasn’t as smooth in the first part as I had gotten used to from the previous Andrews’ novels I’ve read. I don’t think that this is something most readers would care about though because the writing is still superior.

I highly recommend The Innkeeper Chronicles and hope that there are more to come!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun book! I absolutely loved the innkeeper/ inn concept, and Dina was an awesome innkeeper with Gertrude Hunt. Sean and Arland were hilarious, there was a lot of action and humorous scenes, and I really liked that the flirting was light and funny. Helen was super cute! I can't wait to read the next installment!

Leaving reviews on Amazon and Goodreads

I’d like to thank @SubPress for this ARC provided via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest opinion.

Actual rating : 3.5 stars

The Innkeeper Chronicles is a voluminous omnibus of 3 already published books : Clean Sweep, Sweep in Peace and One Fell Sweep. I was very excited for this one, being an unconditional lover of the Kate Daniels series and of the Andrews’ storytelling and humor. Unfortunately, it didn't compare to my favorite UF series of all times. This doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it, I definitely did, immensely! But it made me frequently roll my eyes and I'll explain why below.

Most of the action takes place in Gertrude Hunt, a seemingly ordinary, although quaint, B&B. Dina is an innkeeper with incommensurable magical powers on the inn’s grounds and her mission is to accommodate and protect alien hosts from all over the galaxy, while keeping their existence secret to Muggles earthlings !

Quote: "We had only two concerns : keeping our guests safe and keeping them hidden. We stayed neutral and we didn’t get involved."


Intrigued ? Well you definitely should be because despite its flaws, this book was a weird and fascinating mixture of fantasy, Sci-Fi, Paranormal and Urban Fantasy, juggling myths, magic, futuristic and alien technologies and extraterrestrial and mythological creatures (with a special mention for the vampires and werewolves representation here).

I won't review each installment individually, since I might end up spoiling some details so I'll rather list the things I absolutely loved and those that worked less for me.

Awesome stuff
**********************

✓ The story was gripping and kept me intrigued until the last page. It was filled with humor and absurd situations and a few amazing secondary characters : Caldenia and her creepy and sarcastic observations, Orro and his Shakespearean-drama, Helen, both cute and disturbing…

Quote: " "Sometimes to stop something this terrible, you have to do something equally terrible in return at a great personal cost, and that terrible thing can’t be done by one of the principals in this conflict. They must be able to walk away clean."


✓ The worldbuilding was one of the most interesting I ever read and though most of the story took place on Earth, the book introduced us to numerable planets from different galaxies (with a distinct Star Wars touch). The places and creatures inhabiting them were vivid and colorful and larger than life(special mention for Baha –Char, the “galactic bazaar”)!


✓ The inn !!! This was one of the most brilliant, fascinating and fun places I visited in fiction! Vaguely reminiscent of Hogwarts with its secrets and auto-remodeling abilities, the inn is almost a character in its own right!

Quote: "Without guests, it would fall dormant trying to conserve energy and when that happened, an inn decayed and fell apart just like any other house."


✓ The artwork: The illustrations included in this book were a great bonus ! They were absolutely gorgeous and gave an accurate idea about how the characters and some places should look like.



Stuff that didn't work for me
****************************************

✘ The romance was an utter letdown for me. I love the way the Andrews usually weave their romances but here I just felt no chemistry. The first premises came out of nowhere and the rest of it was more disappointing, unsubtle and awkward than charming.

✘ Some flashbacks stories were totally pointless. It made the story (and my mind at the same time) wander and didn’t add anything relevant to the story or the characters’ background or development.

✘ The writing was problematic for me. While the prose was good, the writing had a lot of flaws: lots of repetitions, info dump and insane amounts of description made me fast-forward at times. The metaphors and comparisons weren’t always very well turned neither. One reason is probably the fact that the Andrews started writing this story as a fun experience, publishing a few chapters online every week. Consequently, no changes could be made once those chapters were released. Too bad because with more editing and modifications, this book would have been absolutely great !

✘ The male characters ! LOL Well actually I don’t really have an issue with them, more with the way they are described. I feel like the UF genre is afflicted with the same stereotypes. Male characters need to be handsome and attractive, half of them bordering on beautiful, the others hot and muscled and almost invincible...

✘ Dina’s magic seem unlimited when she’s on the inn’ grounds. There is no explanation as how it works and there is always the right magic tool or magic ability to each dreary situation.

Quote:“I asked him if he was leaving anyone behind. He said he’d met a girl with stardust on her robe, and when he looked into her eyes, he saw the universe looking back.”



