The Spinecracker

It's not you... it's us

2011-10-03T16:50:00.000-07:00

September. Yeah, about that...

We swear; Nina and I are still here and still reading, but the month completely ran away from us. (including a weekend of fun together...see butt bombed photo for proof)

We'll be back in October! But to get you up to speed, here's what we read in September.

Jess:
Stormwalker by Allyson James
Aftermath by Ann Aguirre
Blood Rights by Kristen Painter (review coming)
Spider's Revenge by Jennifer Estep (review coming)
Hunted by The Others by Jess Haines
Shadow Kin by MJ Scott

Nina:
Downside Ghosts 1, 2 & 3 by Stacia Kane (post coming)
Downpour by Kat Richardson
First Grave on the Right & Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones

Fill us in on your month! What was your favorite book? What have we missed?

And because we're ridiculous... mustaches!

The Sound

2011-08-30T08:07:00.000-07:00

I love music. Always have. I like scouring the web looking for and listening to all the new sounds artists put out. I'm constantly amazed by it. Here's what this month sounds like...

**I never ever EVER steal from artists (bands or authors). Everything posted here is either a free download provided by the band or from my personal music library**

There's a new Converse "3-bands-1-song" track out recently and it's pretty catchy. The song features Matt & Kim, Soulja Boy, and Andrew W. K. this time around. It'll be interesting to see who they put together next.

"I'm a Goner"

In case you haven't seen it, here's the video for the last track "My Drive Thru" featuring Julian Casablancas, Pharrell, and Santogold.

Produced By Pharrell - Santogold, Julian Casablancas, N.E.R.D.

My Drive Thru | Myspace Music Videos

So since we're discussing collaborations, there's been talk about a Justin Vernon, James Blake project for a few months. The first track was aired on BBC 1 last week. The track is available for download via iTunes, but I've just yet to download it... I will. You should too.

"Fall Creek Boys Choir"

There's a new supergroup out featuring Ryan Kattner (Man Man), Nick Thornburn (Islands), & Joe Plummer (Modest Mouse) called MISTER HEAVENLY. So, is it completely cliche to say "they make beautiful music together"? Well, they do.

"Bronx Sniper"

Remember when you watched Crazy Heart a couple years ago and you were blown away at the sheer awesomeness that is Jeff Bridges, well you weren't the only one. There's been a lot of talk about him recording for real, and this month he released his album. From what I've sampled it's a good mix of folk and country. Not a complete home run, but pretty solid.

"Falling Short"

My month would not be complete without a synth-pop track. This one has burrowed in my brain and made a nice little home for itself. PICTUREPLANE'S album Thee Physical is so good. The album is still streamable by visiting the website.

"Real is a Feeling"

Port O'Brien's Van Pierszalowski has another band called WATERS, which I'm just hearing. The band's new album Out in The Light is releasing in Sept so of course there are a couple teaser tracks out. I like. I like very much!

"O Holy Break of Day"

"For The One"

I just can't help myself from liking this track from THE BRIGHT LIGHT SOCIAL HOUR. I know it's glorified pop. I know i'm gonna here it in a hybrid car commercial in 6 months, but by god, I can't help myself.

"Back and Forth"

I hate to play favorites, but I'm 'bout to. My favorite new band of the moment is WE ARE AUGUSTINES. I heard one track somewhere and went straight away to purchase Rise Ye Drunken Ships. I really really hope you'll do the same thing. The guy's voice is absolutely amazing. Here's a track and a video... because yeah I love them THAT much.

"Book of James"

"Chapel Song"

We Are Augustines "Chapel Song" from Matthew Mills on Vimeo.

Early Review: The Renfield Syndrome

2011-08-22T07:29:00.000-07:00

J.A. Saare
Urban Fantasy
Rhiannon's Law #2
Mundania Press

Synopsis:

Vampires, and werewolves, and demons, oh my.
Rhiannon thought facing off against a deranged child vampire was the most dangerous task she would ever have to undertake, but she’s about to discover making a deal with a demon is far, far worse. Sent forward into another reality, one in which vampires are now dominating nearly extinct humans, she realizes the sooner she returns to her vampire lover, Disco, the better.

Unfortunately, time changes a lot of things, including those most trusted around her. When she’s faced with a loss and betrayal unlike any she has ever known, her focus shifts from severing the debt between the demon that wants to kill her, to exacting a revenge that will bring forth consequences she never could have fathomed. By reaching out to the darkness lingering within her, she’ll find the strength to push forward despite the circumstances that would see her dead and buried.

After all, when it’s all said and done, all that she has left to lose is her soul.

Review:

I just told author JA Saare she deserves a soap box and a bullhorn so that she can proudly say “Listen up, this is how you write a Book2 for a series". And I meant it. No, set-up-to-make-book-3-the-shit, here. This book is solid and unique on it’s own, and all-together made of awesome. Fans of the series will not be dissapointed. The plot was absolutely non-stop, and the characters continue to be larger than the pages allow.

The plot was intense. And I loved it! Rhiannon is plopped in the future (101 years to be exact) and she’s left scrambling to figure out how the hell she’s going to get herself back to the world she knows...if she even can. The action, the new characters, and the mix-ups that transpire leave it nearly impossible to put the book down. And as much as I'd like to explain just how much takes place, and hint at what that could mean for the rest of the series, I wouldn’t dream of discussing the plot because I think it’s better experienced without any expectations. I will say though, Urban Fantasy fans will love Saare’s alternate version of the future. Its a mash-up between The Road and Mad Max, but original in its own right. And I’ll just say, I really really really hope our future doesn’t look like that.

Rhiannon still manages to grow as a character even though the book picks up exactly where the last one left off. She’s never needed to toughen up, she’s got that in spades, but this time around she knows exactly what she wants and she will fight tooth and nail to get it. It brings her to a whole new level of bad-ass. So when she makes comments like, “...my trip was about more than what I wanted: it was about facing the things that scared me, looking them in the eye, and telling them to back the fuck off” you feel her conviction. She remains one of my the toughest UF heroines I’ve ever read.

Bottom Line: I couldn't have asked for a better follow-up! I continue to classify this series as one of my favorite under-rated UF series out there.

5 stars

Nina Talks BAD Covers

2011-08-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

As a reader I see quite a few book covers. Some are amazing. Breath-taking even. And some are… well… not so great. This post is dedicated to the fabulously flawed book covers that are out there.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked down the isle at the bookstore or browsed Goodreads only to roll my eyes and think “Oh. Ya. There’s no way real men look like that!” or “Wait! Now I need eye bleach!” The bad covers are not limited to any one specific genre either. Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Romance, and Horror all suffer from the affliction.

Keep in mind that the authors usually have no influence in the cover. So, cheese ball art design in no way reflects the quality of the story between the covers. I’ve found that covers can miss the mark for several reasons; Bad CG art, ridiculous unnaturally ripped men, and what-were-they-thinking/how-would-that-ever-be-a-good-idea!? With that said, prepare to be amazed.

Muscles on Muscles:

Target Acquired!

I didn't realize a 24 pack was possible.

Oooooh! How many push ups can you do?

