Leads & Lynxes

Terra Haven Chronicles #1

by Rebecca Chastain

Be careful what you ask for...

Kylie got into journalism to write important stories. Ones about gargoyles and dryads, elemental warriors, and thwarted magical attacks on her city. The bigger the story, the better. So when she lands the opportunity to ask an enchanted everlasting tree for the answer to any question she desires, she doesn't have to think about it. She wants the story of a lifetime.

So does her nemesis, Nathan. If anyone is going to write a high-profile story, the senior journalist believes it should be him-and Nathan's not above playing dirty to get his way. Kylie must work fast or risk losing control of her story.

But with every new lead forcing Kylie and her gargoyle companion, Quinn, deeper into a deadly maze of murder, warped magic, and monstrous beasts, rushing could prove fatal. Kylie is determined to publish her dream story, but she is beginning to wonder...will she survive long enough to write it?

USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Chastain returns to the beloved world of the Terra Haven Chronicles for a brand-new spellbinding adventure of elemental magic and courageous gargoyles. If you love action-packed stories filled with mythical creatures, brave heroines, and adorable sidekicks, you'll love Leads & Lynxes!

"If you haven't read anything by Rebecca Chastain yet, then you are missing out on one highly creative author." -Kam's Place

THE NOVELS OF TERRA HAVEN READING ORDER

TERRA HAVEN CHRONICLES

Deadlines & Dryads (prequel)

Leads & Lynxes

Headlines & Hydras

Muckrakers & Minotaurs

GARGOYLE GUARDIAN CHRONICLES

Magic of the Gargoyles

Curse of the Gargoyles

Secret of the Gargoyles

Lured (a newsletter-exclusive novella)

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy

350 pages, Paperback

First published November 9, 2020

About the author

REBECCA CHASTAIN is a feminist, animal advocate, and nature devotee. She believes empathy is a hero’s trait and love is a motive, an inside job, and a transformative energy that shapes each person’s world. She is the USA Today bestselling author of the Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles series, the Terra Haven Chronicles series that begins with Deadlines & Dryads, and the Madison Fox urban fantasy series.

FULL LIST OF SERIES







STANDALONE



BOX SETS

[bc:A Fistful of Magic|56651668|A Fistful of Magic (Madison Fox #1-3)|Rebecca Chastain|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/comp...

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Be careful what you ask for...” couldn’t have been a better lead in to this fun, supernatural adventure from Rebecca Chastain! LEADS AND LYNXES was filled with action, humor, danger and that attitude that Ms. Chastain is so good at getting across through her characters.

If you love heroines who sometimes look before they leap, have a heart as big as the Grand Canyon and the determination to “make it on her own,” you are going to love Kylie! This young woman accidentally lives life on the edge, or should I say, just over the edge far too often, thank goodness she has her gargoyle Quinn, who is a star in his own right. Then there is Grant, the super-hot, super macho law enforcement officer who sets Kylie’s blood boiling. Could there be a mutual attraction?

As Kylie strives for a the perfect story for her editor, not only could her secrets be revealed, but she will be caught up in a deadly game of murder, monsters and mayhem, all because she made a wish…and set the bar for promises to be a fabulous new series!

Fun reading that never lets up from start to finish! Highly recommended!

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Rebecca Chastain! This is my honest and voluntary review.

Series: Terra Haven Chronicles - Book 1
Publisher : Mind Your Muse Books (November 17, 2020)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Print length : 322 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Dominique · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

1st read - September 2018 (Beta read)
2nd read - November 2020 (Final published version)

Thoughts after beta reading:

Leads and Lynxes is the second story (but first full length novel) in Rebecca Chastain's Terra Haven Chronicles series starring reporter Kylie who made regular appearances in the Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles books.

Full disclosure, I beta read this story for the author because she knows I'm a such a huge fan of this world but that hasn't affected my rating. Kylie has always been a brilliant character and I'm loving her spin off series so far, this world is interesting, I love the elemental magic, the gargoyles are all fantastic & I enjoy how many different weird and wonderful magical creatures we're getting to meet.

