Otherwhere Book Reviews

Strange Angels

2009-07-02T03:31:00.001-04:00

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Dru Anderson

ISBN# 978-1-59514-251-1

Available now

Published by Razorbiil

Format: trade pbk., 293 pages

Genres: YA, fiction, urban fantasy

Ok, for those that can't quite put it together, Lili St. Crow is the YA pen name of author Lilith Saintcrow. This marks her first foray into the young adult market. Under the name of Lilith she has written The Watcher series, the Dante Valentine series, the Jill Kismet series (which takes place in the same world as the Dante books), and The Society series. She's also written Steelflower which will have a sequel when ever she finds the time to write it, and the stand-alone novel, The Demon's Librarian. For Dante Valentine lovers unaware, there is a free serial novel up about Selene (Dante's best friend) which is a sort of prequel to the series.

Dru Anderson and her father are not like most people. They know monsters are real, and even hunt those that have become a threat to humans. They move across the U.S. like vagabonds, but this stop may just be their last. Dru knows this hunt is different because her father wouldn't tell her anything, and when he isn't back by the next day she gets a real bad feeling that the nightmare she had may have been a vision. The next night he finally comes home, as a hungry zombie. Now she's stuck in a town she barely knows, all alone, with her father's killer possibly coming after her next. Graves (the goth kid from school) finds her in shock at the mall and barely survives his late night introduction to the Real World when a werwulfen goes on the attack. Despite Dru trying to push him away for his own good he takes the whole experience better than expected, and even becomes a sort of sidekick. Graves brings a little balance back to Dru's life, but it isn't too long before a stranger that bleeds like a human and moves like a sucker threatens everything Dru's ever believed about monsters and her family.

I am pretty disappointed. The book blurb sounded good, even the first few chapters were very promising. I went from, "Oh my god, it's like Supernatural with a teenage chick hunter!", to, "How can one person possibly cry that much without dying from dehydration?" in the space of just a few chapters. I kept reading because I was hoping we'd get back to the mindset Dru had in the beginning. It seems to me that the author backpedaled after Dru's dad dies and it makes Dru look like one of those kids that pretend to know it all and embellish their stories until they're caught and have to come clean. She starts out very strong. She knows about the Real World and its monsters, she knows how to shoot, and she takes care of the house while her dad's on his midnight raids. After her dad dies she becomes a different person for the rest of the book, she cries all the time, she waves guns around like a crazy person, and she can't seem to defend herself without pulling a muscle or cracking her head on something. Her dad's training is always going through her head, but apparently most of it didn't stick since the messages never make it to the rest of her body. I know she has to mourn, but by the end of this book she has gone from being a strong heroine to a hysterical, damsel in distress waiting for her friends to save her.

Besides all of that there's Dru's description of what a pack of howling werwulfen sound like which I did not get at all. "It's like a spiral of glass on the coldest night you've ever known, naked outside in the deep woods." If someone knows where she was going with this could you explain it to me please? Lili also dated herself by having Dru compare a moment to an ABC Afterschool Special which she would surely be too young to remember. So, while I love Graves and the new take on werwulfen, suckers, animal spirits of all sorts, and what could only be a hellhound by the description I think Dru needs to be rewritten. If you're looking for YA vampire series to love skip this and try the Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine, House of Night series by P.C. & Kristin Cast, or the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead instead.

Zhye

Once Dead, Twice Shy

2009-06-29T19:09:00.000-04:00

Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison

Madison Avery series

ISBN# 978-0-06-171816-8

Available now

Published by HarperCollins

Format: HC, 232 pages

Genres: YA, fiction, urban fantasy

This book is Kim Harrison's first full-length entry into the YA genre. Although how Madison Avery ended up in her current predicament is covered pretty well, if you want all the details you'll have to read the short story in the anthology, Prom Nights From Hell. If you were hoping for a YA version of The Hollows you will be sorely disappointed since Harrison has taken this opportunity to, once again, test her world-building skills.

Madison Avery is neither alive nor completely dead due to her luck of claiming a reaper's amulet, the same reaper that killed her and tried to take her soul. Since then she's learned there are dark and light reapers, dark being the side that killed her. With the amulet providing the semblance of a body and Barnabas, the light reaper who was supposed to save her, fudging everyone's memories she has been able to return to her life. There is always a catch though. There is always the chance of a dark reaper coming after her, and she can see things humans can't, like black wings (scavengers). During battle with a dark reaper they find out that Madison has Kairos's amulet, which Barnabas says can't be true. Kairos is the dark reapers' time keeper and boss so why would he have come after a human soul himself? Now that Madison and her amulet have been recognized it isn't long before Kairos is back on her trail, and doesn't seem to care who or what gets in his way. Is it just coincidence that Barnabas and his boss left her alone with only a very new guardian angel for protection right before he showed up?

This book was pretty good despite some corniness near the middle concerning G.R.A.C.E.S. (Guardian, Reaper-Augmented Cherub, Extinction Security). Turning actual words into weird acronyms does nothing for me personally, and they always sound corny. Didn't the first Artemis Fowl book have one for E.L.F./E.L.P.H.? I only read the first book so I can't really remember. So, I was distracted by the acronym silliness and my interest waned, but then the last 60-70 pages came a long and made me want to get my hands on the sequel. Those last pages reveal a plot twist and start a philosophical debate that left me deeply satisfied and wanting more. In all this isn't a fantabulous book, but it looks to be the start of a very original, and what could end up being a fantabulous series. If you're looking for a new denizen of the supernatural to read about grab this book.

Zhye

Ghost Ocean

2009-06-23T03:08:00.000-04:00

Ghost Ocean by S.M. Peters

ISBN# 978-0-451-46269-5

Available now

Published by Roc

Format: mm pbk., 479 pages

Genres: fiction, dark fantasy, urban fantasy, supernatural horror

You may have noticed that a link to the author's website is missing, and that's because I couldn't find one. Apparently he lives in the wilds of British Columbia, Canada somewhere and has no internet access? If anybody finds him tell him to at least get a website. Oh you few mysterious, elusive authors, you do intrigue me so. Anyway, he has another stand-alone novel out, Whitechapel Gods, that I must now go digging for.

After Te's father died of a stroke five years ago she's led a pretty aimless existence. His old partner, Babu, pulls her in for the odd ghost busting job every once in awhile, but it's mostly an excuse to check in on her. Neither supposedly believe in the supernatural until the day they arrive at Sanjay's house too late. His last words mean nothing to Te, but they obviously mean something to Babu, "He's free. Kitsune." This is the day Te's life and world begin to unravel. Babu has kept her out of everything up til now, even going so far as to make her a non-believer. It turns out that St. Ives is not just any little town, it's a supermax prison for every myth and legend humans have ever been afraid of. While Babu's out gathering his team, the jailers of this prison, Te's doing her own gathering, of stolen information from Babu's binder. Unbeknownst to her, she also meets Yun Kitsune who sows his own seeds of doubt and makes her question everything she thought she was. Can she follow in her father's footsteps when Babu needs her, or will she prove to be her mother's daughter and bring the town down around their ears? Is it even really up to her once the Man in the Empty Chair exerts his will?

I originally picked up this book at the library for the cover, and because of the blurb on the back I thought it was urban fantasy. There are urban fantasy elements such as characters from myth and folklore living in a modern town, but this book could also easily fall into the New Weird or supernatural horror genres. I'm not really sure how to describe the characters. The humans are deeply flawed, and even the supernatural archetypes are deeply unhappy about being stuck in our world. Most of them are not seeking any sort of redemption, they're miserable, but do not apologize for who they are. The reader may not root for the "good guys", or even like them by the end, but you cannot deny that they tried to do some what they thought was right. What I liked about this book the most was the philosophical war going on concerning these archetypes. Should they be imprisoned for being themselves, and should humans really get to make that kind of choice just because some of the creatures terrify them? If you're looking for something similar to early Clive Barker, China Mieville, Thomas Ligotti, and yes, even tones of H.P. Lovecraft now is the perfect time to discover this author.

