Review: Darklands by Nancy Holzner

Title: Darklands
Author: Nancy Holzner
Series: Deadtown #4
Publisher: Ace
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 07/31/12
Reviewed by: Sara
Buy the Book:

Summary:

They call it Deadtown: the city’s quarantined section for its inhuman and undead residents. Most humans stay far from its border -- but Victory Vaughn, Boston’s only professional demon slayer, isn’t exactly human...

Boston’s demons have been disappearing, and Vicky’s clients are canceling left and right. While fewer demons might seem like a good thing, Vicky suspects foul play. A missing Celtic cauldron from Harvard’s Peabody museum leads her to an unwelcome conclusion: Pryce, her demi-demon cousin and bitter enemy, is trying to regain his full powers.

But Pryce isn’t alone. He’s conjured another, darker villain from Vicky’s past. To stop them from destroying everything she loves, she’ll have to face her own worst fear -- in the realm of the dead itself.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
This series holds a special place in my heart because Nancy was the first author to ever contact me for a review. I have loved each and every installment in this series, and this title was no different. I've learned to expect the unexpected. The author always keeps my on my toes with the twists and turns. I also really enjoy the wide array of paranormal creatures within the world the author has created. All too often, novels feel the author threw in everything but the kitchen sink, but it really works in this series. I also really enjoy the idea of Deadtown and the fight for paranormal rights.

Pace: 4 Stars
The first half of this novel flew by. It felt like I was catching up with old friends. The novel had just enough recap to bring me up to date without dragging the story down. Although at first, I wished the story had begun with a demon extermination like the three previous installments, I quickly changed my mind. This novel started out with an even bigger bang at Tina's career day. Once we were introduced to the Darklands, the realm of the dead, there were points in which the pacing slowed down a bit. But then the book ended with a bang, leaving me excited for the next novel.

Characters: 5 Stars
All of the characters in this series made great appearances in this novel, no matter how big or small. Tina was her usual self in the beginning, when she brought Vicki in for career day. I forget how much I love Tina's snarkiness in between novels, but she's definitely one of my favorite characters. I also really enjoyed seeing more of Maria, Vicki's niece. You get to learn more about the Cerddorion and how they develop their powers as she experiences the changes. It was also amusing to see how Juliet spent her house-arrest. I really liked the new characters introduced in this installment, especially one that was a big surprise. Although I really enjoy Vicki as a strong urban fantasy heroine, I think the cast of characters around her really make this series fantastic.

Cover: 4 Stars
This cover breaks from the pattern of the first three a bit in the angle and stance of the cover model. It's the first cover that zooms in and doesn't include a full body shot. The flaming sword also isn't quite as front and center as the previous covers. But all in all, the cover definitely fits in with the rest. It gives off the same kick-ass vibe as the rest of the series, and the greens in the lower corner stand out. I really love that the title and author are in the same font and the same placement on each cover. It helps give the series continuity.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

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

Mini-Review: Wicked Nights by Gena Showalter

Title: Wicked Nights
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Angels of the Dark #1
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 06/26/12
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

From the New York Times bestselling author who brought you the Lords of the Underworld comes a dark, seductive new series featuring angels poised on the brink of destruction....

Leader of the most powerful army in the heavens, Zacharel has been deemed nearly too dangerous, too ruthless -- and if he isn't careful, he'll lose his wings. But this warrior with a heart of ice will not be deterred from his missions, at any cost... until a vulnerable human tempts him with a carnal pleasure he's never known before.

Accused of a crime she did not commit, Annabelle Miller has spent four years in an institution for the criminally insane. Demons track her every move, and their king will stop at nothing to have her. Zacharel is her only hope for survival, but is the brutal angel with a touch as hot as hell her salvation -- or her ultimate damnation?

Mini-Review: Angels are a hard sell for me because I think of them as being like any other paranormal creature, and don't like when a lot of religion is mixed in. The last thing I want is a lecture or sermon when I'm reading. This novel is a great example of angels being tied to a higher power, without it being overly religious. I really enjoyed the lore of the different types of angels, and demons. Most of this novel flew right by while reading, but near the end it slowed a bit. As I got closer and closer to the end, I wondered when the plot was going to come to the climax/resolution. As the pages were slipping away, I worried the epic battle at the end would be quick and rushed. But I shouldn't have worried. The author wrapped everything up at the perfect pace. I really enjoyed both Zacharel and Annabelle, and got sucked into their story. Their interactions seemed very genuine, especially when things weren't perfect. I was also intrigued by some of Zacharel's warriors, and hope to see them get their own book in the future. My favorite part of the cover was that the female cover model looked like she possibly had some Asian heritage, therefore she felt more like Annabelle instead of random cover model. I also liked the body language of both models. The way they are embracing intrigued me.

Plot: 4 Stars
Pace: 4 Stars
Characters: 5 Stars
Cover: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars

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

Mini-Review: Spider's Lullaby by James R. Tuck

Title: Spider's Lullaby
Author: James R. Tuck
Series: Deacon Chalk: Occult Bounty Hunter #1.5
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 06/26/11
Reviewed by: Sara
Summary:

He lives to kill monsters. He keeps his city safe. And his silver hollow-points and back-from-the-dead abilities take out any kind of unnatural threat. But between this bad-ass bounty hunter and rescuing the most helpless of victims stands the one evil he can’t defeat...

For Deacon Chalk, loyalty is worth dying for. And now that something has taken were-spider Charlotte’s un-hatched children and one of his closest friends, he’ll tear up the human and supernatural underworlds to find them. But with his allies stripped away by an invincible Yakuza hit man and time running out, Deacon must face down the most ancient of demonic entities. And his last hope means surrendering to the inner darkness waiting hungrily to consume him...

Mini-Review: This novella is definitely a nice way to get your Deacon fix while waiting for book two, which releases in August. I really enjoyed learning more about the were-spiders. They're definitely an underused were-creature in urban fantasy. And of course, Deacon was totally badass. The novella was a quick read (I read it in an afternoon), but nothing about it came across as rushed. I liked learning more about Charlotte, the were-spider we met in book one. She's definitely an intriguing character. My favorite detail of the cover is the web background.

Plot: 4 Stars
Pace: 4.5 Stars
Characters: 4 Stars
Cover: 3 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I received a eARC of this novella for review from the author.

Review: Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen

Title: Dark Kiss
Author: Michelle Rowen
Series: Nightwatchers #1
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 05/22/12
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

I don't do dangerous.

Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha -- that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me... something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing -- and I don't know if I can get it back.

Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me...

