Crucify my Love: Gay Book Reviews: |207 - ENG| Review: Trifles and Folly 2

Book Title: Trifles and Folly 2: A Deadly Curiosities Supernatural Mystery Adventure Collection

Author: Gail Z. Martin

Publisher: SOL Publishing

Cover Artist: Lou Harper

Length: 568 pages

Release Date: December 27, 2017

Genres: Urban fantasy with a prominent gay secondary character in an evolving, committed and plot-important relationship

Tropes: Evolving established relationship/commitment

Themes: Found family, learning to use magic, sharing secret abilities,

Heat Rating: 4 flames

These are collections of short stories and novellas that originally appeared either individually or reverted from anthologies, so while they function like ‘extra episodes’ for the novels, they were intended to stand alone.

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Read in: English
Review copy format: epub

Rate:✮✮✮✮✮✮

NEW RELEASE AND SERIES TOUR

BOOK 2

Blurb

Trifles and Folly 2 is a satisfyingly spooky set of dark urban fantasy tales full of Southern cemeteries, restless spirits, Voodoo, magic, supernatural creatures, pirate ghosts, vampires and vengeance.

Walk on the wild side, deep in the shadows through these delightfully creepy short stories and novellas that take place around and between the novels in the Deadly Curiosities series. Cassidy Kincaide owns Trifles and Folly, an antique shop with a secret history. Cassidy can read the history of objects by touching them. She and her allies use magic and paranormal abilities to keep Charleston and the world safe from supernatural threats

An extension of the Deadly Curiosities urban fantasy novel series, this collection can be read as a standalone. It contains three full novellas and four short stories: The Final Death, Predator, Fair Game, Fatal Invitation, Redcap, Bloodlines, plus three bonus stories: Among the Shoals Forever, The Low Road, and Steer a Pale Course.

“This book is honestly as good as the first. I love it when a series starts out great and stays that way.“—T’s Stuff on Trifles and Folly 2

"Trifles and Folly 2" is another collection in "Deadly Curiosities" series by Gail Z. Martin. It consists of three novellas, four short stories and three bonus stories. It is worth noting that to a certain extent the works presented this volume differ from the pattern that we have seen in the previous collection. Let's start with the fact that at the beginning of many new adventures, our protagonists definitely go beyond their "comfort zone", as I would call their store. Thus, the train of events less often than before starts from the items brought to Trifles and Folly, and more often is the result of requests for help, or accidentally coming across a paranormal problem. Undoubtedly, all this allows us to look at the series from a slightly different, broader angle, as well as adds a little spice to "Trifles and Folly 2".

It is also worth noting that "Trifles and Folly 2" is extremely important for world-building, because it really extends the universe and deeply enriches it. It turns out that it conceals some really fascinating secrets that our protagonists have yet to discover. And since the world created by Gail Z. Martin can surprise Cassidy and Teag, it also deeply affects the reader. I admit that in this volume there are novellas and short stories that unreveal the universe of "Deadly Curiosities". Unfortunately, I can't tell you exactly what I'm talking about, because I would spoil all the fun but I will tell you that the author referred to my favorite supernatural race and presented the story I will surely never forget.

In a few words I would like to refer to the plot of short stories and novellas included in "Trifles and Folly 2". I must admit that in this respect the book looks even better than the previous one. The readers repeatedly feel that their heart beats faster, the level of adrenaline in their blood increases, and all that because they are completely engrossed in the stories presented in the volume. Let's add that some of them very clearly refer to our ordinary, mundane world, in which there are also monsters, although they are ordinary people. These "human monsters" and the ease with which the average person can become a victim gave Gail Z. Martin a chance to write some short stories and novellas that show how easily fiction intermingles with reality.

One of the biggest advantages of "Trifles and Folly 2" is definitely the way in which the author presents the relationships. Let's start with the one between Cassidy and Kell. I'm not denying that limiting the elements of romance to a minimum has its irresistible charm, as it let us focus on the supernatural aspects of the series, yet what is the most important to me is the fact that Cassidy doesn't behave like a teenage girl, as she approaches her relationship with Kell very rationally. She doesn't take feelings for granted, she gives time a chance to show whether this relationship will continue and be permanent. I also love the fact that in the series Teag and Anthony's relationship is very important. In a way, their relationship is even more important to the main character than her own.

In conclusion, "Trifles and Folly 2" is simply fantastic. In this volume, we find everything we need, so we read it with undying interest. Despite all the dangers that await our protagonists, we really want to be part of this fascinating, vivid and magical world of "Deadly Curiosities" series.

MORE ABOUT THE SERIES:

BOOK 1

Book Title: Trifles and Folly: A Deadly Curiosities Supernatural Mystery Adventure Collection

Author: Gail Z. Martin

Publisher: SOL Publishing

Cover Artist: Lou Harper

Length: 396 pages

Release Date: October 18, 2016

Genres: Urban fantasy with a prominent gay secondary character in an evolving, committed and plot-important relationship

Tropes: Evolving established relationship/commitment

Themes: Found family, learning to use magic, sharing secret abilities,

Heat Rating: 4 flames

The short stories were designed to be standalone and not require prior knowledge of the series.