WTF?!:

Stir Until Confused? No need. I’m already there!

How is the view from up there?

This chicken can’t cross the road. HE’S ON A LEASH!

Animal Armageddon:

My pet Polar Bear

::Queue Ariel’s voice:: "Aahhhh ah aaaaaaahhhhhhh..."

How does an electrified cross-eyed cat contribute enough to the story to earn a cover spot?

Special Mention:

This one was ridiculous enough to deserve a make over. I’m confused. Horse or primate? And how is one better than the other?

I’ve showed you mine. Now show me yours. I would LOVE to see some that you have come across!

Winner Winner

2011-08-11T10:27:00.000-07:00

The winner of Sherrilyn Kenyon's latest release, Retribution, is:

ALICIA0605

Congrats Alicia! Please email me thespinecracker(at)gmail(dot)com as soon as possible with your snail mail address. You have 24hrs to email me before I must re-draw.

I Can Haz A Break?

2011-08-08T07:20:00.000-07:00

I'm exhausted. Between the new job with a completely new schedule, and preparing for the bachelorette party, this past week was insane. And I had zero free time to myself. I think I read 25 pages of a book, all week long.

I need a break. I'm going to take this week off from blogging, and hopefully come back next week refreshed & revived. I will figure out how to juggle it all.... just not this week.

** I'll still be posting the winner of Retribution on Wednesday**

Ready for Some Retribution?

2011-08-03T06:57:00.000-07:00

The next addition to the Dark Hunter series, Retribution, released yesterday. But in case you've yet to grab your copy, you're in luck. Zeitghost Media is giving away a copy here, at TheSpinecracker.

Check out the awesome trailer, and then scroll below for giveaway details.

Enter the giveaway by telling me who your favorite Dark Hunter character is in the comment section below.

US and CAN only
Contest Ends next Tuesday August 9th at Midnight (pst)
Winner will be announced the next day on this site, so be sure to check back.
Winner will be chosen using Random.org & will need to contact me if selected. If the winner does not contact me in 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Nina Reviews: Ghost Story

2011-08-02T07:02:00.000-07:00

Jim Butcher
481 pages
Urban Fantasy
The Dresden Files #13
ROC

Synopsis:
When we last left the mighty wizard detective Harry Dresden, he wasn't doing well. In fact, he had been murdered by an unknown assassin.

But being dead doesn't stop him when his friends are in danger. Except now he has nobody, and no magic to help him. And there are also several dark spirits roaming the Chicago shadows who owe Harry some payback of their own.

To save his friends-and his own soul-Harry will have to pull off the ultimate trick without any magic...

Review:
I really don’t even know where to begin. I suppose I could start at WOW. And THANK YOU JIM BUTCHER! I finished the story in the morning, right before I had to run to work. (Yes RUN. I was late because of my refusal to put the book down.) So, I didn’t have any decompression time to stew over the happenings, and come to a conclusion. I found myself thinking about the story all day at work. I wanted to explore it deeper and discuss it with my fellow Dresden addicts. I wanted to read it again. Immediately. It’s very rare that I finish a book and am devastated that it's over. But this is one of those times.

I don’t want to talk story line too much and spoil it. Besides, there are way too many plot twists to mention here. It would take all day. During the course of this read I cried (certainly a few Kleenex moments), laughed uncontrollably, and had some WTF!? thoughts. There were a few parts when I shouted “I KNEW IT!!!” and promptly texted my read-a-long buddy to exclaim my amazing foresight. I was quickly forced to send a follow up message stating that I was out smarted by a plot twist.

Ghost Story, like the 3 books prior to it, are much darker than the rest of the series. While Changes was emotionally draining and heart wrenching, Ghost Story has a melancholy tone brought on by characters reminiscing bittersweet memories. Some of the recollections provide valuable back-story, while others make you feel lucky to know these amazing characters. When Harry is re-living his memories, it made me feel lucky for my friends and the people who care about me. It also made me feel a deeper connection to Harry.

After finishing a book, I often sit and think if there was anything out of place that didn’t belong; if I would add or remove anything. In thinking about it this time around, I loved the plot, tone, and character development. And do you know what? I wouldn’t change a thing.

5 Stars

I Double-Dog Dare You...

2011-08-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

One day on Twitter I noticed one of my favorite new authors, Jenn Benett author of Kindling the Moon, talking about how fantastic a historical romance novel was. I struck up a conversation that started "I don't get it. What's so great about historical romances?" By the end of the conversation we'd decided that she would pick my DARE book this month, and she would make it goooood.

Jenn Bennett:

Okay, so I've been thinking about my dare for you, the historical romance, and I've decided on a pick: The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne. It's an engrossing story about two rival spies during the Napoleonic wars, full of twists and turns, and action. The writing is spectacular; at times it blew my mind. The author has created two extremely strong leads, and their story isn't sweet and light, but rather rough and unapologetic. I thought it was pretty freaking brilliant. The lovely and very witty Carolyn Crane (MIND GAMES, DOUBLE CROSS) recommended it to me recently, and she was spot-on about this book breaking the mold. I hope you like it!

Thank you Jenn, I accept!

Joanna Bourne

400 pages

Synopsis:

She's braved battlefields. She's stolen dispatches from under the noses of heads of state. She's played the worldly courtesan, the naïve virgin, the refined British lady, even a Gypsy boy. But Annique Villiers, the elusive spy known as the Fox Cub, has finally met the one man she can't outwit...

British spymaster Robert Grey must enter France and bring back the brilliant, beautiful-and dangerous-Fox Cub. His duty is to capture her and her secrets for England. When the two natural enemies are thrown into prison, they forge an uneasy alliance to break free. But their pact is temporary and betrayal seems inevitable as the fates of nations hang in the balance.

DARE Review: Happy Hour of the Damned

2011-07-29T08:50:00.000-07:00

Mark Henry
Urban Fantasy
294 pages
Amanda Feral #1
Kensington Books

Synopsis:
Donuts are deadly. One minute you’re getting your binge on, the next, you’re slipping on the box, cracking your skull, and in the weirdest turn of events, rising as a zombie. That’s just for starters. Now, the recently deceased Amanda Feral is trying to make her way through Seattle’s undead scene with style (mortuary-grade makeup, six inch stilettos, bangin’ Balenciaga handbag) while satisfying a craving for decent vodkatinis and the occasional human flesh—Don’t judge. And no, not like chicken. Navigating a dangerous world of cloud-doped bloodsuckers, reapers, horny and horned devils, celebrity blood donors, and PR-obsessed shapeshifters—not to mention an extremely hot bartender named Ricardo—isn’t easy. And the minute one of Amanda’s undead friends disappears after texting for “help” (the undead—so dramatic!) she knows the afterlife is about to get really ugly. Something sinister is at hand. Someone or something is hellbent on turning Seattle’s supernatural underworld into a place of true terror. And this time, Amanda may meet a fate a lot worse than donuts…

Review:
I've never meet a zombie like Amanda Feral. Come to think of it, I've never meet a literary character quite like Amanda Feral. She constantly surprised me by spouting raunchy jokes with her sharp attitude one minute, while the next minute she's risking herself for the people she cares about. It's a unique combination. Even as interesting as she was, I didn't become as attached to her as I would have hoped. She made me snort a lot though, and I couldn't count how many times I said "I can't believe she said that; Can't believe she did that" as my evil side snickered in glee.

