Mini-Review: Crux by Moira Rogers

Title: Crux
Author: Moira Rogers
Series: Southern Arcana #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: E-book: 03/03/09, Print: 01/05/10
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

To find her destiny, she must trust him with her life... and her heart.

Southern Arcana, Book 1

Jackson Holt makes a decent living as a private investigator in New Orleans, home of one of the largest underground supernatural populations in the United States. He and his partners have never met a case they couldn’t crack... until a local bar owner asks him to do a little digging on her newest hire.

New Orleans is the fourth destination in as many months for Mackenzie Brooks, a woman on the run from a deranged stalker. After all, any man who shows up on her doorstep claiming to be her destined lover has more than a few screws loose. But crazy doesn’t explain why he always finds her no matter how far she runs.

Mini-Review: I love shapeshifter books, so I was intrigued by this novel. The stalker element added a dark and creepy feel to the book as Mackenzie is introduced into this world of paranormal creatures. The cast of characters Mackenzie meets when she arrived in New Orleans are a varied and interesting bunch of paranormals, and a very strong cast of characters. Although this novel was a little slow in the beginning, once it picked up it was a race to the end. Although the cover is a bit simple, it really gets the point of the novel across with its little details.

Plot: 3.5 Stars
Pace: 3.5 Stars
Characters: 4 Stars
Cover: 3.5 Stars
Overall: 3.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received this book as an anniversary gift (yes, we gave each other books).

Review: Kitty Goes to War by Carrie Vaughn

Title: Kitty Goes to War
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Series: Kitty Norville #8
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 06/29/10
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Kitty Norville, Alpha werewolf and host of The Midnight Hour, a radio call-in show, is contacted by a friend at the NIH's Center for the Study of Paranatural Biology. Three Army soldiers recently returned from the war in Afghanistan are being held at Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs. They're killer werewolves -- and post traumatic stress has left them unable to control their shape-shifting and unable to interact with people. Kitty agrees to see them, hoping to help by bringing them into her pack.

Meanwhile, Kitty gets sued for libel by CEO Harold Franklin after featuring Speedy Mart -- his nationwide chain of 24-hour convenience stores with a reputation for attracting supernatural unpleasantness -- on her show.

Very bad weather is on the horizon.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
There's never a dull moment in Kitty Norville's life. My favorite part of every novel is the beginning, when she's doing her radio show. It's such a great concept and the reason I fell in love with this series in the first place. I really enjoyed her radio show this time around, as she did a segment on Speedy Mart, a convenience chain, and whether or not there was something paranormal happening with the business. And of course, this gets her into a bit of trouble with the CEO. Before much can come of the libel suit, she is asked to help with a group of military werewolves. The alpha of the military werewolves was killed and in Afghanistan, and the now the pack is unable to function. It was very interesting to see how Kitty and her pack dealt with these newcomers to their territory.

Pace: 4 Stars
This book took a bit longer to get into than the past couple of the series. Given the two main story lines being so different, there was a bit more introduction than the average novel from this series. Although the two story lines came together in the end, for the majority of the book they seemed to be happening parallel to each other, with Kitty bouncing from one to the other as needed. This isn’t a bad thing; it just led to a bit more explaining before we could get to the action. But once the metaphorical crap hit the fan, this novel was action packed and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was definitely one of those novels in which I seriously did not know how the good guys were going to come out on top. I have to remember not to bring any books in this series to work because I end up taking longer than I should for lunch because I can’t put them down.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
The past couple novels had focused a lot on Ben and Kitty and the growth of their relationship, so I was glad to see this novel focus a little more on their pack, Cormac, and some newcomers. Kitty didn’t try to deal with everything on her own, which allowed members of her pack to come into the spotlight a bit. If it wasn’t for her pack and their reach, the bad guy would have ended up with much more power. It was also really fun to read about the pack dynamic after the last couple novels focusing more on Kitty. My favorite part of this novel was that Cormac was back and ready for action, although he did seem a bit different than the last time we saw him outside of a jail cell. He’s very quiet and seems to know a bit more about certain supernatural things. When Kitty finally got some answers out of him, it definitely wasn’t anything I expected, but it makes his character even better. The military werewolves that the story kind of centered around were a very interesting concept. The dynamic between them and Kitty was probably the highlight of the book.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
I’m glad that Tor kept the same feel to the covers after acquiring the series. It was easy for me to know that it was the next novel in the Kitty Norville series, and not something similar but random. The addition of the small “first time in print” also helps with any confusion. My favorite part of the cover is the camouflage tank top Kitty is wearing, playing off of the title. I also like how the cover model is proving her dominance by standing over the three wolves on the cover. The three wolves are also very important to the novel, so it was great to see all three and not just one or two. The different textures in the background were a nice touch and gave the cover a bit more depth. I’m not sure if yellow was the best color for this cover, especially since the series already had a yellow cover, but the oranges mixed in allow it to stand out against the other yellow cover.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this novel for my own reading pleasure.

