| Title | : | Death at Peony House (The Invisible Entente, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 446 |
| Publication | : | First published September 14, 2016 |
Not quite the headline Daphne had in mind.
A sorceress by nature and a journalist by trade, Daphne has no problem with the strange and unusual. But when she goes to Peony House on the trail of a potential story, she finds herself caught up in a 150-year-old mystery.
A mystery that’s still taking victims.
With Detective Hunter Avery leading the case, a man she's hurt too many times in the past, Daphne knows she should leave things well enough alone. But the ghosts of Peony House have demanded her help and more than her job is on the line if she doesn’t get answers soon.
She’s worked hard to escape her past of dark magic and blind ambition, but as she walks the balance between light and dark, she’ll learn how many promises she’s willing to break to protect the people she loves.
Death at Peony House (The Invisible Entente, #1) Reviews
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A great series!
Q:
... she carried herself with the confidence of a woman who knew she was on the right track. (c)
Q:
“There are worse places to rest than under the peonies.” (c)
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From there, they could only move forward. (c)
Q:
“There’s no way in all the seven hells you’re going to believe me, but I’m what you might call a sorceress. Someone who can manipulate the elements and use the energies that run through the world to my advantage. It’s a bloodline thing.” (c)
Q:
“I’m a sorceress. The magic in my bloodline on my mother’s side goes back to the dawn of civilization and probably before, and I stand as the latest and most powerful of my line. I can manipulate the elements and energies of everything around me. Before last year, I was neck-deep in some of the darkest arts you can imagine, and as a result, I was an asshole. I got you into trouble, I took stupid risks. All of those things you suspected me of doing — getting into your office, stealing evidence from locked cabinets — I did them with magic.” (c)
Q:
A busybody journalist who walks on the wild side paired with New Haven’s most notorious pickpocket. God help us all. (c)
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She wrapped her arms around him and held him, not wanting to let go yet — afraid that if she did, he would come to his senses and run after all. (c)
Q:
“This movie better be something stupid and mindless.” … “I don’t think I could handle any more thinking tonight.” (c) -
Mon avis en Français
My English review
This is a novel that I was curious to discover. It must be said that the mixture of witch and ghosts always makes me really curious!
Daphne has changed her life completely since she realized that being eager for power and stories for her newspaper was putting her and others at great risk. Trying to play nice and do things right, she goes to Peony House, a very old abandoned hospital in search of a scoop. Yet what she finds is the body of a young boy and many other ghosts. Launched in an investigation that goes beyond her, to understand what may have happened in this place so many years ago, our heroine will discover secrets that will not be good for keeping her alive. With the help of her powers, but also with a friend of the dead man, she will discover the secrets of Peony House.
It was a nice novel, even if I have to say that I had a little trouble at the beginning to make a story. The ideas are really very nice, but I had the impression that there were a few lengths. I might also have liked to learn more about the person she was before she changed. In any case, I had a good time with the story, discovering exactly what was behind it and I must admit that I did not expect such a revelation at the end of the story.
I have discovered that the other novels are about other characters and I am quite curious to discover more, even if I am a little disappointed not to continue with Daphne. -
Bonus points for not being written in first person, a personal peeve of mine with the urban fantasy genre.
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This had a rough start. It is pretty info-dumpy and so heavily dependent on the events of a prequel that I resent the prequel, not simply being labeled book one, so I knew I needed to read it. (As opposed to it being a take-it-or-leave-it bonus, which is generally how I see prequels.) However, by about 25%, it smoothed out, and I quite enjoyed the rest of the book.
I liked the characters: the heroine who is trying to be a better person, the teenage sidekick, and the interesting side characters. The villain is pretty obvious, but I enjoyed watching Daphne figure it out. There's a very light dusting of second-chance romance and writing that is easily readable.
