Current Giveaways

Review + Giveaway: Sealed with a Curse by Cecy Robson (ends 01/21)
Enter to win an ARC of Sealed with a Curse.

Please Note: New Holiday Review Policy! (extended indefinitely)

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Review: Nightlife by Rob Thurman

Title: Nightlife
Author: Rob Thurman
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 03/07/06
Summary:
Welcome to the Big Apple. There's a troll under the Brooklyn Bridger, a boggle in Central Park, and a beautiful vampire in a penthouse on the Upper East Side -- and that's only the beginning. Of course, most humans are oblivious to the preternatural nightlife around them, but Cal Leandros is only half human.

His father's dark lineage is the stuff of nightmares -- and he and his entire otherworldly race are after Cal. Why? Cal Hasn't exactly wanted to stick around long enough to find out.

He and his half brother, Niko, have managed to stay a step ahead for four years, but now Cal's dad has found them again. And Cal is about to learn why they want him, why they've
always wanted him: He is the key to unleashing their hell one earth. The fate of the human world will be decided in the fight of Cal's life...


Plot: 4.5 Stars
The author reimagines paranormal creatures we're already accustomed to and new creatures that are just as scary. The necessary backstory was spread out throughout the novel in a strategic way that kept to coming back for more. Everytime Cal and Niko turned around, there was some sort of paranormal creature to deal with or run from or learn about, but it never felt like too much.

Pace: 4 Stars
This novel was non-stop action. The brothers really knew how to fight, and fight they did. The beginning was very fast-paced and easy to slip into. But around the middle, there was a change in POV and it took a little to get used to (and sometimes got a little annoying). But overall it was a very well balanced read.

Characters: 5 Stars
Niko and Cal are the perfect brotherly pair for the Urban Fantasy genre. They are the Sam and Dean Winchester of the written world, and I love them. Between Niko's nagging and healthy ways and Cal's lazy and sarcastic demeaner, they read like siblings who love each other, and love to get on each other's nerves. Although they didn't trust much, the minor characters that came into their life were well fleshed out whether they were there for a few pages or a few chapters.

Cover: 5 Stars
The cover model looks so much like Jared Leto that I all but drooled on the book. He is one of my top three celeb crushes... :) Cover model aside, I really liked the gritty feel of the cover. Especially the grayscale border around the edges. (The graphic design nerd in me loves little details like that.) It matched the atmosphere of the book perfectly.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment. Or it was a Christmas gift... I don't remember exactly.

In My Mailbox (23)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

I was in Books-A-Million yesterday (which I don't normally frequent because they never have what I want in stock) and I found some awesome deals on hardcovers in the clearance section. I'm glad my dad needed to pick up more coffee, or I wouldn't have ventured in.



Review:

Frost Moon by Anthony Francis (ARC)

Bought:

The Turning by Jennifer Armintrout
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Once Bitten, Twice Dead by Biance D'Arc
The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison

Friday, February 26, 2010

Review: and Falling, Fly by Skyler White

Title: and Falling, Fly
Author: Skyler White
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 03/02/10
Summary:
In a dark and seedy underground of burned-out rock stars and angels-turned-vampires, a revolutionary neuroscientist and a fallen angel must put medicine against mythology in an attempt to erase their tortured pasts... but at what price?

Olivia, vampire and fallen angel of desire, is hopeless... and damned. Since the fall from Eden, she has hungered for love, but fed only on desire. Dominic O'Shaughnessy is a neuroscientist plagued by impossible visions. When his research and her despair collide at L'Otel Mathillide -- a subterranean hell of beauty, demons, and dreams -- rationalist and angel unite in a clash of desire and damnation that threatens to destroy them both.

In this fractures Hotel of the Damned, Olivia and Dominic discover the only force consistent in their opposing realities is the deep, erotic gravity between them. Bound to each other finally in a knot of interwoven freedoms, Dominic and Olivia -- the vision-touched scientist and the earth-bound angel, reborn and undead -- encounter the mystery of love and find it is both fall... and flight.


