March 28, 2009
Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand by Carrie Vaughn, 4
Book description: Already the alpha pair of Denver's werewolf pack, Kitty and Ben now plan to tie the knot human-style by eloping to Vegas. Kitty is looking forward to sipping fru-fru drinks by the pool and doing her popular radio show on live TV, but her hotel is stocked with werewolf-hating bounty hunters. Elsewhere on the Strip an old-school magician might be wielding the real thing; the vampire community is harboring a dark secret; and the irresistible star of a suspicious animal act is determined to seduce Kitty. Sin City has never been so wild, and this werewolf has never had to fight harder to save not only her wedding, but her very life.
Review: Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand is the fifth book in the Kitty Norville series. The events of this book are mostly filler and set up for the next book but it was still a fun read. Fortunately the next book, Kitty Raises Hell, was released shortly after this one so I don’t have to wait long to read it. If you like the Mercy Thompson series you should pick up the first book in this series, Kitty and the Midnight Hour.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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February 19, 2009
Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs, 4
Book description: In a world where “witches, vampires, werewolves, and shape-shifters live beside ordinary people” (Booklist), it takes a very unusual woman to call it home. By day, Mercy Thompson is a car mechanic in Eastern Washington. By night, she explores her preternatural side. As a shape-shifter with some unusual talents, Mercy’s found herself maintaining a tenuous harmony between the human and the not-so- human on more than one occasion. This time she may get more than she bargained for.
Review: Bone Crossed is the fourth book in the Mercy Thompson series. I was very unhappy with the end of the third book in this series but this one managed to win me back. The aftermath of what happened in the third book was treated well here. The plot was also interesting and I’m happy with the character developments here too. I’ll be looking forward to the next book in the series.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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December 16, 2008
Living With the Dead by Kelley Armstrong, 3 1/2
Book description: Robyn Peltier moved to Los Angeles after her young husband’s sudden death, trying to put some distance between herself and her memories. Though she’s still grieving, the challenges of her new life as the PR consultant to Portia Kane—the world’s most famous celebutante wannabe—can sometimes be amusing, even distracting. But when her client is gunned down in the back room of a nightclub, Robyn is suddenly on the run as the prime suspect in the murder. And as more bodies pile up around her, it seems like only Hope Adams, Robyn’s best friend, and Hope’s somewhat spooky boyfriend Karl are on Robyn’s side. Hope Adams follows the kinds of stories whose headlines scream from supermarket checkout lines. But the difference is that Hope’s stories are even weirder—and they’re all true. Though determined to help Robyn, Hope knows it’s only a matter of time before her friend is caught. But it’s not the police Hope is worried about. For Robyn has gotten herself in the middle of a turf war between two powerful Otherworld cabals who’ll spill any amount of blood—human and inhuman—to protect what they consider theirs for all eternity. And the only way Hope can keep her friend alive is by letting her enter a world she’s safer knowing nothing about.
Review: Living with the Dead is the ninth book in the Women of the Otherworld series. Kelley Armstrong is one of my absolute favorite authors but I’m sorry to say I liked this one least out of all her books. The new characters introduced here could have been really interesting but they weren’t developed all that well. There were six different narrators in this book. That’s just too many. There was no space left to develop any of the characters very well. I did like the Hope and Karl scenes and the plot was pretty interesting. I was never bored reading this one but I hope the next book in the series is much better.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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September 19, 2008
Succubus on Top by Richelle Mead, 4
Book description: Love hurts, and no one knows it better than Georgina Kincaid. If she so much as kisses Seth Mortensen, the shy, sexy, incredibly gifted Seattle writer she’s been dating, she’ll drain his life force. Georgina is a succubus—a demon who draws her power from other men’s pleasure. Admittedly, the shapeshifting and immortality perks are terrific, and yes, Georgina did choose to join the ranks of hell centuries ago. But it seems completely unfair that a she-demon whose purpose is seduction can’t get hot and heavy with the one mortal who knows and accepts her for who she is…
It’s not just her personal life that’s in chaos. Doug, Georgina’s co-worker at a local bookstore, has been exhibiting bizarre behavior, and Georgina suspects that something far more demonic than double espressos is at work. She could use help finding out, but Bastien, an irresistibly charming incubus and her best immortal friend, is preoccupied with corrupting an ultra-conservative talk radio star—and giving Georgina some highly distracting come-hither vibes. Georgina is going to have to work solo on this one—and fast because soon, Doug’s life won’t be the only one on the line…
Review: Succubus on Top is the second book in the Georgina Kincaid series that started with Succubus Blues. I enjoyed this book but not nearly as much as the first one. There were two major subplots here, one I liked and one I didn’t. I found Bastien’s attempts as seducing the conservative radio host highly amusing, even though I did guess the outcome of this storyline early on. Unfortunately, Doug’s demon troubles didn’t hold my interest. I still really like Georgina and Seth’s romance, despite their relationship being little depressing through out some of the book. I like the characters and the world in this series so I’ll definitely be reading the next book.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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September 13, 2008
Hands of Flame by C.E. Murphy, 4
Book description: War has erupted among the five Old Races, and Margrit is responsible for the death that caused it. Now New York City's most unusual lawyer finds herself facing her toughest negotiation yet. And with her gargoyle lover, Alban, taken prisoner, Margrit's only allies—a dragon bitter about his fall, a vampire determined to hold his standing at any cost and a mortal detective with no idea what he's up against—have demands of their own.
Determined to rescue Alban and torn between conflicting loyalties as the battle seeps into the human world, Margrit soon realizes the only way out is through the fire.…
Review: Hands of Flame is the final book in the Negotiator Trilogy. There were a lot of action packed plot twists that kept me hooked through out. This was also a satisfying end to Margrit’s story but I would have liked to see more scenes with her and Alban. I hope the author decides to write more books set in this world. There are so many interesting characters that I’d like to see more of. If you like Urban fantasy, I highly recommend this trilogy.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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August 09, 2008
Once Upon Stilettos by Shanna Swendson, 3 1/2
Book description: Katie Chandler’s life is pure magic–literally. As an executive assistant at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., she’s seen more than her share of fantastical occurrences. A mere Manhattan mortal, Katie is no wizard, but she’s a wiz at exposing “hokum” pocus, cloaked lies, and deceptive enchantments. And she’s fallen under the all-too-human spell of attraction to Owen, a hunky wizard and coworker. Owen, however, is preoccupied. Someone has broken into his office and disrupted top-secret files, and it reeks of an inside job. CEO Merlin (yes, the Merlin) and taps Katie and her special ability to uncover the magical mole.
Keeping her feelings in check while sleuthing alongside Owen, Katie is shocked to discover that her immunity to magic is waning, putting her in grave danger. Soon she’s surrendering to the charms and enchantments of everyone and everything around her, including a killer pair of red stilettos. Katie must now conjure up her natural instincts to get to the bottom of the break-in, regain her power, and win the wizard of her dreams.
Review: Once Upon Stilettos is the second book in the Katie Chandler series that started with Enchanted, Inc. I found this book to be just as lighthearted and fun as the first book, despite Katie being a little stupid through out the second half. I’m still interested in seeing what happens next so I’ll be reading the next book in the series.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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August 01, 2008
Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs, 4
Book description: 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...