I'd be more than willing to read more of Walsh's writing. However, I was disappointed to discover that each book in the series focuses on a different person (each introduced in the prequel) rather than continuing to follow the main characters from this book. -
(4.5/5)
Really enjoyed this paranormal mystery! The magic, twists and characters were all really well-done, and I felt myself drawn in from beginning to end. The writing flows super well, and makes for a quick read, with lots of tense ghosty moments. The information was well spaced out, and I was definitely taken along in the twists and turns. The only thing I found a little odd was that quite a lot of backstory that's important to the MC and the plot, and a lot of it is dropped in the beginning... which almost gives it the feel of a standalone Book 2. (I actually checked more than once to make sure I hadn't missed the first book.) Other than that, I wished there had been just a little more facetime with the romantic interest (the romance is very light, and relies heavily on the backstory). Overall though, I thought it was a great set-up for the rest of the series, and definitely introduces characters that I would like to spend more time with. Absolutely recommend to fans of paranormal fiction!
I'm leaving this review voluntarily, and thanks to Booksirens for the free ARC. -
I started reading another book, but the first three pages were full of smirked, grinned, and chuckled. It's possible to write dialog using only the word said, but that writer apparently didn't know that. So I dropped that book and picked up this one.
A lot can be said for good, competent writing. The story flowed smoothly, the characters were interesting and made me want to know more about them, the descriptions helped me visualize what was going on without losing me, and the mystery was well set up, though not entirely surprising.
And no cliffhanger ending! The book stands on its own. It looks like the next book (which I've already bought) has a different cast of characters, so I'm glad this book got tied up so well.
Also, love the cover! It's different from the usual urban fantasy cover. And I have to say, I really liked one of the secondary characters, Emmett, and I hope to see him again later in the series. -
"Death at Peony House" is the first novel in the "Invisible Entente" (IE) series. There is a prequel novella, "The Invisible Entente," which sets up a number of characters, all with different supernatural abilities, including Daphne, the protagonist in this book. Daphne is a sorceress and a journalist who is investigating a death in an old house-turned-hospital that has sat empty for many years. Make that deaths, plural, because the ghosts of the derelict property hint that something sinister has been going on there for quite some time.
Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, I was wrong, so this book kept me on my toes. I hate when a story is formulaic, and this one is anything but. Not only was the action exciting, but the character development and relationships were engaging and deep. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Daphne, her mother, and her grandmother. They may be sorceresses, but her mother never stops worrying that Daphne is eating enough. It was a very mundane emotion that made the book even more charming. It's not all research and spells.
The other thing I liked is that Daphne comes in flawed. She's not a perfect, goody-two-shoes sorceress who never made any mistakes. She made some big ones, hurt people close to her, and now she's fixing herself and those relationships. It was a level to the story that really wasn't necessary but made her more real to me.
While this book is part of a series, you can read it on its own. You don't have to read the prequel novella to understand the characters and the plot of this book. However, you will have a deeper understanding of some of the background discussed if you do. And once you're done with "Death at Peony House," you'll appreciate the nuances in the next book, "Song of Wishrock Harbor," which features a different character from the prequel but with hints of events from this book.
I am really looking forward to each new installment in the IE series and hope you'll be reading along with me! -
Death at Peony House by Krista Walsh is the first book in her Invisible Entente series. It is written in third-person from sorceress, journalist Daphne Heartstone's point-of-view. This is an urban fantasy novel with elements of the paranormal and a bit of mystery added to the mix. There is a prequel novella, The Invisible Entente that comes before this first book; and while you don't have to read it to enjoy Death at Peony House I advise grabbing a copy in order to find out what happened to Daphne in the locked room that made her want to turn her life around. Trust me, you won't regret reading it.
So, this is Daphne's book. Daphne is an intriguing character I was able to really get behind. She's trying to turn her life around, make amends for the hurtful things she did while abusing dark magic. She knows she messed up and is actively fixing her mistakes. What I love about this character is how honest she is with herself and others, she doesn't try to make excuses, instead, she freely admits what she did and is trying to be better. She is a strong female character and I loved reading about her.
Daphne isn't the only interesting character, this book is filled with them. Even the minor characters are full of life. Daphne's mother and grandmother are perfect, I never questioned that they were a family, they just all seemed to fit. And I adored Emmett, he's such a little sh*t.
I loved reading this one, and would gladly read another dozen of Daphne's adventures. If only they existed! -
First of all I received my copy as an ARC for my Honest review...
