Preternatural Reviews

Hard Bitten - Chicagoland Vampires Book #4 - Chloe Neill

2011-05-09T06:44:00.000-05:00

     Starting to feel like all your Urban Fantasy is the same and just the names change? Well, have I got a story for you. Chloe Neill's latest Chicagoland Vampires story, Hard Bitten.
     Things have only been getting more and more difficult for Cadogan House's Sentinel, Merit. Now she and the Master of Cadogan, Ethan Sullivan have been summoned to the Mayor of Chicago's office. Apparently, Chicago vampires have been killing humans at 'raves' around town, and the mayor is threatening to set Ethan up to take the fall if those responsible aren't found. Both Merit and Ethan know that the strongest suspect is Celina, former head of Navarre House, and someone who wants both humans and vampires to be at one another's throats. Plus, she dislikes Ethan, but hates Merit with a white-hot passion, holding her responsible for her fall from grace.
     Ethan dispatches Merit to investigate the raves around town since he is on the hook with the mayor. Merit goes to a source that Ethan knows nothing about, the Red Guard. Mostly a 'who watches the watchman' organisation that has been courting Merit, but she needs their contacts if she going to get to the bottom of this. Finally getting into one of the parties with Red Guard help it seems normal until all hell breaks loose! Merit makes it out and finds her biggest clue yet, a pill marked with a letter V that seems to have started all the problems at the party.
     So begins the roller coaster that is Hard Bitten, and a roller coaster it is. If there's a playbook (and yes, there generally is) on how to write series novels, Chloe Neill has set fire to it and danced upon the ashes. Mostly, they run in three book cycles and the third book has a lead-in to the fourth. That hasn't happen here...at all. Ms. Neill has consistently become a better, smarter novelist with each book she's published. Hard Bitten has a smart plot that's tight and keeps you guessing right up until the very end.
     I didn't find a lot of fault with Hard Bitten. I read it in one go, it kept me guessing and the ending was amazing. Just remember this, when you do get to the ending, on Facebook Chloe Neill asked everyone to do one thing, trust her. After writing this entertaining of a novel and habitually getting better book after book, I do.

     I can't wait until November and Drink Deep - Chicagoland Vampires #5

Hard Bitten - Chicagoland Vampires #4 receives a Classic rating of 4 out of 4 stars

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Rage - Horseman of the Apocalypse: The Rider's Quartet #2 - Jackie Morse Kessler

2011-05-08T05:57:00.000-05:00

     Giving anthropomorphic personifications voice has always been an intriguing concept to me. I've done my utmost to read the best authors in this select group. Be it Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality, Neil Gaiman's Endless or the newest addition to this talented club, Jackie Morse Kessler and her Horseman of the Apocalypse.
     Missy is a cutter. Her only kind of release when life gets to be too much is to take a blade across the unmarked parts of her skin and bleed. Her razor never lets her down. Has never humiliated her in front of half the school.
     She hadn't ever cut that deep before, but this time she had. That left her with a choice. Either keep bleeding until her heart stopped or take up the sword that guy who looked like the 90's alt rock star delivered. Missy was not going to go out a suicide. No way. She'd take up the sword. With one touch Melissa 'Missy' Miller becomes the incarnation of War, and Rage really begins.
   Ms. Kessler is someone I admire for sheer audacity. First she's not going out of her way to make her character lovable. Hell, she's not even pulling a muscle to make her likable at the beginning of the book. Secondly, she's taking on the topic of cutting, and she Does Not pull any punches. Doesn't matter that this is a YA novel there are some scenes in this book that will have you putting it down to go make a sandwich. You'll come directly back, but you will need a short breather in-between. To take the journey and discover why Missy does this to herself and what exactly she gets out of it is a long road. Having Death, Famine and Pestilence around are kind of a blessing and a curse.
     You would think becoming an all-powerful Horseman would solve all those pesky problems you had pre-Sword of War, right? Not so much as it turns out. Whether you want to believe it or not, War is a necessary function in this world. Missy has to learn her new function and how it works in harmony with the other three Riders.
   Jackie Morse Kessler does not shy away from the hard topics that people need to know about. You're going to feel Missy's Rage in this book. Through Ms. Kessler's talented sentences you may even begin to understand why Missy feels the need to do this to herself. Rage works as a stand-alone or as the second in the Horseman of the Apocalypse series.

I give Rage an Excellent rating of 3.5 Stars out of 4

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I want to also say that a portion of this book's proceeds will be going to To Write Love on Her Arms or TWLoHA. Please stop by their site and buy something or just get educated!

Dead Waters - Simon Canderous #4 - Anton Strout

2011-02-21T20:46:00.000-06:00

     Psychometric agent for the Department of Extraordinary Affairs, Simon Canderous has found himself where he hates/loves, in trouble. While doing a favour for his partner's vampire brother Aidan in vampire central dispatching a ghost (vampires can't affect anything they can't fight or bite) he get's more from the deranged ghost through his psychometric talents than he's bargained for. The ghost's hate and anger stay's with him.
     Now is not the time though since he and his girlfriend Jane are called out to the scene of a murder. The murder of a university professor found locked inside his apartment, drowned...without a bit of water on his person. Probably because it's all in his lungs. To make matters more strange the deceased was the Inspector of the DEA, Argyle Quimbley's first partner.
     To make matters infinitely more worse the DEA is down to a skeleton crew and cannot even afford shoe-strings for its budget. Everyone is living in fear of losing their jobs and working 20 hours out of the day. With Simon carrying around all of these negative emotions and them starting to affect his powers, how is he going to solve this case? And, how is he going to keep Jane with these emotions egging him to start fights with Jane at the drop of a hat?
     Anton Strout has a gift for dialogue, and Dead Waters proves this. The kind where his novels can be read aloud, verbatim, and you would still get the back and forth, push and pull from the characters, even if it isn't read from an actor. It's a rare talent from a writer to have this type of storytelling abilities and be able to write amazing dialogue like this. Makes it fun to read all around.
     Okay, what didn't exactly thrill me, and this was completely as a guy, was his reaction to his girlfriend wanting more out of their relationship. I realise that Simon was carrying around something else inside of him, but a lot of it was coming from Simon himself. Just from a guy's perspective, I don't need more of the media (TV, movies, books) saying how as soon as guys are confronted with more of a relationship then they're ready for they try and bolt. That's my piece, and in all honesty...it's just nit picky.

Dead Waters - Simon Canderous #4 receives 3.5 stars out of 4

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Serpent's Storm - Calliope Reaper-Jones #3 - Amber Benson

2011-02-21T17:15:00.000-06:00

     The middle child of the incarnation of Death hasn't had an easy go of it. All she's ever wanted was to be a normal human woman, and she's doing her best to make that happen. She's got a bitty apartment in Battery Park City, a gorgeous boyfriend and a job at a magazine. She barely makes enough money to support herself and what money she does make goes to designer shoes.
All of that starts to flush down Fate's big porcelain apparatus when her eldest sister, Thalia escapes, with the Devil's help, from her cell in Purgatory. Their goal is to overthrow Callie and Thalia's father as the head of Death, Inc and install a new Death.
   Callie isn't worried though because Thalia can't become Death. Only 3 people per generation are eligible to. Callie can so, she knows why she's being attacked by Thalia's allies, and her boyfriend Daniel can, but he would never....Although he is the Devil's former apprentice. Everything's fine up until the powers of Death start flowing into Callie, and that can only mean one thing. But, not even her power-mad sister would commit patricide to further her goals, would she?
     Serpent's Storm is my first in the Calliope Reaper-Jones series, and I'm sorry it's taken me this long. I'm going out and picking up the first two, Death's Daughter and Cat's Claw this week I liked the book, character and lest I forget, writing so much. Serpent's Storm was a roller coaster ride. The cool thing was she didn't leave first time readers like myself behind during this ride. She had the the skill to keep the story moving while explaining all of the intricacies of what has gone on before. Very few authors possess that talent especially when dealing with book three of a series.
     The downside was dealing with her boyfriend Daniel. I know she wants out of the relationship because she says so within the first few pages of the book, but how it goes down and one of the causes of it I thought was wrong. No, I can't go into it, you have to buy the book (please do, it's wonderful) because it happens way too late for me to talk about. I just felt it was forced. But, that is the only thing I can find at fault in Serpent's Storm, folk's.
     This book is well worth your 8 bones, and Amber Benson is a voice that is only going to become stronger in future books.

Serpent's Storm - Calliope Reaper-Jones #3 receives 3.5 stars out of 4

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River Marked - Mercy Thompson #6 - Patricia Briggs

2011-02-20T18:38:00.000-06:00

     Yes, it's taken six books and lots of ups and downs, but it's here. Patricia Briggs would like to cordially invite you to the marriage of coyote shifter Mercedes Thompson and werewolf and Alpha of the Columbia Basin Pack Adam Hauptman. Just like everything else the two have shared, be it courtship or romance their marriage will be anything, but the norm.
    That's only the beginning as the two set out upon their ten day honeymoon. Adam takes Mercy to an as-yet-unopened campground that he did security for upon the banks of the Columbia River. Being alone, away from Pack responsibilities, the garage and everything else in their lives makes Mercy happier beyond belief, but when she finds out where the trailer that Adam borrowed for their camping trip came from she is not a happy shifter. It's borrowed from Uncle Mike, a fae, and Mercy knows to never borrow anything from the fae because the strings attached can hang you.
     Mercy is unlike most shapeshifters, she is a walker, native to this land, and she can see ghosts because of this. When her father's spirit comes to visit, a man who has never come to her no matter how much danger Mercy has ever been in, She knows that something worse is afoot than she has ever encountered before. She finds it in the depths of the Columbia River where innocents are dying. It is the River Devil and it's come back from the depths of memory to stalk humanity again. As other shifters make their presence known can Mercy by rediscovering her lost past purge this evil that stalks our present?
     Wow, been a long time coming, huh? Mercy and Adam's marriage, and she pulled it off flawlessly. The mistake would have been really going for it and making it bigger than it should have been because neither of the characters are like that. The wedding simply serves the purpose of setting up the story that takes place in River Marked. The plotting of River Marked is the most impressive part of it because it isn't the big bad that gets all of the spotlight, nor should it. It is finally, after six books, and bits and kernels, finally shedding some light on shifter history. That is where Ms. Briggs will grab fans of this series and keep them up past their bedtimes. Where she introduces an Achetype, well several, but one in particual that is near and dear to Mercy's heart.
     River Marked is a turning point in the Mercy Thompson (nee' Hauptman) series. Mercy finally gets the family that she has struggled for her entire life. She's drifted from proto-family to proto-family, but never had one to call, "Mine." That's the important part and the turning point, both she and Adam consider their mate their's and their's alone and no one will change that. That's why I believe it's a turning point in the series. Mercy finally has someone she can count on always, and that will change things, but only for the better.
     But, please, knowing our favourite coyote shifter, please don't think she's going to stop going out on her own to 'protect' them from things too dangerous. The chaos-magnet coyote couldn't thrive any other way.

River Marked - Mercy Thompson #6 receives 4 out of 4 stars

Please support Preternatural Reviews by picking up a copy of River Marked - Mercy Thompson #6 - Patricia Briggs

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Etched in Bone - The Maker's Song #4 - Adrian Phoenix

2011-02-20T15:28:00.000-06:00

     Having the bloodlines of both the Fallen and the nightkind running through his veins, and twisted psychologically by a rogue branch of Government intelligence called Shadow Branch, Dante Baptiste is coming to a showdown with all three. The melding of his two bloodlines has produced something the world hasn't seen in two millenia. Something that anyone, angel, devil or monster will do anything to control, a Maker.
     The elders of the vampires who determine where nightkind society should go believe that Dante belongs to them and that his allegiance should be to the nightkind. The Fallen have been missing a Maker for two thousand years and nothing and no one will stop them from forcing Dante take his seat upon the Chaos throne. Dante knows that he belongs only to Heather Wallace, the former FBI agent and human that he's bonded with. He'll do anything to stay with her, and damn anyone who tries to stop him.
     There's one threat that neither Dante nor Heather has accounted for though. One from Heather's past that she'd thought she'd finally rid herself of, her father, James Wallace. A man obsessed with getting his daughter away from what he believes is a blood-sucking monster that controls Heather's mind. In tearing Heather away from Dante, his one bond that keeps him grounded, will he turn Dante into the one thing the Fallen fear? Turn him from Maker into The Great Destroyer?
     Etched in Bone is the long awaited fourth installment in Adrian Phoenix's Maker's Song series. Ms. Phoenix has a legion of fanatical fans for this series going back to what started to make vampires popular again in the first place, sex, blood and rock 'n roll. So, how did Etched in Bone stack up against the rest of the series? Not as highly I'm afraid. While I've loved the previous three books, this one while necessary just seemed to be moving the pieces in place for the next in the series. That's when I believe the actual fireworks are going to happen. I also wasn't the biggest fan of he structure of the story. I can't tell you too much about that without revealing too much.
     The good bits in this, and please don't let me make you think there weren't, were shiny! Just what did happen in the hotel room in Damascus anyway? Ms. Phoenix's storytelling and character building are just as strong as they've ever been. Go out and pick her non-Maker's Song book Black Dust Mambo if you want to see how strong she is without Dante. Regardless of Etched in Bone being a 3 and not a 4 I always pick up Adrian Phoenix's work because it's how I like my coffee, black as night and sweet as sin.

Etched in Bone - The Maker's Song #4 receives 3 out of 4 Stars

Please support Preternatural Reviews by picking up a copy of Etched in Bone - The Maker's Song #4 - Adrian Phoenix

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Patricia Briggs - River Marked - Tour Dates 2011

2011-02-18T22:49:00.000-06:00

Patricia Briggs is hitting the highways and byways (probably more like the sky-ways) of the US to support her latest Mercy Thompson novel, River Marked. Just like I said in the Kim Harrison tour date post, Ms. Briggs is also on my list of Top 3 Favourite UF Authors. If you're in the area, all three of us, Ms. Briggs, Ms. Harrison and myself will be at Murder by the Book on March 5^th. I'll be the tall guy with the cane and the Preternatural Reviews name badge. Make sure and say Hi!

March 1-8, 2011: River Marked Signing Tour:

Tuesday March 1^st in RICHLAND, WA.

HASTINGS@ 7:00 PM PST

1425 George Washington Way,

Richland, WA 99354

509-946-1060 (store)

Wednesday March 2^nd in CHICAGO/OAK BROOK, IL.

BORDERS BOOKS@ 7:00 PM CST

1500 16^th St, Ste. D

Oak Brook, IL 60523

630-574-0800 (store)

Thursday March 3^rd in WASHINGTON D.C

BORDERS BOOKS@ 7:30 PM EST

5871 Crossroads Center Way

Bailey's Crossroads, VA 22041

703-998-0404 (store)

Friday March 4^th in MINNEAPOLIS, MN.

BARNES AND NOBLE@ 7:00 PM PST

2100 North Snelling Ave.

Roseville, MN 55113

651-639-9256 (store)

Saturday March 5^th in HOUSTON, TX. (w/Kim Harrison)

MURDER BY THE BOOK@ 6:00 PM PST

2342 Bissonnet St.

Houston, TX, 77005

713-524-8597 (store)

Sunday March 6^th in SAN DIEGO, CA.

MYSTERIOUS GALAXY@ 6:00 PM PST

7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, Ste 302

San Diego, CA, 92111

858-268-4747 (store)

Monday March 7^th in SEATTLE, WA.

UNIVERSITY BOOKSTORE@ 7:00 PM PST

4326 University Way NE

Seattle, WA, 98105

206-634-3400 (store)

Tuesday March 8^th in PORTLAND, OR.

POWELL'S BOOKS@ 7:00 PM PST

3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd.

Beaverton, OR, 97005

503-643-3131 (store)

Kim Harrison - Pale Demon - Tour Dates 2011

2011-02-02T23:27:00.000-06:00

Kim Harrison's latest Hollows novel, Pale Demon, makes its debut on February 22^nd 2011, and she's going on tour to support it. Kim Harrison is one of my top 3 UF authors, and this will be my first chance at a signing. I'll be in Houston March 5^th to get my copy signed and to meet the lady who's brought so many great stories into my life. Try to make one of the signings if you can...I'm sure you won't regret it.

Below are all the dates at present. If more become available I'll make sure and post them.