Plot: 3.5 Stars
I loved the idea of angels and vampires being on in the same. In a genre bogged down by a lot of vampires and angels (and other supernatural creatures), White managed to bring a whole new idea of vampirism. I enjoyed that Olivia and her sisters could feed from a human with their quills without notice. I also really enjoyed the neuroscience aspect of the story. You could definitely tell White did an abundance of research, but she wove the story in a way so that it didn't feel like reading a graudate level textbook.

Pace: 4 Stars
The writing style of this novel was very elegant and poetic. It caught me off gaurd at first because I was expecting something very gritty and in your face, but as I got used to the beautiful language that was weaved, I really enjoyed it. The book bounced seemlessly between the two point of views, and was very balance. There was no favoritism shown towards Olivia or Dominic.

Characters: 4 Stars
Although both main characters were very interesting to follow throughout the story, I'd have to say that my inner nerd absolutely loved Dominic, the neuroscientist. I loved his search for knowledge and love for science. I enjoyed Olivia the most when she was interacting with other characters, whether it be Dominic, her sisters, or Gaehod.

Cover: 4 Stars
I loved this cover. I think the cover model depicts Olivia to a T. And I love her nonchalance as she holds the the dagger and the jacket over her shoulder. My favorite part is definitely the grafiti wings in the background. I think the effect is even cooler than if the cover model had actually had wings.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I received my copy for review from Penguin.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Author Interview: Naomi Clark

Today I'd like to welcome Naomi Clark, who is stopping by to answer a few questions about her new Urban Fantasy release, Silver Kiss, which releases on March 1st. You can see my review here. Without further ado, here's the interview.


Sara: How would you describe your novel, Silver Kiss, in three sentences or less, for readers who haven’t heard of it before?

Naomi: SILVER KISS is the story of Ayla, a lone wolf returning to her pack, and the problems she faces in doing so. It’s also the story of a missing teenager, a dangerous drug, and how far some people will go to destroy the relationship between humans and werewolves.

Sara: How would you describe your main characters in one sentence?

Naomi: Hmm... Plucky, determined, maybe a little dysfunctional, but definitely loyal and loving.

Sara: Did you always know you were going to write a novel with GLBT characters, or did they sneak up on you?

Naomi: In honesty, they snuck up on me. I’d never written anything with GBLT characters at the forefront before, but once I’d decided to write a story for the QUEER WOLF anthology (where WOLF STRAP, the first Ayla story was published), Ayla and Shannon very much jumped into my head, and the rest of the cast quickly followed.

Sara: In Silver Kiss, it is mentioned that werewolf birth rates are decreasing. Is natural birth between two werewolves the only way to further the species, or can humans be bitten and turned into werewolves?

Naomi: No, in the world I’ve set up, humans can’t become werewolves. You’re either born one or you’re not. (At least not in the traditional sense, or from a werewolf bite, as Ayla discovered in WOLF STRAP.) Humans and werewolves can cross-breed, but there are no guarantees that the child will be able to shapeshift. And this is going to be explored further in future books!

Sara: What made you decide to set up the pack structure in a way that is different from the typical “one alpha wolf ruling with an iron fist” fashion?

Naomi: I thought that for werewolves to realistically live alongside humans, they’d have to make some changes to their pack structure. The sort of feudal system that worked when they were undercover wouldn’t be acceptable to humans, or practical in the modern world – too brutal, not enough human rights! The alphas still have a lot of influence, and there are still occasions when that iron fist comes down, but overall the pack has a more flexible, loose structure that lets the werewolves mix more freely with humans.

Sara: Can we look forward to more books in Ayla’s world?

Naomi: Definitely! I can promise you two more books in the Urban Wolf series, and I have ideas and plans for more after that. As long as people enjoy them, I’ll be happy to write them.

