Roxanne Fosch has joined the Hunters. She no longer has to run and hide, but other problems have surfaced. Her clan has other plans for her, and even the combined might of the hunters might not be able to save her.To survive, Roxanne will have to choose between being labeled a traitor and cast out as a rogue – or join hands with the darker powers to save her life, and the lives of her friends.To … lives of her friends.
To achieve her goals, she’ll have to risk her life. But can she control the powers she’s still learning to use, and fears so much?
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Heir of Doom is the second book in Jina S. Bazzar’s trilogy, The Roxanne Fosch Files, and falls in the suspenseful fantasy genre. I’ve previously read the first book, Heir of Ashes, and a prequel short story, The Curse, before reading this one. They are best read in order so you get the full picture of everything going on in this extraordinary world. I buddy read this one over four days with my friend, Misty, and enjoyed it very much.
Roxanne is half human. She was given up at birth due to several reasons we learned about in a previous book, but ultimately, she’s been held captive for ~20 years. She escaped from someone’s clutches only to be kidnapped again and tortured many times. Now, she’s out on her own after the last book, and is trying to find out the truth about her past. In this book, she wants to help a missing girl who’s being raised by the same woman who raised Roxanne, except this little girl is indeed the adoptive mother’s child. Unfortunately, the child is afraid of someone and wants Roxanne’s support. Just when Roxanne thinks she can help her, the girl goes missing, and the hunt begins. Who took her? What’s the reasoning? And will Roxanne save the day?
That’s only a piece of the story. Author Bazzar takes us on a journey and race to get to the bottom of the kidnapping, only along the path, Roxanne learns way more than she expected. Who should she trust? The evil guy everyone warns her about? The adoptive mother who acts weird now? The guy she had a crush on who seems to be with someone new? A few other folks coming into and out of her life at warp speed? By the end, we learn the truth about Roxanne’s parents, and it’s a shocker. We thought we knew the whole story, but we did not!
The first half of the book was a slow burn to catch us up on history, get to know the new characters, and set the tone for why it’s so important for Roxanne to be involved in this chase. The second half was an intense ride full of deadly battles, astronomical pain and loss, and a discovery of whom you should trust. Author Bazzar really makes us fall hard for the heroine. We forgive her curt and pushy attitude. We understand why she needs to get to the truth. We love her for trying to save someone else. And we want to help her get free from the ties that bind her for what could be most of her life.
Her fighting instructor is harsh! Her friends can be loving and mean at the same time. Her enemies stop at nothing to kill her. Where will we go in the third book? I can’t wait to find out. I so enjoyed this buddy read with Misty, I’m sure we’ll take on the third book together again next year!
Heir Of Doom (The Roxanne Fosch Files Book 2) by Jina S. Bazzar is such an awesome story that I have had the privilege to read. This is book number two in this awesome series that I have loved reading and can not wait to read the next book. I highly recommend this story to everyone.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
Heir of Doom, the second book in The Roxanne Fosch series is a thrilling, action-packed fantasy, adventure novel told in the first person POV by the main character, Roxanne Fosch. Tension and suspense never let up as the story rolls to a shocking conclusion. The pacing is perfect for this genre, speeding up and slowing when needed.
At the beginning of the story, a question asked by a ten-year-old preternatural, Mwara, resonates throughout the novel. Mwara seeks Roxanne’s protection when she realizes the same organization of scientists, PSS that held Roxanne captive, is after her.
“Would you come for me?” she clenched my hand tightly in hers, strength no ten-year-old should possess. “Would you come? If they take me, would you come for me like you did for Archer?”
“I – I don’t know,” I replied.”
One sense reluctance and fear in Roxanne’s reply to Mwara, and rightly so given her clan’s, The Hunters, distrust. Already under her leader’s scrutiny, assuming responsibility for Mwara would cause more conflict. When Mwara disappears, the clan grows more suspicious, believing Roxanne’s involved. Can Roxanne endure this scrutiny or will she try to prove her innocence?
One can’t help feeling the whole world is against Roxanne. Her only trustworthy companions are her childhood friend, Vicky, and her familiar, Frizz. Even her leaders appear rivals as she undergoes scheduled, grueling physical training every day at The Hunter’s base, under the coaching of Douglas Vermourly, a.k.a. Diggy. Ms. Bazzar has a knack for writing action scenes and pulling the reader into every punch, kick, thrust, and defensive move Roxanne makes while training and during fights with opponents. But who among the men in her life—Vincent, Diggy, Logan, Zantry— are true friends? Which one will claim her heart?
Heir of Doom takes us into a wondrous world filled with preternatural creatures we couldn’t possibly imagine and dangerous spaces no one dare to venture, except Roxanne. In a strange sphere where a dark, dangerous cave exists, Roxanne fights for her life, discovers her true friends, and will sacrifice something precious to save her friends and prove her innocence.
Trust, self-discovery, and self-preservation are some of the themes in Heir of Doom. Yet to grasp her shifting abilities or command her powers, will Roxanne do so when most needed?
“Now that it has been confirmed that a monster slumbers in the depths of my soul, this battle of wills has taken a new importance, a new urgency. I must always win. Against all odds, no matter what, or how or when – I must win.”
