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: This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers

Title: This Is Not A Test
Author: Courtney Summers
Publisher: St. Martins Griffin
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 06/19/12
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life -- and death -- inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

Mini-Review: This novel was so much more than a zombie book. It was a book about teenagers dealing with life and I wish I had had this novel when I was in high school. The zombies were used in a way to force the characters into situations that they wouldn't normally deal with, and I enjoyed every second. I could not put this novel down. Even when the zombies weren't an immediate threat, the book kept me on my toes. Each character brought his or her own baggage to the high school, and their interactions really made the book for me. The cover was just as stunning as the rest of the novel. The simplicity drew me in, the hair over the cover model's face made me want to know more, and the blood splatter added the perfect dose of morbidity to make me pick it up. All in all, this is a great novel for zombie lovers and overall YA lovers.

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

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

Review: Dead Mann Walking by Stefan Petrucha

Title: Dead Mann Walking
Author: Stefan Petrucha
Series: Hessius Mann #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 10/04/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

After Hessius Mann was convicted of his wife's murder, suppressed evidence came to light and the verdict was overturned -- too bad he was already executed. But thanks to the miracles of modern science Hessius was brought back to life. Sort of.

Now that he's joined the ranks of Fort Hammer's pulse-challenged population, Hessius attempts to make a "living" as a private investigator. But when a missing persons case leads to a few zombies cut to pieces, Hessius starts thinking that someone's giving him the run-around -- and it's not like he's in any condition to make a quick getaway...

Plot: 4 Stars
I loved the premise to this novel. I definitely enjoy higher functioning zombies as compared to the ones that just run around craving brains. There was a lot of details about the hows and the whys of the zombies that I really enjoyed. It felt as if these zombies were very thought out, and the author definitely made them his own. I loved all of the details about how the zombies reacted to different elements and the precautions they had to take, even when they were a bit gory. There was also the aspect of the zombies going feral, or losing their higher functions that was always at the back of their minds. Besides the awesome zombies, the plot also had a number of twists and turns that I wasn't expecting that led to a very adventurous ride.

Pace: 3 Stars
Although the great take on zombies and a couple quick plot twists pulled me right into this novel, there were some bumps along the way. About three second times in the middle of the novel, it seemed to slow down. There were some scenes between the action in which Hessius spent a bit too much time thinking things through or sinking a little close to feral territory, which brought the pace of the novel down. In these instances, it left me wondering where the novel was going and if I should put it down for a little bit, but then something unexpected would draw me right back in. And once the story reached the showdown near the end, not only was I surprised by some of the events, I also could no longer put the novel down.

Characters: 3.5 Stars
Hessius was a very interesting character and zombie. Although the transition from dead to zombie causes memory loss, he never let it get him down too much. Instead, he bought a digital recorder to make sure he remembered important information. It was very interesting to see how he had adjusted to his new life, and to see hints of the detective he used to be come through. Other than Hessius, the rest of the characters played pretty small parts. I would've like for some of these characters to have slightly larger supporting roles, and I hope we get to see more of them in future books.

Cover: 3.5 Stars
The color palette of this cover really screams zombies to me. The brownish color mixed with the texture that's overlayed over the image gives the cover a bit of a grungy feel that fits a zombie book. The yellow eye on the cover model really stands out and catches your attention, although I don't remember the zombies specifically having yellow eyes. I did like how the title matched the eye color. It made the title fit in with the rest of the image instead of stand out. The red band across the bottom was a great way to bring attention to the series name without taking away too much attention from the rest of the cover. The one part of the cover I wasn't that big of a fan of was how the cover model's face wrapped around to the back cover. Although I could tell it was another image of the same face, the break in the image caused by the spine cut the image in a weird way.

Overall: 3.5 Stars

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

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: Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris

Title: Bad Taste in Boys
Author: Carrie Harris
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 07/12/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Someone’s been a very bad zombie.

