Review: Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep

Title: Web of Lies
Author: Jennifer Estep
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 05/25/10
Summary:

Curiosity is definitely going to get me dead one of these days. Probably real soon.

I'm Gin Blanco.

You might know me as the Spider, the most feared assassin in the South. I’m retired now, but trouble still has a way of finding me. Like the other day when two punks tried to rob my popular barbecue joint, the Pork Pit. Then there was the barrage of gunfire on the restaurant. Only, for once, those kill shots weren’t aimed at me. They were meant for Violet Fox. Ever since I agreed to help Violet and her grandfather protect their property from an evil coalmining tycoon, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m really retired. So is Detective Donovan Caine. The only honest cop in Ashland is having a real hard time reconciling his attraction to me with his Boy Scout mentality. And I can barely keep my hands off his sexy body. What can I say? I’m a Stone elemental with a little Ice magic thrown in, but my heart isn’t made of solid rock. Luckily, Gin Blanco always gets her man... dead or alive.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
Although I wished Gin would've looked a bit more into the bomb that was dropped at the end of Spider's Bite, I can understand her hesitance. Hopefully this plotline will be expanded on in the third novel, Venom. Besides this point, the plot drew me in immediately. Every piece of the puzzle fit together perfectly, and yet so many things completely surprised me. It was very interesting to see more of the elemental powers that Gin and other citizens of Ashland possess.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
Web of Lies was like a roller coaster: you speed through a bunch of twists and turns, and once you're finished you can't wait to do it again. The novel itself encompassed less than a week, but it was a completely believable timeline. Even when Gin took a step back and baked a delicious cobbler, the story didn't slow down. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire four hundred pages, and just couldn't get enough.

Characters: 5 Stars
Gin really showed some growth in this novel. After a stint of retirement, she takes a case out of morals instead of money. It's always good to be reassured that a tough-as-nails heroine has feelings and morals. Finnegan makes a great sidekick to Gin, although I'm sure he would be pissed to be referred to as a sidekick. He brought just the right amount of humor to the story. There were also a lot of new characters, both good and evil, and we got to know all of them pretty well. I was a little disappointed in Donovan, but I don't think this is the last we've seen of the good cop.

Cover: 4.5 Star
This series has been blessed with a fantastic cover artist. At first, I was confused by the brown background image, especially after Spider's Bite had such specific details added in. But once I finished the book and gave the cover another look, I was enlightened and realized the background image was from a crucial part of the book. I also love that the cover model has Gin's spider rune scars on her palms, and her silverstone knife. It actually feels like Gin is on the cover, and not just a model that can pass for her.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received an eARC of this book from the author and also bought a copy of this book for my own enjoyment.

In My Mailbox (35)

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



Bought:

Glimmerglass by Jenna Black
Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris
Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane
Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
Spells by Aprilynna Pike

Used Trade-In:

Staying Dead by Laura Gilman

Won:

Embers by Laura Bickle [Thanks Book Smugglers]

And on a non-book related note, I bought season 2 of Trueblood! And got a $5 giftcard for purchasing Definitely Dead (or any other Charlaine Harris novel) with it.

Review: Stormwalker by Allyson James

Title: Stormwalker
Author: Allyson James
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 05/04/10
Summary:

Janet Begay is a Stormwalker, capable of wielding the raw elemental power of nature, a power that threatens to overwhelm her. Only her lover, Mick, is able to calm the storm within her-even as their passion reaches unimaginable heights of ecstasy.

But when an Arizona police chief's daughter is taken by a paranormal evil, they find themselves venturing where no human can survive-for only together can they overcome the greatest danger they've ever faced.