Sara: Who are your greatest influences, both in and out of the Urban Fantasy genre?

Naomi: I’m a big fan of Laurell K Hamilton’s first few Anita Blake books – those were the first urban fantasy novels I read, and they definitely got me into writing it. I also love Rachel Vincent, Caitlin Kittredge, and Stacia Kane. Outside of urban fantasy, I’m a long-time fan of Angela Carter and Terry Pratchett.

Sara: What are you currently reading?

Naomi: Magic in the Blood by Devon Monk – can’t put it down! I’m so glad I have Magic in the Shadows waiting for when I’m done.

* * *


I’ve got a great contest for everyone. There’s an ebook for a winner at the end of today and everyone who enters now will also be in the running for winning a signed print copy of SILVER KISS drawn at the end of the week. Just answer this simple question in your comment to be entered into both competitions:

What are you currently reading?


Follow the SILVER KISS BLOG TOUR for more chances to win. Check out the itinerary and join me on the next step of the tour. And there are even more prizes on 1st March, the official SILVER KISS release day and I’m live for a Twitter Release Party #silverkiss.



Visit the Silver Kiss page for a reading as Naomi Clark reads from Wolf Strap! (Released in parts over the course of the blog tour!)


Thank you so much to Naomi for coming by! And feel free to ask questions for Naomi in the comments.

To be entered into the ebook giveaway, just leave you're e-mail address in the comments. I'll pick a winner tomorrow (Thursday Feb. 25) and pass their e-mail along.

Teaser Tuesday (22)

This weekly book blog meme is hosted by Misb at Should be Reading.

Here are the rules:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)
- Share the title & author too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

Title: and Falling, Fly
Author: Skyler White
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 03/02/10

In my midnight midtown apartment, the demon of despair regards me in the red wink of my answering machine. Adam called again while I was out. I watch the diabolical electric blinking. Modernity is keen to alert us to what we've missed: calls, turns, TV programs. The city is ablaze with missed connections. -- pg. 64

Sunday, February 21, 2010

In My Mailbox (22)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

I was out of town last week and just never got around to posting an In My Mailbox, so this encompasses the past two weeks.



Review:

NUM8ERS by Rachel Ward
and Falling, Fly by Skyler White

Bought:

First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost
Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
Raven by Allison van Diepen
Shift by Rachel Vincent

Gift:
(These were a part of a late Christmas present.)

Stolen by Kelley Armstrong
Karma Girl by Jennifer Estep
Every Witch Way But Dead by Kim Harrison

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Review: Silver Kiss by Naomi Clark


Title: Silver Kiss
Author: Naomi Clark
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 03/01/10
Summary:
Ayla Hammond has come home.

After years as a lone wolf in a self-imposed exile she's rejoining the pack and trying to mend fences with her parents. She's convinced them to accept her girlfriend, but can a lone wolf change her ways?

As if homecoming wasn't hard enough, Ayla also can't help getting involved in a missing person case. With pressure to solve the case mounting from the pack alphas, Ayla is starting to question where her loyalties lie -- and if a return to the pack she left behind is really what she wants.


Plot: 4 Stars
It's been a while since I read a book with just werewolves, and it was definitely refreshing. The author takes a new approach to werewolf packs and their alphas that I really liked. I also liked the central conflict within the novel. The way the new drug on the streets, Silver Kiss, was used to bring forth the conflict was very interesting. Not many Urban Fantasy novels bring something as dark as drugs to the center, and it was a very realistic problem.

Pace: 3.5 Stars
The beginning of the novel started out a bit slow and took a couple chapters to reel me in, but once it did I was hooked. It was a bit shorter than most books I read, but it didn't feel rushed; it felt like it was the exact length it needed to be in order for the events to play out.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
As a bisexual lover of Urban Fantasy, I loved that the GLBT characters were front and center in this book. Normally, if you get a GLBT characters in this genre, they're off to the side, so this was a fresh and welcome change. I also loved the way the author portrayed the relationship between Ayla and Shannon. You could tell they had chemistry and really loved one another, without being completely consumed by one another. And I'm pretty sure this is the only UF book I've come across with a drag queen!

