Author Archives: karenjvjohnson

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Dresden: Dog Men

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My rating: 🌠🌠🌠

The start of this story stopped me in my tracks for a minute before I realized what was going on. Probably at the same time Dresden figured it out. This is a tale fit for Dresden but set outside his hometown which always makes things tenser since he is working with people who may not believe in the paranormal. You get to see a character who has not made an appearance since around the fifth novel or so though he has been mentioned in passing.

Harry is feeling angry and anxious after his battle with Puck which makes him fear for his friends. But just as he is about to sink into it he gets a visit from someone totally unexpected. Harry is asked to help a family that has lost four members to something which may turn out to be supernatural. So he takes off for Mississippi and another chance to protect innocents, which he does best.

Slow start but it’s a Dresden story so things will likely pick up quickly. This is for the fans who always need more of Harry. But should be tried by anyone who likes urban fantasy or comics.

My rating: 🌠🌠🌠🌠

No need for an in-depth breakdown of things. This is Harry Dresden and I love Harry Dresden. If he were to step off the pages he would be mine even if he protested. Things are gearing up to get a bit complicated for him, Listens, and Mouse as they try to keep people from dying.

Of course, I recommend this.

My rating: 🌠🌠🌠🌠

My rating: 🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠

Harry is fighting more than one enemy this time around. He must figure out how to destroy the bad guys without taking himself as well as innocents out too.

This is classic Dresden and it just keeps getting better.

My rating: 🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠

I really enjoy these mini-stories that give us a look at cases Harry is working on before we get back to the main event. The action has ramped up and there will be a great payoff in the end. Though it is not a novel, it is a way to be able to keep his legacy alive. Even if it is totally detached from the world as it is in the novels.

My rating: 🌠🌠🌠🌠

This was a decent end to the story but I would have been happy with a little more action. Still, Dresden, so I will be happy with at least getting something.

Still well worth the price of admission.

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Coming Home

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I do love the Alex Benedict stories because there is always excitement. I will say that this was a bit more subdued than usual though. The characters were still interesting and full of life. The science was good and made me want to see just how much was actually real, if any. The locations from Earth to the asteroid belt is described wonderfully. It is just an overall fun and suspenseful ride.

The Capella, an interstellar which has been lost for eleven years is about to surface again. On that ship is Alex’s Uncle Gabriel and 2600 other passengers who may not know what has happened to them. Everyone is hoping they can rescue them and keep the ship from going back into the time/space warp it has been trapped in. While Alex deals with this a friend comes to him with a communications devise from the dawn of space travel. People have been looking for lost artifacts from the moon as well as NASA that went missing 8000 years ago. Then this pops up and Alex promises to help track down whether any others are still in existence. As usual he is being targeted for his search, which could be placing him and Chase in a deadly situation.

I love science fiction, particularly good science above everything. These stories take you so far into the future that it is always good just to see that humanity could still exist, because some days I have my doubts. I would definitely recommend this as well as all the books in this series. Jack McDevitt is a great story teller who can take you to the edge and back.

My rating: ✯✯✯✯

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Crimson Death

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I still love the Anita Blake series because I have come to really like and appreciate the characters. Yes, I know how they will react in some situations, just I know how my own family will react to certain things. This just makes it more a part of me. If I did not feel this way then I would not have stayed with it this long because 25 books is a lot. There are the characters who are well known and and though they may not change in major ways they have subtle changes in the way they think and do things. Then there are always new characters both alive, dead, and shifter who sometimes are interesting and sometimes bland, but most will not be seen again.

Damian, Anita’s vampire servant is in a state that she nor anyone else has seen for hundreds of years. He is not dying as the sun comes up but falls into a sleep that results in his having nightmares and waking to blood sweats so bad he seems to have bled out. Then a call comes from Edward/Ted from Ireland about vampire attacks. The thing is there are supposedly no vampires in Ireland, or at least none have been seen.

There is not a lot Anita can do when she is not wanted in Ireland, but if she goes she is planning to take Damian back into the sphere of She Who Made Him. That could be the worst idea she has ever had.

I know there are people who have read the series in the past and are now extremely critical because they don’t like the direction it took. I would say to those people, Do Not Read It, and then you cannot be disappointed. For those who still enjoy the series as it has progressed I would say that you will likely enjoy this just as much. For me things continue to move in a way that works for me and seems right for the characters. That is all I want, plus it entertains and draws me away for a time. Not to mention that I would not hate being in Anita’s place one bit.

My rating: ✮✮✮✮✮ of 5

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Charmed I’m sure

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Alright introduction to John Charming

This was a decent introduction to the character though you do not get much of anything. The information to start is kind of vague but gives the impression that something of importance is being left out, which can make you want to read more books. This was like a small day in the life of to give you an idea of the world that he inhabits and the types of supernatural creatures he has to battle.

