Justice Calling

The Twenty-Sided Sorceress, Book 1

By: Annie Bellet

Narrated by: Folly Blaine

Length: 2 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

Gamer. Nerd. Sorceress.

Jade Crow lives a quiet life running her comic book and game store in Wylde, Idaho. After twenty-five years fleeing from a powerful sorcerer who wants to eat her heart and take her powers, quiet suits her just fine. Surrounded by friends who are even less human than she is, Jade figures she's finally safe.

As long as she doesn't use her magic.

When dark powers threaten her friends' lives, a sexy shape-shifter enforcer shows up. He's the shifter world's judge, jury, and executioner rolled into one, and he thinks Jade is to blame. To clear her name, save her friends, and stop the villain, she'll have to use her wits... and her sorceress powers.

Except Jade knows that as soon as she does, a far deadlier nemesis awaits.

Justice Calling is the first book in The Twenty-Sided Sorceress urban fantasy series. Readers who enjoyed The Dresden Files or The Iron Druid Chronicles will likely enjoy this series.

©2014 AnneMarie Buhl (P)2014 AnneMarie Buhl

Short and enjoyable

This a short and enjoyable ride. I went in expecting a mediocre diversion and ended up with a couple of yours of great entertainment. it's not Kate Daniels but if you are jonesing for a decent female lead and solid world building this story is perfect.

Review Justice Calling: The Twenty-Sided Sorceress

I have listed Annie Bellet's book as a five star. It is short (compared to my usually 10-20 hour books), it is intriguing and simple to follow. The story has its complexity but at the end of a days work it is an enjoyable fantasy that doesn't strain my brain. I finished it feeling good. Folly Blaine keeps the characters alive and brings the performance into life.

Hidden Leaf among the trees

If you could sum up Justice Calling in three words, what would they be?

Sharp, tough and romantic. The main character, Jade Crow, has personality plus. She's been on her own for a while, and she's chosen to hide in a town that has a super helping of extraordinary people -- in the hope that her magic will be unnoticed. She's had it rough, but it hasn't filed away her ability to care. When the new Justice comes to town...well, now that would be telling too much of the story.

What other book might you compare Justice Calling to and why?

Patricia Briggs Alpha and Omega books. Patty Briggs characters also have that tough exterior with heart of gold, and crisp portrayal of personable characters. Bellet's writing brings the reader just a little bit closer to the street -- moderately farther away from fantasy.

What does Folly Blaine bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Folly Blaine does an excellent job of interpreting Jade's expressions and attitude. Because the book is written in first person, this is perfect.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

One red-gold leaf, trying to hide among green trees.

Any additional comments?

She looks at the Justice and thinks his lips are kissable? Really? Foreshadowing is cool, but that seems just a tidge bit over the top -- after all, at that moment he is thinking about imposing consequences. That is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. Otherwise, very fine writing, super plot, believable characters and some fun references to gaming culture. Loved it.

An Unexpected Pleasure!

Would you listen to Justice Calling again? Why?

Yes Just to get every ones names right in my head, I loved the story and hope she writes a book two, It was well written and well preformed. Do you help your friends or run and help your self, how much magic is too magic to draw attention to yourself? Will this little spell trip the scales and alert the bad guys or will the scale alert the bad guy. Do you use just enough magic to save yourself or will the little extra to save your friend be to much? So many questions and the only answer sometimes is to push forward and find out.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Justice Calling?

Spoiler Alert********************* When she decides she has reached the crossroads and she just slams her arm into the bad guy and eats his heart to get the knowledge to save every one. I didn't expect that.

Which character – as performed by Folly Blaine – was your favorite?

jade- I liked all her gamer lingo to deal with how her magic worked. That she was brought up on D and D only doing with really magic. That she used a 20 sided die as her totem, I just thought it was cool. I loved the way

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I wish I had that kind of time instead it took me two night, because I fell asleep the first the first night and but finished up the next night,

Any additional comments?

It is a great story with a lot if imagination and a fun story urban fantasy story,

Fun Nerdilicious Story Well Narrated

A perfect mixture of geek culture, magic, action and romance. And the narrator found that perfect balance between acting out the scenes while allowing me to fall into the story and forget someone was narrating it. She captured the emotions and mood of each moment perfectly.

Fantasy by a Gamer, For Gamers

Justice Calling is the first volume of the Twenty-Sided Sorceress, an urban (or rural?) fantasy series following Jade Crow, a sorceress with some dark secrets hiding out in a small town running a gaming shop. While the story itself is typical of what we're used to in Urban Fantasy, Bellet does a solid job of creating a protagonist that listeners will be happy to listen and relate with. There's excitement, sexy mysterious strangers, friendship, and geeky humor. It was perhaps a bit easy conflict-wise, and I expected the gaming component to be more necessary, but it was such a brief adventure it didn't detract too much from my listening experience.

Folly Blaine's smooth, casual voice nails the characters and atmosphere of the story. It's like an open invitation, just begging you to sit and listen, and I was happy to comply.

I enjoyed this bite-sized story, and thanks to the agreeable protagonist and Blaine's narration, I'll be coming back around for another adventure soon.

good ya story

from the reviews I thought this would be a good romance and it was for a ya or an story. narrator was good.

A fun new twist on the contemporary sci-fi Genre!

This was a fun little novella on the science-fiction fantasy contemporary series. The fun part was all the modern contemporary gamerand pop culture references! The downside: the book was just simply too short!

great book!

i loved the story line az a gamer and fantasy reader....and female. a story of deciding what you need to vs want to do...and protecting friends with a minior romantic sub plot. i am hoping she writes more in the series!!

Loved the story

Can't wait to hear the next book! Was skeptical about this book, but glad I purchased it! Hope the next books are as good!

Good book

Just too short. Lots happening in a small space. Interesting spin on magic and magical creatures.

Short but Fun

It's not often that I read a book that takes less than half a work day. The fact it is so short means there is little time for character development outside of the main character, and little mystery in the plot. However, it's a good ride, solid urban fantasy, if a little basic. I have no major complaints and provided the sequel can be bought as cheaply as I got this one, then I will continue on with the series.

Great series

This is a great original series. I look forward to the complete series in audiobooks. The book finished far too quickly and the story could be expanded. I expect this to down to a newish writer as the content of the story could be easily twice as long.
You get a great feel for the characters and their interactions. I liked how she ended the book/story leaving you wanting to read the next but not feeling as if she's cut the story in half.

Worth a read

Annie Bellet seems a very young writer but with experience has the ability to succeed.