Plot: 5 Stars
This is the angel/demon book I've been searching for. All too often, angels are too tied to religion for my liking. I really enjoyed that this novel was based around angels and demons, souls, and the balance between it all. Samantha had no idea that one kiss could change so much when she went to the local all-ages club, but that one kiss had everything spiralling out of control. The author's lore surrounding the grays and their hunger reminded me of the lore surrounding succubi/incubi with a twist to make it age appropriate. I also enjoyed how the angels and demons came into play. It was interesting to see them working together to figure out the problem, instead of being pitted against each other.

Pace: 5 Stars
It's not very often I read a book that has me anxious to finish work so that I can dive back in. Now, I would always like to read instead of work, but I don't find myself thinking about my current read at work too much. But this novel had me counting down the minutes until my lunch break so that I could squeeze a couple more chapters in. I was sucked in from the first chapter, and the story never let me go. The pace of the novel was perfect, and it kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page. I cannot wait for the next novel in this series.

Characters: 5 Stars
Samantha was a great character. She felt like a real teenager dealing with the supernatural. Sometimes teenage protagonists can come across a bit too adult for me, but the author gave Samantha just the right balance of independence, maturity, and vulnerability. Bishop was sent to lead a team of angels and demons to figure out who was causing a ruckus by making grays, although some things didn't go as planned and his mind came through the trip jumbled. The fact that Samantha could help clear his mind was a great way to introduce her into more of the supernatural. I really liked Bishop, but Kraven was my favorite characters. He's everything I want in a demon: snarky and cocky, without being completely evil.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
The only thing keeping this book from getting 5 Stars in all categories is the cover model's hair. Not only is the hair style not a good look on him, but due to the shine it looks like his hair could be used as a weapon. But personal taste in hair styles aside, this is a fabulous cover. I love the simplicity of a monochromatic cover. Between the blues hues and the gritty texture and the cityscape at the bottom, the cover conveys a bleak feeling reminiscent in parts of the novel. My favorite part of the cover is the model's wings. They are so unlike any wings I have ever seen on a cover before and immediately grabbed my eye. The wings almost look like ink swirled around water and it's a very striking element.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I received an eARC via Netgalley.

Review: Black Howl by Christina Henry

Title: Black Howl
Author: Christina Henry
Series: Madeline Black #3
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 02/28/12
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Something is wrong with the souls of Chicago's dead. Ghosts are walking the streets, and Agent of Death Madeline Black's exasperating boss wants her to figure out why. And while work is bad enough, Maddy has a plethora of personal problems too. Now that Gabriel has been assigned as her thrall, their relationship has hit an impasse. At least her sleazy ex-fiance Nathaniel is out of the picture -- or so she thinks...

Plot: 5 Stars
This series just keeps getting better and better. The storyline that involved the wandering ghosts was very unique, and of course, Maddy ended up in the middle of it without even trying. The plot was an emotional rollercoaster with all of its twists and turns, and was heartbreaking at times. I really enjoyed how the different plotlines twisted together more and more as the story progressed. I wouldn't describe the ending as a cliffhanger, but there was definitely a detail that has left me anxious for the next installment.

Pace: 5 Stars
There was never a dull moment during this novel. Maddy had more than enough on her plate. Between tracking down the missing werewolves, trying to figure out what was making certain ghosts act so strangely, trips to both Amarantha's and Lucifer's court, and hopping through numerous portals, there was barely time to breathe. And get Beezle more junk food.

Characters: 5 Stars
Maddy has gained a bit of confidence as this novel progressed and started commanding a bit more attention from those who had previous waved her off. This novel had even more Beezle. He went everywhere with Maddy, instead of staying home to guard the place. He complained for junk food and warned against falling into horror movie tropes constantly, and I loved it. Gabriel and Maddy's relationship continued down its complicated, hot and cold path. JB grew on me a little more, even if he was still a bit insufferable when it came to paperwork.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
The covers for this series have also gotten better and better. I like that there's still a vague reference to Maddy's wings, but it's not as noticable. Instead, your attention is drawn to the abstract shapes in the background, which are very intriguing. They blend into the background enough not to draw too much attention from the background, but stand out enough to catch the eye. The cover is a bit more purple than blue, when compared to the previous installments, but the blue titles draws the three together. The cover model is standing with more and more confidence with each cover, and she really looks like she could kick your ass on this cover. The sword comes across as more of an extension of her arm, which is reminiscent with the novel.

Overall: 5 Stars

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

Mini-Review: Hexed by Kevin Hearne

Title: Hexed
Author: Kevin Hearne
Series: Iron Druid Chronicles #2
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 06/07/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, doesn’t care much for witches. Still, he’s about to make nice with the local coven by signing a mutually beneficial nonaggression treaty -- when suddenly the witch population in modern-day Tempe, Arizona, quadruples overnight. And the new girls are not just bad, they’re badasses with a dark history on the German side of World War II.

With a fallen angel feasting on local high school students, a horde of Bacchants blowing in from Vegas with their special brand of deadly decadence, and a dangerously sexy Celtic goddess of fire vying for his attention, Atticus is having trouble scheduling the witch hunt. But aided by his magical sword, his neighbor’s rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and his vampire attorney, Atticus is ready to sweep the town and show the witchy women they picked the wrong Druid to hex.

Mini-Review: After enjoying book one so much, I don't know what took me so long to pick up book two. The plot of this novel was just as intriguing as the last, with many twists and turns along the way for Atticus and Oberon. The humor was definitely still there, especially where Oberon is concerned. The pace of this novel slowed down just a touch compared to book one, but nothing to make me put the book down. There was a lot of development for many of the characters Atticus interacted with, and I enjoyed learning more about everyone. And for those keeping track, the cover model is still gorgeous (and I'd still hit that). The greens and yellows contrasted well against the browns of the first cover, while still keeping a great continuity for the series.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
Pace: 4 Stars
Characters: 4.5 Stars
Cover: 5 Stars
Overall: 4.5 Stars

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

Mini-Review: The Hunter by Theresa Meyers

Title: The Hunter
Author: Theresa Meyers
Series: Legend Chronicles #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 11/01/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Colt Jackson has gotten his name on many a wanted poster with success in the family business: hunting supernaturals across the frontier. Lately, though, there's a sulphur stink in the wind and the Darkin population is exploding. A rift in the worlds is appearing. To close it, Colt will have to do the unthinkable and work with a demon to pass arcane boundaries no human alone can cross. Except when he summons his demon, he doesn't get some horned monstrosity: he gets a curvy redheaded succubus named Lilly, who's willing to make a bargain to become human again. He also gets Lilly's secret expertise on the machinations on the dark side of the rift. And her charm and cleverness help to get them out of what his silver-loaded pistol and mechanical horse can't. Of course, when all hell breaks loose, he might have to sacrifice his soul. But what's adventure without a little risk?

