Fractured Souls

Fallen Messengers, Book 1

By: Ava Marie Salinger

Narrated by: Alex Kydd

When Cassius Black moves to San Francisco for a fresh start, the angel's hopes of staying below the radar of the supernatural organizations that oversee the otherworldly and magic users in the city are dashed when he stumbles across a dead body in the sewers. His grim discovery soon puts him in the sights of the Argonaut Agency and Francis Strickland, the bureau director who knows his darkest secrets.

Morgan King and his team of Argonaut agents have been on the hunt all summer for the culprits behind a series of gruesome killings that have rocked the city. Killings that bear sinister hallmarks of human sacrificial rituals where the victims' souls have been stolen. When Fate puts Cassius in Morgan's path, he realizes the angel everyone likes to call The Devil may very well be the only person who can help them track down the murderers.

Morgan and Cassius soon find themselves crossing paths with a mysterious warlock whose actions evoke disturbing echoes of an incident from Cassius's past. Cassius and Morgan must work together to defeat their common enemy and save the city from destruction, all while fighting their growing attraction.

Contains mature themes.

©2021 Ava Marie Salinger (P)2022 Tantor

Angels, Demons, Witches and Wizards

Fractured Souls is the first book of this new urban fantasy series that I’m starting to love.

Cassius, the lone wolf, misunderstood & ostracized angel moved to San Francisco to start over. His latest gig lead him to the start of a new chapter of his life.

This book, I’d say, is a great introduction to the world of this new series, where “other beings” be it magical, demonic, angelic coexist with humans. They also have bureaucratic structures. Quite fascinating. I can’t wait for more of this series.

Great series

Cassius is such a darling. I loved that he considered this bad boy angel all because of his wings. Him being super powerful is icing on the cake for me. He carries himself so well. He knows that the world hates him, but he doesn't try to change their opinion of him or cower. He is an angel with a heart of gold, who befriends the creatures others don't.
Morgan is a hoot! I was happy with the misdirect we were given when it came to him character. He seemed like he was gonna be a douchbag, but he isn't. He tries hard to give everyone a fair shot. His instant attraction/connection with Cassius was hot.
This story is great in showing a different side to the whole angels and demons coming to Earth. It was interesting to read how their appearance on Earth caused quite a stir and how they weren't welcomed at first. I consider this vol to be more of an intro to the world and to main plot and master villain. We get little hints at who our main players are but not the full picture. It is set up nicely that you can't wait for vol 2 to see what more we can learn.

Love Morgan 🫶🏾

I really liked the world building in here. There’s obviously a lot that we don’t know, but the author gives us enough to understand what’s going on and what’s important while still leaving us wanting more. I love all the characters though I know there will be more so keeping track of all of them will be difficult. I sort of dislike how lustful Morgan and Cassius relationship is right now, but hopefully they develop a more romantic relationship.

Good!

Another book that I kept putting off, but really enjoyed once I started! This is a new to me author and I’m definitely continuing with the series. There is a lot of action and danger. Although billed as slow burn, Cassius and Morgan had a ton of chemistry and started getting it on fairly soon - not within the first few chapters, but sooner than I’d expect for a book labeled as such. There is a good cast of supporting characters that didn’t feel like cutouts and I loved Loki.

The narrator was good and pleasant to listen to.

Absolutely amazing

When I first read this book, it absolutely blew me away. Cassius and Morgan are two of my favorite supernatural characters now. I love the whole world the author has created and the way they have written this series has made it one of my new favorites. Alex Kidd did a great job of bringing these guys to life. I can’t recommend this enough!

good story. on to the next one

Only problem was the unexpected and sudden changes in volume. one minute normal conversing, next eardrum shattering eyeball popping loudeness.

solid aside from a few notable moments

main characters: “the villain used reaper seed? but that’s illegal”
me, the reader: “yeah, imagine a villain doing something illegal. that never happens…”

Oh wow!

Absolutely throughly brilliant! Loved the world building and descriptiveness of this tale! An incredible and unique story with angels and demons of different types. Great steamy scenes. I'm looking forward to listening to book two!

Holy Crap, How didn’t I find this sooner???

It never ceases to amaze me, even after scrolling through goodreads or on various groups that recommend books - that books that are this good get overlooked!

After being in a book slump after catching up on another series I was desperately looking for another series to listen to on audio and I am SO glad this was recommended! How I never came across it sooner since it is exactly the kind of book I love, is beyond me!

I’ve read many books that put their own twists on the urban fantasy and supernatural world, but this really does feel unique in its approach! (I don’t think I’ve felt this excited about an urban fantasy universe since the Soulbound series by Hailey Turner if I’m being honest.)

I love that we are experiencing this mystery almost backwards, in figuring out what happened hundreds of years ago only through fractured memories, while still experiencing a thrilling present day plot!

Morgan and Cassius are also such great characters, and the chemistry and sex is freaking steamy af… and the AUDIO… omg. I’ve listened to enough audiobooks that I usually don’t feel too hot under the collar during sex scenes - but Alex kydd’s narration 100% made me flush SEVERAL times! So stoked to keep going with this exciting series!

Angels and Demons Fight Together

Really interesting premise. Salinger utilizes Catholic mythology, richly steeped in human history with names and stories of beings from heaven, hell, and purgatory. She sets her tale in a future apocalyptic world where a “fall” releases a tableau of otherworldly beings into the human plane of reality. It’s a fight to save the world and human souls from a demented chaotic sorcerer wherein angels, demons, and magically able beings combine their abilities. Good narration, good story, and a well developed lead-in to the next book in the series.