The story has several side characters each just as surprising, and just as over the top as our lead ghoul. The plot is entertaining and never stops, and lands our characters in a mess of complications. But the most unique part of the book is the story's delivery. I can honestly say, I've never seen anything else like it. It's written as a memoir or diary of sorts, but with hilarious footnotes and interjections from the main character after the fact. It helped remind that this story is funny and entertaining even while our heroine is being chased by the devil.

Bottom Line: It's a new level of skank, snark, and shrewdness. Amanda Feral will eat your face off if you're not careful... no, really she will.

3 stars

The Sound

2011-07-28T08:12:00.000-07:00

I love music. Always have. I like scouring the web looking for and listening to all the new sounds that artists put out. I'm constantly amazed by it. Here's what this month sounds like...

***I never ever EVER steal from artists (bands or authors). Everything posted here is either a free download provided by the artist or from my personal music library***

Two rad bands, Deerhunter and Sleighbells, are covering a few Pylon tracks on the new 7" single "Cover+Remix" Each tracks is unique and all kinds of bad ass.

"Cool" -Deerhunter
Cool (Cover by Deerhunter) by DFA Records

"Yo-Yo" -Alexis Krauss from Sleighbells and Calvinist
Yo-Yo (Remix By Calvinist) by DFA Records

When M83 released Saturdays=Youth in 2008 I declared that my summer album that year. Each song made me feel like Molly Ringwald, part 16 Candles part Breakfast Club. The talented front man, Anthony Gonzalez released a teaser track from his upcoming album Hurry Up, We're Dreaming and I am not kidding, I played it 3 times in row. I am IN LOVE. And now I can't wait to hear the whole album.

"Midnight City"

The first time I heard ST. VINCENT was on a duet with my man, er I mean with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, on the New Moon soundtrack. (no laughing) There was something about her voice that was really beautiful and also stirring. She's got a new album Strange Mercy out in Sept that should be both of those qualities... if this recently released single is any indicator.

"Surgeon"

I found this track recently from TEEN WITCH, and it makes me want more from them. Their self-titled cassette is a limited run at the moment from Whoa Whoa for $5, but I have a feeling we haven't heard the last of them yet. Check it:

"I Don't Mind"

Each time I listen to this track from THE FEELIES I think summer! Their album, Here Before, has been available since April. The band are back together after a 19 year departure and you can hear how happy they are to be back at it again. I dare you to be in a bad mood while listening to either of these tracks.

"Should Be Gone"

Bonus Track:
Way Down by The Feelies

When I'm looking for something outside the box, I look to CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH. Frontman Alec Ounsworth re-invents himself time and time again. And the 2 tracks that have been released from the upcoming album, Hysterical, are no exception. The polished sounds will be sure to bring new fans to the band.

"Maniac"

"Same Mistake"

I added this GEM CLUB track to my DL playlist, and each time it cycles through I think "Oh, I like that!" Their new album Breakers comes out Sept 27th and you can bet I'm going to check out the rest of the tracks on it.

"Breakers"

Review: Shadowflame

2011-07-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

Diane Sylvan
Urban Fantasy
360 pages
Shadow World #2
Chapter 1
ACE

Synopsis:
It's been three months since musician Miranda Grey became a vampire and married David Solomon, Prime of the South. As Queen, Miranda must quickly come to terms with her new role and learn how to negotiate the treacherous waters of Signet politics, inevitably making dangerous enemies along the way.

As if complicated vampire politics and a rising music career weren't enough, an enigmatic but powerful force from David's past appears, leaving a wake of chaos and uncertainty for the Pair's fledgling relationship. Miranda begins to realize how little she really knows about her husband. But when an assassin begins targeting her friends and allies, the Pair must track down the killer, even as their lives hang in the balance...

Review:
Diane Sylvan is the queen of emotional storytelling. She takes the story exactly where she thinks it needs to go, even if it's not pretty. But I'm ok with not pretty. I quite enjoy not pretty. Shadowflame rung me dry. I was kind of a mess for a couple days, but in the best way possible. If the characters you read about don't move you, don't ignite emotions, don't become a part of your soul then what's the point.

David and Miranda are very different characters this time around. Right from the very beginning, the story of these two characters felt more solid. Miranda has developed into a very stable and self-aware character. She's embracing her status as Queen, and every crappy thing that title might entail. She is put through the ringer in this book, but she can handle. You Can Too! David is more exposed and pretty much torn open this time around. And again, it's no picnic. But boy did I become more and more engrossed with his character. Which I think I needed. I always liked him, he's one of our protagonists, but now I feel like I know him, like I understand him more. And through the events that take place, I became more attached to Miranda as well. You kind of just have to trust the author.

There are a lot of new characters introduced this time as well. It helped create new interest in a story that could have been in danger of becoming a repeat. The plot sets a fast pace, which makes you push through the emotional side of the story. The adventure and mystery of the plot will also fuel your continuation. There are parts of the story left a little loose by the end, which already has me guessing at what could be in store for our characters next.

Bottom Line: I loved it. Even the gritty, hard parts. Sylvan goes where other authors don't dare. And I praise her for it.

5 stars

Kevin Hearne was my first...

2011-07-25T09:09:00.000-07:00

There are just some people out there that simply amaze me. Authors are definitely some of them. People who's imaginations are so broad that they invent worlds and rules, and create people from the crevices of their brains quite frankly intimidate the shit out of me. I have no doubt that their brains are always firing. They're always creating. How do you talk to people when you know you're not as smart as them? I didn't know, but I was determined to find out.

When I realized that Kevin Hearne was coming to San Diego Comic Con, I decided to stuff my fear and worries back in the closet, and committed to making him my first author meet and greet.

I couldn't have asked for a better person for my first time.

Kevin created an impromptu "Come talk to me, I don't bite" event Saturday morning at this coffee house/bookstore called Upstart Crow near the convention center. Even though his awful trolley experience resulted in him walking 12 blocks to the bookstore, he showed up smiling and in a good mood. He continued to be nice and indulged us with witty conversation and lots of geek talk for nearly 2 hours. He signed 5 books for me (yes, one of them will be for you guys... stay tuned) He didn't rip me apart when I forgot some small (and a couple of large) details from the previous books, he just politely reminded me of them. Even though the entire table gasped, no one flat out laughed at me when I said, "Who is Patrick Rothfuss?" Kevin kindly explained to me who this god was, and why I should bow to him.

We continued to talk about all the fantasy authors I just had to read. He even let me listen in as he discussed some things about book 4, Tricked, with his alpha reader. And he only laughed a little when I called Mrs. MacDonagh the "zombie widow". {and no, she's not a zombie. Or a possessed ghost. Or a demon.} He told me the story of how Atticus and Oberon came to be. Basically, the morning was perfect.

