Review: Taken by the Others by Jess Haines

Title: Taken by the Others
Author: Jess Haines
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 01/01/11
Summary:

Once, New York P.I. Shiarra Waynest's most pressing problem was keeping her agency afloat. Now she's dealing with two dangerous, seductive vampires who have been enemies for centuries. The only thing Max Carlyle and Alec Royce agree on is that they both want Shia -- for very different reasons. Max is determined to destroy Shia for killing his progeny, while Royce's interest is a lot more personal. That's not sitting well with Shia's werewolf boyfriend, Chaz. As the feud between Max and Royce gets ever more deadly, a powerful vampire-hunting faction is urging Shia to join their side. Shia has always believed vamps were the bad guys, but she's discovering unexpected shades of grey that are about to redefine her friends, her loyalties -- and even her desires.

Plot: 4 Stars
This is one of the few novels I've read that has included a vampire-biting scene that was truly scary and definitely not sexual in any way. That scene reinforced my love for this series because the vampires are evil and scary, and I love that. As the title suggests, Shia is taken (or kidnapped) by some of the others in New York. While kidnapping is normally a plot point that I find a bit boring, the author definitely made it interesting and necessary to the plot. All in all, Shia's crazy adventure back into the world of the others was a roller coaster of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. I just wish there could've been a bit more private investigating. Her job was such an important part of Shia's character in book one, so I expected more than just a couple passing comment to her job.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
This novel flew by. I just couldn't put it down at times. And it read even smoother than book one. Every scene had a purpose, even if that purpose wasn't totally explained until the end of the book. But I love when a book wraps up so nicely. There wasn't a cliffhanger, but there was just enough at the end to leave me jumping up and down for the next novel. I can't wait to see what's in store for Shia on her next adventure.

Characters: 4 Stars
Shia has definitely grown since the last novel, and grew quite a bit in this one as well. I have really enjoyed watching the evolution of her character. Although Royce didn't seem to be around quite as much as the last book, we also learned more about him (and I like him a bit more now). He was still manipulative at times, but he also seemed to have Shia's best interest in mind, even if it didn't seem like it at first. Max was a great villian because he was truly frightening and his moves were unexpected throughout the whole book. I wish we could've seen more of Sarah, Arnold, and Chaz. I really missed Arnold's humor and mage powers that helped Shia so much in book one. But I loved Mouse! She was such a strong little vampire, and a very interesting character. I really, really, really hope she's in the next book. It was also nice to see a few more of the White Hats and learn more about them.

Cover: 3 Stars
This cover's model was all sorts of wrong. The cover model looked like she had aged at least five years from the last novel, although barely a year had gone by. Plus, I'm not even sure if they used the same model. And her outfit was just wrong. She should've been wearing the trench coat from the first cover again, since Shia once again wears it to hide her crazy stash of weapons. Plus, she shouldn't have so much skin showing because she does not want the vampires to bite. Cover model aside, the it wasn't that bad of a cover. Purple is a color that doesn't seem as widely used in the genre as blues/greens and reds/oranges are, but it works very well against the model's red hair. And I really enjoyed the large moon in the background, especially considering most of the novel took place at night.

Overall: 4 Stars

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

Review: Hunted by the Others by Jess Haines

Title: Hunted by the Others
Author: Jess Haines
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 05/04/10
Summary:

In a Town Like This, Being A P.I. Can Be Murder

Shiarra Waynest’s detective work was dangerous enough when her client base was strictly mortal. But ailing finances have forced her to accept a lucrative case that could save her firm -- if it doesn’t kill her first. Shiarra has signed on to work for a high-level mage to recover an ancient artifact owned by one of New York’s most powerful vampires.

As soon as Shiarra meets sexy, mesmerizing vamp Alec Royce, she knows her assignment is even more complicated than she thought. With a clandestine anti-Other group trying to recruit her, and magi being eliminated, Shiarra needs back-up and enlists her ex-boyfriend -- a werewolf whose non-furry form is disarmingly appealing -- and a nerdy mage with surprising talents. But it may not be enough. In a city where the undead roam, magic rules, and even the Others aren’t always what they seem, Shiarra has just become the secret weapon in a battle between good and evil -- whether she likes it or not...

Plot: 4.5 Stars
What a great book to start the new year off with. It had been sitting on my massive TBR pile since May, and I really can't believe it took me so long to read it. I liked the idea of the Others, and really enjoyed that mages were added in to the mix of werewolves and vampires. I, of course, enjoyed the fact that all of the Others were scary, especially to Shia. And the contracts that humans signed to interact with the Others was a very interesting twist. This book kept me on my toes with it's twists and turns. Although I saw a few of them coming, most caught me by surprise. I think my favorite part of the whole novel is that Shia is a human mixed up in the world of the Others. She didn't really have any superhuman strengths, but played to her human strengths along with the help she got from friends and collegues.

