Mini Reviews of New Releases- Deadlocked & Tricked

Today I'm going to review a few adult newer releases that I thought I could share just a few of my thoughts on.  These are later in series but I think the reviews are pretty spoiler free if you haven't yet read them.  These are not typical reviews as I haven't included the descriptions and they are quite brief.

Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse #12) by Charlaine Harris

I love the Sookie Stackhouse books.  It's like a visit home each time I read one and it's one series I anticipate each Spring with the coming of the new release.  While I know many have felt disappointed in the direction of the series in the past few books, I haven't.  Yes, Sookie seems to be growing a bit more callous and world weary with all she's been through, but I still love her and love getting immersed in her world with each book.  I don't know where I want things to go, but I love that with each book I'm shocked with things that happen and don't even see certain things coming.  I do know that what I want for sure is for Sookie to have a happily ever after.  But I would definitely be okay if these books just kept coming out each year for the next 20 years.  Even if all we're reading about is Sookie's day to day I would look forward to each moment I spend with her.  So as the series winds down I find myself cherishing each and every second that I'm able to get involved in this most fantastic world that Charlaine Harris has created.

Tricked (The Iron Druid Chronicles #4) by Kevin Hearne

Another most-anticipated book of the spring.  I absolutely have fallen head over heels for this series.  It's so creative and so fun and I just love going on this crazy ride that we're sent on with each book.
While Atticus is in many ways a typical guy, he's a guy that knows just a bit more than the average guy since he's been alive for many hundreds of years and is a very powerful Druid.
I really love his inner voice and how he manages to be funny even when in life-or- death situations.  His dog, Oberon, who he's able to 'talk' with is also hilarious and there are many, many LOL moments in these books.  But there are also a lot of intense moments as it seems Atticus just keeps getting into more trouble.
In this book he's starting to realize that maybe he shouldn't have taken on some things he did as things are just a bit too out of control.  It seems like everything has a domino effect and he's constantly stuck having to help out someone else which ends up putting him on another 'persons' sh*tlist.
I'm definitely anxious for more as I'm most definitely 'hooked' on this series!

Disclosure:  These are books I purchased and the opinions expressed are my own.  I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Review: The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper

The Impossible Cube (Clockwork Empire #2) by Steven Harper

Mass Market Paperback, 380 pgs.

Published May 1st, 2012 by Roc

Source: Publisher

In an age where fantastic inventions of steam and brass have elevated Britain and China into mighty empires, Alice Michaels faces a future of technological terrors…

Once, Gavin Ennock sailed the skies on airships and enchanted listeners with his fiddle music. Now, the clockwork plague consumes his intellect, enabling him to conceive and construct scientific wonders—while driving him quite mad. Distressed by her beloved’s unfortunate condition, Alice Michaels sought a cure rumored to be inside the Doomsday Vault—and brought the wrath of the British Empire down on them.

Declared enemies of the Crown, Alice and Gavin have little choice but to flee to China in search of a cure. Accompanying them is Dr. Clef, a mad genius driven to find the greatest and most destructive force the world has ever seen: The Impossible Cube. If Dr. Clef gets his hands on it, the entire universe will face extinction.

And Gavin holds the key to its recreation…

This is the second book in a series but the author posted a brief chapter in the beginning about "The Story So Far" so that those who needed a reminder or who hadn't read the first one knew what was going on.  I really liked this because then there wasn't a ton of back story presented through out the book to remind us and cut down on the parts that might bore those that did remember the previous book quite well.  I hope this is something that authors (and publishers) do more of in the future because I thought it worked well.  

I loved the first book in this series and felt like this was an excellent follow-up.  I'm a huge fan of Steampunk but this is definitely one of my most favorite series of the genre.  I feel like it's completely unique and the Steampunk inventions are completely awesome but the characters are also ones I could connect with and enjoyed reading about.  The action was non stop and putting the book down was rather difficult as it felt like they were in constant peril.  But it was such a fun and crazy ride!   

If you're considering giving Steampunk a try I really feel like The Doomsday Vault was a great book for beginners.  It never felt overwhelming like some Steampunk does with all the fabulous and crazy inventions.  The world wasn't so over the top but yet lent a unique perspective of things.  Somehow the author made zombies something that doesn't seem so hard to imagine without making it a plot point that takes over the story.  The Impossible Cube was a bit heavier in the Steampunk aspect (at least that's how I feel) but never was too heavy for my tastes.  I'm not one that has to understand how everything works though and if I was I may have felt a bit confused because I honestly do not understand all the crazy inventions (like the impossible cube) and how they really work.  

I have to point out that this series may have crossover appeal to more mature YA readers as well.  There's some cursing but honestly there's not really anything in the book that I haven't read in YA books.  And adult fans of historical or alternate history historical as well as Steampunk (of course!) should most definitely give this series a try.

5/5 stars!

Disclosure:  I received this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Review: The Taken by Vicki Pettersson

 

The Taken (Celestial Blues #1) by Vicki Pettersson

Paperback, 400 pgs.

Expected Publication June12th, 2012 by Harper Voyager

 He’s a fallen angel. She’s a rockabilly reporter. Together they must solve a deadly string of murders plaguing the mortal and the immortal worlds.

Griffin Shaw used to be a PI, but that was over fifty years ago when gumshoes hoofed the streets . . . and he was still alive. Now he’s a Centurion, an angel who assists other murdered souls through their journey to the afterlife. But while Shaw might be an angel … he’s no saint. Haunted by the mysterious events surrounding his own death, he seizes a chance to wreak some vengeance when he witnesses a deadly attack on journalist Katherine “Kit” Craig.

Joining forces, the unlikely avengers take to the streets, hunting a killer whose trail of bodies stretches across Las Vegas and into an immortal netherworld. It is a dangerous trek that lead them into the darkest corners of Sin City and into the heart of an evil conspiracy extending beyond the lights of the Strip that could destory them both.

But destruction isn’t the only threat Griffin faces. The closer he gets to Kit, the more he finds himself bewitched by her mortal charms. Can he resist falling under her spell? And does he want to?

This one was a bit slow at times but I enjoyed the storyline and the characters were good though they didn't quite WOW me. I loved the rockabilly aspect (that's people who live like they live in the 50's) and it added a bit of uniqueness to the story. Overall it was an enjoyable read and I will definitely continue the series to see where things go.
3/5 stars
Disclosure:  This book was provided for review purposes, all opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Review: Darkness Calls (Hunter Kiss #2) by Marjorie M. Liu

Darkness Calls (Hunter Kiss #2) by Marjorie M. Liu
Adult Urban Fantasy
Mass Market Paperback, 303 pgs.
Published June 30th, 2009 by Ace
Source: Purchased

Demon hunter Maxine Kiss, inked with living tattoos, is on a mission to rescue the man she loves from a bloodthirsty army. To save him, Maxine has only one choice: to lose control-and release her own powers of darkness.

Yikes!  So many crazy emotions come from this one.  Some good and some bad and all very strong!  I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster while reading it and it wasn't all good...

