Barbsn - Here we go again

1. Last Guard by Nalini Singh - book 6 of the Trinity arc. I'm glad I left this till the new year because what a way to kick it off. I loved this book! I love that we're still based in Russia near the bears. Because, bears. Canto Mercant was a pleasant surprise for a Psy character. I was a little worried about a Psy/Psy book - but it was great, partly because he was clearly in no way Silent. And Payal - I found myself constantly worried about her, These two worked so well together. Can't wait for the next book now! I love this world.
2. Chaos reigning by Jessie Mihalik - Book 3 of the Consortium Rebellion. I left it a long time to read this book because while I loved the first book in the series (Polaris Rising) I didn't enjoy the second one (Aurora Burning) as much. But this one was great! Catarina is great and I loved that we got know Alex and Aoifa better. Alex especially! So much action and intrigue - it was a great book. And I kinda liked the fact that she didn't wrap everything up all nice and neat and tidy at the end. There are still traitors missing and another war looming - but secrets are out in the open and thankfully their horrid parents are dead. I will definitely be purchasing Jessie Mihalik's new series when the first book comes out this year.
3. Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff - Book 1 of the Aurora Cycle. This is a YA Sci Fi / Space Opera story...and I loved it it. I've had this in the TBR pile for a few years and decided to give a go. It hooked me from the start - before I knew it I was half way through the book! That to me is the sign of a really good book. My only tiny complaint is the switching POVs - I had to keep flicking back to the start of the chapter to remind myself whose thoughts I was following. It would have been a more difficult read on a kindle. But that aside, this had a great cast of characters - Goldenboy aka Tyler Jones - the Alpha of their squad from the Aurora Legion, his twin sister Scarlett - the Face - or diplomat of the squad. Their Ace (pilot) is a childhood friend - Cat who has a thing for Tyler. Kal - Tank (fighting and defence) a Syldrathi (they look like Elves) with silver braids and purple eyes (and blood). Zila - the Brains of the team. A bit of a sociopath, and Finian - a Betraskan (White hair and skin and they wear black contact lenses to protect their eyes) - he's snarky and wears an exoskeleton suit to help him walk. And lastly, Aurora O'Malley - a human girl rescued by Tyler from the void - waken from cryo after 200 years. A girl out of time but one that is instrumental to saving the universe - though none of them know it at the beginning. Too much happens to summarise here - just a really engrossing book.
4. Aurora Burning by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff - Book 2 of the Aurora Cycle. This was even better than Aurora Rising. So much action! It was go, go, go! from the first page. After leaving Cat to the Ra'haam on Octavia III the crew set off in search of the black box from ship Aurora set out from earth on to see if they could pinpoint where she was changed. They found it, but at the same time Kal's sister Saeedii found them and captured them. Then the GIA found them and attacked the Unbroken ship - it's so good. I don't like the fact that the Eshvaren (when they find the probe) tell Aurora she needs to burn all her emotional ties away - and it's only at the end - after they've sent Kal away for keeping the fact that the Starslayer is his father (which broke my heart) - that she realises he was right - love gives purpose. Tyler was left behind when they escaped the Terran ship with Saeedii - and they came to an understanding - not least of which is that his and Scar's mother had to have been a Syldrathi Way Walker - Like Kal's mother because Ty can speak to Saeedii in her head and vice versa. So it's just Scarlett, Finian and Zila left on the Zero. Very sad ending - but I knew there was a third book so I could cope lol. Another fantastic book.
5. The Storm's Whisper by T.A White - Book 5 of the Broken Lands. Another good book - with the potential to be a great book with a good proofreader/sub editor. There were too many typos/grammar mistakes/wrong words used/wrong tense used. I noted 61 mistakes - it kept pulling me out of the story. There are always plenty of typos in T.A. White's books but this is the worst in awhile. I'm hoping since this is an ARC that the final copy (which has already been loaded to the different sites ahead of next week's release date) is a lot cleaner. Eva/Caden are my least favourite of T.A. White's main characters so maybe that's part of why I got pulled out of the story so easily. T.A. White is such a good storyteller - a good proofreader could make such a difference to the whole reader experience. All that aside - this is still a great world. Her world-building is flawless - I can easily picture my surroundings when immersed in these books. There were some laugh out loud moments which I appreciated a lot - and some tears. I can't tell if there's to be another book in this arc/world - I suppose there is room to explore further but I'd be happy if it finished here.
6. Aurora's End by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff - Book 3 of the Aurora Cycle. A great book in the end - but I found trying to follow the story a bit challenging. Not only were there still the different points of view, we also had to deal with three different timelines, and a crazy temporal loop. I loved it though and while sad, it was a very satisfying end to this series. I wasn't in the least bit bothered by the fact that it's a YA series - I just enjoyed it for the action and humour. These books are so well written - before you know it you're at the end of the book! Great series.
7. The Bride by Julie Garwood. I didn't know what to read after finishing such a good series so I opted for a change of pace and turned to a trusty favourite in a Julie Garwood Highland romance. This book especially is really humourous - just great light relief. Yet again, I loved it.

8. Ransom by Julie Garwood. Another of her books that I love and bring out when I don't know what to read.
9. Rules of Redemption by T.A. White. Book 1 of the Firebird Chronicles. I absolutely love this series and have been wanting to read it again in preparation for book 4. I love Kira and Jin, and Graydon and so many others. I don't like the Curs in this book. A wonderful beginning for a great space opera adventure.
10. Age of Deception by T.A. White. Book 2 of the Firebird Chronicles. Kira finds herself claimed by her father's people - House Roake - and starts training with them. She also starts healing her Ki here. Another really good book. Lots of adventure - a little taste of romance.
11. Threshold of Annihilation by T.A. White. Book 3 of the Firebird Chronicles. I swear this series gets better with each book. This one focuses on the quorum - a series of games and challenges between the three species. Very exciting - and we get our first intro to the forty-three.

12. Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik. Book 1. A new series from Jessie Mihalik and it's as good as expected. She has a great style - her world building is one of the best, there are no glaring errors or typos to distract you, and characters that are not perfect - but endearing in their own way. Octavia Zarola - Tavi - is a retired former military officer. She resigned her commission when she tried to call off an attack on an enemy position in the war with the Valoffs when she realised civilians were in danger - and she was overridden by the top brass. To the Valoffs she is a war criminal and there's a bounty on her head. When retired Valoff General Torran Fletcher seeks her help to find a missing family treasure she's suspicious but needs the money he's offering. As they get to know each other, they realise that their former enemy is not the person they expected them to be - and when they learn the story of events from each other's perspective it changes everything. I loved this story - I loved not only Tavi and Torran - but the side characters too. I loved the moral of the story - that there's always two sides to every story and you can't really judge until you know both. Really good book. I'm looking forward to the next book coming out this year.
13. Grimspace - Sirantha Jax series book 1 by Ann Aguirre. I'm not sure about this book. There were parts that I loved, and parts that I really didn't love. I never really got attached to Jax or March - but there's enough interest here for me to think I'll try at least the next book in the series. Some of my favourite series were only so-so in the first couple of books - Kate Daniels is a good example of that. So I'll read another one and see how it goes.