Pace: 4 Stars
This book made me very happy because it was the first book in a couple months that I seriously couldn't put down. There were some pacing issues along the way. There were times in which there was a bit more talking than action. And there were also a few spots that just didn't move as swift or smoothly as the rest of the book. But it's been a long time since I've had to keep reading, keep reading, keep reading. Usually, I'll read a bit here and there around everything else I'm doing. So although there were a few bumps in the road in regards to the pacing, the novel was a fun and interesting ride.

Characters: 5 Stars
Shiarra was a very likeable main character, and definitely showed growth throughout the novel. I really enjoyed her crazy family, even if they were only around for a couple chapters. Sara, her friend and business partner, was the voice of reason while Shia ran around making decisions without completely thinking them through. They made a really interesting team. Alec was a tiny bit scary, but I do look forward to seeing more of the vampire. Arnold, the mage that helped Shia out a lot with all the tricks he had up his sleeve, was a bit nerdy, but a bit lovable as well. Although they didn't play a big part, I loved to hate the White Hats, the anti-Other group. They were definitely creepy in their attempts to sway Shia to their cause, but I see a showdown of some sort in the future.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
This cover immediately attracts the eye. The dusky orange of the background is a very interesting and not a very common color, so even the spine stands out. For such a long title, the text didn't get in the way of showing off the cover model, and it was shiny. The cover model was a great choice for Shia, and they dressed her appropriately to the plot. The trenchcoat she's wearing is definitely badass, along with the weapons. I was a little thrown off by the pose the cover model took at first, since it looks like she floating slightly Matrix style, but it definitely grew on me.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Review: The Darkest Edge of Dawn by Kelly Gay

Title: The Darkest Edge of Dawn
Author: Kelly Gay
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 08/31/10
Summary:

It takes a strong woman to keep the peace in a city of endless night...

Deep beneath Underground, a cunning bid for power and revenge has begun -- one that threatens to make Atlanta the new battleground in the ultimate confrontation between good and evil. The powers of hellish Charbydon have the upper hand after plunging the city into primordial night. And under the cover of darkness, a serial killer targets the most powerful Elysians in the city, the angelic Adonai. For Detective Charlie Madigan and her siren partner Hank, tracking deadly predators is all in a day’s work... but this case will test the limits of their strength and friendship as it draws them into a deadly world of power plays, ancient myths, explosive secrets, and a race against time that risks all that Charlie holds dear.

Plot: 5 Stars
In this sequel, we're introduced to new characters and delve deeper into the politics of Elysia and Charbydon. Between the investigation and the power plays, you would think Charlie didn't have time for anything else. But she also has to juggle with the aftermath of her ex-husband's decision, a partner acting strange, and a kid who is growing up. Any normal person would be overwhelmed, but Charlie handles everything thrown at her. I just hope in future books we get to visit Elysia and Charbydon, I think they'd be very interesting.

Pace: 5 Stars
This novel never stopped. Kelly has a way of writing that keeps you on the edge of your seat, bouncing with excitement for the next scene. It picked up not long after the first novel, and didn't skip a beat. I didn't remember too many details from the first novel since I read it nine months ago, but I had no problem jumping right in. There was just enough details here and there to jog my memory and bring it all back. The author also did a great job of showing time pass throughout the novel. What could've easily been packed into 48 hours, like many novels do, was a little more spread out without slowing down.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
When The Better Part of Darkness ended, Charlie had a lot she was going to have to deal with, and The Darkest Edge of Dawn really showed how much her character had grown to accomodate the changes her body was put through. She had a lot of her plate throughout the book, and she handled it all really well. Her daughter, Emma, was once again a great addition to the book. She showed real maturity for her age and was full of surprises. Hank, a character I really enjoyed in book one, was kind of all over the map in this book. I'm hoping he'll calm back down in the future since his voice-mod problem was taken care of.

Cover: 5 Stars
This cover was lighter than its predecessor, while still keeping the dark and gritty feel that suits the novel so well. My favorite details of the whole cover is the bullet hole right above the title and the green flash coming from the cover model's gun. It's a nice touch since Charlie carries three weapons: one for humans, one for Elysians, and one for Charbydons. I also really like the facial expression on the model. It's a very angry expression, but it feels true to Charlie. I don't think she would want to have a seductive expression, it's not her style.

