Short Story Saturday: Hollow

Title: Hollow (from the anthology Shifting Shadows: Stories from the World of Mercy Thompson)

Author: Patricia Briggs

Date of Publication: September 2, 2014

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Number of Pages: 42

Synopsis: "I have always had vivid dreams. Those dreams are especially real when I am sick- sometimes it takes me a while to figure out which part was the dream and which the reality. This story is born from a nightmare about an old friend who was being haunted by his murdered wife. It is also about Mercy making peace with the changes in her life." - Patricia Briggs, Shifting Shadows: Stories from the World of Mercy Thompson

My Review:

Mercy Thompson is one of my favorite heroines of all time so the last story in this anthology was definitely the one I was most looking forward to, and the one that ended up being my favorite. Though there aren't many returning characters in this one I enjoyed meeting some new faces in the Mercy world and I absolutely loved Briggs's take on ghosts.

One of the things I love most about Mercy is that she always finds herself in some of the most exciting situations and this one was no exception. I absolutely loved the ghost story/mystery in this one and my only complaint is that I wish it had been longer! Briggs did a wonderful job with the development of the plot and even though it was a short story she packed quite a punch in the time that she did have. I loved the ghost story aspect and I hope we get to see more of that in future novels!  

Even though there weren't many returning characters one person I was thrilled to see was Adam- swoon! He played a relatively small role in the story, only a page or two, but he was just as sweet and amazing as I remembered him, and his brief appearance made me fall in love with him all over again. Seeing a little peek of him, and the interaction between him and Mercy, made me desperate all over again for the next book in the series! 

A great conclusion to the collection Hollow was one of the best in the series and I loved getting a little story about Mercy to keep me satisfied while I wait for the 9th book in the series. If you only have time to read a few stories in this collection definitely make sure Hollow is one of them!

5/5

Review: The Winter Long

Title: October Daye #8: The Winter Long

Author: Seanan McGuire

Date of Publication: September 2, 2014

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Toby thought she understood her own past; she thought she knew the score.

She was wrong.

It's time to learn the truth.

My Review: 

I can't believe I've been following this series for over two years now and this series is still just as amazing as it was when I read the first one. Instead of declining over time this series is still going strong and I'm so excited to get my hands on the next book in the series, especially after what happened at the very end. McGuire is truly a genius at creating engaging plots and non-stop action and every time I pick up a book by her I find it impossible to put it down until I'm done.

The thing that made this book absolutely amazing was finally getting answers to all the questions I had all the way from book one. The first book in the series left a lot of unanswered questions that sort of fell to the background throughout the constant adventure and excitement of the 6 books in between, however McGuire finally came back to the very beginning with this novel to answer the questions we've been wondering in the back of our minds this whole time. McGuire dropped so many bombshells in this book, there was one moment when I couldn't help but gasp aloud at some of the things about Toby's past that were finally being revealed. Though I can't give anything away this novel was definitely full of the unexpected twists and turns we've all come to expect from McGuire.

Another thing I loved about this novel was the re-connection of the relationship between Toby and Tybalt. In the last book, even though they had their moments, I didn't feel the connection between them that I felt in previous books. I'm happy to say that the ties between them have been renewed and I was able to feel the love and devotion between them, in this novel especially Tybalt proved his dedication to Toby again and again and feeling the ties between them made me smile. The end of this novel left things between them in a really good place and I'm eager to see how everything works out for them in the future, especially after what Tybalt says at the very end.

Even though this novel answers so many questions I had it also brings up a whole set of new ones. The Winter Long was no doubt a turning point in the series and a whole new set of changes and challenges lies in store for Toby in the next few books. I can't wait to see what McGuire has in mind for the rest of the series and I know that whatever it is, it's going to be amazing. There's no shortage of action in these novels and even though they're a little light on the romance side everything just works, McGuire knows how to write a good story and she never disappoints!

The October Daye series is no doubt one of the best (if not the best) series in paranormal romance and urban fantasy. McGuires talent for writing stories with non-stop action and unique and lovable characters makes this series impossible to put down. I'm already dying to get my hands on the next book and I'm not sure if I can stand another year long wait!

5/5

Review: Kindling the Moon

Title: Arcadia Bell #1: Kindling the Moon

Author: Jenn Bennet

Date of Publication: June 28, 2011

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Being the spawn of two infamous occultists (and alleged murderers) isn’t easy, but freewheeling magician Arcadia “Cady” Bell knows how to make the best of a crummy situation. After hiding out for seven years, she’s carved an incognito niche for herself slinging drinks at the demon-friendly Tambuku Tiki Lounge.

But she receives an ultimatum when unexpected surveillance footage of her notorious parents surfaces: either prove their innocence or surrender herself. Unfortunately, the only witness to the crimes was an elusive Æthyric demon, and Cady has no idea how to find it. She teams up with Lon Butler, an enigmatic demonologist with a special talent for sexual spells and an arcane library of priceless stolen grimoires. Their research soon escalates into a storm of conflict involving missing police evidence, the decadent Hellfire Club, a ruthless bounty hunter, and a powerful occult society that operates way outside the law. If Cady can’t clear her family name soon, she’ll be forced to sacrifice her own life . . . and no amount of running will save her this time.

My Review: 

Despite starting off a little rough I was surprised how much I ended up enjoying Kindling the Moon. As with most urban fantasies I was expecting another stereotypical badass heroine and a run of the mill action filled plot. However, even though this novel had both of those to an extent, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Bennett had a original take on magic and demons and that both of those things came together to make a novel that was just a little bit more than I was expecting.

What made me really enjoy Kindling the Moon was the interesting integration of demons and magic, called Heka. Bennett presented a very original take on magic and demons and I really enjoyed the world that she had created. The plot, more than the characters, was what really kept me interested in this novel. The story about Cady's parents and the murders held my interest until the very end and with all the magic and demon hunting in between there was hardly a dull moment. Not to mention the ending that completely blew me away; unexpected and surprising the ending was what really pulled everything together and made this novel worth reading.

The characters weren't bad but I wasn't particularly impressed by them. It's not that I disliked Cady, I liked her fine, but there just wasn't anything about her personality that made me really love her. One of the most annoying things about urban fantasy is that almost all of the heroines act like they have something to prove, and even though Cady started off with a bit of a chip on her shoulder, she evened out as the novel went on and I really appreciated that. Lon, the love interest, was a tad more interesting than Cady just because of his gruff personality but he honestly didn't really strike a chord with me either. The one character I did end up adoring was Jupe, Lon's son. Jupe was hilarious and his boisterous personality always made me smile; I'm definitely looking forward to seeing him in the next book!

