Nine of Stars audiobook

4.5. Really loved everything except appropriation of the skin walker mythology.

Ms. Bickle is only getting better and better. Plot flow, character development, attention to detail and research that doesn't slow you down, and a perfect balance of stark reality and deep magic make this book one that you want to sit down and read until the end. Her timelines are not unimaginable, though. Her characters don't get pushed into action that is unbelievably paced, nor do they get injured and bounce back unmarred. Scars run deep and recovery takes time, and this books evokes a tremendous empathy in the reader for the plights of all characters involved, whether two or four legged (or both!). I was brought to tears of compassion a few times. Each of her adventures into the magic of Yellowstone country takes you deeper and deeper into both its natural splendor and the magic she has created.#Bewitchingbooktours

I think I liked book 2 a tiny bit better, but this bad guy is scary. Some weird things are left awry at the end, curious what happens next! And there was something still unresolved from book 2. More good stuff to come, hopefully!

Wow. Petra and Sig, her adorable coyote companion, are up against a wolf killing Wendigo. You just never know what they’re going to bump into which each new book.This is the third book in the series. I’ll do my best not to spoil it for you. Just sayin.The wolf pack Nine Of Stars goes up against a creature that collects the skins of wolves. It ends badly for one and they’re now being hunted down. A magical being, it’s relentless and darn near unstoppable in its pursuit.Petra is grappling with some personal issues but that takes a second seat when wolves are being attacked and killed in the park. She’s also having to deal with the new sheriff, an odd duck who’s set his sights on Gabe as the killer. And Gabe has problems of his own. Human ones, to be exact.It’s going to take everything they have and then some to stop Skinflint Jack. The bitter cold and a huge winter storm add to the struggles for these characters. I like when the elements come in to play. A reckoning is coming, and who survives the battle isn’t certain.I loved this book. I’ve loved all of the books in this series. Petra is bad to the bone and loves with such intensity. And Sig is, well, Sig. What can I say about the wily coyote. He’s something else.So much has happened in this series and I wonder what’s coming next. Can’t wait to find out.I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.

I pre-ordered this pearl as soon as it was available on bookdepository so I would get my trotters on it as soon as it released. Then the awesome Laura Bickle provided me with an Advance Reader Copy so I could even read it sooner! And this is such a great read.This book continues the story lines from the Dark Alchemy books, but is set up in a way that it would work as a first book in a new series for new readers as well. But let me tell you: You want to read all the books in this setting. They're awesome!I love Petra, Gabe and Sig. They're a good team. Lots of nastiness is coming their way, both supernatural and mundane, but they are doing their best to overcome their problems and to stay alive.The story switches between Petra and Gabe, and Owen. Usually when a story switches to a character who opposes my favorite characters I don't much like reading from their point of view, but Bickle managed to get me invested and to even root just a little bit for Owen at times.The ending of this book is quite the cliffhanger, and you bet I'll be getting my greedy trotters on the next book. All in all an awesome read that I can recommend to anyone who's looking for a cool UF read set outside of the city.

This is another good story, the third in the series. There are enough changes afoot to keep things fresh and interesting, yet all of the old characters and situations are revisited and familiar continuity is maintained. The characters are all interesting and continually developing, and the plot is a fast-paced page-turner. One point that I especially enjoyed is that the protagonists find themselves needing to melt some metal in a blizzard, and the solution they find is quite ingenious. I couldn't help but wonder if the author cremated many snowmobiles for research in the preparation of the manuscript. (I remember a similar scene in the previous book where technology and alchemy are mixed to very good effect.) The only disappointment I had was that even though the individual story is concluded nicely, the overall arc ends on a real cliff-hanger for the two main characters. (Dude, it's like Han and Leia are -both- left frozen in Carbonite.) I thought the packaging of the book was confusing, because it says on the cover (which is quite attractive, by the way) that this is the first book in a series, but it's actually the third. One might be able to follow the events of this novel if they weren't familiar with the first two, but I think the effect would be lessened. The previous two are listed opposite the title page as prequel novels, but that makes no sense because this is clearly the third book of an ongoing series. It must be one of those marketing mysteries. Anyway, I recommend reading Dark Alchemy, Mercury Retrograde, and now Nine of Stars to fans of modern fantasy.

Solid Urban Fantasy This was another well written tale in the Wildlands series, which is full of myths and legends set against the backdrop of Yellowstone park. I really like this series despite there being a few minor problems for me, as a few mysteries points aren’t completely solved by the end of the book. Like why was Jack hunting the wolves? The reasoning for the hunting and what was revealed in the plot just didn’t add up. These are minor points that didn’t hurt the overall plot, of Petra, and Gabe trying to find a wolf killer. A new character of Owen Rutherford was introduced, who’s backstory is murky and maybe not what it seems. This is pretty unique urban fantasy which I like. It should be noted despite the romantic aspects of Petra and Gabe’s relationship all sex takes place off page.