March

14. Dark Horse by Michelle Diener - Book 1 of the Class 5 series. It was time to fall back on an old favourite, and the Class 5 series is up there as one my regular re-reads. As always I thoroughly enjoyed Rose and Sazo's adventures. Dav Jallan is a great partner for Rose.
15. Dark Deeds by Michelle Diener - Book 2 of the Class 5 series. This one is about Fiona Russell - found on a Garmman trading vessel by chance as Captain Hal Vakeri's battleship the Illium chases a band of marauding Krik. I really like Fiona - she's feisty. In the end I'm glad she has Eazi because Hal's crew are awful to her - leaving her to die on Larga Ways after the bomb went off. I'm glad Eazi took over Larga Ways and he and Fiona can take over the running of the waystation - gives them both something meaningful to do. Don't know what happens when Hal is posted to another section of Grih space.
16. Dark Minds by Michelle Diener - Book 3 of the Class 5 series. Imogen Peters and Captain Camlar (Cam) Kalor meet in the hold of Paxe's Class 5 when he rounds everyone up looking for the earth woman who he sees as a threat to him. She doesn't convince him that he'll be safe if she frees him before the Tecran reappear to reclaim him so he lets all the hostages go. Eventually he also lets Cam and Imogen out - just for them to be pulled into another Class 5 - Oris. He's a little easier to help but lots of twists in this book. The saddest part is where Paxe self-destructs rather than let the Tecran imprison him again. The best part was when Imogen, Rose and Fiona all sang together - both Frere Jacques and Royals. I love that the girls singing together is enough to blow their minds LOL.
17. Sacrificed to the Dragon by Jessie Donovan - Stonefire Dragons book 1. I was just casting around for something to read after a few stop/starts. I couldn't find anything to grab my attention after the Class 5 series because they're such good books. I stumbled on this one and I surprised myself that I actually enjoyed it. The main characters were interesting and the concept of Dragon clans - almost living on reservations - was a new one to me. It was a good book. Jessie Donovan has a nice writing style.
18. Seducing the Dragon by Jessie Donovan - Stonefire Dragons book 2. Another good book. This one is about the Clan leader - some good humor - plenty of action. Nice writing style.
19. Overlord by Anna Hackett - Galactic Kings book 1. I actually really enjoyed this - back to a more space/alien romance thing. Tough human woman - with sass but a good heart. Mallory West (Mal) is a former Air Force pilot, now a test pilot for a space agency. When a test flight goes wrong Mal and scientist Dr Poppy Ellison find themselves crashing on an alien planet. When Mal wakes up Poppy is nowhere to be found and so the adventure begins trying to save Poppy. She is initially taken captive by Rhaine - the Overlord of Zhalto. They end up fighting together to save one of his towns and from then on they are a team. Lots of action - lots of love :) And I liked that we got to meet some of the humans and their partners from Fortuna Space Station. I like the main characters in this story and the writing flows nicely. A good book.
20. Emperor by Anna Hackett - Galactic Kings book 2. This is the second book in this series - which I now realise is a spin off series of the Galactic Gladiators. I really enjoyed it. This is Poppy's story - scientist Dr Poppy Ellison who was on a test flight with Mallory 'Mal' West. In Mal's story they rescued Poppy - but not before she'd been infected with the Damar wolf virus. She should be a shapeshifter but her transformation is taking too long. She has some of the characteristics, but not all. Rhain's brother - the Emperor of Damar takes Poppy home to help her through her transformation, the two of then are drawn to each other - it turns out she is a Runa - a wolf with the ability to calm rogue wolves. She's also his mate. Another good book with some great side characters.
21. Gladiator by Anna Hackett - Galactic Gladiators book 1. Space Marine Harper Adams is on Fortuna Space Station near Jupiter when they were attacked by aliens and abducted to be sold into slavery. On the desert world of Cathago, Harper is sold to the House of Galen - a Gladatorial house - to fight in the arena. It doesn't take long for her to realise they are actually the good guys and free lots of slaves that are either not suited to the arena or are sick and weak. She is attracted to Raiden - the Champion of the Kor Magna Arena. He is determined not to let people too close - but he can't resist Harper. Together with Raiden and other gladiators they mount a rescue operation to save Harper's friend Regan from the Thraxians. During that operation Raiden realises he can't give up Harper so he gives up on his revenge and helps save her from the Thraxians. Thorin - a huge gladiator from the House of Galen is instrumental in the Regan's rescue.
22. Warrior by Anna Hackett - Galactic Gladiators book 2. Regan has been rescued by Harper and the gladiators from the House of Galen but she can't forget her cousin Rory who is still in the hands of the Thraxians. During all this, she falls in love with the huge Sirrush warrior - Thorin, whose favourite weapon is a huge axe. He nearly dies in the rescue attempt for Rory - it's Regan's scientific brain that works out an antidote for him.

April

23. Hero by Anna Hackett - Galactic Gladiators book 3. Rory finds herself attracted to Kace - the Antarian soldier is only on contract to the arena to learn new methods of fighting. He also doesn't believe in love - in fact it's outlawed on his planet. But in the end while protecting Rory from a number of attempts on her life, he falls for her. They are searching for Madeline Cochrane - the former civilian commander of Fortuna Space Station. When they hear rumors that she's in the underground fight rings - they decide to try and find them to rescue her. Kace is nearly killed - and Rory also spots another former Space Marine from Fortuna Station there - Blaine Strong - Harper's friend. When they get back Rory is all geared up to tell Kace she loves him when his Commander arrives to tell him he needs to leave and re-join the war effort for his world. Lore is very protective of Madeline and stays by her side as the healers fix her up. Rory discovers she's pregnant and that Kace has decided to stay (and been banished from his world). Another good book.

24. Defender of Walls - Kingdom of Walls book 1 by Tanya Bird. What a great book! I've put off reading this - even though I wanted to - because her Royal Companions series was so hard on my emotions. I did still shed some tears, but it wasn't as dark and I absolutely loved both Blake and Harlan. It was a star-crossed lovers story - but I loved that Blake's spirit made Harlan question his orders, where before he would've blindly followed orders. I loved when he thought he was sacrificing himself to save her and his men stood by them. Even his father who had seemed so intractable was torn and questioning at the end. I loved it so much. This author can really write well and pull at the heart strings.

25. Defender of Hearts - Kingdom of Walls book 2 by Tanya Bird. Another great book! This is Blake's sister Lyndal's story. Lyndal comes to the attention of the Queen mother and is basically coerced into marrying the young king to try and get the Merchants to support the crown again rather than rebel. After what King Borin did to them - locked them in the Merchant Borough with no food - he needed her - a champion of the people. Lyndal is content to sacrifice herself for the people until she realises she has feelings for Astin Fletcher - a Defender and currently her bodyguard. He's also Harlan's best friend. It doesn't help that the King is a boor. After two attempts on her life, Astin also realises he has feelings for Lyndal. After a lot of tears on my part - this resolves quite satisfyingly. Again, I love both characters, and I love seeing Eda grow up and of course more of Blake and Harlan and Garlic the Duck!

26. Defender of Crowns - Kingdom of Walls book 3 by Tanya Bird. Oh wow! Another great book! What a good series! This is Eda's story - the youngest of the Suttone sisters. Restless and wanting to explore, Eda convinces the Queen mother that she was up to the task of going to one of King Edward's castles to try and encourage the young Prince to return to Chadora and take up his crown. Along with Roul Thornton - her friend and a Defender - and a small team of recruits head off with her. As always there was lots of action and they discover their love for each other. I absolutely loved this series.

27. Dragon Ridden - Dragon Ridden Chronicles book 1 by T.A. White. I had trouble moving on from the Kingdom of Walls series so I ended returning to an old favourite. I love this series too. Tate and her friends are such a great group. I'm not sure I like or trust Ryu - and I'm so sad that Tate feels her friends on the Marauder were not really her friends - because I think they were - they were just in a bad position.

28. Of Bone and Ruin - Dragon Ridden Chronicles book 2 by T.A. White. Tate is appointed as Witness in a mediation over a new discovery - and all three races (humans, Kairi and Silva) have put in a claim. The idea (though no-one told Tate) was the mediation would find in favour of the humans but Tate has an unerring sense of fairness and she takes it seriously to get this right. In the end, Roslyn, the Duke of Spiritly's daughter and descendent of Jaxon Kuno (Tate's lover before being sent into sleep), renounces her family ties. And once again it appears that Ryu has put the Empire's above Tate's and was quite happy to put her life at risk - which seems to be in direct contrast to his reaction at her near death. Love these books!

