Druid Vices and a Vodka by Annette Marie – A Book Review

Posted April 27, 2020 by Booksandblurbs in Reviews, Urban Fantasy / 0 Comments

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Druid Vices and a Vodka

(The Guild Codex: Spellbound – Book 6)

by Annette Marie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Urban Fantasy
Available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited

Down & Dirty

This complicated, magical world gets even richer with this sixth installment. Answers are given, more questions are asked and friendships are put to the test. Free on Kindle Unlimited.

What is it about?

(Blurb from GoodReads)

I’ve said it before, but sometimes I’m a bad person. I cheated on my twelfth grade math final, I’ve run countless yellow lights, and I gossip about how hot my kickass best friends are. (Good thing my job as a guild bartender doesn’t require moral perfection.)

But there’s bad, and then there’s bad. And I’m not sure which applies to a certain dark druid/wanted criminal/reluctant friend of mine. His transgressions include black-magic dealings, kidnapping, and murder, and he’s about to add “revenge-fueled killing spree” to his resume—if I don’t stop him.

Should I stop him?

He and his nemesis are gearing up to tear each other apart, rogues and vultures are converging with their sights on the spoils, and the guilds that would normally stomp them into the ground are under attack. We’re on the brink of an all-out criminal turf war, and my time to decide is almost up.

Who’s the real bad guy … and do I dare stand in his way?

Thoughts on Druid Vices and a Vodka

This book brings the attention to two relationships I adore in this expansive series; Zak and Ezra. One is a Druid with secrets so deep they burn black and the other a Demon Mage with secrets of his own, ones that could destroy everything Tori holds dear. It’s dangerous, its delicious, and the action is, quite literally, non-stop.

While these two seem to be the main focus of this novel, from feelings of both love and friendship, the other relationships are also exposed and explored further. Kai… that lovely and dangerous boy, is smacked in the face with a history we’ve only seen glimpses of so far. In other words, his family is back, and it’s ugly. Aaron, while not featuring overly much here, still brings his fire and we get cameos from other well loved characters, including Robin (I still need to read Book 3 in her series)!

The bonds that tie this crew together are strengthened, and tested… in ways I am not sure they can survive into Book 7. That ending, the climax, it killed me – broke my heart and made me rage against a certain individual, even though I cheered Tori’s ability to stand by her convictions.

All in all, this is well written and flows easily from scene to scene. It made me feel, cheer and cry. I can’t wait to see what awaits them next.

Pros:

Well written.
Flows very smoothly.
Zak. I love him. Kinda hate him too.
Friendships are sometimes more important than romantic love.
Tori is growing leaps and bounds.
Great Cover!

Cons:

Is this a love triangle? It’s starting to feel like a love triangle… and it would make a fantastic RH, though I doubt it would be that.

Perspective

First Person, Single POV

Ending Type

Cliffhanger

Rating

Upper YA

Romantic Dynamic

M/F (though there is no sexual content, just tension and some kisses for now)

Character Age Range

Adult

My Final Verdict on Druid Vices and a Vodka

This series just keeps getting better, adding layers and nuance to an ever expanding plot. At this point, I don’t know what is going to happen, and that, for an Urban Fantasy, is a wonderful thing indeed. Well written and action packed, it weaves magic and imagination, creating a tale I’ll read again and again. Free on Kindle Unlimited.

Published January 3rd, 2020
338 Pages