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The Netherweird Chronicles #1
Red & Dead
“Netherworld? Nether-f*cking-weird, more like.”
Lili O’Reilly and her beloved cat, Grimm, live happily together on a quiet Liverpool back street above the coffee shop Lili runs with her best friend, Izzy.
But everything changes the day Lili wakes up with a sore head and no pulse. When she accidentally murders someone—not a very nice someone, but a someone all the same—Lili has to consider that maybe she’s no longer entirely human. And as the inhabitants of the city’s underworld start taking an interest, Lili is forced to fight for her (after)life.
Discover a magical world hidden in plain sight—a world where immortals jostle for power, and history tangles with mythology. A world in which the spirit of a city is the highest power of them all.
Neverwhere meets Rivers of London in this fast-paced urban fantasy about friendship, family secrets, and the perils of dating the undead.
Lili O’Reilly and her beloved cat, Grimm, live happily together on a quiet Liverpool back street above the coffee shop Lili runs with her best friend, Izzy.
But everything changes the day Lili wakes up with a sore head and no pulse. When she accidentally murders someone—not a very nice someone, but a someone all the same—Lili has to consider that maybe she’s no longer entirely human. And as the inhabitants of the city’s underworld start taking an interest, Lili is forced to fight for her (after)life.
Discover a magical world hidden in plain sight—a world where immortals jostle for power, and history tangles with mythology. A world in which the spirit of a city is the highest power of them all.
Neverwhere meets Rivers of London in this fast-paced urban fantasy about friendship, family secrets, and the perils of dating the undead.
327 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 24, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
Shelved as 'fantasy-wishlist'
January 23, 2024Reading this author's nonfiction book about the history of vampires in pop-culture right now and it's so fun that I might have screamed a little when I saw that she had a whimsical dark fantasy series too
March 3, 2024
DNF
I tried so hard with this book. It had everything that I should have loved. It was a quirky, supernatural, cosy novel set in Liverpool. I was so excited to read it.
But the writing! There were so many adverbs. Everything anyone did or said was described as, 'slowly, idiotically, politely, archly, happily, angrily' and on and on... It was never-ending. I couldn't take it anymore.
I don't have anything against an author using adverbs, but when every single paragraph includes one or more, it is lazy writing.
There are more creative ways to describe things.
It's a shame because I feel like the premise of the book is fantastic, but the writing should have been proofread more and had additional edits.
I tried so hard with this book. It had everything that I should have loved. It was a quirky, supernatural, cosy novel set in Liverpool. I was so excited to read it.
But the writing! There were so many adverbs. Everything anyone did or said was described as, 'slowly, idiotically, politely, archly, happily, angrily' and on and on... It was never-ending. I couldn't take it anymore.
I don't have anything against an author using adverbs, but when every single paragraph includes one or more, it is lazy writing.
There are more creative ways to describe things.
It's a shame because I feel like the premise of the book is fantastic, but the writing should have been proofread more and had additional edits.
January 13, 2023
A good start to a promising trilogy
June 16, 2024
Scouse soup for the soul
I was immediately drawn to this as it's set in Liverpool.
I really enjoyed how Lili the FMC was so fiesty, all be it , a bit whingey. I think considering all that happened , I would have been a little that way too!
Plunged into a paranormal world so suddenly, I think she did well!
I loved this incorporates the iconic landmarks of Liverpool and the legendary Liver Birds.
Izzy is a great friend and character, I liked how she just accepted what was happening. I liked most of the side characters ( not Maria ) but Billy and Kitty were my favorite, along with Grimm the cat.
It was a bit drawn out in places though and the details of the underground were a little too much.
I'm really looking forward to reading the next in the series!
Triggers : attempted rape, gore, violence, lots of Swearing .
I was immediately drawn to this as it's set in Liverpool.
I really enjoyed how Lili the FMC was so fiesty, all be it , a bit whingey. I think considering all that happened , I would have been a little that way too!
Plunged into a paranormal world so suddenly, I think she did well!
I loved this incorporates the iconic landmarks of Liverpool and the legendary Liver Birds.
Izzy is a great friend and character, I liked how she just accepted what was happening. I liked most of the side characters ( not Maria ) but Billy and Kitty were my favorite, along with Grimm the cat.
It was a bit drawn out in places though and the details of the underground were a little too much.
I'm really looking forward to reading the next in the series!
