Do you know what a binturong smells like?

I do, now.

R.L. Naquin's books are like hot fudge, with or without the ice cream. She has built a world full of magic and magical people, and I love it. She has a gift for description, simile, and metaphor that is right up there with the best of them. "He was short and pudgy with a thin little excuse for a mustache that looked more like he got it from drinking chocolate milk than grew it." Her characters are just like you and me – except that weird and wonderful things happen to them, and sometimes they're not human. (Well, for all I know neither are you. And – heh heh heh – for all you know, <I>neither am I.</i>) They can be silly, brilliant, distracted, scary, heart-broken, heart-breaking, unpredictable – realistic. Even when they're a djinn like Kam, star of this novella.

I love the world these books take place in – why haven't I read everything yet? I can't wait.

I highlighted a lot of quotes in this short book – but I narrowed it down to three I couldn't bear to clear.

<I>I glanced up at all the windows in those buildings and imagined the stuffy offices, the cubicle farms and the atriums filled with miserable plants longing to feel direct sunshine that didn't stream through glass. A piece of me would probably die a little every day cooped up in there. </I>
(Yes, trust me – it would. It does.)

<I>"Haven't you learned that you have to believe it to see it?"
She dropped the list on the table. "Don't you mean 'seeing is believing'?"
I shrugged. "Sure, if you want the universe telling you what to do. I prefer to make the universe my bitch."

Was it a coincidence that the last place Pete had been tracked to was a food truck court, or was this fate flapping its arms at me trying to get my attention? I tucked my hands in my pockets to keep from flapping my arms back. Coincidence or not, I believed in fate. </I>

The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.

This book is a spin-off of the Monster Maven-series, which I haven't read (YET). However, I certainly did not feel lost or confused while reading this book! I loved Kam and her relationship with Ash. I certainly do love the paranormal creatures which well greatly represented in this book! The ending is perfect for a next book!

TO CATCH A STOLEN SOUL is the first book in a series based on one of the wonderful characters from the Monster Haven series, Kam the djnn. When we met her, she had an interesting enough backstory that I wished she had her own book. Guess I got my wish with this one! The plot follows Kam on her misadventures being a soul chaser and struggling to make ends meet. While I missed the characters from the Monster Haven series, this story is fun with a whole new cast (and a few old ones) of quirky characters and a list of suspects surrounding a string of murders. One thing I loved about the Hidden creatures masquerading as humans was the large size difference between their 'human skin' versus their actually selves. A tiny brownie can be a six foot human. That's kind of awesome.

I enjoyed seeing Kam living her life, albeit a struggling one. She is a very kind and determined person who seems to make connections with everyone she meets including a runaway named Ash. I loved their interactions especially as they try to make a toast food truck work. I loved seeing Kam act as a caring big sister to Ash. It fits her character and I hope Ash sticks around throughout the series.

Finding out who the murderer was, was a bit easy but that didn't matter as it was fun hanging out with Kam and seeing this story start to build its world and reality that will carry on into the rest of the series.

To Catch a Stolen Soul Kindle Edition
by R.L. Naquin
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review

A clever if only slightly above average urban fantasy series starter.

Our heroine, Kam is a djinn trapped and in hiding. Her magic is partially stolen and she is always on the edge of survival, moving from job to job.

Until she is called in to investigate a missing person, actually a missing Reaper. A Reaper goes for the souls that don't want to leave. The Reaper disappeared on a mission and his Soul Stone needs to be found swiftly to let the souls move on to the next life, whatever that may be.

Kam takes the case, more for the money than anything else.

During her 'investigation' we meet a load of fun characters. People of the “Hidden” who have recently come out from under the bed and put on amazing human suits to live with the Normals. The investigation isn't much as the villian is clear from about the first time it is introduced as well as the motive. But that is not what this book is about. This is clearly about setting up the world, the heroine and her various sidekicks and love interests as well as the rules on interaction.

Usually, urban fantasy has a lot of sexual tension and at times a lot of wild supernatural romping, but it is missing from this book for the most part. Just hints here and there, little morsels to nibble at in the future.

Written in the first person, the heroine clearly has cutting sense of humor that Ms. Naquin puts to good use. Ms. Naquin also uses the first person POV to allow us into the depths of her character's pain and past without revealing too much.

I can't wait to see how this character and her life evolve.

4 out of 5

https://www.amazon.com/Catch-Stolen-Soul-R-L-Naquin-ebook/dp/B01LLPI4CS/

First disclaimer : I haven't read the previous series where the main character appeared first. And secondly I only picked up this one (got an ARC in exchange of a review) 'cause I hoped the character on the cover was a WOC/black woman. Now whatever it is, I am glad I picked it cause this was a fun and entertaining book. Kam was such a cool cat! Funny, sensitive, smart caring and badass all in one. I really enjoyed reading about her adventures. I liked Ash too, she was a good side kick, even though her character was a bit too...convenient, especially when we learnt what we learnt about her backstory (I had a tiny eye-roll). I liked the truck food crew, the homeless community and the mystery surrounding all of them was entertaining. I am looking forward to reading more about our little gang, especially now that they got a fine new member with them...

At about a 4.5 rating, I've got to say I really enjoyed this. Loved the world that was set up and our protagonist, who's a really endearing and fun person to be around. She's tough, adventurous, social and doesn't allow herself to have too long of a pity party under normal circumstances. The information that updates us on what's going on was a little fast and much, but I kept up, and because it was so consistent, it wasn't hard to follow throughout the book. I liked the writing style, but it may have been a little much for me in terms of a sentence or more added than necessary, though that's just a personal opinion.

The characters were pretty cool, especially Ash, a hitch-hiker she picks up at the start of the book. I think I enjoyed her right after Kam, our MC, and though we didn't really 'meet' a lot of the characters they come into contact with, I thought it was appropriate with the pacing. Overall, a really fun book filled with magic and suspense. And if you're wondering how good this book is, let's just say they decided to serve toast to the world and it made me make myself a grilled cheese (it was midnight, people) just to satisfy the craving. If a book doesn't make you do something like that, then I don't know how else I'd convince you without spoiling anything.