Zhye

Some Girls Bite

2009-06-20T06:00:00.002-04:00

Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill

A Chicagoland Vampires Novel

ISBN# 978-0-451-22625-9

Available now

Published by New American Library (NAL)

Format: trade pbk., 341 pages

Genres: fiction, urban fantasy

Some Girls Bite is the first book in the Chicagoland Vampires series. What sets this book, and potentially the series, apart from the tons of other vampire series currently saturating the market is the setting. We're taken to Chicago, which isn't all that special, but it's also Chicago only a few months after vampires came out to the public. In most urban fantasy vampires have either been out of the closet for a few years and are pretty well established or they're still secretly living among us, so Neill's timeline is kind of refreshing. The second book, Friday Night Bites, will be out in October. Firespell, the first book in a second series is due to come out in January of 2010.

Eight months ago the Chicagoland vampires announced their existence to the humans by publishing a letter in the Sun-Times and the Trib. Then, they became the public face for vampires everywhere by holding press conferences and taking part in nationally televised Congressional investigations. Merit, a 27 year old grad student who'd finally found her way clear of her parents incessant social climbing, thought the vampires were even worse than high society. When she's made one, without her consent, after a vicious attack to save her life everything else around her begins to change too. Her grandfather, the only family member that's ever loved her just as she is, ends up knowing more about supernaturals than he's ever let on before. Mallory, her roommate who's always been into the paranormal and occult, is told she has magical talent and will need training. Merit's major stumbling block to accepting her vampirism and her role in Cadogan House, one of three vampire Houses in Chicago, is the feudal system they adhere to. While learning to accept her new lot in life she finds out she's not the only young brunette to be attacked, just the only one lucky enough to have a Master vampire near enough to save her. This rogue, which the public doesn't even know exists, is leaving evidence at his crime scenes implicating two of the three Houses so far. Now the hunt is on because if he isn't caught soon the vampires fear that they will once again end up at the not so tender mercy of blind human paranoia.

I really enjoyed this book despite there being so many vampire series out there right now. Some authors seem to think that if you're going to have a stubborn heroine she has to be bull-headed about absolutely everything, but that gets the story nowhere fast and the reader very frustrated. Merit is stubborn for all the right reasons, but even while being stubborn she's still taking everything into consideration and weighing her options. The struggle she has with accepting the vampires' feudal system is the same struggle any modern day American would have I think. I find Merit's underlying sense of grief, from which all her problems about being a vampire flow, very understandable and believable. Unlike the other 11 initiates to Cadogan House she never consented to being turned, she wasn't prepared and before the attack she never wanted anything to do with vampires. I really have nothing bad to say about this book because I can see a lot of myself in Merit's thinking and decision making processes which drew me right in. Highly recommended for urban fantasy fans, especially those with a love for vampires.

Zhye

The Hunger Games

2009-06-09T18:00:00.000-04:00

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

ISBN# 978-0-439-02348-1

Available now

Published by Scholastic Press

Format: HC, 374 pages

Genres: YA, fiction, science fiction

Before she was an author Suzanne Collins worked on many children's TV shows such as Clarissa Explains It All, The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo, and Oswald. Now she has a rhyming picture book for younger readers, When Charlie McButton Lost Power, and The Underland Chronicles starting with Gregor the Overlander for tweens. Then we have The Hunger Games which is clearly aimed at the older YA crowd and even adults (I know I liked it). If you've seen the movies The Running Man, Battle Royale, or The Condemned you get the gist of this book and should know it's for mature readers. Catching Fire, the second book of The Hunger Games, will be released September 1st.

In a future maybe not quite as distant as we'd like to think stands Panem, its shining Capitol and twelve districts are all that remain of what was once North America. In retaliation for the districts' failed rebellion over 70 years ago the Capitol has instituted something akin to martial law. Their most brutal institution is known as The Hunger Games. Every year a boy and a girl are picked from every district, by drawing, to compete. It is mandatory that every child between the ages of 12 and 18 enter, your number of entries depend on how old you are and how badly your family needs food. The winner and their family will be taken care of for the rest of their lives, but in order to win the other 23 contestants have to die. The contestants have to kill each other to survive while all of Panem are watching via huge screens in every district. The richer districts train for it while the poorer families pray it passes them by, but for the Capitol it's just another way to assert their control.

This year is different, this year everything may change. It all starts with the drawing in district 12. Katniss volunteers for the games to take the place of her 12 year old sister, Prim. For this she gets her district's version of a standing ovation. Peeta, one of the baker's sons is also chosen. Once they get their mentor sobered up they come up with a plan to present a united front to all of Panem, something never done since there can only be one winner. Katniss is a survivor, all of district 12 knows this except Katniss, and soon everyone else will too. Soon she has not only won over her stylists and mentor, she also gets the highest survival score (private sessions with the Gamemakers where the contestants try to impress them). Peeta decides to win over even more of Panem by telling his interviewer he's fallen for Katniss or at least that's the reasoning she's going with because she can't handle anything else at the moment. For a few days both are doing well in the games, but when Peeta's mortally wounded and the Gamemakers change the rules mid game can Katniss come out of survival mode in time to save him?

This book is a pretty wonderful find for me. It reminds me of all the best things I liked about 1984 by George Orwell, the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld, and the movie Battle Royale (I haven't gotten to the book yet). If you've read Uglies the citizens of the Capitol have a lot in common with bubbly-headed Pretties, all the time in the world and nothing to do with it except obsess over their looks. This book brings to light a lot of the same views as 1984, but from a younger perspective. And finally, just like in Battle Royale teens end up paying the ultimate price for a floundering government they're not even really old enough to understand. If you like any of the books or movies mentioned in this review you will love this book. I also highly recommend this book to all science fiction lovers, as long as you're at least 15.

Zhye

Red-Headed Stepchild

2009-05-30T14:25:00.000-04:00

Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells

Sabina Kane series

ISBN# 978-0-316-03776-1

Available now

Published by Orbit/Hachette Book Group

Format: mm pbk., 342 pages

Genres: fiction, urban fantasy

This is the first book in the Sabina Kane series, now I have to wait a whole year for Mage in Black. There's one thing in Sabina's world that isn't explained well, luckily I watched Bitten By Books video interview with Jaye before reading the book. Who knows how long it would have taken me to figure out that apples, and any products or bi-products, are what rob vampires of their immortality. It's hardly mentioned in the book, so although vampires are being staked with applewood the why is a mystery. Be sure to visit the "extras" section of her website for some flash fiction and the playlist for Red-Headed Stepchild.

Sabina Kane is a mixed blood, mage and vampire, and maybe the only one allowed to live. Being a mixed blood may have made her an outcast, but being an assassin for the Dominae (the vampires' ruling council) has made her a pariah. She takes her first step into unknown territory when she's ordered to kill the closest thing she's ever had to a friend in a vampire named David for suspected treason. That same night she's given her hardest mission yet, she must infiltrate the Temple of the Moon (basically a cult) and find out what their leader's real plans are before killing him. When she gets home a demon is already there waiting to kill her, and while looking for her "in" to the cult she picks up a mancie tail who saves her yet claims to have sent the demon. A person doesn't expect to make friends while infiltrating a cult, but that's exactly what happens to Sabina. Suddenly she has no idea how to do her job while keeping her new friends in the dark about her assignment and safe. Sabina's future becomes even murkier when information from Clovis (the cult's leader) pans out and shows an even darker side of the Dominae.