Cover: 3.5 Stars
I really liked the abstract feel of this cover. It was abstract enough that I could picture the main character in my head without the cover interfering, but not too abstract to not get the werewolf message across. I could definitely see myself grabbing a book with a cover like this from the shelf. The hazy, gray feel also lends itself to a major plot element, and I like when covers are specific to the book.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I received my eARC from the publisher, Queered Fiction.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Cover Art: Green-Eyes Demon by Jaye Wells

I found this cover via Book Chick City. It's book three of Jaye Wells' Sabina Kane series.

Green-Eyes Demon by Jaye Wells

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Review: Personal Demons by Stacia Kane

Title: Personal Demons
Author: Stacia Kane
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 05/01/08
Summary:
Megan promises listeners to her new radio call-in show that she'll "slay their personal demons," and they believe her. So do the personal demons... although she doesn't know it, Megan is the only human without a demon on her shoulder! Megan and her allies -- a demon lover who both protects and seduces her with devilish intensity, a witch with poor social skills, and three cockney guard demons -- have to deal not only with the personal demons, but a soul-sucker, ghosts of Megan's past, and a reporter who threatens to destroy Megan's career!


Plot: 2.5 Stars
As much as I wanted to love the premise of the story, many of the things I was looking forward to seemed almost absent. I was expecting to learn and interact more with the personal demons (an idea I was really excited for) since they were the namesake of the book, but they really didn't play that big of a part. I was also excited to read about the radio show and Megan's practice, but those were a little absent also. But I'll definitely be checking out the next book in hopes that the Personal Demons play a bigger part.

Pace: 3 Stars
Only about a week goes by throughout the timeline of the book, but it definitely feels like more. Multiples times, I wondered to myself why Megan hadn't done another radio show. There was also a point near the end, right before the action really picked up, that seemed like filler. It was slow and I got a little bored, which led me to take a little break from the story.

Characters: 3 Stars
I liked Megan as an Urban Fantasy heroine. I like it when the UF heroine isn't completely badass, it's a nice change compared to the numerous heroines who are always running around guns blazing. Greyson and Brian were harder for me to connect with. I couldn't decide whether to like or dislike them. But I loved the three guards sent to follow Megan around. The author did a good job with the dialogue, they're accents came through very well. Plus, they brought a nice bit of humor to the book.

Cover: 3 Stars
Although the cover is a nice change from the current trend in Urban Fantasy (non-descript cover models that look tough with their weapons and tattoos), the cover came off as a little simple. And it didn't really connect with the stories. Nothing specific from the story is reflected in the cover.

Overall: 3 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Waiting on Wednesday (20)

This book blog meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Radiant Shadows
Author: Melissa Marr
Genre: Young Adult
Release date: 04/20/10
Summary:
Hunger for nourishment.
Hunger for touch.
Hunger to belong.

Half-human and half-faery, Ani is driven by her hungers.

Those same appetites also attract powerful enemies and uncertain allies, including Devlin. He was created as an assassin and is brother to the faeries' coolly logical High Queen and to her chaotic twin, the embodiment of War. Devlin wants to keep Ani safe from his sisters, knowing that if he fails, he will be the instrument of Ani's death.

Ani isn't one to be guarded while others fight battles for her, though. She has the courage to protect herself and the ability to alter Devlin's plans—and his life. The two are drawn together, each with reason to fear the other and to fear for one another. But as they grow closer, a larger threat imperils the whole of Faerie. Will saving the faery realm mean losing each other?

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (21)

This weekly book blog meme is hosted by Misb at Should be Reading.

Here are the rules:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)
- Share the title & author too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

Title: Silver Kiss
Author: Naomi Clark
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 03/2010

My wolf didn’t believe me. She wanted her mate and her mate wasn’t there. It drove shards of fear into me and roused my protective instincts. -- pg. 101

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Giveaway Winner!