Overall: 5 Stars

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

Review: Vintage Soul by David Niall Wilson

Title: Vintage Soul
Author: David Niall Wilson
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 12/09/09
Summary:

Donovan DeChance is a collector of ancient manuscripts and books, a practicing mage, and a private investigator. When, despite the finest in natural and supernatural security, a sexy and well-loved, three hundred year old lady vampire is kidnapped right out from under her lover's nose, Donovan is called in to investigate.

He soon finds that there is much more to the case than a simple abduction when an unknown intruder invades his home and steals a very rare, very ancient manuscript. There will be no ransom for the kidnap victim, and if Donovan doesn't prevent an ancient, forbidden ritual from reaching its culmination, far more than a single vampire's undead existence will be at stake.

Calling on his lover and partner, Amethyst, and an odd assortment of contacts, informants, and connections, Donovan follows the ghostly trail of the kidnapper through a winding maze of intrigue-always a step behind-through magical battles, murders, and confrontations with a rogue band of young vampires intent on beating Donovan at his own game.

Vintage Soul is a dark urban supernatural mystery with a hint of romance. Set in an underground society, a city within the city of San Valencez, California, it opens portals to the unknown darkness that surrounds us. Fast-paced, strewn with clues, investigation, and magic, this is a book sure to slake the appetites of fans of mystery and the supernatural.

Plot: 3 Stars
There are many twists and turns in this novel that will keep you guessing. The vampires were different from many other vampires in the way they aquired the blood they needed, and the magic performed by Donovan and others was interesting. I just wished more of it could've been explained. I did enjoy getting to see many interesting places within San Valencez. The world-building within this novel was definitely very thought out.

Pace: 2 Stars
The novel was a little slower paced than I would've liked. It took a bit longer to become really engaged in the story. There were also too many point of view changes. I understand that it was needed to cover all aspects of the plot, but the way the story jumped from point of view to point of view felt a little disjointed. They just didn't fit together smoothly in some points.

Characters: 2.5 Stars
I felt like we never really got to know any of the characters that well due to the numerous point of view changes. I didn't engage with many of the characters because we didn't really get to know a lot about them, neither from their point of view or other's. The main thing I wish we had gotten about some of the more important characters is history, especially Donovan and Amethyst. It's a bit hard to tell exactly what their relationship is.

Cover: 3.5 Stars
Although the cover is a little dark, it depicts a specific scene from the book with many details that are true to the story. With so many covers out there that are vaguely related to the story, this one was a fresh cover for the urban fantasy genre. As much as I would've loved the main character, Donovan, to make an appearance, it's still a striking cover.

Overall: 3 Stars

Disclosure: I received my copy for review from the author.

Teaser Tuesday (24)

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: Vintage Soul
Author: David Niall Wilson
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 12/09/09

Turning from the supplies in the pews, he stepped forward and stood before the kneeling rail at the altar. Cobwebs dangled between the once polished wooden slats. The carpet had been scarlett, he thought, but had faded from moisture and ground-in dirt to the color of dried blood. -- pg. 117

Review: Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells

Title: Red-Headed Stepchild
Author: Jaye Wells
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Published: 04/01/09
Summary:

In a world where being of mixed-blood is a major liability, Sabina Kane has the only profession fit for an outcast: assassin. But, her latest mission threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races and Sabina must scramble to figure out which side she's on. She's never brought her work home with her—-until now.

This time, it's personal.

Plot: 3.5 Stars
I really liked the idea of a half-vampire, half-mage character, with the vampire and mage communities being enemies. I wish more of the vampire-mage history had been explained. The twists and turns, lots of fighting, a tiny glimmer of romance, and even some humor. But it just felt like there was something missing.

Pace: 3.5 Stars
The beginning was fast paced and reeled me in quick, but by around chapter fifteen, the pace definitely slowed down. Although I never lost interest in the plot or the characters, the slower pace made it a bit hard for me to get through some parts. Luckily it picked up again near the end.

Characters: 4 Stars
While Sabina was a strong female character and often bested the men that saw her as weak, I didn't like how she did whatever her grandmother wanted. It took a little longer than I would've liked for her to realize that her grandmother wasn't the perfect leader she appeared to be. My favorite character was Giguhl, the demon that hung around for a while. He brought a lot of humor with his late night infommercial shopping.

Cover: 3.5 Stars
I love the font choice for the title and the brightness of the cover model's hair. But the rest really fell flat for me. But other than that, the cover is a little too dark and monotone.

Overall: 3.5 Stars

The next book in the series, The Mage in Black, is set to release 04/01/10.


Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.