Review: Cry Wolf is the first book in a new series set in the same world as Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series. You don’t have to read that series to follow this one but I do recommend reading the story Alpha and Omega in the anthology On the Prowl. That story sets up Anna and Charles romance which continues in this book. I do feel that the original short story expanded into full book length would have made for a better first book in the series but I did enjoy this book for what it was.
Anna and Charles are great together and I ended up caring about them a lot in this book. I also liked that, unlike the Mercy series, the story is told from the perspective of many different characters. This really expands the world and allows for great character development of the secondary characters. Fans of urban fantasy with a lot of romance will enjoy this series.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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July 19, 2008
Undead and Unworthy by MaryJanice Davidson, 2 1/2
Book description: Betsy Taylor thought entering the world of the undead was a big adjustment. Being a new bride isn’t much easier. The blush has only been on two months, and Betsy has a lot to do: set up the new house, finish writing thank-you notes, and raise BabyJon, her half brother and legal ward. Just another happy American family adjusting to marital bliss.
Betsy’s husband, Sinclair, has been perusing the Book of the Dead, and Betsy’s visited by a ghost who’s even more insufferable, stubborn, and annoying in death than she was in life. She not only blames Betsy for her condition but insists she fix it. It’s all just a prelude to the fun and games awaiting Betsy and Sinclair when a pack of formerly feral vampires, hungry for blood and power, pays a visit to the happy couple.
Review: Undead and Unworthy is the seventh book in the Betsy Taylor series. It was a quick read that held my interest and the dialogue was funny as usual. However, the lack of plot or direction in this series really started to get on my nerves this time around. The darker tone in this book doesn’t work well either. I don’t know if I’ll read the next book but the way this one ended left me with little desire to see what happens next.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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July 17, 2008
Enchanted, Inc. by Shanna Swendson, 3 1/2
Book description: Katie Chandler had always heard that New York is a weird and wonderful place, but this small-town Texas gal had no idea how weird until she moved there. Everywhere she goes, she sees something worth gawking at and Katie is afraid she’s a little too normal to make a splash in the big city. Working for an ogre of a boss doesn’t help.
Then, seemingly out of the blue, Katie gets a job offer from Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., a company that tricks of the trade to the magic community. For MSI, Katie’s ordinariness is an asset. Lacking any bit of magic, she can easily spot a fake spell, catch hidden clauses in competitor’s contracts, and detect magically disguised intruders. Suddenly, average Katie is very special indeed.
She quickly learns that office politics are even more complicated when your new boss is a real ogre, and you have a crush on the sexy, shy, ultra powerful head of the R&D department, who is so busy fighting an evil competitor threatening to sell black magic on the street that he seems barely to notice Katie. Now it’s up to Katie to pull off the impossible: save the world and–hopefully–live happily ever after.
Review: Enchanted, Inc. is a hard book to categorize but I would describe it as fantasy chick-lit. I tend to avoid chick-lit but the fantasy element made this book enjoyable for me. I also liked that the heroine was down to earth and not crazy or annoying. This is the first book in a series but I was surprised that absolutely no storylines were wrapped up at the end of this book. Still, it was a fun read and I’ll be reading the next one.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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July 14, 2008
Personal Demon by Kelley Armstrong, 4
Book description: Tabloid reporter Hope Adams appears to live the life of an ordinary working girl. But in addition to possessing the beauty of a Bollywood princess, Hope has other unique traits. For she is a half demon—a human fathered by a demon. And she’s inherited not only a gift for seeing the past but a hunger for chaos—along with a talent for finding it wherever she can. Naturally, when she’s chosen by a very dangerous group for a very dangerous mission, she jumps at the chance….
The head of the powerful Cortez Cabal—a family that makes the mob look like amateurs—has a little problem in Miami: a gang of wealthy, bored offspring of supernaturals is getting out of hand, and Hope is needed to infiltrate. As spells, astral projections, and pheromones soar across South Beach, Hope weaves her way through its elite hot spots, posing as upscale eye candy and reading the auras of the clientele—and potential marks.
As it turns out, Hope is a little too good at this job. And soon she’s in a little too deep, needing to be bailed out by her jewel-thief werewolf ex-boyfriend and by the Cortez heir himself. And when a killer goes to work, Hope is among many targets at the pinnacle of Cabal rule. For a woman who didn’t know what she was getting into, there’s only one way out: it’s time for Hope to unleash her most potent primal instincts—and open herself, mind and body, to everything she most fears . . . and desires.
Review: Persoanl Demon is the eighth book in the Women of the Otherworld series. It features a new narrator, the half chaos demon Hope. I recommend reading Armstrong’s short story in the Dates form Hell anthology before you read this book. It’s not required reading to follow the story but it introduces Hope’s character and sets up her relationship with werewolf Karl. I liked Hope as a narrator and her romance with Karl as well. Lucas co-narrates this one and I enjoyed his story too even though I was slightly more interested in Hope. The end of the book leaves plenty of possibilities for future books narrated by Hope and I would like to see that.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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June 16, 2008
La Vida Vampire by Nancy Haddock, 3
Book description: Being dead isn't all it's cracked up to be. Take it from Francesca Marinelli, trapped underground for over 200 years and rediscovered during the renovation of a Victorian mansion in historic St. Augustine. A tourist attraction herself, she's well suited for a job as an Old Ghost Town Tour guide. Francesca's due for a new lease on afterlife-and with enough sunblock, she can finally live it.
Unfortunately, everything she learned about men is a little dated. And when people in her tour group turn up dead, naturally the police suspect her. After all, she is a vampire. Which is why a crazed vampire-hunting vigilante squad is out to get her as well. Between the dead bodies, the stalkers, and a seriously non-existent love life, she's starting to wish she was dead. Or at least buried, where she was safe.
Review: La Vida Vampire is a pretty average urban fantasy and doesn’t really have anything different about it to distinguish it form the pack. I liked the main character and the murder mystery. The romance was so so. I didn’t feel that much of a connection between the main character and her friends which made all the scenes with them boring. If there is a sequel, I probably won’t read it unless the story goes somewhere unexpected.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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May 17, 2008
From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris, 4
Book description: After the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina and the manmade explosion at the vampire summit, everyone—human and otherwise—is stressed, including Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse, who is trying to cope with the fact that her boyfriend Quinn has gone missing.
It’s clear that things are changing—whether the weres and vamps of her corner of Louisiana like it or not. And Sookie—Friend to the Pack and blood-bonded to Eric Northman, leader of the local vampire community—is caught up in the changes.
In the ensuing battles, Sookie faces danger, death, and once more, betrayal by someone she loves. And when the fur has finished flying and the cold blood finished flowing, her world will be forever altered.
Review: From Dead to Worse is the Eighth book in the Southern Vampire series. Unlike the pervious books in the series, this installment doesn’t have one central story line. I features a few equally important sub plots. I felt like Harris was wrapping up some things so the series could move on. I’m addicted to this series and I enjoyed this volume. I liked that the foundation was set for Sookie’s love life to go in a different direction. As always, I look forward to the next one.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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March 04, 2008
House of Cards by C. E. Murphy, 4 1/2
Book description: New York City's only legal counsel to the fabled Old Races, Margrit Knight, is level headed in all matters extraordinary. But when she's summoned to negotiate a peace treaty among rival factions, her own mortal world threatens to fall apart. Margrit's been in hot water before, but reentering the underworld brings a new set of problems. Also a new set of friends and enemies, including a ruthless vampire mobster, a dragonlord who won't take no for an answer, a band of subversive selkies-and Alban Korund, the über-hot gargoyle who got her into this mess . . . and whose granite-strong touch still haunts her every fantasy.