Review: Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey

Title: Witch Eyes
Author: Scott Tracey
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 09/08/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

A boy who can see the world's secrets and unravel spells with just a glance.

Braden's witch eyes give him an enormous power. A mere look causes a kaleidoscopic explosion of emotions, memories, darkness, and magic. But this rare gift is also his biggest curse.

Compelled to learn about his shadowed past and the family he never knew, Braden is drawn to the city of Belle Dam, where he is soon caught between two feuding witch dynasties. Sworn rivals Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe will use anything -- lies, manipulation, illusion, and even murder -- to seize control of Braden's powers. To stop an ancient evil from destroying the town, Braden must master his gift, even through the shocking discovery that Jason is his father. While his feelings for an enigmatic boy named Trey grow deeper, Braden realizes a terrible truth: Trey is Catherine Lansing's son... and Braden may be destined to kill him.

Plot: 3.5 Stars
There were so many reasons I wanted to read this novel. The main character of the novel is gay, instead of a smaller background character. It's a young adult novel that focuses on a male main character instead of a female. Plus, the magic and specifically Braden's witch eyes really drew me in. There are so many ways you can twist magic and wizards/witches to be your own, and the author definitely did that. I really enjoyed Belle Dam as the setting. It was a very creepy place that centered around a fued between Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe. There were a number of details about the fued that were glossed over that would've probably helped me understand things a bit more as the reader, and I hope more of these details will come out in future novels as Braden learns more about his witch eyes.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
This novel flew by as Braden ran around Belle Dam trying to learn anything he can about his witch eyes. Although there were a couple points in which Braden was in a rush, whether to get away from something or to find something else before it was too late, the novel didn't feel rushed. And the calmer scenes, like hanging out with other student at school or falling asleep after a migraine, didn't slow the book down. It felt like Belle Dam was sending Braden in circles as he tried to learn more about his abilities, and it was fun to follow him on his journey.

Characters: 4 Stars
My favorite part of this whole novel was that Braden was gay, he knew he was gay, and he wasn't ashamed of it. It was who he was, and it did not affect the majority of the story. I really liked that he had already figured everything out, it wasn't a big deal, and that this novel was not his coming out. I thought it was a bit too coincidental that Trey, the boy Braden had a crush on, just happened to also be gay. But as they got to know each other, and things weren't always perfect, the coincidental feeling went away. Trey's sister was also a very interesting character, although I wish her part could've been a bit bigger. Although everyone in town knew about the Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe rivalry, I didn't feel like I was as up to speed as the rest of the characters, so I hope more information about them and their rivalry comes out in the next novel.

Cover: 4 Stars
The eyes of the cover model really grab your attention, which makes sense due to both the title of the novel, and Braden's ability. The lightning type detail on one of the eyes gives a hint as to the powers Braden possesses, but still leaves you wondering exactly how his witch eyes work. Although floating face covers don't always work for me, I can't think of any other way to focus on the eyes. I also like that the nose and lips kind of fall away into the forest so that there is nothing to draw your attention to a different part of the cover model. The forest and the mansion below the cover model's face are creepy in all of the right ways. The colors are a bit somber, but fit the feel of Belle Dam quite well.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I borrowed this novel from the local library.

Review: Hard Spell by Justin Gustainis

Title: Hard Spell
Author: Justin Gustainis
Series: Occult Crimes Unit Investigation #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 07/26/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Stan Markowski is a Detective Sergeant on the Scranton PD's Supernatural Crimes Investigation Unit.

Like the rest of America, Scranton's got an uneasy 'live and let unlive' relationship with the supernatural. But when a vamp puts the bite on an unwilling victim, or some witch casts the wrong kind of spell, that's when they call Markowski. He carries a badge. Also, a crucifix, some wooden stakes, a big vial of holy water, and a 9mm Beretta loaded with silver bullets.

