Speakeasy Dead A Roaring Twenties Paranormal Comedy eBook Vicky Loebel
Download As PDF : Speakeasy Dead A Roaring Twenties Paranormal Comedy eBook Vicky Loebel 
200 pages
Speakeasy manager Clara Woodsen will do anything to save her silent film idol from an untimely death. Even summon a demon. Even bet she can teach his half-human/half-cheetah assistant to foxtrot. But people around town are acting strange. Have Clara's efforts unleashed a zombie plague? Or are her customers just really bad at dancing the Charleston? And can a career-minded woman find happiness with the man of her dreams if she uses her...brains?
All Bernard Benjamin wants is a quiet life. At least as quiet as possible for a young college man possessing a golem housekeeper, five demon-summoning witches for cousins, and a dance partner who has not only two left feet but two right feet as well. Bernie is used to being his cousin Clara's stooge, but when the chips are down, he knows they'll back each other one hundred percent. So why has Clara tied him up in a pentagram? And what's she doing with that sharp, pointy knife?
.
Also available in audiobook format read by award winning authors Nick Podehl and Emily Beresford.
Speakeasy Dead A Roaring Twenties Paranormal Comedy eBook Vicky Loebel
I read the sample for this book not because I needed to but because I wanted to. It was calling to me because I wanted to visit the Hellfire Universe again. I had already read Keys to the Coven, which I really enjoyed and is set in the same world as this prequel so I already had some familiarity with this world. I was also a little curious about the zombie element of the story. Zombies are not a favorite of mine, but based on my previous experience with this author's work, I had a feeling these zombies would be the kind I wouldn't mind reading about. So I thought I'd read the sample just for a taste to satisfy me until I could get back to it. Well, it was like trying to eat just one potato chip. I couldn't stop and had to keep reading. So here I am. I didn't mean to read this book right now, but I did and when it was over I wanted more potato chips, dammit!Speakeasy Dead is a prequel story set in the same world as Keys to the Coven including the Falstaff Ninepin Fellowship (which also houses a coven). It is set in the past during the era of Prohibition. Clara Woodsen, who comes from a family of witches, tries to save her beloved Beau Beauregard, a famous film star, from an untimely death by summoning a demon to make a deal. Of course, as the Girl's Guide to Demons clearly points out (from Keys to the Coven):
"By now, if you've followed the instructions set out in this guide, you've formed a beneficial relationship with a demon. The question remains: whose benefit?"
Thus starts this humorous and engaging romp involving an enterprising newbie warlock, a cousin prone to fainting, a dashing but devious demon, a somewhat narcissistic zombie film star, a formidable golem housekeeper, a genie with two left feet, and a Zorro-esque ghost. Throw in some mobsters, some hooch, and a speakeasy dance contest to round it all out.
I enjoyed all the characters in this story. There is quite a varied bunch of them. They all just jumped off the page for me and felt well-rounded. One of my favorite minor characters was a little boy who fancies himself a cub reporter and doesn't quite get all his words right to humorous effect. Gladys the golem was interesting as well, but I wish her golem nature was more prevalent in the story. I would like to have seen what she could really do considering even a warlock is hesitant to tangle with a golem. The one disappointment I had with a character was Ned Aimsley, but not because I didn't like him. It was because I did like him even though he had very little page time in the story. At one point there seemed to be some hint of romantic promise between Ned and Clara but it ended up going nowhere.*sigh*
Speakeasy Dead is told through the alternating POVs of seventeen-year-old Clara Woodsen and her cousin Bernard "Bernie" Benjamin, who is a few years older than Clara but acts like Clara's sidekick. The POV switches with each chapter. I actually really like dual POV that is done like this so it worked for me. Just like in Keys to the Coven, each chapter starts out with an epigraph, but given the dual male/female POV, Clara's chapters start with a quote from The Girl's Guide to Demons and Bernie's chapters start with a quote from The Boy's Book of Boggarts. I liked the epigraphs from Keys better, but I still enjoyed the ones in this book and looked forward to reading them at the beginning of each chapter.