The real freak out moment came when I mentioned at our parting that if he's got time he should really go try this authentic Irish pub called The Field. And Kevin responded "We should all go." *blink* I was going to have whiskey and fish-n-chips with Mr. Druid himself? Too surreal.

Since today was the day with no fear, I went. We drank, we ate, we drank a wee bit more. We told corny jokes. I even became so comfortable that I poked fun at the alpha reader a few time. Apologies Alan, I'm told I get a little mean when Im nervous. I even captured a small little video of Kevin singing "welcome to the jungle". Even though the fish and chips weren't as good as Rula Bulas, I showed everyone the wonder that is a sausage roll. It was a "fuckton" of fun.

Biggest thank you to Mr. Hearne, his alpha reader and his wife, for letting the strange fan girl hang out with you all.

Kevin, you have ruined me for all other authors.

Nina Talks Dresden

2011-07-22T11:51:00.000-07:00

A quick note about these three books:

For me, each one of these books was extremely moving in its own way. And because of that I have not re-read these editions as much as others. Sometimes you need to savor the heart ache. These books are also darker than their predecessors. Harry goes through some extremely difficult emotional situations in Small Favor, Turn Coat and Changes, and as the reader you are sucked into the anguish with him. The comedy and love is still there, but its evident Harry has very troubled times ahead.

Dresden #10

432 pages

In this story Mab, Queen of the Winter Sidhe, shows up to collect on one of the two favors still owed to her. What is this Small Favor? To rescue John Marcone, crime lord extraordinaire and some times ally, from the clutches of a group of fallen angels. The Denarians are back, and they are making a major move for power.

I love Molly and the rest of the Carpenter gang (Sonya too. I tend to toss him in with this lot, him being a Knight and all.) They are an extremely tight knit family and you can truly see the love, and respect they have for each other. I love that Molly is growing up as a person and a sister, and growing into her magic as well. Charity, Molly’s mom is becoming more and more comfortable with her daughters talent and warming up to the idea that she is a responsible young lady, and on the right path.

Since Marcone is missing and held hostage by the Denarians (I hate Nicodemus. Hate. Hate. Hate.) Harry and the Knights must work with Miss Guard and Hendricks. Guard is awesome. At one point she has had her guts ripped out, super-glued back together, bleeding all over the place and about to pass out and she is still toting her battle axe around like a good little Valkyrie. She practices a different form of magic from Harry, although some basic points over lap. Guard, the Knights and Harry work together to free Marcone, and kick Denarian butt.

A haunting and pivotal place, dare I say character, is introduced in the end chapters. The island has a spirit of its own and is keenly aware of its surroundings. This mysterious island in the middle of Lake Michigan is essential to the end game of Turn Coat, as I’m sure it also will be in future installments.

Dresden #11

420 pages

This book opens with Morgan; showing up at Harry’s, bleeding, brooding, and demanding help… and promptly passing out.

Morgan, Morgan, Morgan.

Why did he have to show up at Harry’s door?

I spent half the book waiting to see if his seeking Harry’s help was all a ploy to behead Harry and Molly.

The nefarious Black Council is at work sewing fear and misdirection all throughout the White Council of Wizards. Framing Morgan for treason and murder is a great way to ignite panic in the Council, and turn people on each other. Though we don’t know for certain who the members of the Black Council are, we do know that they are deeply embedded in the supernatural community.

Something that saddened me is Thomas and Harry’s relationship totally changes due to the events in this story. I really, really like Thomas, and it makes me miserable to see him hurt and distant from his brother. He does what needs to be done, but in the process changes into something darker.

For me, the ending was sad, but satisfying and a sense that everything is alright even if it hurts. In a way the good guys won… sort of, and we gain some closure. The events also open numerous doors that I’m sure we will walk through later.

Dresden #12

441 pages

For those of you who have not read it, I will not spoil anything for you…. Tease maybe.

The book title is completely accurate. Changes is about… changes. Everything for Harry is changing. Where he is in his life, his relationships, and emotional security are all turned upside down. For goodness sake, the indestructible Blue Beatle is totally destroyed past the point of resurrection.

I truly feel, in my heart, that “OMG I HATE YOU JIM BUTCHER!” and “WHAT DID HARRY EVER DO TO YOU?” Sums everything up quite nicely. I believe that Jim loves, LOVES, putting Harry in crappy situations to see what he will do, and how he will grow. There was a point when I flung my book across the room and dented my bedroom door.

I appreciated the careful planning the author has taken with the entire series. This is evident all throughout this installment, and I had numerous “Ah-HA!” moments. There are many scenes in other books that you thought were ordinary that end up re-surfacing in this story. The amount of foreshadowing that comes in to play is amazing!

I would highly recommend starting this book when you know you will be able to finish it without interruptions, and have some recuperation time after. The story is very dark, and for me, was extremely draining emotionally. There were times while reading that I had to remind my self to breathe.

And the ending... it’s a killer.

Ghost Story comes out Tuesday. For those of you who are at SDCC this weekend or live in the San Diego area Penguin has copies for sale at Mysterious Galaxy NOW!!!

Ghost Story Chapter 5

Early Review: Another Kind of Dead

2011-07-21T11:30:00.000-07:00

Kelly Meding
Urban Fantasy
384 pages
Dreg City #3
Random House

Synopsis:
Been there. Done that. Evy Stone is a former Dreg Bounty Hunter who died and came back to life with some extraordinary powers. Now all but five people in the world think she is dead again, this time for good—immolated in a factory fire set specifically for her. Evy and Wyatt, her partner/lover/friend, can no longer trust their former allies, or even the highest echelons of the Triads—the army of fighters holding back from an unsuspecting public a tide of quarreling, otherworldly creatures—they can trust only each other. Because when the Triads raided a macabre, monster-filled lab of science experiments and hauled away the remnants, they failed to capture their creator: a brilliant, vampire-obsessed scientist with a wealth of powerful, anti-Dreg weaponry to trade for what he desires most of all—Evy Stone: alive and well, and the key to his ultimate experiment in mad science.

Review:
I love when a book makes me cry out "WHAT?!" before I'm even a third of the way through. A) I know I'm in for a great story that's bound to keep me on the edge of my seat and 2) I enjoy the hubs' look of concern and questions of "everything ok?" as though these characters are close friends... makes me snort every time. I always seem to get this reaction with Ms. Meding's books. And Another Kind of Dead is no exception. Around page 125 I sucked air and expelled horror and a little excitement.... exactly what I want from my UF books.

Speaking of what I want out of UF, Evy Stone is the perfect heroine and AKOD seals her fate as one of my all-time favorites. She is such a fighter. She's the modern-day superhero. She fights and never gives up. Even when she's been beaten down, she rises and fights some more. But all of her spirit and grit hasn't turned her cold. She's the exact opposite. Her emotions are in check and her human reactions make you literally feel her pain. At least I did. There was a scene towards the end of the book where I realized I was crying and it wasn't because of some great lose, but solely because of the emotions Evy was feeling at the time. I was stunned by how much I was affected. I could read about her forever.

The over-all story and plot was so great. Dark, but not overly so. Tender in just the right spots, difficult and gristly in others. I ate it all up and am still asking for more. The relationship between Evy and Wyatt is exactly what I want from a hero/heroine. They work together, but they're not perfect. They make mistakes but have triumphs too. And, most importantly, it all works with the story.