I liked this book a lot, and the reasons I liked it are probably the very same reasons some people didn't. Sabina is not a hero, she's an assassin, and occasionally she kills humans while feeding. I think most of the readers that really didn't like Sabina, either didn't finish the book, or they just couldn't see where she was coming from. She can clearly see a cult for what it is, but for most of the book she's unable to see the manipulations that bind her tighter than any rope. Sabina doesn't come out a hero by the end of this book, but the blinders are finally off. What frustrated me a little was how long it took for her to "wake up" when we the readers knew what was happening from very early on. Should the reader know what's going on 100 - 200 pages before the protagonist? I think it just leads to the reader being aggravated. I highly recommend this book to urban fantasy fans, especially those looking for anti-heroes. If you don't like Sabina yet, keep reading.

Zhye

In Over Her Head

2009-05-22T10:30:00.000-04:00

In Over Her Head by Judi Fennell

Mer series

ISBN# 978-1-4022-2001-2

Available June 1st

Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Format: mm pbk., 345 pages

Genres: fiction, paranormal chick-lit

Before this book was finally published it was a Top 5 Finalist in the First Chapters romance contest on Gather.com. Her as of yet unpublished story, Beauty and the Best, was a Top 20 Finalist in the First Chapters contest and a Top 6 Finalist in the American Title III contest held by Romantic Times. The second book in her Mer series, Wild Blue Under, will be out in November with the third following early next year. Oh, and don't forget to enter her contest for a chance at one of three romantic getaway packages.

Out on a boat ready to dive is not where you would find most people with a deep fear of the ocean and yet that's where Erica Peck finds herself. Her ex-fiance wants his diamonds, that she threw into the sea by mistake, and has a gun to prove it. Luckily for her when things go bad she's saved by a merman, or is she? When she wakes up she hopes she's still dreaming otherwise this is her worst fear come true. A merman, talking fish, and being able to breathe water means she is now under the water she's been petrified of since The Incident happened when she was eight. Once The Council hears a human knows about their kimberlite vein the only way Erica is going to live long enough to figure out a way to get her life back is to find her ex's diamonds and return them to the Mer. There's only one eensy little problem, Ceto, the mother of all sea monsters (literally) has them. Even if they do get the diamonds back Reel Tritone with all his teasing and flirting is going to make leaving a much harder decision than Erica ever thought possible.

This book was enjoyable, but not terribly original, in fact, by the second chapter I was re-casting Disney's The Little Mermaid in my head. The mermaid is now a merman, Sebastian is now a remora named Chum, and the sea witch/hag is now a very fertile ex-goddess who gives birth to monsters. Some of the humor seems a bit forced, but the story is cute. The major upside to this story is Reel who's described as looking like Matthew McConaughey's twin brother with black hair, he has dimples, and he acts so much like him in some scenes you can almost hear the Texan drawl! What's not to like about that? If you're looking for something light to take to the beach this summer, that also happens to be about the beach, give this book a try.

Zhye

Ravenous

2009-05-17T10:02:00.000-04:00

Ravenous by Sharon Ashwood

The Dark Forgotten

ISBN# 978-0-451-22617-4

Available now

Published by Signet Eclipse/Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Format: mm pbk., 344 pages

Genres: fiction, urban fantasy, paranormal romance

Ravenous is the first book in Sharon Ashwood's The Dark Forgotten series. The second book, Scorched, will be out in December and looks to feature Mac (the detective from Ravenous) as a main character. This book is one of the reasons the line between urban fantasy and paranormal romance is so fuzzy to me sometimes. The main characters hook up and weather some iffy relationship issues, but there's also the urban fantasy author detail to the world-building and the bigger issues, like a battle for the city. Also, be sure to check out the Silk and Shadows blog she shares with authors Allison Chase, Annette McCleave, Jessa Slade, and Kim Lenox.

The world has vastly changed since the year 2000 when vampires, werewolves, fae, etc. decided to come out of the closet. Now if someone says their house is haunted or a vampire attacked them they tend to be believed. Holly is a witch that's found her niche in this new world by doing small magic like clearing houses and finding lost items, but when she's called out to what should be a routine haunted house it may be more than she can handle. The Flanders house is not haunted, it's sentient, and pissed. She ends up saving her boyfriend, who was trapped inside, and "killing" the house, but at a very high price. Holly ends up in excruciating pain when she does big magic, and now that her human boyfriend has seen what she can do his prejudices against the supernatural community include her. This is only the first day in her week from hell, maybe literally, when her partner Alessandro Caravelli also finds the work of a serial killer in the house.

Now that Holly's single she's fighting the long time attraction to her vampire partner because everybody knows they're just predators with highly addictive venom. Alessandro feels the attraction too, but thinks it will never work, especially when his jealous queen comes to town. It turns out she is not only there to help the police catch their serial killer, who may be a vampire, she's also there to confront an old enemy. That's when demon portals start opening up all over town, even in Holly's very well warded home. Creatures once thought extinct are coming through in droves and their jailers are coming right after, but for them all of the supernatural races are the enemy. Battle lines are being drawn, but when Omara's treachery is known will Alessandro finally leave her side for good?

When I first started this book I was thinking, "It's pretty good, but there's really nothing new here." Once you get further in there's all of nifty stuff like watching a man slowly become a demon. It turns out that the demon realm is actually a human construct called The Castle, made when they first tried to purge the supernatural from the world. We also learn that even vampires need hope, with the story of The Chosen. I think Holly is a great character that starts out underestimating herself, but she grows throughout this book. She starts out in a relationship where she had to hide herself and she goes on to face a jealous vampire queen, her own demons, and finally a huge demon portal. The cover is another case of the author having no say because Holly never dresses like that so don't let that put you off. If you don't mind a little sex with your urban fantasy definitely give this book a try. Ravenous may also appeal to fans of Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series.

Zhye

In Quest of Theta Magic

2009-05-11T06:00:00.000-04:00

In Quest of Theta Magic by Enid Wilson

ISBN# 978-0-9806105-0-5

Available now

Published by Steamy D Publishing

Format: trade pbk., 166 pages

Genres: fiction, paranormal romance

This is the first book by Australian author Enid Wilson. It's also a self-published, POD (print on demand) book so it will cost you a few bucks more. If you have an e-reader or don't mind reading on the computer you can buy it from Lulu.com and save yourself quite a bit. The story behind this book is that it started out as Pride and Prejudice fan fiction and as the story grew longer, the setting more sci-fi than anything else, the fan fiction turned into a story that could stand on its own merit. If you want to get a glimpse into Enid's head on her book and the reason she chose self-publishing her article on The Shared Self Publishing Experience website is pretty interesting.

I admittedly haven't read many self-published books so I'm still not sure how I feel about this corner of the publishing business. It is very hard to know the good books from the bad because they don't have a marketing department behind them so they don't get the reviews and fan bases that mainstream authors get. They also don't benefit from having an editor who will push them to write the best book they can by asking the hard questions and making harder decisions. So, the real question I have to ask is, knowing all this, should readers judge these books by the same standards as books from conventional publishers, or should we open these books with a few lowered expectations? I think I'll reserve my opinion until I get the chance to read a few more.