Tuesday February 22^th in LANSING

SCHULER BOOKS AND MUSIC@ 7 PM

2820 Towne Center Blvd.,

Lansing, MI, 48912

Wednesday February 23^rd in ANN ARBOR

BORDERS ANN ARBOR @ 7 PM

3140 Lorh Rd.,

Ann Arbor MI, 48108

Thursday, February 24^th in DAYTON

BOOKS AND CO @ 7 PM

The Greene Shopping Center

4453 Walnut St,

Dayton, OH, 45440

February 25^th in CINCINNATI

JOSEPH-BETH CINCINNATI @ 7 PM

2692 Madison Rd.

Cincinnati, OH, 45208

Saturday February 26^th in LEXINGTON

JOSEPH-BETH LEXINGTON @ 2:00 PM

161 Lexington Green Circle

Lexington, KY, 40503

Tuesday March 1^st in DES MOINES

DES MOINES PUBLIC LIBRARY @ 6:30 PM

E Side Library

2559 Hubbell Ave.,

Des Moines, IA, 50317

Wednesday March 2^nd in ST. LOUIS

ST. LOUIS PUBLIC LIBRARY @ 7:00 PM

225 N. Euclid Ave.,

St. Louis, MO 63108

Thursday March 3^rd in LAWTON

HASTINGS BOOKS, MUSIC AND VIDEO @ 6:30 PM

616 NW Sheridan Rd.,

Lawton, OK, 73505

Friday March 4^th in TULSA

BARNES & NOBLE TULSA @ 7:00 PM

8620 E 71^st St.,

Tulsa, OK, 74133

Saturday March 5^th in HOUSTON (w/Patricia Briggs)

MURDER BY THE BOOK @ 6:00 PM

2342 Bissonnet St.,

Houston, TX, 77005

(I'll be at this one, please say hi if you see me.)

Sunday March 6^th in AUSTIN

BOOK PEOPLE @ 3:00 PM

603 N. Lamar

Austin, TX, 78704

Monday March 7^th in SAN ANTONIO

BARNES & NOBLE SAN ANTONIO @ 7:00 PM

15900 La Cantera Pkwy.,

San Antonio, TX, 78256

Thursday March 10^th in SACRAMENTO

BORDERS SACRAMENTO @ 5:00 PM

2339 Fair Oaks Blvd.,

Sacramento, CA, 95825

March 12-13^th in TUCSON

TUCSON FESTIVAL OF BOOKS

The University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ, 85721

Pale Demon - The Hollows #9 - Kim Harrison

2011-02-01T00:07:00.000-06:00

     Having to answer for the first time about using black magic, Rachel travels to San Francisco to the annual witches conference to plead her case. The airlines have all banned her so, it looks like a road trip for her, Ivy and Jenks. That is until Trent Kalamack invites himself along, knowing that Rachel is the only person to get him to Seattle in time for his 'business.' Meaning that this all turns into one big family road trip straight out of National Lampoon's.
     It's all fun and games until an elf frees a really pissed off demon beneath the St. Louis arch. A demon that can hunt by day or night. A demon that has his sights set directly upon Rachel.
     If you felt, like myself, that Black Magic Sanction, was a cross-over book, just one to get the story from one place to the next without anything substantial happening, then Pale Demon is for you. Pale Demon is one of those series books that comes out of nowhere. It reminds you why you keep buying from this particular author and why these characters are some of your favourites in the genre. I guess what I'm taking too many sentences to say is that Pale Demon just kicks ass, folks. There isn't a false note hit and it all plays masterfully.
     I still know what's good and what's not. Like I said, Black Magic Sanction was not one of my favourite's in The Hollow's series, but Kim Harrison will always have a special place in my heart. I bought Dead Witch Walking and Kelley Armstrong's Bitten on the same day. Plus, I'm going to see her this year along with Patricia Briggs at Murder By the Book on March 5 ^th. Please introduce yourself if you see me, I'll be the geek with the name badge. I'll post all of her tour dates later on this week.

Pale Demon receives a Classic 4 out of 4 Stars rating!

Please support Preternatural Reviews by picking up your copy here: Pale Demon - The Hollows #9 - Kim Harrison

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Hellforged - Deadtown Bk #2 - Nancy Holzner

2011-01-23T02:40:00.002-06:00

     There is a cordoned off section of Boston they call Deadtown. It's reserved for the inhuman and undead residents or PDHs (Previously Dead Humans if you're polictically correct) of the city. Victory "Vicky" Vaughn calls it home. She's a demon-slayer and possesses the flaming sword of St. Michael. With it she saved the city, if not the world recently with her talents. She's not exactly the according to Hoyle definition of what most people would consider human either...
     After pulling the world's fat out of the fire and sending the demon (Hellion) responsible for it all to Hell, Vicky hoped her life would return to some normalcy. At least as normal as a demon-hunting, shape-shifter's life gets, r-i-i-i-ght. She's in he midst of juggling two men, one a human police detective and one a shape-shifter rights lawyer who happens to be a werewolf himself, her zombie apprentice (pardon PDH apprentice) wants to become a rock star and her vampire roommate the Juliet Capulet is acting odd....well, more odd then usual.
     Then, normalcy gets completely thrown out the window when the supposedly banished Hellion starts appearing in Vicky's dreamscape. This happens just as three of Deadtown's zombies are attacked so heinously that only goo is left in there place. Vicky knows that she is the only common denominator between these three zombies and she rings her aunt to ask advice, the same aunt who trained her in demon killing, and instead gets told to to come back to Wales directly. There is more training she needs if she, nee the world is to survive the coming conflict. If Vicky doesn't come, the dreams she's been having will become a reality, for her, for Deadtown and for the world. No pressure, right?
     First off, the world that Ms. Holzner has created has been seen before in urban fantasy. Paranormals coming out or being forced out into the light of day and having to assimilate into the "real" world. What is interesting though is how she uses this struggle to mirror what the LGBT community is going through in today's society. In both, the paranormals in the novel and the LGBT society of today simply want one thing, to be treated fairly. To be treated as their fellow man and to have the same rights under the law, but in both they're treated as second class citizens. In the book as in today's world, to be seen as 'equal citizens.'
The mythology of Hellforged is what Ms Holzner truly deserves kudos for. The research that had to go into the book alone had to be astounding. Welsh mythology is not the top of anyone's curriculum in school, especially in the States. I don't know how much she has made up and how much she has discovered in books, but with all the different plots that seem to meld into one, she is to be commended.
     I like where Ms. Holzner is taking these stories. Deadtown was a setup and introduction book, but in Hellforged you get to know the characters better. You get to know their motivations, where they've been and perhaps a glimpse as to where they're going.

Hellforged receives a 3 out of 4 Stars

Please support Preternatural Reviews by picking up your copy here: Hellforged - Deadtown Bk #2 - Nancy Holzner

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Mercy Blade - Jane Yellowrock Bk #3 - Faith Hunter

2011-01-22T13:53:00.000-06:00

     After an all too brief vacation for Jane/Beast with Rick, they are all called back to New Orleans because the weres of the world have come out of the supernatural closet. With this development the vampire Master of the City, Leo, needs Jane to run an errand for him. Leo needs Jane to go out to a bar in the boonies to tell a certain someone that he's Persona non Grata in New Orleans.
     When she gets there she finds nothing but werewolves so, certainly the message must pertain to the alpha of the group. Jane's luck holds true and he's not interested in hearing any message, just in killing the messenger. Not even Beast in all of her bravado is speaking up in Jane's mind that she can take all of the werewolves since by quick count it's 12-20 weres to one. The door to the bar locks and Jane/Beast must fight their way out knowing that their death is sure to come, but just as a werewolf is coming for her throat a man with swords resembling Zorro comes out of nowhere to save her. One of the hardest fights Jane/Beast has ever been in ensues and only through the stranger's help do they prevail.
   Having passed out at the end of the struggle she wakes up in the arms of the stranger who saved her. He explains that his name is Girrard and that he was once Leo's misericorde, also know as a Mercy Blade, a sacred position charged with killing the offspring of vampires who have gone insane. However, Jane doesn't know the real reason he's now returned after all these years, but she's sure that this is the man that Leo's message was meant for. The man who just saved her life.
     Mercy Blade is a Jane Yellowrock novel of multiple plots that all intertwine into one. I'd like to say amazingly so, and it would be for any other writer, but Ms. Hunter is a favourite of mine so, actually just sit back and enjoy the roller-coaster ride. Character development seems to be key in Mercy Blade. Not only for Jane/Beast, but for Bruiser, Girrard, Leo and Evangelina. Yes, there are still your old favourite aspects from Skinwalker and Blood Cross here (with the exception of one for me) it's just like getting to know old friends even better.
     What's the one, you ask? Well, the aspect that first drew me in with Skinwalker being one shapechanger book out of 40 that came out that year was how it was written. Two souls in one body. Beast and Jane. When one was Alpha, the other was beta. That meant that when one drove the bus the other had to sit in the back and could offer suggestions, but the driver didn't have to listen. In Mercy Blade there's only one stand-out moment where Beast takes the reins and Jane has sit in the back. In the three books those are some of the best conversations, between Beast and Jane, and some of the most revealing about the two. I hope that the forthcoming book, Raven Cursed, includes more of these talks between the two.
     All in all, Mercy Blade was a stellar book with the introduction of what's sure to be an important character in the Jane/Beast universe. My question is, will Raven Cursed happen in North Carolina or New Orleans? Can't wait to find out!

Mercy Blade receives a 3.5 Stars out of 4

Please support Preternatural Reviews by picking up your copy of Mercy Blade - Jane Yellowrock Bk #3 - Faith Hunter here

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Death's Sweet Embrace - Dark Brethren Bk #2 - Tracey O'Hara

2011-01-11T23:18:00.000-06:00

     Young shapeshifters are being found murdered around New York with their chest's cracked open and their hearts taken. A task force is formed to investigate, hunt down and kill the perpetrator if necessary. It includes: the Ursian Oberon Duprie, the Aeternus (vampire) Antoinette Petrescu, the witch Bianca Sin, the incubus Cody Shields and the other Aeternus Tones Geraldi. Plus, the doctor/shapeshifter Kitt Jordan and her ex-lover Raven Matokwe, two people who agreed to have nothing to do with one another ever again after their relationship fell apart.
     The years away from one another has done nothing to cool the passions between Kitt and Raven. So much so that it begins to get in the way of the investigation with Raven's mind only being on protecting Kitt from harm rather than catching the killer. This is also a major problem since there is a price on Raven's head thanks to Kitt's father, and hitmen are beginning to come out of the woodwork to collect.
     Now children from both Kitt and Raven's clans have been killed. They must put their feelings for one another aside for the time being and stop this viscous murderer before she or he strikes again because it appears that Kitt's own daughters may be next on this sociopath's list.
   Yes, you will recognise the story being told through the supernatural layers being placed upon it. It was one of those little known Shakespearean plays called Romeo and Juliet. The difference between this and when most authors try and do this in popular fiction is that this doesn't suck like a black hole. Kitt is from a snow-leopard clan and Raven is a werewolf so, you can see were her father would have a major problem with them hooking up. There's also something that happens in the past that Raven is blamed for that gives good reason for a price being laid upon his head, but I can't go into that without major spoilers.
     My own problem with this second novel is that Antoinette, our main character from Night's Cold Kiss is regulated to a secondary character in Death's Sweet Embrace, and that's not really spelled out for you on the back cover. You keep expecting her to come out and take over the book, especially since she has whole chapters written in her voice.
     All in all though Death's Sweet Embrace is a thoroughly enjoyable read. It falls into the two categories that I see all of UF/PNR, mystery or romance. Either one or the other with supernatural creatures and or things put in. Death's Sweet Embrace is a mystery with supernatural creatures solving the case. Go out and pick up a copy, and the best thing about it? You can do it without reading Night's Cold Kiss first.

Death's Sweet Embrace receives an Excellent rating of 3.5 stars out a 4

Please support Preternatural Reviews by picking up your copy here: Death's Sweet Embrace - Dark Brethren Bk #2 - Tracey O'Hara

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Patrick Hadrian

Best of 2010

2010-12-06T22:42:00.000-06:00

It's been awhile, but I do make it a point to keep reading and to do this. Also, I will keep the blog up in 2011 simply because I missed ya'll and I missed doing this. Now, enough of that...on to the books!!

Here are the Honourable Mentions in no particular order:

The Greyfriar - Vampire Empire #1 - Susan & Clay Griffin

A plague sweeps over and destroys millions across the world in 1870 and the years after. It's a plague of vampirism. Death and famine have followed the surviving humans who have been forced to move to the tropics where the vampires cannot survive the heat. The technology of the age comes with them, the steam and iron, and the will to survive at all costs. One hundred and fifty years later the human Adele is Princess of the Empire of Equatoria, the last remnants of the British Empire. She wants an adventure before she must succumb to a life of duty and marriage. Her chief protector is the Greyfriar, a cloaked figure and rebel who fights the vampires from within her empire. Their attraction for one another is immediate and dangerous considering that Adele is to be married. All this along with the looming war between humans and the vampire clans play out with danger everywhere.
The Greyfriar is the first book in Susan and Clay Griffin's Vampire Empire (Am I the only one who finds that fun to say? Vampire Empire?) series and it's a fun ride. Vampires and steampunk? More like Chocolate and peanut butter. Plus, through in the Greyfriar who escaped from the 1930's pulps and you've got yourself a helluva ride. Yes, there are some bumpy parts played out in the love story, but the promise of the longer tale is what's going to keep you coming back.

An Artificial Night - October Daye #3 - Seanan McGuire

Being half-human/half-fae changeling and the only ever knighted is only one of October "Toby" Daye's accomplishments. In An Artificial Night she finds out that someone is stealing children, fae and human alike, and all signs point to Blind Michael, the leader of the Wild Hunt. Toby doesn't have a choice but to track down these children no matter where the road takes her even if it's into Blind Michael's realm. She'll bring them back or die in the attempt especially since her personal Fetch has shown up, Toby's own harbinger of death. If Toby cannot make it out with the children, she'll have to remain forever as part of Blind Michael's Wild Hunt.
Firstly, let me tell you this, don't let the #3 in a series scare you of if you've not read one and two. An Artificial Night can be read entirely as a stand alone and I love it for that. I have read the first two and while it enriches the experience, it isn't necessary. Secondly, this is the best book I've read in the series so far. Ms. McGuire does several things differently here involving plot and structure of the story that really work for me. Finally, I do believe the main character may just be headed for death. Wouldn't that be cool? Where a deus ex machina doesn't come out of the stage wings to save them and a noble death actually occurs? Huh? something to think about. Can't wait til March when book 4 come out.

Venom - Elemental Assassin #3 - Jennifer Estep

Gin Blanco aka the Spider, semi-retired assassin, runs Ashland's best (even though it's not in Texas) Bar-B-Que joint, the Pork Pit, and is on a personal mission to kill Mab Monroe. She's the Fire elemental who exterminated Gin's family, but to do this she's going to have to protect her civilian identity. Which means not using her most powerful weapons, her Stone and Ice magics. She also still does favours for people like her vampire friend Roslyn. Roslyn's having trouble with a stalker named Elliot, and Gin knows that she's the only reason Elliot knows about Roslyn. The best course of action, Gin decides, is to take the crazy giant out. Him being one of Mab's henchmen is just a bonus, right? True, he's Mab's most powerful henchmen so it won't be easy, buy Gin's never been one to shy away from a challenge. All this coupled with the fact the her long lost baby sister has come to town make retirement a lot more busy than working ever was.
Ms. Estep had what my Creative Writing teacher used to call PPD, plot, prose and dialogue. All of them are exceptional. Venom had a wonderful plot that left nothing hanging and opened up several new avenues that are sure to be pursued in the next few books. One of which is how Gin is becoming more and more Peter Parker by day (No Daily Bugle, she has the Pork Pit) and Spider-Man (or the Spider) at night. Her prose is spot on, which I think a ton of writers working today could use a refresher course on, but don't get me started. Finally her dialogue is so tight that you can hear Gin in your head without even trying to. I don't think this is only me. I truly do think it should be spoken aloud it so good. I really look forward to where the series is going.