May

29. Destruction's Ascent - Dragon Ridden Chronicles book 3 by T.A. White. I love these books! Tate has been accepted into the ranks of the Dragon Corps - which she's not overly happy about. Lord Thora appears to be a grumpy old man/dragon and he takes none of her shit. Dewdrop has a crush on a girl from the market and when her brother goes missing at the Avertine fair, Dewdrop and Tate are determined to help find him. They uncover a plot where children are going missing, and it appears the Avertine (Dewdrop's original people) and the Guardians are involved. Lots of action and adventure in this book. We also learn a lot more about Tate - for one, that her real name is Tatum Allegra Winters - one of the original Saviours who came to this world more than a thousand years ago. The Avertine's Ahnteela knows Tate from that time, and Tate entrusted her with keeping safe a huge pink gem. We don't know it's use - but it was significant that she knew Tate. I loved when Tate threatened to burn their world down - it was awesome. Tate and Night tracked the boy and found the missing children and the missing Dragonridden - Jacob under the Temple. They had created a new rift and were bonding children with dragons and then sacrificing them to power the rift so they could raise an Ancient. But they raised the wrong one - this man was a sociopath. A former colleague of Tate's but one that was buried for a good reason. He kills most of those who raised him - but escaped in the turmoil when Blade and the Lucius' come to the rescue. The sad thing was all the children with dragons. They were being driven mad by the bond. Tate convinced Thora and the Emperor to give the children a chance - and the dragonlettes are calmer around Illith.

30. Secrets Bound by Sand - Dragon Ridden Chronicles book 4 by T.A. White. This book has a great beginning. Tate and Night are with a lawyer trying to get her to represent Night in his bid to be recognised as a sentient species, she refuses and so Tate and Night leave only to be ambushed by a monster in the palace that tries to assassinate Tate. She's poisoned and dying and Illith takes over. The hilarious part is where she see the 'sparkly' - the Emperor's Sapphire atop the Treasury and steals it, then goes into the treasury and piles all the treasure and curls up on it - in her mind claiming it as her horde. But the funniest part is where she steals the Emperor's crown and plops it on her own head. So funny! Of course Illith abandon's Tate to deal with the fallout, and to get her out of Aurelia and out of trouble with the Council the Emporer sends Tate, Ryu, Dewdrop, Night, and Roslyn on a mission to Sylvain to mediate a claim for recompense for the children kidnapped by the Guardians. Little did they know it was all a ploy to get Tate to Nathan (the ancient raised by sacrificing dragon children) so he could access Jax's pocket realm and claim his ultimate weapon - the Apportens Mortis. Lots happens in this book - but the big thing is, it turns out Tate herself is the Apportens Mortis. Oh, and they meet another like Night - Mia - someone Gabriella knows because they were both part of the Morain - the Silva Harridan's secret force and assassins. Oh and Tate and Ryu's relationship is solidified when he puts searching for her after she's kidnapped above the primary mission - something Tate never expected. She also gains some of her memories in the glass lake under the sand dunes.

31. Where Dragons Collide - Dragon Ridden Chronicles book 5 by T.A. White. This is the last book in the series. Another great book - ties up some loose ends - not all - but most. Tate and Ryu have accepted their relationship - yay! The Emperor decides it's time for Tate to be presented to the Court. The Palace is attacked and the Rift opened. Ryu and his dragon Rath, and Tate and Illith fight off an old enemy raised by Nathan - but they're not sure why. Turns out he's trying to raise the original Aurelia - the ship Tate and her friends arrived in this world in. But as Christopher said to Tate before he (apparently) dies, "When one Aurelia rises, the other falls." Another action-packed book. In the end after some hard-fought battles, Tate and her allies win the day, but it was a close thing. I love that Night found his humanoid form and can speak, I wasn't sure if that was part of his gift from the Pandora's Box - it wasn't really explained. Roslyn also gained a relic from the Pandora's Box - a mental power where she can send her essence or spirit somewhere else and communicate with others. It came in handy trying to let Tate know where all the captured people were including Ryu. In the end, Peter (who turned out to be Kenneth's son) avenged his mother's death, using the same weapon Nathan had used to kill her - the Polar Kiss. Ai is also set free to grow - she and Roslyn are going to travel and see the world. Thora and his dragon are forced to change - but only partially by a relic wielded by Nathan - and Tate realises she can sever the connection and sends Thora's dragon - Naido - home to his own world. A satisfying ending to this series and it's characters I have grown to love.

32. Nightchaser - The Endeavour Trilogy Book 1 by Amanda Bouchet. What a great book! I laughed, I cried - and felt just about everything in between. I was so absorbed in Tess's character and her crew on the Endeavour. I flip flopped a lot about Shade Ganavan, and Bridgebane. He doesn't seem like such a bad guy after all - though to be fair, he was still willing to hand her over to the Overseer to be used as a blood factory - so not necessarily a nice guy either. A lot happens in this book - the action is pretty constant. Great start to a new series (for me) from this author.

June

33. Starbreaker - The Endeavour Trilogy Book 2 by Amanda Bouchet. Another great book by this author. There's some revelations that confirmed what I was starting to suspect - that Nathanial Bridgebane is Tess's biological father and he has tortured himself that he wasn't there when the Overseer deliberately infected her to find out who Tess's father was - when a couple of drops of his blood would've cured her. Worse, he was at his private home that he had set up for them all to escape to. Very sad. Shade makes Tess his choice and sticks to it. So much happens - the worst thing is the Overseer's super soldiers - who can enter the Fold without pain - destroyed the Fold and was taking away the leaders of the resistance especially because he had realised they were the source of A1 blood which he uses to create his super soldiers. Worse, he has realised the Black Widow not only takes people where they need to be, but his theory is it takes people WHEN they want/need to be. He has a crazy plan to go back in time 40 years and be the man Caitrin (Tess's Mom) can and will love. He's obsessed with her still after he killed her 18 years ago. Tess tries to kill him - I imagine it wasn't successful because the last book is about the final battle between Tess and her crew and the Galactic Overseer. Can't wait for the last book to come out.

34. The Circle of Ceridwen by Octavia Randolph - Book 1 of the Circle of Ceridwen saga. I absolutely loved this book. I barely even noticed the different phrasing - old English - as it was perfect for the setting. In a world controlled by men, where women are little more than chattels, Ceridwen and Aelfwyn are shining examples of strong women who put other's needs above their own. Little more than girls themselves, they adapt and fight as they can to make things better in a time of war. I got so caught up in this story - I loved it from start to finish. One of the things I loved most about his book, was that it gave a human face to the 'enemy' - the Danes, and made you realise they weren't necessarily bad men simply because they were Danes; that each person should be judged on their own merits.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in this period of history. It took me a while to read this as it's a big book - but well worth the time.

July

35. Ceridwen of Kilton by Octavia Randolph - Book two of the Circle of Ceridwen saga. I loved it! I didn't want Ceridwen to leave Sidroc and end up married to Gyric - but I couldn't help but love this book anyway. I love Ceridwen - to me she is a truly genuine, brave woman. Quietly true to herself, and good to everyone around her. It couldn't be easy married to a man who felt less than whole. But when Sidroc and Aelfwyn came to visit with Ashild - my heart broke a little. If fate had been kinder, Aelfwyn would've been married to Gyric and living Ceridwen's life. And Ceridwen is clearly destined or fated to be with Sidroc. Yet both women are truly good women, and there is never any envy of the other. These characters draw you in and take you along for the ride. I was always a little weary of Godwin of Kilton, Gyric's brother. And felt so sorry for both Ceridwen and Gyric when he convinced them to let him come to Ceridwen's bed. They did the right thing giving the baby to Godwin and Edygth. So much for being a devout Christian - it didn't stop him coveting his brother's wife and getting a child on her. I was happy when Ceridwen kissed Sidroc when he visited after the last pledge of Peace. I think that was when she really acknowledged to herself how important it was to her that he was still in the world.

