Shrill Dusk

A fun take on the Urban Fantasy genre.
Our heroine is a character well loved in previous books who is finally taking center stage. While a bit chaotic at times, the book reads fast paced and takes you one one hell of a ride.
Helen creates a truly unique world and relatable characters for the reader to connect with.
Fans of Darynda Jones or Linsey Hall would enjoy Shrill Dusk. It checks all the boxes for a kick butt heroine taking on the baddies.
One one negative would be that the middle gets a bit hectic and hard to follow but the ending provides a satisfying conclusion so its worth pushing through.

Magic and Mayhem and Monsters in Manchester, oh my! Once again, Helen Harper has produced a fun, light read that I zipped through in one sitting. Charley is a heroine both easy to and worth rooting for and I have become as fond of her as I was of Integrity Taylor from Helen's 'Highland Magic' series [which I also highly recommend].

This story had good pacing and plotting and believable suspension of disbelief. The villain was beautifully mundane in such a magical world, but more than that I won't say, so I don't spoil the story too much.

*I was given a free copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Strange things are happening in the City of Manchester, and Charley, Monroe, Lizzy and the gang are caught in the middle of it!

With all the unusual activities, the government evacuates and locks down the city, Max Strong (aka bad guy) steps in to rule over all who remain. When Lizzy (Charley’s best friend) is captured by Max, Charley and team devise a plan to rescue her.

Great book for the average fantasy enthusiast. I did find it quiet a dark book. However it was an enjoyable and a relatively easy read. Note there is some use of strong language.

** I received a copy of the Shrill Dusk by Helen Harper via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Shrill Dusk (City of Magic Book One)

Publisher/Author: Helen Harper

Pages: 254pp

Price: $10.99/$3.99

The apocalypse has come. Well, okay, it's not a total apocalypse. Bad faeries want to destroy the world, good faeries want to save it, and their final confrontation flattens a good portion of Manchester. It also leaves the city so contaminated by magic that the mortal residents are forced to evacuate. Well, almost all of them. A few people decide to stick it out. Like Charley, a one-time cleaner who has suddenly developed ridiculous magical abilities. And her Australian roommate Lizzie, who can now transform into a bunyip. Not to mention the magic-starved werewolves and vampires who are running towards Manchester. And then there's the crime lord who has seized the opportunity to create his own personal fiefdom, and he isn't going to let anyone stand in his way ... not even Charley ....

I adored Harper's series, The Lazy Girl's Guide to Magic, so I was very happy to see Shrill Dusk pop up on netgalley. While technically a sequel to her Fractured Faery series, it is not necessary to have read that series to understand what is going on in Shrill Dusk (I didn't, and I followed along just fine).

Shrill Dusk is a heck of a lot of fun. The characters' reactions to having their entire understanding of the world turned upside down were realistic, ranging from terrified to confused to thrilled. The post-magic changes to Manchester were also interesting to see: monstrous trees, strange creatures, and the battle over dwindling supplies, to name just a few.

Charley is a great character: a skilled gambler, she has a head full of random facts and is excellent at reading people and situations. She is also traumatized by the death of her baby brother in a house fire that she blames herself for starting; she couldn't save him, so she keeps trying to save everyone else. When the apocalypse hits and the government cuts Manchester off from the rest of the world, Charley is determined to build a self-sustaining community where everyone is welcome and people support one another.

Others are not so certain. Monroe, for example, is an alpha who lost his entire werewolf pack during the short but devastating faerie war. For him, it's survival of the fittest. He is convinced that Charley is going to get herself killed if she keeps taking in every stray she comes across. And then there's Max the crime lord: a greedy, smarmy sociopath who sees only opportunity in the chaos. Charley knows better than anyone that he is not to be under-estimated.

Shrill Dusk has it all: an intelligent and compassionate heroine, a tough but vulnerable love interest, best friends standing strong, magic, monsters, and a villain in need of a good comeuppance. Highly recommended to fans of urban fantasy, as well as fans of Ilona Andrews, Annie Bellet, T. Thorn Coyle, Jolene Dawe, and Lisa Shearin.