Bayou Moon - The Edge #2 - Ilona Andrews

There's a nine hundred square mile strip of the Edge called the Mire. Tucked between the magical world of the Weird and the non-magical world of the Broken. When Cerise Mar's parent's disappear her clan's rivals, the Sheerilies are the main suspects. With her parents gone this development also casts Cerise into the role of clan leader forcing her to go to war against the Sheerilies. This pairs her with Lord William Sandine, a changeling soldier who's left the Weird behind because of politics. He's been pulled back into service to bring back the rival nation's spymaster. Cerise and William are forced to help one another with their missions once their paths cross and to find a way of working together. To do that they'll have to survive everything the Edge can throw at them.
I've yet to find a world quite like what the Andrews have built in their Edge series. To say it's complex and fascinating is to almost damn it with faint praise. A better more structured and complex plot than it's predecessor, On The Edge, Bayou Moon can be read as a stand alone. That was really important to me for some reason this year, and I think it was because money is so tight for people. I wanted people to be able to find stellar stories without having to have to go out and buy extra books to have a satisfying reading experience. You're welcome (kidding.) No, really if you dig paranormal fantasy and romance Ilona Andrews is one of the greats, and The Edge series is just as rewarding as Kate Daniels.
Now on to the best of the year.....

#10

Afterlight - Dark Ink #1 - Elle Jasper

A local tattooist in the city of Savannah Riley Poe has had her younger brother, Seth, abducted. Not by any local psycho either, but by a cult of vampires. Riley has been brought up by the Dupre family who possess terrifying speed and powers. One of them agrees to help her find her brother. His name is Eli, and he too is a vampire. Not only is he attracted to Riley's striking beauty, but by her one-of-a-kind blood type. Unfortunately for them both, Eli is not the only exsanguinator who craves Riley's blood. To rescue Seth from certain everlasting bloodlust and exploding in sunlight, she will have to face dangers she's never dreamed of.
Ms. Jasper is a really talented writer. I'm unsure if this is her first effort or not. If it is, it's a remarkable effort, rather like Nicole Peeler's Tempest Rising from last year. The story never hits a false note throughout, and the setting of Savannah is almost a character in and of itself. Much like what was done in In the Garden of Good in Evil, Savannah being so rich in history in culture just stands to be noticed and written about in a story, and Ms. Jasper pulls this off fabulously. Everdark - Book Two of The Dark Ink Chronicles should outshine the first if Afterlight is any indication.

#9

Changes - The Dresden Files #12 - Jim Butcher

Just for giggles if you were to look up Wizard in the Chicago yellow pages you'd actually find one, and his name would be Harry Dresden. A long time ago, Harry Dresden loved a woman by the name of Susan Delgado, and then she was attacked by Harry's enemies. The attack left her with the bloodlust of a Red Court vampire, but she refused to give into it, and she had to leave Harry to keep that promise. She fled to South America to be far away from Harry and to fight the Red Court vampires who cursed her, but one of them has discovered a secret that Susan has kept and plans to use it against both Susan and Harry. For Harry to prevail against the forces arrayed against him he'll need to call upon almost every ally he's made, and use every power at his disposal- dark or otherwise. He's not just fighting for himself or his friends or even the world this time...this time Harry's fighting for the baby daughter he never knew he had.
I'm pretty sure that Jim Butcher named this one Changes because Holy Shit couldn't be sold as a face out on shelves because let me tell you, when you put this book down, that's what you're going to say. Although Changes works too because this book changes everything. Not just Harry, but even his supporting characters aren't the same after this one's over. Ever since book three came out and Mr. Butcher pulled the series into a cohesive whole each new title has been a must have for me...even the short stories, but March can't come soon enough when Ghost Story hits the shelves. Oh, umm...yeah, cliffhanger alert. heh.

#8

Succubus Shadows - Georgina Kincaid #5 - Richelle Mead

Georgina Kincaid is a succubus in Seattle. She has quite a number of things that most humans would kill for, but the downside is a steep one...seducing unsuspecting schmucks for their immortal souls. Her day job is in a book store though. Presently, she's having to act like she's visiting where she grew up 2000 years ago, Hell. She's having to help plan her ex-boyfriend, Seth's wedding, and prepare to be a bridesmaid in said wedding. If all that wasn't enough fun, there's another succubus in town, Simone, and she's got her sights set on...you guessed it, Seth. During all of this though there's a a dark presence visiting Georgina's thoughts, pulling her into the dark. She's becoming weaker and weaker beginning to succumb herself. When this finally happens she'll learn who she can and cannot trust, and that she may have been wrong all these years. Maybe Hell isn't the worst place you could spend all of eternity.
You have supernaturals of all kinds in this book, vampires, imps, angels and of course succubi. The flashbacks that Ms. Read weaves in this tale are really well and skillfully done taking you from fourth century Cyprus to fifteenth century Florence to Nazi occupied France in 1942. None of them done are for no reason, but to further help you in your understanding of Gerogina and her motivations. While Succubus Shadows can't be read as a stand alone the series should be read. In my opinion it's Richelle Mead's best.

#7

Memories of Envy - Vampire Memories #3 - Barb Hendee

Eleisha Clevon has a mission to locate all vampires still existing in isolation and to offer them sanctuary at her home in Portland, Oregon, but more importantly to teach them her dream to feed without killing. Unfortunately, there's a vampire as close as Denver named Simone, an eternal flapper made in the roaring 20's who likes to play with her food. She enjoys her games, making her passions grow, stoking the fires inside her before she extinguishes their lives. Eleisha has one partner in her venture named Philip, but Simone sees a kindred soul in him as well. While fighting for Simone will Eleisha lose Philip as well?
The Vampire Memories books are really a great series. Each building upon one another the author working each book together like the most amazing, sturdiest house of cards you've ever seen. With the hints dropped, I cannot wait to see what Ms. Hendee has in store for this out of the blue, take you by the throat, but doesn't drain you to death series.

#6

Silver Borne - Mercy Thompson #5 - Patricia Briggs

My favourite Bavarian mechanic and skinwalker Mercedes "Mercy" Thompson tries to return the Fae book that she had borrowed, but she finds where she borrowed it from closed down. And unfortunately for Mercy this book contains some secret knowledge that the Fae will do anything to keep out of the wrong hands. Kept out of the wrong hands it must be because this book contains huge secrets not just about the Fae, but about the Grey Lords, the leaders of the Fae. If
that isn't enough, Samuel, Mercy's friend since childhood is struggling with his wolf side and she can't tell anyone because if she does under pack law Samuel must die. Can Mercy work out how to get rid of this cursed book, deal with Samuel and salvage her relationship with Adam's pack before it's all too late?
Patty Briggs brings it all to the table each and every novel she does. I'll admit her Mercy book are my favourite, but the Alpha and Omega series are a close second. It's just surprising to me that after five novels that the character is still so fresh and vibrant to me. While some authors, who shall remain nameless, just keep cranking out book after book, and people keep buying two star books, Patty Briggs is a cut above. I'll keep buying them so long as her standards are as high as this. On a side note, Daniel Dos Santos makes the most amazing covers for these books every year he does them and I'd like to thank the collaboration of both he and Ms Briggs for their efforts

#5

The Grimrose Path - Trickster #2 - Rob Thurman

Trixa Iktoma is a trickster; a semi-divine shape shifting entity who is several thousand years old and has an appetite for mischief and destruction. She owns a bar in Las Vegas with another famous Trickster, Loki called Leo nowadays. Trixa gets approched by a demon wanting help. Now generally this would make her piss herself laughing, but Trixa in intrigued because this in no ordinary killer that's snuffing out demons left and right. To stop this she's going to need all of her skill set and maybe a little help from her friends.
These books are fun. Starting with Trick of Light - Trickster #1 and continuing in The Grimrose Path. I do so love the chaos unfolded when trickster gods try to make good. Just look at Neil Gaiman's American Gods or Anasasi Boys if you don't believe me, but Rob Thurman takes that to a different level because there's a sense of justice that pervades here. Not just chaos for chaos sense. Trixa loves her friends and will do whatever it takes to protect them. You can read The Grimrose Path as a stand alone, and you'll only miss some of the finer nuances, but please go out and read it!

#4

The Native Star - Emily Edwards #1 - M.K. Hobson

Meet Emily Edwards, a simple witch living in the small town of Lost Pine, Califonia. It's 1876 at the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas and Emily is trying to avoid being run out of business by a mail-order magic company called Hex. Thinking she can solve all her problems with a love spell, things go from bad to worse. Before Emily can ever try to undo the damage, a magical stone discovered by zombie miners and takes away her powers. Only traveling warlock Dreadnought Stanton, in town for suspicious reasons all his own, can help her. Stanton is the antithesis to the way Emily uses her magic and the way she carries herself, but he convinces her that he is the only person to help. Emily and Stanton set off on a cross country journey to find the mysterious Professor Mirabilis. They hope that he can unlock the stone's power and secrets there by freeing Emily. Pursed by creatures, sorcerers, and flying bio-mechanical animals, Emily and Stanton have a trip fraught with danger, attacked at almost every turn by people who want the Native Star and Emily as well.
The Native Star is an amazing novel with a thrilling mix of fantasy, romance, history and even a dash of steampunk thrown in for flavour. The only question I have is, while knowing that the sequel, The Hidden Goddess comes out in 2011, is this a trilogy, or the first in a longer open ended series? Beyond that, all I can say is pick it up. The Native Star is a wonderful mix of character, plot and setting. M.K Hobson brings it all together like a master chef with so many different ingredients and coming up with an entree that just melts upon your palate.

#3

Alpha - Shifters #6 - Rachel Vincent

The long road traveled ends here for Faythe Sanders. All the questions are answered. Who will she pick, Marc or Jace? Who will take over the Council, Malone or will her father reassume his rightful place? Will there be an all out Shifter war? Will the South Central Pride avenge her brother's death? None of the answers will be easy, but Faythe has sworn to protect her Pride, her Alpha and her Pridemates no matter, and she will. Faythe's heading for the final showdown with her eyes wide open knowing it will change everything and that nothing will ever be the same. Rachel Vincent concludes her Shifters series with Alpha, and she does it with skill of a writer twice her age. Let me warn the reader though, she does rake you over the coals in the process, emotionally speaking, but to have the power to do that is an incredible thing. The surprises and twists and turns just keep on coming in Alpha right up until the very last chapter. Thank you, Ms Vincent for writing the series and thank you as well for ending it on a high note and going out a winner because Alpha does all of those in spades.

#2

Kill the Dead - Sandman Slim #2 - Richard Kadrey

James Stark, half-human/half-angel hybrid and known to the monsters as Sandman Slim has been in a bit of a rut lately. He took his revenge on Mason, the bastard responsible for sending him to Hell, but now he's having trouble figuring out what to do with himself. He's got a part time gig bounty hunting rogue monsters, and he works with the Golden Vigil the angelelic do gooders tied up with Homeland Security, but he's bored. Then Lucifer comes to town, and all that changes. Apparently, they're doing a biopic about the first of the fallen's life from his POV and his needs some body guarding done. During all of this though the city becomes infested with High Plains Drifters, zombies, but what happen when Stark becomes infected and his human side begins to die?
Richard Kadrey is on a very short list of writers that I can use one hand to name that can make me laugh out loud. Just how he describes things and the one liners he tosses out there are hilarious. Imagine if Bogart's Sam Spade came back from Hell as the baddest hitman (I mean Lucifer hires him!) still full of his comments at every turn. Plus, every page that Lucifer is on shines. This isn't a Lucifer that wants to rule the world or steal your soul, he's a funny, witty, charming guy who's done a job since the beginning of time and just wants to go home. Kill the Dead and Kadrey's Sandman Slim cannot be recommended enough by me they are hard-edged, sharp, noir done as well as you can. Not to be missed!

#1

The Iron Duke - The Iron Seas #1 - Meljean Brook

Detective Inspector Wilhelmina 'Mina' Wentworth is summoned when a dead body is discovered on the grounds of the Duke of Anglesey's grounds. Rhys Trahaearn former pirate and now national hero, known as The Iron Duke is used to making whatever he wants his. He intends to make Mina the next on that very short list. Unfortunately for the Duke she has no interest in this, and when she discovers the body's identity she finds a conspiracy that may put the lives of everyone in England in jeopardy. Forced to work together, Mina and Rhys must go through zombie-infested wastelands to find the answers that will save her countrymen, but will she give in to the Iron Duke along the way?
Steampunk, yes it does seem like you can't toss a dead librarian without hitting a new book. The difference is this, this is cyberpunk done well. The failing that I see in a lot of steampunk in getting lost in the minutiae, but Ms. Brook's worldbuilding skill's are on another lever entirely. She brings her A game and her machines and every part that makes it cyberpunk only serve her story. The complexity of her world without every overwhelming the reader is a feat of skill that is envious in the extreme. I was impressed when I read Here There be Monsters from the Burning Up anthology before this, but I had no idea it would lead to this. Let me also point out that as a man, if you can include this much romance n a book and not make me feel uncomfortable nor make me skip ahead a few pages, you're doing something very right. All in all, this was a stellar novel and I cannot wait for the next in the series. Let me leave you with this though, pirates! zombies! Talk about two great tastes tasting great together! Who woulda thought?

Alright folks, there it is for another year. Questions, comments, hints, allegations, vulgarities? Lemme know...you know where the comment box is. Tell me where I went wrong or even maybe where I went right. Love you guys.

FREE Vicki Pettersson E-Book Download

2010-05-12T16:05:00.004-05:00

Check out what was sent to me from Vicki Pettersson's publisher...

"We are offering a FREE E-BOOK DOWNLOAD of Vicki Pettersson’s first “Signs of the Zodiac” novel, THE SCENT OF SHADOWS.

For anyone who’s not familiar with Vicki, this is the perfect opportunity to get to know her writing. She’s a former Vegas Showgirl turned New York Times bestselling Urban Fantasy writer. There’s a great interview with her in LAS VEGAS WEEKLY if you’d like to learn more.

And mark your calendars for the release of her latest, CHEAT THE GRAVE, out on 5/25"

This is a great offer to check out Ms. Pettersson's first Joanna Archer novel and get on board for the series itself! Feel free to copy the links and spread the word by putting them on your blogs as well. Also, please check out my forthcoming review of Cheat the Grave as well.

P.

White Cat - The Curse Workers Bk 1 - Holly Black

2010-03-30T01:30:00.006-05:00

We start with the character Cassel waking up on the rooftop of his dormitory at Wallingford Preparatory and not knowing how he got there. The only thing he knows is that the nightmares about the white cat are driving him insane...

Cassel is the black sheep of his family. They are all curse workers, people who have the ability to change your emotions, memories or luck with a touch of their hands. Cassel is the only one who doesn’t possess any powers. Curse working is illegal. Most people with the ability are members of mob families.

Everyone in his family has always treated Cassel a little differently, but he’s beginning to notice his brothers acting even more oddly. With his troubled past eating at him and suspecting that his brothers are running a con on him, Cassel is coming close to having it out with the people he’s trusted his whole life.

Let me start with saying that Holly Black is like Neil Gaiman to me. Doesn’t matter what they write; I’m going to get it because I know I’ll enjoy it...immensely. White Cat is no exception to this rule.

The cosmology that Ms. Black has built for this series is unique and a lovely change to what’s out there currently. I was sucked into White Cat from the first few pages. You can tell that White Cat is just the beginning of a well planned and well thought out story.

By all means, go forth and buy a copy of White Cat this May and yet again, don’t be scared by the YA markings…this book is for anyone out there who digs Urban Fantasy. I cannot wait to see where Ms. Black takes this story, but I'm definitely in it for the long haul. This is a “Summer Must Have.”

White Cat receives a Classic 4 out of 4 stars.

Please support this site and pick up a copy of - White Cat - The Curse Workers Bk 1 - Holly Black

Go visit Holly Black at her website, Facebook or Twitter.

Patricia Briggs - Silver Borne Tour Dates

2010-03-27T23:05:00.005-05:00

Patricia Briggs latest Mercy Thompson novel, Silver Borne, will debut March 30^th 2010, and she's going on tour to support it. I've made no secret about my love for this character and author. In fact, I'll be in Houston April 9^th to get my copy signed and to meet the lady who's brought so many great stories into my life. Try to make one of the signings if you can...I'm sure you won't regret it.

Below are all the dates at present. If more become available I'll make sure and post them.

