Showing posts with label Diana Rowland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diana Rowland. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Best of Paranormal/Urban Fantasy - 2009

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.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Mark of the Demon - Book One - Diana Rowland

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 TourTM'. 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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