File Under: Urban Fantasy [ Dial V For Vampire | Forbidden Spells | Bite Club | Scranton By Night ]

Plot: 4.5 Stars
This was my first Angry Robot title (although I have a few waiting on my TBR pile), and I definitely wasn't disappointed. I'm always drawn to their books when browsing because of the little box on the back where they explain the genre it should be filed as and include four buzz-phrases that are always amusing. It makes them stand out and guarantees I'll pick a new title up. But back to Hard Spell. This novel was non-stop cop drama with a nice dose of paranormal. I liked that the paranormal elements didn't take over, which allowed the cop drama to shine through. I also liked that the paranormal creatures were frightening and not to be messed with. I also love a good Urban Fantasy with a male main character.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
This novel has no chapters. As mind boggling as that sounds, you did not read that wrong. This novel had no chapters at all. I put off reading this novel a little due to this fact, but it ended up not being a problem because there were tons of page breaks. The longest the novel ever goes between page breaks is 16-17 pages. I've read chapters twice that length. It took maybe fifty pages for me overcome my issue with the lack of chapters, and then I was hooked and couldn't put the novel down. This novel had more twists and turns than I knew what to do with, and kept me guessing until the very end.

Characters: 5 Stars
Stan had so many layers. It seemed like every time I thought I had figured him out, he peeled back another layer and surprised me again. I really liked that the beginning of the novel gives a bit of background into Stan's career. The reader gets to meet his first partner, and read some of the events that brought him up to the present investigation. His family life, or lack there of, will definitely take readers by surprise. Karl, Stan's partner, was a great character to balance Stan. Sometimes it seemed like Karl was a friend to Stan, and not just a partner, which Stan definitely needed at some point. I wish Rachel had played a larger part in the novel, because it was a predominantly male novel, and I hope she comes back with a bigger role in the next novel.

Cover: 4 Stars
This cover describes the novel perfectly. The two detectives on the cover are a great fit for Stan and his partner. I love that the cover is an image from a crime scene. It tells you right away that police procedural will be highlighted in this novel. And it wasn't just a crime scene, it was a paranormal crime scene, which makes sense given the department Stan works for. The only element (and it's very tiny) that didn't completely work for me was the vampire victim. Not gonna lie, his expression freaks me out a tiny bit. Luckily, the image is small enough that he doesn't freak me out too much. The bright yellow title will definitely draw the eye, and stand out against the novels next to it on the shelf.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received a copy of this novel for review from Angry Robot.

Review: Grave Witch by Kalayna Price

Title: Grave Witch
Author: Kalayna Price
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 10/05/10
Summary:

Not even death can save her now.

As a grave witch, Alex Craft can speak to the dead -- she's even on good terms with Death himself. As a consultant for the police, she's seen a lot of dark magic, but nothing has prepared her for her latest case. When she's raising a "shade" involved in a high profile murder, it attacks her, and then someone makes an attempt on her life. Someone really doesn't want her to know what the dead have to say, and she'll have to work with mysterious homicide detective Falin Andrews to figure out why...

Plot: 5 Stars
I absolutely love a novel based around magic in which the use of magic extracts a physical price from the person performing it. In the case of this novel, the use of Alex's grave magic affects her vision afterwards, to the point where she needs light up stones to get to her apartment door after a normal ritual, and is basically blind after a stronger than normal ritual. Another aspect to this novel I really enjoyed was the different kinds of magic, and how the fae were weaved into the supernatural world. It's not very often a novel has only witches and faw; it was a very interesting combination. The twists and turns in this novel kept me guessing until the very last second. And the ending didn't disappoint. It's not very often (knowing there's at least another book in a series) that I seriously don't know how a main character is going to make it out alive.

Pace: 5 Stars
This was one of those awesome novels that I just could not put down. I read at least two-thirds of the book in just one afternoon. And I could barely put it down to watch some of my favorite tv shows. I would pick it up again at every commercial, just for those couple pages I'd be able to read in the break. Every scene in this novel flowed together very well, and all of the crazy events that took place wrapped up very nicely in the end. Time also passed in a very realistic, but still hectic, amount of time. Alex didn't have a lot of time between each crazy twist and turn, but it didn't feel like forty hours worth of mayhem was crammed into a day either.

Characters: 5 Stars
Alex was a very likeable and interesting heroine. Her family was all kinds of crazy, but that didn't keep her down. Plus, she really loved her little dog. Her grave magic was interesting and unique, and the author really did a great job weaving all of the little details of her magic together. Although I wish we could've seen a bit more of John and her roommates, they seemed like great characters and I hope to see more of them in future novels. Detective was fun to hate in the beginning, although I think he grew on me as much as he grew on Alex.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
Normally, I find black and white covers to be a bit boring. But this cover had just enough color splashed onto the cover model's face, hair, and shirt to stand out. Although the scene depicted on the cover takes place during the night, it wasn't too dark. The contrast between all the black, gray, and white layers was enough to keep the details crisp. I also liked the scene depicted on the cover. It doesn't depict an actual scene from the novel, but it still gives a good idea as to what Alex does for a living. The graveyard is a great setting for a Grave Witch, although Alex does a lot of her jobs in morgues and funeral homes. And although Alex doesn't make her ritual circles out of candles, like on the cover, she uses a wide variety of means to make circles throughout the book, so one could assume that a circle of candles would also work. Lastly, I want to point out that I think the cover model looks a bit likea slightly younger Chelsea Handler, but that could just be because I watch Chelsea Lately every night before bed.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Review: Spellbent by Lucy A. Snyder