Plot: 5 Stars
Besides Janet's stormwalking powers, which were unique, there was a whole slew of lore and paranormal creatures in this novel. Between skinwalkers, shapeshifters, dragons, and nightwalkers (a twist on the average vampire), there was never a dull moment. Plus, the idea of the Beneath and the different realities or dimensions that exist were an interesting twist. I hope we get to learn about them more in future novels. The mystery element within the novel and how it connected to Janet was integrated into the paranormal aspects quite well. Although I had figured out certain elements, others caught me completely by surprise.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
This was one of those books that sucked me in immediately and didn't let go. I often fall victim to was I call the 200 page boredom. This is where I'll lose interest in a book around two thirds of the way through because there's a lull in the action right before the climax/resolution at the end. This novel didn't have that at all. It was nonstop action and adventure and mystery from beginning to end. Some of the end scenes could've been elaborated on a bit more because a few details were a bit rushed and confusing, but other than that the pacing was perfect.

Characters: 5 Stars
Janet is one of my favorite new heroines. I haven't liked a main character as much as I enjoyed reading about her in a long time. And her stormwalking powers were so interesting and unique. What I liked most is that she wasn't all-powerful; she couldn't always control her powers and was left feeling hungover afterwards. Mick took a bit longer to come around to, but once I got to know him a little better, I found that I liked his character and his motivations. And the detective was one of those characters you love to hate. He was always there to stir the pot and bring a little more mayhem to the story.

Cover: 5 Star
I absolutely loved this cover. The cover model looked like she could possibly be of Navajo descent, like the main character, Janet. Plus, it's a full body shot of the cover model, which I haven't seen all that often. And it really works. It gives off an air of confidence and don't-mess-with-me that really fit Janet. I also liked the simplicity of the lightning bolt in the background. It gives a hint as to what she can do as a stormwalker and draws you in.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Waiting on Wednesday (28)

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

Title: When Blood Calls
Author: J.K. Beck
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release date: 08/31/10
Summary:

Sara Constantine is one of the country’s most tenacious prosecuting attorneys -- and she’s just secured a well-earned promotion. At first she’s thrilled. Then she finds out her new job involves prosecuting vampires and werewolves. And nothing prepares Sara for the shock she receives when she meets the first defendant she’ll be trying to put away: Lucius Dragos, the sexy stranger with whom she recently shared an explosive night of ecstasy.

When Lucius Dragos kisses the beautiful woman sitting next to him at the bar, he’s only hoping to blend into the crowd and avoid the perceptive gaze of the man he’s following... and planning to kill. But what starts as a simple kiss to secure his cover ignites into a fierce hunger that leads to an all-consuming passion. Charged with murder, Luke knows Sara will do whatever it takes to see him locked away -- unless he can convince her that he’s not the monster she thinks he is. And that might mean making the greatest sacrifice a vampire can make.

When Pleasure Rules and When Wicked Craves will be released on 09/28/10 and 10/26/10.

Teaser Tuesday (32)

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: Web of Lies
Author: Jennifer Estep
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 05/25/10

So I pulled off my glove, put my hand on the granite, and listened to its vibrations. Slow, steady, solid, just like the rock itself. There was also a sense it was guarding something, protecting something important, valuable. Tobias Dawson's secrets, whatever they might be. -- pg. 211

Review: Shadow Marked by Anna J. Evans

Title: Shadow Marked
Author: Anna J. Evans
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 05/04/10
Summary:

Samantha Quinn has been in the dark since age six, when her parents sacrificed her sight in a Satanic ritual. She is trying to get over her demonic past, but horrific lifelike visions haunt her. Her intuition gets stronger and clearer after a wild, adrenaline-fueled sexual encounter with Jace, her brother's childhood friend. And now Samantha is more tormented than ever by what she can "see"-and by what she felt in that forbidden encounter...

Samantha must now prevent the deaths she sees in her premonitions and protect her body from the same demon from her twisted childhood. Her dark curse reveals that Jace will be the next victim, and it is crystal clear that she must destroy the demon to protect her love.

Plot: 3.5 Stars
There were two main plot points that I really enjoyed about this novel: the main character being blind and the demons being scary and evil. I've never read a novel with a blind protagonist, and I've been reading too many paranormal novels lately where the demons are bad but sexy, or bad but not scary. The story had a lot of promise and I really enjoyed it, but the end was very rushed and confusing.