Besides the characters, one of the things I really enjoyed about this book was the humor. I laughed out loud several times. Bernie's dry wit was delivered with a style that - I think - is representative of the P.G. Wodehouse inspired element of the story. I haven't read P.G. Wodehouse so I can't say for sure if this is the case, though I believe I understand the gist of those books.
There were some aspects of the zombie plague that didn't make sense to me and I thought a big plot hole was looming in the distance, but I had a feeling that everything would come together at some point and it did. On the other hand, there were a few other aspects of the story I questioned concerning what happens to the ankh that houses Luella's swashbuckling spirit guide; something that Ruthie (the genie) says and does that seemed contradictory; and something that happens to Bernie. All of which I can't discuss without giving away spoilers. Looking back on these scenes, I can probably see an explanation for some of it. The author's writing style tends to lean toward letting the reader figure some things out on their own, but some of it was a stretch for me.
On a personal note, there is repeated reference to Narcisse Noir perfume, which is the signature scent of Luella, Clara's best friend. This happens to be my mother's favorite perfume. I was gobsmacked when I saw it mentioned. Maybe it was a popular scent back in the 1920s (it has been around since 1911) but it's not exactly well known or easy to find off the shelf these days. I couldn't believe it actually came up in the story. It gave my reading experience a little extra something that I could connect with on a personal level.
If you are looking for a classic zombie story with all the associated gore à la The Walking Dead, then this book probably isn't for you, but if you want a zombie story that is more lighthearted with more humor and less braaaaiiiinnns, then you might be interested in this one. Though I think a reader might appreciate some elements of the story more if they read Keys to the Coven first, it is not completely necessary. How karma works and the relationship between warlocks and demons, etc. are touched on and I think it is explained enough for the story to make sense but there is also a glossary included that describes a lot of these things.
I found Speakeasy Dead to be a well written story with great characters and dialogue, good plotting, unexpected twists, and witty humor that kept me engaged and entertained. I didn't want to put this book down and would have jumped into the next book if I hadn't read it already. I'm really looking forward to the next story based in the Hellfire Universe. I just wish I knew when it was coming out and what it would be about...
Cover Art: Though I really like the cover art and it elicits the 1920s era, it doesn't really scream urban fantasy or humor. It looks more like a 1920s mystery.
Word Count: approx. 58,000 (Short Novel)
Kindle locations: 3311 (story text ends at 88%)
Print Length: 199 estimated pages
Ebook includes a Table of Contents, Glossary, and excerpt from Keys to the Coven
My tags: paranormal, urban fantasy, zombies, demons, witches, warlocks, speakeasy, prohibition, witty humor, mobster, 1920s
Honest review requested by author - review copy obtained on my own during a free promo)
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Speakeasy Dead A Roaring Twenties Paranormal Comedy eBook Vicky Loebel Reviews
I'm not a romance reader, but this was just fun.
The characters are well developed and quirky enough to be believable.
If you're willing to believe in a demon, witches, zombies and a genie.
The plot bounces around with a nice reveal at the end.
It took me a few starts to warm up to the twenties' lingo, but once I got into it, 'Speakeasy Dead' swept me away! I love-love Bernie. His personality is so different, so wonderful, so...just like the foppish dandies lounging under the trees, having a picnic where all the food is booze. He's a wonder!
In fact, all the characters were fresh. None of that pesky moralistic behavior to slow down the action. Old fashioned demonic tricksters, twists in the plot, unexpected guests, ZOMBIES! So much fun!!
Can't wait to read more by this author.