36. The Claiming by Octavia Randolph - Book three of the Circle of Ceridwen saga. I loved this one too! Though many tears were shed in this book. It's scary, and sad, and almost feels like it was inevitable. But so many lives were changed by when Ceridwen and Sidroc were taken from Saltfleet by the Idrisid slavers. The one thing I never understood, was why they killed Sidroc's men instead of capturing them too. I felt Ceridwen's pain and never seeing Ceric or Aelfwyn again and accepting that the God's had woven this fate for her and Sidroc. Knowing Sidroc's children would have to grow up without him too, broke my heart. But he was right - even though he had not despoiled her, Godwin would have fought him and assumed he had - because Godwin wanted her and wanted no-one else to have her. Knowing also that Ceridwen would have had to leave Kilton anyway, and all she loved there, and submit to a marriage out of duty that would have robbed her son of his birthright, made it easier to accept. Also, poor Ceridwen suffered so much on those sea voyages and was terrified of ever having to take ship again. I love that Fate took them to Gotland - a peaceful Island - where they could start again. My only twinge of discomfort was how easily Sidroc called Ceridwen his wife, when he still legally had one. But I guess to his mind, he was lost at sea and dead to them so he was free to start the life promised, and provided him by his Gods.

37. The Hall of Tyr by Octavia Randolph - Book Four of the Circle of Ceridwen saga. I spent the whole book dreading the arrival of Godwin lol Ceridwen and Sidroc are happy in their life as Traders and in their small Hall of Tyrsborg. Ceridwen has learnt Norse, and has accepted that she is more like these people than she ever was the people of Angle-land. She prays to the same Gods and truly believes in them. Tindr has come to live with them, and Ceridwen and Sidroc have twins - a boy Yrling, after Sidroc's uncle, and Eirian - a Welsh name after her mother's people. It's sad they don't have more children but I'm glad they had these two. When Godwin arrived - with Ceric and Hrald in tow, I was terrified for Ceridwen. It seemed he would drag her off and I dreaded to think what he would do to her. After the fight in which Sidroc kills him, and the boys decide to stay for the rest of the year with them, I didn't much like Ceric who had grown to be like his uncle. I loved Hrald though, and it broke my heart when Sidroc wouldn't allow him to stay at Tyrsborg and live the simple life he longed for - when it had been Sidroc's dream to be a great Jarl, but Hrald was the one forced to live that life. A great book - if a little heartbreaking at times.

38. Tindr by Octavia Randolph - Book Five of the Circle of Ceridwen saga. For me this book - while good - was not on the same level as the earlier books. Most of it could've been a side book - not part of the main saga. But it was good to see things from his point of view. I thought it odd though that as a toddler first waking from his fever, he appeared to have already lost his speech with that of his hearing. You'd think he would still call out his sisters' names and that of his parents. I was so glad though, that he found someone to love - to whom it didn't matter if he could hear. She couldn't speak his language and sign language worked well for them. Still a good book - just not quite as riveting but maybe that's just because I'm obsessed with Sidroc and Ceridwen.

39. Silver Hammer, Golden Cross by Octavia Randolph - Book six of the Circle of Ceridwen saga. Another big book - with so much that happens. A saga in itself. Ceric, Ashild and Hrald have all grown up. But the Peace has shattered with Guthrum's death (King of the Danes of Angle-land). Ceric seeks to bring Ashild to Kilton as his wife, but she doesn't want to leave Four Stones and so puts him off. With that disappointment in his heart, he is called to fight the newly arrived Danes with Aelfred's son, Aedward. It's good to get to see more of Worr, the Horse Thegn of Kilton, and to meet Raedwulf of Defenas, the King's Bailiff who, it turns out, also fell for Aelfwyn on that fateful meeting at Cirenceaster. I have hope, that one day these two will find happiness together. There is so much pressure on Ashild to marry - for Four Stones. She would choose Ceric, but not Kilton and is torn. She also feels differnt - her father's daughter. And she is very like Yrling - strong willed and bold. The part that breaks my heart, is when Sidroc - on the Island of Gotland - hears from visiting Danes of the impending war in Angle-land, and knowing he will break his vow to Ceridwen and leave her to return to Four Stones to help Hrald. It feels like an enormous betrayal - made worse because she could see it coming, but he wouldn't talk to her about it, and instead withdrew from her. And when she finally breaks down and confronts him, he admits he's leaving. Poor Ceridwen. My heart broke for her, and for the first time I lost a little bit of my obsession for Sidroc. It's like he wants the best of both worlds - as men often do. Having said that, for Hrald's sake it was great that he went back. But it must've been awkward for Aelfwyn to have her former husband and father to two of her beloved children, back under her roof. To have come all that way - seen Hrald win Turcesig - it now seems cruel for him to leave again, even though I want him to return to Ceridwen. I'm so torn. I wish he would take Ashild with him, though she may not wish to go anymore. The ties that bind eh? A great book. For all the heartache - I loved this book.

40. Wildswept by Octavia Randolph - Book seven of the Circle of Ceridwen saga. Another amazing book. Secrets are revealed, the biggest one possibly to Edwin that Godwin is his true father. I think it helps him a bit - I'm not overly fond of Edwin. His personality is much more like Godwin than Ceridwen. And Ashild reveals her pregnancy. I love the way they spin it that she and Ceric were quietly married - rather than that they snuck in a night of intimacy. I feel for Ceric - he has given himself wholly to Ashild, but she won;t commit to him. It's very sad. But I love that we see a bit more or Readwulf and Aelfwyn - I'm still hoping for a happy ending for these two. We see more of Sidroc and Ceridwen - she discovered she was pregnant again while he was in Angle-land. It was also good to touch base with Tindr and Seara and see more of her home. And Hrald meets Dagmar at Haward's. Sidroc tells Ashild not to fight her fate - that bad things happen when you do that. He also praised her for riding to the defence of Oundle - where she killed a man with her spear, and told Sidroc that she had given herself to Odin. She tells her mother she will not leave Four Stones and her mother and Hrald - by this time she is pregnant with Ceric's child. I personally think she is very selfish - and only thinks of herself. And Ceridwen is delivered of the second daughter foretold on their travels to Gotland - 10 years after the twins.

41. For me Fate wove this by Octavia Randolph - Book eight of the Circle of Ceridwen saga. Oh my God! This is a heart-rending book. I haven't cried that much reading a book since I can't remember! Hrald marries Dagmar - and I feel for him because he bends all the rules to have her. And she could not get a better marriage than this, all the while she is deceiving him and pretending to be a maid. Six months after the wedding, her former lover shows up and poor Hrald find them kissing and holding each as only lovers would - in the Treasure Room! My heart breaks for Hrald. He is so kind - he simply casts them out when he would be within his rights ot kill them both. Within days of this, Ashild has her son - Cerd - named after Ceric's grandsire, Ceridwen's father. But Ceric doesn;t know about his son - Angle-land is at war again and he is busy travelling and fighting alongside Prince Aedward. Then the renegade Danes attack and kill some of Hrald's men - on his land. He takes a force to drive them out and Ashild convinces him to let her come along as a courier - jsut in case someone needs to leave the battle and race back to Four Stones with word. What they couldn't know was that Prince Aedward, now with Edwin, Lord of Kilton in his party has ridden North chasing them. They come across a battle of Dane against Dane and don't know who is enemy or friend. Cadmar was killed in that battle and Ceric - returned from a scouting mission comes upon the field to comfort Cadmar as he lay dying. After laying him to rest under a cairn of stones, he see a man picking up a Raven banner - the battle banner of the Danes - and in his anger at Cadmar's death, throws his spear and kills the flag-bearer. But he turns them over - it is Ashild! God that was heartbreaking! Poor Ceric! He put his ring on her finger and says they are wed. He is broken. It is so sad. He and Worr ride through the night with her body - by then all at Four Stones know she is missing. It broke my heart for everyone when Ceric arrived with Ashild in his arms. The Abbess Siegwif claims Ashild' body and she is the first person buried in the crypt at Oundle. Meanwhile Worr has to guide a withdrawn Ceric home to Kilton. Then the worst thing happens, within days his grandmother, the Lady Modwyn dies. Hrald is barely holding it together and leaves for Gotland to tell Sidroc and Ceridwen the terrible news. For Ceric - his grandmother's death is the straw that broke the camel's back. He leaves Kilton during her funeral service and walks into the forest to live as a wild man. Poor young man. Gotland is healing for Hrald - he finally starts to feel like he's not going to break at any minute. Spending time with his father is good for him. They are both actually quite quiet, gentle souls. They discover Sidroc's father - on Gotland! And when Hrald leaves for home, young Yrling demands to be taken with him. I don't particularly like the twins - both are so eager to leave Gotland and don't seem to care how much this hurts their parents. I love that the book ends with Sidroc taking steps to fulfil the last promise he made to Ceridwen - that he would teach her to swim :)