Bottom Line: My new rug has a worn tread pattern in it, my best jeans have permanent stains on the knees from my sweaty palms, and my nails have been chewed to the quick. Yeah it's that good.

5 stars

A Question for the Audience

2011-07-19T09:12:00.000-07:00

Nina and I are currently consumed by a certain series book, Hammered.... hence the reason we're so behind on our other reading and reviews. This book is the last book for a while from the author, so we're savoring it.

One of the many hilarious scenes in the book is when a character announces that a certain inanimate object has changed her life. The scene made us both laugh out loud. For a couple days! I won't ruin your experience by telling you what is so fascinating that it has changed her life... it also won't be as funny without her "delivery". ::I seriously just snorted as I wrote that::

So it got Nina and I thinking about what thing has changed our lives. Mine is actually 2 things, but they're almost the same so I'm not forcing myself to choose. The ipod and the iphone.

When I got my first ipod in the early 00's it changed me. Putting all of my music in one place, that's not only easily accessible but portable too, affected me forever. One word. Random Shuffle. ok that's actually 2 words or technically a phrase, but whatev. Random Shuffle reminds me of songs that I loved once but played too many times in a row and got sick of after a week. It moves from punk, to folk, to low-fi, to pop, to rock, to top 40... and everything inbetween. I heart random shuffle. But the ipod in general has seriously changed how I listen to music... and the fact that I can listen and take it everywhere.

The iphone takes my love of music and adds a phone, a GPS, a Camera and now a video camera, Angry Birds, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and a Kindle all in my back pocket. Of course there are tons of smart phones out there at this point, but I will always have a soft spot for my iphone. The way everything is seamlessly tied in together is amazing. I can be on the internet looking for a Thai restaurant on Yelp in a neighborhood I'm not familiar with, and you can click on the phone # on the site, and it'll take you to the phone directly, or you can click on the address and it'll pull it up in "maps" and you can get walking/driving directions to the location. You can be in a heated argument about whether Robert Duvall or Kevin Bacon have been in more movies (true argument after I decided that there should be a game called "the 7 degrees of Robert Duvall" too) and you can pull up the IMDB app and figure out who's buying who's drinks. You never miss an opportunity to capture the moment, because you always have a camera in your pocket. I have to stop, because I could talk forever. But yeah, my iphone is a life changer.

Nina says:

The item that has changed my life is my coffee maker. Anyone who knows me, knows I can't live without my crack... errr... I mean coffee! Yay! COFFEE! Maybe this sounds cliche. Maybe it sounds like I have a habit. But when your an insomniac, it comes with the territory.

Ever since high school, I have had terrible bouts of insomnia. I'll go 3 or 4 weeks at a time with only sleeping 1or 2 hours a night. That becomes a little problematic after a while. So, when I went to the doc and told him I refused to take sleeping meds, he prescribed another kind of medication... coffee! It allows me to be functional, and doesn't mess with my erratic sleep schedule. Ever since then I've loved it. My first job was as a barista in a coffee shop, and I still miss it sometimes.

The day I bought my first coffee maker was glorious! I went to BB&B and scoured the shelves. I knew exactly what I wanted. A white kitchenaid with a timer, and a 12 cup carafe. I bought it. I took it home. I brewed my first pot. I fell in love.

Last christmas I was at my parents, and realized my mom had an espresso machine stashed up in that crap hole of a cabinet above the fridge. (Come on! You all have them.... and you know it's full of shiz.) The poor thing had been up there for years. YEARS! I dubbed that day "operation: free espresso!" I tried to steal... I mean.... rescue it. And got caught. By my mother. Well, crap. So I decided I wasn't beyond begging.

I begged my mom to give in to me. And she said no. I pleaded. And she still said no. I even did that pouty thing that ALWAYS worked when I was 5. Alas, I am no longer 5, and she still said no. So, for now I have another white kitchenaid coffee maker. It's great; don't get me wrong. But one day, I will have a better one. Because coffee has changed my life!

But we want to know: WHAT ITEM HAS CHANGED YOUR LIFE?

Nina Talks Dresden

2011-07-15T08:03:00.000-07:00

Dresden #7
424 Pages

I hate zombies. I really REALLY hate zombies. I hate them almost as much as Indiana Jones hates snakes. Okay. I hate them more. When I started to read this book I belted out, in true Indy fashion, “Zombies. Why’d it have to be zombies?!”

This time around Harry is confronting a group of disciples, and their hoards of undead on their quest to find the last journal of a notorious necromancer. As if to make matters worse, Mavra the super creepy Black Court vampire (I can’t believe she’s not dead yet), is also after the book, and threatening Murphy’s life if she doesn’t get it. And as usual Harry works his magic best when he’s between a rock and a hard place.

This is one of my favorites in the series, in addition to it being in my top reads of all time pile. There are several reasons for that, one of the big ones being Butters. We first meet Waldo Butters in Death Masks. From that moment forward I loved the little polka obsessed medical examiner. He provides massive amounts of comic relief, and you can identify with his startled reactions to the supernatural. At one point, Butters starts to freak out and almost gets Harry, Thomas, and himself killed because he’s seizing up under the shock of the coming attack. The only way Harry can force him to muscle through his hysteria is to convince him they are not going to die. Harry does this by persuading Butters that they can’t die because it’s the opening day of Oktober Fest and “Polka. Will. Never. Die.” After a few fortifying chants Butters starts to scream “POLKA WILL NEVER DIE!” at the top of his lungs. And what’s Thomas’ response? “I can’t believe I’m hearing this?!” After reading this, I almost died. But alas, polka survives.

Another reason I really loved this installment was the non stop action. Half way through the wardens show up, and for the first time you get to see them in action. Morgan and Captain Luccio are amazing. You see Harry use some pretty wicked magic, and pull some awesomely bad ass stunts. One of which is resurrecting Sue, a Tyrannosaurs Rex (a freaking T-Rex), from her resting place in the lobby of the Field Museum. Now that is one zombie that I think is AWESOME.

Dead Beat has several other plot points I would love to talk about, but I can’t because of spoilers. There are plenty of laughs and worry to go around, with the ending leaving you with a calm resolve.

Dresden #8
479 pages

Proven Guilty is a hard one to talk about because almost anything I say will be a spoiler. So, I’ll keep it short and simple.

The White Council charges Harry with the task of finding the source of black magic originating in Chicago. Part of the narrative takes place at a horror convention called SPLATTERCON!!! (Note the three exclamation points.) As you can imagine it’s the perfect place for all kinds of mayhem. The typical horror villains and slashers are hanging out in the open and things get really crazy when Molly Carpenter, the daughter of Harry’s good friend Michael, ends up in the middle of the investigation. Harry is forced to choose between his personal convections and what the White Council needs him to do.

This book has more of a classic mystery plot than the others, and I really like the who-done-it story line. While all the others have some sort of mystery, I think that this one is much more in depth and truly draws you in. Sometimes I forget Harry is a P.I. and not just a wizard. Although he does do some detective work in the other novels this one is a true mystery, and when you think you figured it out, the story zips you in the other direction.

