I am a big fan of both the Mortal Instruments series and the Infernal Devices series, so I have been anxiously awaiting the release of City of Fallen Angels (Mortal Instruments, Book 4) for a while now. I have to say that I was not disappointed.
After defeating Valentine and his followers in Idris, we find most everyone back in New York adjusting to the new order of things while the Clave prepares new accords uniting Shadowhunters and Downworlders. Clary is caught up in her training as a Shadowhunter, her mother & Luke's impending wedding and Jace--always Jace. Simon is trying to live a 'normal' life while hiding his true nature from his family and juggling Izzy and Maia, who do not not he is dating both of them. It all starts off as somewhat typical young adult issues, until the dead bodies of Shadowhunters start showing up in different parts of town. Then, the intrigue begins...
I don't want to give away too much of the story because I believe that the anticipation of what happens next is probably the best part of a really good story. This is a really good story. There are mysterious new characters introduced and some characters from Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, Book 1) are brought into this series. The main mystery, while disturbing, is well-developed and I have to admit that there were more than a few times when I thought "I didn't see that coming". Those are moments that I truly enjoy. The characters are very real and likable, the stories are wonderfully show more fantastic without going so far as to be science fiction. While the main characters are young, the stories go beyond the label YA and can be enjoyed by everyone.
Cassandra Clare has created an incredible world in both series, all of her stories have been captivating and incredibly well-written. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all of the Mortal Instruments series and look forward to City of Lost Souls (scheduled for 5/2012 release). If you have not read any of the Mortal Instruments series, start with City of Bones (Mortal Instruments). Also, for any fans of the Infernal Devices series, Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices) will be released on December 6th! show less
After defeating Valentine and his followers in Idris, we find most everyone back in New York adjusting to the new order of things while the Clave prepares new accords uniting Shadowhunters and Downworlders. Clary is caught up in her training as a Shadowhunter, her mother & Luke's impending wedding and Jace--always Jace. Simon is trying to live a 'normal' life while hiding his true nature from his family and juggling Izzy and Maia, who do not not he is dating both of them. It all starts off as somewhat typical young adult issues, until the dead bodies of Shadowhunters start showing up in different parts of town. Then, the intrigue begins...
I don't want to give away too much of the story because I believe that the anticipation of what happens next is probably the best part of a really good story. This is a really good story. There are mysterious new characters introduced and some characters from Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, Book 1) are brought into this series. The main mystery, while disturbing, is well-developed and I have to admit that there were more than a few times when I thought "I didn't see that coming". Those are moments that I truly enjoy. The characters are very real and likable, the stories are wonderfully show more fantastic without going so far as to be science fiction. While the main characters are young, the stories go beyond the label YA and can be enjoyed by everyone.
Cassandra Clare has created an incredible world in both series, all of her stories have been captivating and incredibly well-written. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all of the Mortal Instruments series and look forward to City of Lost Souls (scheduled for 5/2012 release). If you have not read any of the Mortal Instruments series, start with City of Bones (Mortal Instruments). Also, for any fans of the Infernal Devices series, Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices) will be released on December 6th! show less
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced reader's copy of Shift (Shade, Book 2) by Jeri Smith-Ready. I was thrilled because I absolutely loved Shade (Shade, Book 1), as well as her WVMP series, and I have been anxiously awaiting the release of Shift (Shade, Book 2) since I finished Shade (Shade, Book 1). If you haven't read Shade (Shade, Book 1), go get it now and read it--it's excellent.
Shift (Shade, Book 2) picks up shortly after Shade (Shade, Book 1). Aura is still reeling from Logan having gone shade and is desperately trying to bring him back. She is also trying to deal with her feelings for Zachary, while they work together to uncover the role of Newgrange in the Shift, as well as their place in it. This second installment, the series will be a trilogy, really focuses on Aura and her feelings. She is trying to reconcile the loss of her first love, while facing her feelings for Zachary--who may be her destiny. Aside from the supernatural aspects, the emotional development of Aura is well-written and very true to life. She is at an age where she is transitioning into a more mature mind-set. Her priorities are changing and her emotions are maturing. Her relationships are maturing as well, not just with Zachary but also with her Aunt Gina and her grandmother. Together, Aura and Zachary begin to unravel the mysteries of the Shift, Newgrange and Aura's parents. They learn about the connection between Zachary's father & Aura's mother and what may have happened to them on show more that fateful Winter Solstice.
In truth, I started reading Jeri Smith-Ready because she writes about where I am from. I really enjoy reading about familiar places in my fiction. However, her books are great, with or without the local connection. I highly recommend all of her books, but this series is my favorite of hers. The concept is original and fascinating. The relationships are well-developed and, supernatural elements aside, very easy to relate to. Her WVMP series runs a close second--and if you love vampires, you should get started with Wicked Game. show less
Shift (Shade, Book 2) picks up shortly after Shade (Shade, Book 1). Aura is still reeling from Logan having gone shade and is desperately trying to bring him back. She is also trying to deal with her feelings for Zachary, while they work together to uncover the role of Newgrange in the Shift, as well as their place in it. This second installment, the series will be a trilogy, really focuses on Aura and her feelings. She is trying to reconcile the loss of her first love, while facing her feelings for Zachary--who may be her destiny. Aside from the supernatural aspects, the emotional development of Aura is well-written and very true to life. She is at an age where she is transitioning into a more mature mind-set. Her priorities are changing and her emotions are maturing. Her relationships are maturing as well, not just with Zachary but also with her Aunt Gina and her grandmother. Together, Aura and Zachary begin to unravel the mysteries of the Shift, Newgrange and Aura's parents. They learn about the connection between Zachary's father & Aura's mother and what may have happened to them on show more that fateful Winter Solstice.
In truth, I started reading Jeri Smith-Ready because she writes about where I am from. I really enjoy reading about familiar places in my fiction. However, her books are great, with or without the local connection. I highly recommend all of her books, but this series is my favorite of hers. The concept is original and fascinating. The relationships are well-developed and, supernatural elements aside, very easy to relate to. Her WVMP series runs a close second--and if you love vampires, you should get started with Wicked Game. show less
Sarah Addison Allen writes magic: her stories are full of strong Southern women, sweetness and secrets. In The Peach Keeper: A Novel, she once again weaves a wonderful tale of two Southern women, distant in the present but bound together by the past and a powerful secret. Paxton Osgood has spent her life being the girl and then the woman that everyone seemed to expect her to be. Willa Jackson is just the opposite. She defied convention and her grandmother's attempt at a strict upbringing, only to 'lock down' that wild child to become a responsible adult. Neither woman is truly happy, each wanting some part of who the other is, not realizing that what marks them as different, really makes them so much the same.
Paxton is in charge of the restoration of the Blue Ridge Madam, a spectacular home formerly owned by Willa's ancestors, but lost during the financial crisis of the Depression. During the landscaping, a skeleton is dug up from beneath the lone peach tree. The skeleton brings to light secrets from the past, secrets of a Magic Man who held the town captive under his spell. Secrets belonging to Willa's grandmother Georgie and Paxton's grandmother Adele. The secret brings the younger women together, in an attempt to protect the older ones. Their unlikely alliance leads each woman to discover something special and magical about herself, love and the power of friendship.
I am a huge admirer of Sarah Addison Allen's work. The Peach Keeper: A Novel tells a wonderful story of show more love, loss and regrets. It reminds us that we all need to be who we are, not who we think we should be and that we all need to open some space up in our lives for something good to come in. show less
Paxton is in charge of the restoration of the Blue Ridge Madam, a spectacular home formerly owned by Willa's ancestors, but lost during the financial crisis of the Depression. During the landscaping, a skeleton is dug up from beneath the lone peach tree. The skeleton brings to light secrets from the past, secrets of a Magic Man who held the town captive under his spell. Secrets belonging to Willa's grandmother Georgie and Paxton's grandmother Adele. The secret brings the younger women together, in an attempt to protect the older ones. Their unlikely alliance leads each woman to discover something special and magical about herself, love and the power of friendship.
I am a huge admirer of Sarah Addison Allen's work. The Peach Keeper: A Novel tells a wonderful story of show more love, loss and regrets. It reminds us that we all need to be who we are, not who we think we should be and that we all need to open some space up in our lives for something good to come in. show less
Thank you Barnes & Noble Free Fridays for providing me with such a fun read. Millie's Fling by Jill Mansell is a delightfully funny romance, nothing too risque and having a lot of heart. Millie finds herself in a bit of a bind--she's without a boyfriend and without a job, making for the perfect situation to be rescued by Orla Hart, romance writer. Orla is reeling from a scathing review of her last book and is determined to write something better. She decides to base her next book on real life, Millie's real life. However, as Millie's life isn't as exciting as Orla would like, Orla decides to bring in some romantic candidates. What she doesn't know, is that Millie is holding out on her.
As I said, this is a fun read. The characters are realistic and funny. Millie is surrounded by a wonderful supporting cast: Hester, her best friend whose boyfriend is working 500 miles away, Millie's father and his wonderful partner Judy, the polar opposite of Millie's mother, Adele who left for London, looking for a more exciting life, Nat, Hester's perfect and absent boyfriend; Lucas, Hester's lifelong crush who is more than meets the eye; the gorgeous Con Devereaux, incredibly famous movie star with his own secrets. And Hugh.
I've never read Jill Mansell before, and this book reminded me very much of a Sophie Kinsella/Marian Keyes type story. Mind you, Mansell definitely has her own style and it's a very nice one, but I was reminded of these other authors, whom I love. In fact, I'm show more planning to add plenty of Jill Mansell to my download list. I was thrilled when I checked her website to see that she has quite an impressive list of books and awards to her credit. I've been off of "chick lit" for a while, but I think Millie's Fling might just bring me back for a while. show less
As I said, this is a fun read. The characters are realistic and funny. Millie is surrounded by a wonderful supporting cast: Hester, her best friend whose boyfriend is working 500 miles away, Millie's father and his wonderful partner Judy, the polar opposite of Millie's mother, Adele who left for London, looking for a more exciting life, Nat, Hester's perfect and absent boyfriend; Lucas, Hester's lifelong crush who is more than meets the eye; the gorgeous Con Devereaux, incredibly famous movie star with his own secrets. And Hugh.
