An action packed daemon/human urban adventure? Sign me up.

This was giving a combination of Alias, Shadowhunters and Batman? idk but it was so addictive and fun. Plus the 3 main characters were each interesting and engaging in their own ways. And Ash’s dragonet companion Zwi was a highlight.

There’s the overall mystery of what the stone does and why so many want it but I have a feeling there’s going to be so much more to this world. Can’t wait to see what Piper, Ash & Lyre get up to in book 2 of the series!

Narration was a stand out - both narrators were enthralling and the audio was so atmospheric due in part to them.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the ALC to start me off with this intriguing series!

Thank you NetGalley and Tantor media for this audiobook arc!
I really liked the narrators for this book! They did a good job distinguishing characters and performing the emotions needed for certain scenes!
I loved this story as well! The end has left me wanting more and I can’t wait to continue the series!

This was a good read. It is an upper YA with a 17 year old protagonist and there are mentions to being attracted and touching but nothing super detailed or spicy.

Overall I liked it! This was a fun time. I thought the story progression and the narrators were good and you couldn’t help wanting to know more about the MMCs - Ash and Lyre (excuse spelling - I listened to the audio). Piper was a pretty badass fighter despite her young age but growing up the way she did would probably do that.

Post world where there’s daemons and humans and half human/daemons. There’s apparently some other factions like the gaians. The world building was done well enough that there weren’t any holes that I found.

There were definitely moments I screamed “She’s 17!” Because she was making decisions as a 17 year old would and people were giving her grief. Honestly, better expectations - yes they’ll be stupid.

This was a book 1 and yes I will be checking out book two.

3.25

Because there was so much good in it, so much I enjoyed. Yet, ultimately I ended up a bit underwhelmed.

The premise is great, the plot works, the character dynamics are more than intriguing. I loved the juxtaposition of the flirty, funny incubus and the dark, brooding draconian - they perfectly match my two favourite archetypes for MMCs after all - in character and looks. The fact that the author kept the MMC focus cryptic enough to give both, Lyre and Ash, the potential for the 'hero' role and love interest was a twist I very much enjoy for a book one in a series.
There is also a lot of potential for the following books. The way Chase the Dark ended had just the right balance between slightly frustrating and curious.

However, the book, to me, was a bit of a 'less is more' situation. A lot was said and a lot felt redundant or even too detailed, thoughts were immediately repeated in conversation, inner conflicts felt overexploited at times. Which, in my opinion, left potential for a more dimensional plot and character development untapped. As a result, while I very much enjoyed the contrast of Ash and Lyre, the way Piper got entangled in their story had a rather thin foundation at times, I would have hoped for a more elaborate connection building. It was implied, but just for me personally, it could have been more intricate. There wasn't a lot that would have been able to take me by surprise either, with the density of information, which sadly made the story feel a bit flat.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and, curious about how the situation at the end of this one will affect relationships, will likely pick up the next one.
The narration was good and I enjoyed the audiobook in particular, I might have been less patient had I been reading it as an ebook.

Piper dreams of becoming a consul--a mediator who maintains the peace between humans and daemons--but when her father, the head consul, entrusts her with mysterious object, she has no idea her entire life is about to be upended. That same night, the consulate is attacked, her father abducted, and Piper finds herself on the run with the Sahar stone, a powerful magic lodestone that every faction seems to want to get their hands on. In danger and desperate to rescue her father, she teams up with two daemons, unaware that they have their own motives for helping her.

'Chase the Dark' is Annette Marie's debut novel and appears to have recently undergone a cover and audiobook refresh. Though this was my first time reading her work, she's been on my radar for quite a while, as her books are often praised for their super slow-burning romances.

To me, this book felt like an odd mash-up of urban fantasy and anime. Some things worked for me, some things didn't. I liked the dystopian setting, and there were the makings of some good worldbuilding, but it often felt more like a backdrop than a lived-in fantasy world. There's an intricate daemon caste system and magic system, but also a fair amount of infodumping. The action and fight scenes are plentiful and fun, but also quite drawn-out.