Mini-Review: This novel was a Paranormal Romance with Steampunk elements, most of these elements being the weapons and tools Colt used in his fight against demons. He ran into many different demons throughout this novel, and each was unique and interesting. Although there were a few points in which the plot slowed down, overall the pace of this novel flowed very well. My favorite part of the novel was the succubus Lilly and how she interacted with Colt. And I can’t wait for the next novel so that I can learn more about his brothers. The mechanic horse on the cover was one of the main reasons I picked up this novel, so I was very excited to find he was an important part of the novel. I also really loved the cover model’s outfit and accessories because they really rang true with the novel.

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

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

Review: Bloodstone by Nancy Holzner

Title: Bloodstone
Author: Nancy Holzner
Series: Victory Vaughn #3
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 09/27/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

They call it Deadtown: the city's quarantined section for its inhuman and undead residents. Most humans stay far from its borders -- but Victory Vaughn, Boston's only professional demon slayer, isn't exactly human...

Boston's diverse South End is known for its architecture and great restaurants, not its body count. So when mutilated human corpses begin turning up in the area, the entire city takes notice. The killer -- dubbed the South End Reaper -- uses a curved blade for his grisly work. And even though there's no real evidence pointing to a paranormal culprit, the deaths are straining the already-tense relations between Boston's human and inhuman residents.

As the bodies pile up, Vicky, her formidable aunt, Mab, and her werewolf boyfriend, Kane investigate, only to find that the creature behind the carnage is after something much more than blood...

Plot: 4.5 Stars
I love that each book in this series starts out with a regular demon extermination job for Vicky. It gives us a look into her normal life, between the life-threatening moments, without boring us with their smaller and less mysterious complications. It's also a great way for the author to introduce readers to the different kinds of demons in a fun way. The Reaper put Boston on edge, allowing those in charge that do not sympathize with the paranormals to put Deadtown on lockdown. This posed a pretty big problem for Vicky as she tried to stop Reaper from finishing the ritual, but she found a very interesting way to sneak out. This was another fantastic addition to one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series. I can't wait for book four.

Pace: 5 Stars
I could not put this novel down. After totally and completely loving Deadtown, I found Hellforged to be a bit slower in pacing, so I was so excited that this novel's pace was more consistent with the first book. For a good portion of the novel, Vicky was one step behind the South End Reaper and she tried her best to catch up so that she could stop him. It didn't leave much time for her to slow down, which led to less down time between the craziness. There were even a few plotlines from book two that hadn't been tied up. They could've easily distracted Vicky or just slowed the plot's progression down, but instead they wove together with this book's plot perfectly.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
Vicky is one of my favorite kick-ass Urban Fantasy heroines. This novel forced her to be a bit more vulnerable than previous novels, and it was very interesting to see how she dealt with these circumstances. I wish we could've seen more of her shapshifting in this novel, but I understand that she can't shift all willy-nilly like some paranormal creatures. It was also interesting to see her neice growing up and possibly coming into her powers. Learning the truth about why her sister hates Mab was unexpected. Although Juliet came out of hiding, she was still out of commission for most of the novel. I really hope she has a larger part in the next novel because I miss her sense of humor and odd mannerisms. Kane's part was definitely not what I expected considering he was stuck in the wrong form, and definitely posed a number of problems for Vicky. I was also very glad to see Tina quit acting like quite as much of a diva as she did in book two. Her zombie buddies actually helped Vicky out when she really needed it.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
It's great to finally see Vicky's face, and the progression of the cover model turning to the read over the three novels is a nice touch. On the Deadtown cover, Vicky is facing completely away from the reader as she looks out over the city. On the Hellforged cover, Vicky has turned towards the reader a bit, but not enough to get a good look. On this cover, Vicky is facing the reader and she's still holding her flaming sword. I also really enjoyed the deep blues of the cover and how well the flaming sword stoof out against it. And don't get me started on the grim reaper-like image floating in the sky. I totally didn't notice it at first. Then one day while I was in the middle of the novel, I noticed him and it creeped me out a bit. I kinda wanted to warn the cover model to watch her back, because he's totally sneaking up on her. This series has definitely been blessed with fantastic cover from the cover gods.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received a copy of this novel for review from Ace/Roc.

Review: Surrender the Dark by L.A. Banks

Title: Surrender the Dark
Author: L.A. Banks
Series: The Dark #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 03/29/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

National bestselling author L.A. Banks’s electrifying new paranormal series is set in a sizzling world where Dark and Light are trapped in an eternal struggle for the fate of mankind.

Celeste Jackson has fought all her life against a fog of hallucination and substance abuse, but it’s not until she meets her protector, Azrael, an angel who has left the safety of the Light, that she learns of the evil forces that have been trying to ruin her, and why. A fierce battle for control of the mortal realm is brewing, and only Celeste -- with the help of the Remnant, her half-human, half-angel brethren -- can stand in the way. Together, Celeste and Azrael must gather an army of sensitives to defeat the dark powers that have ruled humanity for centuries, but time is running out. If Azrael surrenders to his growing desire for Celeste, he risks being trapped among humanity forever. But the longer he stays, the harder she is to resist. To save the world, Celeste must draw on her own dark experiences with addiction to help Azrael overcome the one temptation that could possibly make him an eternal prisoner -- his obsession with her.

Plot: 2 Stars
My biggest problem with this novel: I don't like my fallen angels to be tied to religion. I read paranormal fiction, not religious fiction, for a reason. Although Azrael explains that all religions tied together to the same God that he never really named, there was still a large amount of religion within the novel. I could almost deal with that, but there was a lot of preaching added on to that. In order to help Celeste, Azrael had to help her cleanse her body. Not just from alcohol and drugs, but from processed food and drink also. I could handle that, except for the delivery. Instead, I felt like the author was using these characters to preach to the reader about all of the horrible things humans put into their bodies. Also, I wouldn't recommend reading this novel unless you have the sequel ready to go right after it. This novel didn't end in a cliffhanger, but there wasn't much resolution.

Pace: 1.5 Stars
This book really dragged. It felt like everything had to be explained to Celeste in painstaking detail. Azrael was one of the most long winded characters I've ever read, and Celeste wasn't that far behind. The worst part about these super long explanations was that they didn't feel real. It didn't feel like conversation. It felt like I was back in college, sitting through a lecture for 400 pages.

Characters: 2 Stars
The novel starts off with Celeste thinking she's schizophrenic and using alcohol to make the voices go away. She is also living with an abusive boyfriend who is a horrible person. Azrael comes into her life because she is a piece of the puzzle between good and evil. He cleanses her body of her addiction, and it's like Celeste had never had alcohol before. It just wasn't a very realistic description of an addict fighting to stay sober. I understand that this was an Urban Fantasy, but I think Celeste would've been a much stronger character if she continued to fight with her addiction throughout the rest of the drama. In regards to Azrael, I don't think the book's description found on the back cover holds true. It talks a lot about Azrael's obsession with Celeste and how awful it could turn out. But in the novel, he is intrigued by her and develops feelings, but it is never portrayed as an obsession.