There were 21 participants for a total of 21 total entries. Using random.org, the winner of a signed copy of Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep is...

Anne J of Upstate Ramblings!

You have 72 hours to respond to my e-mail with your mailing information, so I can pass it along to Jennifer. Congratulations!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Review: Happy Hour of the Damned by Mark Henry

Title: Happy Hour of the Damned
Author: Mark Henry
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 03/01/08
Summary:
Seattle. One minute you're drinking a vanilla breve, the next, some creepy old dude is breathing on you, turning you into a zombie. And 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, Balenciaga handbag on sale) while satisfying her craving for human flesh (Don't judge. And no, not like chicken.) and decent vodkatinis.

Making her way through a dangerous world of cloud-doped bloodsuckers, reapers, horny and horned devils, werewolves, celebrities, 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 the word, "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 undead underworld into a place of true terror. And this time, Amanda may meet a fate a lot worse than death...


Plot: 4 Stars
I liked the variety of supernatural creatures, although I wish we could've learned more about some of them. I really enjoyed the author's take on zombies and how they are made. They weren't just walking corpses like most zombies we're accustomed to; they interacted just like before they died, they just had to make certain changes to their lifestyle. The only problem I had was that the events that took place didn't always make sense in regards to the path the characters were on. It seemed like Amanda was on a wild goose chase for most of the book, and, as the reader, I didn't always know if a scene was relevant to the main plot of the book or just filler.

Pace: 3 Stars
The events in the book transpired kinda slowly, but still had a hectic feel as I was reading, which was a little awkward. In the beginning of the novel, Amanda flashed back for a couple chapters to show the reader how she was made into a zombie and how she met her friends. But it wasn't clear when the multiple chapter long flashback ended, and we were back in the present.

Characters: 4 Stars
Amanda's inner monologue was absolutely hilarious. And the footnotes she adds in randomly throughout the books are even funnier. I think she is the funniest Urban Fantasy heroine I've come across. The rest of the characters were a slight letdown compared to Amanda though, because they're descriptions left a bit to be desired. I mean, the story was all about Amanda (as she'll tell you), but I would've liked to get to know her friends a little more.

Cover: 3.5 Stars
I always love a blue cover. And the cover model definitely looked pale enough to be a zombie. Her facial expression seemed a little nicer than Amanda tended to be, but that's no big deal. I liked the font choice, and how the font color stood out against the blue background. I just wish there had been a couple more details on the cover that were more relevant to the story than a nondescript fence.

Overall: 3.5 Stars

Disclosure: I borrowed this book from my local library for my own enjoyment.

Teaser Tuesday (20)

This weekly book blog meme is hosted by Misb at Should be Reading.

Here are the rules:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)
- Share the title & author too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

Title: Personal Demons
Author: Stacia Kane
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 05/01/08

Tera looked at Megan with new interest. "She's a witch? No. She's too bland to be a witch. Look at that frizzy hair." -- pg. 128

Monday, February 8, 2010

Guest Blog + Giveaway: Jennifer Estep

Today I'd like to welcome Jennifer Estep, who is stopping by to talk about her new Urban Fantasy release, Spider's Bite, which released on January 26th. You can see my 5 Star review here. Her topic for this guest blog is her writing process. I found it very interesting, and hope you do to! And stick around, there's a giveaway at the bottom of the post.


Greetings and salutations! First of all, I want to thank Sara for inviting me to guest blog. Thanks so much, Sara!

So today, Sara asked me to talk a little bit about my writing process. I have to admit that I’m a total “pantser.” That is to say, I don’t sit down and meticulously plot out my books before I write them the way that writers who refer to themselves as “plotters” do. I don’t do storyboards, write down information about my characters, or plan out what happens in each chapter. Usually, I just sit down and write. Sometimes, it turns out well. Sometimes, it doesn’t. But it’s the process that works for me.