Mr. Dean Williams is a Theta male on a mission to save his younger sister, but before he can go on this quest he must find a wife strong enough to weather whatever danger the quest may bring. He skips over the Theta women in the enclave near his home, instead using a brocour (broker) to set up a meeting with Mrs. Bailey and her five Theta daughters. Thetas are a lot like humans, but they have special abilities that mostly seem to be taken from nature like eagle sight, giraffe legs, hurricane breath, etc. After choosing the middle sister, Elana, they go back to his home and the Theta enclave for the traditional eight day wedding ceremony where they basically show what each of them will bring to their household. After the wedding ceremony Dean tells her more about the quest for the transparent octahedron and the prophecy his mother left for him mentioning their daughter being the key. How in the world are they going to have a daughter and then find this octahedron in time to save Dean's, already very sick, sister, especially once it's clear that they are not the only ones searching for it?

Elana and Dean are pretty likable characters although the whole falling in love process was a bit too short to be believed. I'm just not one of those instantaneous soul mate believers, but it is used in quite a few paranormal romance books so some of you may be fine with this. What I have major problems with is the lack of background information about the Theta and the resolution. Where are the Theta from? How long have they lived on Earth? Is this book even set on Earth or just another planet that can support humans and Thetas? The resolution only sounds plausible if you live in a Utopian society, in which case no one would be after you in the first place. If I catch people that are after me and my family I'm sure as hell not going to send them home and tell them not to do it again. There are quite a few holdovers from the Pride and Prejudice fan fiction, but the Theta characters and sci-fi type of setting definitely make this original. Enid is on to something in this book, but I just don't feel like it's fully realized yet. I'd wait for the second or even third Theta book to see what she's fully capable of.

Zhye

Graceling

2009-05-02T04:56:00.001-04:00

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

ISBN# 978-0-15-206396-2

Available now

Published by Harcourt, Inc.

Format: HC, 471 pages

Genres: YA, fiction, fantasy

I find it hard to believe that this is a debut novel. I only hope she keeps up this level of storytelling in future books. Speaking of future books, Fire is slated for an October release, and she's currently writing what's tentatively titled Bitterblue. Fire will be a loose prequel to Graceling and feature the future king of Monsea, Leck. Bitterblue will be a sequel, picking up a few years after Graceling, featuring Queen Bitterblue of course.

Welcome to the land of The Seven Kingdoms. The kingdoms of Monsea and Lienid seem pretty idyllic places to live, but that could be because one is an island and the other is accessible only by a mountain pass or the sea. The other five are ruled by petty kings that can't seem to hold an alliance for more than five minutes, and barely care, or even think much about their people. In these kingdoms certain people are born Graced. Graces are extreme skills and can be almost anything like sword fighting, swimming, mind reading, archery, etc. Even they may not know what their Grace is right away, but they can always be identified because their eyes are two different colors. Almost as soon as they are identified the Graced are sent to be raised by the king with their skill ultimately put to use. So, we end up with petty kings that now have any number of potential weapons at their beck and call.

Katsa has the bad fortune of being Graced with killing and being raised by her uncle, King Randa, who uses her as his personal thug. Over the years she has gotten increasingly sick of maiming and killing over every little slight so she's found ways around most of his orders. She's even gone so far as to found the Council, which lets her and her friends help people in need without Randa ever knowing. Their latest mission was to spring the father of the Lienid king from the dungeon of the Sunder king and get him to safety until they know why he was taken in the first place. Everything goes as planned until Katsa runs into another Lienid who shouldn't be there on her way back to the horses. She decides to knock him out, but wonders the whole trip back to Randa City if she's put them all in danger by not killing him.

When she returns to court she finds the mysterious Lienid has beaten her there, and that he is in fact Prince Po, seventh son of King Ror. He's too cocky for her liking, but when he does corner her and ask about his grandfather she reunites them. He also joins the council meetings to find out who took grandfather Tealiff and why. While the Council is gathering information Katsa and Po make full use of his fighting Grace, constantly testing each other on the practice grounds since neither have to hold back nearly as much as they would with others. When the Council comes up with nothing and Po learns how oddly his sister, wife of King Leck in Monsea, took the news of her missing grandfather he decides that is the only place left to search for answers. On the way there they get closer than ever, but can Katsa, who's never had to depend on another person her whole life, let Po do what must be done alone once she proves vulnerable?

I loved this book! The details of kings and kingdoms are pretty nonexistent until we come to Monsea and Lienid, but since since most of them don't play a part in the story I doubt you'll miss them much. Although it doesn't look like it from my summary this is a love story, but a different sort than you might be used to. If you read between the lines Katsa was almost surely on her way to becoming a psychopath by King Randa, but it's her few friends at court and finally Po that keep her from going over the edge. When she feels herself falling for Po she fights it with every fiber of her being because how could she fall in love when she's never even been that sure of her friendships? I love Katsa because she is such a strong character, not just physically, but she's also at home in her own skin. Her lifestyle and wants may not be the same as other women, and she's ok with that. I love Po, maybe just a little more, because he wants Katsa as she is even if that means they'll never be married and he'll never get to play the alpha male role. There is some violence in this book, but most of it isn't very graphic at all so I think ages 13+ will find much to love about this book. I highly recommend this book for fantasy lovers and those wanting something with a strong female lead.

Zhye

Wondrous Strange

2009-04-28T03:31:00.002-04:00

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

ISBN# 978-0-06-157537-2

Available now

Published by HarperTeen/HarperCollins

Format: HC, 327 pages

Genres: YA, fiction, urban fantasy

This is Lesley's first novel, but hopefully not her last since it doesn't look like Sonny and Kelley's story is quite finished. There's no news of a sequel on her site yet, but I'm fervently wishing for one. You can also find Livingston in the anthology Misspelled which was released last year and is edited by Julie E. Czerneda. The anthology features seventeen tales of what happens when spells, or the people casting them, go awry. I think that most of the contributors are fairly new authors because the only name I recognized, besides Lesley's, was Jim C. Hines.

Seventeen year old actress, Kelley Winslow has just been given her big break. She has just been promoted from understudy to the role of Titania in a production of of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. This will actually end up being the least substantial thing to happen to her this week. After her first rehearsal is ruined by a case of nerves she retreats to her favorite spot, Central Park, where a rose from a handsome stranger makes her day a little brighter.

Sonny Flannery is one of thirteen Janus Guards. All of them are changelings which means they were born human, but stolen and raised in Faerie. By order of the Winter King, Auberon, their job is to guard the crack in the Samhain Gate on Halloween night and the Nine-Night every nine years making sure nothing gets in or out. When he happens across Kelley on the first night of this year's Nine-Night there is an almost instant attraction followed by confusion. She doesn't register as anything familiar to his inner senses, and she's in Central Park at night when most humans instinctively stay away this time of year.

When these two meet worlds collide, stories intertwine, but will fate intercede? It all starts with a horse unlike any other taking up residence in Kelley's bathtub. Revelations about friends and family soon follow as the world she thought she knew grows stranger. Her belief in this new worldview, along with her burgeoning power, are sorely tested when the harbingers of the Wild Hunt target her as their quarry. If Kelley and the Janus can't call of the Wild Hunt before Halloween night, when the Samhain Gate is open at its widest, New York City may not survive.

By the end of this book I did not understand Auberon's personality at all and I thought Mabh could've used a little more face time, Kelley didn't even get to meet her. Whether you read this book because you love urban fantasy, have a thing for Shakespeare, or have an interest in books drawing from actual myth and folklore you will not be disappointed. I'm also including links for Herne the Hunter and his Celtic counter-part Cernunnos which should be helpful to anyone not up on the Wild Hunt legends. There are a lot of YA books out there right now dealing with Faery and the forbidden romance between mortals and immortals, but this is definitely one that shouldn't be missed.

Zhye

The Awakening

2009-04-21T02:41:00.000-04:00

The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong

Darkest Powers

ISBN# 978-0-06-166276-8

Available April 28

Published by HarperCollins

Format: trade pbk., 358 pages

Genres: YA, fiction, urban fantasy

The Awakening picks up almost exactly where the first book, The Summoning, left off. If you love Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series you will quickly be sucked into the Darkest Powers trilogy almost from the first page. Both are set in the same world, where half-demons, sorcerers, witches, werewolves, etc. exist secretly, but in this trilogy most of the teens are not aware that Supernaturals exist at all.

