A Wicked Chance

Paranormal Adventure Chronicles (Urban Fantasy)

Fiction - Fantasy - Urban
220 Pages
Reviewed on 09/15/2020
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Anna Flakk lives a stone throw away from the polar circle and consumes large quantities of sci-fi, horror, mystery, and paranormal.

She studied psychology and then moved on to zoology when she got her first kid. Anna is a horrible cook, a killer of indoor plants, and a cat lover with a dream to entertain people with her stories.

Anna runs on coffee. When she is not writing, she attempts to retain her sanity while growing fruit trees and veggies, renovating her fortress, and raising three energetic versions 2.0

    Book Review

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

A Wicked Chance by Anna Flakk is the first book in the urban fantasy series, Paranormal Adventure Chronicles. Samantha “Sam” Unam Clark has forged her way to New York City despite the loud protestations of her father and is trying as hard as she can to keep her footing in the Big Apple. The murder of her mother is the driving force behind her dogged pursuit of achieving her dream: to work as an investigator for the New York Police Department. Having lost the job that will pay her rent, and her rent securing the apartment she needs to meet the NYPD's residency requirements, she turns to a loan shark to get her through until she can find a new job. There are those who joke that if you can make it in New York you can make it anywhere, but for Sam, it all comes down to her ability to get to Hell and back—literally. “I'm not gonna lie, Mickey is a soul sucker. It would be my last step, but hey, if you need some and can pay it back real quick, he is your man.”

When I initially picked up A Wicked Chance by Anna Flakk, I was kind of ambivalent about what might come from its pages. Worldbuilding is tough enough for a seasoned author, but good underworld building by a debut novelist is improbable at best. I need not have been doubtful because Flakk crafts her characters and their shifting, tenuous worlds with vivid imagery and enough black comedy to make a reader push forward at a fiendish pace. Sam is frequently sarcastic and always on the verge of the next catastrophe. She is a complex protagonist with simple goals, she is incredibly relatable and authentic even as she's surrounded by all things demonic and paranormal. Flakk's other characters are given equal attention and I loved the character of Death. Yes, for real. Death. And she's a woman! Odin also makes a special appearance and you will be pleased to know that Hell has a management office, so it's not all bad. Seriously though, this is a fantastic book that I have no doubt will parlay into an even better series. The story does end on a cliffhanger, so be prepared to wait a bit for the next installment. I think it'll be worth the wait.

Rabia Tanveer

A Wicked Chance: Paranormal Adventure Chronicles is an urban fantasy by Anna Flakk. There was a time when Sam’s biggest concern was to become a detective and find the sorry excuse for a human who killed her mother. However, that all changed when she lost her scholarship, lost her job, and to rub more salt into her wounds, she was about to lose her home as well. The only way to save herself was by taking money from a loan shark, but even then, she almost got robbed. Almost, because an angel saved her. So, she made a plan to find that angel, ask what it wanted, and move on with her life. However, nothing had ever worked her way so why would it now? Angels were good, right? But was it an angel after her or was it something more sinister?

Oh boy, was I surprised by the turns the story took and how effortlessly the plot progressed. Sam was a perfect character and I loved her grit, her charming personality, and the way she decided to face challenges head-on. The mystery behind her “angel” was brilliantly handled by the author. It had enough drama and intrigue to grab my attention. The pace of the story was fast, yet not so that I was left with whiplash. The reader got to see Sam grow, mature, and develop into a fine protagonist who faced challenges she never even thought she would. She was smart, calculating, and too observant for her own good. I had to admit, the final few chapters and the ending surprised me. I absolutely loved A Wicked Chance! I cannot wait for the next part in the series to see what Anna Flakk has in store for Sam.

Tammy Ruggles

A Wicked Chance: Paranormal Adventure Chronicles by Anna Flakk is an emotionally-charged urban fantasy novel about one young woman's second chance and her quest for justice, in spite of her intense fear of failure. Yes, she has secret doubts along with her plan to become a detective in order to find her mother's killer. Even her worried dad can't hold her back from her pursuit. Samantha is her name, Sam for short, and she has already lived once. Now in her second life, and assisted by a demon, she is out to complete her quest. She is driven forward with a single purpose and her laser-like focus and determination sustain her.

Flakk has created a highly entertaining work of fantasy and suspense that hooks you from the beginning with the character of Sam most of all, at least for me, and then the appearance of the otherworldly being that keeps following her around. Even though you know Sam's mission, you are still both on edge and pleasantly surprised at the events that unfold. There are colorful characters and even some funny lines that can make you laugh out loud. At first, this story reminded me of the movie City of Angels but then took a U-turn into a life of its own. The dialogue is fresh, the plot well-paced, the world-building clever, and the overall story is so readable you'll be finished before you know it, and will want even more. Bravo to A Wicked Chance by Anna Flakk. It's an intriguing jump into the afterlife.

Risah Salazar

Samantha Clark's luck could not get any worse. She's an aspiring young adult who wants to be part of the police and get into the NYPD to learn more about her mother's death. But after losing both her scholarship and her job, with her dad not wanting to help her, she is forced to resort to illegal means to get some money and get on with life. Things start to get a teensy bit brighter for her, that is until a stalker in a costume pushes her to her limits and even takes her life. At least that's what she believes. With her soul now in a different and even terrible dimension, can Sam still find out what happened to her mom?

Anna Flakk's A Wicked Chance is a mix of crime, suspense, fantasy, and paranormal fiction. It has an engaging start that pulls readers in. With fluid storytelling and compelling language, the story proves to be curious and easy to follow. It has a fast pace and with every turn of the page, there is always a surprise that makes the heart race. All of these hold true for the first arc but, sadly, after Sam dies, the level of entertainment is not maintained. The next arc is a complete turnaround from the premise, and while it's not bad, it does bring an entirely different feel. Despite the abrupt changes, A Wicked Chance remains a good read. It is perfect for fans looking for an adventure with unexpected twists.

Trisha Dawn

Anna Flakk’s A Wicked Chance: Paranormal Adventure Chronicles is about a college student named Samantha who dreams of becoming a detective one day. Growing up without knowing what happened to her mom, Samantha pursues her dream of becoming a detective to find who killed her mom. She goes to school in New York against her father’s wishes. However, she loses her scholarship and job and does not think things could get any worse. She is proven wrong when she later finds herself in a terrifying situation that takes her life. After being judged wrongly and sent to hell, Samantha then makes a deal with a demon in order to navigate through the afterlife and find out what happened to her mom. Will she be able to survive the horrors of hell?

A Wicked Chance has a plot that is purely focused on adventure. It is a well-written book characterized by constant change. Anna Flakk creates a world that is both interesting and brilliant. Samantha’s discoveries and her journey in the afterlife are extraordinary to read. Her character left quite an impression on me after she showed how courageous and strong she is, despite the complicated circumstances she was in. Her dedication, even in the afterlife, was something I wished I had. The storyline was quite unexpected for me which made it even more exciting, and each character had a unique but incredible personality that made it easy to relate to them. A Wicked Chance: Paranormal Adventure Chronicles held my attention and interest with its great plot and unexpected revelations. I can’t wait to read the next book and find out what happens to Sam!