I first came across this author with her Blood Destiny series. That was a few years ago, when I came across this title on Netgalley the cover caught my attention first, then I noticed who wrote it. I was more than eager to reacquaint myself with this author.
Shrill Dusk falls into that grey area of not quite YA but not your typical NA either. Or should I just say it’s a cleaner NA than most on the market. Shrill Dusk is on the sweeter side of things than the steamy. No real content or language warnings that raised flags for me, it’s not a completely innocent Twilight, but it’s not Laurel K Hamilton either!! 
Shrill Dusk is a very enjoyable story with an interesting world. This author remains true to form by developing interesting characters and creating a twist on ‘normal’ civilisation. The story is fast paced and a lot happens in a relatively short amount of time so you definitely don’t get bored!
The first in a series, Shrill Dusk has the potential to turn into an interesting exploration of this world and its characters. I’m looking forward to what happens next.

I’ve read this author before and really enjoyed her. When I came across an opportunity to read this series starter by her, I jumped at the chance. As I found her other books to be, this one had great writing, interesting characters, and a fun plot. There were some crossover characters from another series, but as someone who hadn’t read the other series, I was in no way confused. In fact, I now want to read the other series to see what lead us to this point. This is the type of book I find to be an easy, fun, mostly light-hearted, and quick read; it’s something to spend an afternoon enjoying. Yes, I do admit Charley’s attitude got to me a little, but I hope she learns better soon. I’m anxious to see what’s coming next for Charley, Monroe, Lizzie, etc. I really do highly recommend this book! I was provided the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.

Shrill Dusk by Helen Harper, a good start to a hopeful series. Charley is a cleaner/gambler and things rarely go her way, but when weird and violent things start to happen to the city around her but not actually touch her does she realize she might be "lucky".

Charley was your average human until an unusual encounter in the ladies’ room that will transform her life forever. Charley finds herself magically enhanced and her home in Manchester has become a magically infused post-apocalyptic town that is cut off from the rest of the world.

Choosing to stay in Manchester, Charley finds herself teaming up with a reluctant werewolf, an actress vampire and some everyday humans who have decided to stay in “their city”.

Fun, fast and intriguing, Harper world building and characters will have the reader coming back for more.

I received this ARC copy of Shrill Dusk from Helen Harper. This is my honest and voluntary view. Shrill Dusk is set for publication Jan. 4, 2019.

My Rating: 4 stars
Written by: Helen Harper
Series: City of Magic
Sequence in Series: 1
Print Length: 254 pages
Publication Date: January 4, 2019
ASIN: B07LH65ZCK
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Shrill-Dusk-Ci...

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I liked Shrill Dusk very each. It's a different story than most urban fantasy and I can't wait to see what happens next. #ShrillDusk #NetGalley

I received this ARC via Netgalley in return for an honest review. I enjoyed this book immensely and do recommend it for those interested in stories with good heroines and modern day when magic suddenly drops in to stay... Charlie works as a cleaner in the local police station. She has a big heart that often lands her in trouble as she tries to save her friends when they end up in bad situations. The book opens with a bit of backstory where Charlie's actions, inadvertently, result in the death of her younger brother. This influenced Charlie's future in numerous ways. A strange set of events occur in her home town of Manchester, England, and somehow, Charlie ends up right in the middle. The city ends up as a quarantined, walled city in an effort to contain the magic that is now rampant. Those few who remain after the city is ordered evacuated must now decide how they're going to survive when current rations will become scarce. There's the local small town hoodlum with ideas of grandeur, a sexy werewolf, vampires, elves and assorted humans, along with a few unusual magic species - bunyips, anyone? I really like this book and found it easy to read. I didn't have any problem keeping the characters clear, which can be a challenge if the book isn't well written. Good job by Ms. Harper. I look forward to the next in the series.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Years after a family tragedy, Charley now lives in Manchester working as a cleaning person, while also maintaining a career as a professional gambler. However, after a number of strange happenings occur, Charley, and the people of Manchester, soon find their lives changed forever. To make matters worse, Charley seems to have gained strange powers herself, and now, with the help of her friends and an annoyingly sexy werewolf, she finds herself fighting to stop a magical apocalypse and keep the peace among their magical wasteland of a city.

Helen Harper is one of my most-read and most-loved authors. Every single urban fantasy or paranormal romance I've read by her has an incredibly unique concept, while also containing the perfect amount of romance and humor. That being said, Shrill Dusk is easily one of my favorite books by Harper to date. While Charley could be a bit naive, she was still a compelling and relatable character, and I really loved reading her scenes with Monroe. I really enjoyed how this series tied in with Fractured Faery, and I thought the concept of a series about the repercussions of Madrona's actions in Skulk of Foxes to be incredibly smart.