March 30^th in SEATTLE

UNIVERSITY BOOKSTORE@ 7 PM

4326 University Way NE

Seattle, WA 98105

March 31^st in PORTLAND

POWELL'S BOOKS @ 7 PM

Cedar Hills Crossing

3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd

Beaverton, OR 97005

April 6^th in LOS ANGELES

BARNES AND NOBLE #2743 @ 7 PM

7881 Edinger Ave.

Huntington Beach, CA 92647

April 7^th in SAN DIEGO

MYSTERIOUS GALAXY @ 7 PM

7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd: Ste 302

San Diego, CA 92111

April 9^th in HOUSTON

MURDER BY THE BOOK @ 6:30 PM

2342 Bissonnet St

Houston, TX 77005

April 10^th in MINNEAPOLIS

UNCLE HUGO'S SCIENCE FICTION BOOKSTORE @ 1 PM

2864 Chicago Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55407

Hallowed Circle - Persephone Alcmedi Bk. 2 - Linda Robertson

2010-03-09T05:34:00.004-06:00

Still trying to work out what being the Lustrata fully entails, Persephone "Seph" Alcmedi finds out she's been nominated to be High Priestess of the Cleveland, OH, coven by her friend Lydia Whitmore. It's still a mystery to everyone (with the exception of Seph) what happened to Vivian Diamond, the previous High Priestess. Seph is not jazzed about being nominated for several reasons. Chief amongst them being, A) she was the person who turned Vivian over to the vampire that did away with her, B) she is now the guardian of Beverly, who's werewolf mother Lorrie has only been dead for 3 weeks and let's not forget C) Seph now carries the vampire Menessos' mark, "the stain," along with the powers that come with it. No witch is ever allowed to be under the influence of a vampire and be in a position of power, but to prevent another snooty, social climber from getting the post, Seph will do it.

As the Eximium (the contest) begins one finalist turns up dead. So, it's up to Seph to: find out who's killing finalists, make it through the contest without the judges seeing her "stain," win the contest, and to come in to her own as the Lustrata when the Cleveland coven needs her the most.

Hallowed Circle takes up where Vicious Circle left off and is even more entertaining in my estimation. Hitting all my favourite high points in urban fantasy of mystery, romance and magic, Hallowed Circle does not disappoint fans of Persephone's first outing. How Seph deals with both 6'2", leather-clad biker, Johnny and the Eximium are the high points for me. One can tell that Ms. Robertson has found her footing as a storyteller and whispers a promise of only good things to future readers.

To those that may find the beginning of Hallowed Circle a bit slow, rest assured that like any good roller coaster you'll find it well worth it by novel's end. Like any Book Two worth it's salt, Hallowed Circle builds beautifully on Vicious Circle and sets up Fatal Circle flawlessly.

Not to mention the fact that Hallowed Circle will always be my first. The first mass market paperback novel that I received a blurb in, "A fun romp of a novel....Seph acts as any of us would and it makes her endearing and easy for the reader to root for....Completely entertaining." Thanks to Paula Guran at Juno Books, Erica Feldon at Simon and Schuster and Linda Robertson herself.

Hallowed Circle receives an Excellent rating of 3.5 out of 4 stars.

Please Support This Site and Pick Up a Copy Here: Hallowed Circle - Persephone Alcmedi Book 2 - Linda Robertson.

Make sure to stop by Ms. Robertson's Website.

Bitter Night - Horngate Witches Bk 1 - Diana Pharaoh Francis

2010-02-09T22:46:00.005-06:00

Have you ever been asked one of those what if questions? What if you could fly, what if you could live forever, what if you could be stronger, faster and never age? Well, Max was asked the last question by a person she considered her friend one night whilst drinking. Max said, of course, not knowing her friend was a powerful witch named Giselle who meant the question. Max wakes up to find herself transformed into a Shadowblade, one of Giselle’s night-time protectors.

With spells now written on her skin, her bones and her very soul, Max has no choice but to protect Giselle now. No matter how much she’d like to kill her for turning her into this. Thirty years have passed since that night and Max has become the best, most lethal Shadowblade in existence. Soon her powers, along with Giselle’s own, will be put to the test as they never have.

The Guardians of the earth are returning. These are the beings who are responsible for some of the worst disasters in human history. Such as making Vesuvius explode just to teach are merchant a lesson. The Greek Gods had nothing on these beings when it comes to petty, spiteful actions. They have decided, from on high, that the mortals of the earth must be wiped out, and they want all the witches of any power to help them. Refusal will not be tolerated. The witches have been told that their covens will be wiped off the face of the earth if they do not agree to help.

As much as Max may hate Giselle, she loves Horngate, Giselle’s covenstead. Horngate, and all those who live there and protect it, including her own Shadowblades and the Sunspears, Giselle’s daytime protectors. To protect Horngate from utter destruction Max must place her trust in another witch’s Shadowblade Prime. As much as she feels she can’t trust him, she’s drawn to him as much as he is to her.

To complicate matters further, Max has in her possession an object that can free her from her despised servitude. An object that can give her whatever she wishes. Will she use it to break the bonds that have held her for the past 30 years and go back to a normal life or will it be used to protect those that she thinks of as family and her home.

Have you ever seen a novel from an author that you know has several books under their belt, but for some reason you’ve never picked one up? Well, that was Ms. Francis for me, but a reading of Bitter Night has changed all that. I’m going to go back and find whatever I can from her and devour it as I did Bitter Night. Ms. Francis is my favourite kind of author, a storyteller.

Bitter Night is expertly written and keeps you hooked from beginning to end. With her protagonist Max hating her witch Giselle so much, but being bound by powerful spells to make sure no harm comes to her it’s one of the most interesting reads I’ve had in a while. Plus, the addition of Alexander, whose power comes close to Max’s own, you don’t know what’s going to happen next. This is one of those novels that should be started on a Friday night when you don’t have to get up early Saturday morning because you’ll probably read it cover to cover.

Although I believe that with Max’s ambivalence towards Giselle and the power she exhibits throughout the novel it should have been called Bitter Knight, I don’t get asked about these sort of things. Ms. Francis has created an unusual, wonderful, Urban Fantasy read with Bitter Night and your reading pleasure will be increased dramatically by picking it up. I personally cannot wait for the sequel.

Bitter Night receives and excellent rating of 3 1/2 stars from me.

Please Support This Site and Pick Up a Copy Here: Bitter Night - Horngate Witches Bk 1 - Diana Pharaoh Francis

Please make sure to stop by Ms. Francis' Blog and Website.

Blood Cross - Jane Yellowrock Bk #2 - Faith Hunter

2009-12-26T17:10:00.001-06:00

Picking up a few weeks after the events of Skinwalker, we find vampire bounty hunter and skinwalker, Jane Yellowrock receiving visitors. Jane's best friend and earth witch, Molly is there with her two children, Angelina and Little Evan. Together they are riding out the tail end of a hurricane at Jane's rental property in New Orleans. Molly is a powerful earth witch, but all of her wards are down because the storm was playing merry-hob with them.

The hurricane begins to let up and Molly and Jane decide to put the kids down for a little nap. Being the only one who stays awake, Jane begins to prowl the house because she can feel something's off. Suddenly, Jane smells smoke and races outside to see what the origin is. She skids to a halt in front of Leo Pellissier, leader of the vampire council of New Orleans and four of his blood children in her front yard. He's there to kill her because he believes Jane killed his only son and heir, and he intends to use fire to do it.

Even though Jane's original contract with the vampire council has expired it was extended so that the part Cherokee all skinwalker Jane could take care of the problem. Some rogue master is making scions and setting them free without the ten years needed to "cure" them. Young vampires generally must spend a decade chained up before they regain enough of the sanity needed to be let out into society again. This new master is skipping that step and basically releasing what amounts to be paranormal strength, fangs and hunger upon the streets of New Orleans. Jane's job is to find this rogue and end him along with any other children he has made.

Jane knows she cannot do this alone. She sets out with some local vigilantes, her witch friend Molly and her police detective friend Rick to end the dead bodies that begin stacking up around New Orleans again. To everyone's surprise except Jane it becomes apparent that it isn't just one lone vampire master who is doing this. It goes deeper then that. When loyalties run in millenia who amongst the vampires can Jane trust?

I truly do love the world that Faith Hunter has created with Jane Yellowrock. In Blood Cross she continues to walk the tightrope between amazing writing and doing what has come before. It would be so easy for her to fall off into derivative nonsense with her protagonist being a six foot tall, beautiful, shape shifting "Valkyrie" on a Harley, but Ms. Hunter never does. Not one part of this story takes you out of it by ringing false.

Just like in Skinwalker, Blood Cross has another stand out voice with Jane's other known as Beast. The parts of the book with Beast are funny and believable. When Beast is sitting alpha she has an inner monologue that makes it known that she considers Jane the interloper and that she should actually be in control most of the time.

Begin your year by picking up Blood Cross. Actually, if you haven't yet get the whole story beginning in the Strange Brew anthology (what I call Jane Yellowrock Bk #.5) and Skinwalker - Jane Yellowrock Bk #1. Blood Cross is a paranormal thriller that deserves to be read.

Blood Cross receives a classic rating of 4 out of 4 stars.

Please Support This Site and Pick Up a Copy Here: Blood Cross - Jane Yellowrock Bk #2 - Faith Hunter.

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Best of Paranormal/Urban Fantasy - 2009

2009-12-08T19:55:00.037-06:00

Going to do something different here. Since everyone's doing their "end of the year lists," I thought I'd post what I thought were the best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy books of 2009. Some I had the chance to review, some not, but they are all GREAT books! Now, I fully expect some of you to disagree wholeheartedly. If you do, please comment and tell me where you think I went wrong. Here goes, starting with #10.

10. Vanished (Greywalker, Book 4) (August 2009) - Kat Richardson – Ms. Richardson continues to get better and better with each book, and Vanished is her best to date. If this series is new to you I recommend picking up all the title to follow her hero Harper Blaine.

9. Night's Cold Kiss: A Dark Brethren Novel (August 2009) – Tracey O’Hara – I love it when first time authors hit it out of the park and Ms. O’Hara definitely hit a home run with this one. She did this by doing my favourite thing and bringing something new to the Urban Fantasy genre. The struggles that Antoinette Petrescu goes through and how she changes from start to finish are nothing short of amazing.

8. Street Magic (Black London Bk. 1) (June 2009) - Caitlin Kittredge – The story of Pete Caldecott and Jack Winters. This is one of those titles where the story grabs you by the throat (or more sensitive bits) and refuses to let go. Great Read.

7. Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega, Book 2) (August 2009) - Patricia Briggs – The story of Charles Cornick (Alpha Werewolf) and his mate Anna Latham (Omega Werewolf) continues to grow and get better with each story. Ms. Briggs has set this in her Mercy Thompson universe, so it’s given her a chance to further expound on werewolf culture and society.

6. City of Souls (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 4) (June 2009) -Vicki Pettersson – Joanna Archer is still trying to correct her mistake that’s left her Changeling damaged in a most heinous way. With the introduction of Midheaven and finding a way for her character to get out of Las Vegas, not to mention the emotional gut-wrenching scenes….this book will suck you in. Check out my review here.

5. Skin Trade (Anita Blake, Book 17) (June 2009) – Laurell K. Hamilton – This is how I missed my Anita Blake stories. Being in a thrill ride from start to finish. I mean the book starts with a decapitated head being sent to her. Great stuff showing that Ms. Hamilton is definitely back a the top of her game.

4. Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock, Book 1) (July 2009) – Faith Hunter – Doing something I’ve never read before by almost having her character Jane have multiple personalities. Well, Jane does, Beast lives inside of her and gets to be Alpha when Jane shifts. Using Cherokee folklore and expounding on it is a great ride. Highly recommended. Please check out my review here.

3. Tempest Rising (Jane True Bk. 1) (November 2009) - Nicole Peeler – I completely meant what I wrote in my review of this: It is a Gem of a first novel. Plus, you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a supernatural that almost no one has ever written about before. With a fast paced story it leaves you wanting the sequel Tracking the Tempest as soon as you finish. Also the greatest cover to grace the shelves this year. Please check out my full review here.

2. White Witch, Black Curse (The Hollows, Book 7) – Kim Harrison – Still heartbroken over the death of her lover Kisten six months previous, Rachel vows to find out who did it. Considering she was there and cannot remember that’s a bit of a stumbling block, but it’s coming back to her. With the help of her Vampire partner Ivy and Pixie partner Jenks she’s going to get to the bottom of it if it kills her. Kim Harrison never disappoints.

1. Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson, Book 4)(February 2009) – Patricia Briggs – Finally Patricia Briggs gets moved into hardbound. Mercy trying her very best to maneuver in both Vampire and Werewolf politics finds out that’s easier said then done. In one of those worlds were most of the “monsters” have come out Ms. Briggs does an awesome job of keeping her world as realistic as possible. Truly, my favourite book of 2009.

My Honourable Mentions for this year, in no particular order this time, are:

Mark of the Demon (My Review's here) - Diana Rowland

Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels, Book 3) - Ilona Andrews

Darkness Calls (Check out my review here) - Marjorie Liu

The Better Part of Darkness - Kelly Gay (review forthcoming)

Blood Kin (Blood Lines Bk. 3)(Check out my review here) - Maria Lima

Demon Mistress (Otherworld)(Check out my review here) - Yasmine Galenorn

Frostbitten (Women of the Otherworld, Book 10) - Kelley Armstrong

All of these novels are well worth your time and money. There’s nothing but standouts here. I do not think one of the books mentioned in this post will disappoint.

Blood Kin- Blood Lines Bk 3 - Maria Lima

2009-12-02T00:51:00.005-06:00

Keira Kelly has finished going through the Change, which is what her Clan calls what happens when their bodies come into their powers. Unfortunately for Keira she didn't go the shapeshifter route as expected. No, Keira has hit the Kelly Clan genetic lotto and wound up with all the powers available. She's now the Kelly Clan heir designate, the successor whenever her Great Great Grandmother, Gigi decides to step down. For Keira that date cannot be far enough away.

Having only just rescued her vampire lover Adam from true death, Keira wants nothing more then to ignore all of this and stay in her beloved Rio Seco, TX. Gigi has other plans. Summoning Keira to British Columbia to introduce her as the Kelly heir, teach her something about all of her new powers and oh, maybe help her former lover Gideon to the afterlife since it appears he may be dying. All Keira knows is that she's not going alone. If she has to go so does her 1200-year-old shapeshifting brother Tucker and he's taking his vampire lover Niko. Also realising that she can't just up and leave her newly discovered Sidhe cousin (from her absentee mother's side), Daffyd ap Geraint, he's coming to the Great White North too. Only Adam refuses to go citing that his Tribe needs him right now.

Stopped in Vancouver before reaching the Clan homestead Daffyd goes off the reservation and disappears mysteriously. Keira is also taken aback when she's informed that she isn't needed to escort Gideon to the afterlife...he's getting better. Keira doesn't know what's going on here, but since she's been told to wait in Vancouver by Gigi she's damned well going to find out.

Ms. Lima has redesigned her roller-coaster storytelling to make it bigger and more exciting. The cosmology that she's weaved throughout the first two novels of the Blood Lines series (Matters of the Blood and Blood Bargain) culminates in Blood Kin. You get answers that you've been tantalized with through the series. Even when you think that there can't be any more answers you're hit with some to questions you only had in your subconscious. My favourite has to be the Machiavellian tale of just how Keira came to be.

Maria Lima hit me out of the gate in Matters of the Blood with just how good of a writer she is. The truly exciting thing is her ability to top herself in each subsequent title in the Blood Lines series. Any novel I read and want the next in the series in my possession because I don't want to leave the world that's been created around me is truly amazing to me.

Blood Kin is the conclusion to the first story arc in the Blood Lines series and is absolutely satisfying in every way. I warn you now though, just go ahead and pick up the whole series. You'll hate yourself if you don't have the next one to start at the conclusion of what you've just read.

Blood Kin - Blood Lines Bk 3 - receives a Classic 4 out of 4 stars from me, a stellar achievement. The next installment can't come soon enough.

Please Support This Site and Pick Up a Copy Here: Matters of the Blood, Blood Bargain and Blood Kin - Blood Lines Bk 1-3 - Maria Lima

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Blood Bargain - Blood Lines Bk 2 - Maria Lima

2009-11-16T02:32:00.003-06:00

Taking up months after Matters of the Blood concluded we find our protagonist, Keira Kelly has basically moved in with her lover Adam Walker, the leader of the local vampires at the Wild Moon Ranch. Adam has been making all the other vampires at the Wild Moon swear off human blood. Even that is a concession on his part, but now hunts happen to the old and infirm deer the ranch.

Adam himself has not been taking part in these hunts only subsiding on his bottled blood. Keira has noticed however that things seem off with her lover. A stumble here, looking wane and hardly having any energy. Keira must think of a way to get Adam to take care of himself. Something that's proving more difficult then it sounds. Not even her millennium old brother Tucker can think of how to help, and since his love is Niko, Adam's second, this is affecting him too.