Review: House of Cards is the second book in the Negotiator series. I loved the first book, Heart of Stone, so much I immediately ran out and bought the second. This book is just as good as the first installment. Margrit gets more involved in the supernatural world and the secondary characters are developed nicely. The romance moves along at a good pace too. I can’t wait for the third book in the series.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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February 25, 2008
Heart of Stone by C. E. Murphy, 4 1/2
Book description: Okay, so jogging through Central Park after midnight wasn't a bright idea. But Margrit Knight never thought she'd encounter a dark new world filled with magical beings—not to mention a dying woman and a mysterious stranger with blood on his hands. Her logical, lawyer instincts told her it couldn't all be real— but she could hardly deny what she'd seen…and touched.
The mystery man, Alban, was a gargoyle. One of the fabled Old Races who had hidden their existence for centuries. Now he was a murder suspect, and he needed Margrit's help to take the heat off him and find the real killer. And as the dead pile up, it's a race against the sunrise to clear Alban's name and keep them both alive.…
Review: I have been waiting for a good fantasy featuring gargoyles and Heart of Stone delivers. I love that Margrit uses her brains to get herself out of bad situations. Alban makes a wonderful brooding hero. Their slow building romance is well done. The murder mystery and side characters are great too. If you like urban fantasy I highly recommend Heart of Stone.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs, 3
Book description: When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it's up to shapeshifting car mechanic Mercy Thompson to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not. And she'll have to choose between the two werewolves in her life-whether she wants to or not.
Review: Iron Kissed is the third book in the Mercy Thompson series. I liked most of this book as much as any other book in the series. The plot was interesting and I like that Mercy’s romantic life seems to be settled for now. However, I greatly disliked last third of the book. I’ll still read the next book in the series but I’m not looking forward to it all that much.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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January 10, 2008
Kitty and the Silver Bullet by Carrie Vaughn, 4 1/2
Book description: Kitty's radio show is as popular as ever and she has a boyfriend who actually seems to understand her.Can she finally settle down to a normal life? Not if this is just the calm before the storm.When her mother falls ill, Kitty rushes back to Denver--and right back to the abusive pack of werewolves she escaped a year ago.To make matters worse, a war is brewing between the city's two oldest vampires, threatening the whole supernatural community.Though she wants to stay neutral, Kitty is again drawn into a world of politics and violence.To protect her family, her lover, and herself, she'll have to choose sides.And maybe become what she hates--a killer.
Review: Kitty and the Silver Bullet is the fourth book in the Kitty Norville series. This series is consistently good and this book is no exception. I’ve been eager to see Kitty go back to her home town and confront her enemies and this book totally delivers. I can’t wait so see where the series goes from here.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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November 05, 2007
Master of Shadows by Janet Lorimer, 2
Book description: As a child, Ariel McPherson was warned about a ferocious creature that allegedly stalked the forest near her family's summer cottage during the full moon. But surely those were merely stories meant to warn a little girl of dangers that lurk in any wood? When her adult world collapses, Ariel takes refuge in the cottage. Forced to go on an errand of mercy during a night of the full moon, Ariel finds legend crashing into reality. She meets a mysterious stranger, Louvel, in the forest. He will not allow her to see his face, but still strangely captures her heart. Then Ariel's life is shattered by a mysterious death; secrets are revealed and suspicions raised. Ariel's search for answers endangers her own life. Louvel may possess powers that can protect and help her...or he may a beast more fearsome than any found in a fairy tale.
Review: Master of Shadows seems like the kind of book I’d love and I did enjoy the beginning and the end somewhat. Too bad the middle was a giant mess. This book has the absolute worst murder mystery I’ve ever subjected myself to. There were far too many coincidences and poor leaps in logic for me to find it even remotely believable. Ariel also worked on my last nerve. Everyone kept saying how cleaver she was but she could be weak willed and tstl at times. Skip it.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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September 30, 2007
Giants of the Frost by Kim Wilkins, 3 1/2
Book description: Taking a job on an isolated island in the Sea of Norway, scientist Victoria Scott wants a quiet place to finish her doctoral thesis. But Victoria isn’t prepared for the strange shadows outside her cabin window, the rumors of a murderous hag who sucks one’s soul during sleep, and the tales of mythic monsters lurking in the forest. More frightening than the island’s nightmarish mysteries: to Victoria, everything is hauntingly familiar.
When an enigmatic stranger appears on the island, Victoria’s sense of foreboding peaks. For she learns that they are connected by a conflict centuries old—one that can end only with her death…
Review: Giants of the Frost’s biggest strength was its atmospheric world building mixed with Norse mythology. The character development was also good and a lot of the characters had interesting back stories. I liked the idea of the romance more than the execution. The story was slow in places as well. Despite these problems I did enjoy this book and would try something else by this author.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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June 20, 2007
Jade Tiger by Jenn Reese, 3 1/2
Book description: Shan Westin - half-Chinese, half-American, one hundred percent kung fu badass - is on a mission to recover five mystical jade animals before they fall into the wrong hands. Over 15 years ago, Shan's mother led a secret society of female martial artists sworn to protect the statues. When the Jade Circle lost four of the five statues during a murderous attack on their sanctuary, 12-year-old Shan's destiny was sealed. It was she who carried the remaining tiger statue all the way to America; she who felt it clawing at her with the need to recover the crane, snake, leopard and dragon. The Circle was destroyed that night, and Shan hasn't seen her mother since. Shan has grown up under the tiger's unforgiving influence and the shadow of her mother's legacy. Her quest to recover the statues takes her to upstate New York and Ian Dashall, a geeky but brave archaeology professor, and then on to France and England with Ian at her side. Finally, on a secret island off the coast of Hong Kong, Shan overcomes torture, betrayal and deadly tigers in order to battle the man who destroyed the Jade Circle. But even as she faces off with him, she loses hope. How can she possibly succeed where her mother had failed?
Review: Jade Tiger is a fast-paced and fun action novel. I liked the two main characters, Shan and Ian. Their romance was pleasant and, even though it was a little underdeveloped, it worked for me. The numerous action scenes and changes in location made this feel like a very quick read. Recommended if you like action with a touch of romance.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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June 05, 2007
No Humans Involved by Kelley Armstrong, 4
Book description: It’s the most anticipated reality television event of the season: three spiritualists gathered together in one house to raise the ghost of Marilyn Monroe. For celebrity medium Jaime Vegas, it is to be her swan song—one last publicity blast for a celebrity on the wrong side of forty. But unlike her colleagues, who are more show than substance, Jaime is the real thing.
Reluctant to upstage her fellow spiritualists, Jaime tries to suppress her talents, as she has done her entire life. But there is something lurking in the maze of gardens behind the house: a spirit without a voice. And it won’t let go until somehow Jaime hears its terrible story. For the first time in her life, Jaime Vegas understands what humans mean when they say they are haunted. Distraught, Jaime looks to fellow supernatural Jeremy Danvers for help.