Pace: 2 Stars
The events of this novel barely take place over two full days, but it feels like forever. I'm not sure there was realistically enough time for everything that was packing into those two days. Normally I could overlook something like that and just assume it was a very action packed couple days, but for all the action squeezed into such a short span, it was a bit of a drag to read. There were times where the author gave us more details of the surrounding than was needed to get a visual, and other times when there wasn't enough. Altogether it was a bit disjointed for me.

Characters: 3 Stars
I felt as if I really got to know Jace and Samantha throughout the novel, and they really had well rounded personalities and depth, but most of the other characters were very flat and uninteresting. Outside of the two main characters, I also don't think we learned much about anyone else, unless it specifically played into the plot. There were also a few times in which I felt the author had Samantha doing or describing things that seemed like they'd be outside of the realm of possibility due to her lack of sight, but mostly did a good job conveying the issue.

Cover: 3.5 Star
I think the cover model is a good match given the description of Samantha we're given, especially since it was the only way to know what Samantha looks like for a number of chapters. It took so long for the author to give any sort of physical description of Sammy, that for a while I wondered if we'd ever learn what she looked like. Also, I felt that since Jace was such a big part of the story and about 40% of the novel was from his point of view, that he should've been on the cover also.

Overall: 3 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

In My Mailbox (34)

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

We painted our bedroom "tangy lemon" so I decided to include the bright yellow walls in my photos to share the color with everyone.

Bought:


Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep
White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison
Touched by an Alien by Gini Koch


Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead
My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent
Dark Oracle by Alayna Williams

Used Trade-In:


Happy Hour at Casa Dracula by Marta Acosta
All Souls' Night by Jennifer Armintrout
Pride Mates by Jennifer Ashley


Undone by Rachel Caine
A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
Legend of the Jade Dragon by Yasmine Galenorn


The Scent of Shadows by Vicki Pettersson
Spiral Hunt by Margaret Ronald
Darkest Pleasure by Gena Showalter

Review: Swoon by Nina Malkin

Title: Swoon
Author: Nina Malkin
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 05/04/10 (paperback)
Summary:

SIN IS COMING...PREPARE TO SWOON.

Torn from her native New York City and dumped in the land of cookie-cutter preps, Candice is resigned to accept her posh, dull fate. Nothing even happens in Swoon, Connecticut...until Dice's perfect, privileged cousin Penelope nearly dies in a fall from an old tree and her spirit interwines with that of a ghost. His name? Sinclair Youngblood Powers. His mission? Revenge and while Pen is obvious to the possession, Dice is all too aware of Sin. She's intesely drawn to him—but not at all crazy abolut the havoc he's wreaking.

Determined to exorcise the demon, Dice accidentally sets Sin loose, gives him flesh, makes him formidable. Now she must destroy an even more potent—and irresistible—adversary before the whole town succumbs to Sin's will. Only trouble is, she's in love with him.

What do you do when the boy of your dreams is too bad to be true?

Plot: 3 Stars
When I read the back cover copy, I was so excited for this book. It seemed like such an interesting take on demons and possession. But the book just didn't live up to my high expectations. The demons and possession (the parts of the book that had my attention) seemed to take a backseat for most of the novel. Instead, the majority of the book felt like there was nothing paranormal going on, just crazy teenagers (and sometimes adults) doing crazy things.

Pace: 2 Stars
This novel just dragged on for me. There were a number of scenes that could've been cut, in my opinion. They didn't seem to add much to the plot and kinda seemed like filler. I kept hoping some of these scenes would tie in as the loose ends were being tied together near the end, but it just didn't happen. The ending also felt a little rushed and quick. It was over before I knew it, and I was left looking for a bit more to wrap everything up.