 I like Maxine.  I like her strong backbone, her strength that she fears she's losing or doesn't have enough of.  I love that even when a voice tells her to not grow close to anyone she doesn't listen.  She needs people and I don't think she'd survive on her own.  Although, she always has her faithful companions,  the 'boys'.  The 'boys' are tattoos when it's daylight and they are little dragon like things at night.  They are her protection.  They are her best friends. They are everything to her.  And they are the best part of the story.  Zee is the only one that can talk but they are all smart as in they understand language and all that.  They are like steel when on Maxine's body.  She can be hit by a bus and not be harmed.  When they are off her body at night they are fast and they can protect her from nearly everything.  They can eat anything (knives, guns, etc). 

Grant is Maxine's boyfriend.  In the first book he wasn't as important but he was there and I saw the love they had for each other.  In this book we see much more.  We find out more about Grant and his power and who he is.  And he's pretty freaking amazing.  I love that he's just part of her, there's no struggle in their relationship other then Maxine being afraid she's going to get him killed cause she's a target for demons and other such things.  Grant is also different as in he's not some kick ass dude.  He's of a gentle nature and all about saving everyone he can.  He's got a bum leg and walks with a cane.  He's a great character, I seriously love him.

The romance wasn't a focus in the story, it just was.  They love each other and every time they were together we really feel the connection.  There isn't any sex or anything.  But just the gentle kisses when they feel like they are going to drop dead or thought they had lost the other, etc were perfect.  I really liked how it was done in a way that made it not a focus but yet so important.

This book takes place all over the world.  Lots of traveling through space and landing in weird places. Home is Seattle, but they spend very little time there in this book.

It has constant action with no break.  Incredibly stressful and they are nearly killed over and over again.  Weird and twisted and extremely twisted things after them.  Very gruesome and gory scenes.   It was so constant as far as the action goes that it was actually too much.  I needed things to slow down a bit.  It seemed like every page Maxine nearly dies.  


The book was very dark.  I like there to be some lightness, some humor thrown in my urban fantasy,  and this doesn't have that.  Zee and the other boys (her tattoos, protection, etc) did put a smile on my face a few times as they are just adorable (even though they are suppose to be really scary, their mannerisms just made me smile) but other then that there wasn't anything to lighten things up.  Well, I guess the love between Maxine and Grant lightens it a bit, but not enough.  


 I have a lot of mixed emotions about this book.  I really love the world building and concept.  I like the characters and the plot is good but I really wish it was just a bit lighter and the action was toned down a bit.  I love, love, love Zee and the other boys though.  Overall it was a good read, I think I'll just take a bit of a break before I pick the next one up.


3/5 stars

Review: Hand Me Down by Melanie Thorne

Hand Me Down by Melanie Thorne
Hardcover, 308 pgs.
Published April 12th, 2012 by Dutton Adult
Source: Publisher

A tough, tender, debut novel, in the tradition of Dorothy Allison and Janet Fitch, Hand Me Down is the unforgettable story of a girl who travels between California and Utah in search of her true family, having never been loved best of all.

Fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Reid has spent her life protecting her sister, Jaime, from their parents' cruel mistakes. Their father, who'd rather work the system than a job, pours every dollar into his many vices, denying his daughters the shoes and clothing they need. Their mother, once a loving parent, is going through a post-post-adolescent rebellious streak and finds love with a dangerous ex-con. When she chooses starting a new family over raising her first-born girls, Elizabeth and Jaime are separated and forced to rely on the begrudging kindness of increasingly distant relatives.

A string of broken promises that begins with Liz's mother swearing, "I would never hurt you, Liz. You're family," propels her between guest beds in two states searching for a safe home. All the while, Liz is burdened by her stake in a bleak pact with a deceitful adult: to tell the truth about the darkest of her circumstances will cost her the ability to shelter Jaime. As Liz spirals into the abyss of fear and shame that haunts her sleepless nights, can she break free from her bonds in time to fight for her life?

Thorne writes with a command of language that is at once affecting and enticing. Her debut is the kind of voice-driven reading experience fiction lovers crave.

I didn't put a label on this review as young adult or adult because this is one of those books that I kind of feel shouldn't be labeled.  It's not an easy read (though not hard either...) and wouldn't be appropriate for many young adults.  But the characters are young adults and it's a story that I feel lots of YA would benefit from reading.  Just beware, there is adult content in language used (cursing, talk of sex and crude comments).  I think any child raised in foster care (for example) would maybe find a real connection with the book and understand Liz quite well.  While Liz never goes in foster care she is shipped around and never really feels wanted or loved.  

Okay, this book was pretty fantastic.  I thought it would be one I'd only read just a little at a time because it's somewhat heavy reading but the second day I picked it up I ended up reading the whole thing.  It sucked me in and I totally and completely ached for Liz and her horrible horrible situation.  I wanted to reach in  and strangle the idiot adults who kept hurting her!  I really just wanted to see a happy ending.  And I was satisfied with the turns the book took and really liked that Liz found her strength and ability to move forward.  I also felt the author threw in enough positive that it kept the book from feeling too depressing.  I even giggled a time or two. 

There's a bit of jumping around in the book as Liz has memories of things and this is how we learn her full story from before.  The stuff her mom went through with her drunken father and other experiences that led to the now.  And while I like this technique I did find myself a little lost once or twice because I wasn't for sure it was a memory or happening right then.  But most of the time it was obvious and so it's not really a big deal, but I guess it was a minor issue I had.

Overall this was a fabulous book that felt absolutely true and real.  The thing is, there are so many kids that go through things like this.  Not the same situation exactly, but I just think of all those foster kids.  They live totally unstable lives and I can imagine that they feel very unloved and unwanted.  I just want to scoop them all up and hold them close.  I can't do that, but I can try to be the best mom I can be to my own kids and I think this book made me realize that I am a good mom, but I want to be an even better mom.   


I very highly recommend this book to adults (especially mothers) as well as teens that can handle a heavy read with adult content.  Beware, it's not all easy to read but it certainly stirs up those strong emotions.


4/5 stars


Disclosure:  I received this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

 

Review: Glamour in Glass by Mary Robinette Kowal

Glamour in Glass (Shades of Milk and Honey #2) by Mary Robinette Kowal
Reading Level Adult/ though it's clean and would be appropriate for a young audience 
Hardcover, 336 pgs.
Published April 10th, 2012 by Tor
Source: Publisher

Please note this is the second in a series and the description as well as the review may have slight spoilers for the first book.

Mary Robinette Kowal stunned readers with her charming first novel Shades of Milk and Honey, a loving tribute to the works of Jane Austen in a world where magic is an everyday occurrence. This magic comes in the form of glamour, which allows talented users to form practically any illusion they can imagine. Shades debuted to great acclaim and left readers eagerly awaiting its sequel. Glamour in Glass continues following the lives of beloved main characters Jane and Vincent, with a much deeper vein of drama and intrigue.In the tumultuous months after Napoleon abdicates his throne, Jane and Vincent go to Belgium for their honeymoon. While there, the deposed emperor escapes his exile in Elba, throwing the continent into turmoil. With no easy way back to England, Jane and Vincent’s concerns turn from enjoying their honeymoon…to escaping it.Left with no outward salvation, Jane must persevere over her trying personal circumstances and use her glamour to rescue her husband from prison . . . and hopefully prevent her newly built marriage from getting stranded on the shoals of another country's war.