Conclusion
****************
I was very conflicted about this book ! Though I really enjoyed it, I just couldn’t overlook the flaws I mentioned and that made the read equally frustrating and enthralling! Lovers of KD, don't go into this book expecting the same amount of sass and emotions but know however that you'll come across some of the most creative and engaging settings and a bunch of interesting and funny characters. I’m so looking forward to the next installments because the series has a lot of potential !

Cleen Sweep: 3.5 stars
Sweep in Peace: 3 stars
One Fell Sweep: 4 stars

I read this in installments online, unedited. Reading the finished version was great, I love these authors, I don't think anything they've done is bad.

Five Stars All Around! This series just blows every other magical series out of the water! I've never read anything like this and that's saying something. The characters and story are so freaking rich and original. I literally could not put this book down and every word made me hungry for the next page! This book is by far the most magical piece of work that I've read in many years.

For once, I think my impatience has finally borne fruit. When Ilona Andrews was releasing this chapter by chapter, I just couldn’t do it. I tried to faithfully read it each time it was posted, but despite my love of all things Andrews, I just don’t have the patience. After each chapter I just wanted to keep reading, find out what happens next and yet, I just had the one chapter. So, I gave up and was going to hoard them like a dragon with gold and read them at once. Which, is where the Innkeeper Chronicles and impatience being a virtue comes in. Because voila, I had not just one, but a trilogy of Clean Sweep novellas to read.

And read I did. At length. Without pause. After all that time waiting, I devoured the Innkeeper Chronicles in one sitting, I literally couldn’t put it down. I wanted to see what happened next, see what new complicated and fascinating dilemma would arrive at the Gertrude Hunt Inn for Dina to contend with. As usual the Andrews put me under their spell.

What I loved about the Innkeeper Chronicles was its mixture of fantasy and sci-fi. Everything all looks a little bit like magic and yet Vampires are aliens, Werewolves were genetically engineered and Dina has a lab in her basement. And yet it all mishmashes together create this perfect blend of wonder and adventure where you’re never quite sure what will pop up next and yet you know you will keep reading to find out.

For romance lovers, like me, there is also a dash of it in this book. Andrews gives feeds you just enough for you to be hungry for more. The romance aspect mixed with imagination, adventure and Dina herself makes this book a must read. So, if you want to lose yourself in something new and exciting, pick up the Innkeeper Chronicles and dive in. You may find your day completely hijacked, but it is well worth it.

P.S.

Also, for those of you, like me, who have read everything that Andrews has published, you will recognise a few characters from her series The Edge. If you haven’t read the series, I recommend that you do, although it isn’t essential to the understanding of this book.

~I was given an eARC from NetGalley in order to give an honest opinion.~
For those who have not tried this series yet it all began as free chapters on the author’s website and has grown from there. This volume “The Innkeeper Chronicles Volume 1” contains the first three fantastic tales in the series with beautiful artwork to go along with. This writing team is among my favorite authors because of their character development throughout the series which hooks and pulls you in. Along with their world building which is phenomenal and transports you to their other world and makes you feel as if you are a part of it. I also enjoy the fact that you can relate to the characters and they are believable.
For those who are fans I know they will be placing this on a wish list and as soon as I find a way I will be purchasing one for my own collection because I enjoyed it so much!
Now for the different stories:
Clean Sweep- Something is attacking dogs in Dina’s neighborhood. She tries to get Seann an alpha-strain werewolf to take care of it. As the story progresses we see how these two along with Arland, a vampire soldier from another planet, handles this problem. We see they are clearly up to the challenge.
Sweep in Peace- Dina is asked to host peace talks to stop a war that has been going on for some time. Let’s just say this is not a peaceful time at the inn, though definitely exciting. This book pushes Dina to test her abilities as an Innkeeper and makes her have to really reconsider some things and grow even more. It is nice that characters from another series, The Edge, Ilona Andrews has created also came to visit. One of which George was not on Dina’s happy list.
One Fell Sweep- This story really makes you feel even more for the characters and introduces you to some of Dina’s family, namely her sister and niece. This book really shows what it means to be an Innkeeper and shows how far each character is willing to go when something is important to them. Must read don’t want to give out spoilers!

Fangirls - and boys rejoice!

The Innkeeper Chronicles Volume 1 is a must-buy for Ilona Andrews fans. Not only does it contain all three novels released to date, on top of that it's a visually stunning book. You'll find lovely artwork of Dina, Sean and Caldenia scattered throughout the novel, like little gems from Baha-char.