I've never read Jill Mansell before, and this book reminded me very much of a Sophie Kinsella/Marian Keyes type story. Mind you, Mansell definitely has her own style and it's a very nice one, but I was reminded of these other authors, whom I love. In fact, I'm show more planning to add plenty of Jill Mansell to my download list. I was thrilled when I checked her website to see that she has quite an impressive list of books and awards to her credit. I've been off of "chick lit" for a while, but I think Millie's Fling might just bring me back for a while. show less
The Lost Saint: A Dark Divine Novel by Bree Despain is the second of the Dark Divine novels. The story picks up where The Dark Divine left off. Grace's world is falling apart: Jude is still missing, her father is gone all the time trying to find him and her mother is a mess. On top of all this, she is trying to deal with her newly found strength and anger, while Daniel just wants everything to remain 'normal'. And, in walks the perfect stranger: friendly, handsome, always in the right place at the right time and willing to help Grace find Jude. A recipe for disaster...
I have to admit that I had a hard time reading this book. I was very surprised since I really enjoyed The Dark Divine. I was bothered by Grace's anger and bouts of self-pity. It is quite a turn from Grace of The Dark Divine. Grace, however, is evolving, in more ways than one, and her evolution is painful and hard. It's painful to read as well, but pushing through it was well worth it.
I did enjoy The Lost Saint: A Dark Divine Novel, although it was not at all what I expected. I'm not quite sure what I did expect, but the process of Grace's transformation certainly threw me for a loop. It is a great second segment of the Dark Divine series and I look forward to reading the next.
I have to admit that I had a hard time reading this book. I was very surprised since I really enjoyed The Dark Divine. I was bothered by Grace's anger and bouts of self-pity. It is quite a turn from Grace of The Dark Divine. Grace, however, is evolving, in more ways than one, and her evolution is painful and hard. It's painful to read as well, but pushing through it was well worth it.
I did enjoy The Lost Saint: A Dark Divine Novel, although it was not at all what I expected. I'm not quite sure what I did expect, but the process of Grace's transformation certainly threw me for a loop. It is a great second segment of the Dark Divine series and I look forward to reading the next.
Arcane Circle (Persephone Alcmedi, Book 4) is the 4th book in the Persephone Alcmedi series. It picks up just after the end of Fatal Circle (Persephone Alcmedi, Book 3). In fact, some of the issues from the previous book are still up in the air as this one begins.
I really enjoyed this book, but it's difficult to review without spoilers. Some of the events from the previous book impact the plot of this story and I'm afraid that if I go into too much depth of review, I'll spoil the suspense for another reader. So, I'll be keeping things somewhat vague in this one.
Robertson really begins to unlock some of the background of her characters in this story. Elements from Persephone's and Johnny's pasts come into play during the story. A large part of the story is focused on Johnny's being recognized as Domn Lup and the search to find the person who can unlock his power, which is being contained in his tattoos. We learn a little more about Johnny and his struggles in dealing with losing his father figure and being acknowledged as Domn Lup, while accepting this truth about himself. I enjoyed having more of the focus on Johnny, as the story was more focused on Menessos in Fatal Circle (Persephone Alcmedi, Book 3). The relationship between Johnny and Persephone is explored more in this book and seems to be getting stronger, despite the temptation of Menessos. Of course, the pressures and expectations of Johnny being Domn Lup have only just started to impact his relationship with show more Seph.
Not everything is resolved at the end of the book, leaving me to believe that there will be another addition to the Persephone Alcmedi series and I look forward to reading it.
For anyone who hasn't read the Persephone Alcmedi series of books, Vicious Circle (Persephone Alcmedi, Book 1) is where to start :)
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I really enjoyed this book, but it's difficult to review without spoilers. Some of the events from the previous book impact the plot of this story and I'm afraid that if I go into too much depth of review, I'll spoil the suspense for another reader. So, I'll be keeping things somewhat vague in this one.
Robertson really begins to unlock some of the background of her characters in this story. Elements from Persephone's and Johnny's pasts come into play during the story. A large part of the story is focused on Johnny's being recognized as Domn Lup and the search to find the person who can unlock his power, which is being contained in his tattoos. We learn a little more about Johnny and his struggles in dealing with losing his father figure and being acknowledged as Domn Lup, while accepting this truth about himself. I enjoyed having more of the focus on Johnny, as the story was more focused on Menessos in Fatal Circle (Persephone Alcmedi, Book 3). The relationship between Johnny and Persephone is explored more in this book and seems to be getting stronger, despite the temptation of Menessos. Of course, the pressures and expectations of Johnny being Domn Lup have only just started to impact his relationship with show more Seph.
Not everything is resolved at the end of the book, leaving me to believe that there will be another addition to the Persephone Alcmedi series and I look forward to reading it.
For anyone who hasn't read the Persephone Alcmedi series of books, Vicious Circle (Persephone Alcmedi, Book 1) is where to start :)
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Why are all the good books such quick reads? Why can I finish a book I love in no time at all and then have to wait a year, or more!, to read the next installment? Why can't the authors of books I love focus only on the series I enjoy and crank out book after book all year long? This is how I feel about the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. (Although, to be honest, I also enjoy Briggs' Alpha & Omega series, so she'll need to start splitting her time between the two :)
River Marked (Mercy Thompson, Book 6) is a book I'd been waiting to read for quite a while. It had been almost a year since Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson, Book 5) and I was dying to catch up with Mercy, Adam, Stefan, Zee and the Pack. Things open with Mercy under considerable stress regarding her impending wedding. Her mother's continued outrageous suggestions leave Mercy crying for, well, mercy. She decides that she and Adam should get married right away, before the planned wedding, without all the bells and whistles. Mercy's simple ceremony turns into a rather pleasant surprise provided by her family and friends--OK, maybe that was a bit of a spoiler, but I didn't tell everything. The real action starts when Mercy and Adam leave for their honeymoon--outside forces have even managed to manipulate where they honeymoon, but Adam assures her that they are in the area for a reason and that the reason will show itself soon enough and, sure enough, it does. At least they get a few days of peace before Mercy show more finds herself facing a Native American river monster that is terrorizing the area. She and Adam connect with a very interesting group of Native Americans to try and set things right.
What I liked most about this book is that Mercy finally connects with her father's side. She finds out a lot about her father and gains some powerful allies in the Native American world. This is the first time the reader really gets to see this side of Mercy, where her magic comes from and where her roots lay. I also really enjoyed the bond between Mercy and Adam. We get to see them as a couple, without work or pack business getting in the way. Their relationship is explored and explained on new and different levels and they really hone their communication skills. The story is great--lots of action and magic involved, including new magical elements for Mercy to explore. Overall, I really enjoyed River Marked (Mercy Thompson, Book 6), it's a great addition to the Mercy Thompson series. I hope Patricia Briggs is busy writing the next Mercy Thompson book because I can't wait to read it!!
For anyone out there unfamiliar with this series, start with Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1). Once you've started the series, you won't be able to put it down! Also, check out Cry Wolf (Alpha and Omega, Book 1), a companion series to the Mercy Thompson series which focuses on one of Mercy's pack mates from her childhood.
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River Marked (Mercy Thompson, Book 6) is a book I'd been waiting to read for quite a while. It had been almost a year since Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson, Book 5) and I was dying to catch up with Mercy, Adam, Stefan, Zee and the Pack. Things open with Mercy under considerable stress regarding her impending wedding. Her mother's continued outrageous suggestions leave Mercy crying for, well, mercy. She decides that she and Adam should get married right away, before the planned wedding, without all the bells and whistles. Mercy's simple ceremony turns into a rather pleasant surprise provided by her family and friends--OK, maybe that was a bit of a spoiler, but I didn't tell everything. The real action starts when Mercy and Adam leave for their honeymoon--outside forces have even managed to manipulate where they honeymoon, but Adam assures her that they are in the area for a reason and that the reason will show itself soon enough and, sure enough, it does. At least they get a few days of peace before Mercy show more finds herself facing a Native American river monster that is terrorizing the area. She and Adam connect with a very interesting group of Native Americans to try and set things right.
What I liked most about this book is that Mercy finally connects with her father's side. She finds out a lot about her father and gains some powerful allies in the Native American world. This is the first time the reader really gets to see this side of Mercy, where her magic comes from and where her roots lay. I also really enjoyed the bond between Mercy and Adam. We get to see them as a couple, without work or pack business getting in the way. Their relationship is explored and explained on new and different levels and they really hone their communication skills. The story is great--lots of action and magic involved, including new magical elements for Mercy to explore. Overall, I really enjoyed River Marked (Mercy Thompson, Book 6), it's a great addition to the Mercy Thompson series. I hope Patricia Briggs is busy writing the next Mercy Thompson book because I can't wait to read it!!
For anyone out there unfamiliar with this series, start with Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1). Once you've started the series, you won't be able to put it down! Also, check out Cry Wolf (Alpha and Omega, Book 1), a companion series to the Mercy Thompson series which focuses on one of Mercy's pack mates from her childhood.
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The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor is an interesting take on the Alice in Wonderland story. This interpretation contends that Alyss Heart, Princess of Wonderland, is the Alice of the Lewis Caroll story. When her evil Aunt Redd attacks and kills her parents, Alyss flees to the outside world. Separated from her escort and bodyguard, Hatter Madigan, Alyss finds herself an orphan in London who is eventually adopted by The Liddells. Her adoptive family dismisses Alyss' stories of her life in Wonderland as flights of fantasy. She gives up her memories of Wonderland when a family friend publishes her stories under the pen name Lewis Carroll. Alyss is hurt and angry because she feels her life has been trivialized and turned into a fairy tale. She becomes determined to be the ideal daughter and truly becomes Alice Liddell. She is set to marry Prince Leopold when a figure from her past arrives and brings her back to the ruins of the Wonderland where she grew up. Redd has destroyed the city and all those who support White Imagination, that of the former King and Queen. She and her followers practice Black Imagination, which is destructive and evil. In order to restore Wonderland to the peaceful land of her childhood, Alyss must learn to hone her imaginative skills and defeat her aunt.