Goodreads

Buy Links

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Nook | Kobo | Audible

Trifles and Folly is a fascinatingly frightful set of dark urban fantasy tales full of abandoned mansions, restless spirits, Hoodoo, magic, supernatural creatures and long-overdue revenge.

Blurb

Haunted places. Cursed heirlooms. Vengeful ghosts. Dark Magic

Cassidy Kincaide owns Trifles and Folly, an antique shop with a secret history. Cassidy can read the history of objects by touching them. She and her allies use magic and paranormal abilities to keep Charleston and the world safe from supernatural threats. Journey...if you dare...through these satisfyingly spooky short stories and novellas that take place around and between the novels in the Deadly Curiosities series.

A collection of nine stand-alone adventures: Buttons, The Restless Dead, Retribution, Coffin Box, Wicked Dreams, Collector, Bad Memories, Shadow Garden, and Spook House.

Trifles and Folly is a fascinatingly frightful set of dark urban fantasy tales full of abandoned mansions, restless spirits, Hoodoo, magic, supernatural creatures and long-overdue revenge.

A companion to the Deadly Curiosities series. Can be read as a standalone.

Revised Edition 2, 2018. Includes an updated cover, minor edits and the BONUS section with three stories chronicling Sorren’s early days: Vanities, The Wild Hunt, and Dark Legacy.

“A fabulous job of creating a world that was steeped with curses, lore, lure, deadly consequences, and magic.” — The Book Junkie on Trifles & Folly

BOOK 3 – NEW RELEASE

Book Title: Trifles and Folly 3: A Deadly Curiosities Supernatural Mystery Adventure

Author: Gail Z. Martin/Morgan Brice

Publisher: SOL Publishing

Length: 320 pages

Release Date: March 29, 2022

Genres. Urban fantasy with a prominent gay secondary character in an evolving, committed and plot-important relationship

Tropes: Evolving established relationship/commitment

Themes: Found family, learning to use magic, sharing secret abilities,

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Goodreads

Buy Links

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Kobo | Nook | Audible Coming Soon

Trifles and Folly 3 is a wickedly wonderful set of dark urban fantasy tales full of cursed curios, stolen relics, haunted heirlooms, creepy castles, menacing monsters, magic, and mayhem.

Blurb

The ghost of a jilted lover, an accidental hell-mouth, a soul-eating monster, cursed needlework, and a rogue’s gallery of sullied spirits—all this and more awaits!

Wander the shadowed paths through this spooktacular collection of short stories and novellas that take place around and between the novels in the Deadly Curiosities series.

An extension of the Deadly Curiosities urban fantasy novel series, this collection can be read as a standalone. It contains two novellas and five short stories: The Adventure of the Melted Saint, Keepsakes, Catspaw, The Piper’s Song, Innocence Lost, Crewel Fate, and Heap of Trouble.

Trifles and Folly 3 is a wickedly wonderful set of dark urban fantasy tales full of cursed curios, stolen relics, haunted heirlooms, creepy castles, menacing monsters, magic, and mayhem.

This collection includes a Morgan Brice MM Paranormal Romance novella set in the Deadly Curiosities’ universe with scenes only appropriate for readers 18+.

Excerpt from book 3

“Come back inside, Cassidy,” he urged. “I don’t know why, but I don’t like the vibes I’m getting out here tonight.”

Teag’s intuition is fueled by strong magic, so I take his “vibes” seriously. I’m pretty good with both intuition and magic myself, and I felt a shiver go down my back. “There’s something out here,” I murmured, looking down the alley toward the streetlight at the end and seeing a dark shape in the roadway I had not noticed before.

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you,” Teag said. “Come back where it’s safe.”

Wardings protected the old antique shop against dark magic. Salt and iron lay beneath the sill of every door and window to repel evil, and as an added protection, sometimes we had a nearly six-hundred-year-old vampire staying in the secret room in the shop basement. Teag and I both wore protective amulets, and when it came to defending ourselves, we were no slouches. So when I lingered a moment longer, I took a calculated risk.

“We need to see what that is,” I said, jerking my head toward the lump that lay near the far end of the alley. I let my athame slide down beneath my sleeve into my hand and jangled the old dog collar on my left wrist, smiling as the ghost of a large dog appeared at my side. Teag muttered something under his breath and joined me a moment later, carrying a wooden martial arts staff and a wicked knife.

Together, we advanced on the shape, which lay still in the dim glow of the distant street light. A mangy cat paced near the body, staying just out of reach as we approached, even though Bo’s ghost growled and stepped toward it. If the cat could see Bo, the ghost dog didn’t intimidate him. I paid attention to what my senses were telling me, shivering at the resonance something evil left in its wake. Yet the closer we got to the thing in the road, the more certain I became that the threat itself had come and gone.

About the Author

Gail Z. Martin writes epic fantasy, urban fantasy and steampunk for Solaris Books, Orbit Books, SOL Publishing, Darkwind Press, Worldbuilders Press and Falstaff Books. Recent books include Convicts and Exiles, Sellsword’s Oath, Inheritance, and Night Moves. With Larry N. Martin, she is the co-author of the Spells Salt & Steel, Wasteland Marshals, Joe Mack and Jake Desmet series.

As Morgan Brice, she writes urban fantasy MM paranormal romance including the Witchbane, Badlands, Treasure Trail and Fox Hollow series.

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