Dresden #9

407 pages

It all starts when Murphy needs Harry’s help with some suspicious deaths. From Harry’s point of view it looks like someone is killing defenseless members of the magical community. In order to put a stop to the killings, he must find out why the White Court families are all going up against each other. And of course our favorite wizard gets caught in the middle of the fray, yet again.

After Proven Guilty, Harry is challenged with finding a good balance of patience and authority with Molly Carpenter, his new apprentice. Since Molly so far has been self taught, Harry finds himself going back, and revisiting the basics of magic with her. Something that is remarkable about teaching the fundamentals of any craft is in order to accurately teach the material you must revisit it yourself. And in doing so Harry rekindles the subtle magical nuances he has forgotten.

I love Molly and her punk rock style. She tries to project an “I could care less” attitude, but under all that makeup and bleached white hair, I know she’s a softie at heart. Just like her dad Michael, she makes a great partner for Harry. She has just the right amount of sass to Harry’s dry humor, and is innocent enough for you to believe she really is a scared 19 year old girl. Because of this you want Molly to thrive and succeed.

In White Knight we see something I never thought would happen… Karrin Murphy and John Marcone working together. Since the events of Proven Guilty Murphy is willing to do what needs to be done in order to protect her loved ones and kick evil’s butt. I really love this side of Murphy and while she’s still a cop, she’s not afraid to stretch her limits.

You've almost made it. The release of Ghost Story is almost here. {July 26th} Here's Chapter 4 as your reward.

Review: Bloodlust

2011-07-14T08:02:00.000-07:00

Michelle Rowen
PNR
283 pages
Nightshade #2
Chapter 1
Berkley Sensation

Synopsis:

For those who feast on blood, Jillian Conrad is a fatal attraction. After being injected with a serum that made her blood both irresistible and deadly to vampires, she was used as a pawn to assassinate the vampire king. Now, the vampires want her eliminated.

Hunted and unable to return to her old life, Jillian desperately seeks to prevent the poison in her veins from killing her. And she must find a way to help her dhampyr protector, Declan, whose exposure to the serum has split his personality into one part uncontrolled desire, and one part stone cold killer.

But an even greater danger is rising. The Amarantos – a secret society of vampires – is seeking the infant daughter of the slain king to complete their quest for true immortality. And if they succeed, no one, living or undead, will escape the darkness.

Review:

I am still shocked by the amount of twists and turns this book had in it. Just when I thought I was getting a grip of what was going to happen next, the author rips it out of my hands. Some of it was well placed and exactly what the story needed to continue, and some of it wasn't. It actually ended up created a weird pacing for me. Normally I'm fueled to continue reading "just 1 more chapter" because I can't stop until event "whatever" happens, but here 14 other things happened on the way to that event, making me forget what I wanted to happen. It cooled off some of my original steam. All in all though the story-line created a non-stop, adventurous, and dark ride.

The way the story unfolds, Jill spends nearly as much time with Matthias, as she does Declan, and it was great to see more than just the diabolic side of him here. I actually got to a point in the book where I was genuinely rooting for him. Yeah, crazy. Additionaly, there were so many developments made this time, I felt like I needed to write them all down. Some many of the characters end up in places you never would have excepted, which was pretty cool. In fact, the place where everyone ended up has really peaked my "what could possibly be next" interest. It would be ideal if the next book took place 6 months later, allowing me to see some growth with the characters new positions.

Bottom Line: Super twisty un-guessable plot that, although drove me slightly crazy at times, was fun and opened up a world of possibilities for the rest of the series.

3 stars

Review: My Life as a White Trash Zombie

2011-07-13T09:01:00.000-07:00

Diana Rowland
Urban Fantasy
310 pages
White Trash Zombie #1
Downloadable Excerpt
DAW books

Synopsis:
Angel Crawford is a loser. Living with her alcoholic deadbeat dad in the swamps of Southern Louisiana, she's a high school dropout with a pill habit and a criminal record who's been fired from more crap jobs than she can count. Now on probation for a felony, it seems that Angel will never pull herself out of the downward spiral her life has taken.

That is, until the day she wakes up in the ER after overdosing on painkillers. Angel remembers being in a horrible car crash, but she doesn't have a mark on her. To add to the weirdness, she receives an anonymous letter telling her there's a job waiting for her at the county morgue-and it's an offer she doesn't dare refuse.

Before she knows it she's dealing with a huge crush on a certain hunky deputy and a brand new addiction: an overpowering craving for brains. Plus, her morgue is filling up with the victims of a serial killer who decapitates his prey-just when she's hungriest!

Angel's going to have to grow up fast if she wants to keep this job and stay in one piece. Because is she doesn't, she's dead meat. Literally.

Review:
Just like the absolutely gorgeous cover suggests, this book is about a woman, Angel, who just so happens to be a zombie. Angel is such a complex and interesting character. And it's a good thing too, because the story really is all about her. What I mean is, the suspense is due to the crazy situations she's found herself in, and the drama is due to her current dependencies and also her past behaviors. The story is not centered around some big baddy that's out to get her, or a world ending disaster she's being forced to solve. Her new dependency creates some gross-out scenes that stayed on the right side of entertaining for me, and some funny moments as well.

Angel's character has so many sides to her. She keeps changing/growing throughout the book, and it's all the entertainment you'll need. Her life is a big ol freakin mess. She's been beat down, both figuratively and literaly, her whole life and she's bascially given up. She lives in filth and squalor, she's lazy, and frankly she's decided she doesn't care anymore. She doesn't think she's better than any of that. For the first half of the book the author sneaks in subtle comments like "I guess I was lucky there were people better than me in this world. Not that it took a whole lot to accomplish that." to make sure the audience gets a healthy glimpse into Angel's view of herself. But Angel will surprise you. She's a very genuine character and actually thinks and worries about others more than she does herself. Even when other characters make statements like "Angel, you have a tough and crusty exterior, but you have the kindest, mushiest heart I've ever seen." she still modestly pushes against it. Her growth throughout the book is a pleasure to watch.

Like I mentioned, the plot really is about Angel and her adaptations into the zombie lifestyle. And btw, I absolutely loved Rowland's take on zombies. Anyone can read about them. And as much as I enjoyed the humor and the intense moments the subtle plot created, I could have stood for a slightly messier plot. And I'm not talking about blood and guts, we get plenty of that. There were a couple of "huh, that's not what I expected" events, but for the most part I felt like I knew what to expect next. The overall progression was natural and flowed perfectly though, and I'll be looking forward to more.

Bottom Line: Rowland's unique spin on zombies make them approachable and gosh darn it, loveable. She's created a UF heroine like noone else, who will capture your interest and your heart. I'm looking forward to more Angel Crawford.

3.5 stars

Early Guest Review: Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep

2011-07-12T08:03:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Estep

350 pages

Mythos Academy #1

Kensington Publishing

Synopsis:

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.
But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died. . .