Shades of Milk and Honey was one that totally blew me away.  I have a hard time reading Jane Austen because of the length and the many descriptions and I feel that the author has brought us a new version (it's a new story and everything) that is nice and easy to read.  The comparisons to Jane Austen are that it's in her style,  she uses the words that Jane Austen used and tries to avoid using any words that weren't in existence at that time and the writing feels like Jane Austens as well as it's the same type of story that she wrote.  But it's much faster and easier to read. And Mary Robinette Kowal, the genius, has added magic to the picture!

Now don't get any ideas that this is full of constant action or anything, but I felt like it moved at a good pace.  Yes, sometimes things went a bit slower as Jane and Vincent learned new glamural techniques, etc, but I never felt bored at all.   And in fact I am surprised that I comprehend so much of the magical stuff.  You see magic is pulled from the ether and is made into things that everyone can see.  People can glamour their sofa to look newer, they can glamour a painting to look better, they can create a fish tank with fish that appear to be swimming around.  They can even use glamour to appear invisible.  It's quite a remarkable thing and the fact that I can imagine it and it seems like it could be real means that the author did a brilliant job in describing how it's done without boring me!  HUGE props to her for that! 

This book takes place in Belgium rather then in England (other then the very beginning) and I appreciated the change in scenery.  Also the manners over there are quite different from those in England and you really see how stuffy those British could be at that time.  Most of the book is about Jane and Vincent learning some new techniques and then Jane discovering her own MAJOR discovery!  It's not until the last quarter that the real  action happens.  Now the description tells you but for those who don't want to know I'm not going to say what this action is, but it definitely added to the story quite a lot and made me love Jane even more!

This is a clean read and while it reads for adults being as the characters are adults, it would work as a crossover for young adults who may enjoy the classics like Jane Austen or are interested in historical fiction books.  I very highly recommend you pick this series up and give it a try!

4/5 stars

Disclosure:  I received this book for review purposes and all opinions expressed are my own, I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Review: A Tale of Two Goblins by H.P. Mallory

This is what I'm going to start doing for my adult reviews of books that are later in a series (first in a series will be a more full length review).  Because I don't want it to be spoilery for the previous books in the series I won't include descriptions and I'll be vague about plot points.  Mostly talking about character development and if I'm happy with how the series is turning out. 
 
A Tale of Two Goblins (Dulcie O'Neil #2) by H.P. Mallory
Adult Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal Romance
Kindle book,
Published March 21st, 2011
Source: Purchased

I read the first book over a year ago but then my ereader broke before I got a chance to read the second one.  So as soon as I got a kindle this was the first book I started reading on it.  And I was very glad to be transported to Dulcie's world once again.

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Dulcie.  I like her and I think she's totally kick ass and is about the best friend a girl could have, but she can be a bit annoying with her determination to not fall in love with any man.  I just wish she would stop being so determined to say no!  But on the other hand some of the men are a bit forward with her and that would be kind of annoying after awhile as well.  Overall the romance aspect of the book wasn't really my thing even though I can say I totally think the romantic interest is H.O.T.  I just needed them to do it already!  I do think that the next book may make me happier in the romance department though.

 I really enjoyed the mystery and while there weren't really enough clues to really figure it out it was fun watching it all unfold.  And stressful because your just waiting for something horrible to happen.  But somehow these books aren't dark and scary, Dulcie definitely lightens them up and keeps them fun even when horrible and scary things are happening.

H.P. Mallory is a great writer and I'm anxious to read more by her.  I love the world she's created in this series and am curious how her other series is.  I'll definitely be continuing this series as well, I'm dying to see where things are going to go now!

3/5 stars

Double Review: Black Night & Black Howl by Christina Henry

Because I don't want to spoil you for the previous book in the series I'm not including the description and the review won't contain spoilers for the previous book.

Black Night (Madeline Black #2) by Christina Henry
Adult Urban Fantasy
Mass Market Paperback, 277 pgs.
Published July 2011 by Ace
Source: Purchased

I really enjoyed the first book in the series.  It started off with a bang and had continuous action through the entire thing.  It was an incredibly fast read that I cruised through in a matter of a few hours.  This one was the same.  Maddy does not get a break!  She's constantly having one battle after another and risking her neck every other hour.  I read this book in less then a day, it's quite short and very fast.

Maddy has to make lots of decisions at the drop of a hat that could be life or death.  It can be frustrating because if someone is trying to kill Maddy then she should kill them right?  Especially if they just keep coming after her again and again.  The thing is if she kills them then she has to 'pay' for that 'persons' (demon, whatever he/she may be) death.  That could be in many different ways.  She could be killed in retribution, she could have to complete a favor which could turn out to kill her because it's basically impossible, it's just hard to know.  But I have to give this girl props cause she does what she has to do and doesn't take crap from anyone.  It was like she's gone through so much, she has just survived so much crap that she just say "F- you, you can't do any worse then what's already been done".  Yeah, maybe she's a bit compulsive which isn't always smart and is sometimes frustrating, but I love this girl!  She actually reminds me a bit of Rachel Morgan (by Kim Harrison, love that series!) in her personality. 

This is an adult series and actually is quite gruesome.  There's lots of body parts laying about, death by beheading, etc.  Yeah, I don't love that stuff but I love the rest of this book so much that I can kind of ignore all that stuff.  There's not much romance in this one.  We know of feelings going on, but nothing really happens romance wise in this book.

Overall this is a fantastic series so far and I highly recommend you pick it up!
4.5/5 stars

Black Howl (Madeline Black #3) by Christina Henry
Mass Market Paperback, 288 pgs.
Published Feb. 28th, 2012 by Ace
Received for review from the publisher

Someone told me before I started this one that 'it's a doozy!' and oh my goodness were they right!  This was definitely the most emotional of the books so far and had some major surprises pop up and took me unawares.  I loved the books before but this one just stepped it up another notch, I absolutely loved it!

Madeline is just as kick ass as before and isn't really afraid of anything.  Or I suppose I should say that her fear doesn't hold her back because no matter what she'll always do the right thing and save the people that need saving.  She's not afraid to kill when she absolutely needs to (but never humans) and stands up for those she cares about even at detriment to herself.

Beezle, her gargoyle, is the funny one, throwing in some much needed humor when situations are tough and/or downright scary.  I truly appreciate the lighthearted banter thrown in that livens these books up so they never feel depressing or even truly dark. 

The romance steps up a notch in this one but along with that romance comes some truly sad events that I can't even hint at without spoiling the books.  As a matter of fact I keep typing something in to give you an idea of my thoughts but nothing seems to fit.  So well, I can say that while I may not be 'happy' about what happens, I kind of understand at the same time.  I'm definitely VERY anxious to see where things go now and waiting a whole year is certainly torture!

I very highly recommend this series to fans of urban fantasy.  I love that we get some very stressful moments but there's enough lighthearted banter involved that throws a good giggle or two into the mix while your gripping the edge of your seat in suspense.  The characters are dynamic, the twists are fabulous and the concept of the entire thing is brilliant.  
I give this book 5/5 stars! 

