She just stole an ancient, enchanted relic. Now she’ll have to pay the price.Isabella used to be a small time thief for a big time gangster. Now, she’s a fugitive from him and his gang of thugs. Sure, she has managed to stay under his radar, but Scottie was always going to find her. And now he has.Her fragile sense of safety isn’t just broken, it’s shattered. She needs to get out of the city. … She needs to get out of the city. Pronto. Because Scottie Lebans isn’t just any mobster. He’s her ex-fiancé, and he’ll do anything to get her back.
She ends up in a dark alley behind a seedy bar with a stranger dying at her feet. She doesn’t know he’s a dark sorcerer. Or that the rune she pinched from his pocket has powerful magic.
She has no idea she just trespassed into a secret supernatural underworld, either. She just knows that whoever is after the stolen object is far worse than the ex she’s running from.
And they don’t just want the rune back.
They want vengeance…
more
I was hooked like a fish on a line. Isabella is down on her luck. She decided on doing a heist that’s doesn’t go as planned. She just can’t seem to catch a break. She is about to find out thing’s do go bump in the night. Will she escape the new horrors coming her way?
I enjoyed this book. It was full of action and twist and turns. There are some spelling and grammatical errors, but not so many that it detracts from the storytelling. The story ended just as it was really getting interesting so definitely will have to read the next in the series!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book for my honest opinion.
All I’m going to say is that this is a good read because that’s all I can really say without giving away any spoilers. Thea Atkinson definitely has a talent of weaving her stories and transporting her readers into the reality she’s creating. I definitely recommend you read this book because there is no harm in trying, I did and I’m glad I took that chance because I found a good book to read.
I loved the way she found the gate! She was a great character, super smart! She could be anything she wanted to be. Only downfall was caring for the people!
Our heroine is trying to escape her past, but when a job goes horribly wrong she has more than one problem on her hands.
This is book one of the series, so a good place to start.
This is an urban fantasy story with a very dirty and gritty feel to it. The story is intriguing and quick paced, with an enjoyable storyline and a fascinating setting. All of which would make for a great story if it were not for one flaw: our heroine. She is likeable an intriguing, but seems to be prone to making very poor decisions. I like my leads to be smart and tough and, in this book at least, she was neither. I did enjoy the overall book, but I really hope to see our heroine toughen up in future books. Then the stories will be great.
Recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
When Isabella robs a mansion, she comes away with a drawer of junk and a small tile with strange markings on it. While the small tile is in her possession, Isabella is transported to the land of the fae through a magical barrier that looks like a regular door. While there, she finds out that there ARE such things as werewolves and vampires as well as other strange and supernatural things. This book is full of action. It also brings up the ugly subject of the sexual abuse of a child in the foster care system. Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Book 1 in this series was an interesting read. Isabella, the female lead, was a likable character that got more than she bargained for on a job. The story was intriguing and entertaining.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Good book, well written and great characterisation. Recommended.
Miss Atkinson weaves a tale that is filled with suspense, intrigue, bite, and disquieting. It tells of Isabella and how she is trapped in a world full of dark dangers that not only come in the dark but the light also. I think that for a small item and the dangers that go along with it sure made a compelling and riveting story. It had some aspects that I felt did not really add to the story but were in the book for filler. Yes sometimes this is warranted to give the reader more of a feel for a character or story, although it was not warranted here. The writing itself is really good and I have to say I have not been displeased by this author in the past, nor with this book. I think if you like paranormal reads with a fantastic twist then this book will definitely be a satisfaction for the most hardened reader.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Interesting ideas; I like the magical elements to the story. The story is a little slow moving and I didn’t really connect with any of the characters, but I enjoyed the read overall. Isabella is the lead character, who doesn’t lead the best life and tends to lean towards less honorable things. She acts like a tough girl; in some ways she is, but she’s also just getting by on luck sometimes. She’s a survivor, but she also makes some stupid choices. She was a young and dumb foster kid that got mixed up with a bad guy. She’s a thief now and is in hiding from the bad guy. She finds herself in a bit of trouble when she ends up in possession of a magical tile; she’s in for lots of surprises when she sets out to pawn the tile. A whole world she never knew existed; a paranormal one. This story leans towards a gritty aspect. I didn’t quite vibe with Isabella; I appreciate she stands up for herself, but I just didn’t connect with her way of thinking. I also prefer some more romance in the books I read. Overall, an interesting story, and I’d like to read the next book.
I enjoyed this first book in a new series. I found this to be full of suspense and adventure. The main character, Isabella, is a thief, whose last job didn’t go well.
She tried to help a dying man and now she finds herself on the run. I will be looking for the next book in the series to see what happens next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The scenes are filled with an incredible level of detail. Not a fan of stories about human trafficking: especially with them being sold as food products. I don’t see how it added value to the story. Otherwise, Isabella simply happened upon a rather interesting set of coincidences.
I received a review copy of this book from a third party. This is my honest review.
Allow a full day for this first-in-series PG15 urban paranormal fantasy, about 24-year-old Isabella Hush, which is set in a nameless city from which she is trying to escape 38-year-old Scottie Lebans.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is one of those series were the individual books are a bit unsatisfactory, you really need to read the whole series to get a full, rich read. This one also has two story streams, one supernatural and one a crime story and in book one they just touch in spots, they don’t entertwine as usual. Both streams feature abuse, both child abuse and the crime story essentially slavery. Not what I was expectingand not what I was looking for in a UF read. Details aren’t very graphic, thankfully.
The other issues I had was with the main character. How did she get her skills (or lack thereof)? Why does the human think she would be knowledgeable about artefacts? She’s an uneducated former street kid. She’s had 4 years to get herself out of a precarious situation, why hasn’t she? The whole human/normal stream is full of questionable things. Isabelle doesn’t handle the supernatural element very well either, despite showing heart.
I was able o finish the book and am mildly curious to see how it develops.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
ONE TANTALIZING JOURNEY
Banging blades boo! Thea hit the motherload unleashing one helluva tumultuous boot-stomping, rock-my-world rollercoaster, delivering all the badassery and moxie with lots of fiery sass just for measure, catapulting this bad boy to new heights. Breaking out the big guns and bringing the heat, tapping into those heartstrings and pulling all the explosive emotions into play front and center, kicking this jewel into the eye of the storm, blasting it into a tailspin with astonishing impacts, wrapping this gem up sleek, shiny and tight. Serving up this action packed, hard hitting, heart pounding, pulse racing, adrenaline pumping, nailbiting, jaw dropping, block busting bombshell, cranking this baby up and letting her fly, blasting this hot little treat to life brilliantly. The characters, dialogue, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits, blend and flow adding depth and diversity, transforming into outstanding personalities. The scenes are abundantly descriptive with colorful details that blend and flow, creating a majestic backdrop that’s so rich and lively it feels as though you’re part of the story instead of on the sidelines, feeling everything the characters feel. Fabulous job Thea, thanks for sharing this awesome little gem with us.
Ms. Atkinson is a talented author that never fails to deliver an emotional, action packed story. Isabella has a knack for thieving and solving puzzles and she’s used all her cunning to stay hidden from the one man who wants to possess her, Scottie. While on her latest score, things go horribly wrong from the beginning and Isabella finds herself in the middle of a paranormal tug of war for a small tile. It just so happens that this isn’t just any old tile–this one has everyone, paranormal creatures and humans alike, trying to either possess it or sell it to the highest bidder.
Rune Thief is just the latest book from Ms. Atkinson to draw me in. I loved Isabella. She’s street-smart and knows how to make herself scarce when the heat is on. Ms. Atkinson weaves a terrifying and intriguing story that pulls the reader in from the first page and holds on until the very end. Can’t wait to see what happens in the next book. Definitely recommend this one!
“Rune Thief” by Thea Atkinson marks the start to the “Isabella Hush” series, an urban fantasy series, that features a thief as main character (Isabella Hush herself). Isabella is in fact a talented thief; however, we first get to know her in an odd night. Isabella is back in town against her best judgement and in need of funds. Following a tip from ‘the Lollipop’ – she really should know better, but beggars can’t be choosers, can they? – she breaks into a mansion to steal a cache on Inca Gold, faces two watch dogs, and ends up in a side alley bleeding profusely, taking on a homeless man help to pawn the stolen goods, which are not at all what she expected (Lollipop, remember?)…. Then the dying guy crosses her path, Isabella stops to help to have the guy disappear before her own eyes, letting her with his pockets contents as the sole proof of his existence…. If you think this sound interesting just pick the book and keep on reading… because that is just the start of a very fast-paced, thrilling ride, as Isabella keeps dodging her pursuers, who are not only very dangerous but very immortal too
This is a very satisfying start into the series, an action-packed adventure, with a captivating plot, a relatable no-nonsense main character, interesting secondary characters, a pinch of mystery and enough supernatural creatures to meet every urban fantasy fans taste.
A paranormal detective story with one bad as hell human female. I really don’t know how she kept going. One attempt after the other on her life. So many different bad guys both human and other. She will find out that the world is filled with so much more and most of it will get a human killed. I have read the whole series and highly suggest reading in order to truly appreciate Isabella.
Wow! Isabella is the Bomb!
Looking for action? This is the book for you. Never a dull moment. Isabella is looking out for herself and that is a job within itself. Street smart, special skills and a touch of kindness leads for an action packed story. The more she learns about things,the more there is to learn. A great series that will keep you turning the pages to se what she gets herself into next,
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has the perfect amount of action and adventure plus a little romance to keep the attention of YA/New Adult/Adult readers.
If you like scrappy heroines, easy to hate protagonists, those in between mixed with magic and real world mayhem, The Rune Thief is for you.
I was given this book in exchange for a honest review.