Usually what happens is that I’ll get a “what if” idea for a specific scene or situation. For Spider’s Bite, the first book in my new Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series, the idea was something like this – What if an assassin was double-crossed on a hit? What if her handler was murdered as a result? What would she do about it? (The answer, at least in Spider’s Bite, is find out who set her up and why, and then take that person out.)

I’ll think about my “what if” scene for a while, focusing on the main character and how whatever is happening will affect her – and then I’ll go from there. Once I have my character in mind and hear her voice in my head, that’s when I start figuring out the overall plot of the book, as well as the magic system, the world, the other characters, etc.

Now, I don’t really figure my plot out chapter by chapter, scene by scene. What I do is think of the opening of the story, then divide the book into thirds and think of a couple of turning points that drive the action for those parts of the book.

For example, in Spider’s Bite, the first turning point is my assassin character, Gin Blanco, getting double-crossed and her handler being murdered. That drives the action from the first third of the book all the way up to the second turning point, which is Gin going to meet/fight/kill the person responsible for her handler’s murder. That plot point then drives the action through the rest of the book.

When I have those plot points in mind, then it’s time to sit down and write my first draft. I really push myself to get the first draft done as quickly as possible, so I’ll write anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 words a day for about three weeks, until I have a draft that’s somewhere in the 50,000- to 70,000-word range. Why do I do this? For one, it helps me keep my story thread and characters in mind. Two, I have a day job, so my time to write is fairly limited. Three, I’m just anal in that I like to get one project done and then move on to something else. Writers. Sometimes, I think we’re all half-crazy. ;-)

After the first draft is done, I take a break for about a week or so (sometimes longer) before going back to the story. I read through the draft, seeing if the characters, world, setting, magic, plot, etc. all make sense, work together, and tell a good story – in other words, if it’s a project worth pursuing. If so, then I start working on my second draft, which is where I go back through and flesh out things like descriptions, character quirks, etc. I usually go through the book three or four times, adding in more and more detail and tweaking everything, until I have a finished draft of about 100,000 words that is the absolute best book that I can make it.

All of this usually takes me several months. Sometimes, shorter. Sometimes, longer. It all just depends on what else is going on and what the demands on my time are as to how long it takes me to finish a book.

After that, the book gets sent to my agent, who reads it and gives me her feedback and asks me to do revisions, if necessary. Once those revisions are done, a couple of different things can happen. If this is a new book/series that I’m working on, then my agent can try to sell the book/series. Or, if I’m already under contract for the book, it will then go to my editor, who reads it, gives me her feedback, and asks me to do revisions, if necessary.

It’s a long, long process, but it’s totally worth it. How do I know? Every time I get an e-mail from a reader telling me how much she enjoyed my book. That’s what makes it all worth while to me. ;-)

What about you guys? For all you writers out there, how do you go about crafting your books? And for readers, what are some of your favorite urban fantasy books? Share in the comments.


And now for the giveaway. Jennifer has graciously offered one lucky commenter a signed copy of Spider's Bite. All you have to do is answer one of Jennifer's questions or ask her one of your own!

My name is Gin, and I kill people.

They call me the Spider. I'm the most feared assassin in the South -- when I'm not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don't use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.

Now that a ruthless Air elemental has double-crossed me and killed my handler, I'm out for revenge. And I'll exterminate anyone who gets in my way -- good or bad. I may look hot, but I'm still one of the bad guys. Which is why I'm in trouble, since irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine has agreed to help me. The last thing this coldhearted killer needs when I'm battling a magic more powerful than my own is a sexy distraction... especially when Donovan wants me dead just as much as the enemy.


Giveaway Rules:

You must leave a vaild e-mail address.
This contest is open to the US and Canada only.
Please, only one comment per person.
Must answer or ask a question.