Title: Spellbent
Author: Lucy A. Snyder
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 12/29/09
Summary:

Jessie Shimmer's roguish lover, Cooper, has been teaching her ubiquemancy, the art of finding the magic in everyday things. But things go terribly wrong when the couple try to call a rainstorm in downtown Columbus. A hellish portal opens, and Cooper is ripped from the world. Worse yet, a vicious demon invades the city. Jessie barely manages to slay it, but she's gravely wounded and the capital's center is destroyed. As if losing an eye and a hand isn't bad enough, the city's ruling mage, Benedict Jordan, brands her an outlaw. With only her ferret familiar to help her, Jessie must find the dimension Cooper's trapped in and bring him back alive before sinister machinations make both of them vanish for good.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
My favorite aspect of this story was the different types of magic and how adaptable it was to different situations. Many, many things go wrong in this novel, but every now and then Jessie got a tiny break. I liked that it wasn't one of those "anything that can go wrong, will go wrong" novels, because those are often unrealistic. Since things kinda worked in Jessie's favor a tiny, tiny bit once or twice, it made her goal seem more attainable. My favorite scene was when Jessie goes to a large retail store and steals a bunch of stuff by doing a spell that shrunk the items and hiding them in a drink cup. It really made me laugh, but mostly because I work for that company.

Pace: 4 Stars
Although there were a couple of scenes that didn't seem to add much to the plot, overall, it moved along pretty smoothly. Time passed in a relatively believable amount of time, without way too many events crammed into a short period of time. There was a part near the middle where my interest started to wane a tiny bit, but then the plot picked up again. The events leading up to the final conclusion seemed a bit muddled, but I'm hoping some of the events will be elaborated on in the next book.

Characters: 4 Stars
Jessie was a very likable character, even if she wasn't always the most moral. She was a bit younger than your average Urban Fantasy main character, which I liked since I'm twenty-three. I haven't found that many main characters closer to my age that are still in school or just finishing. I liked the little bit of Cooper I got to see, and hope there's more of him in the next novel. Pal was a great asset to the story. He helped guide Jessie through some sticky situations without doing everything for her. There were also a number of smaller characters Jessie crossed paths with that were pretty well developed for their shorter roles.

Cover: 5 Stars
This cover is fabulous and one of the most acurate I've seen. From the dragon-looking creature to the ferret to the shotgun to the wound on the cover model's shoulder, everything on this cover portrayed a part of the story. The orange color palatte fits the tone of the novel and makes you think of hell, which comes into play. The font was really eye-catching. The font itself was very unique, the size grabbed your attention, and the color went well with the cover. All in all, this is a great example of a cover really doing justice to the novel it represents.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Review: Warrior by Zoe Archer

Title: Warrior
Author: Zoe Archer
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 09/01/10
Summary:

The vicious attack Capt. Gabriel Huntley witnesses in a dark alley sparks a chain of events that will take him to the ends of the Earth and beyond -- where what is real and what is imagined become terribly confused. And frankly, Huntley couldn't be more pleased. Intrigue, danger, and a beautiful woman in distress -- just what he needs.

Raised thousands of miles from England, Thalia Burgess is no typical Victorian lady. A good thing, because a proper lady would have no hope of recovering the priceless magical artifact Thalia is after. Huntley's assistance might come in handy, though she has to keep him in the dark. But this distractingly handsome soldier isn't easy to deceive...

Plot: 3.5 Stars
The idea of the Blades of the Rose, a group of people spanning the globe that protected magical artifacts from falling into the wrong hands, was a very interesting take on the paranormal romance genre. I don't normally read much history fiction of any sort, but I'm glad I gave this novel a shot. The time period didn't seem to affect the storythat much, probably because Thalia was raised away from Victorian England. I really enjoyed the chase across the continent in search of the magical artifact. It was a breath of fresh air to read about such rural areas, since my reading normally focuses on more urban settings. I'll definitely be reading the next books in this series.