Disclosure: I received this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Alpha & Omega Series Review

Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega #1) by Patricia Briggs
Adult Urban Fantasy
Mass Market Paperback, 294 pgs.
Published July 29th, 2008 by Ace
Source: Purchased

Anna never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack... and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she'd learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. Then Charles Cornick, the enforcer- and son- of the leader of the North American werewolves, came into her life.

Charles insists that not only is Anna his mate, but she is also a rare and valued Omega wolf. And it is Anna's inner strength and calming presence that will prove invaluable as she and Charles go on the hunt in search of a rogue werewolf- a creature bound in magic so dark that it could threaten all of the pack.

Cry Wolf is called book one in this series but really there's a novella that was published first and once I started reading Cry Wolf it was clear that I missed something.  It felt like the second book in a series and we'd missed the first one.  So I do recommend you read the first one that was in the anthology called On the Prowl or you can find it for kindle as well, I believe.  I was able to get past that whole bewildered feeling at the beginning because we are filled in about what happens and it wasn't a big deal.  I think reading the first one would make it easier to connect with Anna and Charles though.

The first half of the book is rather slow paced and I had a hard time reading it.  I was eager for some action to happen.  About halfway through it did pick up and the last quarter or more was pretty constant action and felt pretty intense.  At that point it was hard for me to put the book down and I finally felt like I was really getting to know Anna and Charles and connect with them better.  I also enjoyed the twists and turns and felt like it was pretty unpredictable.  I never knew where things might go.

The world is pretty cool.  I feel like I only got a small taste but I like that there are all kinds of supernatural creatures and things.  The history of werewolves and the way they work was also fascinating.  You never know how things will go when you start a new werewolf series, but this one felt believable to me.  You know- versus wolves that change in a blink of an eye and have clothes on when they shift into human form, etc.  There were some neat twists that make them even more interesting.  Like Charles can do a touch of magic,  they live incredibly long lives (like vampires usually do) and the bond with mates and what that can result in (powers wise). 

Werewolves are not my go-to kind of books.  They are definitely not my favorite and some I like and some I don't.  But I haven't found an urban fantasy book about werewolves that I love and this one definitely isn't one I can say I love.  Not yet anyway.  But I do plan to start book two and see if I enjoy it more.

Now because I know many of you will ask, no, I have not read the Mercy Thompson series yet.  I do own the first few and plan to give them a try because I've heard from many that they are amazing.

I don't know if I recommend this series quite yet...
2.5/5 stars

 Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega #2) by Patricia Briggs
Mass Market Paperback, 286 pgs.
Published Sept. 1st, 2009 by Ace

Anna Latham didn’t know how complicated life could be until she became a werewolf. And until she was mated to Charles Cornick, the son- and enforcer- of Bran, the leader of the North American werewolves, she didn’t know how dangerous it could be either...

Anna and Charles have just been enlisted to attend a summit to present Bran’s controversial proposition: that the wolves should finally reveal themselves to humans. But the most feared Alpha in Europe is dead set against the plan -- and it seems like someone else might be too. When Anna is attacked by vampires using pack magic, the kind of power only werewolves should be able to draw on, Charles and Anna must combine their talents to hunt down whoever is behind it all -- or risk losing everything...

The last book wasn't real impressive to me but this book stepped it up by several notches.   Anna and Charles are both growing on me and Anna is really growing as a character.  She's easier for me connect with and although she still struggles with what happened to her in the past she's fighting hard to overcome it, to get past it all.  And the steps she takes in this book shows how hard she's trying.  And Charles is always concerned with his actions, that he'll do something to upset her.  Fortunately you can really see the progress they are making and Anna knows to not take everything personal.  I like that their relationship is more real then many books.  They have struggles but there's no love triangle and their love is true, there's no doubt of that.  

This book was much faster paced then Cry Wolf.  I found myself wanting to just sit down and read through the entire thing.  There were mysteries to be solved and murderers to be found.  All at the same time there are all these wolves from around the world visiting to discuss whether the wolves would 'come out' and that causes lots of tension with so many alpha's around.  I really never figured out any of the mystery aspects.  I didn't know who the killer was, or who was behind the killings (whatever) so I just read like crazy trying to find out more.  And I wasn't disappointed in how it all played out.

While werewolves may not be my favorite supernatural creature to read about I'm really starting to like this series.  I hope that the third book, Fair Game can live up to this one.
4/5 stars 

 Fair Game (Alpha & Omega #2) by Patricia Briggs
Hardcover, 304 pgs.
Published March 6th, 2012 by Ace

Patricia Briggs, the #1 "New York Times" bestselling author of the Mercy Thompson novels, "always enchants her readers." (Lynn Viehl, "New York Times" bestselling author) Now her Alpha and Omega series-set in a world of shifting shapes, loyalty, and passion- brings werewolves out of the darkness and into a society where fear and prejudice could make the hunters prey...
They say opposites attract. And in the case of werewolves Anna Latham and Charles Cornick, they mate. The son-and enforcer-of the leader of the North American werewolves, Charles is a dominant alpha. While Anna, an omega, has the rare ability to calm others of her kind.
Now that the werewolves have revealed themselves to humans, they can't afford any bad publicity. Infractions that could have been overlooked in the past must now be punished, and the strain of doing his father's dirty work is taking a toll on Charles.
Nevertheless, Charles and Anna are sent to Boston, when the FBI requests the pack's help on a local serial killer case. They quickly realize that not only the last two victims were werewolves-all of them were. Someone is targeting their kind. And now Anna and Charles have put themselves right in the killer's sights...

Okay, this series just gets better and better!  I absolutely loved this book!  Anna is definitely a character I totally adore and Charles has grown on me quite a lot.  This book was one I cruised through in no time.  Partly because it was a mystery I was dying to figure out and partly because I just wanted to read more of Anna's story!

This book takes place a couple years after the last one and in the meantime the werewolves have come out to the world.  That's not really a spoiler cause in the previous book it was discussed and none of that happens in any of the books.  Well, maybe the Mercy Thompson series, but not this one.  But with the wolves having come out means they have to keep them under a tighter leash.  There's no room for mistakes because they need the human population to grow to like them, not fear them.  And Charles is the enforcer.  His deeds have started haunting him and this has caused a strain in his and Anna's relationship.  While this is important to the story it's the mystery they have gone to Boston to solve that is the real meat of the story.  Because fae and werewolves have been turning up murdered and they are needed to help figure it out.  This distraction is what they are hoping will help Charles snap out of his funk.

Anna is a bold and powerful character.  She has found her strength and no longer cowers behind Charles.  She's able to talk to the humans in such a way she can actually make humans trust them.  She practically radiates kindness but at the same time is able to say what needs to be said even if it is scary.  I really didn't see or feel any weakness from her and even when she got in a deadly situation she was able to keep her head and not cower in fear.  This Anna is one I'll want to read about forever.  She definitely stood out to me.

One thing that really stood out to me in this one is the world that the author has created.  It's become absolutely amazing to me.  It's filled with supernatural creatures of all types and in each book we seem to get introduced to more.  But it's not so many it's overwhelming.  And the way things work with the werewolves and everything else just seems real.  Obviously I know it's not, but when an author has created a world that is so convincing you believe it, well, that's what I love and Patricia Briggs has certainly done that!
  