August

42. Two Dragons by Octavia Randolph - book none of the Circle of Ceridwen Saga. OMG - another great book! How does she do it! Yrling is at Four Stones with Hrald, Hrald takes a new wife out of duty more than anything - so I feel sorry for his new wife because she's lovely and deserves the man he was before Dagmar, not this reserved, haunted man who's still pining for a woman who betrayed him. I'm seriously worried that he'll betray Pega for Dagmar when/if she shows up again - and then I would lose all respect for him. On a bright side, Aelfwyn and Raedwulf are married - but she'll remain at Four Stones until after Pega and Hrald's baby is born (they had a girl called Aelfgiva). Edwin - having missed out on Pega as a bride - not that he knew he lost out to Hrald - wins the chance to take a Welsh Princess home to see if she might be suitable. The choice is hers - and she's a bit fey. She's also only 14. Turns out her stepmother is Ceridwen's mother - though no one else knows this yet. Bega from the village of Kilton marries a man from her home village who has been widowed - she will help him raise his children - which is what she's always wanted. But before she leaves she goes with Worr into the forest and gets Ceric to come home. He's a shadow of his former self and when Dwynwyn (the Welsh princess who's there for Edwin) stumbles upon Ceric in the bower garden, she realises this is the man whose life she will hold in her hands - as prophesied by her stepmother, and she offers him a drink from her bridal cup. What an ending! Edwin has always seemed a little envious of Ceric - I don't particularly like him. He reminds me a lot of Godwin - which I guess is normal given that Godwin is his actual father. Ooh - I see so much angst headed for the next book. But at least Aelfwyn will be in Wessex with little Cerd so hopefully Ceric will get to know his son. Poor wee boy having to leave Hrald though. I love the way he loves Hrald and roars his name!

43. Shieldmaiden - Under the Howling Moon by Melanie Karsak - Book one of The Road to Valhalla series. This was a good book - not a great one. I picked it because I was fascinated by the Norse Gods from Ceridwen's books. This is more mystical - and I'm not even sure I liked the writing or the characters. I thought Hervor was a weird mix of downtrodden and determined to be what she was. I thought at the end when her grandfather beat her and banished her - she should have gone straight to Hofund then - I just didn't get it.

44. Shieldmaiden - Under the Hunter's Moon by Melanie Karsak - Book two of The Road to Valhalla series. Hervor has discovered who her father was and she heads off with a motley crew to the island of Bolmso to find her grandfather. She disguises herself as Hervath - so she can earn his respect. Arngrim is a lovely old Jarl and their relationship is lovely. It's sad when he says he sent a man to her other grandfather for Svafa (her mother) and her, but was told she'd died. Such a shame - she could have been brought up loved. Lots of battles - they are beset by enemies in both sides and at the end when it looks like they may be overwhelmed, her cousin Leif and Hofund arrive to save the day.

45. Shieldmaiden - Under the Thunder Moon by Melanie Karsak - Book three of The Road to Valhalla series. They leave Bolmso to help Leif get rid of Jarl Bjartmar - their grandfather who's lost the plot. Lots happens - Leif becomes jarl of Dalr and Hervor and Hofund are married back on Bolmso. Another good book - but I'm not going to bother with the rest. I can see where this is going.

46. Dark Class by Michelle Diener - book 5 in the Class 5 series. This is a little bit done to death now - and there were more mistakes and typos than I have ever seen in a Michelle Diener book - but nevertheless it was a good book - and I loved seeing my old favourite characters again.

47. Speak of the Demon by Stacia Stark - Book 1 of Deals with Demons. I just picked this up because I wasn't sure what to read and I'm waiting on a couple of new releases. I was surprised to find I really enjoyed it. It reminded me of the first book in Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series - Angel of Blood - but instead of Archangels Danica is dealing with Demons. I enjoyed it enough to buy the rest of the series.

48. Dance with the Demon by Stacia Stark - Book 2 of Deals with Demons. Another good book - I started really liking Samael in this book and wanting to knock some sense into Danica - but still understanding how she felt. Good series.

49. Inner Demons by Stacia Stark - Book 3 of Deals with Demons. Danica and Samael are closer and Danica continues the search for her mother's killer. We meet Kyla - the female werewolf who needs to be kept busy. I really like her - she's funny and feisty and badass all at once. Evie's coven's house is burned down with 22 witches inside - and Danica and Kyla investigate. Lots of intrigue - I didn't pick the bad guy. Oh but the end of this book...

50. Luck of the Demon by Stacia Stark - Book 4 of Deals with Demons. Samael is days away from death - having been hit by the Spell of Three when finding his witch from being delivered to the portal to Lucifer. This whole book is spent on crazy, hopeless quests to find a mythical artifact in exchange for the antidote to the spell that would restore Samael. I really don't like Taraghlan - light fae definitely doesn't mean the good guys. But luckily Danica has a way about her and wins friends and loyalty from all factions without trying - so Aubrey (a light Fae) tells her what she's missing for her counter spell - what the light Fae king omitted to tell her. So glad they could still talk and hold each other in their dreamscape. And Along the way Danica forms an alliance with the wolves and also brings a Griffin back who is happy to stay with the wolves. Again the ending...!

51. Demon's Advocate by Stacia Stark - Book 5 of Deals with Demons. Danica is in the underworld unaware of who she is but aware there seem to be huge gaps in her memory. Turns out Lucifer had Gloria - once Samael's black witch - take her memories. But the bond she has with Samael is too strong. She can't access her powers because they've been suppressed by a metal bracelet - same as all his prisoners wear only she can't see it till she gets her memories back. Kyla and Keigan are captured too - and kyla is forced to stay in her wolf form - running the risk of turning feral. Danica finds her father in a special cell in Lucifer's dungeon - but only knows him for a few days before Lucifer finds out and kills him in front of her. Lots happens - Danica gathers allies in the underworld for the showdown with Lucifer. Samael does the same in the human realm - though he's betrayed by Taraghlan - the Light Fae king - (I wish we had seen his death!). Lucifer nearly succeeds in taking Danica's power but she makes a deal with the underworld and sacrifices herself for her friends. She and Samael become king and queen of the underworld, with many of Lucifer's former demons swearing allegiance to Danica. Satisfying end, Though I felt stressed out and on edge most of this book waiting for the climax. Good series.

September

52. Guardian of Madness by Michelle Manus - Book 3 in the Nyx Fortuna series. I enjoyed this book - there were a few revelations and some almost revelations (I'm pretty sure we know who her father is). It was good to see Morgen and Evra's relationship progress however, I didn't want Nyx and Seth to become a couple - which they kinda did. I wanted Nyx to discover that Kaden actually loves her - he's just torn and clearly not a good communicator!

Eclipse the Moon by Jessie Mihalik - Starlight's Shadow Book 2 - I liked this - but it wasn't as good as the first book mainly because for me the characters didn't seem to be true to their personalities from the first book. However, all was revealed later in the book. Another good book from this author.

53. Born in Fire by K.F. Breene - book 1 of the Demon Days Vampire Nights (DDVN) series. I have read this before and only kind of enjoyed it. But this time I enjoyed it a lot more - I found Reagan funny and a little crazy - a good character. Darius wasn't so great in this book - but hopefully there's hope for him!

54. Facets of Revolution by T.A. White - book 4 of the Firebird Chronicles Another damn good book by T.A. White. I love these characters - and I love that the forty-three seem to be taking the measure of the Tuann - and maybe setting up a world for themselves and other survivors given that the Wanderer was chosen as the keeper of the baby Lu-ong. I also love that we found out how Jin became soul-bound - and it makes sense since the ability runs in the Emporer's line not Roake's. So much happens - it's a really good book!. This is one of my favourite series.