Overall while Kindling the Moon was an enjoyable enough read there wasn't really anything about it that really jumped out at me. I am definitely interested enough in the series to continue reading but this novel was just missing that little something that would have made it memorable. First books in a series are always a little rough so I'm willing to give Bennett another shot, because there really were a lot of great ideas in this novel it was just lacking the characters to make the plot really shine.

Those looking for an urban fantasy with a bit of an original twist on magic may want to check this series out but I haven't quite made up my mind about it yet. Hopefully the next book will have stronger character development and have that little spark the series needs!

3/5

Review: Mercy Thompson #8: Night Broken

Title: Mercy Thompson #8: Night Broken

Author: Patricia Briggs

Date of Publication: March 11, 2014

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: An unexpected phone call heralds a new challenge for Mercy. Her mate Adam’s ex-wife is in trouble, on the run from her new boyfriend. Adam isn’t the kind of man to turn away a person in need—and Mercy knows it. But with Christy holed up in Adam’s house, Mercy can’t shake the feeling that something about the situation isn’t right.

Soon, her suspicions are confirmed when she learns that Christy has the farthest thing from good intentions. She wants Adam back and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen, including turning Adam’s pack against Mercy.

Mercy isn’t about to step down without a fight, but there’s a more dangerous threat circling. Christy’s ex is more than a bad man—in fact, he may not be human at all. As the bodies start piling up, Mercy must put her personal troubles aside to face a creature with the power to tear her whole world apart.

My Review: 

We all know how much I absolutely adore the Mercy Thompson series. I could go on for days about what makes this series, hands down, the absolute best paranormal romance series ever written. With captivating plots, unique characters, and plenty of action; it seems that each book in this series never fails to deliver exactly what I'm looking for. Mercy is one of the strongest female leads in urban fantasy and I just love her attitude and personality.

All that being said I'm not going to lie, Night Broken wasn't one of my favorites in the series but, at the same time, it was infinitely better than most of the paranormal romances out there. Compared to the rest of the books in the series I felt like Night Broken wasn't as exciting nor was the romance quite up to the high standards set by previous books. Not only that but, I really missed some of the characters that didn't make an appearance in this novel- Ben especially.  However, I was still completely enamored by the world and characters Briggs has created and I found myself finishing this novel in less than a day because I just couldn't stop reading!

Even though the main plot of this novel was Mercy defeating the paranormal creature stalking Christy, as well as a little side plot about the walking stick, I was much more interested in the interactions between Mercy and Christy. This is the first time in the series Christy has made an extended appearance and I was curious to see how Briggs was going to handle it. Overall I'm a little torn over how to feel, on one hand I have a huge amount of respect for Mercy for being as calm and polite as she was. Christy completely took over Mercy's home, and even tried to manipulate Adam for her own purposes, and Mercy was, for the most part, perfectly nice to her. On the other hand I felt like Mercy was just a little too calm about everything, Christy even went as far as answering Adam's phone and Mercy said nothing. At the end of the novel Mercy did get a little bit of revenge, but it was a long time coming.

One of the things I miss most about this series that is slowly becoming less apparent is the teasing between Mercy and Adam. I felt like the two of them barely had a moment alone and the moments they did have alone weren't as filled with banter as they used to be. However, the romance really took a back seat in this novel, likely because of Christy's presence, so I'm hoping the next novel brings back the toe curling moments between Adam and Mercy that I've come to love so much!

Though it wasn't my favorite Night Broken was still a great addition to an already fantastic series and I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series! Briggs has a true talent for writing and though Night Broken wasn't the best book in the series I still wholeheartedly recommend it!

5/5

Review: Corine Solomon #2: Hell Fire

Title: Corine Solomon #2: Hell Fire

Author: Ann Aguirre

Date of Publication: April 6, 2010

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: The second in the thrilling national bestselling series 

As a handler, Corine Solomon can touch any object and know its history. It's too bad she can't seem to forget her own. With her ex-boyfriend Chance in tow-lending his own supernatural brand of luck-Corine journeys back home to Kilmer, Georgia, in order to discover the truth behind her mother's death and the origins of "gift".

But while trying to uncover the secrets in her past, Corine and Chance find that something is rotten in the state of Georgia. Inside Kilmer's borders there are signs of a dark curse affecting the town and all its residents-and it can only be satisfied with death...

My Review:

Its been a long time coming but I finally decided to buckle down and finally read this book after its been sitting on my Kindle for almost a year now. After how much I enjoyed the first book in this series I can't believe it took me this long to finally get around to this one but once I did I couldn't imagine what I had been missing! A great second novel, Hell Fire delivered everything I expected from a good novel and left me wanting the third book in the series (which will not be sitting on my Kindle for the next year I promise)!

The plot, more so than the characters, was what made this novel really stand out. Thrilling and suspenseful, there was never a dull moment and I quickly found myself wrapped up in the mystery behind the death of Corine's mother. The monsters Aguirre created, both human and paranormal, were absolutely terrifying and the end of the novel left such a gristly image in my mind that I couldn't stop thinking about it (in the best way possible, of course!). Scary and unforgettable the originality of the plot, paired with the perfect writing, made this novel impossible to put down.

Though the characters didn't stand out as much as the plot they still played a major role in the story and were each fascinating in their own way. I especially loved the addition of Shannon, an eighteen year old goth girl with the ability to talk to ghosts through a radio. Corine's ability grew a lot in this novel and it was interesting to see the changes she went through. Aguirre has given each of the characters such unique and fascinating abilities that I can't help but love learning more about how they work. Especially Chance's luck and Shannon's communications with ghosts.

The one thing really holding this novel back is the terrible romance. The love triangle between Corine, Chance, and Jesse is the most annoying non-love triangle I've ever had to sit through and I just can't stand Corine's back and forth behavior. I feel no chemistry between Corine and Jesse and the chemistry between Chance and Corine is there but always feels a little forced. The ending of this novel made me want to scream though I know that this is by no means the end. We all know Chance and Corine are going to end up together, its just a matter of when and where, and this novel just wasn't the right time yet.

Despite the awful love triangle, the other aspects, such as the plot and the character's fascinating abilities, make this novel worth reading. Fans of urban fantasy and suspense will no doubt be captured by this series!

4/5

Release Day Blitz: The Enlightening by Adrianne James

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Mackenzie Duncan found out that pack life wasn’t for her. Now she is running for the second time in the six months since she was bitten and turned into a Werewolf. But this time, she isn’t alone. This time, she has Geoff and Liam with her, two very hot Werewolves vying for her heart.