This book took a long time for me to read. I kept getting hung up comparing it to the original story. I was also distracted by the semblance to the real life story of Alice Liddell and the show more fabricated parts created for the character of Alice Liddell. In fact, at one point, I put the book down and left it for over a month. I read quite a few other books before I came back to finish it. However, I did come back to finish it. I enjoyed the adventure of the story, and the change and development of Alyss' character. It makes an interesting statement about how much is lost when imagination is discouraged. It furthers the statement with the power Alyss has once she begins to hone her imagination as an adult. The characters were interesting, particularly Alyss' childhood friend Dodge, but many of them were weakened by being based on characters in the original story. For example, Hatter Madigan may have appeared as a stronger hero figure if I weren't thinking of him as the Mad Hatter.
I can't even decide if I liked this story or not. I'm not sure if I would have enjoyed it more if it hadn't been based on Lewis Carroll's Alice. Of course, being based on the famous work is part of what drew me to the book in the first place. I'll say this--The Looking Glass Wars is an interesting adventure filled with some familiar characters in a familiar land. Will I read the sequel, Seeing Redd: The Looking Glass Wars, Book Two? Probably, if I come across it on a book exchange site, but I won't be paying to download it.
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This book took a long time for me to read. I kept getting hung up comparing it to the original story. I was also distracted by the semblance to the real life story of Alice Liddell and the show more fabricated parts created for the character of Alice Liddell. In fact, at one point, I put the book down and left it for over a month. I read quite a few other books before I came back to finish it. However, I did come back to finish it. I enjoyed the adventure of the story, and the change and development of Alyss' character. It makes an interesting statement about how much is lost when imagination is discouraged. It furthers the statement with the power Alyss has once she begins to hone her imagination as an adult. The characters were interesting, particularly Alyss' childhood friend Dodge, but many of them were weakened by being based on characters in the original story. For example, Hatter Madigan may have appeared as a stronger hero figure if I weren't thinking of him as the Mad Hatter.
I can't even decide if I liked this story or not. I'm not sure if I would have enjoyed it more if it hadn't been based on Lewis Carroll's Alice. Of course, being based on the famous work is part of what drew me to the book in the first place. I'll say this--The Looking Glass Wars is an interesting adventure filled with some familiar characters in a familiar land. Will I read the sequel, Seeing Redd: The Looking Glass Wars, Book Two? Probably, if I come across it on a book exchange site, but I won't be paying to download it.
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Ghouls, Ghouls, Ghouls (Ghost Hunter Mysteries, No. 5) finds MJ Holliday and the cast of Ghoul Getters in Ireland, investigating a haunted castle. However, this is no ordinary haunted castle, this castle boasts a phantom and a legend of lost treasure. Upon their arrival in Ireland, the team finds that several treasure hunters before them have lost either their lives or their sanity trying to locate the lost treasure of Dunlow Castle.
MJ is back, helping lost spirits and busting evil ones. She's got Gilley, Heath and her television crew with her. They are in Ireland visiting a very haunted castle--with helpful and harmful spirits. When a member of her crew goes missing, presumably lost to the phantom, the kinder spirits at the castle charge her with solving the mystery of the phantom and ridding the castle of it. Only then will they assist her in finding her friend. MJ finds herself solving several mysteries, including the mystery of her feelings for Heath.
Victoria Laurie provides a fun adventure, mixed with some ghost hunting and a little romance, in this addition to the Ghost Hunter Mysteries. MJ continues to be her witty, entertaining self, and her relationships with Gilley and Heath add humor and romance to the mix. Overall, this follows the previous books in the series very nicely and I hope we see more development between MJ and Heath in the future.
Follow my reviews at readerbarbara.blogspot.com
MJ is back, helping lost spirits and busting evil ones. She's got Gilley, Heath and her television crew with her. They are in Ireland visiting a very haunted castle--with helpful and harmful spirits. When a member of her crew goes missing, presumably lost to the phantom, the kinder spirits at the castle charge her with solving the mystery of the phantom and ridding the castle of it. Only then will they assist her in finding her friend. MJ finds herself solving several mysteries, including the mystery of her feelings for Heath.
Victoria Laurie provides a fun adventure, mixed with some ghost hunting and a little romance, in this addition to the Ghost Hunter Mysteries. MJ continues to be her witty, entertaining self, and her relationships with Gilley and Heath add humor and romance to the mix. Overall, this follows the previous books in the series very nicely and I hope we see more development between MJ and Heath in the future.
Follow my reviews at readerbarbara.blogspot.com
This Side of the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 5) by Jeaniene Frost is awesome! It continues the adventures of Cat and Bones, who are facing more trouble than they know what to do with. I honestly loved this book & had been anxiously awaiting the release to see what Cat and Bones got into next. But, I have had the worst time trying to write a review of it. I've been trying off and on for several days, but every time I write something it feels too spoiler-ish and I start over. I figure that if you are reading the series, you certainly won't be disappointed and if you're not familiar with the series, start it. Go buy or download or borrow Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 1) and get started. Cat is an incredibly interesting character who continually evolves over the course of the series & Bones is, well, Bones is freaking hot :) If you like a little spice with your vampires, et al, read Jeaniene Frost.
Enough said.
Enough said.
My Soul to Steal (Soul Screamers, Book 4) by Rachel Vincent is the latest addition to the Soul Screamers series. Kaylee Cavanaugh, female bean sidhe is trying to hold it all together. While she is still recovering from her recent breakup with Nash, his ex-girlfriend and first love Sabine comes to town. Kaylee is blindsided by the gorgeous and slightly creepy Sabine, who is very clear in her intention to win back Nash's heart. Sabine is a mara--a being that feeds off the fear of others in the form of their nightmares.
In the midst of Kaylee's troubles, teachers start dropping dead at school--in their sleep. And the student body seems to have lost its collective mind. On top of all this, Avari seems to have been possessing people around Kaylee in their sleep. Sabine, Avari and the chaos can't all be a coincidence, can it? Kaylee is faced with so many possibilities that she doesn't know where to turn or who to trust. Can she turn to Nash even though she feels that she can't trust him? Tod is always there for her, but he seems to be acting a little weird too, and she can't expose Emma to any more of Netherworld, can she?
My Soul to Steal (Soul Screamers, Book 4) shows Kaylee becoming more self-reliant and confident in her abilities. She also has to learn to trust and accept help from others instead of trying to take everything on herself. Nash is also maturing--his desperation in trying to win Kaylee back a clear sign that he is adhering to the straight and narrow. All of the show more characters seem to have matured since the first novel, My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers Book 1). Okay, maybe not Sophie but somebody has to play the foil, right? The books seem to be heading in a direction where Kaylee is learning how special she is, as both a girl and a bean sidhe. I found this latest addition to be highly entertaining and I am eagerly anticipating the next installment.
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In the midst of Kaylee's troubles, teachers start dropping dead at school--in their sleep. And the student body seems to have lost its collective mind. On top of all this, Avari seems to have been possessing people around Kaylee in their sleep. Sabine, Avari and the chaos can't all be a coincidence, can it? Kaylee is faced with so many possibilities that she doesn't know where to turn or who to trust. Can she turn to Nash even though she feels that she can't trust him? Tod is always there for her, but he seems to be acting a little weird too, and she can't expose Emma to any more of Netherworld, can she?
My Soul to Steal (Soul Screamers, Book 4) shows Kaylee becoming more self-reliant and confident in her abilities. She also has to learn to trust and accept help from others instead of trying to take everything on herself. Nash is also maturing--his desperation in trying to win Kaylee back a clear sign that he is adhering to the straight and narrow. All of the show more characters seem to have matured since the first novel, My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers Book 1). Okay, maybe not Sophie but somebody has to play the foil, right? The books seem to be heading in a direction where Kaylee is learning how special she is, as both a girl and a bean sidhe. I found this latest addition to be highly entertaining and I am eagerly anticipating the next installment.
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My Soul to Keep (Soul Screamers, Book 3) brings us back to the world of Kaylee Cavanaugh, teen-aged bean sidhe. Kaylee, still adjusting to life with her recently returned father, is finally finished with her grounding from her last adventure when the Netherworld rears its ugly head in her home town. It appears that some of the students in her school, friends of Nash, are inhaling Demon's Breath for a high, unaware of its otherworldly origins or of its deadly consequences.
Kaylee and Nash set out to protect the student body from the highly dangerous Demon's Breath, but all is not as it seems. Nash's behavior is erratic and he keeps trying to Influence Kaylee. Both Emma and Sophie are wrapped up in things via their respective boyfriends, and Kaylee can't know for sure how much danger either of them are in. She wants to go to the adults for help but Nash keeps stopping her. The whole story seems a bit disjointed before things finally click into place for Kaylee and, vicariously, for the reader. Once the core of the story begins to unwind, we see that all roads lead to Avari, the hellion whose attempt to snatch Kaylee's soul was thwarted in My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers Book 2). I won't tell you how things develop to this point, but once Avari is revealed, things begin to make a little more sense and the action begins to pick up. Kaylee must make some difficult choices and take a long, hard look at who is truly on her side.
In My Soul to Keep (Soul Screamers, Book 3), Kaylee show more begins to grow up. She has to make difficult decisions based on what is right, not on what she wants. She also seems to have made an enemy in Avari, bringing Netherworld into her life on terms other than her own. Her actions in previous books are coming back to either benefit her or make her re-evaluate the consequences of her previous decisions. Overall, I think that this book represents a turning point in the series. Kaylee is maturing, the problems are getting bigger and the villain is badder. It seems as if the character relationships will be more complex in the coming stories which will benefit the series' longevity.
