Missing teens. Long-lost magic. Can one determined private eye topple a dark conspiracy?Detective for hire, Ashira Cohen is having a no-good, very bad day.When Ash was thirteen, her con artist father disappeared, leaving her with emotional scars and a limp she can’t hide. But she toughened up, determined never to be played again. Is history repeating itself?First, she’s hit on the head during a … itself?
First, she’s hit on the head during a stakeout, revealing a mysterious tattoo on the back of her skull.
Even worse? It’s a now-broken ward unleashing dangerous magic that as a Mundane, she shouldn’t possess.
And the icing on this crap cake? Her unruly powers nearly kill her long-time nemesis, Levi, the uptight leader of the magic community. One word from him revealing her forbidden abilities, and everything she’s built will be taken from her… by force.
The only bright spot is that Levi requires her supernatural skills to solve a spree of abductions. After years of being underestimated by him, it’s Ash’s chance at payback and she’s going to enjoy bringing him to his knees—or stuffing him in a body bag.
Crackling with humor and suspense, Blood & Ash features a headstrong heroine tackling paranormal conspiracies and an enemies-to-lovers romance.
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“Wilde combines hardboiled noir and Jewish folklore in this action-packed, perfectly paced paranormal romp. … the real star is Ash’s hilariously snarky narrative voice which is archly sarcastic but never mean. … Wilde balances exuberant wit with deep compassion and handles Ash’s chronic pain and fragmented family with care. This giddy, sexy series launch is a delight.” – Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
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Blood & Ash is a brand new Urban Fantasy series by Deborah Wilde. It’s a whirlwind adventure with a dash of Alice and Wonderland, Sherlock Holmes, and Hidden Legacy series.
The story takes place in Vancouver, Canada with a lot of Jewish mythology rooted in.
Ashira is a human private investigator working in a world where magic exits until an unexpected accident happens and now she’s got magic. Ashira was a fun character. I liked how her mind worked. She’s a Sherlock Homes type character and theirs a lot of references to her love of Homes.
Levi her nemesis and the leader of the magic community. Boy he’s a sexy one, but also very put together. He needs to loosen up and have his world turned upside down.
The story moves at a break-necking speed. With that the world building isn’t very well explained. We get a lot of different things thrown at us and it can be a lot to take in. We don’t get much time to digest until after you’ve devoured the book. I am hoping more things will be explained as the series progress.
The story is full of action packed scenes and a few different mysteries to be solved. We’ve got missing kids, something killing magical people, and Ashira getting magical powers. So many mysteries to solve and not all are answered in this first installment.
The romance was secondary to the mysteries. Levi and Ashira are like oil and vinegar. They have a lot of witty comments and comebacks for each-other, but you can defiantly tell that theirs an attraction between them. I liked the banter, snarky comments, and witty humor in this novel. Though at this point in the story the romance just didn’t fit. These two have known each other for decades and for some reason they choose now to kick off a romance. I’m not won over on the romance end and I don’t think it’s needed in the series.
Blood & Ash was a nice start to The Jezebel Files series. It’s a snarky detective urban fantasy read and I’m looking toward to continuing the series.
Rated: 3.5 Stars
This is the first book in a new urban fantasy series by an author that never fails to entertain me. This time her protagonist is a most decidedly human private investigator working in a world where magic exists until she finds out that actually no she’s not just a mundane human but actually has powerful magic herself ! Ashira finds herself working alongside Levi the ever infuriating head honcho in the local supernatural community. So now she’s solving a missing persons case and trying to discover just why someone previously bound her magic and all whilst fighting her mother, her daddy issues and that insane feeling she gets when Levi removes that stick from you know where ! Yep Ashira has an awful lot to deal with and it’s only about to get even more complicated because she’s the only one who seems able to see the dark mysterious shadows that are killing people !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
A great series beginner. This action-packed, well-written, magical read was a real page turner. Its full of unexpected twist, mystery, suspense and a bit of steam to whet the appetite. The author did an amazing job building this world, its storyline and characters. Ashira, a feisty, kickass no nonsense P.I., life just got more complicated, not only must she deal with her newly discovered magic but with her new cases, all of which appears to be connected.