Super-smartie Kate Grable gets to play doctor, helping out her high school football team. Not only will the experience look good on her college apps, she gets to be this close to her quarterback crush, Aaron. Then something disturbing happens. Kate finds out that the coach has given the team steroids. Except... the vials she finds don’t exactly contain steroids. Whatever’s in them is turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless, flesh-eating... zombies.

Unless she finds an antidote, no one is safe. Not Aaron, not Kate’s brother, not her best friend... not even Kate...

It’s scary. It’s twisted. It’s sick. It’s high school.

Plot: 3 Stars
My favorite part of the novel was the twist on zombies. I liked that the zombie virus was spread via a steroid given to some of the football players. I really enjoyed the internal struggle Kate had in regards to actually admitting what was happening was indeed zombies. She often referred to it as the "z-word" and didn't want to say it. Aaron, Kate's crush, gets caught up in all of the mayhem as Kate is trying to figure it out, and it felt like he accepted what was going on a bit too quickly and without enough questions. The ending of this novel definitely caught me by surprise, but I felt like a few things wrapped up a little too nicely.

Pace: 4 Stars
I read this novel in one day, while on vacation, so I think it's safe to say that the pace was pretty good. The novel was on the shorter side, but it didn't feel rushed. There was no downtime for Kate once the steroids were given to the football players. A couple scenes, including the pancake breakfast at the high school, added a bit of much needed humor as the zombies were going around biting everyone. This was one of those rare novels that sped by as I was reading.

Characters: 3 Stars
Kate was a very interesting character. I liked that she was a bit more of a nerd than the typical Paranormal Young Adult heroine. Her love of science was a very interesting character trait, and ended up helping once the zombies were loose. Her seizures also added some depth to her character. I've never read about a character that suffers from seizures before, but I really enjoyed Kate. Other than Kate, the rest of the cast of characters in this novel were a bit flat. Kate's brother added some humor when he was around, but we didn't get to learn much about him. Her friends at school didn't have big parts and we only learned what Kate tells us about them.

Cover: 3 Stars
This cover confused me a bit. I would have never guessed it belonged to a zombie novel without reading the jacket. The main focus is a set of lips that is covered in what looks like sugar. While the zombies in this novel do bite each other, sugar-covered lips never come into play. There was never a point in which any character's lips were focused on for any reason. But it is a striking image that makes you want to know more. I really enjoyed the title. The font was a great choice because it kinda looked like it could've been Kate's handwriting. I also liked how the color of the title echoes the color of the lips behind the sugar.

Overall: 3 Stars

Disclosure: I borrowed this novel from the local library.

Review: My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland

Title: My Life as a White Trash Zombie
Author: Diana Rowland
Series: White Trash Zombie #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 07/05/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Angel Crawford is a Loser

Living with her alcoholic deadbeat dad in the swamps of southern Louisiana, she's a high school dropout with a pill habit and a criminal record who's been fired from more crap jobs than she can count. Now on probation for a felony, it seems that Angel will never pull herself out of the downward spiral her life has taken.

That is, until the day she wakes up in the ER after overdosing on painkillers. Angel remembers being in an horrible car crash, but she doesn't have a mark on her. To add to the weirdness, she receives an anonymous letter telling her there's a job waiting for her at the parish morgue -- and that it's an offer she doesn't dare refuse.

Before she knows it she's dealing with a huge crush on a certain hunky deputy and a brand new addiction: an overpowering craving for brains. Plus, her morgue is filling up with the victims of a serial killer who decapitates his prey -- just when she's hungriest!

Angel's going to have to grow up fast if she wants to keep this job and stay in one piece. Because if she doesn't, she's dead meat.

Literally.