Cover: 3 Stars
I applaud Pocket for embracing these characters and not white-washing the cover. The characters were people of color, so they used models who were people of color. I think the cover model chosen for Celeste was a great match to the descriptions within the novel. I wish that the cover model they chose for Azrael wasn't facing away from the reader. Although it allows for a better shot of his wings, I would've liked to see him turned towards Celeste since he was sort of a Guardian Angel to her. The greens in the title blended well with the background were a good choice for the cover. It stands out on the shelves in a genre that has much more reds, oranges, purples, and blues.

Overall: 2 Stars

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

Review: Demonkeeper by Royce Buckingham

Title: Demonkeeper
Author: Royce Buckingham
Genre: Paranormal Middle Grade
Release Date: 10/02/08
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Ever since his mentor -- the original Demonkeeper -- mysteriously disappeared, Nat has been in charge of the demons that live in his house. Most of them are just nuisances, but the Beast who lives in the basement is very dangerous. When Nat goes out one night, a clueless burglar breaks into the house and unwittingly sets the Beast free. Meanwhile, a vicious villain, the Thin Man, wants to use the Beast for his own evil purposes. Can Nat defeat the Thin Man and return the Beast to the basement without any major casualties?

Plot: 3 Stars
This novel was my second middle grade novel (the first being The Lightning Thief). I wanted to love it, but it was a bit lacking in details. We know that Nat's mentor has passed away, but we do not really know what happened. He is now in charge of this house full of demons, but we don't really learn much about the demons, except for Nat's three minions and the Beast. Nat's minions are interesting, but even their powers are barely mentioned. At one point, a comment is made that having three minions means the Demonkeeper is very strong, but it is never elaborated on. Outside of these lack of details, the story was quite enjoyable. There were some twists I wasn't expecting, but there were also a few I saw coming.

Pace: 2 Stars
For such a short novel, there were a lot of chapters. Some of these short chapters felt a bit choppy, especially when they kept jumping from one point of view to the next. I feel like this novel could've been a bit longer and included a little more information without really slowing down the pace. The point of view jumping wasn't a problem because it helped get to know each character, but it sometimes seemed like chopped the timeline up. There would be a chapter involving Nat then the next couple would jump to other character, and when it got back to Nat a couple chapters later, almost no time had passed.

Characters: 3 Stars
What we learned about each character was very interesting and unique, but I wanted more. It felt like we only skimmed the surface of each character, like it was more important that they fit the roles needed to further the plot than to actually become their own person. We didn't get to learn nearly enough about Nat's past for him to be the main character. And the Thin Man didn't really have any characteristics besides being the evil antagonist of the story. It's not that these characters were bad. I actually enjoyed them. I just wanted more from them.

Cover: 2.5 Stars
I really enjoyed that Nat's three minions were included on the cover, especially since they look exactly how they were described. Their details and colors really catch the eye. Other than the minion, the cover is a bit boring. The background is flat black. There's no detail in the background to give a better idea of the story and setting. And Nat is only included in profile. This would work if his minions had played a bigger part, but Nat was the focus of the novel so it would've been nice to see more than just his outline. The font and color choices for the title and author fit in with the minions, but take up a bit too much of the cover.

Overall: 2.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this novel (from the bargain section) for my own reading pleasure.

Review: Black Night by Christina Henry

Title: Black Night
Author: Christina Henry
Series: Madeline Black #2
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 07/26/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Madeline Black is an Agent of death, meaning she escorts the souls of people who have died to the afterlife. Of course, not everyone is happy to see her...

If obstinate dead people were all that Maddy had to worry about, life would be much easier. But the best-laid plans of Agents and fallen angels often go awry. Deaths are occurring contrary to the natural order, Maddy's being stalked by foes inside and outside of her family, and her two loves -- her bodyguard, Gabriel, and her doughnut-loving gargoyle, Beezle -- have disappeared. But because Maddy is Lucifer's granddaughter, things are expected of her, things like delicate diplomatic missions to other realms.

Plot: 4 Stars
In the first novel of this series, Black Wings, the reader is introduced to the world of the angels and demons, along with the Agents of Death, like Maddy. In this novel, the world is expanded on as Maddy learns about portals and takes a trip to the Faerie Realm. She learns more about the politics involved in being Lucifer's granddaughter as she is sent on a diplomatic mission that she may not live through. Added to that is the problem of a missing bodyguard and a missing gargoyle, and Maddy has a lot on her plate in this novel. There were a few points in which I had no idea if Maddy was going to figure things out, or keep herself alive for that matter. All in all, this was a great follow up to Black Wings that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
This novel had a great pace that didn't leave me with much of a desire to put it down. I didn't exactly speed through it, but there was never a point in which I got a bit bored or distracted. Maddy is running back and forth throughout this novel trying to find her friends and do the job Lucifer has given her, along with keeping herself alive. She is definitely overwhelmed as some points, but the novel never became muddled. I wasn't always sure what lay around the next corner (and neither did Maddy), and this novel definitely kept me guessing.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
Beezle continued to bring a bit of humor to the story exactly when it was needed with his witty banter and love of all things snack food. He is still my favorite character of this series, but Maddy and J.B. definitely grew on me during this novel. Not only do we learn more about J.B. and his heritage (including meeting his mother), but he is also less severe than in the previous novel. Maddy continues to have more and more hefted onto her plate, but she deals with all of the craziness as best as she can. A few dangerous characters from book one came back into play with some interesting and surprising circumstances, and I can't wait to see what will happen next.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
Maddy looks like a total badass on the cover. The look on her face screams "don't mess with me" and she's carrying a pretty awesome sword. The ornate fence detail in the background is a nice touch. It resonates with the stone gargoyles from the first cover without being too similar. My favorite detail of this cover is the light behind the cover model that is vaguely shaped like wings. It grabs the eye and makes you wonder if they are wings, and why Maddy would have them. Although I normally love the color blue, I think this cover could've benefitted a tiny bit by being a different cover since book one was also blue, but it still fits the feel of this novel. I'm glad the cover artist brought in a touch of yellow in the title to counterbalance the red in the first cover. A small part of me wishes Beezle could make an appearance on one of the covers because he's such a cool little gargoyle, but I'm not sure if it would actually work.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received a copy of this novel for review from the publisher.

Author Interview + Giveaway: Christina Henry

Last November, I read and enjoyed Black Wings by Christina Henry. So I was really excited to find out I wouldn't have to wait an entire year for the next novel in the series, Black Night (it released this past Tuesday 07/26). I hope to post my 4.5 Star review of Black Night very soon. But first, I have Christina Henry on the blog today answering questions about Black Night (and a giveaway at the end of the post)!