But her companions aren’t her focus. The only thing she can focus on is getting far from her old pack and their murderous ways. Only, she doesn’t just want to run. She wants to warn every pack she can that their lives are in danger too. No one should be turned against their will like she was and no other pack should have to surrender to the ideas of a centuries old, power hungry woman.

Not only does Mackenzie have to deal with her crazy ex-pack leader sending people out to kill her, she has to keep both men at arm’s length (and that proves to be much more difficult than she thought), but she finds out more about her own life and heritage than she ever thought imaginable.

And suddenly, everything makes sense…

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Get the first book in the Mackenzie Duncan Series, The Tempering while it is on sale!

The Mythology department at prestigious Harvard University is tiny—and Mackenzie Duncan has just been selected as one of the lucky few. Her love for myths and legends is strong, but she never thought any of it could be real.

After being attacked by a large wolf while walking home alone, Mackenzie realizes something is not right. She heals quickly, is suddenly super strong, and is experiencing mood swings that can’t possibly be normal. The myths she’s studying aren’t myths at all. Werewolves are real and she’s one of them. Fear of what she is, and who she might hurt sends Mackenzie running from the life she’s worked hard to build–and straight into the arms of a handsome Were named Geoff and into the home of his pack. Living with her new pack takes the edge off her confusion and self-loathing, but the arrival of new pack members changes the dynamic, and tests Geoff and Mackenzie’s growing relationship.

The hardest part of being a werewolf is having no control and no memory of her time as a blood thirsty beast. When a moon cycle passes and she actually remembers bits and pieces of the night, she starts to ask questions, and the more questions she asks, the more she realizes she doesn’t like the answers. Can she set aside her own sense of morals to belong to a pack that is like a family or will she leave everything behind yet again in search of a life she can be proud of?

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Growing up, Adrianne couldn’t get her hands on enough books to satisfy her need for the make believe. If she finished a novel and didn’t have a new one ready and waiting for her, she began to create her own tales of magic and wonder. Now, as an adult, books still make up majority of her free time, and now her tales get written down to be shared with the world.

During the day, Adrianne uses her camera to capture life’s stories for clients of all ages and at night, after her two children are tucked in bed; she devotes herself to her written work. Adrianne is living the life she always wanted, surrounded by art and beauty, the written word and a loving family.

As a young adult and new adult author, Adrianne James has plans to bring stories of growing characters, a little romance, and perhaps a little magic and mythology down the line for her readers to enjoy.


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Review: Dreg City #1: Three Days To Dead

Title: Dreg City #1: Three Days to Dead

Author: Kelley Meding

Date of Publication: November 24, 2009

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: They’ll never see her coming. . . .

When Evangeline Stone wakes up naked and bruised on a cold slab at the morgue—in a stranger’s body, with no memory of who she is and how she got there—her troubles are only just beginning. Before that night she and the two other members of her Triad were the city’s star bounty hunters, mercilessly cleansing the city of the murderous creatures living in the shadows, from vampires to shape-shifters to trolls. Then something terrible happened that not only cost all three of them their lives but also convinced the city’s other Hunters that Evy was a traitor—and she can’t even remember what it was.

Now she’s a fugitive, piecing together her memory, trying to deal some serious justice—and discovering that she has only three days to solve her own murder before the reincarnation spell wears off. Because in three days Evy will die again—but this time there’s no second chance. . .

My Review

While I wouldn't exactly call Three Days to Dead an awful book I wouldn't call it a good one either. Unoriginal and underdeveloped it was a hard novel to get into and slow to get started, however once the novel got started it wasn't a necessarily difficult one to read.

Evy was an alright character; a fairly typical urban fantasy heroine she's got a huge chip on her shoulder and enough guns to back it up. The most original thing about her was the fact that she was brought back to life and came back in a "Gifted" body, meaning that she is one of the few humans who can control magic. Wyatt, another "Gifted", was a unremarkable male lead. His romance with Evy lacked chemistry, probably because she admitted several times that she didn't love him but then proceeded to think about him like she did, and his character just wasn't developed enough for me to start to feel a real connection with him.

Likewise the plot was nothing new to the urban fantasy genre. Since it's all been said before I felt like the author was a little lazy and cut some corners because she assumed that the reader would fill in the blanks. I was able to but at the same time I felt like the world and characters weren't nearly developed as they could have been. While the novel was exciting, there was definitely no lack of action, there were times (especially at the end) where the answers came too easily with absolutely no explanation.

My biggest complaint about this novel was the pacing. Though it wasn't exactly a struggle to get through, the first 200 pages of this book were pretty dull and I had a hard time keeping myself focused on the book. The author does a terrible job explaining the dregs (or vampires, werewolves, goblins, ect) that roam the city and for the first 50 pages or so I was terribly confused. Once I got past the first boring 200 pages the novel picked up considerably and the last half went pretty quickly. Unfortunately the world was so underdeveloped that I had a hard time keeping myself engrossed in the novel.

Overall Three Days to Dead wasn't a terrible book but it was a unremarkable one. I wouldn't completely write off Kelly Meding yet, as this novel had some potential but I'm not in a hurry to pick up the next one either.  Someday if I have a lot of time on my hands I may consider taking a look at the next one but it's not high on my to-read list.

3/5

Review: The Morganville Vampires #3: Midnight Alley

Title: The Morganville Vampires #3: Midnight Alley

Author: Rachel Caine

Date of Publication: October 2, 2007

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Morganville is such a nice place to live... And die. If you don’t mind that sort of thing.

When Claire Danvers learnt that her college town was run by vampires, she did what any intelligent, self-preserving student would do: she applied for a transfer and stocked up on garlic. The transfer is no longer an option, but that garlic may come in handy.

Now Claire has pledged herself to Amelie, the most powerful vampire in town. The protection her contract secures does little to reassure her friends. All of a sudden, people are turning up dead, a stalker resurfaces from Claire’s past, and an ancient bloodsucker extends a chilling invitation for private lessons in his secluded home.

My Review:

Midnight Alley is a major novel in the Morganville Vampires series. With the introduction of Myrnin as well as many revealed secrets about Amelie and the vampires the third novel in the Morganville Vampires series is without a doubt a pivotal one. Even though this novel introduces some major plot lines the character relationships and romance we know and love are still in place, making Midnight Alley one of my favorites of the series.