Plot: 5 Stars
The zombies in this novel are much more complex than the everyday mindless variety that shambles around looking for "BRAAAINS!" They're coherent and don't seem dead (for the most part). It was hilarious and fun to follow Angel along as she figured out what happened to her and what she had become. As the story progressed, she also begins to grow up and deal with some demons. The pills, pot, and alcohol she used to turn to are suddenly less effective and she starts to see things differently. Plus, she really needs to keep her job at the morgue (for obvious reasons), so Angel is forced to take the job seriously. There are a number of twists and turns near the end that caught me completely by surprise, which made the novel even better. Plus, now I really want the next novel to see how the story is going to continue.

Pace: 5 Stars
I couldn't put this novel down. I don't tend to enjoy zombies quite as much as most paranormal creatures, but this novel has changed that. I've also had a bit of bad luck lately with books from DAW (mostly DNFs), so I was happy to find a novel from that imprint that I enjoyed so much. Normally, I would be hesitant to start a novel from an imprint that I've had such a so-so track record with, but I loved Diana Rowland's Mark of the Demon also, so I had a feeling I would definitely finish this novel. I was a bit hesitant because I was afraid I had played this novel up a bit too much with my anticipation, but it exceeded all of my expectations.

Characters: 5 Stars
Angel is one of the most complex characters I've read in a while. She's much more than a pill addict. Her growth throughout the novel is tremendous, but completely believable. Even when dealing with the tough stuff, she still had a sarcastic sense of humor that really resonated with me. I really connected with Angel, even though I am neither a pill addict nor a zombie. There were a number of co-workers at the morgue and cops that Angel met when she started her new job. Some were nicer than others, some were funnier than others, but they were all interested. The job at the morgue gave Angel a fresh start, and really opened her eyes to life outside of pills, alcohol, her father, and her on-again-off-again boyfriend. There were also a few characters along the way that helped her figure stuff out, but not always in the most productive ways. All in all, it was a great cast of characters.

Cover: 5 Stars
This cover is a work of art. In a morbid kind of way, the zombie chick on the cover is hot. She's also a bit of a hot mess, but I'm okay with that. My favorite detail on the cover is the piercings in her ear. Even though Angel is never described as having any of the piercings, I have a soft spot for industrials since I used to have mine until one side started bugging me (that's the bar that goes through two parts of the ear). The hairstyle, cigarette, and blood are great details that really fit the character. The gray color of the skin screams zombie in a perfect way. And the background color is such a strange pink. When browsing in the fantasy/scifi section, any pink you come across (and it's not much) is hot pink, so this pastel pink instantly sets it apart. Plus, it's so wrong for Angel's character that it ends up being right. The font isn't necessarily what I would've chosen, but it's simple and doesn't take away from the gorgeous cover so I really can't complain.

Overall: 5 Stars

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

Review: Married with Zombies by Jesse Petersen

Title: Married with Zombies
Author: Jesse Petersen
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 09/01/10
Buy the Book:

Summary:

A heartwarming tale of terror in the middle of the zombie apocalypse.

Meet Sarah and David.

Once upon a time they met and fell in love. But now they're on the verge of divorce and going to couples' counseling. On a routine trip to their counselor, they notice a few odd things -- the lack of cars on the highway, the missing security guard, and the fact that their counselor, Dr. Kelly, is ripping out her previous client's throat.

Meet the Zombies.

Now, Sarah and David are fighting for survival in the middle of the zombie apocalypse. But, just because there are zombies, doesn't mean your other problems go away. If the zombies don't eat their brains, they might just kill each other.

Plot: 2.5 Stars
I was a little let down by this novel. The tagline on the back cover reads, "A romantic comedy with... BRAAAINS!" But this novel didn't come across as much of a romantic comedy for me because there wasn't much humor to it. There were a couple of interesting scenes that bordered on funny and a couple of one-liners, but I definitely wouldn't consider it a romantic comedy. It felt more like an Urban Fantasy or Horror novel about a zombie apocalypse. The only thing that set this novel apart from the majority of zombie novels and movies was that the main characters were a couple whose marriage was on the verge of divorce. While it was interesting to see how the couple dealt with the apocolypse, the zombies and the apocolypse did not seem all that unique.