55. Raised in Fire by K.F. Breene - book 2 of the Demon Days Vampire Nights (DDVN) series. Funny! Lots of laugh out loud moments. Reagan is nuts and so are Callie and Dizzy. And Darius is a gentleman. Lots more funny escapades and action in this book. Regan and Darius get closer, and while fighting off some crazy mages in Seattle they also come across Penny - the natural mage. A good romp of fun.

56. Fused in Fire by K.F. Breene - book 3 of the Demon Days Vampire Nights (DDVN) series. There were elements of this book that I loved - namely Regan and Darius binding themselves together. But for me, there was just too much detail of all the battles and crazy shit in the Underworld. Not as much of a fan of this one.

57. Only Bad Options by Jennifer Estep - Book 1 in the Galactic Bonds series. I actually loved this! I picked it up because I didn't know what to read and this was recommended by Ilona Andrews. Not quite a romance - not yet anyway - but you can see there's the promise of one eventually. Vesper is a strong woman - with a strong sense of right and wrong. Doing the right thing got her conscripted as cannon fodder into the Imperial army. Only she survived. Her seer magic showed her sticking close to Kyrion Caldaren - the most well known killer in the galaxy (An Arrow - an elite solider for the Imperium) - was her way to survive - even if she ended up saving him. It's a great story showing their journey to get to know one another, and then part. The characters are great - the magic system and the society was easy to understand. Loved it - I'm really looking forward to the next one.

58. The Lasaran by Dianne Duvall - book 1 of the Aldebarian Alliance series. Surprisingly good. I wasn't sure what to expect but the writing was great - it flowed really well. Taelon is a Prince from an alien planet in search of his missing sister - Amiriska. But he is captured and tortured in a secret Government facility. Lisa is a struggling student surviving by taking part in paid scientific studies. It turns out she's psychic and is captured the scientific company she was doing the study with. Next thing she knows she wakes up to find she is heavily pregnant. They have bred her with Taelon to see if they could. Thankfully some immortals are captured and their family come to break them out. Tealon and Lisa take advantage of the melee to escape. What they didn't realise until a lot later when they find his sister, was that the liberators were also looking for Lisa and would have saved them. But on their adventures - they fell in love. It was a lovely story. On the way to his home planet they are attacked by his enemies and the earth women with them are all jettisoned in escape pods. I didn't realise until nearly the end that this must be a follow-on series from an earlier one - but I'm going to keep reading this one before I go back to the earlier series. If I had known those earlier characters I would have probably been yelling at these ones that they were making a mistake hiding from them! Probably lucky I didn't know the earlier books LOL

59. The Segonian by Dianne Duvall - Book 2 of the Aldebarian Alliance series. I enjoyed this book too. Eliana is one of the Immortal Guardians tasked with protecting the gifted ones from Earth and make sure they settle into Lasaran society. But on the trip to Lasara they are attacked by the Gathendians who want to get their hands on the women to study them to see why the virus they released on earth a thousand years ago that produced vampires - hasn't killed all earth's inhabitants. A Segonian Battleship picks up Eliana's signal and makes contact and picks her up - expecting her to be dead. But she was just in stasis. Eliana charms the whole crew and especially their Commander Dagon. This is a great book - they, along with the rest of the Lasaran's allies search for the escape pods but the women are nowhere to be found. Until the Ranasura comes across an empty escape pod and Eliana recognises her friend Ava's scent. Then the hunt is on - finishing with them finding Ava and some Purvelli who have also been tortured by the Gathendians. Great. I love that it didn't follow exactly the same formula as the first book - close enough in that I got my HEA though :)

October

60. The Purveli by Dianne Duvall - Book 3 of the Aldebarian Alliance series. Not quite as good as the first two, but good. I liked Ava, she was strong and gutsy but I thought it shouldn't be such an issue for her not to go to Lasara because as an Immortal Guardian now, she can no longer have children. Unless of course Adaos (from The Segonian) finds a solution. Nevertheless, a good book. I'm enjoying this series and looking forward to further books.

61. The Akseli by Dianne Duvall - Book 4 of the Aldebarian Alliance series. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Janwar and his crew and Simone are great characters. I love that they found two more of the Earth women - so 3 altogether in this book. The only thing that niggled at me was the references to how Ava could have stood against the Gathendians - when we know it's because they accidentally transformed her into an Immortal Guardian. And Simone had spoken to them enough to know that. But other than that, this book was fun. I like that Janwar and his crew are honourable pirates. And hopefully we'll see more of them as they assist in the search for the missing women.

62. Darkness Dawns by Dianne Duvall - Book 1 of the Immortal Guardians series. This series comes before the Aldebarian Alliance series - so I decided to give it a go. I'm kinda glad I didn't know about these characters before I read The Lasaran or I would've been frustrated at Taelon and Lisa avoiding Marcus and Roland. But I'm sure in that series one of those two could teleport - but neither of them could in this book. Anyway - I loved this book. Roland was great and Sarah was feisty. And I got to see Ami being rescued by Seth and David. Great book.

63. Night Reigns by Dianne Duvall - Book 2 of the Immortal Guardians series. This is Marcus and Ami's story. Another good book - I really like these characters and Seth and David. Especially because we now see the person behind the outfit that took Ami and tortured her. It was also good to see more of Roland and Sarah. There's more of this story to come - because they haven't told Roland and Sarah yet that Ami is Lasaran and has extraordinary healing skills.

63. Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks - book 1 of the Armstrong's and Montgomery's. I felt like I needed a bit of a change so I re-read this book. It's a shame she never finished this series - but I still love Graeme and Eveline's story. Both are great characters. Lots of action, a few tears, some laughs - this book has it all. Nice to read something different for a change.

64. Highland Conquest - Sons of Sinclair book 1 by Heather McCollum. Took me awhile to get into this but in the end I loved it. Cain Sinclair is the eldest of the Sinclair sons and becomes chief of his clan when his father is killed in battle by their enemy, the Sutherlands. Ella Sutherland - Chief of the Sutherland clan just wants to be left in peace but she is captured by Cain and told she will marry him. What ensues is a great book of two strong people who learn to love, and trust each other and to compromise. A lovely book.

November

65. Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews - Book 1 of the Innkeeper Chronicles. It took me a while to get into this book - but I have found with most of their books, the first book is often taken up a lot with world-building. A good book - not great. I read it a few years ago and I could barely remember any of it which tells me I only thought it was 'good' that time too.

66. Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews - Book 2 of the Innkeeper Chronicles. This was better than the first book - lots of action and we get to see Lord Arland of House Krahr of the Holy Anocracy again. I like him. Sean - I'm not sure about - hopefully he'll get better after his stint on Nexus. This book is where we meet George, Jack and their cousin from the Edge. George is an arbitrator and petitions Dina to hold peace talks at the Inn. She agrees for the magic it will bring to the Inn. To cater for all her guests, she gets a chef from Baha-char - a super-talented, overdramatic, oversized hedgehog - a Quillonian. Things are definitely getting interesting.

67. One Fell Sweep by Ilona Andrews - Book 3 of the Innkeeper Chronicles. Another good book - Dina receives a message from her sister Maud who she still thinks is living happily in the Holy Anocracy - but she is on Karhari - a penal colony. Her, her husband and daughter Helen were exiled there after he tried to have his brother murdered so he could be Marshal of their House. Unfortunately she learnt too late that he was a selfish man and was always stirring trouble. He's dead, and Maud has avenged his death. To get there she needs to call on Lord Arland for help - and he's more than happy to help. He's blown away when he meets Maud - love at first sight - though she tries to resist him. Being discarded by her last vampire in laws has made her wary. On earth, Dina decides to help a species who is being hunted to extinction and the Inn is besieged by interstellar assassins. Lots happens, including Officer Marais being let in on the secret of the aliens and the Treaty. One of the best bits in this book is when he quotes the statutes to the Draziri (the assassins) and pulls out a photon disruptor Sean gave him. The other great bit was when Arland sacrificed himself for Maud and Helen with the World Killer. Luckily Caldenia had an antidote. When He is called home, he asks Maud to go with him - and she agrees. Actually he asked her to marry him and she said no - but she didn't want to lose him either. Good book.