Her new status in the magic community has landed her a big case unfortunately her newly found powers just might get her killed and accepting help from her arch enemy may break her heart but what’s a girl to do, can she really walk away from some kidnapped people and the attack on the magic community especially when she just joined the ranks?
This awesome adventure will have you on the edge of your seat, you do not want to miss out on this series. I received a free advanced copy and absolutely loved it. I can’t wait for the next installment. Get this book you won’t regret it.
Urban Fantasy with a Mystery flair to it.
Ashira Cohen is a private investigator in Vancouver. She is also a mundane in a world where some people have magic. A head injury during a case, damages a hidden tattoo that blocked her powers. Her new powers are unique and are needed to save the magic community from a shadowy threat.
There was a lot to like about this story. While the book is Urban Fantasy, it also had a nice blend of detective/mystery thriller to it. The characters were diverse, yet relatable and fun to get to know.
Ashira’s blood magic was also a nice change from usual elemental based magic. The blood magic is intriguing in its possible uses in future stories as there is a lot of ways the author could go with it.
My only complaint with the book was ten-twelve pages of graphic erotica and wished those two scenes were written as fade-to-black. The two scenes came across as jarring and knocked me from the story.
Looking forward to reading more in the series.
Definitely can’t complain about a snarky woman with a heart of gold and determination. Really good book. I enjoyed it and I’m excited to learn more about her world. Not really feeling Levi, he’s an ass but I think he’ll grow on me.
Worth the read can’t wait for the next one
Jewish magic, cool. Ash is a nicely complete character. I like the diversity of the cast, and the fact that Myles and Pri are going to be a thing. Levi was a major asset. I want read the second one.
Ashira Cohen is a Sherlock Homes loving PI who, in a world where some have magic and some don’t, always thought of herself to be one of the latter, until a blow to the head reveals that she was wrong. Her unique magic seems to be the only thing that might be able to stop the mysterious entity that is killing local people. Teamed up with Levi Montefiore, who is the leader of the magical world and her childhood nemesis, she has to put aside her old enmity to try to save the kids that have disappeared and discover what the deadly entity is. Overall, I found this first audiobook in the Jezebel Files to be an entertaining listen. I really liked that the story was rooted in Jewish mythology and that it took place in Vancouver, Canada. The snarky humour and banter were great, and the narrator did a good job of giving the characters distinct voices and she helped keep the story treads understandable. I did find that the pace of the story (not the narration) was a bit too fast and that a lot was thrown at you with not enough explanation, especially about the different types of magic. There are numerous mysteries to be solved and plot threads to follow and it would be easy for a reader to become confused with the many events that happen. It also seemed a bit manufactured that after years of animosity, Levi and Ash chose this time to start a romance. I’m not against them having a relationship but it just seemed to be too much too soon. Having said all this, this is still an enjoyable story with characters and plot concepts have great potential. It’s a fun, urban fantasy detective story and I will enjoy continuing the rest of the series. I received an early copy of this audiobook from Independent Book Publishers Association via NetGalley with no obligation to review. This in no way influenced my review and all opinions expressed are solely my own.
Wow what a ride! I’ve binged all the books in this series so far in the last few days losing lots of sleep and hanging on by the seat of my pants as these characters unravel the Sherlock Holmes type mysteries. Awesome snarky female lead who kicks ass and refuses to take crap off anyone. Sexy, bossy, yet sweet in his own way enemy to lover. A best friend who absolutely would help you bury a body and plenty of bad guys to take down. READ THIS SERIES NOW! Ashira is a PI just trying to make a living taking the non-magical cases that she’s allowed to handle by law until what should have been an easy case goes sideways and she finds herself in a world of trouble. Because a client lied about the non-magical part of her most recent case putting her on the radar of the leader of the magical community. And when she magically manifests a dildo out of thin air to defend herself she goes from the frying pan straight into the fire. Now she has to figure out how to handle her peculiar magic while dealing with the overbearing magical leader determined to make her fall in line with his rules and solve the case that keeps taking surprising turns. This has been one of the best series I’ve read this year.
Ashira Cohen lives in a world where part of the populace is magically adept. Trying to make it as a mundane detective, where the jobs make less money and are less exciting, Ash attempts to make the best of it. During a case, a head injury puts her on a path she never thought possible.