Pace: 3 Stars
The beginning of this novel was a quick and easy read. The action grabs you from the very first page, and doesn't let go. As the characters rush around and try not the get eaten, the pace of the novel keeps up without feeling rushed. But at about the halfway mark, things start to slow down just a bit. And a couple scenes start to feel a bit repetitive. There's only so many times the zombies can sneak up on a person before it gets a bit monotonous. Although my interested did pick back up when Sarah and David ran into some humans that were just as freaky and dangerous.

Characters: 3.5 Stars
Sarah and David were an interesting couple. This was the first paranormal novel I've read that involved a married couple, let alone one that wasn't all that happy together. Their relationship's dynamic was probably the best part of the novel. Wondering whether or not they would survive the zombie apocalypse divorce-free kept me reading. There were also a number of strange people they met along the way. Considering they didn't stay in any one place for much time, the people they came across were pretty well-rounded for acquaintances. Amanda, their neighbor, was one of the few characters that stuck around for more than a chapter, and although she was a bit naive, she did help the couple out for a while.

Cover: 3 Stars
This novel has a very interesting cover. My favorite part is the line of zombie silouettes in the background because it looks like they're chasing after the silouettes of the main characters. Or dancing. The broken heart around the title was a nice touch, considering the premise of the novel. The hot pink really popped against the gray background and was a very interesting choice considering the book is about a zombie apocalypse. My main gripe with this cover is that the spine of the novel is very bland. It's just the gray background with the title in black. Considering the spine is most likely the only part of the novel showing on the shelf, there's nothing there to really catch the eye. Including the hot pink from the cover would definitely grab a shoppers attention.

Overall: 3 Stars

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

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: State of Decay by James Knapp

Title: State of Decay
Author: James Knapp
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 02/02/10
Summary:

Just because you're dead doesn't mean you're useless...

A thrilling debut novel of a dystopian future populated by a new breed of zombie.

They call them revivors -- technologically reanimated corpses -- and away from the public eye they do humanity's dirtiest work. But FBI agent Nico Wachalowski has stumbled upon a conspiracy involving revivors being custom made to kill -- and a startling truth about the existence of these undead slaves.

Plot: 3.5 Stars
The zombies in this novel were very interesting and original. And so were the regular citizens. There were different tier to citizenship, depending on your job and whether or not you decided to allow yourself to become a revivor, or zombie. It was an interesting play on the normal class structure. Some parts of the novel were a touch confusing or glossed over, but I love a good government conspiracy theory. Something plot points left me scratching my head for chapters on end, but most came together at the end, and the rest will hopefully play into the next novel.

Pace: 3.5 Stars
The multiples points of view really helped bring all the events of the novel together. I really enjoyed how the string of events throughout the novel really wove these four lives together. The pace of this novel was a bit weird. The beginning took a bit to grab me, but the middle was action-packed, and then the ending seemed to drag on a little too long. Not the normal pacing for me; the middle of a novel is where I tend to drag in my reading.

Characters: 4 Stars
Niko was an interesting main character. I haven't read too many Urban Fantasy novels with male main characters, so it was a nice change of pace. I didn't have trouble relating to him (but I'm not the girliest in the world). He has a troubled past that I hope we get more than a glimpse of in future novels, and it gave him a slight vulnerability that many male characters don't have. The three women whose stories intertwined with Niko's were each intriguing in their own way, and essential to the plot. They each had their ups and downs, and really made the novel for me.

Cover: 3.5 Stars
I like the overall feel of the cover. It really fits, even though it's not depicting a certain scene. The cover model is as good a choice as any considering Niko was never described in too much detail. The hand streaking down the window is a nice touch. It makes me think of zombies, rather than vampires or werewolves, without having to actually picture the zombies. I just wish there had been a woman or two on the cover considering three of the four points of view were women. Niko was the main character and the link between the three women, but they played pretty big parts nonetheless.