Characters: 2.5 Stars
There weren't a lot of characters in this novel that were well rounded. Most of the teenagers seemed shallow and most of the parents seemed aloof. Dice wasn't as shallow as most of her fellow classmates, but she was a bit hung up on Sin throughout the novel. I would've liked her to be a bit more down to earth than she came across. The characters I really felt for was Marsh, Pen and Dice's friend who dealt with many obstacles that most teens in the town didn't have to deal with. Although the mayhem Sin caused was confusing, I didn't necessarily agree with his reasoning behind everything.

Cover: 3 Star
The colors of the cover were very striking. The different purple hues really stood out against the much brighter colored covers found around the novel (both in the store, and on my bookshelf). The pink text of the title was a nice contrast, although I thought the title was a bit small for the cover. The tree was a very spooky element to include. The only thing I'm not very fond of on the cover was the cover model, mostly because I didn't like the pose that was chosen. It seemed a bit awkward.

Overall: 2.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Waiting on Wednesday (27)

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

Title: Tracking the Tempest
Author: Nicole Peeler
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release date: 06/29/10
Summary:

Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and Ryu - Jane's bloodsucking boyfriend - can't let a major holiday go by without getting all gratuitous. An overwhelming dose of boyfriend interference and a last-minute ticket to Boston later, and Jane's life is thrown off course.

Ryu's well-intentioned plans create mayhem, and Jane winds up embroiled in an investigation involving a spree of gruesome killings. All the evidence points towards another Halfling, much to Jane's surprise...

Teaser Tuesday (31)

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: Stormwalker
Author: Allyson James
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 05/04/10

The desert floor was also pockmarked with holes made by rodents and snakes -- easy to twist an ankle in one and lie there helplessly, waiting for the sun. On top of that, there were things out there no human could handle, and I wasn't talking only about skinwalkers. -- pg. 113

Review: White Cat by Holly Black

Title: White Cat
Author: Holly Black
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 05/04/10
Summary:

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers -- people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail -- he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.

Holly Black has created a gripping tale of mobsters and dark magic where a single touch can bring love -- or death -- and your dreams might be more real than your memories.

Plot: 4 Stars
I really liked the idea of workers and curses, and whether or not the powers are used for good or evil. It was a very unique take the typical "magic" or "curses" often seen in young adult and urban fantasy novels. The different types of workers and how they operated could've been elaborated on a little more, so I'm hoping we'll find out more in the sequel. I only had a small issue with the plot, that being that I was a bit confused at times. Cassel, the main character, was also confused so I guess it fit, but I just wish a few details here and there could've been explained a little better.

Pace: 3.5 Stars
The pace of this novel was uneven. The beginning started out a bit slow, but sucked me in after a couple chapters. Then there was a lull in the plot a chapter or two before the climax, but when it reached that point, I couldn't put the book down and was handed twist after twist. There were some scenes that seemed pointless when I read them, but made sense later on, and then there were one or two that never really fit in.

Characters: 4 Stars
Cassel was a very likeable main character. I like young adult novels with male main characters, and they don't come along all that often, so I was psyched. I liked the inner turmoil that Cassel went through and how he dealt with it. His grandfather was another character I enjoyed. His older brothers were a bit touch and go for me. I could never quite figure out whether or not I should like them, or whether or not I actually did. But that doesn't mean the author did anything wrong; I actually think the reader is supposed to be unsure of those two. All in all, it was a very interesting cast of characters, workers and non-workers alike.

Cover: 4.5 Star
I'm a sucker for covers with fluffy cats on them. But besides the cute kitty, the color and font choices make for a striking color. The shadows and black background make the cover model look mysterious, which really fits the character. The red and white text stands out without being too crazy, or giving off the wrong vibe.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

In My Mailbox (33)

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



Bought:

Inhuman Resources by Jes Battis
Shadow Marked by Anna J. Evans
Moonshine by Alaya Johnson

Review: Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Title: Shade
Author: Jeri Smith-Ready
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 05/04/10
Summary:

Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding--and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.