68. Sweep of the Blade by Ilona Andrews - Book 4 of the Innkeeper Chronicles. This is the best in this series so far. It's Maud and Arland's story back at House Krahr. Poor Maud has to prove herself which means she's tested all the time. But she turns out to be a great asset to the House because of her Innkeeper upbringing. She saves face for them by knowing how to treat the alien species (the lees and the Tachi) that are visiting hoping to set up a trade station in Krahr space. They've also been asked to host a wedding between two supposedly fighting houses. It's suspicious but they can't figure out why. Maud is instrumental in helping them uncover the plot. It's a really good book. Fast paced. I love how Maud recovers from the experience of being exiled and fighting for her life every day, to finally trusting that Arland and his family won't throw her and Helen away. I hope we get more Maud and Arland stories.

69. Blood and Ash by Deborah Wilde - Book one of the Jezebel Files. I loved the start of this book - Ash is my sort of female main character - snarky, funny and strong. BUT...I didn't like the way she treated Levi...it detracted from my enjoyment of the book. She is a Mundane - no magic - until she hits her head on a case and all of sudden she has magic - but not just any magic, Blood magic which is not supposed to exist. Turns out her father warded her when it appeared after she was in a serious car accident at age 13. Levi is head of his magic house and looks after all magic people in the region. They work together on a case and don't report her magic yet as it helps for undercover work. Not sure if I will read the rest in this series.

70. Wild Knight by Annabel Chase - book one of Midnight Empire: The Tower. I picked this up on a whim - but I really enjoyed it. The premise is the world is in Eternal Darkness after 10 super volanoes blew at once and left the world shrouded in a layer of volcanic ash. Following the Great Eruption, monsters swarm3ed the earth, including vampires who now control the world. London is a Knight of Boudica and a dhampir - half vampire, half human. Dhampirs are illegal and executed as they are deemed a natural enemy of vampires so London has to hide her power. She poses as witch and works with her sister knights to protect humans from the monsters. She's wonderful. Snarky but with empathy. She always tries to help people. In this book she is hired by Prince Callan of House Lewis (who is a hostage from House Duncan in Scotland) to find his missing sister (foster) Davina. London and Callan and his (foster) brother Maeron unravel the clues and find Davina and recover an Elemental Stone which the Queen wants to add to her collection - she already has the Immortality Stone. London can't let them have possession of a stone that can control Elemental witches so she gives them a fake stone and stores the fake one in her apartment. She is attracted to Prince Callan but resolves to avoid him after the case is solved as he cannot know she is dhampir.

71. Three Dog Knight by Annabel Chase - book two of Midnight Empire: The Tower. The werewolves in Britannia City are going berserk. London is hired by the local werewolf pack to find out why. She embarks on a trip to Devon, and the only way to get out of the city is to go with Prince Callan. What they find is that in Devon their previously berserker werewolves were now turning to their human forms and it all happened after a storm blew a wall down. It leads London to hypothesize that perhaps there is another stone - similar to the Elemental and Immortality stones - that is now in Britannia City. So they return and London does some research into it. It turns out there are 5 stones and once she find the Transcendance Stone - she has two of them - which she sends to an alternate pocket realm to keep them out of anyone else's hands.

72. Deadly Knight by Annabel Chase - book three of Midnight Empire: The Tower. Now they know there are more stones, it's a race for London to find them first. One of her quests sent her to Wales to the Atheneum - a magical library of sorts. There she discovers her father is none other than King Casek - the head of House Lewis! Which makes Maeron and Davinia her half sibilings - but she can't them because...dhampir. Following her visions from the Atheneum, London escapes Britannia City with Maeron hot on her heels, and heads to House Duncan territory - the Orkney Isles. Callan was worried about her and catches up to her close to the Isle of Skye - her final destination. During their encounter with a giant who was using the Spirit Stone as a tooth - London has to reveal her magic to save Callan and they have a terrible fight and he leaves her. Soon after she's betrayed by the people Callan thought he could trust, and handed over to his father - King Glendon and imprisoned in a tower. No magic, no one know where she is - it's hard not to feel sorry for yourself.

73. One Knight Stand by Annabel Chase - book four of Midnight Empire: The Tower. Rescued from the Tower at House Duncan by one of his witches, London and Cynthia escape on the back of a dragon. Cynthia sacrifices herself to let London get over the border undetected - or so we think. Turns out she is a spy for the King and is planning to steal the Immortality Stone from the Tower of London. London is also trying to do that and finds Cynthia - they're both too late - Prince Maeron has already stolen it and his goons kill Cynthia and he takes London prisoner. But the King (her father - though he doesn't know it) gets her released. When Maeron kidnaps her best friend Kami (Kamikaze Marwin) London rescues her and confesses that Maeron is her brother and therefore they can't kill him. I still don't like him. Anyway the race is back on for the last stone...

December

74. Endless Knight by Annabel Chase - book 1 of Midnight Empire: The Restoration. Set in the US, Britt is a witch bound in service to House August after being caught using magic illegally. She had a fling with Prince Alaric a few years back, but he broke her heart. Now his father the King is dead and she is sent to retrieve the playboy Prince and bring him back to New York to assume his father's crown. Britt is determined not to let Alaric get under her skin and does her best to keep her distance. On the journey they decide to face the family being accused of the King's murder - and find they had nothing to do with it. Britt, her pet Phoenix, Alaric and two vampires from the rival house defeat the Pey - the ones responsible and get Alaric back in time to be crowned.

75. Red Rook by Annabel Chase - book 2 of Midnight Empire: The Restoration. Just as Britt is planning to leave town - she can't bear to be close to Alaric and watch him marry a vampire - the city is attacked by a magical storm. Britt is also approached by Olis- the head of House August Security - about a prophecy to bring back the sun that he is convinced involves her. It turns out that Britt needs help to defeat a reincarnated God - and London and her banner - along with Princess Davina - arrive to help save the day. It was great to see the banner from Britannia City again. As they are celebrating their success - Olis drugs them and kidnaps both Britt and London...

76. Glass King by Annabel Chase - book 3 of Midnight Empire: The Restoration. Waking and finding themselves held prisoner in the Coven that banished Britt as a little girl, they manage to escape with a young with who also has 'different' magic when some vampire assassins attack the coven - looking for Britt! London portals home, and Britt makes her way back to the city to stop an attack from within and without the palace by Orlis and the coven. the main thing that didn't sit right with me in this book was - how did the Queen know where she was in order to send assassins, while Alaric didn;t even know she'd been kidnapped until Roger told him. Nevertheless, a happy ending was had - so I'm happy.

77. Concealed - The Taellaneth book 1 - by Vanessa Nelson. This was recommended in the T.A. White group on FB - and I loved it! A little slow-paced but I found myself drawn in till I couldn't stop reading. Arrow is a mixed race girl, abhorred by the Erith but bound to their service. No better than a slave - denied healing, bullied, she is disposable. With only days left to go on her 15-year service she is sent to investigate the death of the Shifkin Prime's mate - their ancient enemy. She has to do what she can to discover the truth and maintain the treaty. She discovers dark, forbidden magic at play - demons - and clearly at least one high-ranking Erith mage involved. It breaks my heart how poorly she is treated and I find myself constantly in fear for her. But - it's so good, there's way more story to come. The Erith who look elegant and perfect, have a dark underbelly. While the 'kin looked down on as beasts, are kind and caring and tough. they'll fight to discover the truth and treat Arrow with respect and value her. It's an uncommon occurrence for Arrow. While working this case a third of White Guard guard her - Arrow has never had anyone defence her before.