Not to mention the fact that people have begun to disappear from Rio Seco. Keira's garden spot in the Texas Hill Country is becoming more and more dangerous. Especially waiting the Change, her becoming what kind of supernatural she'll be for the rest of her long life is really starting to take hold. She knows none of the vampires would defy Adam's edict, but Keira needs to find out just what's going on. Deciding to investigate the disappearances with her brother, Keira sets into motion a chain of dominoes that may have dire consequences for all involved. And what connection does the ancient cemetery Keira cleaned as a girl have to do with all this?

With Keira's powers still not decided what they wish to settle on, her slightest touch can bring on a vision that brings her to her knees. Keira becomes an even fun more multi-layered character throughout Blood Bargin. We begin to find out more of her back story, included just who and what her mother was.

With Ms. Lima's talent for mystery, Blood Bargain yet again fits under my Paranormal Mystery heading. This time though it isn't the mystery so much, but the conclusion of it and just how everyone fits in that will keep you enthralled. Yet again, as with Matters of the Blood, Blood Bargain has fast paced, take no prisoners action. Blood Bargain grabs you by the throat from the go and doesn't release it's grip until you're done. The fact that it has a cliff hanger of sorts shouldn't worry anyone since Blood Kin - Blood Lines Bk 3 is out already and takes up directly where Blood Bargain leaves you.

Blood Bargain - Blood Lines Bk 2 receives an Excellent rating of 3.5 out 4 stars and the entire series should be on everyone's Must Read.

Please Support This Site and Pick Up a Copy Here: Matters of the Blood, Blood Bargin and Blood Kin - Blood Lines Bk 1-3 - Maria Lima

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Matters of the Blood - Blood Lines Bk 1 - Maria Lima

2009-11-12T02:52:00.003-06:00

Keira Kelly is one of the younger members of her Clan. That's Clan with a capital C. These paranormals have been around for centuries in all different shapes and varieties. Keira has yet to go through her Change, the time in their lives when that particular Clan member comes in possession of their powers and what they will be for the rest of their existence. Keira's six older brothers and father are all shapeshifters so Keira believes that's the direction she'll go.

Several years in the past when Keira returned from England an emotional mess she discovers that the rest of her Clan isn't in the tiny town of Rio Seco in the Texas Hill Country were she left them. She refuses to relocate to Vancouver, BC, CA like everyone else and the edict has come down from the matriarch (read ruler) of the Clan her great grandmother, Gigi. If she refuses to relocate then she will be in charge of taking care of (making sure he keeps out of trouble) her entirely human cousin Marty. It could be worse, at least her best friend of 30 years Bea is still in Rio Seco.

Everything's been up and down with Marty over the years which basically means that Keira gives him money to bail his ass out of a crack every few months. Lately Keira's been having nightmares (visions?) seeing her cousin brutally murdered. On top of all of this her former lover, the quite married Sheriff Carlton Larson is sniffing about Keira trying to reignite an old flame. Oh, and then there's Keira's old acquaintance from London Adam Walker who happens to be the new owner of the big local ranch, The Wild Moon Resort, about to reopen on the outskirts of Rio Seco.

Keira's more then willing to get to know Adam Walker better until she believes that Adam may be connected to all of the strange happens going on in Rio Seco.

To me, there should be a new category called Paranormal Mystery because all the best Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance I’ve read have a great mystery running through them tying the story together. Matters of the Blood is no exception to that. Plus, it’s a really terrific one. Considering that Maria Lima’s first published story was nominated for an Agatha Award this comes as no great shock to me. Not to mention the fact that Ms. Lima’s a true talent at weaving subplots throughout Matters of the Blood that get picked up in subsequent books.

Speaking of her talents, Ms. Lima is also a first rate on at making her her non-human characters completely human with all of our strengths and failings. Doesn’t matter if you’re 37-year-old Keira or her 1200+-year-old brother Tucker. Making both her female and male characters almost vibrate off the page with charm, sensuality and sexuality really makes the story spark as well. This isn’t often for me, but my favourite non-lead character is Keira’s brother Tucker. Either by conscious design or just from him being larger than life, Tucker has a penchant for taking over almost every scene he’s in.

Generally I’m not such a fan of a slow starter, but Matters of the Blood is a slow starter in the way a good roller coaster is with all the pitches and rolls that comes with it. You may find yourself wanting more of Keira’s back-story at the end of Matters of the Blood, but I believe that’s done by design. You will know that all of the promises and clues that Ms. Lima drops in Matters of the Blood will be picked up again and fulfilled in subsequent novels.

All in all Maria Lima makes me break two of my longest standing rules since I’ve started this blog: I never give a first time author nor do I give the first in a series 4 stars. Matters of the Blood joyfully reminded me that rules are meant to be broken.

Matters of the Blood receives a Classic rating of 4 out of 4 stars from me. This one is a must have and if 9 out of 10 of you do not pick up the 2^nd in the Blood Lines saga, Blood Bargin, I’ll be tremendously surprised.

Please Support This Site and Pick Up a Copy Here: Matters of the Blood, Blood Bargin and Blood Kin - Blood Lines Bk 1-3 - Maria Lima

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Tempest Rising - Jane True Bk 1 - Nicole Peeler

2009-11-11T01:41:00.003-06:00

In the tiny hamlet of Rockabill, Maine lives 26 year old, Jane True. Rockabill is also the home to the "Old Sow,' the largest natural whirlpool in the Western hemisphere, which Jane enjoys swimming in. Jane knows that no one in their right mind would swim in the Sow (so it's kept on the QT) and in the back of her mind she also knows that no one else could. During one of her clandestine dips Jane comes across the corpse of a man. Still not wanting anyone to know that she swims in the Sow, Jane drags the body from the whirlpool's clutches and leaves it on shore for someone else to find.

A freakishly large, black dog begins to follow Jane soon after. He finally takes her to some answers about her strange affinity for the water and tolerance for the cold in the form of a gnome and kelpie. Jane finally begins to learn more about her long absent mother, most importantly being that she was a Selkie. This blossoms into an entire new world opening for Jane that is filled with supernaturals. Most important of those being Ryu, the vampire sent to investigate the death because the man was a Halfling just like Jane.

Ryu vows to keep Jane safe because this murder after is not the first, but is this a lone person or a larger conspiracy to eliminate the Halflings?

Tempest Rising is a gem of a novel from first time author Nicole Peeler. With it's laugh-out-loud moments and endearing characters you'll be pulled in from the beginning. The best thing in Tempest Rising in Jane True herself. For a Halfling she has all too human frailties. From her compelling back story to her snarkiness, she's a main character with some chutzpa.

Some of the supernaturals you meet in Tempest Rising are: selkies, gnomes, kelpies, barghest, vampires, nagas, djinn and nahaul. Bringing so many new and different avenues to explore than your run of the mill paranormal fantasy is an expert touch from a first timer. Ms. Peeler has a fertile imagination that takes you on an amazing trip. The one problem you have is that you won't wish for it to end. Your suffering will not even last a year since Jane True Bk 2 - Tracking the Tempest will hit shelves Spring/Summer 2010.

Tempest Rising - Jane True Book 1 receives 3.5 out of 4 stars. Pick it up...you will not be disappointed.

Strange Brew - P.N. Elrod

2009-07-14T01:48:00.008-05:00

In the pages of Strange Brew, edited by PN Elrod, you'll find stories from some of the hottest stars in the Urban Fantasy galaxy. Generally anthologies are a bit hard for me to review, but Strange Brew works really well together. The editing has to play a part since the stories are a bit longer than short stories, but not long enough to be Novellas. Whatever magic Elrod did, these stories flow well and you'll feel a satisfying ending with all of them.

First up is Patricia Briggs (love me some Patty Briggs novels), author of the fabulous Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series. Her contribution is Seeing Eye where we meet a blind witch named Moira. Moira lost her sight against the Samhain coven. When a werewolf to help find his bother that he believes was abducted by the same coven, Moira has a personal stake in helping him contacts her.

This is the first time that I know of that Ms. Briggs has let a witch take the spotlight in one of her stories. Generally shapeshifters wind up ruling the stories with other supernaturals being secondary characters. The mythos she begins to create around witches seems to be a vibrant as her world of shapeshifters.

If this is the beginning of Ms Briggs further expanding her universe I can't wait for a full novel. Fans of Patty Briggs won't be disappointed and I believe new fans will be intrigued enough to pick up her other series.

Next up is Jim Butcher's Last Call starring his PI, Harry Dresden. Being Harry he just wants to be left alone and get a pint at a pub. Finding scattered, unconscious people throughout the pub makes Harry reconsider that drink. Especially when a spell is found on the beer. Harry and his favourite police officer, Karrin Murphy must stop this tainted beer getting out to the public at large.

Mr Butcher writes his PI Wizard Harry Dresden with his usual aplomb. Someone is messing with two of Harry's favourite things, his beer and his pub. Not exactly Mr. Butcher's best, but enjoyable for it's length.

Rachel Caine brings us, Death Warmed Over. Holly Caldwell is a necromancer, a resurrection with, able to bring back the dead. She's asked to bring back the witch Andrew Toland who gives his life during the zombie war. This will be the second time Holly has raised Andrew. It becomes more difficult when she realises she might just be in love with this dead man, but to help stop the person killing resurrection witches, he will be needed.

Rachel Caine gives us an enjoyable departure from her Weather Warden series. The construction of this story, considering the pages in which it's told, is nothing short of amazing. As with Charlaine Harris' contribution, if you dig mystery mixed in with your Urban Fantasy, you will have a good time with Death Warmed Over.

One of my personal favourites of the anthology is Karen Chance's, Vegas Odds. Further expanding upon the world she's created in the Cassandra Palmer and Dorina Basarab novels she brings us Lia the war mage. An instructor to other mages, she's taken by surprise the day her students attack her. Lia must find whoever has cast this illusion upon her students, and with the help of her Werewolf boyfriend, Cyrus, she will tear through anyone who gets in her way.

There's just something about the way Karen Chance constructs a story. Mixing solid storytelling with action packed stories seems to be her forte. Vegas Odds is no different. Like most of the stories in Strange Brew, this is a chance for most of the author's to expand on their currently existing universes. If you're someone like me who picks up the new Karen Chance whenever it appears, you need this book.

The editor herself, P.N. Elrod, brings you Hecate's Golden Eye. Jack Fleming, the vampire PI, is on the trail of a necklace in 1930's Chicago. Should be no problem for Jack and his partner Charles, right? Well, with the exception of the necklace being cursed and killing any man who touches it, it shouldn't be a problem.

Elrod seems to have fun having Jack in his 1930's setting. Actually if you've read her Jack Fleming stories before you know that she generally has a good time, but Hecate's Golden Eye seems to be a story she wanted to tell for enjoyment. A satisfying read.

Bacon, by Charlaine Harris introduces us to widowed vampire Dahlia. She wants revenge upon the person who killed her werewolf husband and asks witch Circe to help her get it. Like most of Harris's stories this is a paranormal mystery and takes the best kind of twists and turns she's famous for.

Charlaine Harris is a superb Urban Fantasist along with being an amazing mystery author. The fun of her stories is that you never know where you're going to end up. A character who seems unredeemable evil may wind up being the saviour of everyone. I think Ms. Harris needs more room to allow her stories to breathe though. Bacon comes across as choppy in points and you'll find yourself transported, very quickly, to another part of the story.

Admittedly my favourite of the bunch is Faith Hunter's Signatures of the Dead. Perhaps because we're introduced to the world of Skinwalker Jane Yellowrock and as I just reviewed Skinwalker and loved it. Signatures of the Dead is told by Jane's witch friend Molly. Molly is asked to track some rogue vamps, but finding and destroying rogues is Jane's specialty.

You will get bits and pieces of this story in the first full length Jane Yellowrock novel, Skinwalker, but Signatures of the Dead is where it all begins. This story is told from Molly's point of view, but of course, Jane is the star. Hopefully this story makes people run out to purchase Skinwalker. Jane Yellowrock is not a character to be missed.

Strange Brew delivers stand-alone stories from all of these authors. Although most are expanding upon their existing stories, Strange Brew can be read as a stand-alone. Plus, it does what I believe all of these anthologies are designed to do, gives readers an introduction to these authors if you've never read them.

Strange Brew receives a 3 out of 4 stars rating.

Please Support This Site and Pick Up a Copy Here: Strange Brew

Make sure to check out all these author's website or blogs.

Patricia Briggs Website
Jim Butcher's Website
Rachel Caine's Website
Karen Chance's Website
P.N. Elrod's Website
Charlaine Harris' Website
Faith Hunter's Website
Caittlin Kittredge's Website
Jenna Maclaine's Website

Skinwalker - Jane Yellowrock Bk 1 - Faith Hunter

2009-07-14T00:31:00.004-05:00

Through a carefully (and skillfully) laid back story we're introduced to Jane Yellowrock. A Native American Cherokee myth comes to life, a Skinwalker. As far as she knows the only one of her kind in the world.

Part of that back story reveals that Jane almost died a year ago taking out a Blood Family. (Make sure you check out PN Elrod's anthology, Strange Brew for the full story.) She's enjoyed healing with her Witch friend Molly and her family for the past year, but it's time to get back to work, destroying rogue "Vamps."

Hired by the first civilised Vampire she's ever met, Kathrine Fontaneau, she leaves her home in North Carolina to head to New Orleans. Fontaneau and the other Vampire ruling class want this rogue taken out, by any means necessary. Not so much because he/she/it is killing humans (and other Vampires), but because it's affecting the bottom line. Since coming out of the coffin in the 1960's, the main stream Vamps get quite a bit of their money from tourism.

Ms. Hunter does an amazing and new take on a shapeshifter. Jane is not alone inside herself, she also has to deal with Beast on a daily basis. When Jane shifts Beast is Alpha and Jane is Beta. It's almost dealt with in a Multiple Personality Disorder, but with the other her only being partially submerged, able to affect the dominate who's driving. Her talents make her the perfect vampire hunter, able to track and destroy them in both her human or animal forms.

Jane can become any animal she wishes through years of practise, but Beast prefers her own, and gets rather pissed at Jane is she shifts into another. I cannot go on enough about how well Ms. Hunter does this novel. At no time are you bored while reading Jane back story. It's parted out throughout Skinwalker in bits and pieces. You won't get hit with one big chapter basically saying, "Here's what happened before..."

Faith Hunter delivers creates someone you may think you've met before at first glance, a kick ass, no nonsense Vamp hunter. She's six feet tall and beautiful, especially when she's riding her motorcycle, Bitsa. She feels the most comfortable with her Italian shotgun, stakes, crosses and holy water about her. Do Not think Jane is only a warrior women. With Beast constantly commenting on her actions and affecting them to some degree, you'll meet someone completely new in the annals of Urban Fantasy.

I cannot wait until January 5th with the second full Jane Yellowrock novel, Blood Cross: A Jane Yellowrock Novel. You will miss out this summer is Skinwalker is not one of your purchases. It is a must have.

Obviously, and amazingly since I never do this for the first novel in a series, Skinwalker receives a Classic rating of 4 out of 4 Stars.

Please Support This Site and Pick Up a Copy Here: Skinwalker - Jane Yellowrock Bk 1 - Faith Hunter

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City of Souls - Sign of the Zodiac Bk 4 - Vicki Pettersson

2009-06-30T04:04:00.003-05:00

In neon strewn city of Las Vegas, a war rages. An unseen war by mortals, but the fate of the world itself hangs in the balance. Surprisingly, to herself most of all, Joanna Archer has become the most important player in this battle. She is the Kairos, and it is written that she is destined to either help the Light or the Dark finally defeat the other. The trick is that no one knows which side Joanna will come down on since she herself is both a child of Light and Dark.

Joanna is the Archer for the Zodiac troop 175, a Troop of the Light. Unfortunately, in the last novel of Joanna's adventures The Touch of Twilight she "broke" her Changeling Jasmine. By splitting her chi with Jasmine the young girl has gained new powers, while Joanna has grown weaker, and refuses to give them up and grow up. Her younger sister Li was supposed to take her place as Joanna's Changeling, but with Jas refusing to proceed with puberty, Li slips further and further away. This has caused a major imbalance and already broken the city's safe zones for the Light. The Light side's manuals (comic books to you and me) are no longer being written anymore either. If Li dies then the Light will surely follow her as they become weaker and weaker without their manuals being written and their legends no longer growing in the mind of the young.