I can only assume this book will be on the wish list of several fans who have already read the standalone novels; either in the serialized version or the finished product. But for those who haven't read this amazing series, this is the perfect time to take the plunge and purchase the entire series. I mean; who doesn't like space faring vampires, werewolves without a planet to Call their own, former galactic tyrants or the innkeeper who welcomes them into Gertrude Hunt - and sometimes even into her own heart;-)

~I was given an eArc in exchange for an honest review~

Meet Dina Demille, a nice Texas gal who runs a seemingly ordinary, quaint B&B. But Dina’s inn is a magic, thinking entity; her fluffy Shih-tzu, Beast really is a beast; and her guests are the kind that no one on earth is supposed to know about: guests like a dethroned galactic tyrant with a massive bounty on her head, the Lord Marshal of a powerful vampire clan, and a displaced—and superhot—alpha-strain werewolf.

So don’t expect a normal stay…and don’t stand too close, or you may be collateral damage….

In Clean Sweep, Dina—with the unwanted assistance of newcomer (and alpha werewolf) Sean Evans and Arland, a cosmic vampire soldier—takes on an extraterrestrial killing machine that could destroy her Inn, her neighbors, and everything she holds dear.

I really enjoyed this book. The Andrews husband/wife writing team do what they do best, build a fast paced, detailed and adventurous world filled to the brim with action, tension, humor and memorable character. I love Dina and the other characters for their diversity as much as the snarky humor these authors do so well.

While this is a contained story-line, readers are introduced to enough continuing questions to want to come back for more! I also cannot speak highly enough of the audio narration as performed by Renee Raudman. She does a stellar job as she has will all the other Andrews audio titles.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Sweep in Peace, finds Dina hosting an anything-but peace summit between three warring intergalactic species; Space Vampires, the Hope-Crushing Horde, and the devious Merchants of Baha-char.

This book was a hoot! I loved the premise and all the details of trying to make the peace summit successful despite some big hurdles. What I also loved was the crossover from The Edge series and seeing some well loved characters mix with Dina. However, for me, the best part was Orro, the high strung and masterful chef, who has been disgraced following the poisoning of a diplomat. I adore him to the moon and back!

Overall, some great twists and surprises to bring back key characters.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

One Fell Sweep sends Dina to the galaxy’s worst penal colony to rescue her sister; and back home to fend off a clan of assassins in pursuit, all while saving a guest’s civilization from annihilation…and searching for her missing parents.

Another excellently plotted adventure with good romantic tension, action, and humor. I enjoyed the addition of Dina's sister and niece as well as the resurgence of characters and some unexpected twists. Dina is making strides toward finding companionship and answers to her parents' disappearance.

Fantastic performance in audio again by Renee Raudman.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Great Immersive Read

If you do not know Ilona Andrew's Innkeeper novels, then this is your chance to get them all in one exceptional volume. But even if you alreday know (and surely love) them, you will not miss out on this beautiful book with illustrations.
All three novels (Clean Sweep, Sweep in Peace, One Fell Sweep) are contained. So you can follow Getrude Hunt (that's the inn) and Dina (the Innkeeper) and the big cast of loveable characters through all of their up-to-now published adventures.
These are paranormal / urban fantasy at its best. Knowing, that they were first published in weekly installements on the author's blog, while being written, I am really amazed how enjoyable and immersive they are.
So if you do not know them, read them now! Heghly recommended.

5/5 stars

I'm a big fan of the Kate Daniels series so I was excited to read The Inkeeper. But I had my reservations, because although I liked PNR and UF, science fiction isn't really my thing. But this was a great combination for me. It had elements of both and I think it worked really well. It was a very interesting world, with a very different take on vampires and werewolves. There was plenty of action, and some great characters. And the missions of each book are enough to hold the attention, the overall storyline of the missing innkeepers remain a good constant. Can't wait for more of this series!

As most readers are probably aware of by now, this series starts out as weekly installments on the authors’ blog. For free. After the story is finished, they polish it up and sell it as paperback and e-book. Now, here we are at three books, and there is a wonderfully-illustrated version for die-hard fans of the first three books which will also satisfy the more visual reader. I have to admit the book is a little pricey, but if you are a die-hard fan, the illustrated version is probably at the top of your list. The illustrations are really quite lovely. But, enough about that. What about the actual story? Well, if you are a long-time fan of the writing duo of Ilona Andrews, you already know how wonderful their writing is, and this set is in no way an exception. When I start a new book by them, it always amazes me how I am immediately drawn into the story, how utterly captivating their books are. This set is exactly the same way. I love Dina and her side characters. They are quirky, fun, and melt your heart. There is action, romance, great characters, great set-up, etc. etc. I couldn’t wait to see what came next. Everything you expect from the authors. If you have never read anything by these authors, you need to read anything by them. I wouldn’t start with this one as it’s a large chunk of change. Just grab the first one in the series. I almost guarantee that you will want every other book written by them, probably even this one after a time. They are just that good. Oh, and the last one ends in a cliffhanger just to warn readers ahead of time and I am eagerly waiting for more. This set is a don’t-miss! Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed. This exact review will be posted on both Amazon and Goodreads.