In the first book Chloe exhibited powers, but the school convinced her father she was a troubled teens so she ended up in a group home called Lyle House. She knows she isn't crazy and once she gets to know the other kids she doubts most of them are either, so what's really going on? Derek and Simon seem to know a lot more than anyone else, but when they start talking about necromancers and sorcerers Chloe thinks they might just belong at the home after all. With Tori trying to kill her and Liz's mysterious disappearance the book ends with Chloe, Derek, Simon, and Rae making a run for it.

This book starts with Chloe and Rae as "guests" once again of the Edison Group, the real face of Lyle House. Derek and Simon are still on the run and the doctors quickly try to use Simon's diabetes to make the girls tell them where they're hiding. Chloe knows that nothing good is planned for her being in a lab, surrounded by doctors. This becomes even more clear when she meets yet another teenage ghost, this time a boy, who was staying at Lyle House. Rae wants to stay so when Chloe tries her cover story of not remembering exactly where she was to meet the boys, but she's sure she'll recognize it if she sees it it's Tori that backs her up by saying she needs a shopping trip anyway. Once at the factory complex it takes a great deal more than Chloe thought it would to escape their keepers, but then they still have to wait for the boys to find them. Now that the gang is all together the boys decide they should leave town and head for their father's friend Andrew's place who, hopefully, has more answers than they do at the moment. Is there finally one safe place for these teens or is yet another betrayal waiting for them?

I read a lot of YA these days and maybe it's because most YA these days have main characters that seem very adult most of the time. While this may be a good thing for me and other adults I sometimes wonder if it's such a good thing for the teens the book is supposed to be aimed at. Kelley Armstrong manages to write a story both adults and teens will like while keeping her teenage characters still recognizable as teens. They may have "super powers", but they also have self image issues and are very obviously still figuring out their individual identities. Chloe is our smart, quick thinking heroine, but all she sees of herself is her baby fine hair and a body that looks far too much like a boy's. Derek is strong, protects his friends, and will eventually be able to turn into a werewolf, but puberty has him very sensitive about his severe acne and overactive sweat glands. I love these books so far along with the characters. I can't wait to see where the final book will take us. Highly recommended no matter how old you are, as long as you're an urban fantasy fan of course.

Zhye

A Madness of Angels Book Trailer

2009-04-17T19:19:00.002-04:00

This has to be one of the best book trailers I've ever seen. I've seen movie trailers that didn't look half as interesting as this.

A Madness of Angels by Kate Griffin

A Rush of Wings

2009-04-11T17:15:00.000-04:00

A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix

The Maker's Song

ISBN# 978-1-4165-9365-2

Available now

Published by Pocket Books

Format: mm pbk., 490 pages (also available in trade pbk.)

Genres: fiction, dark fantasy, urban fantasy

I almost missed this series completely, and now I don't remember what gave me the sudden urge to go looking for this book. After reading this I'm almost glad I waited so long because the second book, In the Blood, is out too so I can get right back to Dante and Heather. I'll have to play the waiting game for the third book though since it's tentative release is January 2010. You can also join her Yahoo! group (there's a link on her website) to get deleted scenes, contests, and information on her upcoming books and appearances.

Special Agent Heather Wallace has been on the trail of the so-called Cross-Country Killer for three years and now his handiwork has shown up in New Orleans. His pattern has changed for some reason, he's leaving messages which could be a break for her, but bad for the person he's fixated on. Heather's gut and this first crime scene tell her it's Dante he's after since the body and message were left against his club's wall, Club Hell. When she can't find anything on Dante in the system she pays a visit to the club to question him and offer protection, but instead she ends up feeling like she fell down the rabbit hole. In the club fangs flash and words like "Nightkind", "the Fallen", and "the Council" get thrown around leaving Heather with a really bad feeling. She tries to maintain that all the vampire stuff is just an act, but she's too damn good of an agent not to believe the evidence when it keeps happening right in front of her. Vampires turn out to be the easiest thing to believe in when she sees Lucien open his wings up for the first time anyway. Dante insists he can take care of himself, but then two of his best friends end up dead. With the grief and rage nearly tearing him apart it's pretty clear he needs a friend more than he needs a bodyguard. Heather and Dante seem to be falling for each other pretty hard, but when she uncovers a dark past he can't even remember can she live with the truth of what he's capable of?

This took me back a few years, to when I first got into vampire books. Two of the first vampire books I ever read were The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice and Lost Souls by Poppy Z. Brite and until this book I'd forgotten what a dark, angsty, sensual atmosphere could do for a book. Not many authors even bother with atmosphere anymore, their settings don't invoke a tingle down the spine before anything has even happened, or an image of bodies in a candlelit bedroom where your wildest dreams can take place. I thought that maybe the city of New Orleans had something to do with it, but other authors set their books there without evoking this sense of mystery, sensuality, and timelessness. The thriller side of the book is pretty good too. Special Agent Heather Wallace may be drawn to Dante, but above all she wants to catch her serial killer and E is definitely a crazy whack-job of a killer. There is absolutely nothing redeeming about him, but there never really is about real sociopaths. I think she nailed the profile of a sociopath quite well by the way. With the serial killer and Dante's very tortured past this book might be too dark for some, but if you like horror, thrillers, or true crime sort of stories with your very sexy vampires you will love this book.

Zhye

Angels' Blood

2009-04-07T07:49:00.000-04:00

Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh

A Guild Hunter Novel

ISBN# 978-0-425-22692-6

Available now

Published by Berkley Sensation

Format: mm pbk., 355 pages

Genres: fiction, paranormal romance

I freely admit to completely skipping Nalini Singh's Psy-Changelings series. I value plot and world-building over sex so titles like Slave to Sensation and Hostage to Pleasure are more likely to have me running the other way than wanting to read the back of the book. I ordered Angels' Blood through my library because all the reviews and excerpts I came across sounded very good, but I still wasn't confident enough in it to go buy a copy. When it came in my hopes went down to almost nothing because there it was on the binding, the devil's mark, my least favorite publishing imprint/line, Berkley Sensation. The Sensation line has burned me again and again with books full of sex, very little plot, and awful world-building. The line is probably great for those that love the paranormal romance genre above all others, but it's pretty awful if your first love happens to be urban fantasy. Surprisingly, I could barely put Angels' Blood down once I finally dared to open it. So now I have found two exceptions to the Sensation line although I can't remember the title of the other book.

In this alternate reality angels have always been among man, but never so comfortable as to mingle with us. Vampires also exist, angels make 1,000 a year and each must serve a one hundred year contract before being gaining their freedom. Guild Hunters make a very good living retrieving runaway and other troublesome vampires. Elena is one such hunter, the best actually, and after she receives a note from the Archangel Raphael for a morning meeting she may regret her abilities. Angels are unsettling and awe-inspiring enough, but Archangels must also be ruthless enough to hold their territories while keeping control of their vampires and other angels. Raphael wants Elena and her natural born hunter senses to help him track a rogue Archangel, but won't tell her how exactly her expertise with vampires is supposed to help. Almost since their first meeting Raphael has made it clear he wants her, but immortals often break their toys and she doesn't need that kind of trouble. It's just too bad for Elena that Archangels aren't known for taking "no" as an answer.