Death at Peony House picks up about 6 months later after the Invisible Entente was over... Daphne Heartstone our wonderful Sorceress is a reporter for the local paper and a real good and thorough one at that... when she gets a call from her friend Denise (that is a Nurse that works at the hospital) about something going on at the Peony House across the street... something about seeing lights going on and off... Well as any reporter Daphne gets curious and goes and checks it out...
Well she does do just that and she finds something... but what? She calls and reports what she found to the proper authorities... the one Detective that comes out she has had a run in with before and there is history between them... he is Officer Hunter Avery.... and there is his partner Meg ....
What was in the House that Daphne found? Why were the police called? and what kind of lights was Daphne's friend talking about? for the answers to these pondering questions you will need to read about what happened...
While I was reading I kept on wondering what is going to happen next and will she figure it out in time? I really loved reading Death at Peony House... and I can't wait to read what is going to happen next in the next book.... -
This was a fantastic start to this new urban fantasy series (full disclosure, I was a reader well before publication, but have also read it since in its final form). I love how Walsh is weaving together mystery and urban fantasy, and that she's choosing species to play with that aren't the most typical for the genre--no vampires or werewolves so far, and this one features a sorceress, not a witch. Full of action and a not-too-overwhelming hit of romance, strong writing, and a nice ongoing storyline that nevertheless leaves this book satisfying all on its own. Daphne wasn't my favourite character from the prequel novella, but she definitely proved herself here.
(I read this one in 2016 when it came out... I feel bad about not reviewing here sooner!) -
Magic and intrigue
After reading Krista Walsh's Andvell series I was sad to not be returning to the places and characters I had grown to love, but this new series got its hooks in me from the start. I love urban fantasy and anything supernatural, so The Invisible Entente series is right up my ally. As in her Andvell series, Krista has woven together mature and engaging characters with a deliciously exciting story. I was excited after reading the prequel novella, and now I am in deep after finishing Death at Peony House. I would write more, but that would only delay me getting started on the next book, Song of Wishrock Harbour. -
Loved the story, super creative. Nice to see a different magic set than books I've read previously, and yes the third person perspective rocks. However, I'm not a fan of the over use of adjectives in every sentence and I didn't like the way some of the information is given to the reader. I love character development but I didn't find all that much of it in this book. That being said, the writing and story telling got better as the book progressed, so it wasn't that bad. Not sure if I'll read the other books.
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Ms. Walsh's books just keep getting better and better!! This book is wonderful...well-developed characters, fascinating plot, scary but not nightmare-inducing, and with a terrific plot twist at the end. I strongly recommend it & can't wait to read the next book!!
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I loved the combination of mystery and the paranormal! Daphne was an engaging character andI hope to see more of her in the series.
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I enjoyed this book very much. Look forward to reading more.
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This has twists that were really weaved masterfully into an unexpected ending. Really a good read!!
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I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I have to say I had a good start into 2021 in terms of books.
'Death at Peony House' came as a surprise to me. After the first few pages I was pretty sure that I would like it, but how much, I hadn't expected.
We follow the main character Daphne Heartstone (I admit I had to giggle), journalist and sorceress, who is about to get her life back on track. After hitting rock bottom in her pursuit of power, she tries to restore the trust of others in herself. This happens mainly at the expense of her job, as she can no longer put the story above everything, and so Daphne is glad that she gets a tip on a possible break-in and hopefully a new story. Little does she know, however, that she's stumbling straight into a murder investigation, and the two investigators are among those who least want her there. But Daphne can't just let this murder rest, because the ghosts of Peony House have awakened and a supernatural killer is going around.
What I really have to acknowledge to the author is that you can feel the consequences of Daphne's previous behavior. The conflicts are not resolved through a simple conversation and Daphne does not complain about how she is treated. She knows that she was the one who behaved wrong and that she first has to prove that she can be trusted again. The murder case is gradually rolled out as the reader learns about the world of magic. I can't remember getting really bored anywhere and I really liked the characters. With her mother and grandmother, Daphne has two people by her side who can also give readers a better insight into the way magic works.