The first time I read Midnight Alley (five years ago maybe?) I wasn't very impressed with Myrnin or his story line. However, this time around I found that really had an appreciation for his character. Jumping between complete insanity and complete genius he is one of the most fascinating characters in the Morganville world. I found myself looking forward to his parts of the story, wondering what extreme he would go to or what crazy thing he would do next. Claire and Myrnin have an extremely interesting relationship, going from friendship to student and teacher to prey and predator.  Myrnin holds so many of the secrets of Morganville and I'm so excited to continue the series and see everything I missed the first time around.

As usual the romance between Claire and Shane was absolutely adorable. Something about their personalities just work perfectly together, despite the fact that Claire is a 16 year old genius studying biochemistry and Shane is a slacker who hangs out in his pajamas all day. Maybe it's the fact that they are such opposites that makes them so cute together, I don't know but they are one of my absolute favorite fictional couples of all time. Caine has a way of creating such strong and believable relationships that it's impossible not to become as involved in the relationships as the characters themselves. One of the reasons I love these novels as much as I do is because of how much I can related to each of the characters and in a way I can see a bit of myself in all of them. Caine is such a skilled writer her characters can reach through the page and grab your heart, pulling you into their world before you even know what's happened.

Midnight Alley has one of the better plots of the Morganville Vampires series, even though the majority of the novel is spent on smaller events that lead to bigger ones in later novels (like Myrnin and Oliver) the events the novel did have just fit together perfectly. I know I've said it before but I think one of the reasons this series so great is because of the character relationships, and not just the relationships between Claire, Eve, Shane, and Michael. The relationships between Claire and secondary characters, like Monica, as well as the complex relationships like the one between Claire and Myrnin are what make this novel really shine. All of the characters are connected in some way without a weak personality in the bunch.

We all know that I always recommend the Morganville Vampires series and I truly believe that this series is one of the greatest YA vampire series of all time (honestly this series should have taken the place of Twilight). Caine has weaved such an engaging world and fascinating plot it's impossible not to love this series. With the slew of vampire novels out there it's hard to know which ones are worth reading, this is one series that is worth that time.

5/5

Review: Jaz Parks #3: Biting the Bullet

Title:Jaz Parks #3: Biting the Bullet

Author: Jennifer Rardin

Date of Publication: February 5, 2008

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: This is a mission unlike anything my vampire boss, Vayl, and I have ever been on. It's not our usual take them out and run; it's an undercover mission that needs the whole gang: a psychic, an interpreter, and a weapons specialist. We're joining a Special Ops team to nail the Wizard, a major terrorist thorn in the military's side. We've never gone in with such heavy artillery before, but the more the merrier, right? Um . . . nope. At least not since Vayl and I learned part of our job is to ferret out a mole concealed in our unit. To add to our problems, we're being harried by a pack of reavers bent on revenge, and targeted by a Seer who wants to share Vayl's power - at any cost. Oh yeah, and let's not forget the army of demonic, soul-sucking parasites either. This is going to be a blast.

My Review:

Something about the Jaz Parks novels never fails to draw me in and bring me fully into a world of action, intrigue, assassinations, and mythical creatures. Biting the Bullet was another fantastic addition to the series, with an action packed plot and plenty of hints of romance between Jaz and Vayl I quickly became quickly engrossed in the exciting and original world that Rardin has created.

My favorite part of these novels never fails to be the relationship between Jaz and Vayl. Their personalities are so opposite that they complement each other perfectly and throughout every novel I'm always on the edge of my seat waiting for the pivotal moment in their relationship. While that moment didn't happen in this novel I know that moment is coming very soon. Biting the Bullet also provided quite a bit of background on Jaz and Vayl. With Dave making a larger appearance in this novel than any other Jaz's past came back several times to haunt her and we finally learned more about what made Jaz's and Dave's relationship what it was.

Biting the Bullet had a ton of fun quirks that made this novel really enjoyable to read. One of them being the relationship between Dave and Cassandra, I thought they made the most adorable couple ever and I sincerely hope that their relationship gets the chance to continue in future novels. Likewise I also enjoyed the Iranian setting, I'd never actually read a book set in Iran before so I really enjoyed the interesting setting and Rardin's take on that part of the world. With the introduction of the villain, the Wizard, and his abilities with necromancy it was interesting to see zombies play a role in the novel and the ever present action was always a huge selling point for me.

Even though I enjoyed the action in this novel I did have a hard time following the plot. There were so many different story lines right on top of each other that I kept getting them mixed up and forgetting important details because of all the information that was always thrown at me all at once. In the end I was able to piece everything together but there were some moments where I was flipping back through the novel trying to figure out what I missed, and failing to find anything at all.

Fans of the Jaz Parks series will not be disappointed by this novel and will no doubt turn the last page eager for the sequel. Rardin has a talent for creating fun characters and action packed plots that leave no reader wanting for more. Another great novel in an already fantastic series!

4/5

Review: Corine Solomon #1: Blue Diablo

Title: Corine Solomon #1: Blue Diablo

Author: Ann Aguirre

Date of Publication: April 7, 2009

Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Eighteen months ago, Corine Solomon crossed the border to Mexico City, fleeing her past, her lover, and her "gift." Corine, a handler, can touch something and know its history—and sometimes, its future. Using her ability, she can find the missing—and that’s why people never stop trying to find her. People like her ex, Chance…

Chance, whose uncanny luck has led him to her doorstep, needs her help. Someone dear to them both has gone missing in Laredo, Texas, and the only hope of finding her is through Corine's gift. But their search may prove dangerous as the trail leads them into a strange dark world of demons and sorcerers, ghosts and witchcraft, zombies—and black magic…

My Review:

I'm not a fan of books that include a former lover coming back into a character's life. For some reason not being able to see how they met always makes me feel like I'm being thrown into a story that has no background. However, Blue Diablo didn't feel like that, I didn't feel thrown into the story and Aguirre had a way of weaving the story in such a way that not having all the details of their relationship made sense instead of feeling disorienting. The farther I got into the story the more it became apparent that I was going to really enjoy this novel.

Even though the plot of Blue Diablo was nothing new, Aguirre was able to make it feel fresh and exciting through wonderful writing and amazing character development. A vast majority of the plot involved Corine and Chance, as well as their friends Chuch and Eva, doing legwork and talking to people but Aguirre's writing had a magnetic quality that made me keep reading, even when there was nothing exciting going on. Even though they were few and far between the action moments that were present were heart stopping and full of enough excitement to hold me over until the next one.