Who and what is Roxanne? Who are her real parents? Will she find out?
“I must know, since I’ve been fighting this battle for the better part of my life, between the human part of me and the fee – or Unseelie. The dejected, kind part and the revengeful monster. I don’t always win. Or my human side, who I like to think is the one on the driver’s seat. ”
Ms. Bazzar’s story held my attention to the final build-up in the last chapters. Roxanne’s battle will leave you exhausted, fearful, tearful, terrified, and shocked at the conclusion. Book three in the series can’t come soon enough, and I anticipate learning Roxanne’s fate after such a shocking turn of fate at the end of Heir of Doom. Ms. Bazzar, thank you for the thrilling read. I highly recommend this book to those who love a good action fantasy adventure novel with a strong female lead!
Roxy Fosch has finally freed herself from the clutches of the PSS, but her troubles are far from over. She’s signed up for a ten-year stint with the New York City Hunters, a sort of paranormal police force meant to keep the secret shifters, vampires, weres, etc. in line. The training is brutal, and Roxy is a half-breed. Many hate her for that reason alone.
Then she receives a visit from Mwara Longlan, the daughter of the woman that Roxy grew up thinking of as her mother. Mwara says she’s afraid that she’s not Elizabeth’s daughter, either. Now that Mwara’s facing puberty, she thinks she could be destined to a future as a test subject, similar to the one that Roxy endured.
That’s a story that Roxy can’t ignore, although she’s learned caution in a hard school. Elizabeth fed her nothing but lies and didn’t lift a hand to stop Roxy from being locked away. Nothing from that family can be taken at face value. On top of that, her trainers at work don’t respect her personal space any more than they respect her—they’re in and out of her apartment at all hours. There’s no way she can keep Mwara a secret.
But she does promise Mwara that if she’s taken, Roxy will claim her as part of her clan.
She should have done more. Now Mwara’s disappeared, and Elizabeth has blamed Roxy. If Roxy can’t prove her innocence, losing her job will be the least of her problems…
The second book in The Roxanne Fosch Files, Heir of Doom is as action-packed and immersive as Heir of Ashes. Roxanne, now contracted to the Hunters, is free of the PSS and is no longer hunted. Grueling training fills her days until her past comes back to haunt her. When a girl goes missing, Roxanne becomes a suspect and must work with new allies to prove her innocence and find the girl. With her life on the line and danger lurking everywhere, Roxanne must learn who to trust and find the girl before it’s too late.
Roxanne’s character continues to fascinate me. She deals with so much and continues to learn about herself throughout the novel. She still struggles to figure out people’s feelings and motivations, probably because of the decade she spent imprisoned. Spending defining teenage years as the victim of scientific experimentation has hindered her development and ability to understand herself and others. It doesn’t help that she is continually rejected and looked down on. However, she slowly begins to trust her intuition when it comes to the new people she encounters.
I love the introduction of several new characters in this book! Diggy, Zantry, Vicky, and Roxanne’s familiar Frizz each help Roxanne understand the nuances of relationships, from tough mentor to possible love interest to friend. I’m curious to see how these relationships develop. Though we don’t see Logan much in this story, I have a feeling he will have a larger role in subsequent books.
Like the first book, this story is filled with plot twists, action, and suspense. You never know who Roxanne should trust or what kind of danger she might encounter. New worlds and new (and old) enemies connect to Roxanne’s past, and learning more about her back-story and the history of the supernatural world is intriguing.
The action scenes are amazing, the characters are distinct and dynamic, the supernatural and sci-fi components are vivid and fascinating, and the story is complex and well-layered. Plus, the ending is jaw-dropping! I need the next book in the series ASAP! Thanks so much to the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Disclaimer – the author approached me and sent a free ARC digital download of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The book follows on from where the first of the series left off with Roxanne now being a member of The Hunters, an organisation trusted with controlling the preternatural community. The adventure that follows has Roxanne making unlikely comrades and relationships, as well as somewhat solving the mystery surrounding her and why she came to be.
Although more questions appear than are answered through reading the book, it’s without question that it is an enthralling read. Full of mystery and intrigue, with enough drama and unravelling of events to leave you wanting to keep turning pages. I couldn’t put the book down (or my phone as I read an ecopy).
Upon finishing the book, my first thought was ‘wow’ and my second, I need more Roxanne Fosch. This is quickly becoming one of my favourite series that I’ve read and I can’t wait for the next instalment. The character and scene building by the author is exemplary, with so much attention to detail, it’s impossible not to be swept away with the story.
I would completely recommend The Roxanne Fosch Files to any fantasy lovers, it’s an excellent addition to the genre.
Jina Bazzar has done it again! Heir of Doom blew me away, and as much as I loved Heir of Ashes, this new installment of Roxanne’s journey has made it to my favorite reads of 2019!
This story picks up right after Heir of Ashes, and continues the same action-packed writing Jina Bazzar is now known for. The magic, the relationships, the plot twists! When you read this one, prepare yourself for an all nighter, because you’re not going to want to put it down.
This is one of those instances where I could go on and on about this novel, but I’m taking up your reading time. Go grab this book and let it prove to you just how fantastic it really is!
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*