Triggers : attempted rape, gore, violence, lots of Swearing .
July 30, 2023
This turned out all right in the end, although there was too much infodump and too much of that terrible soap opera trope of people not telling each other things when they easily could have done. I was glad the author admitted to bending geography, as otherwise I thought my memory was going, since I used to know Liverpool very well. I liked the stealth gags (Lily the Red, for instance) and I loved the birds. Good fun, and I look forward to reading the next in the series, which I kind of bought by accident ...
November 29, 2022
I LOVED this book. Kept me hooked from the start. The characters are all fabulous and I loved the history and landmarks of Liverpool being in there. Having never been I now need to go and do a book tour. If you like Neil Gaiman or the Rivers of London series this is absolutely the right book for you. I can't wait for the next book in the series, I have high expectations and if this first book is anything to go by it will not disappoint!
July 3, 2023
Started off sooooo good then it got very dull think they did this to stretch the book out for the rest off the series which unfortunately I won't be continuing took me newrly a week to read a book just over 200 pages long as felt so drawn out
May 23, 2023
Good pacing, interesting world, but the lead character is a whiner. The promise is enough that I'm going to give the next book in the series a try regardless.
April 2, 2024
This is not yet another in the world of the undead mysteries or police series so popular now (at least with this reader). This book explores a relatively un-explored type of undead human, a revenant. The simply undead who aren't zombies, vampires, or any of the more commonly explored undead. The heroine Lili and her best friend Izzy lead a pretty quiet life running a small cafe on a "less traveled" street in Liverpool dealing with Beatles tourists and a plumbing system that is "challenging".
Then one day Lili finds an intruder in her apartment (above her cafe) and the next thing she knows she is flying over the fire escape railing and plunging down three stories to land on the hood of her vintage VW beetle.
After this she enters the world of the undead and must learn to navigate the various denizens, including the ghost of her great aunt and at the same time solve a mystery that was triggered by her entry into the undead world. This is part basic story of the undead and part mystery in the sense of a cozy mystery; but a well written one.
Violet Fenn does a nice job of developing her characters and providing them with great motivation, growth and decent dialogue. The plot is not fantastic but it is still pretty good. The book is an easy read and won't challenge your thoughts or make you believe in the undead, but it is likely to provide an enjoyable read. I finished in a few days and have ordered the second book in the series.
I'd recommend the book but the jury is still out on the series. The blurb compares this to Rivers of London and that's not fair because Rivers of London is a lot better (at least the first books - Ben Aaronovitch has diluted his fantastic creation to the point that I'm ready for the end) and it doesn't quite live up the the Conrad Clarke series either; but it's still worth a read.
Then one day Lili finds an intruder in her apartment (above her cafe) and the next thing she knows she is flying over the fire escape railing and plunging down three stories to land on the hood of her vintage VW beetle.
After this she enters the world of the undead and must learn to navigate the various denizens, including the ghost of her great aunt and at the same time solve a mystery that was triggered by her entry into the undead world. This is part basic story of the undead and part mystery in the sense of a cozy mystery; but a well written one.
Violet Fenn does a nice job of developing her characters and providing them with great motivation, growth and decent dialogue. The plot is not fantastic but it is still pretty good. The book is an easy read and won't challenge your thoughts or make you believe in the undead, but it is likely to provide an enjoyable read. I finished in a few days and have ordered the second book in the series.
I'd recommend the book but the jury is still out on the series. The blurb compares this to Rivers of London and that's not fair because Rivers of London is a lot better (at least the first books - Ben Aaronovitch has diluted his fantastic creation to the point that I'm ready for the end) and it doesn't quite live up the the Conrad Clarke series either; but it's still worth a read.
February 25, 2023
What a wonderful book to start the year! Sometimes when I read a book by a new to me author, I get the special vibe, so excited because I know the world and the characters gel perfectly with what I want to read and experience. The sort of book that makes reading such a special and unique experience. This was once such book. I loved it from pretty much the first page, it had me gripped. Not often do you get such a brilliant British urban fantasy. I've been very lucky with the quality of the ones I have read lately and this book stood on it's own and held it's head high with them.
I loved the incorporation of Liverpool as an entity with the Liver birds featuring prominently. Who wouldn't look at them and imagine they were magical creatures? The world building was so unique and original, and Lili is a wonderful character. I immediately liked her, and she had just the right amount of credibility for her belief in what was happening to her. I sincerely hope that this is going to be a long and successful series because I am already a fan!