Overall: 3.5 Stars

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

Review: Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Title: Strange Angels
Author: Lili St. Crow
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 05/14/09
Summary:

Dru Anderson has been “strange” for as long as she can remember. She travels from town to town with her father, hunting the things that go bump in the night and eat the unwary. It’s a weird life, but a good one -- until it all explodes and a zombie busts into her new house.

Alone, terrified, and trapped in an icy town, Dru’s going to need every inch of her wit and training to stay alive. Can she trust the boy who is just a little too adult -- and just happens to get bit by a werwulf? Or the strange blue-eyed boy who tells her she’s heir to a long-forgotten power? Can she even trust her own instincts?

Because Dru is not the first in her family to be killed by the darkness of the Real World. The monsters have decided to hunt back -- and now Dru has to figure out who to trust, who to fight, and when to run. And not incidentally, she has to figure out how she’s going to get out of this alive.

And she has to do it by sundown, or it’s all over...

Plot: 3.5 Stars
My favorite part of this book was the scary factor. Whether it be zombies, werewolves, or vampires, they were all frightening. And the paranormal creatures had interesting twists that set them apart from other novels. There were definitely a lot of twists and turns in this novel that completely took me by surprise. I just wish the ending had had a bit more action. It seemed like the book had been revving up for a crazy showdown, and the ending didn't quite live up to that. But the ending definitely leaves you wanting the next book without being a cliffhanger.

Pace: 2.5 Stars
This was one of those books that falls into that dreaded slump around two-thirds of the way through. The beginning of the book comes at you really fast and hooks you within minutes, but the pace definitely starts to slow down once you've been hooked. It seemed like Dru spent a little too much time thinking things through or complaining or reminiscing, instead of actually doing them. There were also certain phrases that she used that really stuck out and seemed a little weird and forced, and because of that, Dru's overuse of them really stood out.

Characters: 3 Stars
Dru was a very interesting character. I loved that she was tough, but also felt fear when the moment required it. Too many young adult protagonists aren't frightened of the monsters when any normal person would be. It helped make Dru feel more real. I wish we could've learned more about Dru's parents. It felt like we were shown they're habits and told how they would've reacted, but we don't really learn that much about them.

Cover: 3 Stars
I love shiny covers because they really catch my attention. But this cover is a little too dark to be so shiny. From many angles, you can't really see much of the image. If the actual image were a little brighter or had more contrast, it would hold up more underneath the shine. But other than that, the cover is great. The model chosen is exactly how I pictured Dru. Stark was a very interesting character, and I definitely hope to see more of him in the next book.

Overall: 3 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Waiting on Wednesday (22)

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

Title: Feed
Author: Mira Grant
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release date: 04/27/10
Summary:

The year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beat the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop. The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED.

Now, twenty years after the Rising, Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives-the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will out, even if it kills them.

Review: Happy Hour of the Damned by Mark Henry

Title: Happy Hour of the Damned
Author: Mark Henry
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 03/01/08
Summary:

Seattle. One minute you're drinking a vanilla breve, the next, some creepy old dude is breathing on you, turning you into a zombie. And that's just for starters. Now, the recently deceased Amanda Feral is trying to make her way through Seattle's undead scene with style (mortuary-grade makeup, six-inch stilettos, Balenciaga handbag on sale) while satisfying her craving for human flesh (Don't judge. And no, not like chicken.) and decent vodkatinis.

Making her way through a dangerous world of cloud-doped bloodsuckers, reapers, horny and horned devils, werewolves, celebrities, and PR-obsessed shapeshifters--not to mention an extremely hot bartender named Ricardo--isn't easy. And the minute one of Amanda's undead friends disappears after texting the word, "help" (The undead--so dramatic!) she knows the afterlife is about to get really ugly.

Something sinister is at hand. Someone or something is hellbent on turning Seattle's undead underworld into a place of true terror. And this time, Amanda may meet a fate a lot worse than death...

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

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

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

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

Overall: 3.5 Stars

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

Author Interview: Nancy Holzner

First off, I'd like to thank Nancy Holzner for taking the time to answer my questions. Here new Urban Fantasy novel, Deadtown, releases tomorrow (12/29)! Everyone should go run out and get a copy. It's an awesome book, as you can see from my review of Deadtown, which can be found here.

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

Nancy: Deadtown is Boston’s paranormal-only district, home to vampires, werewolves, a couple thousand zombies, assorted other creatures—and Vicky Vaughn, Boston’s only active Cerddorion shapeshifter. Vicky exterminates people’s personal demons for a living, dealing with demon-plagued clients, putting up with a pain-in-the-neck teenage zombie apprentice, and trying to squeeze in an occasional date with her maybe/maybe-not boyfriend, workaholic werewolf lawyer Alexander Kane. When one of her clients is murdered by a Hellion whose only purpose is to destroy, Vicky must face the demons of her own past—before the Hellion annihilates the city and everyone in it.

Sara: What sets your novel apart from the rest of the Urban Fantasy genre?

Nancy: I tried to play a little bit with urban fantasy conventions while expanding on them. One example is how Vicky’s roommate Juliet takes the “sexy vampire” convention and exaggerates it. Another is that Deadtown offers a different take on zombies from what I’ve seen in other urban fantasy novels—they’re also way different from what you’d find in the horror genre. In Deadtown, zombies aren’t props or plot devices; they’re characters. Their condition was caused by a fast-acting virus that swept through downtown Boston, causing almost immediate death. At the time, there was panic and chaos, and the area became a quarantine zone. Three days after the plague hit, the victims came back to life. (Of course, no human had willingly gone near the plague zone, so no doctor ever certified the victims as dead.) Deadtown’s zombies can think and talk. They have personalities. They also have spongy greenish-gray skin, blood-red eyes, superhuman strength, and near-insatiable hunger. My zombies play off convention, but they develop in their own direction.

I also spent a lot of time thinking about how society would respond if suddenly forced to confront the existence of paranormal beings in their midst. Before the start of Deadtown, Kane had been trying to organize paranormals to “come out” and lobby for their rights. But the zombie plague forced humans to recognize the existence of nonhuman creatures and to do it NOW—and they reacted with fear and a desire to control. Readers have told me they like Deadtown’s political dimension. Some have also been surprised and pleased to find humor in the book.

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

Nancy: Vicky is a shapeshifter who’s proud of her Welsh heritage and committed to her demon-slaying calling, despite the sacrifices it demands; marked by the Hellion that killed her father, she struggles to control her own destructive urges and do what’s right in a city filled with demons, dark magic, and unholy ambitions. (That was kind of a long sentence. Thank the grammar gods for semicolons! :))

Sara: What made you choose Boston as the setting for your novel?

Nancy: I’ve lived in Boston, so I know the city pretty well. It was easy for me to visualize scenes from Deadtown happening in Boston. In some ways, though, I feel like Boston chose me more than I chose it. From the moment I started spinning out the story in my head, Boston was the place where everything played out.

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

Nancy: There’s a sequel coming out in a year, and I’m currently working on the third book. The sequel begins a couple of months after the end of Deadtown, and in it Vicky has to deal with the consequences of an action she took at that time. She travels to Wales to get the training she needs to fight a kind of demon she’d never encountered before. While she’s there, she learns some troubling things about her family history and meets a distant relative with evil intentions.

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

Nancy: That’s a tough question to answer, because I spent a lot of years studying (and later teaching) literature. When writers read a lot, they absorb a great many influences through sheer osmosis. I used to be a medievalist, and the literature of that period still has a strong influence on me, even though what I write is very different. I also went through a period when I was reading a couple of mysteries each week. A grad-school friend was writing her doctoral dissertation on the origins and development of British detective fiction, and she got me hooked on Agatha Christie—and my interest took off from there. My favorite mystery author is Donald E. Westlake; his Dortmunder series of crime caper novels are endlessly entertaining. I got interested in urban fantasy when a friend recommended Kim Harrison’s Hollows series. I still love Harrison’s world, and some of my other favorite authors in the genre are Ilona Andrews, Devon Monk, and Patricia Briggs. I also love it when urban fantasy authors sprinkle in humor; Mark Henry, Jaye Wells, and Anton Strout are some of the authors who make me laugh out loud.