Gritty and rough the Mexican setting worked perfectly for the story and really made the entire plot come together. I don't think the kidnapping aspect would have been as dramatic without the setting and in the end it was part of what really made the novel. Another thing that really made the novel come together was Chance's gift, the gift of luck. I was completely fascinated by his abilities and I absolutely cannot wait to read the next novel so I can learn more about how they work.

The only thing I didn't like about this novel was the infuriating love triangle. Love triangles never make anybody happy and the triangle in Blue Diablo was especially annoying because of how back and forth all the character were. Nobody could make up their mind and before long I got sick of reading about the back and forth games between Corine, Jesse, and Chance. Not to mention it was totally obvious who Corine wanted the entire time; she spends a vast majority of her time thinking about Chance and their past relationship and how she wants him back even though she thinks it wouldn't be good for her.

Fans of urban fantasy who aren't scared of a terrible love triangle won't be disappointed by Blue Diablo. Aguirre's captivating writing and wonderful character development make for the few shortcomings in this novel and in the end I found myself loving this novel more than I initially thought I would. Count me in for the next novel!

4/5

Review: Georgina Kincaid #1: Succubus Blues

Title: Georgina Kincaid #1: Succubus Blues

Author: Richelle Mead

Date of Publication: March 1, 2007

Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: When it comes to jobs in hell, being a succubus seems pretty glamorous. A girl can be anything she wants, the wardrobe is killer, and mortal men will do anything just for a touch. Granted, they often pay with their souls, but why get technical?
But Seattle succubus Georgina Kincaid's life is far less exotic. At least there's her day job at a local bookstore--free books; all the white chocolate mochas she can drink; and easy access to bestselling, sexy writer, Seth Mortensen, aka He Whom She Would Give Anything to Touch but Can't.

But dreaming about Seth will have to wait. Something wicked is at work in Seattle's demon underground. And for once, all of her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won't help because Georgina's about to discover there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny. . .

My Review:

I am a HUGE fan of Richelle Mead; I've followed her Vampire Academy and then Bloodlines series ever since the first novels came out so I don't know why it took me so long to finally get around to reading Georgina Kincaid series. Mead is a fantastic author and even though I was a little wary since that last adult book I read by her wasn't what I was expecting, this novel reminded me of how much I loved Mead in the first place. This novel was much better than I expected it to be and left me eager to read the rest of the series and get back into reading books by one of my favorite authors!

I'm not a fan of skanky main characters that have shallow relationships or a casual view toward sex, so initially I wasn't quite sure how I would feel about this novel. With the main character as a succubus this novel had the potential to be really great or really bad. However, I can't believe I ever doubted Mead, she was able to make Georgina into someone I could connect to and respect, even though she still had to do what she needed to do to survive as a succubus. I think that learning more about Georgina's past and her reasoning behind becoming a succubus made Georgina more relatable and made me respect her a lot more than I would have otherwise.

By far one of my favorite characters was Seth. Quiet and a little awkward he was the perfect contrast to Georgina and her bold and charismatic personality. Mead is fantastic at creating love interests that perfectly suit the main character, each of them has always been completely different but at the same time I've loved them all. I wasn't a big fan of the love triangle, but thankfully it was resolved by the end of the novel and hopefully the next novel has more in store for Seth and Georgina.

The whole mystery aspect of the plot was interesting even though it was pretty predictable. Even though it was a bit transparent the plot still did an excellent job introducing the setting and the characters. I loved being able to be introduced to Georgina and her friends and get a look at Georgina's personality. She's sassy and fun and her hilarious comments had me laughing out loud, especially when Seth was involved. With an ending that left me wanting more I definitely loved this book way more than I thought I would, it's not as good as some of her YA stuff but it was still a joy to read.

Succubus Blues is another fantastic novel by Mead, maybe not her absolute best but wonderful nonetheless. Fans of Richelle Mead will most definitely not be disappointed and those just venturing into her novels will no doubt be hungry for more. Mead is one of the best paranormal romance authors out there and I would always recommend one of her novels!

4/5

Review: Jaz Parks #1: Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Title: Jaz Parks #1: Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Author: Jennifer Rardin

Date of Publication: October 8, 2007

Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: I'm Jaz Parks. My boss is Vayl, born in Romania in 1744. Died there too, at the hand of his vampire wife, Liliana. But that's ancient history. For the moment Vayl works for the C.I.A. doing what he does best--assassination. And I help. You could say I'm an Assistant Assassin. But then I'd have to kick your ass.

Our current assignment seemed easy. Get close to a Miami plastic surgeon named Assan, a charmer with ties to terrorism that run deeper than a buried body. Find out what he's meeting with that can help him and his comrades bring America to her knees. And then close his beady little eyes forever. Why is it that nothing's ever as easy as it seems?

My Review: 

I'm not a huge fan of vampire novels, I don't exactly dislike them but ever since the huge vampire phase there just seems to be more bad vampire books than good. However, I was surprised by Once Bitten, Twice Shy and how much I ended up enjoying the action and intrigue as well as the cast of quirky characters. Even though it was a bit stereotypical at times this novel was fun to read and in the end turned out to be one of the best vampire novels I've read in a long time.

Despite not being the most original book on the planet, Once Bitten, Twice Shy is enjoyable in its slight predictableness. Jaz is a fun character and even though she's an assassin she doesn't follow the lead of most paranormal romance heroines and have an arrogant attitude. Sure, she has her smart-ass comments and internal commentary but they don't overwhelm her character and make her hard to relate too. Jaz manages to keep her tough girl demeanor but still remain real enough for the reader to connect to her. Not only is Jaz a sassy heroine as well as an assassin but she has her own set of supernatural abilities. From being able to sense vampires to leaving her body I have a feeling there will be even more to her powers as the series progresses.

The rest of the characters are just as enjoyable as Jaz; from Vayl and his interesting ability to manipulate temperature to Cole, the amateur private investigator who has a bit of a crush on Jaz, there wasn't a character I didn't like throughout the entire novel. Even the villains were masterfully crafted, each with a personality and their own set of interesting powers.  Although there wasn't much romance in the novel but there were just enough hints to keep me wondering just what both Cole and Vayl felt for her. I sense the beginning of a love triangle forming and even though I like Cole I'm already rooting for Jaz and Vayl to end up together.

At first I was a little thrown off by Jaz's internal commentary but I quickly got used to it and in the end thought it was one of the things that made the book so much fun to read. Jaz has a huge personality and the constant commentary gives the reader a chance to really get inside her head and understand what she's thinking. Likewise I was very surprised by the plot; it quickly went from a simple story of a assassinating terrorist group leader to a corrupt senator and a world wide plague. By the end of the novel I was racing through pages, desperate to find out what happened.