Personally, I found the ending a bit rushed as it all had to happen within a certain deadline, but it wasn't really a big deal. I'm really happy to have found the series and hope that the other main characters in the other books will pull me into their world as well, as Daphne did.
For those interested in a story with a paranormal background, a murder mystery and lively characters, I highly recommend this book.
It hit my weak spot and so I'm giving the book 5 Stars. -
I have very mixed feelings about this book. Parts of it deserve a higher rating, but some of it deserves less stars than it got.
What I did like: the plot was pretty good. Old hospital with some kind of unrest...a creepy ghost story vibe...a decently not boring storyline. Not bad.
What I didn't like: The characters. I had zero connection with the characters, especially Daphne. I wanted to, on the surface she seemed pretty solid, but in the end, I didn't really care about her. She was missing something for me. But even putting that aside, I didn't really connect with anyone in the story. Most I felt were added in to give the main character someone to talk to rather than for an actual purpose.
Also, this is book one, but there is no world building. None. As the book progresses, you learn that there is magic, and magical folk, but no explanation or reasons. Even the magic...there are different colors, but no explanation. Are some better than others, more elemental, or are they color coded to make them easier to imagine for the reader? Daphne's power, where does it come from? What are the limits? Is there a cost? I need more to understand the story.
There was also a mention of Daphne's previous dark turn and some of the people she met....I think that story needs to be told. It's great to hint that she's overcome a lot, and great to see her saying she's atoning for it. But telling me she was bad and showing me are very different. I have a hard time believing in her. Also,
Overall, I wanted to really like this book, but it left me a little lukewarm. It's a great idea, I just had trouble connecting.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. -
Slow pacing all around, but good story.
Daphne is a recovering from a magic addiction that tore relationships apart, and is working on recovering the ones that matter most to her, all while trying to keep her job as a journalist. Getting a tip about movement in an abandoned TB hospital, she stumbles on a murder, that uncovers a dark family history and forgotten magic.
I'm waffling on what to rate this. It took me a little longer than I expected to read this, and not because I didn't have time. My mind kept wandering, even if the writing was pretty good, and the mystery wasn't derivative. But something... I can't place my finger on it, but something about the story didn't grab me. Anyway, I'll just move on to what I liked and didn't like.
Here's what I didn't like: The last fight with the ghosts lacked tension, as well as the fight with the guilty party. I know that Daphne was doing something that required a lot of her concentration, and there were elements to create tension, but I could skim and not really miss anything that happened. There was this instance of daphne driving to the office, then we got a play by play of the dinner the night before, her going to bed and waking up raring to go, and then her arriving at the office. That's a reading sin of mine, and I will always hate it when it's used in books.
Here's what I liked: The mystery and how she goes about to solve it. The red herrings were particularly good too. I liked all the characters, Walsh had some great lines and good prose. I liked Daphne's addiction and her feelings about what she'd done and the sip she had. She was a sympathetic character.
Overall, this read well, but it read slow. The story took a plodding pace from the beginning and it never really picked up. I think that's my biggest problem with it. -
I started this book, and then sat it down for months. I was able to pick it right back up and finished it in a day.
I felt like I was coming into a series halfway through. There were all these hints about the past and I had no idea what they were talking about. Daphne was some sort of power hungry villian, but how? What did she do? What kinds of magic exist in this universe? A succubus shows up at one point, stays for a conversation the reader only understands half of, and then leaves. What is Daphne's connection with her?
That being said, the story itself is quite good. Daphne goes into this murder investigation ready to help solve it and help all of the ghosts in Peony House who have been similarly murdered for over a hundred years. The ultimate villian twist was okay. But I called it about the instant Daphne met the character, and it was a little stereotypical.
