Eh. Eh. A miss for me.
It was alright, but a bit of a mash up of things and that made it sort of boring and meh.

Oh how I love a well-written urban fantasy 🤩.

Ash is our female protagonist here, snarky as they come, a PI working a paranormal/fantasy beat in Vancouver.

Forced to partner up with Levi, head of the magical community, to solve a series of abductions in the city, sparks begion to fly between the two - figuratively and factually!

Loved the world building and pacey action.

Highly recommended!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy.

4 stars ✨✨✨✨

I was interested in this book because of the cover and brief summary provided. I was pleasantly surprised at the spin of this story. The heroine is both Jewish and Canadian, both of these I do not see much but it was very cool to get a short tour of both Vancouver and Judaism. The pacing of the book was good, I was rarely bored, and the banter/ interactions between the protagonist and the love interest were great. If you like urban fantasy/paranormal fiction books then you will probably enjoy this book.

I received copies of this book from Netgalley in both ebook and audiobook form. Sometimes the audio version demonstrates how weak a story is (one of Heather Graham's novels) is or can actually make it better Harris' Midnight, Texas series). In this case they were both a decent experience. Wilde's story was interesting enough that i immediately for book 2, Death and Desire, from Kindle Unlimited. She tweaks the UF world building and gives me the first Jewish, albeit non-practicing, UF main character. The ones I've read have been either pagan, Christian or non-believers of any sort. **Added: I'm wrong, I also read the first book in her Nava Katz series which I did not like and also features a Jewish main character.**

My one issue is some over the top, in your face elements, like the dildo mentioning more than once type thing. In the audio book, I found the narrator, probably a good choice for the main character cause she was really live, almost manic at times. However, her voice as was a bit grating, and less noticeable as other characters.

If it was good enough for me to seek out book 2 it's a like review. After listening to the audio book more recently, I'm not sure I'm that excited to read books 3 and 4. So, it's a marginal like, maybe 3.5/5.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it has a strong protagonist and likeable secondary characters. I also enjoyed the fact that the character was Jewish, which is a different perspective in urban fantasy.  

This is fast-paced full of action with dashes of humour and the beginnings of an exciting romance. If your a fan of urban fantasy and looking for a new series then a highly recommend you give this a go.

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you enjoy well-crafted urban fantasy then this book is for you .

There is a snarky, bold as brass heroine, an inscrutable, tempting hero - and sparks fly , almost literally .

After suffering a blow to her head , which revealed a tattoo ,Ashira Cohen's (Ash) life becomes more
complicated . She is the only female PI in Vancouver, and her specialty is capturing magical violators and has managed to stay alive despite her lack of supernatural powers. .
Forced to work with Levi , the arrogant , undisputed leader of Vancouver's magical community , she must master her new abilities whilst trying to subdue the spark between them .
Levi is determined to concentrate on the getting to the root of the abductions plaguing the city, and must work with Ash to solve the mystery. He is determined to ignore the sparks between them ...…… but at what cost ?

Levi is determined to get to the root of the abductions plaguing the city, and must work with Ash to solve the mystery. The sparks fly between the two of them, and he is determined to ignore them. .

This is a fun , fast paced urban fantasy novel that kept me gripped to the end - I look forward to reading other books by the Author
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in return for an open and honest review.

I felt like I was reading an unpolished mash-up type of fan fiction of Ilona Andrews’s stories.

This world can be divided into those who have powers (Nefresh) and those who don’t (Mundane). Those who have powers are even in Houses, like in IA’s Hidden Legacy. And the heroine has blood magic like Kate Daniels. There’s also a snarky love-hate thing between Ash (the h) and Levi (the H) that, at times, feels reminiscent of Nevada and Rogan. But, imo, their romance/relationship comes off as forced and lackluster or lacking in zing... lacking something.

While I’m not as enthused about this world or these characters as others seem to be, do take my opinion with a grain of salt. Because I’m pretty biased when it comes to PNR-UF. I’m such a big Ilona Andrews fan and unfairly or not, their stories are my gold standard in this genre. That being the case, I found this book to be okay.

What fun this book was to read . the witty and often snarky banter between the characters made this an absolutely incredible read. The worldbuilding was great. I really would like to read the rest of the series.

As an urban fantasy lover, I jumped at the chance to try out a new series by a new to me author. I honestly really liked Blood & Ash. It's the right mix of snark, sleuthing, and world building.

The publisher and Netgalley provided me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Ashira Cohen is confident in her abilities. She has managed to stay alive, despite her lack of supernatural powers. She is the only female PI in Vancouver, and her specialty is capturing magical violators. She has a niche, and she enjoys her work.