---

Sara: How would you describe Black Night, for readers who haven’t heard of it before?

Christina: Well, things are not going great for Maddy. Lucifer is manipulating her into a diplomatic mission to the faerie court, and her oh-so-annoying unwanted fiancé Nathaniel is coming along. Unfortunately, the last ambassador was beheaded in front of the entire court for a breach of etiquette and as we know, Maddy has a lot of trouble keeping her mouth shut, especially when she ought to!

Sara: Last time you stopped by I asked you to describe the main characters: Maddy, Beezle, J.B., and Gabriel. In three words, how would you describe some of your other characters?

Christina:
Nathaniel –- Pompous, jealous, well-dressed
Azazel –- Controlling, demanding, powerful
Amarantha –- Vain, selfish, beautiful
Lucifer –- Crafty. Very crafty.

Sara: Can we look forward to any more novels about Maddy and Beezle?

Christina: Yes, there will be at least six books in the series. The third book, Black Howl, is set to be released in March of 2012. I’m working on the fourth book right now.

Sara: If Maddy could work together with any Urban Fantasy heroine, who would you want her to work with?

Christina: Umm, can we make it a hero? My dream would be for Maddy to meet Harry Dresden, hero of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files. The Dresden Files is my favorite urban fantasy series. They both live in Chicago, so it’s possible!

Sara: Beezle is definitely my favorite character in this series. Is there a chance we’ll meet another gargoyle in the future? Maybe a friend or love interest for Beezle?

Christina: I think Beezle is definitely one of a kind. He enjoys feeling superior to humans and he would probably be jealous if another gargoyle showed up on the scene.

Sara: Do you have any other projects in the works?

Christina: I do have an idea for a supernatural mystery series that I’ve been thinking about for some time. Right now I’ve got to concentrate on writing the next Madeline Black book but after that’s done I may have some time to work on this other project and see how it plays out.

Sara: What are you currently reading?

Christina: The Good, the Bad and the Uncanny by Simon R. Green. I’m a couple of books behind in the Nightside series and I’m trying to catch up!

Thanks so much for having me here today, Sara!

---

Thanks again for stopping by, Christina! And thanks to Ace, I have one copy of Black Night to giveaway to one lucky commenter! To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment about why you want to read Black Night.

Giveaway Rules:
1. US/Canada only
2. Must leave a valid e-mail address
3. Giveaway will be open until midnight August 12th
4. Winner will be chosen using random.org August 13th

Title: Black Night
Author: Christina Henry
Series: Madeline Black #2
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 07/26/11
Summary:

Madeline Black is an Agent of death, meaning she escorts the souls of people who have died to the afterlife. Of course, not everyone is happy to see her...

If obstinate dead people were all that Maddy had to worry about, life would be much easier. But the best-laid plans of Agents and fallen angels often go awry. Deaths are occurring contrary to the natural order, Maddy's being stalked by foes inside and outside of her family, and her two loves -- her bodyguard, Gabriel, and her doughnut-loving gargoyle, Beezle-have disappeared. But because Maddy is Lucifer's granddaughter, things are expected of her, things like delicate diplomatic missions to other realms.

Review: Spell Bound by Kelley Armstrong

Title: Spell Bound
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld #12
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 07/26/11
Buy the Book:

Summary:

At last, in the novel every Kelley Armstrong fan will need to own, all the major heroines and heroes of Otherworld are united.

It's been ten years since Bitten, the first novel in Kelley Armstrong's New York Times bestselling Otherworld series. In that time hundreds of thousands of fans have ravenously devoured the adventures of Armstrong's witches, demons, and werewolves. Now, in Spell Bound, she brings them all together for her most sweeping tale yet.

Savannah Levine is in terrible danger, and for once she's powerless to help herself. At the heartbreaking conclusion of Waking the Witch, Savannah swore that she would give up her powers if it would prevent further pain for a young orphan. Little did she know that someone would take her up on that promise.

And now, witch-hunting assassins, necromancers, half-demons, and rogue witches all seem to be after her. The threat is not just for Savannah; every member of the Otherworld might be at risk. While most of her fellow supernaturals are circling the wagons at a gathering of the council in Miami, Savannah is caught on the road, isolated from those who can protect her and unable to use her vast spell-casting talent, the thing she counts on most. In a story that will change the shape of the Otherworld forever, Armstrong gathers Elena, Clay, Paige, Lucas, Jamie, Hope, and other beloved characters, who soon learn that the greatest threat to supernaturals just may come from within.

Plot: 4 Stars
Every other chapter had this twist or that turn. Every time I thought I had figured something out, WHAM! a new twist had smacked me in the face. I've never read a book that made me feel like I was on a roller coaster until Spell Bound. It was non-stop action and mystery and danger and suspense around every corner. It was a wild ride, and I had a lot of fun reading it. Besides all of the shocking twists and turns, I really enjoyed how all of the characters came together. The mystery of the plot had escalated to a much larger scale, so it was great to see that Savannah wouldn't be facing everything by herself.

Pace: 4 Stars
Armstrong is the master of the not-quite-cliffhanger. It drove me crazy when I read The Summoning (although that was right on the edge of cliffhanger), and it drove me crazy after finishing Waking the Witch. And guess what? She's driving me crazy again with the ending of Spell Bound. It's diabolical. She wraps up the conflict at the end of the novel in a satisfying way, and then at the last second, she drops a bomb on the reader. It's not quite a cliffhanger (in my opinion) because it doesn't leave you hanging in the middle of the action. But it leaves you wanting the next book ASAP because now there's this new crumb of information that could snowball into something epic.

Characters: 4 Stars
Although I had only read Bitten and Waking the Witch before starting Spell Bound, I was not overwhelmed by all of the characters that came into play throughout the novel. I had not met all of the Women of the Otherworld, so there were bits and pieces of backstory I was missing, but I still felt like I learned a lot about each new-to-me character. It was also nice to see Elena again, because Bitten is one of the novels that originally drew me out of reading just Young Adult and got me venturing into Urban Fantasy. It was very interesting to follow Savannah as she dealt with things in a more mundane way. She's very stubborn and strong-willed, and definitely tough, which is how I like my Urban Fantasy heroines.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
I've seen many different styles of covers for this series, including multiples covers for some of the earlier titles. This latest trend of covers for the series has only hit the first two and latest two titles, but they are my favorite. They really capture the essence of the character, especially compared to the older covers that included faceless cover models or random objects. This cover focuses on Savannah, and the cover model chosen fits the character perfectly. I really enjoyed the reds and oranges used in this cover, because it fits some of the events that take place very well. I'm also glad they kept the cover model small. I like seeing more than just a huge face on the cover, makes the cover seem more real and less like a photoshoot to me.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher.