Review:
I have been a fan of Jennifer Estep since picking up her Elemental Assassin series. I like strong female characters that don’t take shit and can lay out anyone. I get that with the EA series. So when I saw the title of her new YA series, I got excited. By the title of the book, I assumed we were delving further into the Elemental Assassin world. It just goes to show you that, 1. I’m lazy about reading the back of the books by authors I like and 2. I typically auto-click the author’s I like onto my reading wish list…and I don’t always know what I’m getting. So no, Touch of Frost is NOT about the Elemental Assassin world but a new world from the Mythos Academy. For me, this is the only big negative of the book. The title is too closely linked to the Elemental Assassin world for my taste. So what did I like?

Gwen Frost is your typical Young Adult heroine with a dark past and who’s a bit socially awkward from dealing with said past. Additionally, she’s able to tell too much about friends and enemies just by touching their belongings or having skin-to-skin contact. I loved the idea of the Mythos Academy. The novel is a combination of several cultural mythologies all rolled into one world where they all interact. This gives you a touch of several cultures where most books touch on only one at a time. I think she's opened up a new world with a lot of potential and possibilities, with all kinds of history to play with to help manipulate the story.

Like I said, there are portions that are very YA a-typical writing and behavior. Gwen as the main character knows she doesn’t fit in and she isn’t really bothered with trying to. But there’s nothing like being the outcast in your teens to draw more teens in. She stumbles through the book trying to solve the mystery of the stolen bowl of tears and creates her own group of friends out of an unlikely trio of a Spartan, a Valkyrie and a Celt. Daphne is the Valkyrie, who is very popular, and spoiled but has a deeper depth that slowly surfaces throughout the novel with Gwen’s help. With Daphne, you get Carson, the tall and gangly Celt who is Daphne’s love interest. Then my favorite is Logan, the Spartan. You cannot have YA without the crush or the bad boy who you can’t get enough of. Logan is the womanizing Spartan with the reputation as the scariest warrior on campus. He so clearly likes Gwen and is so purely masculine in his appreciation for all women, that I loved his bad boy ways and charm.

The first book of any series is sometimes hard to read as the author establishes the rules of the world and the history along with it. Ms. Estep did a fantastic job of slowly indoctrinating you into the world of the Mythos Academy by unveiling the world through Gwen’s eyes. As a Gypsy, her genre of warrior is little known at the school and this is partially why she’s an outcast. The other students don’t know much about her and Gwen doesn’t know much about them or herself, and when most of the kids hang with warrior’s of the same cast, Gwen is lonely as the sole Gypsy. Ms. Estep takes this and uses Gwen’s lack of knowledge as a way to educate her readers, in the process of giving her main character growth. It provides a natural flow to the book.

Overall, I liked the book. I enjoyed the world and characters and the flow of the book, and I’m already looking forward to the next book.

4 stars

Thank you Carrie for guest reviewing. I can't wait to read this one myself -jess

Nina Talks Dresden

2011-07-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

Book #4

446 pages

I have a deep seeded love for all kinds of mythology and lore. And the Fae are some of my favorites. They are a beautiful, devious, powerful, crazy bunch of peeps, especially when Mab, the Winter Queen, needs you to do something for her. She’s not exactly the kind of person you can say no to.

As it turns out Mab has bought Harry’s debt from his godmother, the Leanansidhe, and in doing so, she is owed three “favors” or errands from Harry. She needs him to prove her innocence in the murder of the Summer Knight, the rival courts champion, and find who holds the fallen knight’s power. And what happens if he can’t? Nothing big… just the end of the world.

In this book we get to see some of the inner workings of the White Council of Wizards, the ruling body for wizards around the world, and the enforcers of the seven laws of magic. It’s clear that Harry is known council-wide for being a smart ass, and is generally not taken seriously. The fact that he started the war with the vampire courts doesn’t make it easy for anyone to support him. You start to see divisions in the senior council, and what people are willing to do to support their side.

We also finally get to meet Elaine Mallory. She was Harry’s first love, which he thought was dead by his own hand and has been killing himself with guilt over her supposed death for years. Turns out she’s been hiding out with the faerie courts (thanks for the post card!), and is in way over her head. Of course, Harry feels a bone deep, sometimes annoyingly strong, need to rescue every damsel in distress. And he gets sucked into this situation more than once, and more often then not, (read: always) ends up being more trouble than it’s worth. I’ve never been a fan of Elaine’s. She shows up again later in the series, and I know the author isn’t done with her story line yet.

In Grave Peril we had a little break from Murphy. In Summer Knight she’s back and I actually really like her. She’s completely willing to trust Harry, and accept the fact that some things (like vamps, werewolves, ghouls, and giant Fae tree… things) need to be handled a little differently. By doing this she proves she’s a friend not foe, and wins my heart. There is a scene with Harry and Murphy in a 24 hour Wal-Mart that shows how bad ass she really is. She’s amazing under pressure and handles everything with a calculated calm that comes with years of discipline and practice. The girl also knows her way around the home improvement section.

I can admit when I’m wrong. And I was wrong. Karrin Murphy rocks my socks.

Book #5

378 pages

Jim Butcher is great at taking classic lore and making it new. This time Harry’s client is looking to recover a holy artifact. When Harry finds out what artifact was stolen, his response is classic. “Some one stole the freak’n Shroud of Turin?” This installment was full of twists and kept up a fast paced hilarity despite its much darker tone.

Death Masks has plenty of character development, and we have face time with some of our old friends and few new favorites. We find out what happened to Susan, offering some resolution to the open ending of Grave Peril.(For those of you that have read it, I want me some enchanted rope.) And we meet Waldo Butters. I love Butters. He is a smart, dorky, Polka loving Chicago M.E. who knows there’s weird out there, and he’s not afraid to admit it.

The Knights of the Cross are a pivotal part in this story and we get a healthy glimpse into a few of them. We see a lot of Michael, and his big holy sword. Let me tell you, Michael, and the rest of the Knights of the Cross kick evil booty! Sanya is fabulous, and he’s Russian, so it lends for some truly giggle worthy quotes. Shiro leaves a huge impression on Harry, which will last the rest of his life. The extent the Knights will go to, to protect and serve the greater good astounds me.

There’s something about the ending that gives me hope. It’s not that a difficult situation is resolved, because it isn’t. The conclusion opens more doors than it shut. The bad guys still get away. In fact, we come across them several more times. What gives me hope is, in the end, the story is about doing what you can to protect those you love.

Book #6

352 pages

Blood Rites give us something different from the previous books in the series; a secret is revealed that holds a deep significance to the character development of Harry and changes him in a way that we never could have imagined.

A portion of Blood Rites takes place around a movie set. A porn set. I wasn’t completely sold on this idea, and thought it would be super corny and hard for me to take seriously. I got to chapter 7 and changed my mind. The setting lends for some funny and inappropriate scenes. It’s hilarious to listen to Harry’s inner dialogue while he’s on the set, watching his polite chivalry at odds with his baser needs.

This installment is also about the White Court, all of whom are incubi and succubae. When you deal with the White Court that means Thomas Wraith is involved. Oh ya. Thomas is one of my favorite characters. He’s smooth, cunning, confident, funny, and hot as hell. It’s scary how much I liked Thomas, and I found myself defending, and justifying the actions of the incubus. There is a plot twist concerning the Wraiths that shows you how scheming and deceptive they are.