I'll be rereading this when a finished version has been published so I'll write a full review then but if you enjoyed the first story in this series or are a fan of the Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles then you're going to love everything about this book!

[Rebecca Chastain]

If you enjoyed my Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles novels, you'll love this new adventure! And if you've never heard of my Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles novels, you can jump right into Leads & Lynxes and start the new trilogy without any confusion.

Get Leads & Lynxes today!

Now available as an audiobook, too!

SERIES EXTRAS

A story can take many different directions, and Leads & Lynxes didn't always begin as you read it. If you're interested in the story that almost was, check out this blog post.

Leads & Lynxes is an alternate history fantasy. You might not have noticed, since it isn't the focus of the novel, but I do enjoy sneaking in some real-world people from time to time. Check out my sneakiness in the blog post "3 Real-World People Hidden in Leads & Lynxes".

If you're interested in more stories featuring Kylie and Quinn, check out the Terra Haven Novels Behind the Scenes extras page on my website. There you'll find:

*"The Once-in-a-Lifetime Question," a short story that takes place after the events in Deadlines & Dryads, and before the events of Secret of the Gargoyles.

AVAILABLE FORMATS

Leads & Lynxes is available in ebook, audio, and print.

For signed copies, email rebecca@rebeeccachastain.com.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Rebecca Chastain's Gargoyle Guardian Chronicle series featuring Mika Stillwater and was so excited to learn that a series spinoff had been created featuring Mika's roommate, journalist Kylie Grayson. It felt good to step into their world again, a world in which elemental magic and gargoyles exist.

Of all the questions a person could ask an enchanted everlasting tree, I was surprised by Kylie's. At first. You really have to know Kylie though to understand the nuances of such a question. She doesn't want to live under the shadow of her parents, wanting to make her own way in the world. Journalism is her calling. Yes, she's ambitious, and combine that with her desire to do good and expose the bad, she really wants to make a difference. Kylie is tenacious and smart. She also has good instincts, and does well under pressure in tight situations.

And Quinn, Kylie's gargoyle companion! Who wouldn't love a character like Quinn? He's loyal and probably would be cuddly if he weren't made out of stone. I adore him (and all the gargoyles really).

I always enjoy reading about the Federal Pentagon Defense warriors in action. The elite squad is very good at what they do--resourceful and well-trained. This time readers get to spend more time with the team leader, Grant Monaghan (and Kylie's crush). He's very good at his job, and it is no wonder he is in charge. It is evident he cares about his squad. Then there is Seradon, who I hope to see again in future books. I imagine she has quite the backstory.

Leads and Lynxes is a mix of mystery and fantasy, with a good dose of action and a hint of romance. This is the first full-length novel set in and around Terra Haven, and I appreciated being able to spend more time there. I really like the world the author has created, especially the characters. I was most fascinated by the Lunacy Labyrinth, both it's history and current state. There were back to back tense moments when I caught myself holding my breath. It is a wonder anyone got out of there alive!

I haven't had the chance to read the prequel novella Deadlines and Dryads yet, but you can bet I will. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I have enjoyed everything I have read by Rebecca Chastain so far and would definitely recommend this one as well as her other books. Besides, gargoyles!

[Rebecca Chastain]

If you enjoyed my Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles novels, you'll love this new adventure! And if you've never heard of my Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles novels, you can jump right into Leads & Lynxes and start the new trilogy without any confusion.

Get Leads & Lynxes today!

Now available as an audiobook, too!

SERIES EXTRAS

A story can take many different directions, and Leads & Lynxes didn't always begin as you read it. If you're interested in the story that almost was, check out this blog post.

If you're interested in more stories featuring Kylie and Quinn, check out the Terra Haven Novels Behind the Scenes extras page on my website. There you'll find:

*"The Once-in-a-Lifetime Question," a short story that takes place after the events in Deadlines & Dryads, and before the events of Secret of the Gargoyles.

AVAILABLE FORMATS

Leads & Lynxes is available in ebook, audio, and print.

For signed copies, email rebecca@rebeeccachastain.com.

[Lynne Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I'm hooked. I can't wait for the next one!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kylie Grayson has a debt that’s now come due, but with warped magic and a deadly labyrinth now surrounding her, she might not live to pay it off.

