You guys – We are so excited to have Deborah Wilde on the blog today!! If you aren’t aware, she has a new series out that is marketed as Bridesmaids meets Buffy with a dash of the seven deadly sins. If you’re like me, that should have immediately grabbed your attention. I was lucky enough to get to read book 2, The Unlikable Demon Hunter: Sting, already and I found I couldn’t put it down. If you like paranormal and you enjoy a main character who doesn’t really have things in order, check it out – it is available on June 26, ,2017!
The Unlikable Demon Hunter: Sting by Deborah Wilde
(Website, Twitter)Also by this author: The Unlikeable Demon Hunter, The Unlikeable Demon Hunter
on June 26, 2017 
50% boobs. 50% sarcasm. 100% new breed of hunter.
After a bumpy start as the only female demon hunter in the top secret Brotherhood of David, Nava Katz heads to Prague for her first undercover mission: unmasking a demon movie star. She’d be all kinds of thrilled if it weren’t for the fact that her fellow hunter-with-benefits, Rohan Mitra, has reclaimed his rock star status and assigned Nava the role of groupie.
Rejecting her “be a good girl and follow orders” directive, Nava unleashes an alter ego guaranteed to hook their celebrity target and drive Rohan crazy. No downside–until she finds herself up against Rohan’s past, the Brotherhood’s antiquated thinking, and her own identity issues, turning her personal life into the bomb that could blow up the entire operation.
Sparkly and deadly; it’s a plan.
With all that, Deborah wanted to introduce you to Nava via some book recommendations. Check out the list below – There are a few of my favorites on there.
5 Paranormal Books I’d Recommend to my Main Character – from Deborah Wilde to Nava Katz
Nava Katz, my MC, is snarky, self-defensive, and has carefully cultivated her hot mess status. Despite some serious emotional baggage and deep flaws, she has a strong moral compass, her loyalties run deep, and she’s truly unapologetic about her life and her choices.
With that in mind, here are the paranormal books that she might not have already read that I’d force her to put at the top of her TBR pile. (In no particular order.)
1. The Shifters series:
I originally read the Shifters series back in 2013 but I did a re-read recently, and yup, I love it just as much. I’ve got a soft spot for shapeshifter stories. That said, a lot of them bore me to pieces because there’s not much there beyond sex with a furry. Or it’s the same dark, angsty issues. A girl gets tired of the same old, you know?
This series, however, is actually an excellent six-book, coming-of-age story. Yes, the romance is there but in a strong subplot way, not the main point. That’s saved for Faythe balancing extreme cultural expectation with her justifiable desire to be a modern woman with all that entails. The series takes on gender politics on a number of levels. What’s nice as well, is that each book (thematically named) has a self-contained A-plot with a ton of action. Though you do want to read them in order to keep building upon Faythe’s journey of empowerment.
It hits a wonderful balance between romance, kick-ass action, paranormal elements, and one young woman’s journey of coming into her own. I’m sure Nava could relate to Faythe, and feel the pain of dealing with all those alphas.
2. The Raven Cycle
Nava was busy with her dancing and then her life imploding so maybe she missed this YA series. I couldn’t get through these books fast enough while wanting them to stretch on forever. And dear god, the feels! Stiefvater’s writing is, in a word, gorgeous. Every word is chosen with such precision and care. Her world is insanely evocative, the mythology is compelling, and then there are the characters.
I don’t know what I can say about our band of magicians that won’t sound trite. Though I must include Henry here as well. The thing about coming of age stories is that they come at the cost of a loss of innocence. There is so much loss in this book and yet so much hope. That’s the element I most want Nava to appreciate.
Play “For Good” from Wicked because I kind of feel like those lyrics sum up this journey: “Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?/ But because I knew you/I have been changed for good” Though I’d hazard to say they’ve been changed for the better as well.
There are zero things wrong with this series and it deserves multiple universes of stars.
3. Burn For Me
Obviously Nava has already read Ilona Andrew’s Kate Daniels series, but she may not know about this one.
Nevada is smart, funny, badass, compassionate, and fiercely loyal – an awesome book BFF. The plot is tight and hot and tense. Andrews returns to Houston and a world of magic, but with a different mythological bent than in the Daniels’ books. She understands how to dish the world building out to keep things interesting but never overwhelming.
And the characters are a delight. Pierce is completely believable as a narcissistic psychopath, capable of great charm, while Navada’s love/hate issues with Rogan made total sense given who they both were. Nevada’s entire family is vibrant and fun and felt very real. I feel that given Nava’s bonds with her own twin, she’d appreciate having a book with close-knit family members.
4. Vampire Academy series
The reason I want Nava to read this series is all because of the MC Rose. Sure, she’s funny, smart, and hugely kick ass. But here’s the thing – lots of female protagonists these days have those qualities (yay!). And while I’m all for modeling empowering chicks, I also am a firm believer in showing the importance and value of female friendships.
Yes, Rose’s friendship with Lissa is also bound up in her duty to protect her, but Rose would absolutely be there for Lissa in every way that counts whether she was her bodyguard or not. I think it’s wonderful that part of Rose’s journey is to learn how to give more of herself.
I know that for Nava, she finds it easier to be there for others than to let others be there for her. To fully let herself be vulnerable. There are so many stories that deal with the heroine having to open herself up to romantic love. But isn’t platonic love with a good female friend just as important? I think so.
All of that is why I love Rose and feel her journey from kick ass best friend to kick ass best friend who isn’t afraid to show her vulnerable side to her female BFF is great and makes this a series that Nava needs to read.
5. The Talisman
If it’s listed in Paranormal on Amazon then it’s fair game for me to include this Stephen King (writing as Peter Straub) story that is one of my all-time favorite books. Jack, a young boy in a seaside town must go on a terrifying cross-country journey to save his mother, a woman of importance in two different worlds.
This is a story about lost innocence, monsters, and a world that suddenly ceases to make sense. (Timely, no?) It’s about the change and power that a seemingly insignificant figure can wrought and about these small moments of beauty and hope in a gritty, terrifying reality. A truly magical read.
Thanks so much for having me today, Erin and Jaime! 🙂 I hope I’ve given not just Nava, but all of you some new books to pick up!
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