The book's greatest strength is definitely its characters. Despite lacking magical powers, Piper is still a badass heroine. While she doesn't actively go out looking for trouble, it always seems to find her and she's capable of defending herself. Ash is a broody but lethal draconian daemon, and though there's not much romance in this book, you can already sense the slow-building tension between the him and Piper. Lyre, the flirty, easygoing incubus, is probably my favorite of the three (though I disliked how handsy he was with Piper at times). Rounding out the group is Zwi, Ash's adorable dragon sidekick. Together, they have such fun dynamic and actually make a pretty good team.

The audiobook is dual narration with great performances by both narrators.

Overall, this was a fun, fast-paced YA urban fantasy and a solid debut novel. Though it didn't really grab me enough to continue the series, I'll definitely be reading more of Annette Marie's other series!

Thank you Tantor Audio for providing this audiobook for review!

I was so stoked to receive this ARC of the audiobook that has been re-recorded with dual narration by Melissa Moran and Tim Paige! I love when we get multiple narrators in an audiobook and this did not disappoint.

Anette Marie write fantasy very well and book one in the Steel and Stone series was very good. I liked the easy world building, dynamic between the two MMC and FMC, and their adventure in general. The FMC was a strong bad ass and I found that to be so refreshing.

The quality of the audiobook was excellent and the narrators did a great job. Enthusiastic 4 stars for this one. When it releases in May, give it a listen!

Thank you to NetGalley, RB Media, and Tantor Audio for this advanced reader copy.

[A big thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the audiobook!]

I didn't encounter this series when it was originally published, so this was my first time experiencing the story! The narrators did such a fantastic job bringing the story to life, and I finished this in less than 24 hours.

Lyre is by far my favourite character. Though, I do have a strong bias for the "goofy/flirty" character who gets underestimated because of their act. I appreciated that Piper was also shown to be attracted to Lyre, and not just Ash, even if it was mostly in a "daemons are supernaturally hot" kind of way. I'm assuming that Ash will be the endgame love interest of the series, but, just for the sake of throwing it out there: I would LOVE it if this ended up going in a Why Choose direction and Piper got two boyfriends out of it. That scene in Lilith's club? That was EVERYTHING! I know it probably won't turn out that way, but I can dream XD

Speaking of that scene though: I really do think this story would benefit if it leaned more towards New Adult and if Piper was aged up to around 19. Especially since, not only is one of our main characters is an Incubus, but Piper's ex is also an Incubus. And, between those two, Piper is on the receiving end of Incubi seduction magic several times throughout the book. Piper going through that while also being underage does dampen the mood a bit.

Overall? I loved it! I cannot wait to continue the series!

1/5 🌶️


Thank you Netgalley, Tantor Audio, and the author Annette Marie for the advanced audio of Chase the Dark.

🩵Urban Fantasy
🩵Touch her and die
🩵Cute but deadly pet dragon
🩵Post Apocalyptic
🩵Kickass Heroine
🩵Slow Burn

Synopsis
💫Piper dreams of becoming a Consul, a peacekeeper between humans and daemons. However, she faces three challenges:

- Lyre, an incubus with charm, sharp eyes, and playful flirtatiousness, is strangely shy about revealing his secrets.
- Ash, a draconian mercenary with insane power and unpredictable behavior, brings trouble wherever he goes and lurks around Piper’s Consulate with hidden motives.
- The Sahar Stone, a legendary artifact with destructive power, was under Piper’s dad’s protection until thieves attacked their Consulate, kidnapped her dad, and hid the Stone inside Piper.

Now, Piper is on the run, hunted by every daemon in the city. They seek the Stone and her. To survive, she must keep the artifact secret while rescuing her dad. 💫

My thoughts:
✨ This audiobook was an absolute blast! The narrators were absolutely fantastic! The plot was so engaging that I couldn’t put it down. I never felt bored or like it was dragging on. I definitely recommend this as a listen! 💫

I’ve read this series before but had not listened to the audio. I enjoyed the narrators. Thought they kept me intrigued in a book I felt a little old to be listening too. Overall I think it’s still a good book and series but I think I would have enjoyed the audio more 10 years ago.