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Kaylee and Nash set out to protect the student body from the highly dangerous Demon's Breath, but all is not as it seems. Nash's behavior is erratic and he keeps trying to Influence Kaylee. Both Emma and Sophie are wrapped up in things via their respective boyfriends, and Kaylee can't know for sure how much danger either of them are in. She wants to go to the adults for help but Nash keeps stopping her. The whole story seems a bit disjointed before things finally click into place for Kaylee and, vicariously, for the reader. Once the core of the story begins to unwind, we see that all roads lead to Avari, the hellion whose attempt to snatch Kaylee's soul was thwarted in My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers Book 2). I won't tell you how things develop to this point, but once Avari is revealed, things begin to make a little more sense and the action begins to pick up. Kaylee must make some difficult choices and take a long, hard look at who is truly on her side.
In My Soul to Keep (Soul Screamers, Book 3), Kaylee show more begins to grow up. She has to make difficult decisions based on what is right, not on what she wants. She also seems to have made an enemy in Avari, bringing Netherworld into her life on terms other than her own. Her actions in previous books are coming back to either benefit her or make her re-evaluate the consequences of her previous decisions. Overall, I think that this book represents a turning point in the series. Kaylee is maturing, the problems are getting bigger and the villain is badder. It seems as if the character relationships will be more complex in the coming stories which will benefit the series' longevity.
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When I first heard of Red Riding Hood, the movie, I thought it sounded interesting. In fact, I thought it might be based on a book I'd read not too long ago called Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce since the timing seemed relevant. However, once I saw the movie trailer, I knew it was a different take on the Little Red Riding Hood story, not Pearce's story. The trailer looked interesting, so when I saw Red Riding Hood in Target I picked it up thinking I'd like to read it before seeing the movie since, for me, the book is usually better.
I was surprised to find that this is a book based on the movie and not the other way around. As Catherine Hardwicke, the movie's director, explains in the introduction. The original idea belonged to Leonardo DiCaprio and was the basis for the script written by David Leslie Johnson. However, Hardwicke felt that there was so much to the story, beyond the scope of the movie, that she brought Sarah Blakley-Cartwright to the film set in Vancouver. Once there, she was immersed in the world of Red Riding Hood and found the characters and the voices to tell more of the story.
Red Riding Hood is the story of Valerie, a wood cutter's daughter. She lives in a world that is terrorized by a wolf. Once a month, the villagers take turns leaving an animal sacrifice on the altar, appeasing the wolf on the full moon and ensuring another month of safety for the village. However, during Valerie's first harvest as a village woman, things change. There is a Blood Moon show more and the Wolf starts killing the townspeople. It touches Valerie's family and the families of her friends. The villagers call for a wolf hunt and Father Auguste sends for the famous Father Solomon, who informs the village that their troubles stem not from a wolf, but from a werewolf.
Valerie is also facing some major inner turmoil. She finds that she is betrothed to Henry, without anyone consulting her, on the same day that Peter, her childhood friend and first love, returns to the village. As the Wolf's killing begins to tear her family apart, the villagers start to turn on each other as Father Solomon convinces them that the werewolf lives amongst them. Valerie is caught up in the frenzy as she finds that she has an interesting connection with the Wolf.
In the end, we are left with uncertainty. The story could end where the book does, but a final page directing us to the book's website informs us that Valerie's story continues with a bonus chapter on March 14th, a few days after the movie opens. While this is a very clever means of keeping the movie's ending a secret, especially since the movie was conceived first, it is a little frustrating to know that the end is not the end. And, while I don't have to wait another year to know what happens next, as is the case with books in a series, I'm still left wanting to know how the story ends. It's difficult to rate a book without knowing if the end is well-written. However, based on the rest of the book, I'd venture a guess and say that Red Riding Hood the book will be an enjoyable read for anyone interested in the upcoming movie or is just a fan of paranormal fiction.
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I was surprised to find that this is a book based on the movie and not the other way around. As Catherine Hardwicke, the movie's director, explains in the introduction. The original idea belonged to Leonardo DiCaprio and was the basis for the script written by David Leslie Johnson. However, Hardwicke felt that there was so much to the story, beyond the scope of the movie, that she brought Sarah Blakley-Cartwright to the film set in Vancouver. Once there, she was immersed in the world of Red Riding Hood and found the characters and the voices to tell more of the story.
Red Riding Hood is the story of Valerie, a wood cutter's daughter. She lives in a world that is terrorized by a wolf. Once a month, the villagers take turns leaving an animal sacrifice on the altar, appeasing the wolf on the full moon and ensuring another month of safety for the village. However, during Valerie's first harvest as a village woman, things change. There is a Blood Moon show more and the Wolf starts killing the townspeople. It touches Valerie's family and the families of her friends. The villagers call for a wolf hunt and Father Auguste sends for the famous Father Solomon, who informs the village that their troubles stem not from a wolf, but from a werewolf.
Valerie is also facing some major inner turmoil. She finds that she is betrothed to Henry, without anyone consulting her, on the same day that Peter, her childhood friend and first love, returns to the village. As the Wolf's killing begins to tear her family apart, the villagers start to turn on each other as Father Solomon convinces them that the werewolf lives amongst them. Valerie is caught up in the frenzy as she finds that she has an interesting connection with the Wolf.
In the end, we are left with uncertainty. The story could end where the book does, but a final page directing us to the book's website informs us that Valerie's story continues with a bonus chapter on March 14th, a few days after the movie opens. While this is a very clever means of keeping the movie's ending a secret, especially since the movie was conceived first, it is a little frustrating to know that the end is not the end. And, while I don't have to wait another year to know what happens next, as is the case with books in a series, I'm still left wanting to know how the story ends. It's difficult to rate a book without knowing if the end is well-written. However, based on the rest of the book, I'd venture a guess and say that Red Riding Hood the book will be an enjoyable read for anyone interested in the upcoming movie or is just a fan of paranormal fiction.
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Deborah Harkness' debut novel, A Discovery of Witches: A Novel, is amazing. I was drawn in from the first and did not want to put it down. It's like a mature Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1) meets The Da Vinci Code. The characters are interesting and complex, the story is exciting without being too ambitious or overcomplicated. The book held me spellbound and is responsible for a few hours of lost sleep. It's an historical-supernatural-romance-adventure-mystery--my favorite genres wrapped into an exceptionally good book.
Diana Bishop is not going to use her magic--at least, that's what she keeps telling herself. She is the last in a long line of powerful witches, with a father as powerful as her mother. However, having lost her parents when she was seven years old has turned her away from her heritage and her magic. While researching alchemical manuscripts in the Bodleian Library, she comes in contact with a volume that reaches out to her magic. Panicked, she returns the book to the stacks, but it is too late--word is out that she has discovered the lost Ashmole 782 and now all species of creatures are after her.
Enter Matthew Clairmont, renowned scientist and vampire. He has been searching for Ashmole 782 for centuries and is determined to retrieve the book Diana has recalled. He feels drawn to Diana, feeling the need to protect her from the other creatures, despite witches and vampires being notorious separatists. They are thrown into an uneasy friendship when the show more worlds of witches, vampires and daemons descend upon Diana, all looking for the manuscript.
A Discovery of Witches: A Novel is one of the best books I've read in quite a while. It's clearly written to have a sequel, possibly more than one, and I am anxiously awaiting the next book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading.
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Diana Bishop is not going to use her magic--at least, that's what she keeps telling herself. She is the last in a long line of powerful witches, with a father as powerful as her mother. However, having lost her parents when she was seven years old has turned her away from her heritage and her magic. While researching alchemical manuscripts in the Bodleian Library, she comes in contact with a volume that reaches out to her magic. Panicked, she returns the book to the stacks, but it is too late--word is out that she has discovered the lost Ashmole 782 and now all species of creatures are after her.
Enter Matthew Clairmont, renowned scientist and vampire. He has been searching for Ashmole 782 for centuries and is determined to retrieve the book Diana has recalled. He feels drawn to Diana, feeling the need to protect her from the other creatures, despite witches and vampires being notorious separatists. They are thrown into an uneasy friendship when the show more worlds of witches, vampires and daemons descend upon Diana, all looking for the manuscript.
A Discovery of Witches: A Novel is one of the best books I've read in quite a while. It's clearly written to have a sequel, possibly more than one, and I am anxiously awaiting the next book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading.
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Eternal: More Love Stories with Bite is the follow up to yesterday's review of Immortal: Love Stories With Bite. P C Cast has gathered another group of talented authors in a collection of vampire-related stories. Claudia Gray, Rachel Caine and Nancy Holder also contributed to the first anthology, with Lili St. Crow, Heather Brewer and Jeri Smith-Ready rounding out the group.
The anthology opens with "Bloodshed--A Story of Evernight" by Claudia Gray. I've stated previously that I had not read the Evernight series, but this second short story from the series has me curious. Patrice, from the short story in Immortal: Love Stories With Bite, is in love with a human who is being shipped overseas during WWII. She finds out that he has been captured and is being held prisoner by the Nazis. She goes to Europe to rescue him, but ends up with a lot more than she bargained for.
The next story "Say Yes" by Lili St. Crow is a fascinating tale of a girl whose image of herself as being in the background of life leads her to take action that she seriously regrets later. She truly can't believe that she is special enough to have been chosen over her popular friends and betrays someone who could have been important to her. I'd love to see what happens to her after this story, but couldn't find any hint of a connection to this story in any of the books on Lili St. Crow's website. Although, I do think I'll be looking into adding some of her work to my to-be-read list.
"Letters to Romeo" by show more Nancy Holder is an interesting twist to Shakespeare's classic tale of star-crossed lovers. Romeo hasn't died, he is a vampire who has waited for 700 years for his Juliet to return to him. He believes he has found her in a 15 year old girl from Florida, whom he plans to turn in order to spend eternity with her. But, the tragedy of his tale still clings to him...