As the touches and whispers from the garden grow more frantic, Jaime and Jeremy embark on an investigation into a Los Angeles underworld of black magic and ritual sacrifice. When events culminate in a psychic showdown, Jaime must use the darkest power she has to defeat a shocking enemy—one whose malicious force comes from the last realm she expected. . . .
In a world whose surface resembles our own, Kelley Armstrong delivers a stunning alternate reality, one where beings of the imagination live, love, and fight a never-ending battle between good and evil.
Review: No Humans Involved is the seventh book in the Women of the Otherworld series. This is the best book in the series since Dime Store Magic. Everything works here. Jaime is a great narrator. She’s not physically strong like Elana but she’s strong in every other way. I’ve been waiting a long time too see how Jaime and Jeremy’s romance would play out and it didn’t disappoint. There’s also a great supernatural mystery storyline that is a lot easier to follow than the one in Broken. One thing I would warn readers of is that the character Hope is featured heavily in this book and I felt I would have enjoyed her scenes more if I had read the short story about her in the Dates From Hell anthology. I’ll be sure to read it before the next book in the series is released because Hope is the narrator.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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May 08, 2007
All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris, 4
Book description: Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has her hands full dealing with every sort of undead and paranormal creature imaginable. And after being betrayed by her longtime vampire love, Sookie must not only deal with a new man in her life-the shapeshifter Quinn-but also contend with the long-planned vampire summit.
The summit is a tense situation. The vampire queen of Louisiana is in a precarious position, her power base weakened by hurricane damage to New Orleans. And there are some vamps who would like to finish what nature started. Soon, Sookie must decide what side she'll stand with. And her choice may mean the difference between survival and all-out catastrophe.
Review: All Together Dead is the seventh book in the Southern Vampire series. This installment is a slight improvement over the last one. Thankfully, the romance is kept to a minimum because Quinn is still dull as dirt. Erik is starting to win me over and Erik/Sookie fans will find a lot to like here. The plot starts out a little slow as Sookie wraps up some business at home but soon picks up with lots of vampire politics and a murder mystery. This series is still compulsively readable and I can’t wait for the next installment.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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March 31, 2007
Kitty Takes a Holiday by Carrie Vaughn, 4 1/2
Book description: After getting caught turning wolf on national television, Kitty retreats to a mountain cabin to recover and write her memoirs. But this is Kitty, so trouble is never far behind, and instead of Walden Pond, she gets Evil Dead. When werewolf hunter Cormac shows up with an injured Ben O'Farrell, Kitty's lawyer, slung over his shoulder, and a wolf-like creature with glowing red eyes starts sniffing around the cabin, Kitty wonders if any of them will get out of these woods alive...
Review: Kitty Takes a Holiday is the third book in the Kitty Norville series. I’m glad to see the series getting back to what I liked about the first book so much. The story is mostly character driven with lots of good werewolf action. I liked the relationship Kitty develops but some fans won’t. There’s a creepy supernatural mystery sub-plot that I enjoyed as well. The way the book ended left me anxiously waiting for the next one.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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March 19, 2007
Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead, 5
Book description: When it comes to jobs in hell, being a succubus seems pretty glamorous. A girl can be anything she wants. The wardrobe is killer, and mortal men will do anything just for a touch. Granted, they often pay with their souls, but why get technical?
But Seattle succubus Georgina Kincaid’s life is far less exotic. Her boss is a middle-management demon with a thing for John Cusack movies. Her immortal best friends haven’t stopped teasing her about the time she shape-shifted into the Demon Goddess get-up complete with whip and wings. And she can’t have a decent date without sucking away part of the guy’s life. At least there’s her day job at a local bookstore—free books, all the white chocolate mochas she can drink, and easy access to bestselling, sexy writer, Seth Mortensen, aka He Whom She Would Give Anything to Touch but Can’t.
But dreaming about Seth will have to wait. Something wicked is at work in Seattle’s demon underground. And for once, all of her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won’t help because Georgina’s about to discover there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny…
Review: At first glance I though Succubus Blues was just another overly sexed up urban fantasy but it some how ended up in my checkout pile at the library anyway. This book isn’t anything like I though it would be and I’m so glad I got it. I stayed up all night reading it even though I had to go to work the next day. The world building is more original than in most urban fantasies and it’s a world I wouldn’t mind spending some time in. I love the main character, Georgia. She feeds off men’s souls and she’s deeply unhappy with her life but doesn’t spend a lot of time complaining about it. I liked pretty much everything about this book but the romance was my favorite part. Seth, the main love interest, is shy, sweet and a genuinely nice guy. He’s exactly what Georgia needs but won’t allow herself to have. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. I recommend this book to anyone who likes urban fantasy and paranormal romance, even if you are burnt out on those genres.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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February 26, 2007
Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs, 4
Book description: Mechanic Mercy Thompson has friends in low places-and in dark ones. And now she owes one of them a favor. Since she can shapeshift at will, she agrees to act as some extra muscle when her vampire friend Stefan goes to deliver a message to another of his kind.
But this new vampire is hardly ordinary-and neither is the demon inside of him.
Review: Blood Bound is the second book in the Mercy Thompson series. I really enjoyed this book despite my paranormal fantasy/romance burnout. I love the main character and the world. The plot was a solid horror plot that reminded me of an early Laurell K. Hamilton book. Mercy does have a lot of love interests but the romance is subtle and never gets in the way of the plot. I’ll be eagerly waiting for the next book in the series.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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November 01, 2006
Grave Peril by Jim Butcher, 3 1/2
Book description: Harry Dresden's faced some pretty terrifying foes during his career. Giant scorpions. Oversexed vampires. Psychotic werewolves. It comes with the territory when you're the only professional wizard in the Chicago area phone book.
But in all Harry's years of supernatural sleuthing, he's never faced anything like this: the spirit world's gone postal. All over Chicago, ghosts are causing trouble--and not just of the door-slamming, boo-shouting variety. These ghosts are tormented, violent, and deadly. Someone--or something--is stirring them up to wreak unearthly havoc. But why? And why do so many of the victims have ties to Harry? If Harry doesn't figure it out soon, he could wind up a ghost himself . . .
Review: Grave Peril is the third book in the Dresden Files series. I liked this one more than book two. The overall plot is better and the world building gets really good in this installment. I listened to this on audio book with James Marsters as the reader. He does a fantastic job and is very believable as Harry. I do have some problems with this series though. The better part of these books consist of Harry being put in an action scene where he’s near death or a scene where some random woman attempts to seduce him. This pattern is repeated so much that these scenes stop being suspenseful. I like Harry as a character but he could be far more interesting if he wasn’t such a self-sacrificing whiner all the time. Still these books are fast, fun reads so I’ll keep reading the series.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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July 01, 2006
Kitty Goes to Washington by Carrie Vaughn, 4
Book description: The country's only celebrity werewolf, late-night radio host Kitty Norville prefers to be heard, not seen. But when she's invited to testify at a Senate hearing on behalf of supernaturals, her face gets plastered on national TV. Kitty's been in hot water before, but jumping into the D.C. underworld brings a new set of problems.
