A quick, entertaining, urban fantasy novel with a touch of noir, set in present-day Vancouver—except magic is a part of everyday life.

Ashira (Ash) is a nonmagical P.I. trying to follow in the footsteps of her literary hero, Sherlock Holmes. When a kidnapping case gets her tangled up with the notorious Queen of Hearts, she’ll have to turn to her long-time nemesis to track down a mysterious organization before it’s too late. It’s a pretty unique story. I mean, I don’t know any other books with liberal references to not only Sherlock Holmes and Alice in Wonderland, but also the Old Testament?

I really liked the audiobook narrator. She did a great job bringing the characters to life—especially Ashira’s outward snark and inward second-guessing.

I received a free audio recording of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a hilarious and snarky sci-fi, crime listen! The narrator for the audiobook did an awesome job and made the book very entertaining. The storyline and characters were fun and enjoyable! Definitely recommend for a quick, fun read! 3.75 stars.

Not a bad start to a series. I want to give this a higher rating but I feel like the world building isn’t well developed and felt too derivative to me.

For example, magical ruling houses. It reminded me too much of Ilona Andrews’ Hidden Legacy series. IA don’t own this trope and there are other series who did the same thing. But other authors who did it made the trope their own like Jessie Mihalik’s consortium series. It didn’t feel like an imitation.

This book however, felt like a pale imitation which was disappointing because I liked the diversity in this book. We don’t get enough Jewish inspired stories with Jewish characters.

The main character is very snarky. Like it’s literally on the title. My problem is it was just too much snark and too little substance. It was kind of distracting and grating. Instead of laughing at the heroine’s snarkiness, I found myself gritting my teeth. The snark often got in the way of plot and character development. It was only when the snark was pulled back a bit where the story and the characters shined. And yeah, the jokes landed too because it didn’t feel forced.

Anyway, there is a bit of romance in here that kept my romance loving heart satisfied. It’s not a lot yet but the foundation is there and has the potentially to be epic.

Also, I love that this was set Canada, specifically in the Vancouver area and the characters reflected the diversity of that city.

In conclusion: I liked this one enough to invest in the next book in the series.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blood & Ash sounded like an interesting book. In the beginning, I was bit intrigued by a couple of things. For example, the world, the magic, and the characters. Yet, along the way I feel like I'm left with a lot more questions than answers.

Don't get me wrong, this book had some good things in it. Once a hidden tattoo came into play, I was down for anything and everything this book was going to offer. Give me a couple of twists and turns, especially ones I don't see coming, and I'm hooked. Then on top of all that, all the sexual tension a girl can want? Well damn, I'm already down for the count.

After meeting Ash, she was kind of cool. Doesn't mean she didn't annoy me every now and then but I was okay with her. The bantering between her and Levi was pretty hot and that's pretty much why I stuck around. I mean, the magic part was cool and all but I just don't know enough about it at this point.

Maybe the next book will dive into a bit more?

This was my first ever audiobook, but it won’t be my last. I must admit that I had to get used to the narrator’s voice was not my own, but eventually I couldn’t imagine the book being read in any other way. Great “easy read” book, that I would highly recommend, and I would especially recommend the audio version. The fact that I already miss the characters is a great sign of good story telling. The end felt a bit abrupt and throughout it nagged me that a magic that did not exists had a name and everyone seemed to know what this was. I was very close to giving this a 5 star.

A fantastic mash-up of genres, blending the supernatural, detective, romance and snarky humour genres with a splash of European Jewish mythology.

Ashira, our heroine is a ‘mundane’ private detective living in a Canada where nefesh - those with magical powers - have an uneasy co-existence. Her childhood nemesis, Levi, leads the local magical fraternity. Fireworks are soon flying between them but in the meantime they have multiple plot lines to resolve, including a sudden and unexpected unleashing of Ashira’s own magical abilities.

The action moves at speed and a cohort of characters are nicely set up for future development. This is a great start to a series and would appeal to fans of the likes of Molly Harper. I listened to an audiobook version of this and thought that it was also well narrated.

With thanks to NetGalley, #Deborah Wilde and the publisher for an ARC of the audiobook in return for an honest review of this audiobook.