I was ecstatic when I discovered NetGalley is now giving out audiobook arcs, which is my preferred method of reading. A narrator can make or break the audiobook journey, and this was a good one. Hollie Jackson does a good job narrating Blood and Ash: The Jezebel Files, Book One. I never felt her interpretation was disingenuous to the characters. I was able to simply kick back, listen, and lose myself in Ash’s world.
Blood and Ash by Deborah Wilde is my kind of book. I’ll be honest you will find elements in this story that exist in a lot of other urban fantasy/ paranormal romances. But that did not make it any less enjoyable for me. The supernatural had enough of a uniqueness that I was not comparing constantly to stories from my past. I was engaged and interested in the magical world Ash lives in.
Ash is sassy, amusing, and tough. Her complicated relationship with her mother drew me in as does the one with her childhood “nemesis” Levi. Love stories derived from a couple who think they despise each other are most interesting to me. The conflict in the chase always amps up the passion, and Ash and Levi have it in abundance.
In short, Blood and Ash is excellent and well worth listening to the audiobook. After finishing, I immediately started book two, Death and Desire, and now wait impatiently for the audio of book three, Shadows and Surrender.
Great Urban Fantasy series to start.
Ash has just learned she can do magic. She’s snarky and sassy and I just love that about her. She runs around trying to find out how she got this magic. The story is fast paced and leaves you wanting to keep reading to see what is going to happen next. I like books where the magic is different and this book gave me just that!
The book lost me with the religious talk. I understand it’s place in explaining her name and some other story plots, but it’s just something that never holds interest for me in any book. Thankfully its not so much that it took away from the story as a whole for me.
Hollie Jackson did an excellent job narrating the story and portraying the different characters. Loved when she spoke Spanish!!
Thanks to NetGalley and Deborah Wilde for providing me an audio copy for an honest review.
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) 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 got 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.
Blood & Ash: A Snarky Urban Fantasy Detective Series: The Jezebel Files, Book One, my first read from author Deborah Wilde, surprising since I own 4 other books by her, judging by this book I should have read her earlier. Entertaining, fun read. Hollie Jackson’s narration made the 8-hour 45-minute tale pass quickly and adds to the book’s enjoyment. I’ll be reading more from this author. I look forward to Death & Desire: The Jezebel Files, Book Two. I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 – July 24, 2018).
A rating. It’s official…I’ve found my new Urban Fantasy series to obsess about. This book was so freaking good. I loved Ash…and Levi…WOW, talk about some chemistry. I’m all about this series and am so excited that the next book comes out next week. YES!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS ONE! Ash a great cross between the toughness and independence of Mercy Thompson, the private eye aspect of Kate Daniels, and Levi’s house aspect reminds me of the ‘house’ world that flows through the Chicagoland series.
I really enjoyed this book and I’ll be buying the next one in the series, too.
The last time I read a book from this author, is the Nava Katz series, and I was looking forward to the new series – and the author did not disappoint. Her trademark snarky characters are here in this new series, and really – the only similarities besides this author’s wonderful sense of humor and sarcasm, is that this story also has some of the Jewish mythology tied into it, as did the Nava Katz. After that, I see the similarities end. The action sequences are well thought out and original, and secondary characters are well tuned. What I really didn’t like is the romance, if that’s what you call it. When there is romance in a book, I want a solid couple. They don’t have to be perfect, and it can be a slow dance, but the romance between Ash and Levi was really frustrating when it could be smoldering. Maybe that’s because of Ash’s mistrust or Levi’s ego, but somewhere along the line they need to let that crap go.
As for the world building and background of some characters, even the main ones, I think it could have been better there. We got the story from mostly Ash’s point of view, so it limits us a bit and it keeps readers in the dark longer than I’d like. I think we will learn more about this world as these books develop, and I’m definitely staying on this train.