Heather Brewer's "The Other Side" tells the story of Tarrah & Cody, lovers who are kidnapped and held together in a small room while awaiting their captors. The twist at the end was one I didn't see coming though, and the 'myths' mentioned in her story are really interesting.
Two of my favorite authors round out the book: Rachel Caine and Jeri Smith-Ready. Rachel Caine provides another story of the Morganville vampires with "Drama Queen's Last Dance" or, as I like to think of it, All About Eve. Eve is what brought me to the Morganville vampires series, having read
"The First Day of the Rest of Your Life" in Many Bloody Returns. This time a new vampire in town has her sites on Michael, and Eve, despite being told by everyone that it's lost cause, is determined to break Gloriana's spell. Eve is an awesome character, strong and self-confident, but still showing some of the normal insecurities of being young. This story is a great showcase for her character.
"Thief" by Jeri Smith-Ready has me chomping at the bit for the next WVMP book! The story introduces us to Cassie & Liam, who are "Irish Travelers" and I believe Cassie is a relative of Ciara from the WVMP series. However, as highly as I recommend the WVMP series, you don't have to have read it to enjoy Cassie's story. Cassie and Liam are engaged and inseparable. Unlike most Traveler girls, Cassie is in love with her betrothed. Her father wanted her to be happy and promised her to Liam, despite his disabilities. Unfortunately, her father is dead and her step-father is threatening to tear Cassie and Liam apart by promising her to another. Cassie is determined to be with Liam no matter what, even if it means being dead to her own family. "Thief" is listed as a tie-in story to the WVMP series on Jeri Smith-Ready's website and I can't wait to see how she and Liam fit into Lust for Life, due out in fall 2012.
I've mentioned before how much I love anthologies: I get introduced to new authors that write about a subject I'm already interested in reading and I get little tidbits to tide me over until the next offering in a series I enjoy. Eternal: More Love Stories with Bite provides all of this in some really cool vampire stories :)
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The anthology opens with "Bloodshed--A Story of Evernight" by Claudia Gray. I've stated previously that I had not read the Evernight series, but this second short story from the series has me curious. Patrice, from the short story in Immortal: Love Stories With Bite, is in love with a human who is being shipped overseas during WWII. She finds out that he has been captured and is being held prisoner by the Nazis. She goes to Europe to rescue him, but ends up with a lot more than she bargained for.
The next story "Say Yes" by Lili St. Crow is a fascinating tale of a girl whose image of herself as being in the background of life leads her to take action that she seriously regrets later. She truly can't believe that she is special enough to have been chosen over her popular friends and betrays someone who could have been important to her. I'd love to see what happens to her after this story, but couldn't find any hint of a connection to this story in any of the books on Lili St. Crow's website. Although, I do think I'll be looking into adding some of her work to my to-be-read list.
"Letters to Romeo" by show more Nancy Holder is an interesting twist to Shakespeare's classic tale of star-crossed lovers. Romeo hasn't died, he is a vampire who has waited for 700 years for his Juliet to return to him. He believes he has found her in a 15 year old girl from Florida, whom he plans to turn in order to spend eternity with her. But, the tragedy of his tale still clings to him...
Heather Brewer's "The Other Side" tells the story of Tarrah & Cody, lovers who are kidnapped and held together in a small room while awaiting their captors. The twist at the end was one I didn't see coming though, and the 'myths' mentioned in her story are really interesting.
Two of my favorite authors round out the book: Rachel Caine and Jeri Smith-Ready. Rachel Caine provides another story of the Morganville vampires with "Drama Queen's Last Dance" or, as I like to think of it, All About Eve. Eve is what brought me to the Morganville vampires series, having read
"The First Day of the Rest of Your Life" in Many Bloody Returns. This time a new vampire in town has her sites on Michael, and Eve, despite being told by everyone that it's lost cause, is determined to break Gloriana's spell. Eve is an awesome character, strong and self-confident, but still showing some of the normal insecurities of being young. This story is a great showcase for her character.
"Thief" by Jeri Smith-Ready has me chomping at the bit for the next WVMP book! The story introduces us to Cassie & Liam, who are "Irish Travelers" and I believe Cassie is a relative of Ciara from the WVMP series. However, as highly as I recommend the WVMP series, you don't have to have read it to enjoy Cassie's story. Cassie and Liam are engaged and inseparable. Unlike most Traveler girls, Cassie is in love with her betrothed. Her father wanted her to be happy and promised her to Liam, despite his disabilities. Unfortunately, her father is dead and her step-father is threatening to tear Cassie and Liam apart by promising her to another. Cassie is determined to be with Liam no matter what, even if it means being dead to her own family. "Thief" is listed as a tie-in story to the WVMP series on Jeri Smith-Ready's website and I can't wait to see how she and Liam fit into Lust for Life, due out in fall 2012.
I've mentioned before how much I love anthologies: I get introduced to new authors that write about a subject I'm already interested in reading and I get little tidbits to tide me over until the next offering in a series I enjoy. Eternal: More Love Stories with Bite provides all of this in some really cool vampire stories :)
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Home for a Spell (A Bewitching Mystery) is Madelyn Alt's latest offering in the Bewitching Mystery series. It picks up a short time after A Witch In Time (A Bewitching Mystery) ended. We find Maggie, still with a cast on her leg, happily cohabiting with Marcus and hoping things in Stony Mill have started to calm down. Of course, things haven't calmed down--that wouldn't make much of a story, would it?
So, when the lives of those around Maggie start to change and impact her own, she sees it as a sign to affect some change for herself. Fearing that she is holding Marcus back, she decides to find a new apartment that is accessible for her while still in a cast. Naturally, the apartment manager, a creepy little man to begin with, ends up murdered and Maggie ends finding his body. The mystery that follows isn't complicated, but there is a bit of a surprise at the end. What I liked about this book, and the whole series for that matter, is Maggie's personal growth. She's come a long way from the first book, where whisperings of her power made her uncomfortable, to a place where she is trusting her instincts, for the most part, and is even broadening her horizons into the world of the supernatural.
One thing I've noticed in the more recent offerings in the series is the lack of supernatural. In fact, at one point Maggie mentions this & Marcus responds that once summer is over & the veil thins, things will change. I'm hoping that this is a bit of foreshadowing on Alt's part show more because I really enjoy the supernatural aspects of the series. I think that the lack of supernatural events, however, have actually encouraged Maggie to use and develop her gifts, perhaps because she'll need them in the books to come?
Home for a Spell (A Bewitching Mystery) is another great addition to the Bewitching Mysteries series. I love Maggie & I especially love Marcus & can't wait to see how things develop in the future.
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So, when the lives of those around Maggie start to change and impact her own, she sees it as a sign to affect some change for herself. Fearing that she is holding Marcus back, she decides to find a new apartment that is accessible for her while still in a cast. Naturally, the apartment manager, a creepy little man to begin with, ends up murdered and Maggie ends finding his body. The mystery that follows isn't complicated, but there is a bit of a surprise at the end. What I liked about this book, and the whole series for that matter, is Maggie's personal growth. She's come a long way from the first book, where whisperings of her power made her uncomfortable, to a place where she is trusting her instincts, for the most part, and is even broadening her horizons into the world of the supernatural.
One thing I've noticed in the more recent offerings in the series is the lack of supernatural. In fact, at one point Maggie mentions this & Marcus responds that once summer is over & the veil thins, things will change. I'm hoping that this is a bit of foreshadowing on Alt's part show more because I really enjoy the supernatural aspects of the series. I think that the lack of supernatural events, however, have actually encouraged Maggie to use and develop her gifts, perhaps because she'll need them in the books to come?
Home for a Spell (A Bewitching Mystery) is another great addition to the Bewitching Mysteries series. I love Maggie & I especially love Marcus & can't wait to see how things develop in the future.
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When I reviewed Demon Hunts (Walker Papers, Book 5) by C E Murphy, I said that it was the best in the Walker Papers series to date. Well, as befits a series, Spirit Dances (Luna Books) trumps its predecessor as the best book in the Walker Papers. And, the ending leads one to believe that there are better books to come.
The book opens with promise. Joanne actually ends up, albeit accidentally, on a date with Morrison. They are attending a performance of a Native American spirit dance, which I expected to lead to a lot of exploration of Joanne's shamanic side. I was surprised when her interaction with the dance troupe was somewhat minimal, although it was very interesting to see how her power was affected by the dancers, especially their intentions. There are new paranormal elements being introduced. I'm not going to divulge what happens, but suffice it to say that Joanne has her perceptions and preconceptions about Magic Seattle expanded. Most of the story is centered around Joanne--there is some presence of Billy and Melinda, even Morrison's presence is limited in a sense. Joanne is beginning to rely on her instincts more and communes with her spirit animals, Raven & Rattler to test/control the limits of her power.
In fact, at one point, I was concerned that there was too much going on for the story to make sense in the end. Not that I am necessarily one for neat, tidy endings--especially not in a series--but sometimes there can be too many things happening that the pieces show more fail to fit together cohesively enough to make sense. Not so in this case. Not only does everything come together to make sense, but it all points to an exciting new adventure for Joanne and a promising beginning for the next book, Raven Calls.
I have to admit that I was concerned that the Walker Papers would get stale. Knowing that I was about to read the sixth book in the series led me to wonder where it would go. I have stopped reading series that start repeating the same story lines or go too weird, even for paranormal fantasy. However, C E Murphy uses this book to take the series in a new direction. It leaves me with the impression that Joanne will continue to grow, both as a person and as a shaman, in the books to come. I look forward to reading many more installments of the Walker Papers.