Speakeasy Dead is an unusual love story painted with historically accurate details against the backdrop of Prohibition during the Twenties. The evocative imagery reveals scenes ranging from the dark depths of a coven basement to the sparkling opulence one might expect to find in Gatsby. With its witty dialogue and amusing characters, this piece is a fitting tribute to P. G. Wodehouse. This book showcases Vicky Loebel's talent for creating interesting and appealing characters, and for intertwining those characters with the evolving plot. I loved every minute of reading it. I laughed a lot and could not put this book down until I reached the end.
Let's just call this book what it is - Brilliant! Speakeasy Dead is full of humor, the subtle intelligent kind, and it is a fast paced read with witty characters that are absolutely endearing. Vicky Loebel is a writer I greatly admire because her writing reads effortlessly. This was my first time reading anything zombie related but I picked it up because I enjoyed Loebel's other book, Keys to the Coven, so much. I surprised myself by how easily I could slip into the world of zombies and demons, witches and warlocks, so I can only imagine how much other readers who like anything zombie related are going to love this. Read it. You're in for a treat.
This is a fun romp though a universe that runs on hell fire (which is not quite what you think) and karma. The writing style is often laugh-out-loud funny and the dialogue is delicious. The plot is wickedly twisted, the historical details convincing, and the characters are charming, sinister, and/or unpredictable in all the best ways. The lengths a fan will go to to get her idol to like her do not usually include getting him fresh brains, but a girl in love has to do what a girl has to do. I'm not usually a fan of zombies. but Vicky made me a believer.
What a fun read! Set in the Roaring 20's in Falstaff, Arizona during prohibition, a young lady decides she will become a warlock by calling up a demon to say her beloved silent film star Beau Beauregard. Clara is more successful than she thinks. Now Beau is a zombie attached to her. How does she keep him from making more zombies?
I laughed so hard while reading. It was fun! I loved the pictures that were painted by Ms. Loebel's words. She has a delightful way of putting prose on paper. Her use of words and phrases was wonderful. I'll read her again just to see how well she does it again.
I loved these characters, Clara and Bernie. I also enjoyed that the story was told from each one's point of view. Beau and Hans were great as foils to Clara. The secondary characters were colorful as well. Lots of undercurrents run through Falstaff. I cannot wait to read more of this town and its characters.
Think of the romantic comedies of P. G. Wodehouse, and toss in bootleggers, zombies, witches, warlocks, ghosts, demons, and sex. Not too much sex, though, PG-13 or so, and just a little bit of goriness. Zombies, after all. The humor is excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I read the sample for this book not because I needed to but because I wanted to. It was calling to me because I wanted to visit the Hellfire Universe again. I had already read Keys to the Coven, which I really enjoyed and is set in the same world as this prequel so I already had some familiarity with this world. I was also a little curious about the zombie element of the story. Zombies are not a favorite of mine, but based on my previous experience with this author's work, I had a feeling these zombies would be the kind I wouldn't mind reading about. So I thought I'd read the sample just for a taste to satisfy me until I could get back to it. Well, it was like trying to eat just one potato chip. I couldn't stop and had to keep reading. So here I am. I didn't mean to read this book right now, but I did and when it was over I wanted more potato chips, dammit!
Speakeasy Dead is a prequel story set in the same world as Keys to the Coven including the Falstaff Ninepin Fellowship (which also houses a coven). It is set in the past during the era of Prohibition. Clara Woodsen, who comes from a family of witches, tries to save her beloved Beau Beauregard, a famous film star, from an untimely death by summoning a demon to make a deal. Of course, as the Girl's Guide to Demons clearly points out (from Keys to the Coven)
"By now, if you've followed the instructions set out in this guide, you've formed a beneficial relationship with a demon. The question remains whose benefit?"
Thus starts this humorous and engaging romp involving an enterprising newbie warlock, a cousin prone to fainting, a dashing but devious demon, a somewhat narcissistic zombie film star, a formidable golem housekeeper, a genie with two left feet, and a Zorro-esque ghost. Throw in some mobsters, some hooch, and a speakeasy dance contest to round it all out.