4.5 Stars
I’ve read this author before, and I liked her snarky style. For some reason, I never read any others so I was excited to see another series start (I like to start at the beginning). I loved this book with its interesting characters, great writing, and fast-paced action. I do have to admit that the author has a way of writing (I can’t put my finger on it exactly) that takes me a minute to get used to. I also guessed at something right away and didn’t believe the red herring (no spoilers!). However, those didn’t stop me from enjoying just about every second of reading this. I am really looking forward to the next book to see what happens next. Give this a try if you like urban fantasy with a dash of romance! Recommend, and I was given a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
This is the beginning of a brand new outstanding series. Ashira is so full of personality that she will captivate her audience. She made me laugh and cringe. I didn’t think anyone could beat Nava Katz for snarky originality, but Ash is gonna give her a run for her money for that top spot. She is a PI, but only able to handle NON paranormal cases. She takes a case from a woman to follow her daughter and see what she’s been up to. What she gets is a whole lot more trouble and surprises than she was counting on. She will be working with the leader of the local magic wielders, Levi. They have had more than a few run-ins and the more they are together the more they are drawn to each other. I highly recommend this book!! This promises more laughs and magical hijinks than you can dream. I requested an advanced reader copy and am under no obligation to leave this review.
I’ve been waiting for this series to start for so long.… After absolutely loving the Unlikeable Demon Hunter, I was keen to read more by Ms Wilde but a little wary of being disappointed. I read it in one sitting, I was so drawn into the story it was more like watching a great film the visuals just popped up on their own. I loved the interaction between Ash and her people. She’s incredibly snarky and prickly but manages to be endearing at the same time. Some aspects do remind me a little of Nava, but this is clearly a different world, and I can’t wait to see how things turn out.
BLOOD & ASH by Deborah Wilde is a well-written urban fantasy detective book with a side of romance. It is book one in the Jezebel Files series.
This story mainly takes place in Vancouver, Canada where some people have magic and others don’t. Ashira Cohen is the only female private investigator in Vancouver and she works on non-magical cases. When she takes on a missing person case, she feels it will be an easy case. However, she is attacked and hits her head. A hidden tattoo is revealed and, much to her amazement, she finds that she has supernatural powers. Added to this there are multiple abductions, an evil mastermind organization and a need to work with Levi, the leader of the magic community.
This book is described as a snarky urban fantasy detective series. I agree that it delivers on this, but it is much more than that. It has a strong protagonist, complex mysteries to be solved, likeable secondary characters, great world building and some steamy romance. The main characters are someone you can root for and they definitely have distinct voices. The relationships between the characters are believable. There is plenty of action as well as some humor to offset some of the darker scenes. The romance has potential as the series develops.
I recommend this fast-paced book to those that enjoy urban fantasies with both mystery and a bit of romance. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. I also want to check out this author’s Nava Katz series.
Thanks to Te Da Media / Xpresso Book Tours and Deborah Wilde for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
I really wanted to like this book. The blurb had all the right stuff, so it certainly had potential, but it completely missed the mark with me. The narrator, Hollie Jackson, does well, and she captures the tone for sarcasm and wit very well. However, she could only do so much with this story.
This book is self-proclaimed as ‘A Snarky Urban Fantasy Detective Series.’ It says so right there alongside the title. And okay, there is magic, which speaks to Urban Fantasy even though world-building fell way short in my opinion. Ash is a detective, so that holds true as well. And then we have the snark. Yeah, it’s there in spades. This book has more snark than you can shake a stick at, which is where my biggest problem came in.
I don’t know, maybe it’s just me and I don’t have the right sense of humor, but I didn’t find anything about this book even remotely funny. There is a difference in witty snark and sarcasm and crude one-liners mixed with juvenile sexual references. I’m not offended by the crudity, and I have no problem with steamy scenes, but when they come across as the equivalence of teenagers gossiping and giggling about sex, it’s not amusing and it’s certainly not sexy. At one point in the story, there’s a line: ‘this is just sex…’ Yeah, that’s about the way I felt after the umpteenth crude line. It’s just crudity instead of comedy. I truly do like snark and sarcasm, and I use both quite often. I just don’t like this brand of snark, and while I caught myself rolling my eyes so much I feared my mother might be right about the whole sticking that way if I kept it up, I didn’t even so much as chuckle while listening to this one.
Then we have the characters. Try as I might, I couldn’t find anything about Ash that I liked. Actually, I didn’t much care for any of these characters. They either came across as completely bubble-headed, inept, or at the risk of becoming as repetitive as this story, crude and childish.
What it boils down to is I couldn’t find anything to care about with this book. Not the characters,. not the case, not the romance. As I mentioned, the story had potential, and I do love a good sarcastic detective series. Sadly, this doesn’t fall into that category for me, and I have no desire to go any further with this series.