If you haven't read the series and prefer to only read this one you can.  It wouldn't really be confusing because it's pretty much it's own story.  But if you want to know Anna's journey and see what they've gone through then you'll want to start with the first book.  Either way, I can definitely say that I very highly recommend you read this series!

5/5 stars for this one!

Disclosure: This book was provided for review purposes by the published.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Review: Fated by Benedict Jacka

Fated (Alex Verus #1) by Benedict Jacka
Adult Urban Fantasy
Mass Market Paperback, 304 pgs.
Published Feb. 28th, 2012 by Ace
Source: Publisher

Alex Verus is part of a world hidden in plain sight, running a magic shop in London. And while Alex's own powers aren't as showy as some mages, he does have the advantage of foreseeing the possible future--allowing him to pull off operations that have a million-to-one-chance of success.

But when Alex is approached by multiple factions to crack open a relic from a long-ago mage war, he knows that whatever's inside must be beyond powerful. And thanks to his abilities, Alex can predict that by taking the job, his odds of survival are about to go from slim to none...

Fabulous world building, a terrific setting, a complex and unique main character, Fated is the fabulous start to a brand new series.   


On the cover Jim Butcher says that Harry Dresden would like Alex Verus.  I haven't read the Harry Dresden books yet (shame on me!) but have the first seven or so.  I'm quite certain that it's a series I'll adore.  But I can't compare the two.  I do know that Jim Butcher is suppose to be a fabulous author though and his little blurb gave me some confidence in the book.  But I gotta say, this book should be able to stand on it's own without any big time author telling us it's good, cause honestly it's downright fabulous!


Alex Verus has a distinct personality.  I immediately liked him and his ways.  He's a mage with the ability to see into the future and no other magical abilities.  I soon learned that his seer abilities are much more useful then I would have thought.  He can look into the future when fighting an opponent and know which direction he/she will come from, which powers they'll use, etc.  He can take things apart (think: dismantling a bomb) and see what the future outcome would be by snipping this wire, etc.  This ability along with his smarts (and he's very smart!) gives him more power then you would think against mages that can shoot fire,  for example.  He's a very fast thinker (anyone who can be looking into futures while in battle is most definitely a fast thinker) and does quite well when put in tough situations.  He's been through a lot in his past which has given him a healthy fear of the dark mages.  He's quite determined but knows when he has no bargaining chips saving himself from certain disaster time and time again.


Benedict Jacka has created a very unique world.  I love the mages and the history and the abilities.  I love the supernatural creatures that we've seen so far like the air elementals and the ginormous spider that spins the latest fashions.  

The book felt quite fast paced once we really got into it.  In the first quarter or so Alex was sometimes a bit long winded when telling us about things.  Like his abilities (or lack of abilities) and how things worked.  While it got a bit long it did 'fit' his personality and added to that distinct part of his personality.  It was most certainly the way Alex talks and for that reason I can forgive his more lengthy explanations.  The last half was pretty constant action and I felt like the climax went on for quite awhile.  This wasn't a bad thing, but certainly was frustrating when I couldn't keep reading to see what happened.  


Overall this was a fantastic start to a new series.  Alex Verus is quick witted,  kick ass, and has completely stolen my heart.  I'm already eagerly awaiting the second installment in the series, Cursed (expected publication of May 29th, 2012). 

This book may have crossover appeal to older YA readers.  


4/5 stars!


Disclosure: I received this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Review: The Rift Walker (Vampire Empire #2)

This is what I'm going to start doing for my adult reviews of books that are later in a series (first in a series will be a more full length review).  Because I don't want it to be spoilery for the previous books in the series I won't include descriptions and I'll be vague about plot points.  Mostly talking about character development and if I'm happy with how the series is turning out. 

 The Rift Walker (Vampire Empire #2) by Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith

This series is truly turning out epic.  It certainly brings out the full range of crazy emotions in me and has me terrified to turn each page because of the intensity of the situations.  The characters are amazing, the setting is sublime and the story is completely outstanding.  A romance that brings romance to a whole new level is just one amazing part of these books.  This isn't a romance like in a romance book, this is so much more.  And they have to face so much and overcome so many obstacles and all we can do is cheer them on and pray they survive each obstacle because trust me- it's certainly life or death situations!

I know many many bloggers that adore this series and count it among their favorites.  I do love this series and think it is far above so many books that are out there but the intense-ness is a bit stressful for me.  I mean seriously, life is in peril like on every single page!  And there's nothing easy, it's obstacle after obstacle for pretty much every character.  Now I really think that this isn't a bad thing really, but it keeps me from reading the book straight through because I start to get light-headed from lack of oxygen.  I'm so involved that I forget to breathe!  I also have a bit of a hard time with all the death and gore.  This is just a personal issue, but the vampires in this book are truly evil and they keep herds of humans like livestock for feeding.  They kill without regret and it's just hard to watch and read all the evil.  At the same time all this adds to epicness of the book because you know these things going on are truly serious.

The first quarter of this book moved slowly for me but then it picked up and all the oxygen loss {on my part} began and continued through the remainder of the book.  So many amazing events happened and Princess Adele truly shows some real strength.  She's definitely grown from the first book as all these horrible things that have happened have forced her to become incredibly strong.  She's certainly everything I wish for and more in a character.  The Greyfriar was pretty amazing as well but showed more weakness in this one which wasn't always easy to swallow.  It wasn't anything of his doing, just his situation, but was still a little hard to read.

Overall I think this is a truly amazing series.  Action, adventure, romance and steampunk goodness abound and I highly recommend you pick it up.  Just be aware of the horror elements as well and use caution for younger readers {this is an adult book but if lots of death, gore and horror don't bother a person it could be considered a YA crossover, I'd hesitate to recommend it to younger readers myself though}.

4.5/5 stars
Note: I'd give this one 5 but the horror element was a bit too much for my poor sensibilities and so I'm bringing it down a notch for that reason.

Review: Grave Sins by Jenna Maclaine

Grave Sins (Cin Craven #2) by Jenna Maclaine
Adult historical paranormal romance
Mass Market Paperback, 352 pgs.
Published Feb. 3rd, 2009 by St. Martins Press
Source: Purchased

In the arms of her lover Michael, Cin Craven has found satisfaction for her most primal longings, reaching heights of pleasure no mere human could ever imagine.  She has also found a purpose for her unearthly powers. Cin is a member of The Righteous, a band of slayers that hunts down vampires who inflict evil upon the world. With Michael by her side, Cin’s latest mission brings her face-to-face with Marrakesh, a beautiful, half-mad vampire queen charged with slaughtering humans. If she’s found guilty, Marrakesh will pay with her life. But Cin is convinced that someone —or something—far more ruthless is trying to steal the queen’s throne.. It’s a mission that will pit Michael and Cin against each other for the first time, awakening their darkest instincts and testing their love like never before…

Normally for books that aren't first in a series I don't post the description and do more of a mini review.  But this book works fine as a stand alone and there's not really any spoilers for the first book in the description.  This book takes place 13 years after the first one and plays out like a mystery.  It's historical, paranormal, mystery and romance.  