I have so many questions after reading this first book. I hope that at least some of them will be answered throughout the series. I want to know why toxins buildup in their bloodstream and how they make vampires with it. I also want to know more about "natural born hunters". Does it happen when there's an angel or vampire in their ancestry? I'm pretty much a sucker for angel stories where they aren't beings of light and goodwill so this hit the spot. Raphael is definitely an alpha and he makes some pretty strong advances towards Elena, but Singh stays away from the "me Tarzan, you Jane" syndrome by having Elena finally give in because she wants to and not a second before. Highly recommended for fans of paranormal romance that also want a great story, and urban fantasy fans who don't mind a sizzling couple.

Zhye

Bones of Faerie

2009-04-03T01:23:00.001-04:00

Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner

ISBN# 978-0-375-84563-5

Available now

Published by Random House

Format: HC, 247 pages

Genres: YA, fiction, post-apocalyptic fantasy

While this seems to be her only YA novel she's been in several anthologies for teens and adults including Elf Fantastic, Sword of Ice, Crossroads and Other Tales of Valdemar, Gothic! Ten Original Dark Tales, and many more that you can find a list of on her website. She's also written a few children's books and been in quite a few more anthologies. If you want a peek into the world of this book or liked this book and want more there's a free short story available here. I imagine that her setting would be quite beautiful and awe inspiring as long as you were not a human trying to survive in it.

It's been 20 years since the war between our world and Faerie. The human realm is now almost unrecognizable and no one's even sure if Faerie or its inhabitants still exist. What magic still exists seems aimed at hindering and attacking humans at every turn. Plants are now sentient beings with trees throwing seeds at passing humans and weeds trying to uproot houses. Even harvesting has become dangerous since whatever is planted groans and tries to fight back. Big cities now lie rusting and abandoned, more museums to the past than anything else. Human civilization has been set back at least a hundred years by the loss of technology and the rampant suspicion that anyone at any time could be hiding magic.

In the village of Franklin Falls, Liza believes everything her father ever told her about magic being bad, including that it must be cast out where ever it is found. She believed until the night her sister was born with the telltale translucent hair and silver eyes of Faerie, and was left out in the forest to die by their father. Soon after, her mother slipped out of the village without a word to anyone and hasn't been seen since. Now it's Liza's turn because her magic has awakened and it's showing her visions of her mother surrounded by an awful, blighted landscape. She is followed by Matthew who has quite a few secrets of his own along with a crush on Liza. They are soon under attack by vines and trees when a woman who reminds Liza of what her sister could've grown up to look like rescues them. She brings them to her village, which is unlike anything Liza has known or been told, for healing by magic. This village does have answers for her many questions, but is she ready to accept them?

I loved the post-apocalyptic setting where rather than your overdone wasteland and poison air you have things growing out of control, fighting back. I thought Liza might have been a little too stubborn at times, but when you take into account the kind of parents she has you may wonder why she isn't even more screwed up. I'm really hoping for another book set in this world, but if it does happen it will probably be with different characters since this story does have a pretty nice conclusion. The only thing I really want to complain about is the length, there could've been another 50 - 100 pages easily without messing up the pacing. There is some violence and child abuse in this book so parents will have to judge if their child is ready for this book or not, but I think ages 14+ will love this book. I loved it and I think other adults will too.

Zhye

Jim Butcher Contest

2009-03-30T18:48:00.006-04:00

Do you have some burning questions for Jim? Would you like to win your very own signed copy of Turn Coat? Well, the contest over at IJustFinished will give you a chance to do both. If you do not have an account there please make one first (they're free) or leave them enough information so that they can find you if you win. The best questions will be put to Jim next Monday, April 6th, so hurry up and enter.

The Magician's Apprentice

2009-03-29T00:01:00.001-04:00

The Magician's Apprentice by Trudi Canavan

ISBN# 978-0-316-03788-4

Available now

Published by Orbit/Hachette Book Group

Format: HC, 593 pages

Genres: fiction, fantasy

Trudi Canavan is the Australian author behind The Black Magician and the Age of the Five trilogies, both firmly in the fantasy category. This is her first stand-alone novel, but it's also a prequel, set several hundred years before, to The Black Magician trilogy. This book contains the history Kyralian officials would never want known, like that black magic was once called high magic and was widely practiced or who's really to blame for the Sachakan Wastes. Two of the main characters, Tessia and Jayan, start out as apprentices and go on to make major changes to how magic is taught and what it's used for. If you haven't read the trilogy this book is still a good story all on its own, but if you have this book will fill in some missing history and probably answer a few questions you didn't even know you had.

A few centuries ago the lands of Kyralia and Elyne were finally granted their Independence from Sachaka. Now, the younger generation of Sachakan magicians think they can reclaim these nations because for one reason or another a lot of them are without land of their own. All Tessia wants is to follow in her father's footsteps as the village healer, but her fate is soon changed as a visiting Sachakan magician's unwanted advances awaken her magic. Along with being apprenticed to the local lord, Dakon, she also leaves her village for the first time to go to the capital, and she even meets the king. The novelty is short lived, however when Lord Narvelan sends news that Mandryn, Tessia's village, has been attacked. Lord Dakon, his apprentices, and Lord Werrin leave ahead of the magicians the king is rounding up, but there is nothing to save of the town. Tessia learns that her parents, along with most of the town, are dead, and finds herself in the midst of a hunting party. More magicians slowly trickle in to find the Sachakans and send them packing back across the border, but they always seem to be a village away. While the Kyralians are learning to share their hoarded magical knowledge the Sachakans are getting more distrustful with every new recruit. After some scrimmages the invaders finally set their sights on the capital, but it's what happens after the invasion that truly decides the victor. If Kyralia wins will it really be enough revenge for all of their dead and the razed to the ground villages?

For this being such a long book I didn't find my attention wandering much, but that could be because I had to keep up with the point-of-view changing every few paragraphs without warning. Suprisingly, the main plot of Sachaka vs. Kyralia wasn't even the interesting part of the book for me. I liked reading about the gender issues that kept popping up for the women of both nations. Tessia wanted to be a healer and she had the talent for it too, but even her father told her that the village would never accept a woman. Stara grew up Elyne learning to be a merchant, hoping to win her father's affection by showing him she could run his business. He lives in Sachaka and when he finally does call for her it's only to marry her off and make the best alliance he can. Then there is the issue of slavery, Sachakans have them and Kyralians have outlawed the practice. That's not even everything I enjoyed about this book, but the different characters and differing cultures are definitely what make this book good. Give this book a try if you're up for a character driven fantasy, but if you're looking for a lot of action and a story you haven't read before skip it.

The Graveyard Book

2009-03-25T00:01:00.000-04:00

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Illustrations by Dave McKean (US Edition)

ISBN# 978-0-06-053092-1

Available now

Published by HarperCollins

Format: HC, 312 pages

Genres: YA, fiction, urban fantasy

So, if you haven't heard of Neil Gaiman by now I assume you're avoiding him on purpose and not reading this review anyway. Now for the other side of the fence, if you're reading this review looking for undue praise of Mr. Gaiman's talent you're not going to find it here so move along. While I am a big fan of his comics Sandman and Death I do not feel the same way about most of his novels. I grew up taking walks through the graveyard with my grandmother so I have always loved them which is probably what guaranteed this book at least a shot when I have given up on most of his others.