Pace: 3 Stars
The beginning of the novel sucked me in right away and jumped right into the action. But then the pace of the novel slowed down a bit. There were twists and turns that I definitely didn't see coming, but a couple seemed a bit forced. Like they were added in to make the novel longer. But overall, this novel kept me on my toes because I never knew what Thalia and Gabriel would have to face next.

Characters: 4 Stars
My favorite part of this whole novel was how the author gave the secondary characters that Thalia and Gabriel met along the way such depth. I really cared for (or in other cases loathed) many of these smaller characters, which gave the scenes more depth. I also enjoyed the knowledge shown by the author in regards to Mongolian tradition. She really did her research and it showed itself in richers scenes and characters. As far as main characters, I really enjoyed Thalia's strength and Gabriel's stubborness. And I agree with Gabriel when he lamented on how much better Thalia was than the boring women in England. The introduction to other members of the Blades of the Rose near the end of the novel was a great way to lead into future novels.

Cover: 3.5 Stars
I really love when romance covers involve a hot dude that has his shirt on. It's not every day you find one of those. And boy did this cover model have a "don't mess with me" attitude going on. It really made me want to get to know Captain Huntley before I even started the book. Although I like the color palette of the cover, the background really threw me for a loop. I would've never guessed that the story takes place in Mongolia after seeing this cover. It looks like a cowboy stomping threw the desert instead of a retired soldier riding through the Mongolian wilderness. There is a point in which they cross a desert, but it's not the majority of the journey.

Overall: 3.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Review: Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong

Title: Waking the Witch
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 07/27/10
Summary:

The orphaned daughter of a sorcerer and a half-demon, Savannah is a terrifyingly powerful young witch who has never been able to resist the chance to throw her magical weight around. But at 21 she knows she needs to grow up and prove to her guardians, Paige and Lucas, that she can be a responsible member of their supernatural detective agency. So she jumps at the chance to fly solo, investigating the mysterious deaths of three young women in a nearby factory town as a favour to one of the agency’s associates. At first glance, the murders look garden-variety human, but on closer inspection signs point to otherworldly stakes.

Soon Savannah is in over her head. She’s run off the road and nearly killed, haunted by a mystery stalker, and freaked out when the brother of one of the dead women is murdered when he tries to investigate the crime. To complicate things, something weird is happening to her powers. Pitted against shamans, demons, a voodoo-inflected cult and garden-variety goons, Savannah has to fight to ensure her first case isn’t her last. And she also has to ask for help, perhaps the hardest lesson she’s ever had to learn.

Plot: 4 Stars
Having only read Bitten, the first novel in this series, I was a bit hesitant that I would be completely lost when reading book eleven. But Kelley's website FAQs assured me that minus a few details here and there, this novel could be read as a stand alone. And I have to say, she did a great job. Having never met Savannah before, I really got a good glimpse into her character and the world she lives in. For her first investigation, Savannah does a pretty good job digging for clues and staying alive. The culprit of the crimes definitely took me by surprise, which I love. All in all, this was a great blend of urban fantasy and mystery.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
Savannah follows several leads throughout this novel, leading to many twists and turns of the plot. Every time it seemed like she was taking a step forward in the case, something threw her two steps back. There was a brief moment in which I wondered if she'd ever figured it out, but my doubt was quickly squashed. The ending isn't a clifferhanger exactly, but on the very last page you find out something major possibly happened and you're left with months to wait before finding out if its true.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
Although I would never ride one myself, I love a girl who's not afraid to ride a motorcycle. Savannah makes a very kick-ass, no-nonsense private investigator. I wish we could've seen a bit more of Paige and Lucas, but that's probably moslty because I haven't read any of Paige's books in the series. Jaime was very interesting for the short span she showed up, which makes me want to go back and read her books. Although he wasn't there for a lot of the investigation, I really enjoyed Adam and his half-demon idiosycracies.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
This was a great cover. I loved the motorcycle in the background, since it's such a huge part of Savannah's personality. And the cover model chosen to portray Savannah was a great choice. She really embodied the character. The color choices of greans and blues really fit the tone of the novel and brought out many of the cover's details. When I saw the first cover, I was disappointed at how generic it looked, so I'm glad they redesigned the cover.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.

Waiting on Wednesday (35)

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

Title: Queen of Shadows
Author: Dianne Sylvan
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release date: 08/31/10
Summary:

Meet Miranda Grey -- music and magic are in her blood.

Overwhelmed by her uncanny ability to manipulate people's emotions through her music, Miranda Grey comes to the attention of vampire lord David Solomon. Believing he can help bring her magic under control, David discovers that Miranda's powers may affect the vampire world too...