A very well-written story with an intriguing plot. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the dual narration of the audiobook. The race against time as Piper tries to find the stolen stone with two daemons at her side had my heart racing with anticipation. Her fear and yet undeniable attraction to Ash was a delightful sprinkling of romance on top of this amazing story.

Thank you NetGalley, Annette Marie, and Tantor Audio for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I'd rate this book a 3.75 rounded up. I think the dual narration was done very well and really added a valuable element to the storytelling (and made the experience more engaging). The story read more younger YA than I had originally anticipated, but that may just be due to the way the FMC was written and how prevalent her view is a part of the story. I would highly recommend modifying the tagged genre from General Fiction (Adult) to YA. Overall, I thought the plot was fairly well-paced and the dynamics between the characters were quite enjoyable, though I do wish there was a bit more explanation and setup of the daemon-side of the world-building to enhance my understanding. Overall, this was a quick listen and I'm curious to see what happens in the next book.

I would give this a 2,5 star if that was possible. If the book had the excitement of the last 25% sooner I would have enjoyed it more… if that makes sense. I was just so bored with it. 🤦🏼‍♀️

The premise is great. I love the basic concept. The writing is decent. There was a lot of potential. But it just wasn’t enough to hook me in. I liked it enough that I would optimistically read the second book in the series. I am willing to give the series a chance to continue the momentum it had at the end of this book.

As for the audio, I don’t have the complaints others had. I enjoyed the narrators. I think they did well. I enjoyed the dual perspectives.

🌸 Chase the Dark by Annette Marie 🌸

Bookish friends, this was a very well-written first installment. This enchanting urban fantasy had me hooked from the very first page! Annette Marie has woven an absolute gem of a story that dances playfully between suspense, humor, and the most delightful dash of romance. ✨

Our heroine, Piper Griffiths, is a fierce and determined young woman with an adorably ambitious dream — to become a Consul, the ultimate peacekeeper between humans and daemons. But Piper finds herself caught in a whirlwind of chaos, thanks to three pesky obstacles. First up is Lyre, the sizzling hot incubus whose mischief sparks instant irritation (and a little heart-thumping excitement, if we're being honest).

Next, there's Ash, a draconian who's as dangerous as he is devastatingly attractive. Talk about a guy who could lead you into the depths of trouble in the most delightful way! Piper's mix of fear, attraction, and way-too-much curiosity toward Ash leads to some of the most thrilling scenes I've ever read! Just when you think you’ve figured him out, he reveals another layer that keeps you guessing. 🔥

And of course, we can’t forget the ominous Sahar Stone — a magical weapon wrapped in so much mystery it practically shimmers with danger. Anyone who thinks they can just waltz in and disappear with a weapon of mass destruction hasn't met Piper! 💎

As Piper races against time to clear her name, find the stolen stone, and keep herself alive (with two of the most untrustworthy daemons at her side!), I was rooting for her with every turn of the page. Annette Marie perfectly captures the essence of a strong female protagonist, and Piper's journey is both heartwarming and empowering.

Chase the Dark is a thrilling adventure filled with witty dialogue, delightful friendships, and just the right amount of spice. The way Piper navigates this magical world — all while dealing with the stunning chaos that Lyre and Ash create — is a whirlwind of excitement that kept me up far too late at night.

If you’re looking for a story that combines sass, magic, and maybe a sprinkle of romance with your daemons, then grab your copy of Chase the Dark and get ready for a wild ride! 🌙✨ I can’t wait for more of Piper’s adventures! 🌼💖

I liked this series when I first read it in 2020, but I enjoyed the revised audiobook even more. Having dual narrators really enhances the experience.
Piper's dream is to follow in her father’s footsteps and work as a Consul, tasked with keeping the peace between humans and daemons in a post apocalyptic world. As a haemon, half demon-half human, she should have magic to help her, but she doesn’t. When a powerful artifact is stolen, she and two daemons are accused of the theft and they team up to clear their names.
The book is YA and there’s some identity and romance angst. In this first book Piper feels pretty young, but I like how her character grows in the series. Ash and Lyre are both great characters and the world is interesting and multilayered. There’s plenty of action and twists - betrayals and surprises. Definitely a fun read!