I really enjoyed the first book quite a lot, but I loved this book!  Cin is a character I love.  She's kick ass but knows right from wrong.  She's not at all struggling with what she is (a witch and a vampire) since 13 years have passed and I kind of enjoyed that.  She does have some struggles regarding some of her witch powers, but it's a minor element to the story really.   And her and Michaels relationship is great because after that many years you fall into a kind of familiarity but they still have the spark and the strong attraction toward eachother.  And they actually do run into trouble in this one but it's nice to see they are human (well, not really) and do have weaknesses.  


The mystery was pretty good and I felt like I really wasn't sure who or what the culprit was that was causing the queens 'illness'.  I actually had some ideas of the who but I was kind of clueless how or what was going on.  In the end as the mystery was revealed and all was figured out I was quite happy with how it all went.  


This is one of those comfortable books.  I didn't feel all stressed and tense while reading, but it kept me turning the pages and not wanting to put the book down.  I wanted it to go on forever but it's actually a very fast read and I read most of it in one evening before bed.  I want this series to go on forever because I really love every aspect of it.  The characters, the setting and the story itself; it's all perfect!  I very highly recommend you pick this series up!


5/5 stars!

Review: First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson #1) by Darynda Jones
Adult
Mass Market Paperback, 310 pages
Published Feb. 1st, 2011 in Hardcover by St. Martins Press
Source: Purchased

A smashing, award-winning debut novel that introduces Charley Davidson: part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper
Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light.” But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e. murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life...and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely.
This is a thrilling debut novel from an exciting newcomer to the world of paranormal romantic suspense.

I first heard of this book (I may have heard of it before but it didn't stick with me) on Giselle's blog at Xpresso Reads and her description of Charley had me saying I have to read this series now and I went out and bought it almost immediately.   And I started it the same day.  I was desperate for a smart, snarky woman with some unique abilities and Charley more then delivered.  I seriously adored her.  She can see ghosts, as a matter of fact she is the grim reaper.  But really I felt like this was more ghost whisperer then anything else.  She can help ghosts and they can help her {which is very helpful when you're a P.I. that helps out the police} and she also is how they move on if they so choose.

Charley's personality is amazing.  She doesn't really take anything too serious, but yet she's not stupid.  She says what's on her mind without being obnoxious.  She's a caring person who is always trying to help everyone and she's a true friend to those who care about her.  She's hilarious and witty and says the funniest things ever.  And she's like one of my new favorite-est characters for real.
 
Now this book doesn't just have an amazing MC, but it has a fantastic story line as well.  It's constant action as Charley is uncovering why three lawyers from the same firm were killed the same evening and with their help are discovering some pretty nasty stuff.  At the same time she's trying to figure out who this 'guy/thing' is that is giving her sexy 'dreams' and does he have some relation to the 'guy/thing' that has saved her life countless times.  There's lots to be discovered and Charley doesn't hesitate to do the dirty work nearly putting her life in peril time and time again.

I honestly cannot recommend this book any more highly.  It was a fantastic start to a series and I'll be trying my hardest to get my hands on the next two books as soon as possible! If I haven't convinced you yet then go check out Giselle's review HERE.  She's got some awesome quotes in hers.

5/5 stars!

Review of Black Wings by Christina Henry

Black Wings (Madeline Black #1) by Christina Henry
Adult Urban Fantasy
Mass Market Paperback
Published February 24, 2010 by ACE
Source: Purchased

As an Agent of Death, Madeline Black is responsible for escorting the souls of the dearly departed to the afterlife. It's a 24/7 job with a lousy benefits package.

Maddy's position may come with magical powers and an impressive wingspan, but it doesn't pay the bills. And then there are her infuriating boss, tenant woes, and a cranky, popcorn-loving gargoyle to contend with.

Things start looking up, though, when tall, dark, and handsome Gabriel Angeloscuro agrees to rent the empty apartment in Maddy's building. It's probably just a coincidence that as soon as he moves in demons appear on the front lawn. But when an unholy monster is unleashed upon the streets of Chicago, Maddy discovers powers she never knew she possessed. Powers linked to a family legacy of tarnished halos.

Powers that place her directly between the light of Heaven and the fires of Hell...

I've had this book for ages and only just found some time to fit it in.  I do love urban fantasy and have been reading much more of it in the past month or so.  And this is another series to add to my must-read list.  It was full of action, which made for a fast read and Madeline was a character that I can truly stand behind.  She has some snark and isn't afraid to stand her ground, but yet she's not quite idiotic in her decisions, she knows where to draw the line even though it's extremely difficult for her to shut her trap.  I always find myself annoyed when the heroine just pushes things too far and Madeline didn't do that.

I really liked the world created.  Maddy is an agent of death but other then that she lives a normal life pretty much.  As an agent of death she has a job (this includes paperwork and all that) where she's assigned people to escort to the door (Heaven or whatever) or to let them be released if they so choose to not leave and want to stick to earth as a ghost.  But this job of Maddy's, well, we don't get to see it too much because straight away things start happening.   She discovers she has more in her blood then just being an agent and 'someone' (or someone's) is trying to kill her.  Then Gabriel shows up to rent her apartment downstairs and well, there's more to him then meets the eye.  

This book is full of demons, nephilim, angels, and so much more.  We know that there are vampires and faeries and other creatures, but we aren't introduced to them in this book.  Oh, and Maddy has a gargoyle who is her guardian or whatever and he's a pretty funny little guy who loves popcorn.   


The romance is light as there's mostly just developing feelings going on.  They really know they care about eachother, and may even believe they are in love, but they can't do anything about it.  I think a forbidden romance makes a story so much sweeter but it can also be frustrating.  It's hard to say which way this one will go but so far I definitely feel the heat between them and am rooting for them that it all works out.  


Overall this is a great start to a series and didn't seem to have info dumps or too complicated of plot for a first book.  There were a few things that sometimes confused me because suddenly there were all these demon things I got them confused at first, but it didn't take long for them all to be sorted in my head.  There's quite a lot of gore in this book so be prepared for that...  I definitely recommend this book to urban fantasy readers though!


4/5 stars

Urban Fantasy Mini Reviews: Eye of the Tempest and A Match Made in Hell

This is what I'm going to start doing for my urban fantasy reviews of books that are later in a series (first in a series will be a more full length review).  Because I don't want it to be spoilery for the previous books in the series I won't include descriptions and I'll be vague about plot points.  Mostly talking about character development and if I'm happy with how the series is turning out.

Eye of the Tempest (Jane True #4)

I've really been enjoying this series for many reasons.  I love that the author has brought in so many different kinds of creatures.  There's pretty much everything in these books and they all are important.  And it's not just the usual vampires, werewolves and succubus (or succubi?).  No, there are many other totally unique creatures.  I also love that she balances the humor with a lot of serious life-or-death situations.  So there's action, but there's lots of laughing as well.  And not to mention, there are some pretty steamy scenes as too!