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The book opens with promise. Joanne actually ends up, albeit accidentally, on a date with Morrison. They are attending a performance of a Native American spirit dance, which I expected to lead to a lot of exploration of Joanne's shamanic side. I was surprised when her interaction with the dance troupe was somewhat minimal, although it was very interesting to see how her power was affected by the dancers, especially their intentions. There are new paranormal elements being introduced. I'm not going to divulge what happens, but suffice it to say that Joanne has her perceptions and preconceptions about Magic Seattle expanded. Most of the story is centered around Joanne--there is some presence of Billy and Melinda, even Morrison's presence is limited in a sense. Joanne is beginning to rely on her instincts more and communes with her spirit animals, Raven & Rattler to test/control the limits of her power.
In fact, at one point, I was concerned that there was too much going on for the story to make sense in the end. Not that I am necessarily one for neat, tidy endings--especially not in a series--but sometimes there can be too many things happening that the pieces show more fail to fit together cohesively enough to make sense. Not so in this case. Not only does everything come together to make sense, but it all points to an exciting new adventure for Joanne and a promising beginning for the next book, Raven Calls.
I have to admit that I was concerned that the Walker Papers would get stale. Knowing that I was about to read the sixth book in the series led me to wonder where it would go. I have stopped reading series that start repeating the same story lines or go too weird, even for paranormal fantasy. However, C E Murphy uses this book to take the series in a new direction. It leaves me with the impression that Joanne will continue to grow, both as a person and as a shaman, in the books to come. I look forward to reading many more installments of the Walker Papers.
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Demon Hunts (Walker Papers, Book 5) by C E Murphy is definitely the best book in the series so far. It's Christmas time and Santa has a lot of surprises in store for Joanne Walker. Not long after the events of Walking Dead (The Walker Papers, Book 4), the Seattle area is hit with a new serial killer--a paranormal killer who chews on his victims. Joanne & Billy are on the case--but there's not much to go on. This killer leaves no trace evidence, not even the kind these two paranormal detectives can find. Frustration leads them to involve a civilian in the case, which, of course, backfires on them leaving Joanne in the doghouse with Morrison and them both with a deadline to meet or else face suspension.
The mystery of this story is very interesting--it involves a wendigo and it forces Joanne to continue expanding her perception of her power and the realities in which she works. However, what is more interesting is Joanne's journey in this book. She comes face to face with people from her past and has to begin the difficult process of knitting together her life from before her tragedy at 15 with her present life. She also becomes more aware of the significance of her mother's death in the spiritual world and her place in it.
Never in doubt is the fact that Joanne will find the killer and save the city, but she faces some pretty difficult choices during her quest. She has to embrace both her healing path and her warrior's path, which may have serious repercussions on her show more relationships. In the end, however, she meets the challenges and makes the tough decisions to keep her on her destined path. And, she starts the new year with a bit of hope.
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The mystery of this story is very interesting--it involves a wendigo and it forces Joanne to continue expanding her perception of her power and the realities in which she works. However, what is more interesting is Joanne's journey in this book. She comes face to face with people from her past and has to begin the difficult process of knitting together her life from before her tragedy at 15 with her present life. She also becomes more aware of the significance of her mother's death in the spiritual world and her place in it.
Never in doubt is the fact that Joanne will find the killer and save the city, but she faces some pretty difficult choices during her quest. She has to embrace both her healing path and her warrior's path, which may have serious repercussions on her show more relationships. In the end, however, she meets the challenges and makes the tough decisions to keep her on her destined path. And, she starts the new year with a bit of hope.
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Walking Dead (The Walker Papers, Book 4) brings us back to Joanne Walker, police woman, shaman & heroine extraordinaire. When the book opens, Joanne is starting to have some semblance of a life. She's hosting a party, has a boyfriend and is enjoying her new position as a detective partnered with Billy Holiday. Naturally, this is where things start to fall apart. The party is going well when dead souls start to arrive, sending everything into a tizzy. Joanne is forced to use her abilities in front of a lot of people she'd rather not, including Phoebe her fencing instructor and fledgling friend. But, these souls are just the tip of the iceberg & something bigger and badder is coming to town. The Cauldron of Matholwch is stolen and a black mist is settling over everything threatening to empty out the cemeteries on Halloween and there's been another prediction of her death. Oh, and her partner's pregnant wife is due to deliver any time now....
Such is the life of Joanne Walker. Her life was pretty uneventful until about a year ago when her dying mother invited her to Ireland for a visit. Since then, she's learned how her father's Cherokee heritage and her mother's Celtic heritage combined to create a unique soul--hers--destined for greatness. She's a very powerful shaman on a warrior's path and she's bringing along her friends and the Seattle PD along for the ride.
The latest installment in the Walker Papers series, Walking Dead (The Walker Papers, Book 4) brings us a Joanne show more Walker who is growing, both in her powers and in her maturity. In Coyote Dreams (The Walker Papers, Book 3), she chose to take a promotion to use her powers to help solve crimes while sacrificing a potential personal relationship with Captain Morrison. She's looking at herself as more of a successful shaman than as the wreck of a person she saw herself as in the past. Overall, things are looking up until the supernatural aspect of her life throws a monkey wrench into her personal life. Of course, she tries to take everything on by herself and gets thrown for a loop when her friends ride to the rescue. Once again, CE Murphy does not fail to entertain. I especially appreciated the references to The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure by William Goldman, although having read the book and seen the movie so many times that I can't remember if her references were truly from the movie or the book :) No matter, the humor is unbelievably appropriate to Joanne, who is fast becoming one of my favorite characters. My only hope for this series is that Joanne travel back to North Carolina to truly embrace her shamanism--maybe one of the upcoming books will tackle that?
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Such is the life of Joanne Walker. Her life was pretty uneventful until about a year ago when her dying mother invited her to Ireland for a visit. Since then, she's learned how her father's Cherokee heritage and her mother's Celtic heritage combined to create a unique soul--hers--destined for greatness. She's a very powerful shaman on a warrior's path and she's bringing along her friends and the Seattle PD along for the ride.
The latest installment in the Walker Papers series, Walking Dead (The Walker Papers, Book 4) brings us a Joanne show more Walker who is growing, both in her powers and in her maturity. In Coyote Dreams (The Walker Papers, Book 3), she chose to take a promotion to use her powers to help solve crimes while sacrificing a potential personal relationship with Captain Morrison. She's looking at herself as more of a successful shaman than as the wreck of a person she saw herself as in the past. Overall, things are looking up until the supernatural aspect of her life throws a monkey wrench into her personal life. Of course, she tries to take everything on by herself and gets thrown for a loop when her friends ride to the rescue. Once again, CE Murphy does not fail to entertain. I especially appreciated the references to The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure by William Goldman, although having read the book and seen the movie so many times that I can't remember if her references were truly from the movie or the book :) No matter, the humor is unbelievably appropriate to Joanne, who is fast becoming one of my favorite characters. My only hope for this series is that Joanne travel back to North Carolina to truly embrace her shamanism--maybe one of the upcoming books will tackle that?
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Coyote Dreams (The Walker Papers, Book 3) by CE Murphy picks up a short time after Thunderbird Falls (The Walker Papers, Book 2). Joanne Walker finds herself in a rather precarious position--hungover, with no recollection of the previous night & a gorgeous, naked stranger in her bed. She never gets drunk and she certainly never has casual sex, but all evidence points to the contrary. However, nothing is truly as it seems for something powerful has been awakened & it's working it's way into Joanne's life. Her friends and co-workers are falling asleep and not waking up. She starts receiving powerful dreams, apocalyptic dreams where the world ends & she is at the center of it all. She is also having dreams where she has everything she ever wanted: her old job back, the respect of her co-workers restored & the attention of a certain police captain. But what is real and possible and what is just manipulation? She'll have to figure it out if she is going to defeat the powerful force feeding on the life force of those that make up her life.
In this latest installment of the Walker Papers, we find Joanne still looking for Coyote to guide her, only to find out that he is trapped and can not help her without drawing attention to her. Instead, she has to start looking inside herself for the answers. CE Murphy has created a wonderfully complicated character in Joanne Walker. Her mixed heritage, her unconventional upbringing by her father & abandonment by her mother create a backdrop show more for a lost sense of self in a woman who needs to know who she is. As a powerful Shaman, Joanne is capable of great things, but her inability to accept her power combined with her own issues of self-loathing are working against her. In this latest story, Joanne has to look deep inside herself, to find the answers to defeat the powerful force that is slowly devouring those that make up Joanne's life. We finally start to see her acknowledge and accept issues from her past that desperately need to be healed. We also come into some interesting information about Coyote, which I hope is pursued in the next book, Walking Dead (The Walker Papers, Book 4). Joanne's character is truly beginning to evolve and she just might be able to accept who she is and what she is meant to do. However, nothing comes without a price and, in the end, she is faced with a very difficult decision about which path in life she is to take.
I really enjoy this series and Coyote Dreams (The Walker Papers, Book 3) is no exception. I appreciate how Joanne's character evolves at her own pace & doesn't have a lot of major, life changing epiphanies that solve all her issues at once. I'm seriously looking forward to reading Walking Dead (The Walker Papers, Book 4) to see how her decisions in this story have manifested in her life.
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In this latest installment of the Walker Papers, we find Joanne still looking for Coyote to guide her, only to find out that he is trapped and can not help her without drawing attention to her. Instead, she has to start looking inside herself for the answers. CE Murphy has created a wonderfully complicated character in Joanne Walker. Her mixed heritage, her unconventional upbringing by her father & abandonment by her mother create a backdrop show more for a lost sense of self in a woman who needs to know who she is. As a powerful Shaman, Joanne is capable of great things, but her inability to accept her power combined with her own issues of self-loathing are working against her. In this latest story, Joanne has to look deep inside herself, to find the answers to defeat the powerful force that is slowly devouring those that make up Joanne's life. We finally start to see her acknowledge and accept issues from her past that desperately need to be healed. We also come into some interesting information about Coyote, which I hope is pursued in the next book, Walking Dead (The Walker Papers, Book 4). Joanne's character is truly beginning to evolve and she just might be able to accept who she is and what she is meant to do. However, nothing comes without a price and, in the end, she is faced with a very difficult decision about which path in life she is to take.