Plot: 5 Stars
The whole idea of the Shift and how everyone born afterwards can see ghosts (violet ghosts no less) was such an original idea, and the novel definitely followed through. Everything Aura went through felt real, and I felt for her. Dealing with loss is hard, and dealing with someone coming back as a ghosts is even harder. I also loved how the author integrated music into the story. I was into the same-ish music scene in high school, so I really connected with that aspect.

Pace: 5 Stars
What started out as a diversion from a different book I wasn't enjoying (I'll often take a break from a book that's moving too slow and pick up another), turned into me not being able to put this novel down. There was no slow start, no lull of inaction in the middle, and the ending wasn't rushed. Basically, the pacing of this novel was spot on. It sucked me in from the first page and didn't let go until the last. And I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

Characters: 5 Stars
Aura was a very down to earth and very likeable main character. She keeps herself together even though she goes through some very tough situations throughout the novel. I liked all of Logan's siblings. And it was very interesting to see how they all interacted after Logan's death, considering his younger brother could see him, but his older brother and sister could not. Zachary was another likeable character, but it took me a little bit to warm up to him. All in all, the author created a very inviting and interesting cast of characters.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
At first, I wondered my this cover was chosen. But after reading the book and learning that the ghosts themselves are violet and the color red repells them, the color choices make a lot more sense and I can appreciate them. It's a very lovely cover. I just wish we could've gotten a better look at Aura since I loved her so much.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Review: The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason

Title: The Rest Falls Away
Author: Colleen Gleason
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 01/02/07
Summary:

In every generation, a Gardella is called to accept the family legacy of vampire slaying, and this time, Victoria Gardella Grantworth is chosen, on the eve of her debut, to carry the stake. But as she moves between the crush of ballrooms and dangerous, moonlit streets, Victoria's heart is torn between London's most eligible bachelor, the Marquess of Rockley, and her enigmatic ally, Sebastian Vioget. And when she comes face to face with the most powerful vampire in history, Victoria must ultimately make the choice between duty and love.

Plot: 2.5 Stars
The premise of the series is very promising, but didn't quite deliver. There were a few major flaws in the plot, and a lot of necessary information is either not given or given too late. Each time Victoria runs into a new kind of vampire (there are three kinds), it's a complete surprise because there was no classification beforehand. Since Victoria is new to being a venator, we only learn what she has learned about the job. I would've liked a little more information and backstory to the job.

Pace: 1.5 Stars
The pace of this novel threw me completely. In the beginning, it is of utmost importance that the venators find an important book. We're led to believe that it will be a big part of the book, but it is found within a hundred pages or so. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but after the book is found, nothing happens for the majority of the book. Most of the action is jammed into the last couple chapters, which were very hard to get through. I almost put this novel down and gave up a number of times because the story just wasn't moving.

Characters: 3 Stars
I liked Victoria as a main character. She was strong and headstrong and stuck to her guns. But I feel like we barely learned anything about anyone else. I would've liked a little more information about Rockley and Max, her aunt Eustacia and her mother. I feel like we only got to see the surface of the other characters, and not what's underneath. Not much about the past was uncovered. And we also didn't learn all that much about the vampires.

Cover: 3 Stars
The cover is appealing, and definitely gets the vampire angle across with the stake. But it's a bit bland for me. I think it would've been better with the natural colors of the scene instead of the monochromatic reds. My biggest issue with the cover is the cross inlayed into the end of the stake. You can plainly see that it's computer generated, and the stake would've looked much more natural without it.

Overall: 2.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Waiting on Wednesday (26)

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

Title: Blood Law
Author: Jeannie Holmes
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release date: 07/06/10
Summary:

To stop a vampire killer, she’ll have to slay her own demons first.

A provocative and savvy vampire, Alexandra Sabian moves to the sleepy hamlet of Jefferson, Mississippi—population 6,000, half vampires—to escape the demons lurking in her past. As an enforcer for the Federal Bureau of Preternatural Investigations (FBPI), Alex must maintain the uneasy peace between her kind and humans, including Jefferson’s bigoted sheriff, who’d be happy to see all vampires banished from town. Then really dead vamps start turning up—beheaded, crucified, and defanged, the same gruesome manner in which Alex’s father was murdered decades ago. For Alex, the professional has become way too personal.