I would recommend to anyone who is into Knights and or fairy tales made real.

My rating: 🌟🌟🌟 of 5

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Veiled

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I have been waiting for this book since Experiment in Terror ended with an HEA for two of my favorite characters to date. I loved the character of ADA because she was so outspoken for a teenager and it is good to see her a little more grown up here though affected by what had happened. This is a standalone which will be great if there are no other books, though I am hoping for more. The story is good though I still felt like it could have been better. It felt a little thin because I never understood why things were happening the way they were.

Ada knows what her sister Perry can do, she also knows that her grandmother Pippa had some of the same talents, so why does she try to deny her own. Ada wants to be normal but it is kind of hard to do that when you see ghosts. Ada has also been dreaming about a man, one she believes she met at Perry and Dex’s wedding but they do not seem to remember him. Is he real or a ghost?

When a new couple moves in next door and it turns out that one of the people renting a room from them is the guy from her dreams Ada has to stop and take notice. From the day she speaks to Jay her life will never be the same again.

If you have never read the EIT series this will work for you because you don’t need to know a lot and some of the back story is given to you. If you are a fan of EIT but have not read the final two books then this one will spoil them, so do not read. But if you are a fan and have read all the books this will take you on a new journey with familiar characters.

My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 of 5

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A Ghost in the Glamour

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When I found the Elemental Mysteries I thought things could not get any better but then this author just kept throwing me new and different stories and characters who I fell in love with. This is definitely the case with Linx and Bogie which I started reading in Elizabeth Hunters news letters and hoped for and finally got something much longer. This is a fun duo who are very different form each other but mesh perfectly. This book contains 3 super short stories which kind of lay out how things began with the final story being longer and giving some background on our ghost. The mystery is light but very workable.

Linx Maxwell has had a the ghost of a grown man attached to her since she was an eighth grader and often wishes that he would go away. The Maxwell women are known on both sides of the veil as powerful mediums and each has a specialty when it comes to spirits. Linx just wants to be normal and able to pursue her art without all the supernatural hoopla.

Frank ‘Bogie’ Bogle was a Los Angeles homicide detective who died in the 1950’s. Though everyone knew about the Maxwell women he never expected to become attached to the youngest and by far strangest of the family. He has no idea why or how he became attached to her and certainly has no idea of how to end the attachment.

Fourteen years later and they are still attached. The art career Linx has always wanted seems about to take off but she still has Bogie with her and that means she sometimes gets sucked into investigating crimes instead of painting. But this time the case is more personal and she may be able to lose that extra baggage if things go right.

The characters are wonderful and colorful. They make you want to know more about their lives. This is a fun quick read with a mystery thrown in that may not be deep but can keep you guessing and on your toes. I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Enjoy!

My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

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The Fall of Fort Bragg

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I was totally pulled into this story from the opening page and it held through until the last. This author really put themselves into the world that they were writing about in such a way that they could have been channeling Nick Smith as they wrote this. Because we had not really met Sheila Horn before her creation could have gone any weird way, but this felt like the woman who would be married to Big Horn and the mother of his children.

Parker Horn has gone away with his Delta Force team just before things start to go south on the base. Sheila Horn has been left to protect her two young daughters as the Hemorrhage Virus begins to run out of control outside the gates of Fort Bragg. While she believes that her husband will return unhurt she also hopes that the soldiers on base can keep them safe from the infected trying to over run them.

As it becomes obvious that things are going from bad to worse outside her home when the opportunity presents itself Sheila takes the chance to get her and her daughters to the tunnels where they can hopefully hold out until her husband can find them.

I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading something else by this author. If they could keep me interested here I want to try more because there is nothing better than finding an author who writes in a way that keeps your attention.

If you have read the Extinction Cycle then you will want to read this story that fills in a piece of the puzzle of what was happening in those first days. If you have not read it then below find the perfect place to start.

Extinction Horizon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Orbs III

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This is the last book in the trilogy and while I enjoyed it I still wanted something more from it. The characters were good but I was no longer as invested in what happened to them as I had been when the series started. It’s like they were in a rut and didn’t really grow very much between the first and last book. I knew what to expect from them without them having to do or say anything. The story moved forward at a good pace though it lacked some of the suspense that I was expecting from the final installment.

The inhabitants of the Biosphere have been pared down significantly while the aliens seem to have limitless replacements so Sophie decides that they should join with Captain Noble and his NTC crew. Sophie’s people learn through a satellite that has survived that the Organics have set up poles on the highest points around the planet and wonder what this discovery could mean for their own survival.