I really enjoy this series and Coyote Dreams (The Walker Papers, Book 3) is no exception. I appreciate how Joanne's character evolves at her own pace & doesn't have a lot of major, life changing epiphanies that solve all her issues at once. I'm seriously looking forward to reading Walking Dead (The Walker Papers, Book 4) to see how her decisions in this story have manifested in her life.
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I always thought that this was a romance between young people and so it sat on my shelf until I was in the right mood for that kind of book. It sat there for quite some time until, recently, I felt the need for a change in genre and decided to pick it up. I couldn't put it down--it mesmerized me. The story is a romance between young people, but it's so much more than that. It's a true love story--not just a story about true love, but a story that defines love, clarifies it and shows the enduring power of it. This book is about love, faith, trust, hope and miracles. I loved it.
I don't know that there is anyone out there who hasn't already read this book, but, just in case, I'm going to try and avoid any spoilers. This story touched me so deeply that I'm more inclined to write about my emotions than the substance of the book itself. In some places, I felt my heart warm and happiness bloom inside me. In others, I cried so hard I had to stop reading because I couldn't read the words anymore. I didn't expect to feel this way over a story--not many stories have touched me this deeply--but I can't say enough about how much I loved it.
The Notebook was, in short, amazing. It made me feel and believe and wish and hope and dream. I realize now that I have this love in my life and I can only hope it continues to grow and sustain. Love won't be denied and it can create miracles.
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I don't know that there is anyone out there who hasn't already read this book, but, just in case, I'm going to try and avoid any spoilers. This story touched me so deeply that I'm more inclined to write about my emotions than the substance of the book itself. In some places, I felt my heart warm and happiness bloom inside me. In others, I cried so hard I had to stop reading because I couldn't read the words anymore. I didn't expect to feel this way over a story--not many stories have touched me this deeply--but I can't say enough about how much I loved it.
The Notebook was, in short, amazing. It made me feel and believe and wish and hope and dream. I realize now that I have this love in my life and I can only hope it continues to grow and sustain. Love won't be denied and it can create miracles.
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The second novel in the Soul Screamers series finds Kaylee adjusting to living with her newly returned father. She is taking lessons from Nash's mother, Harmony, on 'how to be a bean sidhe' in order to avoid the kind of trouble she got into in the past. The problem is, Kaylee seems to be looking for trouble or, at least, trouble finds her pretty easily. She and Nash, with some help from Tod, stumble upon a system where a Dekker media, bearing a very recognizable resemblance to Disney, sells the souls of young entertainers to an avarice demon in order to guarantee financial success and market domination. Kaylee and Nash are thrust into the middle of the whole ordeal when we learn that Addison, Tod's old girlfriend and rising teen star, has sold her soul for fame and fortune. Tod, who clearly still cares for Addy, plays upon Kaylee's sense of righteousness and convinces her to help him find a way to reclaim Addy's soul. Of course, things can't go smoothly. Kaylee finds herself in a mess with her father and, along the way, Addison's sister Regan sells her soul as well, so Kaylee is faced with having to save two souls instead of just one.
In the end, all doesn't end happily. But, I think that's one of the things I like best about Vincent's writing. She's not afraid for her characters to fail--or, at least, not succeed entirely. I would have liked more of the story to have taken place outside the main plot line. Kaylee's character is facing some major changes and I'd like to show more see more exploration of that. Also, I hope that, in the future, Aiden's character, Kaylee's father, is more developed. I'm sure that Kaylee and Nash's relationship will be explored in more depth, as things progress and the characters grow.
My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers Book 2), overall, is a good story. I feel like it was focused a bit too much on the main plot, to the extent that character development was minimal. Aside from some insight into Tod, I don't feel like I learned a whole lot more about the story's characters. I didn't really care for Addison or Regan, so it wasn't easy to empathize with Kaylee's desire to help them; though I easily understood Nash's reluctance to have any part in helping them. I am looking forward to reading My Soul to Keep (Soul Screamers, Book 3), and I hope that I'll learn more about Kaylee and her family/friends in the books to come.
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In the end, all doesn't end happily. But, I think that's one of the things I like best about Vincent's writing. She's not afraid for her characters to fail--or, at least, not succeed entirely. I would have liked more of the story to have taken place outside the main plot line. Kaylee's character is facing some major changes and I'd like to show more see more exploration of that. Also, I hope that, in the future, Aiden's character, Kaylee's father, is more developed. I'm sure that Kaylee and Nash's relationship will be explored in more depth, as things progress and the characters grow.
My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers Book 2), overall, is a good story. I feel like it was focused a bit too much on the main plot, to the extent that character development was minimal. Aside from some insight into Tod, I don't feel like I learned a whole lot more about the story's characters. I didn't really care for Addison or Regan, so it wasn't easy to empathize with Kaylee's desire to help them; though I easily understood Nash's reluctance to have any part in helping them. I am looking forward to reading My Soul to Keep (Soul Screamers, Book 3), and I hope that I'll learn more about Kaylee and her family/friends in the books to come.
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Recently, Barnes & Noble's Free Fridays download offered Reaper by Rachel Vincent, a part of the Soul Screamer series. It looked pretty interesting, so I downloaded it and then decided that I needed to read the series up to Reaper before reading it. So, I started with the novella, My Soul to Lose, which was released as a prequel to the Soul Screamer series.
My Soul to Lose introduces us to Kaylee Cavanaugh, a young girl suffering from unusual panic attacks. They are triggered when someone in close proximity to her is going to die and when onset occurs, she can not stop screaming. Usually, she is able to sense when it is happening and can remove herself from the situation before losing control. Unfortunately, she isn't able to avoid a dying soul at the mall one day and ends up in the psychiatric ward.
What a great teaser for the series. Kaylee has no idea the purpose for her abilities or why she even has them. We are also introduced to Lydia, another young girl with special abilities, allowing her to absorb other's pain. I assume that Kaylee will be the focus of the Soul Screamers series, but it will be interesting to see if Lydia appears in any of the other books in the series as well.
I was a fan of Rachel Vincent's Shifter series prior to reading this, and I hope that this series is as interesting and well written as the Shifter series is. Next up for me is My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers Book 1), and then, most likely, the rest of the series.
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My Soul to Lose introduces us to Kaylee Cavanaugh, a young girl suffering from unusual panic attacks. They are triggered when someone in close proximity to her is going to die and when onset occurs, she can not stop screaming. Usually, she is able to sense when it is happening and can remove herself from the situation before losing control. Unfortunately, she isn't able to avoid a dying soul at the mall one day and ends up in the psychiatric ward.
What a great teaser for the series. Kaylee has no idea the purpose for her abilities or why she even has them. We are also introduced to Lydia, another young girl with special abilities, allowing her to absorb other's pain. I assume that Kaylee will be the focus of the Soul Screamers series, but it will be interesting to see if Lydia appears in any of the other books in the series as well.
I was a fan of Rachel Vincent's Shifter series prior to reading this, and I hope that this series is as interesting and well written as the Shifter series is. Next up for me is My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers Book 1), and then, most likely, the rest of the series.
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Save the world, Save Sonny, Save the theatre, Save yourself. Tyff's advice pretty much sums up Kelley's role in Tempestuous, the third and final installment in the Wondrous Strange trilogy by Lesley Livingston. Kelly has lied about not loving Sonny because she feels it is the best way to protect him from the truth and those that would hunt him down for his abilities. Sonny takes off and finds himself drawn underground to a world inhabited by Lost Fae. One little lie brings everything together and sets both Kelley and Sonny on the path to not only finding the truth about their enemies, but the truth about themselves.
I really enjoyed the end of this trilogy. Livingston goes beyond wrapping everything up in a neat package and shows that her characters really have grown during their journey. Both Kelley and Sonny learn from mistakes made in earlier parts of the their respective stories and even the Fae Royals are able to admit some wrongdoings. Overall, the entire series was highly entertaining. I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of the Shakespeare references/parallels in each story. Livingston writes her characters as complicated, yet trusting and inexperienced young people. Kelley really grows from the somewhat insecure young actress into a young woman worthy of being Fae royalty. Sonny also matures from the blind, trusting young guard into a man who sees beyond the surface of people and begins to understand their natures. I am sorry to see the story end, but it does end show more well. I look forward to see what else this author has to offer in the future.
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I really enjoyed the end of this trilogy. Livingston goes beyond wrapping everything up in a neat package and shows that her characters really have grown during their journey. Both Kelley and Sonny learn from mistakes made in earlier parts of the their respective stories and even the Fae Royals are able to admit some wrongdoings. Overall, the entire series was highly entertaining. I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of the Shakespeare references/parallels in each story. Livingston writes her characters as complicated, yet trusting and inexperienced young people. Kelley really grows from the somewhat insecure young actress into a young woman worthy of being Fae royalty. Sonny also matures from the blind, trusting young guard into a man who sees beyond the surface of people and begins to understand their natures. I am sorry to see the story end, but it does end show more well. I look forward to see what else this author has to offer in the future.
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Clockwork Angel is the first installment of The Infernal Devices series, a precursor to The Mortal Instruments series. The story is set in London in 1878 and it revolves around a young woman named Tessa & the London conclave of Shadowhunters. Tessa comes to London from New York to live with her brother Nathaniel, her only remaining relative. Upon arrival, she is taken by the Dark Sisters, who claim to have Nathaniel imprisoned, and is forced to comply with the Dark Sisters wishes in order to save her brother. Tessa learns that she has a very rare and unusual ability, one that is highly prized by members of a world she never even knew existed. She is rescued from the Dark Sisters by Will Herondale, a Shadowhunter, and is brought to the Institute where she meets Charlotte, Henry, Jessamine and Jem, all Shadowhunters. She is also befriended by the help, Agatha, Thomas & Sophie, who all have the Sight, which sets them apart from other humans, known as mundanes. Tessa adjusts to this new world and her new abilities rather well, perhaps out of necessity to retain her sanity, and does her best to aid her new friends in their attempt to bring down The Magister, the head of the notorious Pandemonium Club, a group of mundanes & Downworlders that is killing humans. Along the way, Tessa is thrown into a world of Shadowhunters, warlocks, vampires, werewolves and other beings she only believed existed in fairy tales. She finds out that her life is truly not as she thought: her brother, show more her parents & her Aunt Harriet seemed to be knowledgeable about her abilities, and yet all was kept from Tessa, presumably to keep her safe. She does not learn the truth of her existence, but as there are two planned sequels, one can not expect to find all the answers in a single volume.