And a new set of friends and enemies, including the vampire mistress of the city; an über-hot Brazilian were-jaguar; and a paranoid, Bible-thumping senator who wants to expose Kitty as a monster. Kitty quickly learns that in this city of dirty politicians and backstabbing pundits, everyone's itching for a fight.
Review: Kitty Goes to Washington is the follow up to Kitty and the Midnight Hour. Its more plot driven than the first book but the plot was fast paced. I loved this book’s mix of the supernatural and politics. It goes more in-depth on the subject than any other book of its kind. I also loved the atypical portrayal of vampires here. The romance didn’t work for me but it was a very small part of the book and was easily ignored. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. If you like Kelley Armstrong you’ll love Carrie Vaughn.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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June 17, 2006
Fool Moon by Jim Butcher, 3 1/2
Book description: Business has been slow. Okay, business has been dead. And not even of the undead variety. You would think Chicago would have a little more action for the only professional wizard in the phone book. But lately, Harry Dresden hasn't been able to dredge up any kind of work—magical or mundane.
But just when it looks like he can't afford his next meal, a murder comes along that requires his particular brand of supernatural expertise.
A brutally mutilated corpse. Strange-looking paw prints. A full moon. Take three guesses—and the first two don't count...
Review: This is the second book in the Dresden Files series. I like the mix of horror, fantasy, and humor in this series. This installment has a really different approach to werewolves. The action is non stop which is great up to a certain point. Almost every chapter ends with Harry about to die and I eventually got bored with that. People who liked the grittiness of the first few Anita Blake books will like this series.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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May 17, 2006
Beginnings by Kelley Armstrong, 5
Beginnings is the third novella in Kelley Armstrong’s series of free ebooks. Armstrong’s print books usually focus on a mystery element just as much as they do characterization. Since her ebooks are much shorter, they focus solely on characterization. So, while I usually wouldn’t catagorize the Women of the Otherworld series as romance, this is the best romance I’ve read all year. In this book, Clay meets Elena, who is the main character in Bitten and some of the other print books. Shortly after he meets her, Clay becomes fascinated with her. Elena doesn’t trust easily but Clay slowly wins her over. However, Clay is torn between his new relationship and his loyalty to his pack. If you haven’t read the Women of the Otherworld series yet I highly recommend looking around Kelley Armstrong’s website and downloading her ebooks.
You can download this book here.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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May 16, 2006
Ascension by Kelley Armstrong, 3 1/2
Ascension is the second book in Kelley Armstrong’s series of novellas. It’s a direct follow up to Savage. In it, Clay faces the daunting task of protecting Jeremy in his bid for pack alpha. I liked learning more about how the pack came about. I’m having a lot of fun with these ebooks and I’m moving on to the next one in the series.
You can download Ascension for free here.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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Savage by Kelley Armstrong, 3 1/2
Every year, Kelley Armstrong writes a novella in her Women of the Underworld series and publishes it as a free ebook on her website. How cool is that? This is the first in her series of ebooks. It deals with how Clay, the love interest in Bitten, Stolen, and Broken, becomes a werewolf. Bitten at six, Clay tries to live alone as a new werewolf in the wild until he meets Jeremy. The older werewolf takes him in and attempts to domesticate him. I love how devoted Clay is to Jeremy. Watching Clay attempt to pass for human was always interesting because you never knew what he was going to do next. This book was a great compliment to her print books but, since it’s a prequel, it stands perfectly well on its own. If you haven’t tried Kelley Armstrong yet I recommend downloading Savage. I grantee you will fall in love with the complex characters she creates.
You can download Savage here.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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May 13, 2006
Broken by Kelley Armstrong, 4
Book description: Ever since she discovered she’s pregnant, Elena Michaels has been on edge. After all, she’s never heard of another living female werewolf, let alone one who’s given birth. But thankfully, her expertise is needed to retrieve a stolen letter allegedly written by Jack the Ripper. As a distraction, the job seems simple enough–only the letter contains a portal to Victorian London’s underworld, which Elena inadvertently triggers–unleashing a vicious killer and a pair of zombie thugs.
Now Elena must find a way to seal the portal before the unwelcome visitors get what they’re looking for–which, for some unknown reason, is Elena.
Review: Broken is the sixth book in the Women of the Otherworld series. This time around, the main character is werewolf Elena who was the narrator of the first two books. I’m glad this series returned to Elena. Her story has more resolution by the end of this book than it did in Stolen. I love that Elena was pregnant. I’ve never seen a book like this where the heroine was pregnant and it made the horror plot more suspenseful. As much as I love reading about Elena, I’m glad this series switches narrators. Many series start to get stale by their sixth book but, because this series has multiple main characters, it still feels fresh. The next book in the series will be about Jamie the necromancer. I can’t wait!
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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May 07, 2006
Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris, 4
Book description: As a person with so few living relatives, Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse really hated to lose one. But she never guessed that it would be her cousin Hadley—a consort of the Vampire Queen of New Orleans. After all, technically speaking, Hadley was already dead. And now, as unexpected heir to Hadley’s estate, Sookie discovers the inheritance definitely comes with a risk.
Someone doesn’t want Sookie looking too deeply into Hadley’s past—or for that matter, Hadley’s possessions. And they’re prepared to do anything in their power to stop her. But who? The range of suspects runs from the Rogue Weres who reject Sookie as a friend of the Pack to the Vampire Queen herself, who could be working through a particularly vulnerable subject—Sookie’s first love, Bill.
Whoever it is, they’re definitely dangerous—and Sookie’s life is definitely on the line…
Review: This is the sixth book in the Southern Vampire series. I always enjoy this series while I’m reading it but I hardly ever remember it very fondly. I love the world and the main character but the plots keep getting thinner and thinner. The romance in this series has been dead to me since the second book. There are only so many love interests I can tolerate in a series and I don’t care for anyone but pre-asshole Bill and Sam. Sookie’s romance with Erik was due to a really bad soap opera plot. Alcide is a weak willed little bitch with a list of excuses a mile long. Quinn, her new boyfriend, is just boring. I still like and will continue to read this series, I just wont expect the romance to improve.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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February 23, 2006
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs, 3 1/2
Book description: Mercy Thompson's life is not exactly normal. Her next-door neighbor is a werewolf. Her former boss is a gremlin. And she's fixing a VW bus for a vampire. But then, Mercy isn't exactly normal herself.
Review: Moon Called is yet another of those Anita Blake like books that have become so popular. There isn’t a whole lot here to make it stand out from the other books in the genre. However, the writing is good and it held my interest through out. Fans of the genre will like this. I plan to continue reading the series and I can’t wait to see where the love triangle is going.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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October 31, 2005
Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn, 
Book description: VAMPIRES. WEREWOLVES. TALK RADIO. Kitty Norville is a midnight-shift DJ for a Denver radio station—and a werewolf in the closet. Sick of lame song requests, she accidentally starts "The Midnight Hour," a late-night advice show for the supernaturally disadvantaged. After desperate vampires, werewolves, and witches across the country begin calling in to share their woes, her new show is a raging success. But it’s Kitty who can use some help. With one sexy werewolf-hunter and a few homicidal undead on her tail, Kitty may have bitten off more than she can chew…
Review: I'm so glad I decided to pick up Kitty and the Midnight Hour on a whim. It's ranked right up there with Kelley Armstrong's Bitten as the best werewolf book I've ever read. The idea of a werewolf with a radio advice show is a lot of fun but what I really loved about this book was Kitty's struggle with her pack. Usually I find pack politics more irritating than interesting but waiting for Kitty to decide if she needed her pack despite their many flaws or if she could stand on her ow was fascinating. Romance wasn't a huge part of the book but I liked what little there was and can't wait to see where it goes in future books. If you like werewolf books this one is a must have.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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October 17, 2005
Storm Front by Jim Butcher, 
Book description: Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he?s the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the ?everyday? world is actually full of strange and magical things?and most of them don?t play well with humans. That?s where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a?well, whatever.