Overall, I'd give this about 3.5-4 stars. But have dropped it to 3 because of the lack of necessary background information to care much about the characters, and the fact that the series does not build off of Daphne at all, and I feel like there is a lot more that this story could be expanded into. The disappointment in not seeing Daphne as a main character in the next book will probably keep me from continuing the series. -
This is the first in a series and in the wide arc, it’s about 6 people of different magical abilities, that pooled together and escaped a magical sealed room alive. This first book starts us out with sorceress Daphne, and we learn of her descent into a dark world, and clawing her way out to change her life to the better. As a journalist, she discovers a murder of a young man, a runaway that lives on the streets trying to find a place to rest in the old Peony House, a house that was a hospital and is now abandoned – or so people think. When Daphne realizes the place is swarming with ghosts in anguish, she tries to find a way to help them – without managing to go into the dark side again and to try not to get in the way of the police, especially Hunter Avery, her former flame.
This book has just about everything I like in a book. The suspense, the twists and turns, the action, and even a smidgeon of romance, this book hits all the marks for me. The odd cast of characters are spot on and well developed and the originality is on cue. This book borders on paranormal, occult and horror – but not severely in any direction – and it’s a great page turner. -
I enjoyed Death at Peony House with a few caveats. This book reads like its the third book in a series. There's a LOT of things that are referred to constantly like the reader should already be aware of them. But this is marked as the 'first' book in the series.
Otherwise, Daphne is an investigative journalist, and she's made her name by NOT being too picky about her sources. Or how she acquired information about her exposes. Turns out Daphne's also a witch or sorceress as she prefers with a bit of an addiction to the darkside of magic. She's burned a LOT of bridges with a LOT of people. But, one year ago she had a close encounter with death and has promised herself that she's going to be a good girl now. Mending bridges, going cold turkey on the black magic and trying to keep her rung on the journalistic ladder without any shady dealings. Good luck with that Daphne.
Enter Peony House... a once majestic mansion that was transformed into a TB ward hospital with a history of mysterious deaths. And just like that Daphne is balancing on the knifes edge of what she wants to be and what she once was.
I'd give it a solid 3-3/4 edging into 4 star territory. The magic is an interesting blend. I quite like Daphne's Mom, Grandmother and Emmett, the teen squatting in Peony House when his best friend is mysteriously killed.
Looking forward to getting some of those referred to past events answered soon.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. -
Very Enjoyable!
This novel is well-written, with just the right amount of creepiness and coziness. The intriguing mystery and the high stakes keep you glued to the page.
The protagonist, one Daphne Heartstone, is a sorceress who works as a journalist. On the quest for that next headline, she stumbles upon a murder at an old, empty building that once served as a hospital. Before long, she finds the murder may be but one in a long string of killings.
Daphne is well-rounded, and I also liked the side characters. I especially liked the contrast between the hospital’s dark atmosphere and the warmth and comfort of Daphne’s family and home. Each enhances the other, making the book all the more enjoyable.
One point to consider: This is the first book in author Krista Walsh’s Dark Descendants series, but there were numerous references to Daphne’s backstory, which must be in the prequel that I didn’t read. I think the book can stand alone, but it may be helpful to pick up the prequel first. -
If you have a penchant for dark urban fantasy with a complex, once-bitten twice-shy heroine and a murder-mystery in an abandoned hospital, this is the book for you!
Daphne is a sorceress-slash-journalist with an addiction to magic that she’s fighting on the daily. When a mysterious accident happens at Peony House - a once stately home turned hospital - Daphne is drawn into a web of dark magic and eternal suffering, that only she can end 😱
Throw in an angsty ex who happens to be a police officer and a young homeless kid who wants to help save the day, and you have a spooky adventure that touched my heart while also giving me the heebie-jeebies in the perfect way!
What I loved about this book is Daphne’s commitment to doing things right even when she was plagued by everyone’s doubt 💗 I wouldn’t want to cross her but at the same time, Krista made me want to reach out and give her a hug too!
The other thing I loved is how well Krista merged spooky, magic and scary all at once. I’m a self-proclaimed scaredy cat and this book kept me on my tippy-toes, with the right balance to keep me intrigued and make me sleep with the lights on 🤣
There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about the book, in fact, I think it’s made me more interested in darker urban fantasy. That’s a win for me!Although my TBR might be more than a little cranky at its new companions 🤣
All in all, this was a great book and I can’t wait to read even more by Krista!l