Overall, anyone looking for a quick and humorous urban fantasy with an intriguing magic system will absolutely love Shrill Dusk. I'm so thankful for the quick release for book two, as I'm super eager to read the rest of this series!

4.5/5

Helen Harper has a knack for creating urban fantasy stories that are entertaining and quite often amusing. Shrill Dusk is the beginning of a new series for her that utilizes characters found in a previous series while introducing her readers to a whole new heroine. This book is a little darker in someways then previous stories but I still found it very readable and didn't put it down until I'd finished every last word.
Charley, a cleaner for the local Manchester police station and a professional gambler in her spare time, finds her world changing overnight as she discovers magic is all around and supernatural creatures are alive and well in her city. After being caught in the middle of a situation (which is a hangover from The Fractured Faery series - well worth a read) Charley finds magic is now very much a part of her and she is living in a Manchester that is playing by completely new rules.
This book moves at a brisk pace and sets up a series that I want to read more of as soon as possible. Charley, who has a few demons she is dealing with from her childhood, is an extremely likable character who collects a motley crew of misfits to call friends and allies. If you like a rollicking urban fantasy with a sprinkling of potential romance then this is a book to be added to your 2019 reading list.
Thank you, NetGalley and Helen Harper for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review - it was a great read.

In the prologue protagonist Charley experiences a profound loss and 11 years later we see her still dealing with the aftermath.

The book starts when strange events are talking place in Manchester, UK, where Charley lives. It looks like the Apocalypse is near and in a short period of time she is confronted with faeries, werewolves, her roommate shifting etc. And she takes it all in stride!

I have read books by this author before (especially liked the Slouch Witch series!) but somehow this did not grab me as much. It was confusing with all the characters Charley interacts with in a short time span and I just did not get Charley. Even the tragic loss she suffered doesn’t make it believable how big her savior complex is. It became annoying I must admit.

I received a free copy of SHRILL DUSK (City of Magic, Book 1) by Helen Harper in exchange for an honest review. Charley lives a quiet life and tries to stay under the radar; she works as a maid/cleaner, gets extra money by gambling, and tries to make up for her past by helping people whenever she can. When normal, everyday Manchester ceases to exist as magic flares into existence with plagues, rapid forest growth, and mythical creatures, the British government decides to quarantine the area. Charley decides to stay; it’s her city, and the people are going to need someone to look out for them, especially if that someone has accidentally obtained great magical powers. Charley has a vision of how the new Manchester should be, but does she have the will and the ability to make it happen? Can her vision prevail over the will of those who want to rule Manchester as warlords?

This was a fun book. I rather liked that Charley was stubborn enough to stand up for and keep to her principles even though she seemed to be an otherwise practical person. Although Charley was logical enough to both create and implement a plan to achieve her goals, she refused to fall into ruthless efficiency when dealing with the lives of other people. I will definitely read the next book in the series.

#ShrillDusk #NetGalle

Shrill Dusk would be a good book for a YA audience. It was a quick and easy read. It didn't cover much new Urban Fantasy ground, but that might change in the next book.

I thought this was a good first book in a series, it set the scene well for future books and introduced some very interesting characters,and an interesting scenario.I loved the main character she had plenty of attitude and also a heart of gold.There were plenty of other characters that will be worth getting to know as well.I think this will be a good series to read and a welcome addition to the urban fantasy genre.thanks to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC.

I received this novel from net galley and the publisher. Thank you!
This novel involving the paranormal was a good read for the first novel in a new series by Ms. Harper.
In Manchester, England, strange things are happening. Many believe the world is coming to an end, but supernatural creatures such as the faeries and werewolves are trying to contain the power, in which many are sacrificed. Charley, a cleaner for the police department, a gambler, and one who helps others, all of a sudden has these magical abilities. Charley has a sad past and will always try to help others, which puts her at odds with Monroe, a Scottish werewolf who believes in survival of the fittest after this power destroyed his clan. Charley and Monroe disagree on many things, but are attracted to each other, but will not admit it. Charley learns there other supernatural creatures and wants people to stick together to survive with the government deciding to “quarantine” Manchester. They are letting people leave, but if one chooses to stay, there are no guarantees. Charley has another problem she has to handle as a result of helping out someone in need, which brings danger to those who reside with her.