This new title from Laura Bickle, scheduled for a December release, is given the description as "the first in a new series" (The Wildlands) on Amazon, though it is actually the continuation of the Dark Alchemy series, which includes Dark Alchemy and Mercury Retrograde. I do think a reader would have to be somewhat familiar with the first two books to get the most out of Nine of Stars. What I love about this series is that it's not quite definable, genre-wise. Is it Urban Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy, or something else - Weird Western? That makes it a bit difficult to classify to my patrons, but any chance I get, I recommend this series for adventurous readers. This time out, we have a new protagonist, the skinwalker/wolf "Nine" and a new antagonist, Owen, the current sheriff and relative of the evil, now deceased, Sal Rutherford, and the author smoothly switches the narrative between the various characters. Ms. Bickle is a great writer, with well-developed characters, smooth dialogue and a setting that is beautifully described. I was cold reading this book, and I live in Texas! Petra and Gabe's relationship progresses in this book, and we suffer along with Gabe as he adjusts to mortality and the death of the Lunaria and the Hanged men. The Evil-Bad Skinflint Jack is a suitably creepy character for our heroes to vanquish. Great job on this one, and I'll be impatiently waiting to see what happens in the next book.

Nine of Stars by Laura Bickle Reviewed by AngiI am becoming a Laura Bickle fangirl. This is the second book I've read and she has a wonderful way of making a story come to life. Both books I read are totally different stories. There are few authors I have found that can do multiple storylines and do them all well. But Laura does it. I picked up Nine if Stars in anticipation of if the new release Witchcreek coming out soon. It sounded so good I had to read the 1st to get started. I got sucked in from the start. You start by meeting the wolf Nine the omega wolf. The pack is struggling as it's a hard winter. Then you meet Owen the sheriff who starts as one type of character and ends up something so different. It's slow and sneaks up on you but the character change is a huge part of the story. Then Petra and Gabe there are so many facets to this couple. And Petra has a coyote for a pet. I want a coyote, don't you?And then the big evil Jack of harts. He is a unique bad guy. Large and formidable mythic urban legends material. Part man part elk. And this is where Laura stands out from other authors. Her characters are unique, not your typical vamps and weres. They are well thought out and plotted. Though made up and at times strange (see the book Flesh) They hold up without you scratching your head saying nope nope never that can't happen. Because in Laura's world it can ...and does happen. This story has magic and mystery and history. The only issue I had is that I thought it was the first in the series but it's the 3rd in the Dark Alchemy series and 1st in the Winlands. So a crossover introduction? There were a few times I thought I was dropped in the middle of a story and that's when I realized the Dark Alchemy side of the series. So ...yeah I just downloaded the 2 from that series cause I'm addicted. If you want a good read with magic and mystery with great well-written plot and characters hit the buy button. Oh and if you do it soon you will get it for the low price of .99 cents like I did on Amazon!! What a deal.

Like a lot of people, I didn't realize this was the third in a series until I did some research. I suspected it wasn't a first book just by the way the reader seems to be expected to already know who these characters are, but once I got into it that didn't really matter. It's a fun book with good pacing and interesting characters. My only real quibble is that I didn't quite buy Owen's turn to straight up antagonist when he's first presented as a mostly decent man who just wants answers as to what's going on. His sudden batshit obsession with hunting down Petra and Gabriel at all costs just didn't seem to fit with his character as presented, even taking into account that he's pretty freaked out by the weird stuff he's seen by that point. And even after it seems that he and Gabriel have reached an understanding, that ending... I don't mind the cliffhanger, I minded how it went down. Kind of disappointing, but I do want to read the next book, so I guess the ending worked.

This is not a standalone book. Missed the beginning of this story, but liked it anyway. Is about monsters, shape shifting. and wolves. Takes place in Wyoming as a geologist in Yellowstone is working and discovers wolves being killed in a torturous way. Her life partner, Gabriel, who was once a raven are set to find the killer. Petra has a coyote for a pet who is loyal to a fault. All these characters have paranormal abilities and work together to find the killer monster. Of course, there is a sheriff in town who blocks their ventures at every move. Is an action packed adventure between good and evil and left me hanging at the end. So will await the sequel of Petra and Gabe's story. Thanks to Goodreads and Ms. Bickle

Loved them! Will be looking for more.I just happened on Dark Alchemy the other day any WOW, it was great. As soon as I finished I went looking to see what other books Laura Bickle had written. Great luck finding Nine of Stars. The words send you to another world full of heart pounding good and bad like you have never dreamed of. You want be beyond the limits of earth and deep into what you never could have believed but just maybe you may start to think more of what could be.

This was a tough start but stick with it! An original premis combining alchemy, tarot, myth and legend I really enjoyed the world, the characters and the mystery. I also liked the geologist as our unlikely hero. This book is jam backed with details of geology, forestry, extreme weather survival and of course Alchemy.