In the end Harry does what needs to be done, and while he doesn’t escape unscathed, he does gain a friend.

...and for all you Harry fans, here's a sneak peak at Chapter 3 of the next release, Ghost Story.

Review: Kindling The Moon

2011-07-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

Jenn Bennett
Urban Fantasy
358 pages
Arcadia Bell #1
Chapter 1 Download
Pocket Books

Synopsis:
Being the spawn of two infamous occultists (and alleged murderers) isn’t easy, but freewheeling magician Arcadia “Cady” Bell knows how to make the best of a crummy situation. After hiding out for seven years, she’s carved an incognito niche for herself slinging drinks at the demon-friendly Tambuku Tiki Lounge.

But she receives an ultimatum when unexpected surveillance footage of her notorious parents surfaces: either prove their innocence or surrender herself. Unfortunately, the only witness to the crimes was an elusive Æthyric demon, and Cady has no idea how to find it. She teams up with Lon Butler, an enigmatic demonologist with a special talent for sexual spells and an arcane library of priceless stolen grimoires. Their research soon escalates into a storm of conflict involving missing police evidence, the decadent Hellfire Club, a ruthless bounty hunter, and a powerful occult society that operates way outside the law. If Cady can’t clear her family name soon, she’ll be forced to sacrifice her own life . . . and no amount of running will save her this time.

Review:
When you finish a book and not an hour passes before you start wondering what's going to happen to the characters next, and you begin wondering if it's too soon to re-read the book in question, you know the book was great. Without question Jenn Bennett's Kindling the Moon did this to me. I finished the book, and less than 15 minutes later I'm buggin a friend with questions of "what's next" and "do you think...". Jenn Bennett creates a world that is interesting and all its own, even though demons and magicians are regulars on the fantasy circuit. Her characters are crafted with precision, and the writing is so good that readers wont be able to stop themselves from becoming invested in the story.

I still can't get over how grounded the characters are. Every one of them is a three dimensional slice of perfection. From Arcadia Bell the occult raised magician turned bar owner, who's been on the lamb because of a crime her parents were accused of. To Lon Butler, demon slash artifact collector slash dad slash famous photographer. To Lon's 13 year old son Jupe, who's part motormouth part coolest kid on the planet. Each of their conversations, reactions, and interactions with each other are so realistic you genuinely feel like a fly on the wall of real events.

Additionally, each character breaks the mold of a typical UF character, and the story is better for it. Arcadia is strong willed but not a complete bad ass, just because she's the protagonists. She's awkward at times, and has an underlying tone of sadness to her. She takes charge of her life, but isn't all together self confident, which is exactly right for her in my opinion. Lon may be pretty damn dreamy, but it has more to do with his actions and less to do with his silky hair and storm-colored eyes. He shows up. Every time. And what could be sexier than that.

Speaking of sexy. I'm still surprised by how effected I was by the romance bits in the story. The build is absolutely delicious, but this is not erotica, it's not suppose to be. And actually the few sprinkles of smexy are rather tame. But the actions and reactions are so spot on to real that it felt like I had accidentally stumbled upon someone's home video. In a very non-creepy kind of way. It made me think I could read about the couple forever and never tire of them.

The plot runs fast, and I read the entire book in nearly one sitting. It wouldn't let go of me... even after I finished it. The plot is full of adventure and surprises, even if just a touch predictable at times. The twists on demonology were unique and very interesting, and it'll be hard for me to think of demons any other way now.

Bottom Line: One of the best series openers I've read in 2011. Urban Fantasy fans will love the cast, the world, and the possibility of a new long running series.

4.5 stars

Review: Night Play

2011-07-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

Sherrilyn Kenyon

362 pages

PNR

Dark Hunter #5

St. Martin's Press

Synopsis:

Bride McTierney has had it with men. They're cheap, self-centered, and never love her for who she is. But though she prides herself on being independent, deep down she still yearns for a knight in shining armor.

She just never expected her knight in shining armor to have a shiny coat of fur...

Deadly and tortured, Vane Kattalakis isn't what he seems. Most women lament that their boyfriends are dogs. In Bride's case, hers is a wolf. A Were-Hunter wolf. Wanted dead by his enemies, Vane isn't looking for a mate. But the Fates have marked Bride as his. Now he has three weeks to either convince Bride that the supernatural is real or he will spend the rest of his life neutered--something no self-respecting wolf can accept...

But how does a wolf convince a human to trust him with her life when his enemies are out to end his? In the world of the Were-Hunters, it really is dog-eat-dog. And only one alpha male can win.

Review:

Remember when Vane was protecting Sunshine back in Night Embrace, and her friend Bride shows up for some reason and Vane made some comments and asked a couple questions about her, but that was it? Well this is Vane and Bride’s story, and I dug it. This book returns to the Dark Hunter world, but with a Were-Hunter hero. Vane is such an easy hero to like, right from the very beginning. He always says exactly what you, I mean Bride, wants to hear. He always does the right thing, and there isn’t any annoying "I'm gonna do one thing and mean another" action with him. He's had a rough year since the attack against his family, and his brother Fang is still comatose because of it. In fact, we get enough story with Fang to make me bug my DH expert Nina, asking when Fang's story is.... sadly, it's Book #18 *sobs quietly*

Bride was so-so for me. She's a fine character but without a lot of spark. I know that probably has a lot to do with her self esteem issue (she's full figure and keeps telling herself that she doesn't deserve someone like Vane). She does grow into a slightly more strong-willed character, but not until almost the very end. All in all she's fine to read and want good things for, just not someone I'll remember often.

The storyline was an exciting return to the Dark Hunter world. We get facetime with some of the characters from the other books and a little with Acheron, including Ash with a baby.... so cute. This book is putting the series back on the right track, in my opinion. I hope it stays that way. We get a healthy glimpse inside the Were-Hunter world, but not so much that is feels like you're reading a different series. This book made me want to continue reading the rest of the series right away.

4 stars

I Double-Dog Dare You...

2011-07-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

This month's DARE is courtesy of my friend, and H&H partner in crime, Natasha from Wicked Lil Pixie.

Nat says:
Zombies are under-rated, but so is the awesomeness that is Mark Henry. There is no other male author as snarktastic as Mark and the heroine, Amanda Feral kicks serious ass.

I dare you to read the first book in the Amanda Feral series!

Gleefully, I accept! I don't read near enough male authors.

Mark Henry
291 pages
Amanda Feral #1

Synopsis:
Before she became a zombie, Amanda Feral had everything under control. This sassy Seattle advertising exec and full-time party diva knew how to cope with club leeches and overbearing clients, but fending off the undead is clearly something else. As Amanda gradually adjusts to her new, exceedingly weird identity, she learns important lessons about shapeshifters, reapers, bloodsuckers, dressing to truly kill. A hysterical paranormal debut romp.

Happy 4th of July

2011-07-04T08:14:00.000-07:00

Today may actually be all about the celebration of The United States' independence, but it's all about the sparklers for me.

Happy 4th!