Journalism plus magic plus mythical creatures. I couldn’t resist. I mean, I don’t think I’ve stumbled across a fantasy where the main character is a journalist. Then again, I tend to turn more towards the epic high fantasy. But this one sounded like a lot of fun and full of adventure. And I was so right! Despite a somewhat slow start, it really picked up fast and it was so easy to just keep going.


The Plot: A Breathless Adventure

In the prequel Deadlines & Dryads, which isn’t strictly necessary to read the first book of the series, junior journalist Kylie Grayson ended up making a deal with a pretty scary harpy in order to keep her life. Now the harpy has come to claim the answer to her question: will Kylie obtain a rock called the Chiefmaker?

Unfortunately, the harpy declines to tell her its located in an until now warded off area called Lunacy Labyrinth. Once a settlement where the residents performed blood magic, and were then twisted because of it, it’s become a seriously dangerous and deadly place. But, with a mysterious murder stumping law enforcement, including a certain Captain Grant Monaghan, that’s lead back to the labyrinth, the ward is now down, and the harpy wants her treasure.

While clashing with the undeniably attractive Captain, Kylie has to keep her wits and her life in order to make it out of Lunacy Labyrinth to be out of the harpy’s debt. But there are murderers using blood magic out there…

The story starts out innocently enough with Kylie and a senior reporter at an everlasting tree about to bloom. Once the tree blooms, everyone around it makes a wish and is granted a seed that will guide the questioner to the answer as long as they follow the clues it provides. It’s probably the slowest part of the book, but likely sets up the rest of the series, which I can’t wait to read more of.

The rest of the book felt more fast-paced and Kylie never really manages to catch her breath. There’s both a lot of threads coming together and a fairly straightforward story. It moves in a very linear fashion that almost cries for all the action and adventure surrounding every moment of the story, but it really made me focus on the characters, the danger they were in, and the story of a group of people just trying to solve a murder and survive. I loved how all the layers worked together and complimented each other. Most of all, I loved how they were actually integral to the story and never forgotten, but, instead, added to the book.

I loved that they were never really clear of danger. There was always something popping up around the next bend. There was always something happening. It was almost a breathless adventure. But it also kept its focus. The characters never lost sight of what they were there for, and the seeds carried their own thread throughout the entire story, never forgotten and nicely advanced. Sometimes intense, sometimes funny, sometimes horrifying, it really swept me up and I raced to finish it to find out how it turned out.


The Characters: Fun and Well-Crafted

The prequel isn’t necessary to understand and enjoy Leads & Lynxes, but I really liked that it was a fun introduction to the main characters and their relationships. By the time I finished the prequel, I was ready and waiting to be sent Leads & Lynxes. The characters were a lot of fun and I loved how they worked together, or not.

Kylie is spunky and dogged when she catches the scent of a story. She actually reminded me of a somewhat more cautious Nancy Drew. Willing to do everything necessary to track down the story of a lifetime, she actually really is focused on doing something good for society. She’s also not afraid to wander into danger, though she doesn’t always know she is. Still, she remains poised and ready to help however she can. I really liked her and admired her bravery and loved just how human she felt.

Then there’s Quinn, her companion gargoyle. He’s young and almost feels a child, but is hopelessly devoted to Kylie, making her feel incredibly protective of him. Yet he also had his fun, and funny parts, offering some comic relief while also admirably performing his job. He’s clearly much more than a companion and I adored how close he and Kylie are.

Grant Monaghan is set up early on as Kylie’s love interest, though they easily bristle and nettle each other. They never seem to know quite which foot they stand with each other, but they still manage to remain professional. As a, essentially, law enforcement character, he’s very rigid and stern, but has a surprising soft and warm side. He’s a perfect balance and I adored all of his subtle cues, the little things that said so much about both him and what he might be thinking.