Jane is freaking hilarious.  Her libido and her virtue have these conversations that will make you snort your coke out your nose (or coffee, tea, beer, whatever).  And while it took me a bit to warm up to her humor I totally love it now.

This book wasn't a disappointment at all.  I'm loving the way things are shaping up and the direction they are taking.  She's gone through a lot of changes with things and she's taking it all very well.  I'm super anxious to see where things go now!
4/5 stars

A Match Made in Hell (Nicki Styx #2) by Terri Garey

This book was slower moving then most of the UF & PNR I've been reading lately, but I was still completely engrossed and didn't have a problem with reading it.  And the last quarter of the book was impossible to put down.

Nicki isn't a character I completely love.  Her stubbornness sometimes gets to me.  I also feel like she is sometimes just a bit naive.  She's been exposed to so much but yet sometimes she's blind to things that I think are obvious.  But yet there's something about her that I do like.  And I also like a character that grows and she's definitely growing.  She hasn't really had this ability to talk to ghosts that long so I should probably give her a bit of a break as well.  Because even though she saw a lot in the first book it was very sudden so it's probably a bit much for her to wrap her head around.  One thing I do have to say is that she's got a great sense of style and I admire her for sticking to her guns on being herself.  She sticks to her vintage/goth ways.  And I love that about her.  I also like seeing that she does know right from wrong and is determined to do right even when it's so easy to sellout. 
 
This is turning out to be a pretty good series.  I feel just a bit on the fence about it for some reason and I think it's just cause I don't love, LOVE it.  There are some things I just don't care for that much.  But somehow I cruise through the books like they're candy and I feel pretty satisfied.  So I do recommend it if it sounds like your thing.  I also have to mention that it's labeled as paranormal romance but it feels urban fantasy to me.  Romance is a pretty strong theme but it just doesn't have the normal romance and the story line of Nicki dealing with ghosts and whatnot is much more important to the story.  There's also sex but it's not described as much as most PNR books do.  So anyway, my point is, if you're not a big PNR fan but like UF give this one a try, it may be right up your alley!

3.5 stars

Review: Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal

Adult {with crossover appeal to YA}
Paperback, 304 pgs.
Published August 3rd, 2010 by Tor
Source: Purchased

The fantasy novel you've always wished Jane Austen had writtenShades of Milk and Honey is exactly what we could expect from Jane Austen if she had been a fantasy writer: Pride and Prejudice meets Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. It is an intimate portrait of a woman, Jane, and her quest for love in a world where the manipulation of glamour is considered an essential skill for a lady of quality.

Jane and her sister Melody vie for the attentions of eligible men, and while Jane's skill with glamour is remarkable, it is her sister who is fair of face. When Jane realizes that one of Melody's suitors is set on taking advantage of her sister for the sake of her dowry, she pushes her skills to the limit of what her body can withstand in order to set things right--and, in the process, accidentally wanders into a love story of her own.

Such an absolutely beautiful story!  I was afraid it may be a bit long and dry because I'll admit that as an adult I've had a hard time reading Jane Austen.  It may be the books I've chosen, but it's also because I'm far too impatient.  But this book sucked me in immediately.  

Now I've not read a Jane Austen book since high school though I have tried to, so I'm no expert, but I have an idea of her style of writing.  And this book does seem like a book she could have written.  The style is definitely very similar.  But this book moves along at a quicker pace {though I wouldn't say it's fast paced, as it's more relaxed then most books I've been reading these days} and it has a fantasy element thrown in.  As there is magic.  Now this magic is unlike anything I've read about before.  It's a glamour that is wove to create scenes or things that aren't there.  To cloak things to make them prettier, or appear newer.  A dining room can be transformed into a beautiful forest complete with a babbling brook.  I thought it was genius because it fit into the story so well. 


Jane is a plain girl, not beautiful like her sister Melody.  But she's talented in her glamour abilities and in art of all types.  She's quite sensible and never goes on flights of fancy like her sister Melody.  She's very likable and a character I completely connected with.  Her sister Melody was beautiful and always for want of attention.  She would get jealous when Jane would get attention and would do ridiculous things to get the spotlight on herself.  But even while she was naive and sometimes cruel by accident you could tell that she did love her sister and was somewhat blind to her own poor behavior.  Their mother, Mrs. Ellsworth was quite the drama queen, as was most of the women of that time.  The slightest upset and they faint dead away.  It was quite hilarious as Jane saw right through their ridiculous overreactions.  Their father, Mr. Ellsworth was a kindly and gentle soul.  He truly cares for his girls but really seems to be the only one who truly understands Jane.  


There are several men in this book that each play an important role.  But it's so fun to unravel what their part is that I'm not going to spoil you with any details.  I'll tell you that the romance plays out in a very Jane Austen'esque way, which is somewhat predictable once it's figured out, but it takes awhile to piece everything together.  You have to figure out who Melody really fancy's and as she's so flighty it's not immediately obvious.  As for Jane, well, she'll get her bit as well- but your not getting any spoilers from me!


While this book isn't exactly fast paced, it isn't slow either.  I found myself cruising through it with no issues whatsoever.  It felt like it was a steady pace with enough twists that kept me on my toes.  And the last quarter of the book- now that was fast paced as it was constant epiphany and action as everything suddenly starts to come together.  


I really can't recommend this book highly enough.  I was totally entranced and fell in love with the magic, the characters and the time period itself.  I'm very excited for the second book, Glamour in Glass which comes out April 2012.  Now this is an adult book, but I would definitely say it has crossover appeal for YA. 


5/5 stars!


Here's the cover of the second book just cause I think it's so gorgeous!

Review: Something From the Nightside by Simon R. Green

 Something From the Nightside (Nightside #1)
Adult
paperback, 230 pgs.
Published May 27th, 2003 by Ace
Source: Library

John Taylor is not a private detective per se, but he has a knack for finding lost things. That's why he's been hired to descend into the Nightside, an otherworldly realm in the center of London where fantasy and reality share renting space and the sun never shines.

For John Taylor, there's no place like home...

Wow.  Ummmm... yeah.  This is one very strange, very weird, very off the wall.  Well, at least this first one is.  When I finished the book I wrote down the words that came to mind.  Ridiculous, strange, creepy, creative, unique, mind boggling, different, freaky, weird.  Yeah, some of those mean the same thing, but seriously, I think all of them apply.  After I read the book I immediately told my husband I had to tell him about the book because it's like it was so freaking weird that I just had to share.  And well, if my husband were to read {he doesn't read AT ALL} this would be the kind of book he would pick up.  He agreed it was weird sounding but unfortunately didn't seem very interested in reading it *super sad face*.


Okay, so this book is something I would think I wouldn't really like but I decided I did.  I'm not sure why, but I was totally engrossed in the book the entire time.  It's not something that I recommend reading before bed, but it is a very fast read.  It reminded me a bit of the R.L. Stine books, but an adult version.  And with some big twists instead of the more simpler stuff like he did.  But odd.  Very odd kind of story.


I didn't love John Taylor, but yet I didn't dislike him either.  He's kind of hard to get.  He didn't seem to come across real clear to me.  He'd contradict himself, I guess.  Like not being able to be scared, but then he'd be terrified of something.  But a lot of the time I liked his snark.  His bluntness.  I think he might grow on me and this is the first in a series so it's not really surprising I don't love him yet.  And it's a really really short book.  