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook arc. I wanted to love this book so much but couldn’t connect with the character or care about the journey they went on. I’m giving 3 stars cause it wasn’t terrible it just want gore me

Thank you for the ALC copy of Chase the Dark. I think overall the book was solid but it should have been one that I read over listening to.

I needed a little more understanding of the magic and the daemons and how the world came about. Perhaps this was better understood if I read it. The narrators, unfortunately, were a distraction for me. The female narrator was great but the fact this book has two narrators for three different characters was really distracting for me. The two male characters had the same narrator and when listening it became sometimes hard to distinguish who I should be following and sometimes I confused one for the other. It wouldn’t not have been any trouble at all when reading as it is third person, but as an audio listener while multitasking it did make it harder to follow.

Overall it seemed like a solid start to a series but I certainly feel it needed more to it and had something missing, or perhaps just too short overall.

Hover 3 to a 3.5 star rating, I do wish there had been 3 narrators to my audiobooks. I like seeing each character that was followed to have a distinct voice to them.

A very well written story, captivating plot & fascinating characters. Highlighted by the great narration.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ALC.

Chase the Dark
Book 1: Steel & Stone
By Annette Marie
Narrated by Melissa Moran; Tim Paige
4 ⭐️

First: This is was good. It’s a solid YA urban-ish fantasy with a human/demon half breed, a demon/dragon shifter, and an incubus. It’s detailed but not weighed down. It has fast pacing and plenty of mystery. It’s a long series with 6 currently out (I have no idea if it’s done or ongoing) - audiobooks are currently in production. This audiobook was a fun listen. The multiple POVs were very easy to follow. I enjoyed both narrators equally and don’t have much else to note.

Second: I need this to be an adult why choose.

That is all.

Thank you NetGalley, Annette Marie, and Tantor audio for this audiobook ARC. 🐉

Okay so i should start this review by saying on netgalley its listed as General Fiction (Adult), Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy. This is wrong! It's actually a YA which if I had known I would not have applied for it (i will add a note to publisher with my review as i think it will do better listed as what it is).

When our FMC turned out to be 17 and talking about hotness alot, i did a quick search on if its adult or YA! Even the authors site says YA.

So I've reviewed this with the view to those who like YA, not my own taste, as its not for me and I upped the audio speed.

Piper is our FMC who is 17 and she wants to be a Consul (think peace keeper between species/demons) however she has no magic and her dad who is in charge has no intention of allowing it. Due to his position they live at the consulate where a magical dangerous stone is kept. Long story shorts its stolen and she is blamed and on the run (this is not a spoiler its in the description). She is helped by two demons Ash and Lyre.

I think Ash and Lyre are the best characters in the book. They have good banter between the two of them and there is a scene where Piper helps Ash though a traumatic situation that was sweet.

The character development is really good, as well as the worldbuilding. You get to watch the three main characters come together. This is a YA style slow burn romance but the book itself is pretty fast paced so something is always happening!

I will be recommending this book to my niece who is 16 as I know she will love it!

The narration of the audio was well done and enjoyable. I liked both the male and female narrators. Readers were Melissa Morgan and Tim Paige.

Apparently this series is complete and this book released 2015, so maybe its been picked up or is just getting audio now. This series may get better as the FMC ages up as its 6 books. So if you do love it you can binge them all!

Dual narration- Melissa Moran & Tim Paige
As always I loved Tim Paige. Melissa was fantastic as well.

Great book. I enjoyed the storyline. The world building and depth was written well. Love the cover! It is the first thing that drew me to the book, then the narrator and finally the description got me. And this one didn’t disappoint.

I am invested and need to continue the series. Very well written and developed characters. The world building was great as well. If your a fan of fantasy genre definitely give this a try.