Review: Druid Vices and a Vodka - Annette Marie

Druid Vices and a Vodka by Annette Marie
Series: The Guild Codex: Spellbound #5

My rating: {★★★★★}

Urban Fantasy
Published January 3rd 2020 by Dark Owl Fantasy Inc.

Source: ARC copy received from the Publisher

I've said it before, but sometimes I'm a bad person. I cheated on my twelfth grade math final, I've run countless yellow lights, and I gossip about how hot my kickass best friends are. (Good thing my job as a guild bartender doesn't require moral perfection.)

But there's bad, and then there's bad. And I'm not sure which applies to a certain dark druid/wanted criminal/reluctant friend of mine. His transgressions include black-magic dealings, kidnapping, and murder, and he's about to add "revenge-fueled killing spree" to his resume—if I don't stop him.

Should I stop him?

He and his nemesis are gearing up to tear each other apart, rogues and vultures are converging with their sights on the spoils, and the guilds that would normally stomp them into the ground are under attack. We're on the brink of an all-out criminal turf war, and my time to decide is almost up.

Who's the real bad guy ... and do I dare stand in his way?

I don't think that Annette appreciates just how hard she is making it to review her books.... Not only am I doing my very best to make my reviews completely spoiler free (NOT THE EASIEST THING TO DO WHEN YOU ARE SIX BOOKS DEEP IN A SERIES!) but I'm also finding myself struggling to find different ways to gush about every book she has ever written.

I mean, how often can I mention the fabulous, amazing and wonderful multi dimensional characters? Or the relationships and friendships that have me hanging off the edge of my seat, gasping, laughing, covering my eyes and holding my breath? How often can I really commend the first class world building that always leaves me with just enough information and yet hungry for more? Do people get tired of me commending the action packed plots that manage to interweave reality, fantasy and magic together with ever increasing tension and raised stakes?

So basically I have to apologize and just let everyone know that if you're still reading my reviews for anything Annette Marie, you just have to continue to live with the fangirling, gushing and excitement because she hasn't disappointed me yet.

In this, the sixth book in the series, I was thrilled to spend a few more moments with Robin from the Demonized series and I am really hoping to see that crossover from the Demonized POV - both to see what happened in between and to just know what the other characters were thinking behind the scenes!

It was also great to see other characters reappear, like my favourite Druid. I'm not going to comment directly on the events of the book but I will say that I really hope that wasn't the last that we see of Zak and Lallakai. I'm interested to know about their story and while one aspect of their plot arc may have been resolved I still feel like there's a lot of threads left hanging and I'd like to see how they impact the rest of the team and their unresolved arcs.

Something I find about myself is that I'm drawn to characters that either remind me of myself, or are relatable in the way that I'd like to BE them, or they embody ideals that I would like to cultivate in myself, and there's so many facets to Tori that draw me to her for all of those reasons. I love her ferocity in jumping headlong into situations to protect her friends and I also love her complete unwillingness to give up. I also love seeing her being allowed to make mistakes (no perfect protagonists here!) and then learn and grow from them.

For anyone else following along with the series, this book is INTENSE. A lot happens; not only plotwise, but there's many, many feels and there's a whole lot of foreboding for the future. I'm equally terrified and excited for the other releases coming out this year and while I absolutely can't wait I'm also grateful for some respite to let all these feelings settle and for my soul to heal (if possible!).

Honestly, I can't recommend this series enough and really hope that anyone even remotely interested gives it a try - there's something here for everyone!

Other books in this world (in my recommended reading order):

THREE MAGES AND A MARGARITA (THE GUILD CODEX:SPELLBOUND #1)
DARK ARTS AND A DAIQUIRI (THE GUILD CODEX:SPELLBOUND #2)
TWO WITCHES AND A WHISKEY (THE GUILD CODEX:SPELLBOUND #3)
DEMON MAGIC AND A MARTINI (THE GUILD CODEX:SPELLBOUND #4)
TAMING DEMONS FOR BEGINNERS (THE GUILD CODEX:DEMONIZED #1)
THE ALCHEMIST AND AN AMARETTO (THE GUILD CODEX:SPELLBOUND #5)
SLAYING MONSTERS FOR THE FEEBLE (THE GUILD CODEX:DEMONIZED #2)