Tessa also learns that her new friends, soon to become her second family, have secrets as well. Jem's unusual appearance and mysterious illness are explained later in the story, but there seems to be more to Jem's family and background that has yet to be explored. How Will came to be at the Institute and his reasons for keeping everyone, including Jem, at arm's length are barely touched upon. Jessamine's family, too, seems to hold secrets, as she, like everyone at the Institute, is an orphan and under mysterious circumstances.
Readers of The Mortal Instruments series will find some familiar names in the story. Benedict and Gabriel Lightwood are, most likely, ancestors of the Lightwood family found in the modern series. Will is Herondale, most likely an ancestor of Jace. We also find Magnus Bane in this series. Personally, Magnus is a favorite of mine from The Mortal Instruments series and I look forward to learning more about him in The Infernal Devices.
I really enjoyed this book. I particularly enjoyed how the women are not portrayed as typical of the time period. Even Jessamine, who is determined to leave the Institute and live as a lady should, is fully trained and capable of combat. Charlotte runs the Institute on her own and Tessa, sheltered her whole life, seems to find her inner strength and courage as the story progresses. Although I am not generally a fan of 'historical' fiction, Clare seems to use the time and place setting as merely the background for the story, without imposing the rules of polite society to the point of restraining her characters. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the next book in the series, Clockwork Prince, scheduled to be released in September 2011.
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Tessa also learns that her new friends, soon to become her second family, have secrets as well. Jem's unusual appearance and mysterious illness are explained later in the story, but there seems to be more to Jem's family and background that has yet to be explored. How Will came to be at the Institute and his reasons for keeping everyone, including Jem, at arm's length are barely touched upon. Jessamine's family, too, seems to hold secrets, as she, like everyone at the Institute, is an orphan and under mysterious circumstances.
Readers of The Mortal Instruments series will find some familiar names in the story. Benedict and Gabriel Lightwood are, most likely, ancestors of the Lightwood family found in the modern series. Will is Herondale, most likely an ancestor of Jace. We also find Magnus Bane in this series. Personally, Magnus is a favorite of mine from The Mortal Instruments series and I look forward to learning more about him in The Infernal Devices.
I really enjoyed this book. I particularly enjoyed how the women are not portrayed as typical of the time period. Even Jessamine, who is determined to leave the Institute and live as a lady should, is fully trained and capable of combat. Charlotte runs the Institute on her own and Tessa, sheltered her whole life, seems to find her inner strength and courage as the story progresses. Although I am not generally a fan of 'historical' fiction, Clare seems to use the time and place setting as merely the background for the story, without imposing the rules of polite society to the point of restraining her characters. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the next book in the series, Clockwork Prince, scheduled to be released in September 2011.
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Linger is the second in the wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy, soon to be followed by Forever. I was captivated by the first installment, Shiver, by Stiefvater's take on the werewolf phenomenon. Her wolves become wolves for the winter, human for the summer until they eventually stop shifting and remain wolves. In Shiver, it appears that Grace & Sam have found a cure for Sam--to shop shifting and remain human. Linger builds on that premise, focusing more on Sam's adjustment to having a future as a human & on his relationship with Grace. However, Sam's cure may just be a stop-gap solution. Wolves are dying and someone human may be dying as well.
The focus on Sam's adjustment to being a human once more is very interesting. He approaches with caution & often seems to forget that he won't be shifting anymore. His relationship with Grace is tested by the sudden interest of her parents, who were all but absent in Shiver. We are also introduced to Cole, one of the new wolves, who has his own dark past & is drawn to Isabel, who desperately wants what Grace & Sam have. At this point, however, Cole is not the man to give it to her. Cole's character is interesting--his life & background seem incongruous & somewhat convenient to the plot. However, one could argue that Beck specifically chose him for his family history and, therefore, his placement in the pack is specific & intentional.
Overall, I enjoyed Linger & look forward to reading Forever. There were some places where the story was a show more bit slow & some of the teen angst was a little more than I would have liked. But Stiefvater's story of Sam & Grace is so compelling that it's easy to overlook any minor faults. I'm very interested to see how this all ends in Forever. show less
The focus on Sam's adjustment to being a human once more is very interesting. He approaches with caution & often seems to forget that he won't be shifting anymore. His relationship with Grace is tested by the sudden interest of her parents, who were all but absent in Shiver. We are also introduced to Cole, one of the new wolves, who has his own dark past & is drawn to Isabel, who desperately wants what Grace & Sam have. At this point, however, Cole is not the man to give it to her. Cole's character is interesting--his life & background seem incongruous & somewhat convenient to the plot. However, one could argue that Beck specifically chose him for his family history and, therefore, his placement in the pack is specific & intentional.
Overall, I enjoyed Linger & look forward to reading Forever. There were some places where the story was a show more bit slow & some of the teen angst was a little more than I would have liked. But Stiefvater's story of Sam & Grace is so compelling that it's easy to overlook any minor faults. I'm very interested to see how this all ends in Forever. show less
The third installment in the Sugar Maple chronicles does not fail to please. Sugar Maple disappears! and forces Chloe, Luke, Janice & Penelope to Salem to look for answers. We learn a lot about the history of the people of Sugar Maple, why they left Salem & who stayed behind. Chloe also learns more about her family and about herself.
Although this could have easily been the last in the series, Bretton leaves us with a teaser that can not be the end :)
Overall, I enjoyed this installment. There were a few places where the story dragged and then others where things moved so fast I had to slow down my reading to take it all in. However, if you enjoyed the first two books in this series, you should certainly enjoy this one.
Although this could have easily been the last in the series, Bretton leaves us with a teaser that can not be the end :)
Overall, I enjoyed this installment. There were a few places where the story dragged and then others where things moved so fast I had to slow down my reading to take it all in. However, if you enjoyed the first two books in this series, you should certainly enjoy this one.
Sorry, didn't like this one. I've read the Blue is for...series, and while it was a bit juvenile in content, there was something compelling about the series that kept me reading. While I did finish Bleed, I don't know why I did. I tried to like it, but all the juvenile content was there without that extra incentive to keep reading. Each chapter is about a different character, but all the stories overlap in some way. All the characters are somewhat flawed, but the flaws don't make every one sympathetic. I found most of the characters hard to like and even failed to appreciate the obvious humor in one chapter. It's too full of teenage drama, backstabbing and angst for anyone who appreciates the YA genre for the quality of the story.
The second in the Wondrous Strange series leaves you with more questions at the story's conclusion. It begins with Kelley in New York rehearsing 'Romeo & Juliet' & Sonny in the Otherworld hunting & killing the last of the Wild Hunt. But, as close to normal as things may seem, the repercussions from Samhain eve are just starting to be felt. Kelley is attacked by a leprechaun trying to recover the stolen clover charm that she's worn since she was a baby. We meet Gwynn Ap Nudd, the Vernal King & Titania, the Summer Queen. Auberon is ailing from a mysterious condition, Mabh is, well, Mabh. Fragments of secrets are revealed, but there isn't enough information given for anyone, even the reader, to truly discern what is happening. We learn that someone is plotting to take control of a lot of power, power that is somehow tied to Kelley & to Sonny. That someone, and the truth behind the attacks, is yet to be revealed...
Having developed the characters & plot line in the first story, Livingston sends us on a bit of an adventure in this story. We travel to Otherworld with both Kelley and Sonny, and we learn a bit more of the history of the Fae Race. There are more questions than answers in this book, making me want to read the third series as soon as it's released :)
http://readerbarbara.blogspot.com/2010/12/darklight-by-lesley-livingston.html
Having developed the characters & plot line in the first story, Livingston sends us on a bit of an adventure in this story. We travel to Otherworld with both Kelley and Sonny, and we learn a bit more of the history of the Fae Race. There are more questions than answers in this book, making me want to read the third series as soon as it's released :)
http://readerbarbara.blogspot.com/2010/12/darklight-by-lesley-livingston.html
The Story Sisters is an incredible tale of love, loss, tragedy and betrayal. It follows the lives of the Story Sisters: Elv, Meg & Claire and how each of their lives is impacted by a single tragedy which places each of them on the path to her destiny. Alice Hoffman's telling leads us into a dark world of sadness, depression, drug abuse and death. It is written so honestly and thoughtfully that the reader is drawn into the world of these sisters and feels their pain right along with them. This is an amazing work.
I absolutely love Alice Hoffman & tend to devour her books rather quickly. This one, however, took me over a week to read. When I started it, the material was a little dark & disturbing, so I put it down, walked away & actually read another book before I came back to it. But, I did come back to it. I really wanted to know what happened to these girls and I cried several times while reading it. But, it was worth working through all the tragedy and heartbreak these girls face in order to see where they end up. As usual, I can't wait for the next Alice Hoffman to show up on my shelf.
I absolutely love Alice Hoffman & tend to devour her books rather quickly. This one, however, took me over a week to read. When I started it, the material was a little dark & disturbing, so I put it down, walked away & actually read another book before I came back to it. But, I did come back to it. I really wanted to know what happened to these girls and I cried several times while reading it. But, it was worth working through all the tragedy and heartbreak these girls face in order to see where they end up. As usual, I can't wait for the next Alice Hoffman to show up on my shelf.