When Ash suffers a head injury, a mysterious tattoo is revealed. The tattoo brings a whole host of complications - not the least of which supernatural abilities she must learn to wield and control. Ash's struggle to master her new abilities is even more disturbing, because she is forced into a working relationship with one of the most arrogant men she has ever met.

Levi is the undisputed leader of Vancouver;s magical community. He is determined to get to the root of the abductions plaguing the city, and must work with Ash to solve the mystery. The sparks fly between the two of them, and he is determined to ignore them.

I loved this well-crafted urban fantasy. There is a snarky, bold as brass heroine, an inscrutable, tempting hero, and a plot chockful of robust word-building, well-developed characters, and unexpected twists.

My initial reaction when I finished Blood & Ash (other than I couldn't wait for the next book?) "I think I've just added another Urban Fantasy to my "must read" list."

The characters were snarky, the world building was unique, a hint of unexpected romance between unlikely characters and a touch of mystery surrounding the main character. Blood & Ash pretty much included everything that makes UF one of my favorite genres.

This is my first Deborah Wilde book, but it definitely won't be my last - especially in the Jezebel Files series. It looks like I won't have to wait long because Death & Desire will be releasing soon. Stay tuned!

Ash is a private investigator in an alternate magically touched Vancouver. She is funny, smart and a spit fire that speaks her mind, when it comes to something, she is passionate about…and she is non-magical. Or at least she was, until she is conked on the head and a magical tattoo is revealed.

Levi is the leader of the Nefesh, magical beings, in the Vancouver area and is also the bain of Ash’s existence. They seem to clash all the time so when he starts noticing Ash’s new found abilities, she is hard pressed to convince that she just wasn’t hiding them this entire time.

Ash’s mom leads an anti-magic activist group and she has no idea what her mother will do when she finds out she is magically inclined.

Ash’s roommate and best friend is Priya. She is a computer wiz that assists Ash with research she couldn’t otherwise acquire without Priya’s mad skills. Ash must lean on Priya to assist with her new magical circumstance, uncovering the mystical blood magic, and to help her find her ex-client before its too late.

Blood and Ash is a fantastic, new, kick butt heroine, urban fantasy series that I’ve already fell for hook, line and sinker!

I received this ARC copy of Blood and Ash from Te Da Media. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I can't believe it took me two months to finish this book. I don't even know why.
This was a fun, entertaining, easy read starring a smart, kick-ass heroine and an aloof yet very yummy love interest. I quite enjoyed the storyline, even though the pacing wasn't always perfect.

So I'm blaming my tardiness on my seemingly never-ending book funk I just can't seem to escape.
Oh well.

Definitely reading book #2!

It took me a while to get into this book but it was a creative take on monsters and all things magical. I did like that once she set her mind on something no one and nothing was going to stop her from achieving her goal. She is also fiercely protective of those she cares about and it is a really great quality to read about. She is snarky and speaks her mind and I loved that!

In a world where there are those with magic and those without, Ashira Cohen works hard as a private detective without magic. She picks up a missing person's case and begins to work it using her prodigious skills. Along the way, after being hit hard on the head, she sees a ghostly being leave one person and jump into another. This complicates matters as it is evidence that Ashira has somehow developed magical abilities when she has never shown any inkling of magical talent up until now and most magic users show their talent by puberty.

Ashira ends up partnering with Levi, the head of the regional magic community. She's known him a long time and they have somewhat of an adversarial relationship. Levi wants to be the boss of her. And Ashira is fiercely independent.

As Ashira investigates, she runs across a mysterious organization, a hidden realm, and golems among other things. Ashira struggles to work with Levi. He brings out the snark in her and drives her up a wall. Will she find the missing girl before her own blood is spilled?

I really enjoyed this book. It's urban fantasy which I do enjoy. I liked the magic system. The way that the magic users are registered and under a regional leader reminded me a little of the X-Men. The way it's set up, it has the potential for conflict between magic users and the mundane people who don't all trust them.

Ashira is a likable character. She is stubborn almost to a fault. And she is loaded with snark. She makes for a good strong female lead. Levi is a little bossy, but he comes by it honestly being the regional director of the magic users. He is handsome too. The scenes where they work together have good dialog.

What else did I like? The book is fast-paced and full of action. Golems are just one example of what they encounter.

There are a couple of racy sex scenes. They are well-written, but definitely on the hot side.

Overall I give this book 5 stars. It's a good start to a new series. I look forward to more adventures with Ashira and Levi.

Blood and Ash by Deborah Wilde was published January 14th, 2020 by Te Da Media.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion.

Snarky!
Humorous!
Kick-butt action!
Unique Plot!

Everything I'm looking for in an Urban Fantasy novel.. Deborah Wilde more than delivers!