With great characters, an exciting plot, and hints of a love triangle, I would highly recommend Once Bitten, Twice Shy to fans of vampire novels who are put out by the amount of bad vampire books in the genre. The start to what promises to be a great series I can't wait to see what happens to Jaz next!

4/5

Review: Mercy Thompson #7: Frost Burned

Title: Mercy Thompson #7: Frost Burned

Author: Patricia Briggs

Date of Publication: March 5, 2013

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-Book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Mercy Thompson’s life has undergone a seismic change. Becoming the mate of Adam Hauptman—the charismatic Alpha of the local werewolf pack—has made her a stepmother to his daughter Jesse, a relationship that brings moments of blissful normalcy to Mercy’s life. But on the edges of humanity, what passes for a minor mishap on an ordinary day can turn into so much more…

After an accident in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Mercy and Jesse can’t reach Adam—or anyone else in the pack for that matter. They’ve all been abducted.

Through their mating bond, all Mercy knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam’s disappearance may be related—and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from any ally she can get, no matter how unlikely.

My Review: 

It is a real testament to Patricia Briggs's writing skills that she has managed to keep this series going on for 7 books (with more to come) and I love this book just as much, if not more, than I did the first one. Mercy has developed a lot as a character and while she's a different person than she was in the first book underneath it all she's the same Mercy we've all come to grow and love.

The number one thing I adored about this novel was that Briggs included Adams point of view. After six books completely from Mercy's point of view it was a bit strange to read from Adams point of view but ultimately I loved it. I adored being able to see Mercy the way Adam sees her and get a look into his mind. The mate bond between Mercy and Adam played a major role in this novel and it was fascinating to learn more about how the pack bonds work

One thing I really loved about this novel was finally getting to meet Tad. Throughout the entire series Zee's son has been mentioned but he never played a role in any of the novels. I ended up really liking Tad and I'm eager for him to play a role in upcoming novels. I also loved the role of Ben in this novel, one of my favorite members of the pack I just love his devotion to Mercy and the oddity of their friendship.

The only thing that may cause a problem for some readers is the ties to the Alpha & Omega series. Even though it's possible to understand the plot without reading Fair Game I felt like a lot of the back story (especially the political part) was based in that novel. While it wasn't a problem for me since I've read the entire Alpha & Omega series it may pose a problem to readers who haven't read that series yet, especially the third book, Fair Game.

Frost Burned is another fantastic addition to the Mercy Thompson series. Completely engrossing and impossible to put down I plowed through this book in one day and turned the last page wishing for more. I know I say this every time but if there is one series I will always recommend it's this one.

5/5

Review: Alpha & Omega #3: Fair Game

Title: Alpha & Omega #3: Fair Game

Author: Patricia Briggs

Date of Publication: March 6, 2012

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-Book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: It is said that opposites attract. And in the case of werewolves Anna Latham and Charles Cornick, they mate. The son—and enforcer—of the leader of the North American werewolves, Charles is a dominant Alpha. While Anna, an Omega, has the rare ability to calm others of her kind.

When the FBI requests the pack’s help on a local serial-killer case, Charles and Anna are sent to Boston to join the investigation. It soon becomes clear that someone is targeting the preternatural. And now Anna and Charles have put themselves right in the killer’s sights…

My Review: 

Briggs really hit her stride in the Alpha & Omega series with Fair Game. Despite the slow beginning this novel was the perfect blend of romance, action, and character development, all coming together to create one fantastic read. With developed characters, a beautiful romance, and a great story Fair Game turned out to be one of my favorites in the Alpha & Omega series.

I loved being able to see more of the fae and witches in this novel. Most of the other books in the Alpha & Omega series have focused solely on the werewolves but this novel opened up the door to other preternatural creatures. I think that having such a diverse cast of characters was one of the stronger points of this novel that other books in the series didn't have. Not only did Fair Game have a cast of delightfully quirky supernatural creatures but it also involved human FBI members, which made the switching point of views fascinating  I loved being able to see Charles and Anna from a human perspective.

Anna has changed so much since the beginning of the series. She's slowly started to develop into a strong character as she begins to realize her worth and refuses to allow others to push her around. In this novel Charles's and Anna's relationship goes through some rough spots and I loved seeing her take charge of the situation and start to rely on herself. Charles is one of my favorite characters, I just love reading about him and I always adore the sections in his point of view. This novel was especially interesting when it came to Charles, showing that he isn't the monster everyone (including himself) makes him out to be.

I much preferred the Boston setting over the Seattle one. In the previous novel I hadn't really enjoyed the setting or the foreign werewolves. However the stronger plot and the fantastic setting made me really enjoy this novel. Briggs has truly mastered having the perfect blend of action and romance. One of my favorite things about Briggs is that while she doesn't have a huge amount of romantic scenes in her novels she always makes the ones she does have count. No awkward writing or passionless moments, the romance got my heart pounding and kept me turning pages.

Fair Game is undoubtedly one of the stronger novels in the Alpha & Omega series. I absolutely adore Briggs's writing and while this series isn't as fantastic as Mercy Thompson it's still a wonderful read. I highly recommend this series and everything else written by Patrica Briggs!

5/5

Review: Alpha & Omega #2: Hunting Ground

Title: Alpha & Omega #2: Hunting Ground

Author: Patricia Briggs

Date of Publication: August 25, 2009

Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Anna Latham didn’t know how complicated life could be until she became a werewolf. And until she was mated to Charles Cornick, the son — and enforcer — of Bran, the leader of the North American werewolves, she didn’t know how dangerous it could be either...

Anna and Charles have just been enlisted to attend a summit to present Bran’s controversial proposition: that the wolves should finally reveal themselves to humans. But the most feared Alpha in Europe is dead set against the plan — and it seems like someone else might be too. When Anna is attacked by vampires using pack magic, the kind of power only werewolves should be able to draw on, Charles and Anna must combine their talents to hunt down whoever is behind it all — or risk losing everything...

My Review:

As anyone who follows my blog knows I am a HUGE fan of Patricia Briggs. I've yet to read a book by her I didn't like and Hunting Ground was another great addition to the wonderful universe Briggs's has created. With wonderful characters, lots of romance, and a great murder mystery Hunting Ground was impossible to put down!

Even though I loved this novel I will admit it was one my least favorites by Briggs (which pretty much means it was amazing compared to other books, but not as good as Briggs's other work). I didn't really like the Seattle setting, I understand that there is only so much that can happen in Aspen Creek but I preferred the Montana setting of the first novel over the Seattle setting of this one. I also missed having Bran and Samuel nearby and the chance to see them through a different perspective.