Review: Renegade Angel by Kendra Leigh Castle

Title: Renegade Angel
Author: Kendra Leigh Castle
Series: Harlequin Nocturne #95
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 09/01/10
But the Book:

Summary:

It's been thousands of years since Raum's angelic wings turned from white to black, and the Destroyer of Dignities and Robber of Kings never looked back. These days he's also on the outs with Hell and works with a motley crew of ex-demons on a new mission: snuffing out lesser demons and their half-human progeny.

Raum's latest assignment brings him to a small Vermont town -- and a sweet, funny half-demon, half-human he'll risk everything to save. Ember Riddick stirs him as no woman ever before -- and she holds the key to what Lucifer will move Hell and Earth to prevent: his team's redemption.

But Ember's secrets are as dark as Raum's midnight wings. And their fate may leave them entwined... but destroyed...

Plot: 4 Stars
My favorite part of this novel was the lore surrounding the angels and demons. I liked that it wasn't tied to religion for the most part, but some of the players were still recognizable. I really enjoyed the demons (or fallen angels) that were trying to repent for their falls and help out the angels. Although this is a common theme in many paranormal novels involving angels, I liked that these fallen angels were sort of like hired assassins. Except they were hired to help out the good guys. And they weren't trying so much to be good, as they just wanted out of the underworld.

Pace: 3 Stars
This novel started off with a bang and drew me in almost immediately, so it was a bit of a bummer when the pace hit a kink after a couple chapters. Right when it looked like everything was really going to hit the fan, there were a number of chapters in which there wasn't a lot of plot progression. The main characters were in hiding, and there wasn't much more than that happening. Everything picked up again as plot finally came together for the epic showdown at the end, but there was a couple points where I almost put the novel down. I'm glad I didn't though, because there was a couple twists and turns that I wasn't expecting that really redeemed the novel in the end.

Characters: 3 Stars
Ember and Raum's interactions and the progression of their relationship came across very realistic. They didn't rush right into bed, and actually butted heads at a couple points. They were also very interesting characters, each with their own demons from their past to deal with. The rest of the cast of characters seemed a bit glossed over. Besides the other fallen that Raum was working with, we didn't learn that much about anyone else. A lot of the politics of the Underworld were glossed over, and their motivations weren't always apparent. A number of these characters were interesting, and I wish we could've learned a bit more about them.

Cover: 3 Stars
My eye is immediately drawn to the male cover model, and what looks like a mullet. On closer inspection, it is actually part of his wing sticking out behind his head. I'm not a mullet fan, and it still looks like a mullet every time I look at it. But other than that, I've got no issues with the male cover model. The female cover model, on the other hand, doesn't really embody Ember's characters. I envisioned her being a bit younger, smaller, and definitely a bit more innocent. I understand that this is a romance cover (and it definitely reads romance), but Ember wasn't constantly throwing herself at Raum like the cover elludes to.

Overall: 3 Stars

Disclosure: I bid on and won a signed copy of this novel from the author via Operation Auction.

Review: Demons are a Girl's Best Friend by Linda Wisdom

Title: Demons are a Girl's Best Friend
Author: Linda Wisdom
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 04/01/11
But the Book:

Summary:

A bewitching woman on a mission...

Feisty witch Maggie enjoys her work as a paranormal law enforcement officer -- that is, until she's assigned to protect a teenager with major attitude and plenty of Mayan enemies. Maggie's never going to survive this assignment without the help of a half-fire demon who makes her smolder...

A hotter-than-sin hero with an agenda...

Declan is proprietor of an underground club and busy demon portal. No way he'll allow his demon race to be blamed for the malicious acts of some crazy evil Mayans. But he's already got his hands full when the sexy witch offers him a challenge he can't refuse...

Plot: 3 Stars
This novel was one of those that suffers from the blurb on the back of the book not matching so well with the actual story that is read. Sure, everything mentioned actually happens, but there was a point where I wondered if they had put the wrong blurb on the back. The Mayan plotline wasn't nearly as involved as I thought it was going to be, which was a bit disappointing because it was one of the main reasons I picked the novel up. Basically, the blurb leads you to believe that the majority of the book is going to be the described events, when in reality these events didn't really start taking place until about halfway through the novel. The first half of the novel was a lot of set up between the characters, plus a number of scenes that played a large part in the plot and probably should've been mentioned in the blurb. By the time I finished, I really had enjoyed the novel. I just couldn't get over how long I was sitting there reading, wondering when the Mayans and teenagers would come into play. Outside of this fact, the author wove a great world where numerous paranormal creatures interact. And I always love paranormal law enforcement agencies. They tend to happen more in Urban Fantasy, so it was great to see one highlighted in a Paranormal Romance.

Pace: 2.5 Stars
Along with the strange blurb leaving me wondering for a while, the first half of the novel was a bit slow. I'm sure a part of it has to do with waiting around for certain plot elements that were promised. But I think a larger part was due to the amount of information the author shared about the world, the characters, and the law enforcement agency. Some of these details that were given to us right up front, could've been spread throughout the novel a little more. It seemed like the author wanted to make sure we had all of the information in the first half, so that the second half could focus more on the action. But the beginning ended up a bit muddled with a lot of long descriptions. Once the plot really took a turn in the direction that the blurb promised, the pace picked up and it was a race to the end.

Characters: 3 Stars
Maggie was one kick ass chick! I actually wondered at time if this novel would have a happily ever after (since it's a romance) because she was such a strong independant woman. Her powers were also very interesting. I've read many novels that included witches, but this was my first where all of the spells are little rhymes or phrases that are made up on the spot. They were silly without being cutesy, perfect for Maggie. I didn't really care for Declan at first because I had trouble connecting with his character, but he grew on me as the book continued. I wish we could've learned more about his powers as a fire demon. He rarely used them. The teenager they were tasked to watch wasn't as rambunctions and rebellious as I expected from the blurb, but I really enjoyed that plotline and her character, so I'm glad she was more toned down. The smaller characters that Maggie worked with were a wide variety of creatures, and I hope we learn more about them in future books.

Cover: 3 Stars
I'm not the biggest fan of the outfit worn by the cover model, but it is described in the novel, so I like that the cover artist picked up that detail. I also liked the bar detail in the background. The cover model's pose is great. It really gives her a kick ass vibe. And I love that she's looking away from the reader. It allowed me to picture Maggie how I wanted, and hinted at a bit of mystery. The model chosen for Declan was not how I pictured him at all though. My favorite part of the cover is the title placement and font choice. A long title like this could've easily taken over the cover with the wrong font, but this title stands out without detracting from the cover itself. My one problem with this cover is that I've seen it before, from the same publisher no less. One month early, on March 1st, Sourcebooks released Taste Me by Tamara Hogan, and the covers are eerily similar. It looks like another image taken from the same photoshoot, with small details such as hair color digitally changed. I can totally understand using multiple images from the same photoshoot for multiple books in a series, or years later with more drastic changes. But to use such similar images two months in a row just bugs me a little.