Nobody Owens, Bod for short, is one lucky toddler. In one night his whole family is murdered and he finds himself taken in by a graveyard full of ghosts just as his would-be assassin arrives at the gates. As you can guess he isn't brought up quite like other boys, but wouldn't you be pretty happy learning how to fade, haunt, and dream walk too? Along with learning the alphabet he's also learning history from people that were there and languages that have never been heard by the living. Along with the ghosts Bod also has a mysterious guardian named Silas who can leave the graveyard at night and bring back things a growing boy needs. He meets his first living friend, Scarlett, at the age of five, but after a confrontation with the Sleer (three-headed serpent guardian) Bod finds in a burial mound her family moves far away. Later, he manages to get into even more trouble when he falls asleep on top of a ghoul gate and is carried off by ghouls who tell him to join them, either voluntarily or by force. Luckily, before much can happen he is saved by Night-gaunts and his teacher, Miss Lupescu. His countless misadventures with the living and the dead serve to prepare Bod quite well when his family's murderer catches up with him once again, but this time there's Scarlett to worry about and Jack brought back-up.

The story was good and so was the pacing, but it's very dry. This is the problem I have with a lot of his novels. His books become boring for me and I give up on them because there's no feeling, no emotional attachment. If Gaiman can't bother to be attached to his characters and what happens to them why should I? It's like he's a reporter or a cop and his books are just reports he turned in full of facts, but not much else. If you've liked all his past work I have no doubt you'll like this too, but if you're looking for something that will really pull you in you may want to pass. If you are an urban fantasy fan you'll want to read it just for some of the ideas alone. I liked the book, I really liked Sirus and the secret Jacks of All Trades organization (wish there had been more about them), but not enough to read it again or buy it.

Zhye

White Witch, Black Curse

2009-03-21T05:50:00.002-04:00

White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison

Rachel Morgan/The Hollows

ISBN# 978-0-06-113801-0

Available now

Published by Eos/HarperCollins

Format: HC, 504 pages

Genres: fiction, urban fantasy

This is the seventh book in the Rachel Morgan series, also called The Hollows. There is just not enough Trent time in this book although Rachel's first love does pop up in this book, and no it's not Nick. So far these are the only books she writes, but that will change in May when her YA book, Once Dead, Twice Shy is released. To get a sneak peak of the heroine and her world in this book read the novella entitled, "Madison Avery and the Dim Reaper", which can be found in the anthology Prom Nights From Hell. If you love Kim Harrison and her books she also has her own Yahoo! Group, The Hollows. If you're mad that Kisten's dead there's also a Yahoo! Group for that, Bring Back Kisten Felps. Who knew people were that pissed off?

As this book begins Rachel is still trying to regain her memory of Kisten's killer while maintaining her platonic relationship (a first?) with Marshal, and starting to think her life's finally coming together. It was a nice dream. It all starts to go downhill with a phone call from the FIB while Rachel and Ford, the human mood ring, are on Kisten's boat trying to jog her memory. Once Rachel, Ivy, and Jenks arrive at the crime scene all signs point to one or all of the missing family being Interlanders (supernaturals). The woman and child are soon found to be banshees (apex predators that feed on emotions often with fatal results), but the FIB make the situation even worse by bringing in another banshee to bring in the first two. Rachel discovers that The Walker is just an assassin out to kill Ms. Harbor so she can take her child. While all this is going on Rachel manages to make a move on Marshal and a ghost, literally, from Rachel's past shows up only to get snatched by Al. So now she's trying to rescue a friend from Al and save the city from hungry banshees only to find herself suddenly shunned for being a black witch. So much for getting her life back on track huh?

So, I like the story and I like most of the characters. The series is very readable and sucks you right in, but Rachel doesn't seem to be growing up at all. Her ho issues may, in fact, be getting worse. She messes around with Marshal in this book and then, "Look! What's that?", a sexy ghost appears. Say no to the sexy ghost and yes to sexy Trent! It's been seven books now, where is the Trent and Rachel hook-up? Now that Kisten's gone I am all about Trent and I will have you know he was only in this book for like three pages! Ok, back to the book... this book gets a little bogged down in the middle with tons of stuff going on all at once, but it picks back up fairly quick. So, great series if you love urban fantasy and want to read about more than just your average vampire or werewolf. If you're still hoping Rachel will grow up sometime in this series I am here to tell you, not yet.

Zhye

Fairy Tale Contest

2009-03-20T18:56:00.002-04:00

Do you want to win a copy of Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog before you can buy it? Grand prize is a signed copy of this book and a handmade silver necklace just like the main character, Morgan, wears. There's three ways to enter and if you do all three you have three entries. All you have to do is hop over to Cyn's Blog, read the instructions, and enter. Contest ends April 13th. If you have any questions or comments please leave them over at Cyn's blog and not here since I am in no way connected to the contest or the author.

Need

2009-03-17T17:11:00.002-04:00

Need by Carrie Jones

ISBN# 978-1-59990-338-5

Available now

Published by Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books

Format: HC, 306 pages

Genres: YA, fiction, urban fantasy

This is the only book I've read by Carrie Jones and it looks to be her only YA urban fantasy so far. She does have a few other YA books that look pretty interesting though including Tips on Having a Gay (ex) Boyfriend and the sequel, Love (and other uses for duct tape). The good news is that Carrie is currently working on the sequel to Need so maybe the pixies won't be stuck in that house forever after all (you'll know what I'm talking about after you read the book). Besides enjoying the main story in this book you'll also learn a little about Amnesty International and a whole list of phobias you never knew existed thanks to the main character's causes and quirks. I like books that are able to accomplish more than just a good story as long as it doesn't get in the way of said story or bog it down.

For a change of scenery Zara's mom decides to send her to Maine hoping that a stay with her grandmother will jar her back to life. Zara's been going through her daily routines like a zombie since her step-father (the only father she's ever known) died. Surprising herself, she quickly makes a few friends at her new school including the classic overachiever, Ian, and the rebel without a cause, Nick. Each of them warns her off the other, but since she likes both of them and is enjoying feeling somewhat normal again she dismisses their rivalry. Normalcy is soon gone again once Zara sees her stalker again, this time right outside the school lunchroom. She has seen him twice before, but she can't believe that someone would follow her from South Carolina to Maine until witnesses see him this third time too. Of course, how can you believe your witnesses when they try to tell you that your stalker may be a pixie? Zara is about to learn that her family and this town are full of secrets that will be just as hard to swallow as pixies actually existing. Pixie lore says that without a queen the king must take young men as blood tributes so will Zara be the queen they need or is there another way?

I found myself comparing this book to Melissa Marr's writing style, especially Ink Exchange because the endings both had the same problem for me. In both, the humans completely overlook that the faeries/pixies need this lifestyle to live and put a stop to them anyway. Since Zara is so gung ho about Amnesty International I thought she would come up with a middle ground, but no such luck. I still have high hopes that something will be worked out in the sequel though. If you're looking for a short, fast-paced read and love YA urban fantasy with a penchant for Faery and all of its denizens definitely pick this book up.

Zhye

Undone

2009-03-12T01:47:00.001-04:00

Undone by Rachel Caine

Outcast Season

ISBN# 978-0-45146-261-9

Available now

Published by Roc

Format: mm pbk., 320 pages

Genres: fiction, urban fantasy

So, this is the first book in the awesome Weather Warden spin-off series, the Outcast Season. Joanne Baldwin, David, and even Lewis do pop up in the beginning, but only long enough to introduce Cassiel (heroine of this series) and her new partner. They might pop up somewhere in a future book, but so far these two series remain separate. I would also say that even if you haven't read any of the Weather Warden series you can read Undone and not feel like you're missing a whole bunch of information. You may not understand the job of a Warden as well, but you will see just what they are capable of.

Cassiel is a very, very old djinn, or at least she was until Ashan (leader of the Old Djinn) cast her out and into human form for denying his request. She's never been one to play at being human like many of David's New Djinn so throughout this book, and probably future books, she is constantly learning and re-evaluating what it means to be human. David, Joanne, and Lewis appear just long enough to get Cassiel on her feet and teamed up with Earth Warden Manny Rocha before getting back to business of their own. Since Ashan cut her off from the aetheric along with trapping her in flesh she must now learn to trust and depend on Manny to be her link to power or she will die.