Charles and Anna are absolutely adorable. I just love their relationship and their interactions with each other always make me smile. Hunting Ground is a little less centered on romance than the first novel but the plot definitely takes the back seat to their relationship, which is totally fine by me!  I loved watching Charles and Anna become more comfortable with each other as their relationship developed and start opening up to each other.

One of the downsides to having such a relationship oriented story is that the action always takes second place and sometimes isn't as good as it could have been. Hunting Ground definitely had the potential to have a lot of really exciting moments but I felt like they were downplayed a bit. I really love the idea of the Alpha & Omega series being a murder mystery series and Briggs does a wonderful job integrating the murders into the story, they just need a bit more action.

Overall I really loved Hunting Ground and highly recommend the series to fans of paranormal romance. Even though the Mercy Thompson series is a little bit better those looking for a shorter series definitely need to check this one out!

4/5

Review: Alpha & Omega #1: Cry Wolf

Title: Alpha & Omega #1: Cry Wolf

Author: Patricia Briggs

Date of Publication: July 29, 2008

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-Book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Anna never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack... and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she'd learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. Then Charles Cornick, the enforcer—and son—of the leader of the North American werewolves, came into her life.

Charles insists that not only is Anna his mate, but she is also a rare and valued Omega wolf. And it is Anna's inner strength and calming presence that will prove invaluable as she and Charles go on the hunt in search of a rogue werewolf—a creature bound in magic so dark that it could threaten all of the pack.

My Review:

I've yet to read a book by Patricia Briggs that I didn't completely adore and Cry Wolf was no exception. With absolutely amazing characters, an exciting and romantic plot, and a bit of a mystery I'm already dying to get my hands on the next one! With some new characters as well as some old favorites I loved Anna's new perspective and being able to learn more about the world of the Mercy Thompson series!

Unlike in the Mercy Thompson series the Alpha & Omega series focuses more on the relationship between Anna and Charles than heart stopping action. Mostly romance with a bit of mystery thrown in this novel was very different than the Mercy Thomson series but the love story worked out perfectly for this novel. The romance between Charles and Anna was very well done and even though they hadn't known each other long Briggs was able to take away any "insta-love" awkwardness and make their relationship cute and believable.

If there is one character more opposite than Mercy it's Anna. Beaten and broken by her pack in Chicago she is timid and scared, sometimes even allowing her wolf to take over and get her through difficult situations. Patient and caring Charles is absolutely perfect for her and I loved being able to watch their relationship develop. Anna was so different from all of other Briggs's characters and I loved being able to read from a bit of a different perspective and see a different side of Briggs's writing.

My favorite part of the novel was being able to learn more about Charles, Bran, and Samuel. Even though Samuel has a large part in the Mercy Thompson series it was nice to see him from a different perspective and I absolutely loved being able to learn about Charles and Bran, two characters who I never really got to get to know in the Mercy Thompson series. Even though I knew how the novel was going to end I still loved it!

I would 100% recommend this book to fans of Patricia Briggs and to those who have never tried a book by Briggs before! An all-around amazing start to a new series, those who are after more of a love story will no doubt love Cry Wolf!

5/5

House of DeDe #1: A Lady of the Realm Review

Title: House of DeDe #1: A Lady of the Realm

Author: Sharon E. Mamolo

Date of Publication: December 10, 2011

Formats Available: E-Book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Bethany Boudreaux is tired of being a damn peasant. Her mother, a born again human who rejects her witch bloodline, has kept Beth secluded and ignorant for most of her life. Beth wants to eat, preferably twice a day. She’d like a grand home, with a fully stocked bar. She’s tired of eking out an existence while the rich freaks get all the breaks. She’ll do anything to claim what is, by law, hers. She needs help, lots of it, because paperwork can be a bitch.

When Beth learns Lord Aleksander is coming to visit her club, she grabs a stiff drink and waits. The dark elf of Losalfar is the perfect solution to her current legal problems. He’s obscenely rich, a top member of the hierarchy, about to inherit region two, including New Orleans, but most importantly to her … he’s a man. Men are so easy, regardless of race. With his help, she can attain the privileges and powers only those with a title are born with. All she needs to do to gain his assistance is agree to three measly conditions.

My Review:

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started A Lady of the Realm however, I definitely wasn't expecting the fun and raunchy world this novel threw me into. Despite the stereotypical heroine and the at times confusing plot I ended up liking this book more and more as I read. Exciting and unexpected this novel took me on a fun filled ride that I was not expecting.

Beth was an extraordinarily fun character, with a boisterous personality and kick-ass attitude she wasn't afraid to do whatever was necessary to get what she wanted. Constantly doing the unexpected Beth kept me on my toes and as the story went on I started to feel connected to her character despite how opposite her personality was from mine. There were times when I felt like Beth was being difficult just for the sake of being difficult, one thing I've noticed a lot of in paranormal fantasy/romance novels, but it suited her personality and in the end I still liked her.

Elves are rarely written about in paranormal fiction and I really loved Mamolo's take on elves and their powers. While the book did have a huge focus on sex I thought it worked very well for the rough and almost seedy feel of the novel. Beth and her interactions with Lord Alek, known as Sasha, went back and forth between hatred and friendship, making for an endlessly entertaining character dynamic. Along with a talking dog, plenty of fascinating secondary characters, and the New Orleans backdrop the novel had plenty of depth and subplots to keep me interested.

While I really liked this novel there were a few moments where I was desperately confused because the author didn't provide enough explanation on the world she had made up. I would have loved more information on the different courts and regions as well as more information on the House of DeDe and what that really meant. By the end of the novel I felt like I had a pretty good idea about most of what was happening but I had to piece a lot of things together based on a sentence here and a paragraph there.

Those looking for a fun indie urban fantasy need look no further! With an exciting plot and enjoyable characters A Lady of the Realm will most definitely appeal to fans of the paranormal. The only thing to worry about is the holes in the plot where there wasn't enough explanation to understand what was going on.

4/5

*Note: I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review and received no monetary compensation for this review.*

Sabina Kane #5: Blue-Blooded Vamp Review

Title: Sabina Kane #5: Blue-Blooded Vamp

Author: Jaye Wells

Date of Publication: June 1, 2012

Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book

Synopsis: Sabina Kane is on the hunt again, this time for not just anyone but for Cain, the father of the vampire race. Determined to destroy him Sabina travels to Italy in search of Abel, the man who previously held Cain captive. With the help of her friends Sabina is able to track Cain down but the more she sees of him and his destructive power the more it seems that this may be one foe she is unable to tame. Between deals with deities, the death of her sister, and the revelation of who Abel really is Sabina has a lot on her plate. Now, to stop Cain and prevent the destruction of all the dark races Sabina must go on the most dangerous journey yet and give the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect those she loves, even if it means her life.