78. Revealed - The Taellaneth book 2 - by Vanessa Nelson. Arrow is still investigating the mystery around the demon - convinced the threat is not over. But the Erith don't want to believe her. The Prime however, does. When Arrow refuses to submit to be bound again when her service is up - the Taellan (one of the ruling groups of the Erith Triumverate) banish her on the spot. She is not even allowed back to her shed to gather her meager belongings. The Prime is there when she comes out and gives her the key to a house in Lix for her use, along with a scroll declaring her a friend of the Shifkin nation. Kallish and her White Guard third, along with Lord Kester = the youngest of the Taellan - accompany her which she finds stifling having been so excited to have a space of her own. So many of the Erith she is dealing with don't understand what her life has been like. It isn't until she is severely wounded by the rogue mage - her hand destroyed and then healed by Orlis - that she realises how little care they spent on her. The others also realise she has never been healed properly before. In this book - we discover Arrow is a fabled Shadow Walker - which is where she is attacked by the rogue. We also learn that her grandfather was Serran vo Lithian a founder of the Academy and a powerful mage. The Prime is angry that she never told him, and doesn't understand that no-one speaks of her lineage - which has been struck because she's a mixed blood - and treats her as a noName, not even a person. They refer to her as a creature, 'it'. It breaks my heart. Even when she discovers that Lady Seivella and Lord Evellan are involved - the only ones to aid her are Kester and Kallish and the 'kin. When the rogue - who turns out to be Lord Evellan's younger brother - comes to the Academy for revenge they Erith want her help - in fact demand it - but still won't accord her her name. Kester is angry that she nearly died - and kisses her - and she can't get her head around it. When he calls her foolish and says she'll be safe in the Taellaneth she walks away. He has no idea what life is like for her there. The 'kin tell her she can use the house in Lix as long as she wants. Great second instalment in this series.

79. Betrayed - The Taellaneth book 3 - by Vanessa Nelson. Arrow is enjoying her freedom - even when Kallish and Xeveran are sent to collect anything that originated with the Taellan including the clothing she had been given. A month into her freedom and Arrow has managed to build up a supply of potions that she's never been able to do before - denied the right to use her magic for herself. Something that surprises the White Guard - who also didn't understand the restrictions placed on her by the oath bonds - basically slave bindings. Lord Kester comes to visit and gives her a first courting gift, but Arrow doesn't understand until too late that it was for her, and Kester left angry and accusing her of mocking him. Poor Arrow. The next day she is called to the Taellaneth to visit Lord Evellan who demands her service - and she says no! Good on her! They have used her endlessly, no-one ever caring what their hard use does to her. In the end she gives in - not for Evellan, but for Orlis whose companion - Gilean - a well-loved war mage who has gone missing. The Queen has requested Arrow's assistance, but Arrow is banned from entering the Erith heartlands by edict of the Taellan - and it turns our Seggerat - one of the nastiest bastards to Arrow - is her grandfather! Arrow knew this but we didn't. My heart breaks even more for her and the way she has been treated - by family! Evellan makes her an Inquirer which takes precedence - and Arrow, Kester (who is travelling there because his kinswoman has died) and Orlis set off for the Heartlands. Arrow soon discovers there is an undercurrent at the Palace - of intrigue and betrayal. She is tasked by the Queen with investigating the Lady's death as well as Gilean's disappearance. She also discovers that her lineage is not completely struck off- here they still have a portrait of Arrow's mother hanging in the Palace, and the Queen tells Arrow lots of stories about her mother. It's so sad. The Queen is killed (by her Consort) and Arrow talks with the Heartland who marks her as favoured. Between Arrow, Kester, Kallish and her Third, and Miach - cadre leader, first guard to the Queen and his White Guard they solve the mystery and Arrow returns to Lix to plan her travels in the human world.

80. Tainted - The Taellaneth book 4 - by Vanessa Nelson. Another great book. I love Arrow. Despite the horrific treatment she's endured from the Erith she always comes through for them - at great cost to herself. Arrow is in her house that the Shifkin have given her for her use - a place that is starting to feel like home when she is woken by intruders. Somehow humans have managed to breech her wards without the wards alerting her. Arrow works with Zachary and the Shifkin to investigate other break ins where the wards have been similarly disabled. The treaty is threatened and so Humans, Erith and Shifkin gather to renegotiate the treaty. While there there is an attack and Arrow is pushed through a portal to the Surjusi realm. She thought she was alone but she finds Kester and two Human mages. While heading towards the sense of Erith magic - that eventually turns out to be the six of the 'Fallen but not Forgotten' statue in the Taellaneth. They had been in that realm for over 100 years. With Arrow's help, they rescue Serran (her grandfather who turns out to be an asshole) from Saul's dungeons. Saul is the ruler of the Surjusi realm. As Arrow finds a way to open a portal back to the Human world but Saul tries to come through with her. She has to learn his 'Name' and speak it to send him back, but he's so powerful that she knows it will destroy her. And she has just discovered that her and Kester have made a really good connection - and she doesn't want to leave him. She is torn apart but the Heartland puts her back together again with a more Erith face. Zachary gives Arrow some time off and she and Kester start spending some time together and hanging out in Lix.

81. Cloaked - The Taellaneth book 5 - by Vanessa Nelson. Another great book! Arrow's assistance is demanded for one last task for the Erith. She is one of a strange group whose presence is 'requested' to help choose a new Monarch as the Heartland needs a monarch. But the Temple is tainted by blood magic and they are stripped of their magic and transported into the jungle with no weapons. As they gradually find each other they have to find a way back there. Then they make their way to the Heartland and fight off lots of tainted people - Iserat accepts the remains of the Heartland's power to keep it safe until he can return it. There's a huge battle and Iserat and Arrow both die - among many others. But the Heartland returns them - and names Iserat the new King of the Erith. Arrow is given her ancestral home - Serran's old lands and she and Kester, Kallish and her cadre and some others choose to settle there with her. A most satisfying end. She grants the Shifkin leave to visit whenever they like - things will change among the Erith. There are still those in the Taellen who refer to her as 'it' but Iserat knows Arrow and respects her. That's all that matters. What a wonderful series.

82. The Gathering - The Hundred book 1 - by Vanessa Nelson. Another good fantasy series by Vanessa Nelson. Yvonne is a Hunar - a member of The Hundred - a group chosen to serve others. She is a survivor - she bears scars and doesn't like to be touched. She rescued two young Wulfkin when she escaped and considers Joel and Mariah her children. The other main player is a Goblin Lord by the name of Guise. HE is handy to have around as goblins are known for their skill with weapons. Yvonne is approached about missing children and uncovers a major slavery ring that crosses the lands. So she calls a Gathering - all 8 of the Hundred gather to defeat the enemy. She also meets some other goblins - who help her out when Guise is hit with a poisoned arrow. In that town - her instincts lead her to a Quarrell - a group of nearly feral Wulfkin who steal girls for their use. It's a quarrell like this that nearly destroyed Yvonne when she was young. She destroys it single handed and is richly rewarded for her service. The gifts allow her to furnish her home in Fir Tree Crossing with the children. While on the hunt for the chidlren, Yvonne and Guise are captured by the lord of Coll Castle - who is clearly tainted. Yvonne has head injuries from being knocked out and Guise is poisoned with a poison that turns him feral and extremely dangerous. To prevent him being able to hurt her - he forms a lifebond with her (which she can't remember once she's healed). It takes all of the Hundred working together to safe her life as her skull is in pieces! But they rescue the children - the strong ones that were sent to a mine - and re-bury their ancient enemy with the help of the Firebird who is the symbol of the Hundred.

83. The Sundering - The Hundred book 2 by Vanessa Nelson. When Yvonne has not been home long she sees Sillman, Suanna and Mica riding to her place. They look stern and Sillman says she can no longer be Hunar because of her bond with Guise - which she has only just learnt about! Turns out it was a way to get rid of her as Sillman sees her as a threat to his plans. He betrayed her mentor, Elinor, and poisoned her - killed her. Yvonne didn't even suspect foul play until Elinor's lover, Renard, came and asked her to investigate. Turns out he has betrayed his vows and is working with the enemy. They also discover a series of kidnappings of nine year-old girls. Sillman dies - drinks a glass of poison - and Yvonne finds that Elinor has left the bulk of her wealth to her. She is settled now - her children's futures are now secure. In the big fight, Elinor's house - now Yvonne's - is burnt down. Yvonne decides to turn it into a garden for the neighbours to be able to grown their own vegetables. They don't discover why yet, only who is doing it. To top matters off, Yvonne is invited to the Confirmation of a new lord of the Karoan'shae by Guise's mother the current Star of the Karoan'shae.