Things get even more complicated when the FBPI sends in some unnervingly sexy backup: Alex’s onetime mentor, lover, and fiancé, Varik Baudelaire. Still stinging from the betrayal that ended their short-lived engagement, Alex is determined not to give in to the temptation that soon threatens to short-circuit her investigation. But as the vamp body count grows and the public panic level rises, Varik may be Alex’s only hope to stop a relentless killer who’s got his own score to settle and his own bloody past to put right.

Teaser Tuesday (30)

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: Swoon
Author: Nina Malkin
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 05/04/10 (paperback)

Corn maze? Mm-hmm. Corn maze. Any farmer with a few extra acres and access to GPS technology can turn a tidy profit transforming his cornfield into a labyrinth. The Corny Conundrum, this one's called, on the Gladney Farm off Heritage Pike. -- pg. 208

Review: Changeless by Gail Carriger

Title: Changeless
Author: Gail Carriger
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 03/30/10
Summary:

Alexia Tarabotti, the Lady Woolsey, awakens in the wee hours of the mid-afternoon to find her husband, who should be decently asleep like any normal werewolf, yelling at the top of his lungs. Then he disappears - leaving her to deal with a regiment of supernatural soldiers encamped on her doorstep, a plethora of exorcised ghosts, and an angry Queen Victoria.

But Alexia is armed with her trusty parasol, the latest fashions, and an arsenal of biting civility. Even when her investigations take her to Scotland, the backwater of ugly waistcoats, she is prepared: upending werewolf pack dynamics as only the soulless can.

She might even find time to track down her wayward husband, if she feels like it.

Plot: 3.5 Stars
The quest to not only locate the Earl of Woolsey, but also figure out why the supernaturals became human was a very nice plot for the novel. The conclusion to all of the problems within the journey was definitely not even a possibility in my speculation of what was to come. My biggest disappointment is that we're left with a slight cliffhanger. It could've easily been the beginning of the next novel instead of slapping me in the face right before the book ended.

Pace: 2.5 Stars
This was a very slow moving novel. After the quick pace and quick wit of the first book, Changeless just seemed that much slower. A big reason for this, is that a lot of the humor that was present in book one is lacking in the second installment. The humor was there, but the laughs were definitely fewer and further between. The fancy speech of the era was easier to understand this time around, but at times the Scottish characters were a bit hard to understand. There was a bit too much uncommon slang and odd spellings to get the accents across.

Characters: 3.5 Stars
I enjoyed getting to know new characters, as well as learning more about the characters introduced in Soulless. My biggest regret is that Miss Hisselpenny's hats weren't nearly as focused on as in book one, because I find them hilarious. It was great to meet Madame Lefoux and learn more about Lord Akeldama, but I didn't feel like I learned anything new about Alexia or Conall which I was really looking forward to.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
Another fantastic cover. Although the blue isn't as eye catching as the hot pink from the Soulless cover, it's still a very nice touch. I enjoyed the cover model's hat and goggles, although I wish she had a parasol since Alexia is known for her parasols. The dirigible in the background is a nice touch also. The cover, once again, does a great job of conveying the Victorian feel of the novel.

Overall: 3.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

In My Mailbox (32)

First I'd like to announce that I'm back from my little hiatus, although my computer is still a little wonky. I'm hoping to post my backed up reviews later on in the week.

Now onto In My Mailbox. It encompasses the books I've gotten over the past two weeks (not just one), so there are quite a bit.

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



Bought:

Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine
Hunted by the Others by Jess Haines
Stormwalker by Allyson James
The Sweet Scent of Blood by Suzanna McLeod
The Demon in Me by Michelle Rowen



The White Cat by Holly Black
Burned by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Mistwood by Leah Cypess
Swoon by Nina Malkin
Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready