The Colbana Files Boxed Set: Prequel and Books 1-3

Colbana Files #0.5, 1-3

by J.C. Daniels

Bladed A Colbana Files PrequelFor the first time in her life, Kit Colbana’s life was going just fine. Then she finds herself tangled up with a green-eyed witch by the name of Justin. He’s looking for somebody and for some bizarre reason, he seems to think she can help. All she has to do is say no, and she can go back to her safe little existence. That’s exactly what she needs to do and she knows it. Too bad she’s not very good at following her own advice. Book 1: Blade SongKit Colbana—half breed, assassin, thief, jack of all trades—has a new track down the missing ward of one of the local alpha shapeshifters. It should be a piece of cake.So why is she so nervous? It probably has something to do with the insanity that happens when you deal with shifters—especially sexy ones who come bearing promises of easy jobs and easier money.Or maybe it’s all the other missing kids that Kit discovers while working the case, or the way her gut keeps screaming she’s gotten in over her head. Or maybe it’s because if she fails—she’s dead.Book 2: Night BladeKit Colbana has a knack for finding trouble. This time, though, trouble finds her.People on the Council are dying left and right and she’s been requested to investigate the deaths. The number one suspect? Her lover, Damon. If she doesn’t clear his name, he gets a death sentence. Even if she succeeds? They still might try to execute him. Oh, and she’s not allowed to tell him about the case, either.The stakes are higher than they’ve ever been. Kit may be forced to pay the ultimate price to save her lover’s life…a price that could destroy her and everything she loves.Book 3: Broken BladeKit assassin, thief, investigator extraordinaire. Now broken. Haunted by nightmares and stripped of her identity, she’s retreated to Wolf Haven, the no-man’s land where she found refuge years before. But while she might want to hide away from the rest of the world, the rest of the world isn’t taking the hint. Dragged kicking and screaming back into life, Kit is thrust head-first into an investigation surrounding the theft of an ancient relic…one that she wants nothing to do with.Forced to face her nightmares, she uncovers hidden strength and comes face to face with one of the world’s original monsters. If she survives the job, she won’t be the same…and neither will those closest to her.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy

975 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 5, 2015

About the author

I read, I write and you can find more about me here at my other author name...

Shiloh Walker

My professional bio:

J.C. Daniels is the alter ego of author Shiloh Walker. J.C./Shiloh has been writing since she was a kid. She fell in love with vampires with the book Bunnicula and has worked her way up to the more...ah...serious works of fiction. She loves reading and writing just about every kind of romance. Once upon a time she worked as a nurse, but now she writes full time and lives with her family in the Midwest. She writes urban fantasy, romantic suspense and paranormal romance, among other things.

Reviews

[Angela]

2 December 2015: $1.99 on Kindle - this is for 3-full length, and 1-novella in this series!

[Carolyn F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boxed set-Omnibus. 4.25 stars average

Bladed Magic. Short story about a girl/woman who was trained as a warrior by it seems like psychos and tries to make a life for herself after escaping. This is the beginning of her journey. Good. I hope my library has more of her books. 4 stars

Blade Song. Kit is kind of forced into taking a job that she knows is going to be a whole lot of trouble. Really awful parts in the book - not awful writing, but awful events. I wonder what's going to happen next. 4 stars

Night Blade. Oh my gosh, what a freakin' sad ending. It's just awful! I really hope that the next book in the series has things turn out better. Great book, just really sad. 5 stars

Broken Blade. Really good story. I'm hoping there is a 5th story because I can't wait to find out what happens in Wolfs Haven. 4 stars.

[Heather Sabian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the box set which included the first 3 books. The reason I read all 3 is because is was $1.99 for the kindle addition. You get what you pay for.

First let me say I hated Damon from the beginning. When I started reading the first book I knew where it was going. The heroine hooks up with the hot, controlling asshole that constantly insults her while at the same time making her fall in love with him. If it wasn't for Kit's cool weapons and skills I would have stopped reading but then I only paid two bucks for three books so why not? Predicably Kit falls for the bag of dicks and he marks her, telling her that it's a permanent bond. Then the second book things take a bad turn and suddenly the bond is no longer permanent? Kit is tortured in the second book and adding to the abuse from her childhood ends up with a case of PTSD. So what does bag of dicks do? He stalks her,howls, and throws tantrums while her friends do their best to keep him off her. The third book she starts to pick up the pieces and it seems clear that the fourth book (which I will not be reading) will be the re-union of this abusive relationship. The writing is very repetitive and the action is mostly skipped over and talked about later. Instead of reading about a fight you hear the characters briefly talk about it later. I would give the series 2 1/2 stars.

[Wendel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh... The grammar errors and the constant repetition put me off. As some other reviewers have said: “you get what you pay for”. This boxed set (e-book) was dirt cheap.

[BonnieL · Rating 3 out of 5]

J.C. Daniels (aka Shiloh Walker) is, without doubt one of the better storytellers in Fantasy fiction. While her books are often slow to begin and, unlike other fiction series, not do not immediately flow smoothly from the last page of the previous book into the new one (thereby requiring her readers to exert some effort to determine the sequence of events between the two titles) it is worth the wrinkled brows and "what the heck is this" annoyance to read a captivating story. There should, however, be some kind of warning about "triggers" in some of her books, particularly #2, which is dark, emotional and may upset some readers.
However, despite what other reviewers have said, the heroine and "hero" are not on a par with Briggs' Mercy Thompson, Hunter's Jane Yellowrock or Illona Andrews' lead characters in her various series. I found the hero in this series to be stilted, one-dimensional and in strong need of a good kick to the behind.
The other major problem with this series, which caused me to deduct a star from my rating, is the inexcusable spelling, grammatical errors and sloppy or non-existent copy editing/proofreading. The author thanks her beta readers - she has a publisher - and none of them caught this stuff? This was consistent throughout the books in this set. While the series actually moved me to buy the remaining 3 titles in the series (something I never do) I suspect the other books probably have the same problems - doesn't the author have the same grammar functions on her computer that keep trying to correct my writing?
It's the 21st century - her readers deserve better when the fix is so simple and economical.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly good series, loved all of it. Enjoy the writing style and the story, I always enjoy strong heroines and Kit certainly is.

The fact she managed to build her life back together after the abuse at Jude's hands is testamount to that strength (yes I know it is fiction).

Need to get the next book in the series now.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable Urban fantasy series ... I like Kit's character and the others in the story are interesting and relate-able. There is so much pain and heartbreak in Kit's story but also hope for redemption, and this made these three books an engrossing read.

[Danan Kay Lievens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best series

One of the best series out there. Great characters. Wonderful plots. Relationships are realistic, heartbreaking and endearing. If you don't read the Colbana series, you are truly missing out.

[Stoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still just as good the second time around and now I can read the next three!!

[Nora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such mundane writing. so many editing errors.