I am completely smitten with this series. Getting to binge read it all in one go was AWESOME. From Dina's first run-in with the local alpha-strain werewolf to learning the ins and outs of the magic the Inn was capable of to tangling with intergalactic vampires (of a sort), I am so eager to see who and what they'll encounter next.

(and if there's not going to be any more adventures, don't tell me. I prefer to live in blissful ignorance.)

To say that Dina's still learning what lengths she and her Inn are willing to go to to protect those under her care (even if it's only temporary) is pretty accurate. Although, perhaps it would be better to say she's learning her strengths as she goes. She's WILLING to do practically anything for those in her keeping, but sometimes the will is greater than her abilities. Or so she thinks. It doesn't stop her from trying, though, and that's a huge part of what makes her so intriguing.

With fantastic sci-fi elements blended with urban fantasy and flat-out magic (This is a badly constructed sentence that doesn't accurately illustrate the blending of genres, but...IT'S JUST SO FUN AND WELL DONE!), I am 100% down for anything Dina and her crew get involved in down the road. Bring it on!

I read Clean Sweep back in January of this year and found it to another winner from Ilona Andrews. I decided to stop with the Innkeeper Chronicles after learning there would be crossover characters from another Andrews Series that would be appear in Sweep in Peace. After I came across this three-book volume on NetGalley, I couldn’t request it fast enough. I have spent the last year becoming obsessed with all things Andrews. I easily devoured this large volume in only a few days. It is the perfect balance of humor, action, and world building. I would recommend it to any PNR or UF fan.

Clean Sweep – 4 STARS
It didn’t take long for me to become completely invested in Dina and her interesting world. As an innkeeper, she possesses magic, but her magic is tied to her inn. Even more unique is that the guests of the inn are strictly otherworldly. There are the usual vampires and werewolves, but they are alien! Yes, it is as quirky and fun as it sounds. It’s a completely new spin on the old paranormal world. There is a lively supporting cast, and my favorite is definitely Sean. The banter and chemistry between he and Dina is intense. The romance is not the focus, but just enough to make you want it desperately. Arland was my least favorite person, but his comedic banter with Sean were some of my favorite moments.

“According to my research, in a vampire-werewolf love triangle, the vampire always gets the girl.”

This was everything I expect from an Andrews book; strong and lovable heroine, a tad of romance with the slowest of burn, interesting supporting cast, and unique world building. I can’t wait to see what lies ahead for Dina and the inn.

Sweep in Peace – 3.5 STARS
This was my least favorite book of the three. I wanted desperately to see The Edge cast, and once they arrived, I missed the focus being on Dina and Sean. I was heartbroken Sean was gone for a significant portion of the book. The dynamics I enjoyed most in Clean Sweep just weren’t there. This is more intense and somewhat darker, not that I minded, but it just felt different. Orro was my favorite new character, and I adored his snarky attitude. Despite a few minor issues, the end left me wanting to start book 3 right away.

“I’ve decided that I would rather live for a few moments every few weeks than try to deny my nature.”

*I recommend reading The Edge Series first, IF you don’t like spoilers and want to learn the full background of supporting characters that appear. It’s definitely not necessary, but I’m glad to have read them prior to this book. *

One Fell Sweep – 4 STARS
This one is more inline with Clean Sweep, and I enjoyed it immensely. There are plenty of Dina/Sean moments, and their relationship finally progresses. I was grinning constantly with these two.

He was my wolf, half in the light, half in the shadow.

Of course, there is plenty of Arland and Sean banter; they are one of my favorite frenemies. Arland really grew on my throughout the books, and I found myself looking forward to his scenes. There are new characters, like Dina’s sister Maud, to keep the storyline fresh and entertaining. It is the most action packed and intense of the three.

If you plan to buy this series, the complete volume is the way to go. In addition to the book, there’s also gorgeous artwork inspired from the book. It is stunning, and I really enjoyed having visuals on certain characters.

Volume I ends in a good place, but the story is far from over. Andrews has confirmed there is more to come from this world. I cannot wait for the next adventures from Innkeeper Chronicles

**Thank you to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for my advanced copy in exchange of this review.**