There?s just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry?s seeing dollar signs. But where there?s black magic, there a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry?s name. And that?s when things start to get...interesting.
Review: I loved this. Harry is like a male Anita Blake from back when that series was good. This series has everything, a great main character, interesting side characters, extensive world building, non-stop action, and the writing is quite funny too. So, yeah, I?ll be reading the rest of the series.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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June 19, 2005
Haunted by Kelley Armstrong,
Book Description: Eve Levine � half-demon, black witch and devoted mother � has been dead for three years. She has a great house, an interesting love life and can't be killed again � which comes in handy when you've made as many enemies as Eve. Yes, the afterlife isn't too bad � all she needs to do is find a way to communicate with her daughter, Savannah, and she'll be happy.
But fate � or more exactly, the Fates � have other plans. Eve owes them a favor, and they've just called it in. An evil spirit called the Nix has escaped from hell. She feeds on chaos and death, and is very good at persuading people to kill for her. The Fates want Eve to hunt her down before she does any more damage, but the Nix is a dangerous enemy � previous hunters have been driven insane in the process. As if that's not problem enough, the only way to stop her is with an angel's sword. And Eve is no angel. . . .
Review: The fifth book in the Women of the Otherworld series features a new main character, ghostly witch Eve Levine. The enemy in this book is one of the more interesting supernatural villains I�ve read about in a long time. The book also does quite a bit to expand Armstrong�s world. I particularly liked how angels were included in the mix. The romance in this was a bit lighter than it was in the previous books but I enjoyed what there was of it. I can�t wait for the next book in this series. It�s one of the few series I read that is consistently excellent.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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May 08, 2005
Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris, 
Book Description: When Sookie's brother Jason's eyes start to change, she knows he's about to turn into a were-panther for the first time. But her concern becomes cold fear when a sniper sets his deadly sights on the local changeling population-and Jason's new panther brethren suspect he may be the shooter. Now, Sookie has until the next full moon to find out who's behind the attacks, unless the killer decides to find her first.
Review: Dead as a Doornail is the fifth in the Southern Vampire series. This is one of my favorite ongoing series and I liked this addition a lot more than the third and fourth books. Not a whole lot happens in this installment which may disappoint some people. However, I didn�t mind it because I just enjoyed spending time reading about Sookie�s world without a lot of action or romance. I also loved the connection to Charlaine Harris� Shakespeare series that this book opens up. I am starting to worry that this series will suffer in the future because Sookie has way too many love interests at this point. I think I counted 6 in this book alone. The series is still great but I miss the simple Sookie/Bill/Sam triangle.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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April 22, 2005
Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison, 
Book Description: All the creatures of the night gather in "the Hollows" of Cincinnati, to hide, to prowl, to party ... and to feed.
Vampires rule the darkness in a predator-eat-predator world rife with dangers beyond imagining � and it�s Rachel Morgan's job to keep that world civilized.
A bounty hunter and witch with serious sex appeal and an attitude, she'll bring 'em back alive, dead ... or undead.
Review: I had a very hard time getting into this book. A lot of information is dumped on the reader early on and the first half of the book is almost directionless. That being said, the second half is fantastic. The characters, world, and plot all clicked together and now I�m completely hooked. I hate to bring Anita Blake into this but if you are looking for a new series in that tradition, this can�t be missed.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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December 25, 2004
War for the Oaks by Emma Bull, 8 1/2
Book Description: Guitarist Eddi McCandry has just dumped her boyfriend and their band when she finds herself running through the Minneapolis night, pursued by a sinister man and a huge, terrifying dog. As she soon discovers, the two creatures are one and the same: a phouka, a faerie being who has chosen Eddi to be the mortal pawn in the age-old war between the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. Eddi isn't interested--but she doesn't have a choice. For more than her own survival is at stake. To save the city--and the man--that she loves, Eddi must face off against the Dark Queen of the Unseelie Court in the ultimate duel of music and magic.
Review: This was a good one. The characters were great and the romance was unique. The story was solid and kept me interested throughout. I also enjoyed the parts about the band which managed to not be cheesy like it has been in every other book about a band I�ve read. I�ve been kind of turned off by faerie stories since reading Laurell K. Hamilton�s Mary Gentry series but after reading this I have a taste for them again. Anyone who enjoys urban fantasy or faerie stories is sure to love this.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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December 15, 2004
Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong, 8
Book Description: In the aftermath of her mother�s murder, Paige broke with the elite, ultraconservative American Coven of Witches. Now her goal is to start a new Coven for a new generation. But while Paige pitches her vision to uptight thirty-something witches in business suits, a more urgent matter commands her attention.
Someone is murdering the teenage offspring of the underworld�s most influential Cabals � a circle of families that makes the mob look like amateurs. And none is more powerful than the Cortez Cabal, a faction Paige is intimately acquainted with. Lucas Cortez, the rebel son and unwilling heir, is none other than her boyfriend. But love isn�t blind, and Paige has her eyes wide open as she is drawn into a hunt for an unnatural-born killer. Pitted against shamans, demons, and goons, it�s a battle chilling enough to make a wild young woman grow up in a hurry. If she gets the chance.
Review: Fourth book in the Women of the Otherworld series. This was yet another enjoyable book by Armstrong but I didn�t like quite as much as the others. The story was involving, especially in the first half of the novel, but there were just too many characters. While all of these characters were interesting and I wouldn�t mind reading a book about any of them, their involvement made the second half of the book drag. Still, a great addition to the series. Very rarely do I read 3 books by the same writer in such a short amount of time. Kelley Armstrong is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers and I can�t wait till the fifth book comes out in May.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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December 10, 2004
Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong, 9
Book Description: Paige Winterbourne was always either too young or too rebellious to succeed her mother as leader of one of the world�s most powerful elite organizations� the American coven of Witches. Now that she is twenty-three and her mother is dead, the Elders can no longer deny her. But even Paige�s wildest antics can�t hold a candle to those of her new charge� an orphan who is all too willing to use her budding powers for evil... and evil is all too willing to claim her. For this girl is being perused by a dark faction of the supernatural underworld. They are a vicious group who will do anything to woo the young, malleable, and extremely powerful neophyte, including commit murder� and frame Paige for the crime. It�s an initiation into adulthood, womanhood, and the brutal side of magic that Paige will have to do everything within her power to make sure they both survive.