Teaser Tuesday (39)

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: Waking the Witch
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 08/03/10

Jaime Vegas was a celebrity spiritualist. She mainly did live shows these days, where she contacted the dead to reassure the living. Great gig for a necromancer... except most times, Jaime faked it. She had to. The messages that the living need aren't necessarily the ones the dead want to impart. -- pg. 68

Review: Vicious Circle by Linda Robertson

Title: Vicious Circle
Author: Linda Robertson
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 06/30/09
Summary:

A girl's got to do what a girl's got to do...

Being a witch doesn't pay the bills, but Persephone Alcmedi gets by between reading Tarot cards, writing her syndicated newspaper column, and kenneling werewolves in the basement when the moon is full -- even if witches aren't supposed to mingle with wolves. She really reaches the end of her leash, though, when her grandmother gets kicked out of the nursing home and Seph finds herself in the doghouse about some things she's written. Then her werewolf friend Lorrie is murdered... and the high priestess of an important coven offers Seph big money to destroy the killer, a powerful vampire named Goliath Kline. Seph is a tough girl, but this time she bites off more than she can chew. She needs a little help from her friends -- werewolf friends. One of those friends, Johnny, the motorcycle-riding lead singer for the techno-metal-Goth band Lycanthropia, has a crush on her. And while Seph has always been on edge around this 6'2" leather-clad hunk, she's starting to realize that although their attraction may be dangerous, nothing could be as lethal as the showdown that awaits them.

Plot: 3 Stars
The plot of this novel was refreshing and fun. All of the paranormal creatures were interesting and had a unique twist. There were many aspects of this story that I really enjoyed. Especially the twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. But there were also aspects that didn't work so well. The biggest of these is the fact that we are told that werewolves and witches aren't supposed to mingle, but we're never really told why. There's a brief moment in which it is implied that a witches magic affects the werewolf's shift, but there's really nothing else to explain why. I hope more information about this comes up in future books.

Pace: 3.5 Stars
This novel was a bit of a bumpy read. There were many moments in which I was glued to the page, surprise twist after surprise turn. But there were also times in which I had to force myself through a scene or two. There weren't many scenes like that, but just enough to slow down my reading.

Characters: 3.5 Stars
I really enjoyed a number of the characters, but felt we didn't really get to know them that well. I really liked reading the dynamic between Persephone and her grandmother, and I hope they continue their current dynamic in future books. I really wanted to enjoy Johnny with his techno-goth band and tattoos, but I feel like we never got to see too far under the surface. Even the villians seemed a bit lacking in details at times. But what I did learn about these characters will definitely not keep me from reading the next books in the series in hopes that they grow throughout the next couple books.

Cover: 4 Stars
I really enjoyed this cover. I felt the cover model was a good match to what we learn about Persephone. My favorite part is the light swirls and designs. They really give an abstract magic feel without having to actually come out of the cover model's hand or a wand. The color choices were also interesting because purples aren't used as often on urban fantasy covers. I just wish there could've been a werewolf somewhere on the cover. Although the story is focused on Persephone, the werewolves play a large part in her life so it makes sense that they should be portrayed on the cover.

Overall: 3.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Waiting on Wednesday (31)

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

Title: Betrayal
Author: Gillian Shields
Genre: Young Adult
Release date: 08/03/10
Summary:

There are the small betrayals: the unkind word, the petty lies. And there are the betrayals that break hearts, destroy worlds, and turn the strong sweet light of day into bitter dust.

When Evie Johnson started at Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies, her life changed in ways she couldn't possibly have envisioned: the discovery of her link with Lady Agnes, her special bond with Helen and Sarah, and their sisterhood in the astonishing secrets of the Mystic Way. Above all, Evie's love for Sebastian has turned her world upside down.

Now Evie returns to Wyldcliffe for another term and more danger. Surrounded by enemies, she lives every day in fear that Sebastian will fall into the darkness of servitude to the Unconquered Lords. The Wyldcliffe coven is plotting to destroy Evie and use Sebastian to secure their own immortality. Evie and her sisters must master the power of the Talisman before it is too late. But could it be Sebastian himself who will ultimately betray Evie?

In this companion to Gillian Shields's dazzling Immortal, magic and sweeping romance cross the bounds of time to deliver heart-stopping emotion and suspense.