Overall, all of the characters, from the bloodthirsty murderers to Kylie’s professional rival to Grant’s team, are wonderfully crafted. They’re unique and interesting and I feel like they have lives of their own off the pages. While some of them did blend together a little too much, it was just because they weren’t seen much. I liked how a manageable number of characters was introduced, but wasn’t overwhelming because the nature of the story focuses the reader down to a handful, though I hope to get to know them better in future books. Also, I loved the lynxes. They were fabulous and had so much character.


The Setting: A Perfect Blend of Fascinating and Scary

Most of Leads & Lynxes is set in Lunacy Labyrinth, but the reader also gets a nice peek into Terra Haven and a chaotic camp around the everlasting tree. Each of them had it’s own unique flavor and character. The labyrinth was indeed crazy, and more than a little scary. Terra Haven felt like a city taken from a traditional fantasy novel and then had a healthy dose of modern big city mixed in. The camp was a little crazy, but, as a reader, I could almost feel the anticipation thick in the air as beings from all over traveled for the chance to ask a question.

I was delighted by Terra Haven in the prequel and was hoping to see more of it in this novel. While I might have been disappointed, Terra Haven still managed to charm me and felt both familiar and foreign in a really lovely way. If I could, I think I’d like to take a trip over.

Once Kylie was dropped in Lunacy Labyrinth, I figured most of the book would take place there and was slightly disappointed as I had hoped for a more adventurous adventure. There were so many secrets, so many literal twists and turns. I both wanted to get out and to explore more. It’s haunting and terrifying, but also so incredibly well-crafted.


Overall: Offers a Little of Everything

I haven’t read any of Rebecca Chastain’s novels before, and there is another series set in Terra Haven, but I was impressed with this novel and adored the characters and Terra Haven so much that I can’t wait to read the next book. The characters, the world, and the story worked so well together. The relationships were fun, and the one between Kylie and Quinn is just so sweet. Leads & Lynxes is an excellent start to the series, offering adventure, magic, friendship, a truly spunky heroine, and a hint of romance.

Thank you to the author, Rebecca Chastain, for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Alexia Chantel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Terra Haven Chronicles: feeding my love of those stone monsters that all began with the animated television series Gargoyles!!

I've said it before and I'll say it again—there needs to be more books with gargoyles in them! Which is why I was ecstatic to learn that Chastain was beginning another series within her Terra Haven world! We met Kylie in the Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles, but if you're unfamiliar—no worries. You'll be swept up in Kylie's story and the magical world she lives in from page one.

Full review at
Reading Between the Wines Book Club

[Amanda Meggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gargoyles are wonderful and I want one! The world building is excellent, Terra Haven is very well described but then the journey home from the tree gives a real feel for the distances involved. All the characters both good and bad, even the minor ones have interesting natures, down to the receptionists at the shipping companies. Another small but important thing I found is that our protagonist gets tired, minor injuries hurt, etc because it irritates me when that doesn't happen in books.

I'm happy that there is a follow-up story as it definitely feels like there is a need for it. I'm thinking that Saradon might need her own too.

[Sharon Squires · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Another brilliant story by Rebecca Chastain. I thought the prequel was awesome, but this book was even better! I love everything she writes. Well fleshed out characters, plots full of details that make visualising the story easy, characters to love and to hate. Can't wait to read the next one...

[Leslie Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not disappointed with this book!

I waited anxiously to learn more about Kylie and Quinn. Quinn is the most perfect companion. Every time I read more about him I'm more in love with him. Kylie sometimes goes off half cocked but there is never a dull moment. Grant is still an undecipherable character. Does he care for Kylie, is she just a pain or is it just the dangerous situations they share? Yes, Nathan is still the bane of her existence. I am so excited for the next one, too.

[M.A.SPRIGGS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable book

I loved the Gargoyle Chronicles and was unsure about this spin off series. However I really enjoyed this book. It still features the same characters but from the best friend and reporter Kylie's point of view. Fast paced with action packed storyline which makes it hard to put down. A great new series. Highly recommend.

[Elaine Esan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you GoodReads Giveaways for Leads & Lynxes. Thank you Rachel Chastain for the personal note with the book.

I really enjoyed the book. It was fast paced and humorous. I loved Kylie. She is such a strong,comical, down to earth woman.