Charley cleans the police station, and likes to gamble. She's pretty good at noticing people's "tells". While the description states she's a gambler, there is literally no gambling after the first pages to set up "the bad guy". This is a pretty good story of a magical awakening of the city of Manchester, England. A chance meeting, a magical artifact, Charley is thrown feet first in to the paranormal world, Charley and her roommate become the epicenter of the quarantine of the city to contain the magic. As people rush to leave the city, others rush to be engulfed in the magic of the city. New alliances are fraught with the lawlessness, and the magic has changed regular humans into something other. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC from Netgalley.

To be noted:

I was given an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This book was free, and my review is not biased towards that fact in any way. These are my opinions only, (as everyone is entitled to them) and should only be taken as an idea for whether or not you would like to read the book yourself. In the end, no matter what review I give, props to the author for writing what they love, and actually publishing a book.


Shrill Dusk

3.7 stars rounded up**

After a brief prologue of the main characters troubled past, and an introduction to her gambling habits and a debt she's taken on for an acquaintance, a girl named Charley finds her self and her roommate Lizzy in a suddenly tumultuous state in Manchester. Strange events begin occurring, but at the same time Charley seems to be somewhat set apart from them and they do not harm her like they are harming others. This story trails these events and their conclusion of what happens to the city. This books is full of typical fantasy elements such as shape shifters, girls with rough pasts, vampires, and oddly enough a Bunyip. Who knew!

I'm not going to lie. I started this book with the intent to finish it within a couple of days. I did not meet that goal and here's why:

The beginning of the book is very interesting. I was caught up for the first chapter, and then it seemed like it just got more confusing from there. I struggled to keep up with everything that was going on. Maybe, if I had read the other books that coincide with the series I would have understood better; but I felt like it was just too much too fast without any explanation. I honestly felt as lost as the characters were being portrayed to feel. I would have liked a little more world building, and a little more character description to help. As a side note, it also frustrated me that the author used full names repeatedly in the prologue.

The plot itself has so much potential. It just needs more depth. Once I pushed past the reading anxiety I was getting of total confusion and trudged through to the 20 percent mark, I felt like I could breathe a little better and the story was more interesting.

There was a lot of typos and misplaced words/sentences. At one point the main characters friend Lizzy was spelled as Lilly. That made it difficult at some points, and I had to go back through and re-read the sentence to make sure I was seeing it right. The grammar issues weren't horrendous though, just really noticeable when I did come across them.

I do intend to look for the authors second book, as I would like to see how the relationship develops between Monroe and Charley. However, I just hope that the pacing of her second books is done a little better and the characters have more depth as I said before. The way this book is written, other than the language I feel should be marketed towards more of a preteen level than considered young adult.

I would have rated the first half of this book 2-3 stars, but the second half was considerably better, more in 4 star territory, so I will leave it at the higher rating. For the first half of the book, I was pretty confused about what was going on and if I hadn't been reading this for review, I might very well have put it down and not picked it up again. It seemed like there was a story going on in the background regarding the potential apocalypse but that story wasn't being told, and instead we were following Charley, the heroine, who was only peripheral to the action. After taking a look at the author's earlier books, I realized that was because this book is a spin-off from her Fractured Faery series (which I obviously haven't read).

By about the halfway mark, the story moved on to the point where the earlier series events didn't matter so much. The plot takes off, becomes coherent, and much more enjoyable. Charley, having survived the almost apocalypse of Manchester, decides to stay in the ruined city instead of evacuating on government orders with most of the other residents. She sets about gathering supplies as well as allies and to start building a new community. She's also left with residual magical abilities but she's not sure where they came from or how strong they are.

I liked Charley as a main character, but she was often painfully naive, bordering on TSTL. Due to her personal history, she's inclined to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, no matter how badly they act. She has a definite savior complex, so I imagine she will get herself into trouble many times in future books trying to protect people who don't need or deserve to be protected. In some ways, I found her to be very much like Ivy from Slouch Witch (a series I adored and which led me to try this new series). Charley is generous and kind as is Ivy, and always trying to help people. Also like Ivy, she's not the typical snarky, hard-shelled, kick-ass UF heroine. However, Ivy, right from the start, was intelligent and didn't let herself get taken advantage of. I'm waiting to see if the same will be true of Charley. I also hope that the secondary characters are better fleshed out in later books. There were quite a few new characters introduced, but at this point, they are merely sketches and definitely need more development.