I enjoyed all the characters in this story. There is quite a varied bunch of them. They all just jumped off the page for me and felt well-rounded. One of my favorite minor characters was a little boy who fancies himself a cub reporter and doesn't quite get all his words right to humorous effect. Gladys the golem was interesting as well, but I wish her golem nature was more prevalent in the story. I would like to have seen what she could really do considering even a warlock is hesitant to tangle with a golem. The one disappointment I had with a character was Ned Aimsley, but not because I didn't like him. It was because I did like him even though he had very little page time in the story. At one point there seemed to be some hint of romantic promise between Ned and Clara but it ended up going nowhere.*sigh*
Speakeasy Dead is told through the alternating POVs of seventeen-year-old Clara Woodsen and her cousin Bernard "Bernie" Benjamin, who is a few years older than Clara but acts like Clara's sidekick. The POV switches with each chapter. I actually really like dual POV that is done like this so it worked for me. Just like in Keys to the Coven, each chapter starts out with an epigraph, but given the dual male/female POV, Clara's chapters start with a quote from The Girl's Guide to Demons and Bernie's chapters start with a quote from The Boy's Book of Boggarts. I liked the epigraphs from Keys better, but I still enjoyed the ones in this book and looked forward to reading them at the beginning of each chapter.
Besides the characters, one of the things I really enjoyed about this book was the humor. I laughed out loud several times. Bernie's dry wit was delivered with a style that - I think - is representative of the P.G. Wodehouse inspired element of the story. I haven't read P.G. Wodehouse so I can't say for sure if this is the case, though I believe I understand the gist of those books.
There were some aspects of the zombie plague that didn't make sense to me and I thought a big plot hole was looming in the distance, but I had a feeling that everything would come together at some point and it did. On the other hand, there were a few other aspects of the story I questioned concerning what happens to the ankh that houses Luella's swashbuckling spirit guide; something that Ruthie (the genie) says and does that seemed contradictory; and something that happens to Bernie. All of which I can't discuss without giving away spoilers. Looking back on these scenes, I can probably see an explanation for some of it. The author's writing style tends to lean toward letting the reader figure some things out on their own, but some of it was a stretch for me.
On a personal note, there is repeated reference to Narcisse Noir perfume, which is the signature scent of Luella, Clara's best friend. This happens to be my mother's favorite perfume. I was gobsmacked when I saw it mentioned. Maybe it was a popular scent back in the 1920s (it has been around since 1911) but it's not exactly well known or easy to find off the shelf these days. I couldn't believe it actually came up in the story. It gave my reading experience a little extra something that I could connect with on a personal level.
If you are looking for a classic zombie story with all the associated gore à la The Walking Dead, then this book probably isn't for you, but if you want a zombie story that is more lighthearted with more humor and less braaaaiiiinnns, then you might be interested in this one. Though I think a reader might appreciate some elements of the story more if they read Keys to the Coven first, it is not completely necessary. How karma works and the relationship between warlocks and demons, etc. are touched on and I think it is explained enough for the story to make sense but there is also a glossary included that describes a lot of these things.
I found Speakeasy Dead to be a well written story with great characters and dialogue, good plotting, unexpected twists, and witty humor that kept me engaged and entertained. I didn't want to put this book down and would have jumped into the next book if I hadn't read it already. I'm really looking forward to the next story based in the Hellfire Universe. I just wish I knew when it was coming out and what it would be about...
Cover Art Though I really like the cover art and it elicits the 1920s era, it doesn't really scream urban fantasy or humor. It looks more like a 1920s mystery.
Word Count approx. 58,000 (Short Novel)
locations 3311 (story text ends at 88%)
Print Length 199 estimated pages
Ebook includes a Table of Contents, Glossary, and excerpt from Keys to the Coven
My tags paranormal, urban fantasy, zombies, demons, witches, warlocks, speakeasy, prohibition, witty humor, mobster, 1920s
Honest review requested by author - review copy obtained on my own during a free promo)
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