The search for the murderer intertwined with firebirds and seeds was brilliant. Numerous times, I put the world on hold while I continued reading about Kylie's adventures. I am eagerly await Deadlines and Dryads.

[Cynthia J. Petrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

I enjoyed the characters I met and felt for them as they worked their way through the trials they faced.

[Joy Ki`Ili · Rating 5 out of 5]

Careful what you wish for

A fast paced tale of fighting for ones place in the world and facing the judgement of those around you. Kylie & Quinn once more find themselves in life or death situations and struggle to get through unscathed. Kylie's true heritage is revealed and now she must find a way to restore her peace.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this universe. This was another good romp. Looking forward to the next!

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

The heroine being a reporter makes her hard to relate to, for me. A lot of her thoughts and choices just kind of exhaust me. Once the adventure got going mid-book, it became very entertaining.

[Cherry Mischievous · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Thoughts:

The world building has been established a long time ago with Deadlines and Dryads and the Gargoyle Guardian Omnibus. The compelling story telling quality is brought over to this book as well! But best of all, there wasn't much of the "too stupid to live" (tstl) bullshit that was in the other books by this author! (Hooray!!)

This might be labeled as book one but I wouldn't recommend starting this series with this book though. Deadlines and Dryads is the actual start of this series. I would recommend starting there because there are events there that is mentioned in this book which a reader would not understand if he/she hasn't read that book first.

Beltane Zipporah plays a significant role in this book and this is the best harpy image I could scrounge. So, there we are, the harpy!! And like the other books, this one also ended in a cliffhanger. I wouldn't really call it that much of a cliffhanger, really. The plot did end in this book which is more than I can say about the other books by Rebecca Chastain. Plot building is not her forté! However, she did well with this one. Kudos to the author!!

This is my first Cindy Kay listen and I like the way she reads. Her voice is also not aggravating to the ears. I especially like the way she makes Quinn sound young and cute.

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4
World building = 5
Cover art = 5
Pace = 4.5
Plot = 4
Narration = 5

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

[Dapper · Rating 2 out of 5]

A promising start to the book with a great concept- ambitious investigative reporter in a magical world.

Unfortunately it took me too long to realize this story wasn’t going to go anywhere. There is little in the way of shedding light on how the world works. They’re trapped in a labyrinth filled with warped magic the whole time so you don’t learn much and don’t meet any characters aside from the love interest as the only person there is promptly whisked away by the enemy. With only pets to create deviations, the story quickly becomes bland and repetitive; walk through cave>find anomaly>get hurt>repair wounds while flirting. No rinse, just repeat.

I was promised some competition from a rival reporter and instead got a single passing conversation where it seemed the MC was simply overreacting.

Engaging UF is hard to find so I give a lot of books a chance, bummed this series failed to hold my interest.

I will say the writing is good, it’s smooth and doesn’t call attention to itself in a way that might distract from the story.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read - I enjoyed it a lot. Familiar characters, and characters who are well developed and consistent. They're not infallible, their adventures aren't unreasonable, and they make mistakes/behave stupidly from time to time. They lie ("white lies"). In other words, they're human. I look forward to the next book in the series.

************** Spoiler alert **************

The biggest problem with the book is the addition of the lynxes. While the author did make a gallant attempt to justify their inclusion, it's fairly obvious that the reasoning for having them along is to hide the real reason they were included - to, by their magical ability to punish someone when they tell a lie, both provide information on and help with the development of the relationship between Kylie and Grant.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining

Kylie's Adventure in book 1 was entertaining, but Nathan's character was seriously getting annoying. Grant is not as interesting to read about. The prequel to this was more interesting to read. Hopefully book 2 improves.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. :)

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked the story. Enjoyed the book. author was quite wordy at times. Occasionally had to scan a page or two and move on.

[Beth Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

I am so glad to find out that there are more books in this series! I look forward to finding out what happens next!

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars?

[Kathy Floyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great new series!

Magical and terrifying at the same time. Once I read the first book I had to have the second. I haven't enjoyed such a magical journey with as many heart stopping moments in a long time. I'm so looking forward to the third book in the series!