Synopsis:
Maya, a human barista, takes a job at a coffee shop inside the supernatural Umbrafore Complex.

She’s ready for demanding customers and the occasional brooding vampire.

She’s not ready to become supernaturally famous, attract a theatrical serial killer, or stumble into a situations that spans five books and changes the course of her life.

Follow Maya as she blogs her way through murder, romance, and learning where she truly belongs.


Review:
“Choose a drink for a demon? Sir, I’m just a barista and don’t have soul insurance.” (Page 25)

This book starts a bit chaotic and because of the way it’s set up; I wasn’t sure I was going to like it but I was quickly drawn into a fast paced, humourous story that I couldn’t get enough of. While we learn of Maya from the standpoint of her work, throughout her blog she slowly starts introducing the reader to more about her; her home life, what the complex she works at is like. All of the descriptions of supernaturals she serves are outright delightful, especially because she gives most interesting nicknames because she doesn’t know their names. All of the characters introduced have such depth and unique stories of their own that while it’s great to see what’s happening at Pulse (the coffee shop she works at; no spoilers here!) It’s also awesome to see what adventures she ends up going on with people she works with. The found family trope is done perfectly in this novel, and once you get in to this, especially given the chapters are little blogs, it’s almost impossible to set down.

This is a new style of epistolary fiction that has more depth and emotion than most older novels of the same genre. The pacing is perfection because every blog generally is the space of one day or major event in the storyline– you can read as much or little as you want, but if Maya didn’t think it was important enough to blog, you don’t have to read about it (no overwriting). The book also plays a bit in and on itself and the tropes it has within and Maya calls it like it is, which some may consider breaking the fourth wall, but really just makes it realistic as a blog-turned-book. That being said, Maya also is there for everyone reading; those who feel unloved, unloveable, feel that they are taking up too much space– her words call out to everyone, with affirmations she learns and tries to embody along her journey.

“You don’t have to be magical to matter.” (Page 159)

Serious Kudos to Lara McKenzie– Maya’s blogs are as addictive as fancy foam lattes, and I’m already on book 3 in the series at the time of writing this review.

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for modern/contemporary/urban fantasy with found family vibes featuring a human who gets a crash course in all things supernatural.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