Teaser Tuesday (36)

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: Vicious Circle
Author: Linda Robertson
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 06/30/09

This was bigger than me, my easily bruised ego, or my karmic future. Still, I did not have to like any of it. And the weight on my shoulders felt impossibly burdensome. How could I be that important? I never stood out anywhere else in my life; I wasn't ready to think there was any place that I should. So I said the words he probably knew were coming: "I don't want to be a killer." -- pg. 126

Review: Glimmerglass by Jenna Black

Title: Glimmerglass
Author: Jenna Black
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 05/25/10
Summary:

It’s all she’s ever wanted to be, but it couldn’t be further from her grasp...

Dana Hathaway doesn’t know it yet, but she’s in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, again, Dana decides she’s had enough and runs away to find her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the captivating, magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl -- she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and the only person who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.


Soon, Dana finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone seems to want something from her, from her newfound friends and family to Ethan, the hot Fae guy Dana figures she’ll never have a chance with... until she does. Caught between two worlds, Dana isn’t sure where she’ll ever fit in and who can be trusted, not to mention if her world will ever be normal again...

Plot: 5 Stars
The idea of the mortal world and the faerie world intersecting in a specific point, Avalon, was a very interesting take on faerie lore. Up until now, I've only read about the two worlds existing completely together or completely apart. I really enjoyed how the two races could co-exist in Avalon, but humans couldn't venture into the faerie realm, and vice versa. The magic that the fae possess was also unique. It involved more energy manipulation than the more common glamour.

Pace: 5 Stars
Dana just couldn't catch a break once she reached Avalon. She barely got a chance to stop and take a breath. As much as I felt for her, I also really enjoyed reading the crazy chain of events that took place. The pace was go-go-go without being completely rushed. In fact, all of the events flowed together to make a wonderful story that was never boring.

Characters: 4 Stars
I really enjoyed Dana. I really felt for her as I was reading. She dealt with the hand life dealt her in a very mature manner. Ethan and his sister were very interesting characters. They played off of each other quite well, and gave the reader a very intimate glance into life in Avalon and life as a fae teenager. I would've liked Dana's parents to have played a slightly bigger roll in the book. I don't feel like I got to know them quite as well as other characters.

Cover: 5 Stars
I fell in love with this cover the first time I saw it online, but seeing it in person was a hundred times better. What looked like gray spots, turned out to be a shiny silver. And they even repeated onto the spine. The text and spine were an unusual pink that really complimented the navy blue. But my favorite part is the image of the cover model. The image and it's opposite image are striking in their unique angle.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Review: Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane

Title: Unholy Ghosts
Author: Stacia Kane
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 05/25/10
Summary:

THE DEPARTED HAVE ARRIVED.

The world is not the way it was. The dead have risen, and the living are under attack. The powerful Church of Real Truth, in charge since the government fell, has sworn to reimburse citizens being harassed by the deceased. Enter Chess Putnam, a fully tattooed witch and freewheeling ghost hunter. She’s got a real talent for banishing the wicked dead. But Chess is keeping a dark secret: She owes a lot of money to a murderous drug lord named Bump, who wants immediate payback in the form of a dangerous job that involves black magic, human sacrifice, a nefarious demonic creature, and enough wicked energy to wipe out a city of souls. Toss in lust for a rival gang leader and a dangerous attraction to Bump’s ruthless enforcer, and Chess begins to wonder if the rush is really worth it. Hell, yeah.

Plot: 4 Stars
The way every aspect of Chess's life get wrapped together into the intricate plot of the novel was done very well. Her work life with the Church and her secret life of drugs cross paths and she dealt with it the way one would expect: with lies and drugs. The ghosts and their history in Downside were a very interesting take; it's not very often the ghosts are specifically mean or violent. The magic could have been explained a little more in depth, but was still unique to the story. I really enjoyed following Chess throughout the book as she balanced the good parts of herself against the bad, her work against her addiction.

Pace: 4 Stars
I enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. They really helped explain the church without Chess having to pause in the action to explain everything. The story flowed really well with the quotes and Chess just giving bits and pieces about the church throughout the story. There were a couple points throughout the novel that were a bit slow for me. A few times, I wanted to shake Chess and tell her there were more important things going on than her drugs, but her addiction really became just another part of the story. The end seemed a touch rushed, but was otherwise a great ending to a very interesting story.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
Chess was a very unique individual. I've never before read about a main character that was also addicted to drugs, and it was a very fresh idea for the urban fantasy genre. In a genre full of kick ass bounty hunters and assassins and law enforcement officers, it was a breath of fresh air to read about a less than perfect, flawed character that read almost like an anti-hero. I also enjoyed the difference in speech between the more shady characters and the members of the Church. Although it took a bit getting used to, once I did, it really gave me a better picture of the characters.