So some weird things:  in Nightside there are sometimes 'timeslips'.  Like you can be walking along and suddenly your in a different time but if you keep walking you'll walk out of it.  There are horses that talk and run their own carriage.  The 'driver' is there more as protection.  There's a diner in Nightside that's from the 60's.  Like literally from the 60's.  It's like a ghost diner or something.  But you can get a real coke, like the ones from the 60's {which apparently are much better then the ones now...}.  There's a place where people who have been abducted by aliens can hide out.  Just a huge warehouse where people literally have bombs strapped to them so they can blow themselves up if the aliens come again.    Just a few of the crazy places...


The story itself was pretty off the wall and crazy but if your into that kind of thing {or not, cause I didn't think I was...} then it might be for you.  It has creepy moments, some gore, and is definitely for an adult reader.  It's not one I would easily recommend just because it's so different.  But if it sounds like your thing give it a try!


3.5/5

Review: Not-For-Parents The Travel Book

Hardcover, 208 pgs.
Published Oct.1st, 2011 by Lonely Planet
Source: Amazon Vine

Introducing Lonely Planet’s brand new Not for Parents series!

This is not a guidebook. And it is definitely 'not-for-parents'. Cool stuff to know about every country in the world. Everyone knows the world’s highest mountain, but do you know which country banned chewing gum? Or what’s the world’s stinkiest fruit? Or who invented roller skates? Or which building leans more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa? Or where can you eat fried spiders as a snack?

The world is a very big place, and in The Not-for-Parents Travel Book we’ve concentrated on the really interesting bits to create a snapshot of what each country is like. (Warning to parents: these might not be the same “really interesting bits” that you like…where to buy coffee, how many stars the hotel has, what’s the phone number for the airport, blah, blah, blah.)

In this book are the epic events, amazing animals, hideous histories, funky foods, and crazy facts that make the world’s 200 countries so fascinating.

Each country has a dedicated page that’s jam-packed with up-to-the-minute stats, record-breaking facts, hideous histories, epic events and wild and wacky critters.  Each country features gotta-know facts such as population lingo, capital city, currency and national pastime.  Over 1,800 photos and quirky graphics.

Not for parents?!  They are so very wrong because I loved, loved, loved this book!  I've spent my entire life dreaming of faraway places and imaging the day I would get to visit them all.  But I still haven't got to visit any of them (outside the US) and this book totally sucked me in.  Everyday I would say that I'm just going to read a few pages and the next thing I know hours have passed.  I had fun sharing the facts with everyone in my family and I got so excited about every little thing.  This book is truly amazing and exactly up my alley.  


Each page features a different country.  It says the size, language and population and shows where it's located as well as a paragraph or two talking about some of the main and most important facts about that country.  The page is filled with photographs of things in the country with little boxes of info that go with each one.  Some are wacky and wild and others are just regular interesting facts.  Though all were interesting to me...  The whole layout is great and I found myself really learning about the countries.  There are SO many it's hard to remember exactly where every country is located.  I've learned more from this book then I probably ever did in 12 years of school.  Yeah, not everything is really that important, but it really gave me a good idea of the country and it's customs, etc.  And these are things that kids would be more interested in learning and not the boring things we may learn in school.  Any kid interested in traveling, other countries, and cultures would love it.  


If there's one complaint I had it would be I want MORE!  I wish each country had another page with more fun facts and photographs.  Of course that might be a bit overwhelming for kids so maybe it wouldn't be great for them.  


I'll definitely be watching for more similar books to this one.  I absolutely devoured it and am ready to start reading it again.  And that's the thing, it's one that can easily be read over and over again because you can't possibly remember everything you've read.  This will be the book I'll pull out when company comes over, when grandpa comes to visit, when bored teens are sitting around... It'll be the go-to book.


I very very highly recommend this one to everyone!


5/5 stars!


Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Review: The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu

 

The Iron Hunt (Hunter Kiss #1) by Marjorie Liu

Paperback, 320 pgs.

Published June 24th, 2008 by Ace

Source: Purchased

Demon hunter Maxine Kiss wears her armor as tattoos, which unwind from her body to take on forms of their own at night. They stand between her and her enemies, just as Maxine stands between humanity and the demons breaking out from behind the prison veils. It is a life lacking in love, reveling in death, until one moment—and one man— changes everything.

A few weeks ago I got the latest book in this series for review, since I hadn't read the first ones I added them to my wish-list and luckily I found the first one used almost right away.  And when I went to read the first page just to get a feel for the story {wasn't actually going to keep reading it right then}, I was sucked right in.  And I stayed sucked in until I finished the book.  

This was a unique and creative story with some fascinating characters.  I always love when an author messes with your head.  When you think someone's a bad guy but compared to other bad guys he's/she's practically a good guy.  And sometimes you nearly hate a character and then they do something that makes you totally love them.  In this book there are bad guys, worse guys and then the even worse guys.  And as for good guys, well, that seems harder to determine.  Are any of them really good?  I think so but yet I've been proven wrong a time or two already...

My favorite 'characters' are the five demons on Maxine's body.  During the day they are tattoos and they shield her from harm.  I mean she can get hit by a bus and be fine.  But at night they peel away from her skin and are like these awesome little dragons (well, that's just what I picture) and they will protect Maxine no matter what.  They are vicious and chew on tools just for fun.  They are totally kick butt and can kill in the blink of an eye.  Zee is the only one that actually speaks but they are all intelligent and understand everything said, etc.  They were absolutely awesome creatures and elevated this book to a whole other level to me.  Really, can I have one?  Or five would be nice ;)

Maxine is a pretty kick butt chick.  She's had things drilled into her head since she was child and her mother had 'the boys' {the demon things} on her and 'did away' with the demons in our world.   Maxine's mother taught her a lot but in this book she realizes that her mother kept loads of secrets as well.  She starts to feel like she knows nothing about demons and the supernatural.  There's so much going on all of a sudden and she just feels in the dark.  As the story goes on and she discovers many new things she has to suffer through a lot as well.  This elevates her to a new level of kick butt'ness and I'm sure as the series goes on she'll continue to grow as she learns more.  I was very pleased with her character though and how she was able to balance her darker self with her what her heart said was right.  

This is a pretty fast paced book and a lot of that is due to the constant action.  It was hard to put down because I'd say 'just to the end of the chapter' but then there would be a horrible cliffhanger, so I had to keep reading.  I read almost the entire book in one sitting.  It seriously was that good.  I don't usually fall in love with urban fantasy books in the first book so I was surprised how much I liked this one right from the get go.  If there's anything I could maybe say is a negative is that it was a bit confusing at times.  I think much of that was just because it was so hard for me to wrap my head around everything.  It's a minor complaint though and one I'm not sure could be any other way.  

I'm very anxious to continue this story.  I want to see where the story line goes but I'm eager to learn more about Grant, her boyfriend that has some super powers of his own, and some secrets that her grandfather is still hiding.  I very highly recommend this book to urban fantasy readers, it's definitely not one to be missed!

4.5/5 stars