** This giveaway will end at midnight EST on Friday 02/12 and the winner will be announced Saturday 02/13. Winners will be chosen using Random.org.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

In My Mailbox (21)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.



Review:

Vintage Soul by David Niall Wilson (ARC)

Bought:

Original Sin by Allison Brennan
The Reckoners by Doranna Durgin
The Dark Storm by Kris Greene
The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu (used)
Out of the Shadows by Sarah Singleton (used)

Used Trade-in:
(I technically didn't pay for these. I just used the store credit I earned from selling some of my old books. No money was exchanged.)

Nightkeepers by Jessica Andersen
Possession by Jennifer Armintrout
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Murder Under a Mystic Moon by Yasmine Galenorn
Devour by Melina Morel
Heart of the Dragon by Gena Showalter

Library:

Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Won:
(Thanks to Bitten by Paranormal Romance for both of these!)

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
The Good, The Bad, The Undead by Kim Harrison

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron King
Author: Julie Kagawa
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 02/01/10
Summary:
Meghan Chase has a secret destiny -- one she could never have imagined...

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school... or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth -- that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face... and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.


Plot: 4.5 Stars
I liked how the imagination and wonder of humans fueled the faerie world. It really sets the faerie lore of this book apart from the other faerie books in the genre. I also liked how human inventions and technology affected the faerie world. I don't want to give anything away, but I just have three words to describe my absolute favorite part of the book: the iron fey. The idea and lore behind them is so unique and interesting.

Pace: 3.5 Stars
The novel itself read at an enjoyable pace: not too quickly and confusing, not to slowly and uninteresting. But sometimes it felt like everything that could possibly go wrong, did go wrong, along with even more things going wrong. It was kinda like the author felt there needed to be more and added another problem. A few little scenes here and there could've been left out, and the story would've read smoother but still ended the same.

Characters: 4 Stars
I loved Meghan as a main character. Her family isn't as well off as others in the area, but it doesn't get her down. Instead of whining about everything she can't have, she saved up and bought herself an iPod. I also loved how much she cared for her little brother, Ethan. Robbie and Ash brought a nice balance to her journey while still causing chaos. And Grimalkin made the book for me. This cait sith was absolutely hilarious.

Cover: 4 Stars
I liked the cover model chosen (she fit the description of Meghan given in the book quite well) and the placement. The teal color that dominated was a very good choice. And I loved the swirly design that dominated the cover. The only thing I had a problem with was where the forest was overlayed over the model's face. Kinda weird, but overall, not that big of a deal.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (19)

This book blog meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Beautiful Dead: Jonas
Author: Eden Maguire
Genre: Young Adult
Release date: 03/01/10
Summary:
Darina's year goes from bad to worse when her boyfriend, Phoenix, is killed in a knife fight, making him the fourth student from their high school to die that year. She's certain that she's going crazy when she sees him and the others in an abandoned barn, but when Phoenix kisses her, she's convinced he's come back... to life?

Jonas, Summer, Arizona, and Phoenix have been brought back from limbo by the enigmatic and sometimes frightening Hunter, and are allowed to remain in the world of the living for one year in order to set right a wrong linked to their deaths. In exchange for being allowed to see Phoenix, Darina agrees to help the undead teens find justice, starting with Jonas... whose year is nearly up.

Darina must discover who is behind Jonas's fatal motorcycle accident... without becoming a victim herself... and keep the Beautiful Dead a secret. She would sacrifice anything to help her beloved Phoenix, but setting him free might mean losing him forever.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (19)

This weekly book blog meme is hosted by Misb at Should be Reading.

Here are the rules:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)
- Share the title & author too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

Title: The Iron King
Author: Julie Kagawa
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 02/01/10

Grimalkin, or whatever his name was, continued to observe me as if I was a particularly interesting insect. I eyes him with new feelings of suspicion. Sure, he looked like a enormous, slightly plump house cat, but horses weren't generally meateaters and normal trees did not have little men living inside. -- pg. 94