I love me some urban fantasy so I jumped at the chance to listen to this. Thanks to Net Galley for giving me this Advanced Listening Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ashira Cohen takes pride in being the only female private investigator in Vancouver. With her skills, her missing persons case should be a piece of cake. She wasn't counting on getting bashed in the skull, revealing a hidden tattoo and supernatural powers she shouldn't possess.

The first book in the Jezebel Files (Blood & Ash) feels like if Jim Butcher or Patricia Briggs decided to take on a world a new magic system based off Jewish folklore (with some secrets thrown in for good measure).

The bare bones of this book is very typical of the genre. A wise cracking PI who is usually in over their head, has a love/hate relationship with an authority figure, is barely making ends meet, is somehow both weak and strong in terms of special powers, and they just have to do the right thing. If you change a few details this could easily be a Mercy Thomoson or Dresden Files book.

But as typical as this book is, its also very interesting and unique. A cool power system and a great magic world come together to make this a good book.

Blood & Ash is typical in the ways you'd expect of the genre but different in the ways that count. Its a fun book thats good for anyone who is either already an Urban Fantasy fan or even new to the genre.

This is an adult book as there is both sex and swearing.

The narration by Hollie Jackson is solid. Each character has a unique voice and i never struggled to follow who was talking.

Blood & Ash by Deborah Wilde is a fun book.

AAAAA+++++ I loved this book - perfect blend of mystery, snark, fantasy/scifi and rom com! I love this narrator too, I have heard her read other books and enjoy her reading! Dive into a world where magic blends with reality from the view point of a human who suddenly becomes magic! All while investigating murder and conspiracy!

The narrator was great and drew me in.

My BIGGEST issue with the book is the storyline, plot, and characters. As I started to listen to this audiobook it was fine then all of a sudden I had to double-check to see what book I was listening to because I could have sworn I was listening to Ilona Andrews. This book is a mix between two of there series Kate Danials and Hidden Legacy. I could not listen after chapter 10.

An excellent start for a urban series, entertaining and engrossing.
I loved the world building, the quirky and fleshed out characters and the plot. The narrators gave life to the characters making this story compelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley, all opinions are mine

First in a new Urban Fantasy.
Agood start to series about Ashira a private investigator who discovers that she is more than she thought when she discover a hidden tattoo and that she has supernatural powers.
She gets involve in a case with her long time nemis Levi who she has a hate-love relationship.
Lots of drama,action,myths,witty dialogue mysteries and great romance.
Very entertaining and intriguing, enjoyed reading,
Narrative adds to the over all story.
Voluntarily reviewed.
Looking forward to the next.

Snarky is a good word for this series and whilst initially I found the narrator to be moving quite quickly I enjoyed the book and rushed through the next two in the series. In a world of magic for just 10% of the population it is policed carefully and old rivals / nemeses have a hate hate relationship that seems so obviously more than that.
I liked Ash and he dynamic with magic, I’m not sure on the Jezebel aspect, feels as though it detracts from where the strengths of this book lie. It could’ve remained a magical PI type series without the mysterious secret organisation and mystery around powers. However, the series is enjoyable and our heroine is certainly snarky. All makes for a fun read!

Thank you Netgalley. This was a good 1st book of a series. I has a good urban fantasy story with more action with some romance instead of the other way around, The characters are easy to get to know and I will look for the sequel. I liked the narrator which can make or break a book.

This is a hilarious, fast paced, action filled read (sorry I should say listen😊) I loved every minute of it. The narrator is really good and definitely adds to the experience , brought the story and characters to life far more. I adored Ash she is so sarcastic and funny, there is fantastic chemistry and fun, but you need to read or listen to this yourself. Fabulous entertaining story


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Listened to audio narrated by well by Deborah Wilde. I really enjoyed the narration and was pulled right into the story.

Ashira Cohen is a private investigator and believed all her life that she was a mundane. It turns out she is a Nefresh, a person with power. Her power is rare and in this first installment it's all about her figuring out, who was behind inhibiting her power and what she can do with her power as she searches for missing children and how to combat black tentacles that kill people.

Ashira isn't afraid to do what needs to be done because it's the right thing to do, even if it means sparking off with Levi the head of Nefresh House.

Levi Montefiore is the Head of the Nefresh House and he and Ashira have been bickering with each other since they first met at camp when they were kids. As they work together to deal with her new powers and solve this case their animosity turns to something more. They may have sparks but it's only a small part of this urban fantasy mystery.