This story is set in an alternative Vancouver and we are introduced to Ash who works as a Private Investigator. She’s snarky, stubborn, smart and a mundane, like 90% of the population of the world. As a mundane she is forbidden by the magical community to work on cases involving magic; but she’s not above bending the rules. She has a tendency to speak before she thinks which gets her into lots of trouble but her heart is in the right place. After Ash is hit on the head while on a case, she discovers a tattoo in her scalp which unleashes previously unknown abilities

Levi, is the leader of House Pacifica who controls the Nefesh in the area, he is also her nemesis. When Levi notices Ash’s new abilities he thinks she has been lying for years but is finally able to convince him otherwise. However, to her shock and horror she finds herself being forced to work with him.

Ash has worked hard to make her own way, separate from her mother’s life of wealth, privilege and anti-magic activism. Talia is the leader of the Untainted Party and their goal is to have a magic-free world. What will she do when she finds out about the magic that has now been unlocked in her daughter?

Her best friend and roommate Priya, is just as snarky as Ash, she is also super smart and a computer whiz. Thanks to her mad computer skills Ash is able to get information that is otherwise unavailable.

If you like urban fantasy with an unlikely heroine, kickass friends and some romance, read this now, you won’t be disappointed.

4.5 STARS: I received a free digital ARC through Netgalley in exchange for a honest, unbiased review. I sincerely thank Netgalley, author and/or publisher for giving me this opportunity.

3 1\2 stars
This is the first in a series but it stars up as if readers have met the characters before. The story works but it feels like things are missing or the story is in need of better editing. This reviewer is unsure of what is needed.

The story is interesting and flows quickly at times humors and other times head scratching wondering what I might have missed. The scene doesn't quite fit in or at least it should have waiting maybe for another book.

When the author has Ashira reveal what is going on it is fast, quick and wishing the final battle lasted longer.



Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of Deborah Wilde Blood and Ash.

This is the best book I've read in a while, and I never give out 5 star ratings. If you took Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan and Jessica Jones, and they had a wonderfully snarky woman-baby, Ash would be it!

Ash is a mundane (or at least we all see her start the book that way) private investigator, in a world full of magical people. They are divided into Houses, and her old frenemy, Levi, is the leader of the local one. While following one of her client's kids on a failed B&E, she gets bonked on the head, starting an awesome and terrifying series of events. What began as a simple "is my kid doing drugs" case turns into a magical kidnapping ring investigation. Throw in mysterious powers manifesting, magical smears, and enough sexual chemistry to light the world on fire and you've got the very busy life and times of Ash.

This book built a world that had me completely hooked. There are alternate dimensions on top of what is already a rich and magical universe. There is a wonderful combination of theology and fantasy without jamming it down your throat. There was enough steampunk to be believable without it being obnoxious and silly. I could go on forever! I would read this book again and again, but instead will eagerly await the next installment. There's another one, right? Please?

Blood & Ash, by author Deborah Wilde, is the first installment in the authors Jezebel Files series. 28-year old Ashira Cohen is the only female private investigator in Vancouver along with her best friend Priya Khairi. As a supposed non-Nefesh, or non-magic user, she's forbidden from taking any magical cases. When she takes on a missing person case, unregistered Nefesh kid, she feels it will be an easy case. After taking a blow to the head, a hidden tattoo is revealed and, much to her amazement and shock, she finds that she has supernatural powers.

Ash apparently had a ward put on her after an accident when she was a teenager. This doesn't go over well with the House of Pacifica and its leader Levi Montefiore since he and Ash have had a running fight since they were kids. Levi believes that Ash has had magic the entire time and arrests her for suspicion of being a rogue magic user. All magic users are supposed to register with their local Houses like Pacifica. What's worse, Ash's mother belongs to a group known as the Untainted Party who has a dislike for Nefesh and wants to keep them in check or eliminated altogether.

Apparently, her father had the ability to charm people. Things get interesting in the story when a spree of abductions and terrifying ghostly creatures go on a deadly bender. Ash, it seems, might have the ability to drive the creatures away but it isn't until much later in the story that we learn why and what her powers are called. To say that Ash might be the most dangerous character in this world, would be apt. Ash also resorts to her snarky attitude to keep her sane. Reluctantly partnered with her long-time nemesis Levi, the infuriating leader of the magic community, Ash resolves to keep her focus on the clue trail and off their sexual tension.

Wilde combines hard boiled noir and Jewish folklore in this action-packed series opening. There are several secondary & tertiary characters who make this book more interesting, especially the Queen of Hearts, Meryem, and Miles Berenbaum. This is my first attempt at reading a series by this author. I've heard that her previous series was based on Jewish mythology and this one also hints that the origins of magic go back to Sodom and Gomorrah. One of the things this series needs to resolve quickly is Ash's issues with her mother and father otherwise, it will drag down the series.