Review: The third book in the Women of the Otherworld series features a new heroine, Paige, the witch we first met in Stolen. Thankfully she�s done some growing up since the pervious book and is no longer slightly annoying. Some people don�t like the change in heroines but I liked this book just as much as the first two. Paige and Elena are two very different characters but the storytelling is as strong as ever. This was yet another Armstrong book I could not put down. I really liked Paige�s lawyer love interest, Lucas. The title of the series may indicate that this series is all about the female characters but Armstrong always manages to come up with men who are just as interesting to read about as their female counterparts. If werewolves aren�t your thing it is possible to start reading the series with this book but I don�t really recommend skipping the first two wonderful books in this series.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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December 05, 2004
Stolen by Kelley Armstrong, 9
Book Description:It was in Bitten, Kelley Armstrong�s debut novel, that thirty-year-old Elena Michaels came to terms with her feral appetites and claimed the proud identity of a beautiful, successful woman�and the only living female werewolf.
In Stolen, on a mission for her own elite pack, she is lured into the net of ruthless Internet billionaire Tyrone Winsloe, who has funded a bogus scientific investigation of the "other races" and their supernatural powers. Kidnapped and studied in his underground lab deep in the Maine woods, these paranormals�witches, vampires, shamans, werewolves�are then released and hunted to the death in a real-world video game. But when Winsloe captures Elena, he finally meets his match.
Review: Sequel to Bitten and second book in the Women of the Otherworld series. I have no idea why I waited so long to read this book since I loved Bitten so much. I�m glad I got around to it though because Stolen is every bit as good as Bitten. The plot is action packed and suspenseful. I could not put this book down! I also love the way Armstrong expanded her world to include other supernatural creatures, setting the stage for future novels. I highly recommend both Bitten and Stolen (and anything else by Kelley Armstrong) These are probably the best werewolf books I�ve ever read.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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October 19, 2004
Obsidian Butterfly by Laurell K. Hamilton, 10
Book Description: There are a lot of monsters in Anita Blake's life. And some of them are human. One such individual is the man she calls Edward, a bounty hunter who specializes in the preternatural. He calls her to help him hunt down the greatest evil she has ever encountered. Something that kills and maims and vanishes into the night. Something Anita will have to face alone...
Review: This is one of my favorite books in the series and after the disaster that was Incubus Dreams I felt the need to read it again. I love it so much because my favorite character in the series, Edward, has a large role. Another great thing about it is that it�s completely plot driven and doesn�t revolve around Anita�s love life. It�s the most violent book in the series and that will undoubtedly turn some people off. Sill, I recommend sticking with the series until you�ve read this one.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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May 31, 2004
Bloody Bones by Laurell K. Hamilton, 8 1/2
Book Description: When Anita Blake's boss at Animators, Inc., informs her that she's expected to raise 300-year-old zombies from a field of jumbled bones just to settle a land dispute, she's understandably annoyed. But as soon as she arrives in Branson, Missouri, to do the deed, the job gets more interesting. A psychotic sword-wielding vampire starts committing multiple murders in the area, and Anita must call on Jean-Claude, her powerful fanged suitor, for help.
Review: This is one of my least favorite books in the series. It's not a bad book at all but I just don't like it as much as the others. The fairy sub plot didn't interest me at all and the vampire one wasn't much better. I liked how Anita and Jean-Claude's relationship started to change. I also liked how Larry and Jason got a lot of face time. (Whatever happened to Larry? Did he drop off the face of the earth or something?) Oh well, at least it made up for the lack of Jean-Claude in the previous book.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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May 17, 2004
The Lunatic Cafe by Laurell K. Hamilton, 9 1/2
Book Description: The zombie-raising business gets slow in December, so Anita Blake is starting to see some oddball cases. She's got a neatly typed list of eight missing lycanthropes given to her by Marcus, the leader of the local werewolf pack, who wants her to find them. The trouble is, Anita's occasionally furry boyfriend Richard is locked in a power struggle with Marcus. Jean-Claude, master vampire of the city and Anita's other love interest, is getting jealous as well.
Review: One of the better books in the series. This read through reminded me how much I use to like Richard. It made me feel all nostalgic. Sadly, Richard and the wolves get on my nerves in a big way now but I'll always have the memories. I really liked the mystery(s) in this one and it was great to read about Anita interacting with her cop buddies again. Jean-Claude is kind of scarce in this book which may annoy some of his hard core fans. It's not really a big problem for me.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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May 08, 2004
Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris, 8 1/2
Book Description: In this fourth quirky installment in this hitherto mass-market series (after 2003's Club Dead), Sookie finds that her bad luck has taken a new turn for the worse. Sookie's love interest, Bill the vampire, runs off to Peru to do research. In his place, Sookie is stuck with Eric, Bill's boss (and head vamp for the district), who appears out of thin air buck naked with no memory of who he is or what he does. Coincidentally, Sookie's brother Jason goes missing. Less coincidentally, but more ominously, a coven of witches (who also happen to be shape-shifters and vampire blood addicts) comes rolling into the nearest big city, looking for trouble.
Review: I always enjoy this series but I didn't like this book quite as much as the others. Sookie's relationship with Eric got on my nerves a bit but I can't really say why without spoiling the entire book. Other than that the book was great. I really liked the sub plot with Sookie's brother. I hope the next book will have something on the Sookie/Bill relationship because that was pretty much ignored in this one.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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May 03, 2004
Circus of the Damned by Laurell K. Hamilton, 10
Book Description: In Circus of the Damned a rogue master vampire hits town, and Anita gets caught in the middle of an undead turf war. Jean-Claude, the Master Vamp of the city, wants her for his own-but his enemies have other plans. And to make matters worse, Anita takes a hit to the heart when she meets a stunningly handsome junior high science teacher named Richard Zeeman. They're two humans caught in the crossfire. Or so Anita thinks...
Review: Looking back many years ago to when I was reading this book for the first time, I think this is the one that got me hooked. This is partly because of the love triangle that is introduced and partly because this is where the series hits it's stride. This installment, more than any other, has the perfect blend of romance and plot. This is one of my favorites in the series and after four or five rereads it's still highly enjoyable.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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March 15, 2004
Ill Wind by Rachel Caine, 8
Book Description: Joanne Baldwin is a Weather Warden. Usually, all it takes is a wave of her hand to tame the most violent weather. But now, she's trying to outrun another kind of storm: accusations of corruption and murder. So, she's resorting to the very human tactic of running for her life... Her only hope is Lewis, the most powerful warden known. Unfortunately, he's stolen not one but three bottles of Djinn-making him the most wanted man on earth. Still, she's racing hard to find him-before the bad weather closes in fast...
Review: This was a fun read. Rachel Caine is kind of like the bastard child of Tanya Huff and Laurell K. Hamilton. If you like either of those authors you'll enjoy this book. The characters and world are interesting and the dialogue is really great. The magic system is heavily based in science but it won't confuse people who are terrible in that subject. (Like me) The book started to drag a little towards the end but that didn't really effect my enjoyment of it. I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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December 30, 2003
The Laughing Corpse by Laurell K. Hamilton, 9
Book Description: The Laughing Corpse takes readers back to a time when Anita's life was a bit less complicated. As the best Animator in the business-she's as good at raising the dead as she is at slaying the undead-she crosses paths with a creature from beyond the grave, a super-powerful zombie who is tearing a swath of murder through the city. And she discovers that there are some secrets better left buried-and some people better left dead.