This was an entertaining read, it's rooted in Jewish mythology, a feisty leading lady, with a good blend of mystery, action and interesting characters. I can't wait to read the next installment of the 'The Jezebel Files' and learn more about Ashira and Levi.

I received an audio copy through NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review. If you like my reviews I hope you will follow my blog. https://wyldheartreads.wordpress.com/

I loved this story! the characters are fun and easy to get to know and identify with. The snarkyness of the main character makes her stand out and her need to give everyone nicknames is wonderful. The fact that she loved Sherlock holmes and is a private investigator who calls her best friend and flatmate Adler is just amazing.

The way the magic in the setting works is new, quirky and very awesome. Its compleatly new and fresh from the way magic has been handled in fantasy/scfi before.

I truely loved this read and finished listening to it in just 24 hours. I had to know what what happend next. if you love mysteries with a touch of magic these are truely the read for you!

Loved the funny fast paced mystery. The dialogue is amazing with the narrator. This is an addictive series.

Blood and Ash is the first book in Deborah Wilde's new urban fantasy series set in Vancouver, Canada.
Ashira (Ash) Cohen has been pursuing her childhood dream of becoming the best possible private investigator possible. She inherited her love of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson fictional world from her father Adam Cohen who used to read to her Conan Doyle's books. Then one day Adam just walked out of Ashira and her mother's life never to be seen again. Ash went through a difficult time trying to accept her father's decision. She also vouched to herself never to be a victim or 'a mark' of somebody else's games or tricks.
We meet Ash as she is doing a surveillance job on a rebellious teenager Charlotte Rose. The taskthat was supposed to be a piece of cake almost lands Ash herself in hot trouble as she discovers that her client hid her daughter's magic powers. Being a mundane, Ash is banned from working cases like that. She could lose her licence, but this is the least of her worries. During the fight she got a superficial wound on her head that damaged a magic tattoo that Ash didn't have any idea about. Keen to investigate her own case, Ash also makes a life-altering discovery- she suddenly develops an odd kind of blood magic that isn't even supposed to exist. Now she is in big trouble with the head of the local magic community Levi Montefiore.
The world-building in this book was just brilliant. Based on Jewish culture references, it was original and kept my interest throughout the book. Ash is a strong protagonist. Snarky, independent, prone to dropping an occasional f-bomb, she is also a loyal friend and a decent person who has her heart in the right place. I adored Priya, Ash's best friend, flatmate and the only collaborator. Add steamy romance with tall, dark and handsome Levi who also happens to be Ash's childhood friend/nemesis.
Hollie Jackson did a wonderful job of giving all these characters (and many others) their unique voices. From Ash's begging for morning coffee voice to Charlotte Rose's teen sulkiness, Levi's irresistible charm and Priya's unfaltering enthusiam, Hollie Jackson showed a great range of expression. I also found that I never wanted to listen at a slower or faster rate, The story had a great flow and at the end of every chapter I wanted to hear just another one, until I listened to the whole book.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audiobook and now I can't wait to find out what is going to happen in the next instalment of the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Te Da media for the audiobook review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

I read the e-book for this awhile ago and I fell in love with the story. So when I saw that it was in audio, I jumped on the chance to listen and I still love it! The narration made the characters come to live. It is exactly the kind of book I love. Ash is a snarky, funny as hell main character. She is a private investigator who though she was completely human... until she wasn't. dun dun dun.. She has to partner up with Levi for a case and they have the whole "I hate you but I really want to see you naked thing" and that's always a good time. I loved seeing them get close and I loved the storyline. I am looking forward to the next book.

I am so happy that NetGalley has audiobooks now! This is my first one through them.
I liked the premise of this, it just lacked in world building and was confusing. Ash is a cool main character, she's strong and tough and wants to help people. She has past trauma and is working past that, luckily she has her best friend Priya. She's super smart and pretty hilarious and their friendship was cute.

My biggest problem was the different types of magic. I didn't understand them and got confused as to who had magic and why and what the houses mean exactly. I needed clarification that I didn't get.

Levi is sexy and I liked his and Ash's longtime frenemy relationship, but he was so hot and cold and it irritated me. They had some good chemistry and seem to belong to each other, he just needs to commit to that.

The narration was pretty good and the audiobook helped me speed through this.

I received a copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review