Overall: 3 Stars

Disclosure: I borrowed this novel from the local library.

Guest Blog + Giveaway: Nancy Holzner

Today I'd like to welcome back Nancy Holzner, who is stopping by to promote her new Urban Fantasy release, Helforged, the second novel in her Deadtown series, which released on December 28th. You can see my 4.5 Star review here. Her topic for this guest blog is . I found it very interesting, and hope you do to!

---

A Night in Deadtown

If you want to take a look around Deadtown, the cordoned-off area for Boston’s paranormal residents, there’s not much point in going during the day. Even if you made it through the checkpoint, during daylight hours you’d find that Deadtown is more or less a ghost town—its streets empty save for the occasional werewolf or a bundled-up zombie working the day shift. The silent buildings could belong to any city’s downtown: concrete skyscrapers mingling with old brick buildings and the huge plate-glass windows of former stores.

Deadtown comes to life, or unlife, after the sun goes down. Not long after darkness has settled, the zombies begin to venture out, heading for work. Thanks to their superhuman strength, most zombies do manual labor. Three years ago, after a localized plague killed two thousand Bostonians in a matter of hours (and resurrected them three days later), the quarantine zone became Deadtown. At the time, office buildings, stores, and banks had to be converted to residences, and the resulting construction boom employed many zombies. With time, though, Deadtown has become a city-within-a-city, and zombies provide most of the services you’d find in any town. There are zombie bankers, zombie teachers, zombie mail carriers, zombie grocery store owners, zombie hot-dog vendors, zombie chefs (any business related to food is a good bet in Deadtown).

As you’ve probably noticed by now, Deadtown’s zombies aren’t your average, run-of-the-mill, horror-movie brain munchers. They’re a lot like people who haven’t gone through the experience of being dead for a few days and then waking up. In fact, the politically correct term for zombies is “previously deceased humans,” or PDHs. Deadtown’s zombies have thoughts and personalities. They also have spongy, greenish-gray skin and blood-red eyes. They move stiffly, but they’re incredibly strong. They’re nearly impossible to kill (maybe because they’ve already been dead once), but they don’t heal when injured. And even though they’re always hungry, usually they’d rather snack on junk food than on human flesh—unless they catch a whiff of blood. When zombie blood lust gets stirred up, they can’t help themselves. So if you’re prone to sudden nosebleeds, visiting Deadtown isn’t a great idea.

Around ten o’clock, the vampires emerge to go hunting. They don’t hang around Deadtown for long. Zombies taste bad and shapeshifter blood does strange things to a vampire’s system, so the vampires slink off to the human parts of Boston or one of the monster bars in the New Combat Zone, the no-man’s land between the checkpoints into Deadtown and human-controlled Boston. The Zone is where humans go when they’re craving a walk on the wild side. A norm can venture into a monster bar like Creature Comforts and gawk at vampires, zombies, and other creatures of the night in relative safety (as long as they don’t get caught in the middle of a werewolf fight). Axel, who owns Creature Comforts, is seven feet tall, bearded, with a hook nose and tiny eyes—nobody quite knows what he is, but he’s definitely not human. Axel usually opens up around ten, because that’s when the norms come. Humans tend to be a bit nervous in the Zone; nervous customers drink, and drinking customers make Axel happy. But the bars don’t really get busy until most of the norms are gone, tucked into their warm, safe beds at home, dreaming about how brave they’ve been.

Victory Vaughn, Boston’s only professional demonslayer, also heads out around ten. A shapeshifter descended from the Welsh goddess Ceridwen, Vicky exterminates other people’s personal demons for a living. Since demons can only materialize after dark, she works the night shift. Most of Vicky’s clients need help with one of the three main kinds of personal demons:

• Drudes, dream-demons that feed on fear and cause nightmares
• Eidolons, guilt demons that gnaw at people guts when they can’t sleep
• Harpies, revenge demons conjured by an unscrupulous sorcerer for cash

Fighting demons can be dangerous, but it pays well—people who are desperate for some peace will pay pretty much whatever they can afford to get it. Vicky’s no mercenary, but she makes a decent living. After she’s shot a flock Harpies out of the sky or chased the Drudes out of a client’s dreamscape, she usually stops by Creature Comforts on her way home. There she might meet Juliet, her vampire roommate, who’s sipping a Bloody Mary and ignoring the vampire junkies begging her to take a hit from them. She probably won’t see Kane, the lawyer she sometimes dates, because like most werewolves he works norm hours—eight-to-five, Monday through Friday—except for the three days around the full moon, when he reports to one of the state’s three werewolf retreats.

As the sun comes up, most Deadtown residents, including Vicky, make their way home for the day. The checkpoints get crowded with paranormals waiting to show their IDs. Zombies pull on hats, scarves, gloves, sunglasses—sunlight causes permanent damage to their skin and eyes—before they venture outside. Vampires sleep the sleep of the dead behind black-out shades. For the next several hours, Deadtown will be quiet, until the shadows lengthen and the night calls to its creatures once again.

---

Thanks for stopping by Nancy!

When a mysterious plague hit Boston, turning two thousand of its residents into sentient zombies, the quarantine zone became Deadtown, home (by law) to Boston's paranormals. It's also home to Victory Vaughn, a shapeshifter who kills other people's personal demons for a living. In Deadtown, Vicky does battle with the Hellion who killed her father. In Hellforged, Vicky struggles to protect her friends and prevent a long-lost relative from unleashing an ancient power more terrifying—and deadly—than anything she's encountered before.

You can read the first chapter of Deadtown here and the first chapter of Hellforged here.

I also have a signed copy of Helforged to give away, courtesy of Nancy. All you have to do to be entered is answer the question: What's your favorite thing about your town's nightlife? The giveaway is for US only, and will last until midnight Wednesday 01/12. I'll announce the winner on Thursday 01/13.

Review: Hellforged by Nancy Holzner

Title: Hellforger
Author: Nancy Holzner
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 12/28/10
Summary:

A demon is stalking Vicky's dreams-just as several of Deadtown's zombies are viciously attacked and become really dead. And when Vicky realizes she is the only connection between the victims, she suspects that the demon is somehow working through her dreams to become Deadtown's living nightmare.

Plot: 5 Stars
I love, love, love the world that the author has created. From the non-traditional zombies to the different kinds of demons, it's all very unique and creative. I also enjoy the politics surrounding PAs, or Paranormal Americans. Their fight for civil rights really rings true to me, because in a way it's a lot like what the LGBT community is fighting for right now. It almost brings a personal aspect to the novel for me, the way I relate so well to these Paranormal Americans that just want to be treated fairly. But back to the novel at hand... It was amazing for me to read this novel with so many strings of different plot elements blowing in the wind, and then watch all of these seemingly random events wrap up together so succinctly in the end.