Joanna has been told that there is only one place where she may be able to fix things, Midheaven. A world ruled by women, and hidden from mortal eyes, where the price of admission is a piece of your very soul. Once there she must find Jaden Jacks, the only other person to ever "break" one of the Changelings before. Unfortunately for Joanna, Jacks has not been seen since he corrected the problem. The leader of Troop 175, Warren, believes that Jacks and his Changeling escaped to Midheaven leaving both sides to continue their war without them. Joanna must find a way to "fix" everything she's broken. If she fails in this mission, the
fourth Zodiac sign will not come to pass and the Dark will soon take over.

I love Vicki Pettersson's novels and short stories for a myriad of different reasons. She's taken something very old (the signs of the Zodiac) and put her own spin on it. Having superheroes and villains running about beneath our very noses, fighting battles, and influencing us, is a truly imaginative stroke of writing. City of Souls (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 4) continues building upon the mythology of Pettersson's world. Joanna deals with situations the way any of us would if we all woke up one day and discovered we could lift a car or jump to the roof of a two story building. She's strong yet vulnerable and with Pettersson writing her as a hybrid of both Light and Dark you're left to wonder which way Joanna as the "Kairos" will go. Will she turn out to be our savior or our damnation?

At times Pettersson does get a bit bogged down in her own mythology and forgets the story she's telling in the present. Plus, just from my ex comics shop owner side, she does forget that people buy and read back issues of comics (manuals) and trade paperbacks (bound volumes of issues) all the time. I used to sell people stacks of back issues and they would happily read them if there were no new comics around. The back issues and trade paperbacks of the manuals should provide for some strength for the Light, but they're never mentioned in City of Souls (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 4). Generally Ms. Pettersson is spot on with her comic book bits and the people who frequent comic shops, I just believe that this was an oversight on her part.

All in all, City of Souls (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 4) is a great read. Taking Joanna out of her comfort zone of Las Vegas was wonderful to read. One of the best things I can say about all of the Sign of the Zodiac series is that Ms. Pettersson takes a known mythology, reinterprets it, and completely owns her version of it. She also does a skillful job of reminding you of what has passed without boring the reader who already knows. It feels like a refresher course you're glad to take if you read as many novels as I do in between her books.

City of Souls (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 4) receives a Good rating from me, 3 stars out of 4.

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Darkness Calls - Hunter Kiss Bk 2 - Marjorie M. Liu

2009-06-30T03:36:00.004-05:00

With the sequel to The Iron Hunt (Hunter Kiss, Book 1) we join Maxine Kiss again, demon Hunter and born wanderer. Her nomadic bloodline only joining with the opposite sex to produce the offspring that would protect the next generation once they were killed off, but most importantly, no emotional attachments at all. Her body covered with swirls of tribalesque tattoos, or at least what look like tattoos. They remain on her body like modern day armor and protecting the skin they're attached to during the day. At night, they leave Maxine's body and resume their true form, that of demons.

Her nomadic path leads her to Grant, former priest and the very last of his kind, the Lightbringer. He is able to manipulate energy, the energy of any living creatures, and that of demons as well. This ability puts his life in mortal danger from the Avatars. Maxine has gone against her ancestor’s highest taboo, she's fallen in love with Grant. She refuses to just leave her beloved to his death. Maxine fights the Avatars themselves by losing her own powers of Darkness. What will the pairing of the Lightbringer and the demon Hunter bring about with their joining to the world?

If you've read anything from Marjorie M. Liu you know that she can write a deadly warrior woman to a T. Maxine Kiss is The Road Warrior covered in tattoos and killing those evils that prey upon the earth, whether they are human born or preternatural. She's a wonderful character and really gets the chance to shine in Darkness Calls. With all of the groundwork and back story already done in The Iron Hunt (Hunter Kiss, Book 1), Maxine gets to do some damage in this book, and I loved it. Ms. Liu's battle scenes are completely alive in my mind. Hopefully you've started reading Dark Wolverine (Co-Authored with Daniel Way) from Marvel because if you have you know exactly what I'm speaking about.

Grant is a wonderful character in and of himself. Being a beacon of light in Maxine's world of darkness. The one person in the entire world that Maxine has traveled who's made her stop and think that maybe there's more to life. Darkness abounds through out this novel (obviously since it's called Darkness Calls) and its seductive nature pervades Maxine's life. Considering herself both demon Hunter and demon herself finding Hunter Kiss trying to balance the light while protecting Grant from death is a great read.

I believe that any fan of the genre will like this book. Here's the caveat though, without reading The Iron Hunt (Hunter Kiss, Book 1) and the Hunter Kiss short story from the Wild Thing
anthology some of the finer points will be lost. However if you're ready for the action to start you can pick up Darkness Calls without fear. Besides Darkness Calls Ms Liu also turns up the heat this summer with the previously mentioned Dark Wolverine and also NYX: No Way Home TPB (Nyx (Graphic Novels) collection from Marvel Comics, as well as The Fire King (Dirk & Steele Romance) due out July 28th.

Darkness Calls should be on any Paranormal reader's "Must Read List," this summer.

It receives an Excellent rating from me, 3.5 stars out of 4.

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Vicious Circle - Persephone Alcmedi Bk1 - Linda Robertson

2009-06-30T03:03:00.004-05:00

Persephone "Seph" Alcmedi is a witch trying to make ends meet. Juggling her newspaper column, the odd tarot reading and the kenneling of Werewolves on the full moon is just barely letting her get by. Werewolves and witches are not supposed to mingle, but what's a witch to do when cash is needed. It doesn't hurt that she able to be near Johnny as well because of this. Although once her Nana moves in after being kicked out of her nursing home Seph doesn't know where the money's going to come from to meet her new expenses.

Seph's Werewolf friends Lorrie is suddenly murdered, and enter the High Priestess of the local coven. She knows exactly who killed Lorrie, and she has a job for Seph. Kill Goliath Kline, Lorrie's killer, and make beau coup bucks in the process. Seph is no one's damsel in distress, but she knows that this is beyond her. She's going to need help from motorcycle riding Johnny, the 6'2" leather clad lead singer/werewolf, to pull this off. Although sparks fly whenever the two get together there isn't too much time for love with the well nigh invincible Goliath Kline awaiting them.

This first book in the Persephone Alcmedi series is a fun romp of a novel. Ms. Robertson certainly hits all the right notes in Vicious Circle. Seph is a witch, but not perfect by any means. She still learning her craft and trying to make ends meet like anyone would do in her situation. She loves her Nana and is righteously pissed when her care facility kicks her out, but with Lorrie's murder there's no time to sort that. Seph acts as any of us would and it makes her endearing and easy for the reader to root for.

The bad boy Johnny, who sings for the techno-metal-Goth band Lycanthropia (why do I think those are three great tastes that don't taste that good together), is also around to help. His crush on Seph is sweet considering who and what he is and you hope that Seph will stop hiding behind Nana and respond. I don't remember David (Seph) having anyone like Johnny about with his trial with Goliath, but there he is nevertheless.

There are a few new ideas on the supernatural side of things, but I never truly believed it wouldn't work out for Seph. Lighthearted is the word that comes to mind when reading Vicious Circle. If you want to turn off your brain for a while and just go with it, Vicious Circle will be completely entertaining.

Hallowed Circle, Persephone Alcmedi Bk 2, hits stores December 29th.

Vicious Circle receives 2.5 Star out of 4.

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Atlantis Unleashed - Warriors of Poseidon - Alyssa Day

2009-06-26T23:56:00.005-05:00

The Warriors of Atlantis made a pact eleven thousand years ago, a vow to protect humanity at all costs. Why would humanity need protecting? It just so happens that those things that used to go bump in the night have come out of hiding. The vampires and werewolves we all knew in our heart of hearts were real since we were little have come out into the open, and some of them are beginning to take parts of the world for their own. The only beings with the capability to stop them are the Warriors of Atlantis.

Amongst these Warriors is Lord Justice. Lord Justice is fresh coming from tortures and degradations unimaginable that he took on willingly to protect his brother. Under the care of the vampire Goddess Anubisa where he went, Hell would have been considered a vacation spot. Being a hybrid Atlantan/Nereid was a special catch for Anubisa. Now, he has returned, but his psyche and his very sanity are on shaky ground.

Along comes archeologist Dr. Keely McDermott who possesses some abilities of her own that help her in her work. The ability to touch ancient objects and find herself transported to the time the object was used. Her most recent excavation has led her to a carving that is over 10000 years old. To her shock its creator is still alive and his name is Lord Justice. She will be of tremendous help in the quest Justice has been sent upon, to find the lost Star of Artemis. The attraction between Keely and Justice is almost immediate. They find themselves drawn close and closer to one another. They will need one another to succeed in this quest especially with Anubisa wanting her prize, Lord Justice, back.

The first thing to remember is that Atlantis Unleashed is the third book in the series and your enjoyment will increase dramatically reading them in order. Here's the order I've read them in: Atlantis Rising where High Prince Conlan and Riley meet, The short story Wild Hearts in Atlantis in the Wild Thing anthology where we meet Bastien, Atlantis Awakening is Ven's story, Shifter's Lady can be found in the anthology Shifter and it's Ethan's Story. That brings us up to Atlantis Unleashed with Lord Justice and Keely. That kinda sounds like five books doesn't it? Well, Atlantis Unleashed is the third book in the canon, but I assure you that the short stories are not to be missed and I believe they will play a role in future novels.

Also, for fans of the series (myself included I truly enjoy the mythos that Alyssa Day is creating) Day has just announced in her blog that she just signed a three-book deal for more Warriors of Poseidon novels. Back to Atlantis Unleashed though, Day's use of one woman for each of her Warriors is wonderful. I'm a bit of a romantic myself and enjoy the soul mate concept. Anyone who read Atlantis Awakening had to be chopping at the bit for Lord Justice's story especially with the ending it had. From his Nereid heritage that brings new abilities to his distinctive blue hair. Day makes you believe that each one of her Warriors are just that, Warriors ready to battle at a moment's notice. Her battle scenes are authentic in my mind and the psychological war that is taking place in Justice's mind will draw you in immediately.

You would think that with most of Ms. Day's attention focused on her Warriors that the female protagonist would get overshadowed. Not so. In all of the Atlantis books I've read the heroines give as good as they get. With Keely you get intelligence and independence rolled into one. This is no damsel in distress. This is a character that would fight along side Justice with fierceness and voracity if needed.

All in all, Atlantis Unleashed is a fast paced read that can be devoured in one sitting. With Atlantis Unmasked coming out this July featuring Alexios' story you're sure to be waiting with baited breath. Alyssa Day is a writer with talent to spare. This one is a must have.

Atlantis Unleashed gets a Classic rating from me: 4 out of 4 stars.

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Mark of the Demon - Book One - Diana Rowland

2009-06-23T04:04:00.009-05:00

A rookie detective, Kara Gillian, gets her big chance to solve her first big case. The Symbol Man who the Beualac populace thought had stopped killing three years previous is back. Detective Gillian is also a Summoner and can sense that there's magic involved in these new killings. She Summons a demon to help her, but doesn't get just any old demon. He is a demon Lord by the name of Rhyzkahl, but will he help Detective Gillian? And what agenda of his own does he have?

Also, what does it mean for Kara when FBI Agent Kristoff arrives at her murder scenes? She needs his expertise, but will he help or a hinder her investigation? There are truly only two main characters in Mark of the Demon, Kara & Rhyzkahl, but the secondary characters do get some really nice bits in the book.

I'm sure most people might consider this a slow starter, but not I. I actually read Cornwell and Reichs. I know the setup that needs to go into a 'Magical Murder Mystery Tour^TM'. It's because everything that's there in the beginning is there for a reason. This is a break-out novel from a first time author. I'll be more than happy to give you my warning for books like this: It will keep you up past your bedtime. That is, if you don't finish it in one reading.

Diana Rowland has hit a home run, not only with Urban Fantasy fans, but I believe anyone who reads Forensic Science/Police Procedure books will enjoy Mark of the Demon as well.

Mark of the Demon is Excellent and rightfully receives 3.5 Stars out of 4 from me.

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Magic in the Blood - Allie Beckstrom, Book 2 - Devon Monk

2009-06-16T23:26:00.004-05:00

In the world of Allison "Allie" Beckstrom magic comes at a cost. Most magical practitioners chose Disbursement, the hard way of paying for the magic you use. This payment can come in the form of headaches, to forgetfulness, or even worse maladies depending on how much and how strong of magic you use. The other type of practitioner is one who Offloads onto others the price of the magic they use. This is generally without the other person's consent. These Offloaders are the type of practitioner that Allie hunts down as a Hound.

Hunting down these unscrupulous spell casters who have Offloaded their magical price is what puts food on Allie's table. By doing so, she helps the police solve crimes and catch the original spell caster. Of course to do this Allie must use magic herself and since she doesn't Offload, she pays the price the painful way (her last adventure caused her to slip into a coma and a magically born tattoo to appear down her right arm.) The old joke is, "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most." This is partially true for Allie, while the coma didn't take her entire mind, it did take quite a few of her recent memories. Including the memory of the man she supposedly fell in love with, but Allie refuses to give up Hounding.

Being in a magically induced coma does not pay the bills, and Allie likes those little things in life: food, shelter, utilities. So, when the police ring her up to consult on a run of the mill missing persons case, she jumps at the chance. Unfortunately, the missing persons case turns out to be a lot more than ordinary, and little does Allie know how dangerous it will turn out to be.

Ms. Monk has an entirely original take on magic, and Allie grows tremendously in this 2^nd novel. Magic pervades everything in the world she has built from the power grids (Nicola Tesla would absolutely love this) to the Magical Enforcement Response Corps, MERC, the newest branch of the police force. Devon Monk puts Allie through her paces in Magic in the Blood. You can see this novel in your mind becoming an action flick.

Some of the questions that were raised in the first Allie Beckstrom novel, Magic to the Bone are answered, but like any good action/thriller/urban fantasy, Ms Monk raises more questions to be answered in Magic in the Shadows, due November 3, 2009.

I give Magic in the Blood an Excellent rating. 3.5 stars out of 4.

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Amazon Ink - Lori Devoti

2009-06-08T22:36:00.007-05:00

Meet the Saka’s, a (semi?) normal family by all outward appearances who just happen to be Amazons. There’s Melanippe (Mel), her 14-year-old daughter Harmony, her warrior Mother, and her 500-year-old high priestess grandmother, Bubbe. They all live in a circa 1900’s school that has been converted into a tattoo parlor/home. It’s been 10 years since any of them have had any contact with their Amazonian tribe. Ever since the tribe let Mel down and caused her to leave taking her daughter with her (her Mother and grandmother would soon join her to show their solidarity.) Mel has made a nice living running a tattoo shop in Madison, Wisconsin. However, their absence from the tribe is soon coming to an end.

Someone knows Mel’s secret and has been depositing murdered Amazon girls on her doorstep. She’s moved the bodies afterwards to try and keep her and her family out of it, but someone is sending her a message…a message that frightens Mel to her core for her young, untrained daughter. Before too long the Amazons she wished to avoid are at her home accusing Mel of the murders and the local police have shown up believing she knows more then she’s saying. If Mel cannot find this murderer on her own the Amazons plan on taking their vengeance on her. To do this she will have to embrace the powers she’s shunned for a decade.

I will freely admit that upon reading the back of this book my first thought was, “How cool. What if Wonder Woman left Paradise Island to become a tattoo artist.” That wasn’t the case, but believe it or not, I wasn’t disappointed. Mel is a deeply layered character who continues to surprise throughout this book. Her exchanges with all the other characters in the novel (especially her Mother & Bubbe) make you really respect Ms. Devoti’s talent for dialogue. Now, Mel will never guest star on C.S.I or Law & Order. She’s no sleuth (Mel reacts with her gut throughout), but I actually found this to be more in character. Being an Amazon, no matter where she chooses to live, she would go with her gut rather than search for clues.

Ms. Devoti also does a nice job of making her secondary characters equally interesting. With the male tattoo artist and police detective she walks a tightrope of making them alpha males, but not overly domineering. With Zery, the Amazon Queen, she puts in a great back-story of clues about who she is to Mel all the way up to her introduction.

Mixing myth and modern day is no mean feat, but Ms. Devoti does so with ease. All in all Lori Devoti makes her way through the forest that is Urban Fantasy and does so completely unscathed. I’ve heard that the next the series should arrive in 2010, but this first outing will make you wish it were sooner.

Amazon Ink receives 3 out of 4 stars.

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Skin Trade – Anita Blake Bk 17 – Laurell K. Hamilton

2009-06-05T21:04:00.008-05:00

Anita Blake sits at her desk at Animators Inc., early in the day, before ever seeing any clients, opening her mail only to make a grisly discovery. Mixed in amongst her parcels is a decapitated head, wrapped in plastic and packed on ice, with a return address to Sin City, Las Vegas, NV. Calling the Las Vegas Sheriff’s Department immediately to report her find she is told that the news is worse. There’s been a slaughter of several of the city’s SWAT operators and the town’s vampire executioner who was also a federal Marshall. Where this has happened, written in the dead men's blood on the wall is a message. A message to U.S. Marshall Anita Blake that reads, “Tell Anita Blake I’ll be waiting for her.”

So begins the 17th novel in Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series, Skin Trade. Going back to a place that the character hasn’t been in a while. Anita Blake wears her U.S. Marshall hat through out this book. She knows this is nothing more than a trap, but she must go anyway. However, she’s heartened to know that she won’t have to go alone. Reports of the massacre have gone out to all the western states U.S. Marshalls in the Preternatural branch. Luckily for Anita this would include Edward aka U.S. Marshall Ted Forester aka Death amongst the vampire community, as well as two other Marshalls.

Anita also realises that going to Vegas presents problems all on its own even without the trap. Max, the vampire Master of the City and his wife, Chang-Bibiana, Queen of the white weretigers, have wanted to get Anita to their city since the events of Blood Noir and the manipulations to Anita caused by Marmee Noir, the Mother of All Vampires.

Anita knows who has sent her the wretched present. It has to be Vittorio, serial killer and Master vampire, as well as “the one that got away.” Anita is prepared to go to any lengths to put this age old killer down, and she vows that he will not, must not escape this time. Those around her wonder if in her zeal, will Anita wind up destroying herself in the process.

I need to make it clear that Skin Trade is my favourite Anita Blake novel in quite some time. Just like with my review of Swallowing Darkness, the last Meredith Gentry novel, I was to the point with the 2 series that I could wait until the books were in paperback, but LKH changed that with this novel. By toning down the gratuitous sex and amping up the action and suspense LKH has penned a winner with Skin Trade. If you read LKH for the romance/sex you won’t be disappointed either. LKH does a balancing act that has been missing from her past few novels and reminds everyone of just what a talented storyteller she is.

Skin Trade’s pacing is phenomenal. Yet again, putting this book down will be a Herculean feat. I reckon that like me, most people will devour this novel in one sitting. You will not be disappointed buying this book in hard bound.

Skin Trade receives a Classic rating from me, 4 out of 4 stars.

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Demon Mistress - Otherworld Bk 6 - Yasmine Galenorn

2009-06-02T01:07:00.007-05:00

The three D'Artigo sisters are back. Part Human/part Fae, and agents of the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. Camille, the eldest is the witch with the unpredictable powers, Delilah is the shapeshifter, and Menolly, the acrobat and vampire is the main focus of Demon Mistress.

Menolly is the bar manager of the Wayfarer. While cleaning with Iris they uncover the diary of an elf bartender who's disappeared. This then leads Menolly to find a ghoul in her woods. She knows that a ghoul equals a necromancer. It turns out there's a geek fraternity out there summoning demons, ghouls and trying to win Lord Shadow Wing's favour!

I discovered Yasmine Galenorn's Otherworld series with Darkling (book 3) which helps when reading Demon Mistress. Menolly's dark history is explored along with her struggles to overcome it. You can read Demon Mistress without the aid of the previous books, but I don't recommend it. Too many questions will remain unanswered for you.

The Otherworld series, and Demon Mistress is no exception, is what I consider Urban Romantic Fantasy. The relationships are intricate and visceral. You won't find a problem seeing the history (and present) of the sisters in your mind. Menolly is the focus, but Camille and Delilah's relationships with their partners is explored. Amazingly (for a series of books) you will find yourself with a sense of completion in Demon Mistress while still having expectations of the next in the series, Bone Magic.

Galenorn has created a universe of her own and takes you along for the ride. Galenorn pulls no punches in this latest of the Otherworld series. Demon Mistress is a wonderful addition and I am constantly amazed with Galenorn's ability to expand to this universe. Yasmine Galenorn receives my ultimate compliment to an author, she's a consummate storyteller.

Demon Mistress gets a Classic from me. 4 out of 4 stars. Highly recommended.

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Kiss & Hell - Dakota Cassidy

2009-06-01T23:23:00.005-05:00

Delaney Markham is a medium. The talking to dead people type, not her size. What do you do to make ends meet and support yourself (and your equally sensitive six dogs) when ghosts are constantly talking to you? You charge $800 for seances or that's the plan. At least it is until an unwanted, yet attractive, ghost starts to crash them.

The ghost in this case is actually a demon by the name of Clyde Atwell. A demon library clerk. He's been sent by the devil to make Delaney's life difficult. He would quit his assignment, even though he'd burn for eternity, but he seems to have fallen in love with Delaney. Add to that the fact that he's unsure how he wound up in Hell in the first place, and it soon becomes apparent that there's more to Clyde then meets the eye.

This is a fun summer read. Delaney is fun and funny. Despite the fact that with her "gift" she can't seem to have any kind of relationship. With the exception of her nice demon friend Marcella. A Spanish spitfire who will do anything to help Delaney out.

Dakota Cassidy is a master (mistress?) at laugh out loud funny. Right up there with MaryJanice Davidson, read this book in public at your own risk. If you don't mind people looking at you like you're insane, you'll be fine. Sharp and sarcastic the plot will sneak up on you. This book is recommended especially if you want a break from your Urban Fantasy always being so serious.

Kiss & Hell gets an Excellent. 3 1/2 out of 4 stars.

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Eve of Destruction - Marked Bk 2 - S.J. Day

2009-05-29T15:31:00.005-05:00

Evangeline "Eve" Hollis is back in the 2nd Marked novel, Eve of Destruction. She only thought things were rough in the 1st of the series, Eve of Darkness, but now she's off to boot camp. You see, Eve still hasn't really been taught how to kill Infernals (not that this fact has stopped her) yet. So, along with 8 other Marked Novices Eve is off to an abandoned military base to train to become a full fledged Mark. It may turn out to be the longest week of Eve's life.

The Novices begin to drop one by one and Eve begins to search for the killer hidden amongst them. Be it a traitor or Infernal. Add to this fact that the cable TV brand of ghost hunters chooses this week to investigate the military base and suddenly the entire Mark system is in danger. Eve struggles with keeping the "paranormal researchers" alive while keeping the Mark system quiet.

Eve becomes the de facto leader of the remaining Novices by the simple fact that she is the most experienced. Cain (her mentor) and Abel (her boss) are on separate assignments, and are not around to help her this time. If Eve wishes to get out of this week alive then she's going to have to put down this new threat and get as many of the others out as possible.

Ms. Day gets the first thing for me right in a sequel. She allows her heroine to grow while at the same time not letting her do anything out of character from the 1st novel. Eve is a truly wonderful character. Just when you think that all of the heroines for urban fantasy must be assembled in some factory along pops Eve Hollis.

You'll also be glad to know that the kernel that Ms. Day revealed in Eve of Darkness that the eternal struggle may not be as simple as good vs. evil is further explored. Plus, the growth and where she leads the love triangle between Eve, Alec Cain and Reed Abel is almost worth the ride alone in these books.

S.J. Day brings the best thing and author can to the urban fantasy genre, something new. I, for one, cannot wait for the release of Eve of Chaos. You'll find yourself turning page after page. While every novel comes to an end it also lets you in on the beginning of the next novel. Just to ensure you mark the next release date on your calender. Eve of Destruction gets 3.75 stars out of 4.

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Eve of Darkness - Marked Bk 1 - S.J. Day

2009-05-27T03:26:00.005-05:00

Looking for a new twist on one of the very oldest stories? Perhaps just something different from your regular urban fantasy novels this summer? Then I give you author S.J. Day's Eve of Darkness, Book 1 of the Marked series...

Evangeline "Eve" Hollis was a good girl who knew what she wanted and what she didn't by the time she was eighteen. She's still pure of body (and mostly of mind) and wanting to stay that way for the foreseeable future, but all that changes when she sees the tall, dark, stranger on the Harley outside the ice cream shop where she works. His name turns out to be Alec Cain, and he becomes her first, her best and the only lover she still dreams about almost a decade later. Until a liaison in a stairwell with a man who reminds her so much of Cain that she finds herself unable to resist. This leads to her being branded with a triquetra, and becoming the newest bone of contention in the oldest sibling rivalry.

Cain reappears in Eve's life after a decade to become her mentor in this new world she's been thrust into. Eve, a self confessed agnostic, has found out that the brand on her deltoid is the actual Mark of Cain and that she is now a bounty hunter for God. Being marked a sinner Eve is being given a chance to work for her redemption. That work involves the hunting of Infernals (demons, dragons, werewolfs & others). Unknown to her is that she is not only a hunter of these Infernals, but is equally hunted by them. Handing out her assignments in this new life is angel (hoping to soon be promoted to Arcangel) Reed Abel. Being hunted from the start, Eve must learn how to kill if she wishes to stay alive and to save an immortal soul she didn't ever think existed.

Day manages to hit all the right notes of an urban fantasy heroine making her smart, sarcastic and at times funny, but also adds to her as well. Eve isn't a loner and has a pretty nice life (which she really wants back) before all of this befalls her. The intelligence helps quite a bit since she has to absorb so much so fast. From having to learn the hierarchy of Heaven where Arcangels are the top of the food chain and the Marked are the lowest to her actually "learning" about Cain and Abel.

Alec Cain is the quintessential bad boy (and basically sex walking to Eve) while Reed Abel is the straight arrow who desires Eve as well. Day takes a few chapter and verses from Genesis and begins to weave her own mythos from there. You are immediately thrown into the story from chapter one, but how Eve was Marked is explained subsequently. Day builds Eve's story well from the beginning which gets you good and hooked and reading well past your bedtime. This is a novel you can definitely read in one sitting because the complexity of the plot keeps you turning pages and reading more needing to know what happens next. Eve of Darkness holds your attention and doesn't let go.

On a personal note, as one of the few male reviewers of this genre, can I just say how well Day handles the sex scenes in this novel? As someone who's skipped whole chapters in past UF novels because the sex scenes were so mechanical and boring, I was completely drawn into Day's writing style. Very visceral, very real and very steamy.

Thankfully Eve of Darkness is already in bookstores. Day will also release two more Marked novels this summer, Eve of Destruction on June 2nd and Eve of Chaos on June 30th. If you thought this was a trilogy, you're mistaken. Day has assured us that there are more Marked novels to come and I for one am grateful. I give Eve of Darkness 3.5 Stars out of 4.

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Black And White – Bk 1 of The Icarus Project - by Jackie Kessler & Caitlin Kitteredge

2009-05-22T22:12:00.011-05:00

In the year 2102, there were two girls who went to an elite school for superheroes called “The Academy.” Joannie “Jet” Greene whose powers are controlling and creating shadows and Callie “Iridium” Bradford who has light based powers. Black and white, right? Light and darkness, yin and yang, how could they ever become friends? Due to a room assignment in their second year, they do.

By 2112, 5 years since graduating from “The Academy,” (a place owned and controlled by the Corp who train all superheroes) Jet and Iridium have gone from best friends to worst of enemies. Jet being the corporate poster girl of New Chicago and Iridium becoming the protector of Wreck City (aka New Chicago, Grid 16.) Little does either of them know that they’re working the same case from opposite sides. A case with roots that go back almost a decade, when they were only pre-teen roommates at The Academy. A conspiracy that neither of them realizes revolves around Jet.

The tagline for the novel is: “The line between superhero and supervillian has never been thinner…” I believe it should be revised to: The line between mainstream hero and anti-hero has never been thinner. In Black and White Jackie Kessler writes Jet, the mainstream hero and Caitlin Kittredge writes the bad girl, anti-hero Iridium. As a rule I’m generally leery when it comes to co-authored pieces because you can generally “hear” when one author is writing and when the other is. But, not since Good Omens by Gaiman and Pratchett has a co-authored novel come across as seamless as Black and White does.

You can tell the Fangirl love that went into Black and White. Ms’ Kessler and Kittredge know their superhero comics. From a misunderstanding leading the two heroes to fight one another to the “Bwahahaha” at the end of the novel a la’ Kieth Giffen’s Justice League of America. Please don’t just think that this is just a comic book in novel form. Kessler & Kittredge blend elements of romance and mystery into this well thought out story as well.

The pacing of Black and White is superb as well. It bounces back and forth between the past and the present, but due to some deft writing never seems to interrupt the flow of the novel. Black and White isn’t just for fans of comics, (even though there are a few inside jokes that only Fanboys and girls will get. Dr Frank Wurtham author of Seduction of the People anyone?) fans of thrillers will end up satisfied as well.

I just can’t believe that I have to wait until July 2010 for the second book, Shades of Gray. Black and White goes on sale June 2nd. It’s well worth preordering. I give Black and White 4 out of 4 stars!

Please Support This Site and Pick Up a Copy Here: Black and White

Please visit Jackie Kessler’s website here.

And Caitlin Kitteredge’s here.

Or The Icarus Project’s website here.

Product Details

* Paperback: 464 pages
* Publisher: Spectra (June 2, 2009)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 055338631X

Stray – Werecats Bk 1 – Rachel Vincent

2009-05-19T19:04:00.005-05:00

Faythe Sanders is a female werecat who’s been attacked by a “stray” while at college. She didn’t like her life being laid out before her (especially with her not having lived it yet) so, she left the protection of her Pride for college and now grad school. Faythe is summoned back to her Pride at the behest of her father, the Alpha. Marc, her ex-fiancé and the Pride’s chief enforcer delivers her father’s message. Along with Faythe’s attack, several other female werecat’s have been attacked and have disappeared from the North American Prides. This isn’t a request, and as much as she doesn’t want to, Faythe finally agrees to return.

She is confined to the ranch her Pride calls home for her own protection. Unfortunately, for her this means that everything she ran away from to go to college is still there to be dealt with. Her family and Pride, her former lover Marc, and ultimately the destiny she is supposed to fulfill. This is all still too much for Faythe and she bolts only to find herself also captured by the stray. Learning the kidnapper’s plans, she must find a way to escape not only for herself, but also for the future of the Pride.

Stray suffers from a problem I seem to find in the majority of the first of a series books, it takes a while to get going. At least a third of the book is setup, explaining what has happened in Faythe’s past to bring her to this point. Fear not because it is all worth it. From her problems with the Pride to her break-up with Marc, it does all coalesce into a fine novel.

I do love my shapeshifter books. Especially when the author brings something new to the table, and I believe Ms. Vincent does. If you’ve ever owned a cat (owned is the wrong word since they tend to choose who they wish to be around the most) or multiple cats, you’ll see the similarities in the Pride’s group dynamics and that of domesticated felines. From Faythe being rebellious and at times selfish to the casual violence sometimes found in the Pride.

If you’ve read and enjoyed Kelley Armstrong’s Bitten then you'll enjoy Stray as well. Stray also possesses a strong female, shapeshifting protagonist and her struggles to find her place back into her Pride. Once Stray finishes with Faythe’s backstory, you’ll find it extremely hard to put down. Ms. Vincent has put quite a bit of thought into the werecat society (plus, the shapeshifting process itself), and you can tell that she has more surprises in store for the readers of future her novels.

I give Stray 3 out of 4 stars. The next book in the Werecats series is Rogue.

Please Support This Site and Pick Up a Copy Here: Stray (Werecats, Book 1)

Please give a visit to Ms. Vincent's website or blog.

· Mass Market Paperback: 624 pages
· Publisher: Mira (June 1, 2007)
· Language: English
· ISBN-10: 0778324214

Night Shift - Jill Kismet BK 1 - Lilith Saintcrow

2009-05-14T02:41:00.006-05:00

First off as small confession, Night Shift is my first Lilith Saintcrow book. I know, I know how can I call myself a preternatural reviewer and I’ve never read any of Saintcrow’s Dante Valentine’s books. Well, I’ll do my best to muddle through and at the same to tell you about one of the most intriguing female protagonist that I’ve had the pleasure to read in quite some time.

Jill Kismet is a Hunter of Hellbreed., those who are the nastiest of the nasty that happen reside here on Earth. More than likely because Hell won’t have them. She’s not just a Hunter, she comes close to almost being an old west peacekeeper. As long as you’re on her planet you’re going to follow the rules or your demon ass will be put down, and hard.

Kismet is new to doing this alone. Her mentor was lost a few months previous and she also carries the mark of a certain Hellbreed upon her. The mark gives her enhanced abilities the only trade off is that this Hellbreed wishes for a few days of her time every month with the end result hopefully being that he owns her soul.

Things are tough, but Jill manages until the day she is called upon to look over the scene of an especially heinous cop killing. A were-wolf was involved in the slaying, but Jill believes that a Hellbreed was pulling his strings. Only one problem with this theory, Weres and Hellbreed do not run in the same circles.

Jill must get to the bottom of this case before the bodies really start to pile up. Unfortunately, both her physical and mental limits are going to be pushed to the breaking point not to mention that she finds her own immortal soul in serious jeopardy.

Night Shift is Ms Saintcrow’s opening novel in her Jill Kismet series. As with the first story in what you know is only the first part in a longer serious, quite a bit of time is spent setting up things and trying to fill in rough sketches of all the supporting characters. I do indeed like what she’s setting up; it’s like jazz with Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker playing the sax. It’s very moody with dark undertones.

Don’t let this frighten you. Saintcrow does not make the mistake of letting the mood ruin or slowdown her story in anyway. Gritty is the best was to describe it. Gritty Noir. Fighting the Hellbreed, Jill must walk the tightrope between using what powers she has sparingly to fight or the arsenal she carries upon her person.

Night Shift, depending upon what Preternatural Books you read, is probably “darker” and more “horrific.”

Night Shift get’s an Excellent, a 3.5 out of 4 Stars from me, and I expect the next will get a four hands down.

Please Support This Site and Pick Up a Copy Here: Night Shift (Jill Kismet Novels)

You can find out more about the other novels of Lilith Saintcrow and read her blog on her website or on Twitter

Her next Jill Kismet Novel is Redemption Alley (Jill Kismet) due August, 09.

Bloodring - Rogue Mage Bk 1 - Faith Hunter

2009-05-13T23:25:00.004-05:00

This debut novel from Ms Hunter (Well, under the Faith Hunter name, more can be found under her Gwen Hunter name) introduces us to Thorn St Croix, a neomage. Set in a post apocalyptic world with only one problem. The second coming has yet to show his or her face. In their stead however are angels called Seraphs who seem to run everything and are bound and determined to punish humanity for their sins.

There also happen to be many devils and demons running about making life even more miserable for the innocents. Not to mention the kylen – offspring of Seraphs and humans, and we remember how well that worked out in the Old testament - and neomages, who are sequestered in their 'havens' or enclaves. Supposedly, for their own good, but mostly because the neomages’ power could upset the delicate balance the Seraphs have in place. However, there is one unlicensed mage who lives amongst the humans, you guessed it, Thorn St Croix, and her husband has recently been abducted. Was it mentioned that the penalty for any neomage found wandering from the enclaves is death?

The kidnapping of Thorn’s husband Lucas is where everything Thorn has worked for may be destroyed. The investigator in charge of the case is a kylen by the name of Thaddeus Bartholomew. The thing is is that Thaddeus is completely ignorant of his heritage. Thorn has little choice but to help Thaddeus if she ever wishes to see her husband again.

For a first novel, plus the obvious beginning of a larger story just starting to unfold, it has very good pacing and a nice storyline. All of that on top of a break neck ending that’s really nicely pulled together it makes Bloodring very worth picking up. For the promise it makes as the first book of the trilogy if for nothing else.

This novel get’s a Good rating: 3 out of 4 Stars from me, simply for being the first in a longer story.

Please Support This Site and Pick Up a Copy Here: Bloodring

Faith Hunter is the author of many mysteries and thrillers under the name Gwen Hunter. Please check out her website.

Her next novel Skinwalker: A Jane Yellowrock Novel is due out July 7th 2009. On a personal note…She’s a real sweetie.

Marked - House of Night - P.C. and Kristin Cast

2009-05-13T16:58:00.005-05:00

This is book one in P.C.& Kristin Cast’s House of Night series, Marked. The title has to do with what happens when a teenager develops a crescent moon mark upon their foreheads. This mark means that the teenager is going to be possibly turning into a vampyre. This happens to the novel’s protagonist, Zoey Redbird. She has been “marked,” or chosen to become a vamprye. Therefore she must leave her hum drum mortal high school and enter, The House of Night, what is basically a finishing school for those who survive the change to become adult vampyres. Not that all of those chosen do make it to adulthood. Sometimes the fledgling's body simply rejects the change, in other words, either the young make it or they die.

For Zoey being marked first truly frightens her. Until she discovers the vampyre Goddess Nyx has also chosen her to become something more than an ordinary fledgling. She enters into The House of Night light years ahead of other fledglings. With powers and abilities that shouldn’t be open to her for years. On the downside, a bloodlust and the ability to “imprint” upon humans (neither of which should be a problem until she’s an adult) keep her wary of these gifts.

When the Mistress of the House discovers her abilities, she is made the leader of the most exclusive group at school, The Dark Daughters. However, not all is as it seems at first glance. Even the ousting of the former leader of The Dark Daughter’s and Zoey's taking her place is called into question.

If there is anything that Neil Gaiman (Coraline, The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish
& The Graveyard Book) and JK Rowling (Harry Potter 1-7) have taught me, it’s to not pay too much attention to a Young Adult label. Stephanie Meyer (Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1)
may be the person responsible for so many vampire novels for YA’s, but I believe Marked is a stand out amongst these. The entire vampire finishing school aspect is new and worth your time to check out.

The Cast’s have several nice spins on the old vampire mythos. Plus, some lovely addition’s of their own. You can tell there are more books in this series by what is revealed and what isn’t, but it doesn’t disappoint. The clues and hints dropped in Marked simply insure that you’ll want Betrayed (House of Night, Book 2) even more. Marked is the beginning of an enjoyable series.

Marked receives a Good rating: 3 out of 4 Stars

Please Support This Site and Pick Up a Copy Here: Marked (House of Night, Book 1)

Make sure to check out Tempted (House of Night Novels) Coming 10-27-09 .Visit P.C. Cast’s website or visit the official website for the House of Night series.

Blood Bound - Mercy Thompson Bk 2 - Patricia Briggs

2009-05-13T14:41:00.005-05:00

Mercy (Mercedes) Thompson is a VW mechanic and a shapeshifter of a sort: she’s a "walker." Walker is short for "skinwalker", which happens to be a Native American shapeshifter. She's also the only one of her kind that she’s ever met. Besides being able to shift into a coyote at will, having a preternatural nose with the abilities to sort scents around her and sense magic, she happens to not be affected by some of the more common vampire magics.

Mercy resides in the same world as you and I with one sharp difference: the general public is aware of supernaturals. While that category is broad and includes shapeshifters (walkers and werewolves), vampires, demons, and witches, the lesser fae were the only group known. These fae were in fact revealed by their own "Grey Lords" years previous, and recently the werewolves have followed suit.

Mercy happens to owe her vampire friend Stefan (head vampire in the Scooby-Doo fan club) a favour or two. Stefan keeps her abilities a secret from the other vampires in his seethe in exchange for work on his VW Bus and other things. He asks Mercy to sit in on a meeting, in coyote form, with an out-of-town vampire who has yet to pay his respects to Marsilia, the head of his seethe.

The only thing Mercy scents during the meeting is vampire, recent death and the fear radiating off Stefan. Stefan, who has been around since the Renaissance and is one of his mistress’s head lieutenants, is not one to frighten easily. Although, in this case, his fear happens to be understandable because this is no ordinary vampire. His name is Corey Littleton and he happens to be ridden by a demon.

Blood Bound is the second book in Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson series. With all of the groundwork that Ms. Briggs laid out in Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1), she has the time and space for a complete thrill ride in Blood Bound. This novel is one you’ll need to strap yourself in for because it’s going to be hard for you to put down. While not needing to read Moon Called before diving into Blood Bound, it will help. This is my second read-thru of the series and it’s so enjoyable to see all of the fine nuisances that Ms. Briggs includes in her novels. Seeing the pieces of her tapestry in their genesis and knowing what they will become never fails to bring a smile to my face.

Patricia Briggs is one of the stellar talents in fantasy. Not just paranormal, she can run the entire gambit in fantasy. I look forward to and value each and every one of her novels and know, with complete confidence, that they can be purchased at the date of release in hardbound. If you are looking for an enjoyable new series to start, the Mercy Thompson series is one I would recommend with all of my reviewer’s heart.

Blood Bound rightfully receives A Classic rating, 4 out of 4 Stars.

Please Support This Site and Pick Up a Copy Here: Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson, Book 2)

Please check out Ms. Briggs website.

Agents of Light and Darkness, The Nightside bk 2, Simon R. Green

2009-05-01T17:02:00.004-05:00

Like film noir? Well, how about neon noir? This is the world of the Nightside. The dark reflection of London. Where all your dreams and desires, virtues and vice, damnation and enlightenment can be found, for a price. This is also where PI, of a sort, John Taylor has been recently called back to. Taylor isn't like the PI's you're used to, he's only good at one thing...finding anything...especially if those things don't wish to be found. He uses his third eye, his private eye to see things that others can't or have the good sense not to look for. It's the one useful gift he got from his mother.

The mother that he's never known anything about except that when his father found out she wasn't human, he killed himself by inches with a bottle. The mother that he's been told that if he goes looking for her could bring about the ruination of the world. Not just the Nightside, but the entire world.

Agents of Light and Darkness (Nightside, Book 2) begins in a church of all places. Not that places of worship are that hard to find in the Nightside. Just stroll down The Street of the Gods and you can't swing a dead cat without hitting one. This church however is nowhere near there probably because it's the only church in the Nightside. This church is older then the Street of the Gods, older then the Time Tower, even older then Strangefellows, the oldest pub in the world. The church is St. Jude's even older than Christianity itself. Dedicated to the patron saint of lost causes, and if there was ever a more fitting saint for the Nightside no one's thought them up yet.

This time Taylor's PI, white knight persona is going to send him on a quest. A grail quest to be exact. Oh no, sorry, not that one. Not the one that Christ drank from at the last supper. The un-holy grail. The cup used by Judas Iscariot which can bring ultimate power with the only cost being ultimate damnation. It seems that if this cup is found by the wrong players a little something called Armageddon will happen. Taylor is commissioned by the Vatican itself, and he figures, "How hard could it be?"

Hard. Quite a number of angels are in search of the cup. From both sides of Light and Dark. The only thing they have in common is their equal disdain for humans. Add to the fact that Taylor can't use his gift without said angels swooping in and and trying to kill him, he reckons some help is needed.

He calls on Suzie Shooter, also known as Shotgun Suzie, and Oh God It's Her Run! As well as Razor Eddie, Punk God of the Straight Razor. With a little help from Alex Morrissey, descendant of Uther Pendragon (On the wrong side of the sheets) and Merlin Satanspawn who is buried in the cellar of the pub Alex owns, Strangefellows.

Oh, and there's also the Speaking Gun. The only weapon ever made that can harm angels.

With dark humour and deft writing Green begins to show the larger story he's telling here. The secondary characters begin to get a back story and the tale of who is John Taylor's mother unfolds. This is a wonderful second novel in the series, and brings us firmly back to the Nightside. Where the laws of physics not to mention reality aren't laws so much as suggestions.

Welcome back.

Agents of Light and Darkness (Nightside, Book 2) receives a rating of Excellent, 3.5 Star out of 4

Please Support This Site and Pick Up a Copy Here: Agents of Light and Darkness (Nightside, Book 2)

Moon Called - Mercy Thompson Bk 1, Patricia Briggs

2009-04-28T20:57:00.005-05:00

Mercy (Mercedes) Thompson is a mechanic who specializes in German automobiles (because if your name is Mercedes, you’re either a trust fund baby or you fix Bavarian cars). She lives in the Tri-Cites of Richland, Pasco and Kennewick at the neck of the Snake and Columbia rivers in Washington State and just happens to be a "skinwalker" capable of changing into a coyote with a preternatural nose for magic and scenting other creatures.

In a world that is aware of the existence of lesser fae, but unaware of vampires and werewolves (or shapechangers) Mercy is very firmly in the closet. The magical beings that are known live out their lives on reservations, and the werewolves in the nation are on the verge of making themselves known if they can figure out how to "come out’" on their terms.

Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1) begins with a young werewolf named Mac asking Mercy for a job. Knowing she should send him on his way but feeling sorry for him, Mercy gives him one. Mac has apparently escaped from a lab where he was being experimented upon. The laboratory wants him back and sends men to retrieve him. After Mercy kills one of these men, she knows that the only person who can help Mac is her next-door neighbour, Adam, who’s the local werewolf Alpha.

Mercy must go to Montana after finding a surprise on her doorstep and barely saving a severely beaten Adam. Adam’s fifteen-year-old daughter has been kidnapped, but before searching for her, Mercy knows that the only place Adam can be healed is in the hands of the werewolf clan that raised her: the clan of the Marrok, the Alpha of all North American werewolves, and where her first love Samuel is.

Ms. Briggs's humour is what keeps this story from falling into the trap of being bogged down in the shear numbers of supernatural creatures in Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1). The story is laid out well but is complex, nevertheless. You can definitely tell that there are more books in the series from the amount of story that is introduced in the first Mercy Thompson book. Ms. Briggs deftly transports you from scene to scene, and how smoothly she accomplishes this shows you what talented storyteller she is.

Fans of Sookie Stackhouse, novels will enjoy these books. Not only for their supernatural-meeting-the-real-world roots, but also for the humour shared between the two. This opening novel in the series has something for every fan of Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance genre: Supernaturals (Skinwalkers, Werewolves, Vampires, Witches, heh…Gremlins), beginnings of a love triangle (Mercy/Adam/Samuel) and a plucky heroine (with the best tattoos in the genre).

If you’re looking for a great series to start, (and a personal favourite) Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1) is for you. With the release of book four, the Mercy Thompson series shows no signs of stopping.

Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1) rightfully receives a Classic rating from me: 4 out of 4 Stars.

Ms. Briggs second book in her Alpha & Omega series Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega, Book 2) is due August 2009.

Please make sure to visit her website.

Something From the Nightside - The Nightside, Book 1 - Simon R. Green

2009-04-28T00:50:00.001-05:00

John Taylor (No, not the bassist for Duran Duran) is a down on his luck private eye. Well, a private eye of a sort. By the his own admission, he wouldn't know a clue if he tripped over one. He doesn't do divorces, insurance work or solve crimes. His knack is the ability to find anyone or anything...for the right price. He's been called a warlock and a magus, a con man and a trickster, and an honest rogue. Clients come to him only when they've exhausted the police and every other investigative agency.

Something from the Nightside (Nightside, Book 1) begins when the very rich, Joanna Barrett walks into his office with a case, to find her missing daughter, Catherine. One of the investigators she hired previously, the same who supplied Taylor's name, says that she can be found in the one place Taylor vowed he'd never go again. The Nightside.

The Nightside is the hidden dark heart of London. The official maps say the Nightside is only a square mile of narrow streets and back alleys. The truth of the matter is that the Nightside is the dark reflection of London and is quite a bit bigger. Holding all of the darkness and evil, the strange and unexpected, it dwarfs London proper. Coupled with those facts and that it's always three AM there, the Nightside is an apropos name on many levels.

Green begins his Nightside series here. Pushing his protagonist (hero isn't quite the word for John Taylor) back to the city of darkness that he grew up in and left to have a normal life. Well, that reason and the numerous assassination attempts upon his person. The majority of the denizens of the Nightside want him dead or worse, and always remember there are much worse things that can happen to you besides just dying there. He remembers that in that dark place you can buy or sell anything for the right price. Those memories course through his own nightmares still. Want to see a fallen angel burning inside of a pentacle of baby's blood? Perhaps a goat's head telling your future in iambic pentameter? How about a dead nun who will show you her stigmata wounds (if you have enough money you can even stick your finger in the holes)? Everything ever feared or dreamed in your darkest nightmares resides here.

Simon Green brings a wholly dark, terrifying and wonderful world to life in Something from the Nightside (Nightside, Book 1). The cast of characters are fully fleshed out and as real as they can be. You'll find yourself falling in love with the darkness that pervades here. It all begins here. Against all your better judgment you'll find yourself not wanting to leave and needing to know what happens next.

This is the first in the Nightside series, and consider yourself lucky that there are 8 more for you to read when it ends. Green's Nightside series begs for a movie version or perhaps a trade paperback. One might even go so far as to say they're Taylor made.

All of your nightmares live here, and they want you back.

Something from the Nightside (Nightside, Book 1) receives an Excellent rating, 3.5 out of 4 Stars but only because this is just the beginning of the tale.