Sara: I know this is a very overdone question, but how did the idea for Deadtown come about?

Nancy: The background mythology come from the Mabinogi, a group of medieval Welsh stories and legends written down during the 12th and 13th centuries. There’s a great shapeshifting story in which Ceridwen (a goddess or a witch, depending on whom you ask) chases a boy who stole a potion she created, each of them changing shapes multiple times until she finally catches him. I used that story as the basis of the Cerddorion, Vicky’s species. Being able to shapeshift at will seemed like a handy quality for a race of demon fighters to have. :) The seed for the novel came from reading a complaint on an agent’s blog about too many authors who described characters as “wrestling with their own personal demons.” The agent wondered who else could wrestle with your own personal demons besides you—which led to my idea of a character whose job was to kill those demons for other people.

Thanks so much for inviting me to stop by, Sara. It’s been fun talking about Deadtown with you!

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Thank you, Nancy, for taking the time to answer my questions! And feel free to post any comments or questions for Nancy.

Review: Deadtown by Nancy Holzner

Title: Deadtown
Author: Nancy Holzner
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 12/29/09
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...

Vicky's demanding job keeping the city safe from all manner of monsters is one reason her relationship with workaholic lawyer (and werewolf) Alexander Kane is in constant limbo. Throw in a foolhardy zombie apprentice, a mysterious, demon-plagued client, and a suspicious research facility that's taken an unwelcome interest in her family, and Vicky's love life has as much of a pulse as Deadtown's citizens.

But now Vicky's got bigger things to worry about. The Hellion who murdered her father ten years ago has somehow broken through Boston's magical protections. This ruthless force of destruction has a personal grudge against Vicky, and she's the only one who can stop it before it destroys the city.

Plot: 5 Stars
Paranormal Americans are fighting for citizenship around the country, and specifically in Boston, home of Deadtown, a part of the city where zombies and all other PAs are forced to live. I really liked the political aspect to the story, even though it took a slight backseat to the mayhem of Victory Vaughn's life. As the only demon hunter in Boston, Vicky running around town slaying the personal demons of others. Deadtown is a fresh and entertaining addition to the genre that has a little bit of everything.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
There was a point in the middle where I started to wonder how everything going on was related, but the lull didn't last long. Everything pulled together and sucked me in. It was almost too hard to put the book down after my lunch break and go back to work because I had to keep reading so I could finish.

Characters: 5 Stars
All of the characters felt real. They were fleshed out and unique, and no one seemed flat. I liked Holzner's take on shapeshifters and how Victory could only shift a certain number of times per lunar cycle. The different kinds of demons and hellions were interesting. And I loved her zombies! I've started and got bored with many zombie books, but these zombies were fantastic! They weren't mindless corpses that just wanted to eat "BRAINS!!" but "previously deceased humans," real people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Tina was still a snarky teen even as a zombie.

Cover: 5 Stars
Two words: Flaming sword. And the best part is, it's not a random prop to make the cover pretty, Vicky actually has a sword that bursts into flames in the presence of demons. I also like that the cover model doesn't have any tattoos, like many urban fantasy cover models, because Vicky didn't have any. Plus, I like the "from behind" pose because it allowed me to picture the character as she was described and not how she looked on the cover.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I received my copy for review from Penguin.

Teaser Tuesday (12)

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: Deadtown
Author: Nancy Holzner
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 12/29/09

The Goon Squad? What the hell was the Goon Squad doing in my apartment? I squinted toward the doorway. Pointing two guns at my head, that was what. -- pg. 35