Pace: 4 Stars
The first third of this novel flew by. One event after another had Victory going in every direction. But the second third sputtered for a minute. While Victory was in Wales, studying and practicing with Mab, there were times were it got a touch repetitive. There was just a tiny bit too much reading from The Book of Utter Darkness, a tiny bit too much learning to control Hellforged (the athame). It just needed a bit more action packed into it. But the final third of the book kicks off with a punch (or glitch) while they're flying back to Boston and it doesn't let go until the end. It was a race to the end, full of twist and turns and more questions.

Characters: 4 Stars
As much as I loved the plot of this novel, I wish more of the events could've taken place in Boston. Victory spends so much time in Wales, that many characters don't get nearly enough face time. I really, really missed Tina throughout this book. As much as she can annoy me at times, I still find her character hilarious, and would've liked to witness a bit more of her rise to stardom. Although Kane was around a bit more than I thought he would be, I still want to know more about him. It was great to see more of Mab, and to get to visit her in Wales. And I can't wait for the next novel, because I really want to know what's going on with Juliet.

Cover: 5 Stars
Again. I will say it again. Two words: Flaming sword. Although Victory never uses the flaming sword in this novel, it still exists, therefore it is welcome on the covers. So many of the details on the cover are 100% to the story, and it amazes me. The athame on her thigh, the crows in the sky, the slate headstones... Even the cover model's haircut. It's not very often such accuracy happens. The color palette for this novel is very eye-catching, although after reading I would've expected something darker considering the darkness surrounding the morfran and the book. But my favorite part is the celtic-like design behind the title.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via the author.

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: Black Wings by Christina Henry

Title: Black Wings
Author: Christina Henry
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Release Date: 11/30/10
Summary:

As an Agent of Death, Madeline Black is responsible for escorting the souls of the dearly departed to the afterlife. It's a 24/7 job with a lousy benefits package.

Maddy's position may come with magical powers and an impressive wingspan, but it doesn't pay the bills. And then there are her infuriating boss, tenant woes, and a cranky, popcorn-loving gargoyle to contend with.

Things start looking up, though, when tall, dark, and handsome Gabriel Angeloscuro agrees to rent the empty apartment in Maddy's building. It's probably just a coincidence that as soon as he moves in demons appear on the front lawn. But when an unholy monster is unleashed upon the streets of Chicago, Maddy discovers powers she never knew she possessed. Powers linked to a family legacy of tarnished halos.

Powers that place her directly between the light of Heaven and the fires of Hell...

Plot: 4 Stars
I absolutely loved the idea of death being run as a beauracracy, especially since it seemed to have a large amount of paperwork involved. Maddy's job as an agent of death was very interesting, even if we only got to witness a few pickups (some working out better than others). I hope we get to see a little more of the job in future novels. Between the demons and nephilim, there was plenty of action for Maddy and Gabriel to deal with throughout the novel. The events of the novel opened up a whole new aspect to Maddy's life. I don't want to give away anything, but I can't wait for the next novel because I really want to see how Maddy deals with a certain attachment.

Pace: 4 Stars
This novel took an extra chapter or two to really get me into it, but once it grabbed me it didn't let go. Between her job and her boss, the numerous creatures knocking at her door to knock her out, and the revelation about her heritage, Maddy had a lot on her plate that led to many twists and turns throughout the novel. Although there were points in which a little too much action seemed to happen within the span of a day, Gabriel always made sure Maddy got some rest (mostly to heal her wounds). Mix in a little humor here and there from Beezle, and this novel flowed perfectly.

Characters: 4 Stars
I loved Beezle! The little gargoyle had spunk and attitude, but still cared for Maddy. He brought humor into the story at just the right time, especially with his love for popcorn. At times he could be a bit vague and mysterious with his warnings sometimes, but overall was a great character. I hope his part in the next novel is bigger. Maddy was a great heroine. I liked her attitude because she came across as very real. Some of the things that were happening frightened her, and some of the creatures kicked her ass. I didn't like Gabriel at first, but he grew on my as the novel progessed. I hope he is in the next novel also.

Cover: 3 Stars
For such a great story, this cover was underwhelming for me. While I think the cover model was a great choice for Maddy, there are other elements to this cover that don't work out so well. The halo of white around the cover model is kinda weird, and because it's around the body it make it seem like the wings aren't attached to her body. The monochromatic blues work very well, except the wings are black (most likely because of the title) and they don't match or blend in that well. But the choice of blue was a good choice, especially since the color still give it attitude. The red title was also a nice touch.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via the author.

Review: Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra

Title: Sea Witch
Author: Virginia Kantra
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 07/01/08
Summary:

Margred is a Selkie -- a legendary being of the sea, able to shapeshift into seductive human form. And she has found a human she desires...

Burned out from the big city, Caleb Hunter becomes police chief on the peaceful Maine island of World’s End. Then he meets a woman who’s everything he’s ever dreamed of...

Their passion is undeniable, irresistible -- and it may change the fate of humankind.

Plot: 5 Stars
I absolutely love stories that include lesser known paranormal creatures, especially when they're the main creature and not overshadowed by vampires and/or werewolves. The selkies in this novel were very interesting, especially their hierarchy. My favorite part of the novel was how there were different paranormal creatures to represent the elements. The selkies represented water, while the demons represented fire.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
This novel was a breeze. I finished it much quicker than the past couple of novels I've read. It grabbed me by the first couple of pages and didn't let go as it raced to the end. There were no scenes that felt like filler inbetween more important scenes. The jumps between points of view were handled with care, and really worked for giving the reader all aspects of the story. It didn't jump every two seconds from character to character, and it wasn't confusing. Instead, it helped some scenes flow more naturally. And it gave the reader a better insight into the world.

Characters: 4 Stars
Margred was a very interesting heroine, and probably one of my favorites that I've read all year. She was very confident and didn't take any crap, and she adjusted pretty fast to the human world. I did enjoy the few moments in which the human world tripped her up. Caleb was a very likeable hero because he wasn't perfect. He had his demons and his lingering injuries, but it didn't make him any less of a hero in this novel. My only complain is that a lot of the smaller characters didn't have quite enough depth, although I'm happy that Regina and Dylan will be the main characters of the next novel since I did want to see more of them.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
I am a sucker for a blue cover, especially when the color fits the novel. I can't think of a better color for a novel based so much around the sea. And I personally like when the cover model is turned away from the reader, because it leaves the imagination free to picture the main character however we'd like to, given the author's description. The background details really fit the novel as well. And I really enjoyed the detail of the circle with the series name that is featured on all of the novels. I like when publishers take the time to include those little details.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.