I loved the incorporation of Liverpool as an entity with the Liver birds featuring prominently. Who wouldn't look at them and imagine they were magical creatures? The world building was so unique and original, and Lili is a wonderful character. I immediately liked her, and she had just the right amount of credibility for her belief in what was happening to her. I sincerely hope that this is going to be a long and successful series because I am already a fan!
August 4, 2023
I have been off work for a little while currently which has left me more time than usual on my hands. What better way to use that time than to get into a thoroughly enjoyable tale. Feet up, kindle on chest and on with the show.
This book was both quirky and funny and left me thinking I will never view the Liver birds in the same way again if ever I return to Liverpool. There was a good build up in terms of character formation and even though they were not your every day characters they were strangely very believable. The main character would have been your very ordinary but relatable woman who lives on your own street, living a mundane life running her own business, except that she was dead. What's not to love? On to book two immediately, The High Gate. I hope the same high standards are kept here.
This book was both quirky and funny and left me thinking I will never view the Liver birds in the same way again if ever I return to Liverpool. There was a good build up in terms of character formation and even though they were not your every day characters they were strangely very believable. The main character would have been your very ordinary but relatable woman who lives on your own street, living a mundane life running her own business, except that she was dead. What's not to love? On to book two immediately, The High Gate. I hope the same high standards are kept here.
February 1, 2024
Like a well cooked pan of Scouse - delicious.
Somehow you know when you pick a book up how good/bad it’s going to be. Red & Dead I knew was going to be good, why? I cannot explain but you will know when you open it. Like a pot of Scouse the ingredients were added slowly, in the correct order and gently cooked out. Then you reach the part when the final ingredients are added and the lid is put on the pan and you wait for all those wonderful flavours come together to make something wonderful. A brilliant story that you do not understand why it has never been done before. Forget the blurb - dive in and get immersed in a different but welcome addition to your library.
Somehow you know when you pick a book up how good/bad it’s going to be. Red & Dead I knew was going to be good, why? I cannot explain but you will know when you open it. Like a pot of Scouse the ingredients were added slowly, in the correct order and gently cooked out. Then you reach the part when the final ingredients are added and the lid is put on the pan and you wait for all those wonderful flavours come together to make something wonderful. A brilliant story that you do not understand why it has never been done before. Forget the blurb - dive in and get immersed in a different but welcome addition to your library.
April 21, 2024
Red & Dead
by Violet Fenn
⭐⭐⭐
Set in the heart of Liverpool, this book has a great character selection and good story. This is the first book in a series, but can be read as a standalone.
I loved the way that the local mythology of the Liver Birds were brought into the story, and seemed to entwine everything together.
Although I did thoroughly enjoy the book, I felt I couldn't give it any more than three stars, as in a lot of places, the story was so slow. There were also parts which I honestly thought were too ridiculous, and could have been omitted from the book completely.
However, I do highly recommend this book - especially if you're a local (Liverpool / Merseyside) resident.
by Violet Fenn
⭐⭐⭐
Set in the heart of Liverpool, this book has a great character selection and good story. This is the first book in a series, but can be read as a standalone.
I loved the way that the local mythology of the Liver Birds were brought into the story, and seemed to entwine everything together.
Although I did thoroughly enjoy the book, I felt I couldn't give it any more than three stars, as in a lot of places, the story was so slow. There were also parts which I honestly thought were too ridiculous, and could have been omitted from the book completely.
However, I do highly recommend this book - especially if you're a local (Liverpool / Merseyside) resident.
June 6, 2024
I really enjoyed this. Lili is chaotic and whiny but somehow it works? and it feels like a lot of actions are based on the result of dealing with a traumatic event and then adjusting to your new life. I also liked Grimm and Izzy and Kitty. All the side characters are truly a delight. It was also a fun adventure diving into the world. I will say I found the descriptions to be excessively long and exhausting at times. I did power through because I was invested in this motley crew but could have done with 100 pages less of descriptive adjectives. A fun start to the series! 3.5.
July 24, 2024
Easygoing, cute and quirky.
I’d describe it almost like an English version of the Sookie Stackhouse Mysteries but with its own unique flavour and completely different take on the undead population eg vamps ain’t glam, zombies don’t eat brains and drip ick everywhere and centred around a cute red head who owns a coffee shop rather than a sassy southern bell working in a bar.
Really promising start to a series which I’m eager to binge! Also to see who some of the main characters turn out to be in a previous life…
I’d describe it almost like an English version of the Sookie Stackhouse Mysteries but with its own unique flavour and completely different take on the undead population eg vamps ain’t glam, zombies don’t eat brains and drip ick everywhere and centred around a cute red head who owns a coffee shop rather than a sassy southern bell working in a bar.
Really promising start to a series which I’m eager to binge! Also to see who some of the main characters turn out to be in a previous life…
January 3, 2023
Fabulous urban fantasy
I wasn't sure what to expect from Red & Dead, but I loved it and read it in one sitting. The book is well-paced with fun characters, albeit not without their darkness and flaws, making them convincing. And, whilst I don't know Liverpool, the setting was absolutely believable. There's enough of a story arc to feel very satisfied with book one, and the longer story arc is well positioned, in addition to a few loose ends that I'm intrigued by.
I wasn't sure what to expect from Red & Dead, but I loved it and read it in one sitting. The book is well-paced with fun characters, albeit not without their darkness and flaws, making them convincing. And, whilst I don't know Liverpool, the setting was absolutely believable. There's enough of a story arc to feel very satisfied with book one, and the longer story arc is well positioned, in addition to a few loose ends that I'm intrigued by.
January 7, 2023
Excellent story, shame about the typos
Loved this book and read it in one day. I read lots of urban fantasy and this had a great new story with a unique paranormal species at the centre. Loved that it was set in the U.K. and I’ll be getting the next book in this series. However, there were quite a few typos, which I find irritating, so that’s why I deducted a star. Otherwise a fantastic read for relaxing day.
Loved this book and read it in one day. I read lots of urban fantasy and this had a great new story with a unique paranormal species at the centre. Loved that it was set in the U.K. and I’ll be getting the next book in this series. However, there were quite a few typos, which I find irritating, so that’s why I deducted a star. Otherwise a fantastic read for relaxing day.
January 21, 2023
Fun,fresh,original fantasy.
Fantastic world building,original ideas,fun and funny urban fantasy with a great intriguing cast of characters and an appealing heroine who after suddenly finding herself dead but still walking has to deal with a lot of strange creatures and situations.Reminiscent of the books of Helen Harper this is just as good.Looking forward to book 2,can't wait to see how the story develops.
Fantastic world building,original ideas,fun and funny urban fantasy with a great intriguing cast of characters and an appealing heroine who after suddenly finding herself dead but still walking has to deal with a lot of strange creatures and situations.Reminiscent of the books of Helen Harper this is just as good.Looking forward to book 2,can't wait to see how the story develops.
February 21, 2023
An immersive story
I love fantasy; discworld and rivers of London. I liked the story very much but the author didn't really develop the mystery of the dastardly plot. Nothing really seemed to be going on until the end and I'm left a bit flummoxed by the bad character's motives. I am fascinated by the world the author has created and would read more but the characters are not quite believable. Not a patch on Neverwhere.
I love fantasy; discworld and rivers of London. I liked the story very much but the author didn't really develop the mystery of the dastardly plot. Nothing really seemed to be going on until the end and I'm left a bit flummoxed by the bad character's motives. I am fascinated by the world the author has created and would read more but the characters are not quite believable. Not a patch on Neverwhere.
November 6, 2023
Very nice read.
I have to admit that, as I've aged, stories about young girls finding themselves and true love have become a bit tedious. When I started this book I thought that's what it was and I almost stopped reading it. I'm very glad I didn't. It was different and fun and exciting. It had depth. I enjoyed it thoroughly and am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I have to admit that, as I've aged, stories about young girls finding themselves and true love have become a bit tedious. When I started this book I thought that's what it was and I almost stopped reading it. I'm very glad I didn't. It was different and fun and exciting. It had depth. I enjoyed it thoroughly and am looking forward to the next book in the series.
June 12, 2024
Found this series by accident
It’s a fascinating take on the supernatural and urban fantasy set in the UK is always a breath of fresh air.
In a rather mundane setting the heroine Lily (Lilith) is running her own cafe and gets attacked in her own home, in a strange turn of events she wakes up dead. That’s just the beginning of all the weird that Lily has to cope with. Well worth reading.
It’s a fascinating take on the supernatural and urban fantasy set in the UK is always a breath of fresh air.
In a rather mundane setting the heroine Lily (Lilith) is running her own cafe and gets attacked in her own home, in a strange turn of events she wakes up dead. That’s just the beginning of all the weird that Lily has to cope with. Well worth reading.
June 16, 2024
Too repetitive to enjoy, i didnt need a reminder of the lead characters condition every chapter.
And what happened to proof-reading?? This seems to be an ongoing, and increasingly common problem with E-Books nowadays. Way too many spelling and grammar errors, I kind of understand that in self published straight to kindle titles, but recently I have found this with Harper Collins and Simon & Schuster titles.
Maybe they have hired an ex Sunday Times copy editor???
And what happened to proof-reading?? This seems to be an ongoing, and increasingly common problem with E-Books nowadays. Way too many spelling and grammar errors, I kind of understand that in self published straight to kindle titles, but recently I have found this with Harper Collins and Simon & Schuster titles.
Maybe they have hired an ex Sunday Times copy editor???
January 10, 2023
A fabulous urban paranormal feast
This books ticked all my boxes and a few more that I didn’t know I had ~ paranormal, set in Liverpool, a sweary cafe owner, handsome men, ghosts, an undead poet, Liver birds and loads more. I tried to spin out reading it over a few days but failed and demolished it far too soon. I can’t wait for the next one in the series.
This books ticked all my boxes and a few more that I didn’t know I had ~ paranormal, set in Liverpool, a sweary cafe owner, handsome men, ghosts, an undead poet, Liver birds and loads more. I tried to spin out reading it over a few days but failed and demolished it far too soon. I can’t wait for the next one in the series.
May 25, 2023
Entertaining take on the undead
Fenn spins a fasted paced story although the writing is subpar. If, like me, poor grammar, numerous typographical errors, and poor syntax destroy the enjoyment of reading then this book is probably not one you will enjoy. For the want of a little effective editing this could be a great read.
Fenn spins a fasted paced story although the writing is subpar. If, like me, poor grammar, numerous typographical errors, and poor syntax destroy the enjoyment of reading then this book is probably not one you will enjoy. For the want of a little effective editing this could be a great read.
August 15, 2023
Light, funny and just enough weird
Really consistent and believable world building, interesting and engaging characters and a story that is concluded in a very satisfactory way but also leaves enough loose ends and unanswered questions to lead you on in the series. On to book two!
Really consistent and believable world building, interesting and engaging characters and a story that is concluded in a very satisfactory way but also leaves enough loose ends and unanswered questions to lead you on in the series. On to book two!
April 8, 2024
A beginning to a cracking urban fantasy series, and a great read for fans of Ben Aaronovitch’s ‘Rivers of London’ series, but set in Liverpool.
The series follows a cafe owner who dies and returns to ‘life’ to be introduced to the Netherworld, full of ghosts and mythical creatures all tied in with Liverpool’s streets and history.
The series follows a cafe owner who dies and returns to ‘life’ to be introduced to the Netherworld, full of ghosts and mythical creatures all tied in with Liverpool’s streets and history.
February 1, 2023
Such an enjoyable and easy read. I loved the injection of Liverpool's city centre history which makes you want to investigate further once the story has finished. Looking forward to reading the second book in the series.
February 2, 2023
A lot of fun
I grew up in Liverpool. As a crazy weird redhead myself, I feel quite a kinship to Lili. She's not only a massive nerd (like myself), but she's honest and mouthy and isn't afraid to be herself. I liked the story a lot. I'll definitely read the next one.
I grew up in Liverpool. As a crazy weird redhead myself, I feel quite a kinship to Lili. She's not only a massive nerd (like myself), but she's honest and mouthy and isn't afraid to be herself. I liked the story a lot. I'll definitely read the next one.
June 23, 2023
It starts slow, but the characters are well built, the mix of well drawn location and legend/myth works well, and the story is well told with enough tied up for satisfaction, but enough to wonder about to make you want to read more. Excellent urban fantasy and I’m off to download the next.
June 24, 2023
Definitely weird
It was ok but I'm not sure I'd want to pay to read any more. It was a bit too slow going and focused too much on romance/love life which was really creepy considering the main character is dead!
There were too many loose ends too and too many typos throughout.
It was ok but I'm not sure I'd want to pay to read any more. It was a bit too slow going and focused too much on romance/love life which was really creepy considering the main character is dead!
There were too many loose ends too and too many typos throughout.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews