Chasing Azrael by Hazel Butler
(Deathly Insanity #1)
Publication date: April 23rd 2014
Genres: Gothic, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
When Andee Tilbrook’s husband died, her preoccupation with death turned to obsession. Thanks to her unique ability to commune with the dead, her husband remains all too close, yet never close enough.
Mired in grief, she clings to James’s spirit, slowly losing touch with the world, her friends, and any desire to continue living. But when her friend Josh becomes the target of Natalya, a jealous, capricious and violent Russian beauty, Andee somehow finds the strength to free herself from her misery long enough to help him.
They soon discover that Natalya is wanted by the police for her involvement in a series of grisly murders, and Andee is dragged into the inquiry by the same man who investigated her own husband’s death. Torn between new feelings for Josh, and fear that he might be involved in the murders that seem to threaten anyone who comes close, Andee must face the realities of her life, her past, and her very nature-and do it all in time to save her own life.
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chasing-azrael-hazel-butler/1119282724?ean=9780957368200&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-GwEz7vxblVU-_-10:1
My Musings :
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The first thing which caught my attention was the book cover followed by the blurb. I wasn't sure what to expect but I was intrigued enough to take part in the blog tour. This is the first book I have read by Hazel Butler and she has made a very positive impact on me
I confess when I started the book, I wasn't enamoured with the setting and Andee's attitude. The first couple of pages almost had me turning back from reading it. But I am glad I proceeded because after the introduction of Natalya, there wasn't even one second to be bored. Andee's maudlin aura kind of grew of me as I came to know her. Both Andee and Josh have their own set of flaws but they suit the story very well.
The tale has a deathly taint to it and it is full of gothic atmosphere with the right amount of thrilling aspects. The plot is full of twists with the mysterious incidents and characters. The story is rich in various aspects and it has its set of tense moments. It was a very fast read and I was eagerly turning the pages to know the ending.
If you love to read a book of cross genres, then this will suit you with the right mix of paranormal, ghostly, mystery-thriller and mythological aspects. The author has caught my attention with her dark tale. And I look forward to trying her other books in the future.
My rating : 5/5
AUTHOR BIO:
The first thing which caught my attention was the book cover followed by the blurb. I wasn't sure what to expect but I was intrigued enough to take part in the blog tour. This is the first book I have read by Hazel Butler and she has made a very positive impact on me
I confess when I started the book, I wasn't enamoured with the setting and Andee's attitude. The first couple of pages almost had me turning back from reading it. But I am glad I proceeded because after the introduction of Natalya, there wasn't even one second to be bored. Andee's maudlin aura kind of grew of me as I came to know her. Both Andee and Josh have their own set of flaws but they suit the story very well.
The tale has a deathly taint to it and it is full of gothic atmosphere with the right amount of thrilling aspects. The plot is full of twists with the mysterious incidents and characters. The story is rich in various aspects and it has its set of tense moments. It was a very fast read and I was eagerly turning the pages to know the ending.
If you love to read a book of cross genres, then this will suit you with the right mix of paranormal, ghostly, mystery-thriller and mythological aspects. The author has caught my attention with her dark tale. And I look forward to trying her other books in the future.
My rating : 5/5
AUTHOR BIO:
Hazel is an author, artist and archaeologist from Cheshire, England. She is currently in the final year of her PhD, which focuses on Gender Dynamics in Late Iron Age and Early Medieval Britain. She has two archaeological papers published in international journals, as well as several research papers published through Bangor University and the University of Vienna.
Hazel has also published Out of the Dark (an edited volume of Gothic art work, showcasing over thirty artists from around the world), All the Night-Tide (a collection of Gothic/Steampunk fusion short stories based on the poems of Edgar Allan Poe), and ‘Grave’, a short story included in Willow, Weep No More, a fairy tale anthology giving female characters more agency in their roles. Her new novella, Bleizgeist, is a Dark Fantasy tale about a young woman’s isolation and social ostracism due to her unique magical abilities, and her struggle to accept her true nature.
Author links:
Great review, Floryie! This sounds like an intriguing read, and dark too which is awesome! Glad you liked it! :)
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