Review: The second book in the Anita Blake series. We get to find out more about her zombie rasing job which has always been one of the most interesting aspects of the series for me. It was also nice to read about the Anita/Jean Claude dynamic before they became romantically involved.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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November 17, 2003
Guilty Pleasuers by Laurell K. Hamilton, 8 1/2
Book Description: Published almost ten years ago, Guilty Pleasures marked the debut of a writer who was destined to grow from cult favorite to a major bestselling author. Now, for long-time Anita Blake aficionados and newfound fans, Guilty Pleasures makes its hardcover debut. Readers will learn how Anita Blake started raising the dead-and killing the undead. And how she met Jean Claude, the master vampire destined to become not only her biggest nemesis, but her greatest lover.
Review: This use to be my least favorite book in the series but I really enjoyed it this time around. I guess that shows just how much I miss the Anita from the earlier book. Anyway, This book isn't perfect but it's a fun read. I highly recommend it and the entire series.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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October 04, 2003
Sunshine by Robin McKinley, 10
Rae "Sunshine" Seddon lead a normal but happy life as a baker in a coffeehouse until one night she gets kidnaped by vampires. She's held captive as a perspective meal for another vampire captive but he refuses to kill her. In her attempts to escape, Sunshine discovers more about herself and her past than she ever wanted to know and she's afraid she may loose her normal life forever.
Robin McKinley is my favorite author and when I found out she was writing a book about one of my favorite subjects (vampires) I was ecstatic. But I didn't even have a clue this book would be so good. I'm not exaggerating a bit when I say that out of the eighty or so books I've read this year, this one is my favorite. McKinley has created a very interesting and original world that's equally fantasy and horror. The main character was also really great. She managed to be strong with out being one of those balls busting supernatural bitch characters that seem to be so popular in vampire books these days. I also really loved the not quite romance between the main characters. Anyway, this book is well worth the hardcover price so go get it now.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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August 26, 2003
The Second Summoning by Tanya Huff, ****
In the second book of the Keeper's Chronicles, Claire Hansen is having relationship troubles. She's really fond of handsome handyman Dean but she doesn't want him to get killed in the battle against good and evil. To make matters more confusing, her smart-mouthed cat, Austin, and her annoying little sister, Diana, are determined to meddle in Claire and Deans' relationship. Just when Claire thinks she's worked her personal life out, the power of darkness and light start wreaking havoc in the form of hormone driven teenagers.
The Second Summoning is every bit as hilarious as the first book in the series. However, this time around the book is as much from Diana's point of view as it is from Claire's. The switching POVs makes this book seem more like part of a series. I really liked the plot but I found myself missing Claire and Deans' plot line. Anyway, fans of supernatural humor really should give this series a shot.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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May 30, 2003
Summon the Keeper by Tanya Huff, *****
Claire Hansen is a Keeper and a long with her talking cat, Austin, she travels the world keeping too much evil from leaking into it. She stops at a hotel one night and awakes to find she is now the owner of the hotel. Of course this is no ordinary hotel. It comes complete with a hole to hell, a sleeping evil Keeper, and some truly ugly furniture. Fortunately for Clare the place isn't a complete loss, It comes with a pair of very hot men. There's Dean, a handsome handy man who's only fault is that he's way too young. Then there's Jacques, a very sexy French Canadian who's only problem is that he's also very dead.
My favorite thing about Tanya Huff's writing is that she rarely takes herself too seriously. This is probably why Summon the Keeper is my favorite book by her. It's a very silly book that has almost no plot but fun characters. Well that's not entirely true, it does have a plot but the plot doesn't take up a lot of the book. The book is mostly filled up with funky little side stories and sticky character situations. Anyone who likes horror with a lot of comedy will like this one.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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May 19, 2003
Club Dead by Charlaine Harris, *****
Sookie Stackhouse's relationship with her vampire lover, Bill, has seen better days. He's been secretive and distant lately but things completely fall apart when she discovers he's been cheating on her! Not only that but he's been kidnaped as well. Sookie considers letting him rot but her conscience (and Eric) urges her to rescue him... then kick his butt. Rescuing vampires isn't really the safest of tasks so Eric gets her some protection in the form of Alcide, a hunky werewolf. The more she gets to know Alcide the more he seems like the perfect guy for her.
I still didn't enjoy this one as much as the first but it was a much better put together book than the second. The best thing about this book is that it proves that the series doesn't depend on Sookie and Bill's relationship to be enjoyable. Some people may not like this turn in the series but I think it was the right decision. Like it or hate it you'll probably be on the edge of your seat waiting for the next one. Lets hope we don't have to wait too long.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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March 17, 2003
Dead Untill Dark by Charlaine Harris, *****
I was looking for something vaguely Anita Blake like and I found it in book 1 of the Southern Vampire series. This book revolves around Sookie Stackhouse, a mind reading waitress and her boyfriend, Bill the vampire. This is much more than just a romance novel though. There's murder afoot! Girls are being killed and Sookie's ho brother is the prime suspect.
I like this series a lot. Sookie's a fun character and there's enough interesting characters to keep this series going for a long time. There's a bit more emphasis on romance then there is on action but that works well for this series. I finished this book at work and I wanted the next one so bad I left work early and drove in scary traffic to get it. I had 2 almost accidents but it was so worth it.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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March 16, 2003
Living Dead In Dallas by Charlaine Harris, ****
In the second book of The Southern Vampire series, Sookie is summoned to Dallas to help locate a missing vampire. There she must investigate a vampire hating organization, The Fellowship of the Sun. Meanwhile, back in Sookie's hometown, one of her co-workers has been murdered and a cop has been framed.
This actually feels like two books in one even though it's not a long book. The story in the beginning and the end of the book is almost completely separate from the middle. This doesn't really hurt the enjoyment of the book though. I found this book to be less enjoyable then the first because Sookie gets the stuffing beat out of her all the time. It gets annoying after a while. The best thing about this book are the bits of Bill's past and Eric's expanded role. All in all there's more action and less romance. Not quite as enjoyable as the first but still a great read.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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March 15, 2003
Bitten by Kelley Armstrong, *****
Elena Michaels is on the path to having the life she always wanted. She has a successful career and a wonderful live in boyfriend. There's just one problem, Elena is a werewolf. When Jeremy, her pack alpha, calls for her help to fight a threat to the pack she quickly gets caught up with pack life again and her first love, Clay. Elena resents her life as a werewolf because it was forced upon her but as the threat to the pack worsens she begins to realize how important the pack is to her and how quickly it could all be taken away.
I've never been a big fan of werewolf novels but this one is an exception. Armstrong's werewolf ethos is simple and refreshingly cliche free. Her descriptions of werewolf thought and actions are feral without being so far removed from humanity that they become unbelievable. Elena is just the right mix of toughness and vulnerability and is someone you want to keep reading about. Clay is a wonderful character as well. He could have easily become a very pitiable character but Armstrong, thankfully, saves him from that fate. The writing is face paced and leaves you wanting more. Armstrong is certainly an author to watch and I'm sure I'll relentlessly hunt down and read all her future works.
Category, Fantasy: Urban|
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