My Review:

Despite a slow beginning Blue-Blooded Vamp turned out to be an exhilarating conclusion to the series. With loose ends tied up and everyone getting exactly what the deserved, this novel wrapped up the Sabina Kane series perfectly and left no questions or unfinished stories in its wake. A great conclusion to an interesting series Blue-Blooded Vamp definitely kept up with my expectations.

While the series hit its high during the third book, Green-Eyed Demon, and went a bit downhill after the Lavinia story closed, Blue-Blooded Vamp was on par with the fourth book and finished the series strong. I absolutely loved the ending, after the intense and brutal showdown with Cain it was nice to have the last part of the book cute and sweet as characters finished out their stories.

Unfortunately the first half of this novel turned out to be almost unbearably slow. Maybe I was missing Giguhl's hilarious comments or the sexual tension between Sabina and Adam, but for the first half I felt like all the characters lost their spark and the story just fell flat. I did love the setting though, between their time in Italy and closing the book in Irkalla the setting was definitely a big of fresh air. Thankfully as the novel started to draw to a close I began to get drawn into the story and enjoy the closing of the series.

Sabina was a kick-ass heroine and a thrill to read about. Between her gritty profession and cussing habit I began to really like her during the course of the series. While her relationship with Adam did get a little monotonous I still enjoyed his character. Giguhl will always be my favorite, between his initial adventures with online shopping and his witty comments his character breathed a bit of lightheartedness into every intense situation.

While not perfect the Sabina Kane series makes for an interesting and exciting read for fans of paranormal fantasy. A bi forgettable but always fun this series is great for anyone on the lookout for a new urban fantasy to sink their teeth into.

4/5

Black London #1: Street Magic Review

Title: Black London #1: Street Magic

Author: Caitlin Kitteredge

Date of Publication: June 2, 2009

Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book

Synopsis: Pete Caldecott is an inspector for the Metropolitan Police in London, when investigating the disappearance of a young girl she receives an anonymous tip telling her to go to a hotel room and meet with someone who can tell her where the young girl is. When she opens the door she is shocked to find Jack Winter, a horrible reminder of her past, waiting for her. Twelve years ago she watched Jack die before her very eyes, now a junkie and drug addict he's the only one who can tell her where the missing children are. As he pulls her deeper and deeper into the world of faerie as they search for the missing children Pete begins to piece together what happened that day 12 years ago and begins to understand what role she played in the day that changed her life forever.

My Review:

With the slew of horrible reviews in its favor I definitely wasn't expecting to like Street Magic as much as I did. It wasn't the best book I've ever read but it is far from the worst. Dark and ominous, Street Magic was full of  interesting characters, an original take on faeries, and enough action to keep me turning pages this novel made for an interesting and exciting read.

This novel was definitely a darker book than the ones I usually read, full of blood, death, and drug addiction. However because of the darker take on faeries this novel definitely offered a different perspective on the fae and their motives. One thing I was very disappointed in was the lack of description, when it came to Pete's powers, what happened to the children, and why certain fae where attacking them I was extremely confused.

Pete and Jack both made for interesting main characters. Pete was a tough-as-nails detective who stopped at nothing to rescue the children, even if it meant putting up with Jack and his whole world of problems. Even though Jack was a bit of a jerk and made tons of bad decisions I ended up really liking him, even though I knew I shouldn't. His magic was a really interesting idea that I wish the author had spent more time on, between his Irish chants and ability to hear voices I really wanted to know more about his talent.

Even though there were some aspects of this novel that confused me and some parts of the story that seemed necessary I still enjoyed this novel. Kitteredge created a fascinating world full of terrifying creatures shrouded in mystery. Pete and Jack were perfect  for this world, managing to fit in but fighting everyone along the way.

While I'm not jumping out of my seat to get the sequel I'm curious to see where this series goes and whats going to happen to Pete and Jack. An interesting start to a new series I'm excited to see where it goes and whats going to happen along the way.

3/5

Sabina Kane #4: Silver-Tongued Devil Review

Title: Sabina Kane #4: Silver-Tongued Devil

Author: Jaye Wells

Date of Publication: January 1, 2012

Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book

Synopsis: Now that threats of war are passed and a new peace treaty is in the works Sabina Kane finally has time to focus on her growing relationship with Adam and nurturing her magical powers. However, Sabina's sister Maisie is having trouble overcoming the horrific kidnapping that happened in New Orleans and Sabina has a growing feeling that peace between the races just isn't possible. Soon a string of murders halts talks of peace and leaves Sabina and Adam to find the murderer. With few clues and almost no suspects Sabina begins to suspect that a larger force is at play. With problems in her relationship with Adam, issues with her magic training, and difficulty helping her sister Sabina soon begins to think that this may be one enemy she won't be able to kill.

My Review:

Similar to the rest of the Sabina Kane series Silver-Tongued Devil was an entertaining yet unmemorable read. With fun characters, plenty of action, and some mystery these novels are absorbing reads but lack the "oomph" that would make them unforgettable. With a surprising ending this novel stood out a little more than the rest of the books in the series but was still far from memorable.

The murder mystery made for a good story but it felt like a lot of the novel was spent on Sabina going to concerts and to The Vein instead of actually solving the mystery. Definitely slower than Green-Eyed Demon this novel wasn't boring exactly but it wasn't nearly as exciting as the previous novel. However, the last part of this book sets up for a huge showdown in the final novel so I suppose it was necessary.

The conflict between Adam and Sabina definitely spiced up the novel and made their relationship more interesting to read about. In fact there were a lot of conflicts between characters in this novel, especially Sabina's conflict with Alexis (the vampire that took Sabina's place within the Dominae). All the characters seemed to have a bone to pick with each other, which definitely made for a more interesting read.

One thing I was a little disappointed about was that a lot of the characters seemed a little different in this novel. Even Giguhl, my favorite character, lost a bit of his spark. With few hilarious side comments and the humor I've come to love so much I was sad that Giguhl wasn't as how I remembered. However, he didn't play as large a role in the story as previously so maybe his humor will be restored in the final book.

At the end of the day the Sabina Kane series is an entertaining and fun way to spend some time. Not my favorite series of all time but I would definitely encourage fans of urban fantasy to check out this series!

4/5