Cover: 4 Stars
The color contrast of blues and yellows on each half of the cover model's face depicts the good and bad that wars within Chess. I also really liked that the cover model's tattoos were relevant to the story, although we never get a clear picture of what Chess's tattoos should look like while reading. The cityscape background really gives the dark and gritty feel of Downside. And I absolutely love the font chosen for the title.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Review: Shadow Blade by Seressia Glass

Title: Shadow Blade
Author: Seressia Glass
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 01/26/10
Summary:

For Kira Solomon, normal was never an option.

Kira's day job is as an antiquities expert, but her true calling is as a Shadowchaser. Trained from youth to be one of the most lethal Chasers in existence, Kira serves the Gilead Commission, dispatching the Fallen who sow discord and chaos. Of course, sometimes Gilead bureaucracy is as much a thorn in her side as anything the Fallen can muster against her. Right now, though, she's got a bigger problem. Someone is turning the city of Atlanta upside down in search of a millennia-old Egyptian dagger that just happens to have fallen into Kira's hands.

Then there's Khefar, the dagger's true owner —- a near-immortal 4,000-year-old Nubian warrior who, Kira has to admit, looks pretty fine for his age. Joining forces is the only way to keep the weapon safe from the sinister Shadow forces, but now Kira is in deep with someone who holds more secrets than she does, the one person who knows just how treacherous this fight is. Because every step closer to destroying the enemy is a step closer to losing herself to Shadow forever...

Plot: 3.5 Stars
The action and the plot were very engaging; the weaponry was very cool, especially the idea of infusing Lightblades with magic. I really enjoyed the Egyptian lore that was interlaced throughout the whole plot. My only complaint is that the idea of Light and Shadow was a little vague. There were so many terms for beings of Light and Shadow, and many weren't explained that in depth.

Pace: 3.5 Stars
The book had a pretty steady pace; I never wanted to take a break because I was getting bored. But I feel like there could've been a bit more description in some areas. There was a point where Kira went up against the Shadow Avatar and he injected her with Shadow. The scenes after that were very chaotic and confusing and, in my opinion, lacking in some explanation because I'm still kinda confused.

Characters: 3 Stars
As I was reading, I was really left using the cover model (whose face was cut off) as a guide for what the main character looks like because the author gave almost no description of Kira. There was a physical description given for every other character that played a big part in the action, but I think the only physical description of Kira was her height and braids. On the other hand, we really got to know Kira's personality and past. The author really incorporated the past well into the story.

Cover: 4 Stars
Although I normally like when I don't see a cover model's face so that I can base the image in my head more on the description, I think the model's face was cut off at a very weird point. I do like that the model was dressed in leather and had a blade; it was very acurate to how Kira dressed for Shadowchasing.

Overall: 3.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Waiting on Wednesday (18)

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

Title: Unholy Ghosts
Author: Stacia Kane
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release date: 05/25/10
Summary:

THE DEPARTED HAVE ARRIVED.

The world is not the way it was. The dead have risen, and the living are under attack. The powerful Church of Real Truth, in charge since the government fell, has sworn to reimburse citizens being harassed by the deceased.

Consequently, there are many false claims of hauntings from those hoping to profit. Enter Chess Putnam, a fully-tattooed witch, freewheeling Debunker, and ghost hunter. She’s got a real talent for nailing human liars and banishing the wicked dead. But she’s keeping a dark secret from the Church: a little drug problem that’s landed her in hot and dangerous water.

Chess owes a lot of money to a murderous drug lord named Bump. And Bump wants immediate payback. All Chess has to do is dispatch a very nasty species of undead from an old airport. But the job involves black magic, human sacrifice, a nefarious demonic creature, and crossing swords with enough wicked energy to wipe out a city of souls. Toss in lust for a rival gang leader and a dangerous attraction to Bump’s ruthless enforcer, and Chess begins to wonder if the rush is really worth it. Hell, yeah.

Unholy Magic and City of Ghosts will be released on 06/22/10 and 07/27/10.

Teaser Tuesday (18)

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: Shadow Blade
Author: Seressia Glass
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 01/26/10

Chaos magic drenched the sidewalk leading from the hotel. To Kira, it looked like a pale phosphorescent mist that stained the air. Those with any trace of magical ability or extrasensory perception would recognize the wrongness of it. -- pg. 24

Cover Art: Fatal Circle by Linda Robertson

I haven't seen this cover around yet, so I figured I'd post it. I found it via Juno Books.

Fatal Circle by Linda Robertson

Cover Art: Magic on the Storm by Devon Monk

Look what I just found at SciFiGuy! I absolutely love this series, and the covers are gorgeous!

Magic on the Storm by Devon Monk