Life as a human may be hard, but as the attacks start it doesn't look like Cassiel or Manny will be around much longer anyway. The first two attacks can be attributed to either djinn or Wardens, but since there is no clear signature there is no way to track it back to the culprit. While Cassiel is chasing down lead after lead on who might want them dead she's also forming her first real human attachment to Manny's daughter, Ibby. When Luis, Manny's younger brother, shows up Cassiel starts feeling things she barely has a name for, but the trouble Manny was worried about quickly follows Luis right to their house. The attack that changes the Rocha family forever comes in the form of a drive-by. Before those left behind can even mourn properly a sleeping Ibby is taken right out of her bed. With all of these new and painful emotions still sitting on the surface can Luis and Cassiel keep it together long enough to find and rescue her before it's too late?

I loved this book! Watching Cassiel's transformation from former, superior djinn to someone almost human was very believable. I also think she will continue to evolve in future books. It may be a cliche that it's children who bring her around to thinking humans may not be so bad after all, but it's also true. If you were looking for a reason why the human race should exist it would surely be found among our children. Unlike a lot of other first books in series this one was not all set-up and something you had to wade through so you would know what was happening in future books. In fact, I barely perceived it as set-up because it's also doing the double duty of showing how Cassiel can change and even form important relationships with what she once thought of as just lower lifeforms.

Rachel Caine is truly a gifted author and she only seems to get better with every book, including this one. If you haven't read anything of her's yet this is a great place to start. I highly recommend this book whether you're a fan of the Weather Warden series, looking for books featuring djinn as main characters, or are just a general urban fantasy junkie. Hurry up with that second book please!!

Zhye

Revelations

2009-03-10T00:03:00.001-04:00

Revelations by Melissa De La Cruz

Blue Bloods

ISBN# 978-1-4231-0228-1

Available now

Published by Hyperion CH

Format: HC, 272 pages

Genres: YA, fiction, urban fantasy

This is the third entry into the world of the Blue Bloods. They live in a world of excess and privilege while hiding what they really are. They need blood much like vampires, but they're really fallen angels doomed to be reborn again and again until they have paid for their sins. Melissa De La Cruz has put yet another spin on the vampire myth, combined it with the modern, filthy rich teen, and yet somehow makes it all work. Oh, by the way, the book trailer for this series is a real treat. You can find it right at the top of Melissa's website (see link at the the top of this review).

The only thing a potential reader should be warned about is the Force twins. In the world of the Blue Bloods the young start changing around 15 or 16. Their abilities, along with memories of their past lives begin coming to the surface. As it happens Mimi and Jack Force are twins in this cycle, but they're also fallen angels who've been bonded soul mates in every past life. Kind of increases the creepy yuck factor, but as long as you remember they are all fallen angels who come back cycle after cycle and none of them are really related like humans are you should be fine.

Schuyler starts this book with seemingly nothing going her way. Her grandfather has finally resurfaced and even topples Charles Force to become regent of the Blue Bloods, but her dreams of living with him now that her grandmother is dead are quickly dashed. In an act of pure retaliation, at least I think so, Charles Force uses the human courts to gain custody of Schuyler and deprive her grandfather of even visitation. One of Charles' new rules for her is that she can no longer have any contact, even at school, with her best friend and conduit Oliver. Along with all of that she now finds her self living under the same roof as her nemesis, Mimi Force, and her burgeoning crush, Jack Force. At least she still has her newest supporter and friend, Bliss, right?

The Silver Bloods are still on the loose, but who has the time to notice? During the day Jack doesn't notice Schuyler and Schuyler doesn't notice Oliver. Night time is a completely different affair with Schuyler meeting Jack in one hotel, or Oliver in another almost every night. Once Mimi catches on she tries to head off this silly relationship by moving ahead with the plans for her and Jack's bonding ceremony. Bonded pairs not only reach their full potential they also desire no other besides their mate which strongly appeals to Mimi. Nobody may need to worry about any of this kind of thing for much longer once those unnoticed visions Bliss has of fire and brimstone start coming true. The bad news is the Blue Bloods look just as unprepared as ever for this kind of trouble.

I liked the first two books, Blue Bloods and Masquerade, better and hopefully the fourth book will get this series back on track. I have no idea why Melissa De La Cruz felt the need to make Schuyler into a home wrecking, slutpuppy. It's so unlike her from the first two books I thought that maybe it was some sort of trick or a dream she was having. With Schuyler acting so much like Mimi, Bliss becomes the most interesting character in this book. If someone would've paid a little more attention to Bliss the end of this book probably could've been avoided. Why exactly did our heroine turn into a ho who couldn't save the day? I feel let down and a tad confused by the whole thing.

Dream Warrior

2009-02-27T19:53:00.001-05:00

Dream Warrior by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Dream-Hunter

ISBN# 978-0-312-93883-3

Available now

Published by St. Martin's Press

Format: mm pbk., 314 pages

Genres: fiction, paranormal romance, urban fantasy

I have a problem with the way the Dream-Hunter novels are marketed as being separate from the Dark-Hunter series. A lot of fans now think they can skip these books if they're just into the Dark-Hunters and that's not exactly true. The first two, The Dream Hunter and Upon the Midnight Clear, may have been Kenyon's attempt at a separate series since they can be skipped without anything missing from the world of the Dark-Hunters. Dream Chaser and this book, however should not be skipped, not if you want to know what the hell is going on. Dream Chaser picks up where Devil May Cry (Dark-Hunter, book 11) left off and Jaden makes his first appearance. Dream Warrior not only formally starts the next stage of the Dark-Hunter series, it's also where the war begins.

Around nine thousand years ago Cratus was bound and thrown to Earth by Zeus for disobeying just one order, to kill an infant. What almost none of the gods are aware of is that his punishment didn't end there and, in fact takes place nightly. You can imagine that he's not a very happy person, made even less so when Phobos and Delphine show up to ask for his help on behalf of Zeus. Since he turned them down flat Delphine, who's a Dream-Hunter, plans to enter his dreams that night and talk to him there. Before she has a chance to intervene Azura gets to him first and sways him to their side promising him the return of his powers and a chance to take down Zeus. While hope is all but lost the Dream-Hunters bravely continue to fight Noir and Azura's Skoti (rogue Dream-Hunters that have given into the temptation to feel emotions anyway they can) army. In the latest battle the Dream-Hunters are ambushed in their own sanctuary and Delphine, along with many others, are taken prisoner. Jericho (aka Cratus) takes an interest in Delphine so Azura gives her to him as a present thinking it will keep him busy. After a few missteps they enter an uneasy alliance that slowly turns to love, but when she's drugged in her sleep he begins to realize that his hatred of the Olympians has blinded him to the wrongness of what Noir and Azura are trying to achieve. Jericho's first battle turns out to be more of a rescue mission with them sneaking in to save their people and swinging the Skoti back to the Dream-Hunters. Without an army Azura and Noir retreat, but it's quite clear that the war is only beginning.

This is most definitely not the book to start this series with. I've read all the previous books and still felt a little lost, tons of new characters are introduced (most by name only), and all kinds of subplots are starting although none of them come to a conclusion in this book. Besides all the new characters introduced for the second stage of this series it looks like Nick and Zarek will also be playing major roles. If this book is anything to go by we'll all need a notebook beside us to keep track of what's going on and who's who in this second stage. There are a lot of things I don't understand, but I think most of it will be explained in future books so I'm not worried too much yet. If you like paranormal romance with the world-building of urban fantasy and have an interest in Greek mythology this series is right up your alley. For proper reading order see the list here.

Zhye