Before anything can be done about their new information the biosphere must deal with sabotage that could be the end of them and any hopes they have a living to see the Organics destroyed. Sophie still believes that the best chance they have would be to leave the planet if a way can be found.

Even though I may not have loved it I still think it is well worth the time. I recommend the series because it is different enough to stand out with aliens that I do not remember having seen before. Not to mention that the author does work it.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Flight 906 to Chicago

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A really good look at the first day of the outbreak from a civilian viewpoint. The characters are all three dimensional and have the feeling of reality to them. The story starts a little slowly but quickly picks up and brings you into the action of what is about to be a very bad day for the world.

Henry and Charlie, father and son, go on what should be a routine favor to pick up Henry’s younger brother Lewis from the airport. While on the way they find themselves in the traffic jam from hell and end up running late. They believe there must be some type of accident up ahead until they see SWAT making its way up the shoulder and realize something much more serious is going on.

As they follow behind the SWAT vehicles all Henry can think about is getting to his brother and getting away before any of them are hurt in the chaos. Henry, Charlie, and Lewis witness something that none of them can understand but know that it is deadly.

I found this to be a really nice look into the early days of the infection. I am not so sure about the rapidity of the infection but this was definitely entertaining. I have never read anything by this author and it makes me want to read something by him. I would recommend this to anyone who likes the Extinction Cycle books or just this author in general.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Shadowed Souls

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To be fully honest I was interested in this book mainly because it had a story by Jim Butcher and I am always happy to find a new Dresden Files story. This is an anthology that contains 10 short stories all based around the same theme. Each story is based on the idea of good and evil, two aspects of the character and how complicated it can be to live as one or the other. The rating is based on the average of all 10 stories.

Cold Case by Jim Butcher: 3.5 stars
The story is about Molly Carpenter in her capacity as the new Winter Lady. Mab has sent her to collect a tribute from a small group of Fae, the Miksani, in Unalaska. There is something odd going on in the town and it may cause trouble for what she needs to do. Carlos Ramirez also happens to be in town which makes it even more clear that there is a problem in the town that could make the Winter Ladies job even harder.

The characters are just as well drawn here as if they were simply pulled away from their lives in Chicago and the never-never. The new characters are a little hazy and their place in the Fae world are not very clear. The story is enjoyable if a little slower than expected. There is also no appearance by Harry, this is strictly about our Molly and the lesson that Mab has to teach her.


Sleepover by Seanan McGuire: 3.0 stars
Elsinora ‘Elsie’ Harrington is half human/half succubus in a world that does not really know that supernaturals live among them. Elsie is at a roller derby match rooting for her cousin when she meets a pretty girl and does something totally silly, she follows her out without telling anyone. Before she can formulate a thought she is drugged and taken away by a group of teenage boys who want her to get back the sister of one of the boys.

The characters are a little dull and boring but they still manage to keep you reading. The story has not real snap to it but you can push through and find something interesting in what the are doing. Not sure it really fits the theme.


If Wishes Were by Tanya Huff: 2 stars
Vicki Nelson is a detective who also happens to be a vampire, though this does not seem to have any bearing on anything. When a woman comes to her about a lamp she has found which contained a Jinn, she wants help to set things right. The problem is that she is tricked into doing just what the Jinn wants. Vicki makes an attempt to handle it on her own with less than satisfactory results.

Truth be told this was one of my least favorite stories. I could see potential but it never materialized. I was bored with it almost from the start and it never got better for me.


Solus by Anton Strout: 2 stars
The Department of Extraordinary Affairs-Other Division goes to investigate the claims of ghosts in a castle. They found the ghost of a lonely young woman, Agatha Sedgwick, who was haunting the castle.

I was so bored I cannot even remember anything much about this story. I actually went to sleep while reading it so draw your own conclusions.


Peacock in Hell by Kat Richardson: 3.5 stars
Emily Ann Peacock is half dead and a master thief. She is sent into Hell to rescue Lenny Red Mane for a sketchy character named Peter Fiori. What she finds is though Lenny may be the one in Hell she is working for a devil. The thing is what can she do about it.

I really liked this story and the characters. They held my attention and made me like them and the situation they found themselves in. This is a good one.


Eye of Newt, A Dan Shambles Zombie P.I. by Kevin J. Anderson: 2.5 stars
Dan Shambles has a new client, a newt named Geck who comes to him because there seems to be a hit out on him. He was attacked and one of his eyes was taken out. He needs help and Dan goes on the case.

This was a nice story with a different kind of hero and a different kind of world.


What Dwells Within by Lucy A Snyder: 3 stars
Jesse Shimmer, a magic user and his ferret familiar Pal are outlaws in the magic community. When a friend of hers is compelled to kill himself and his girlfriend is taken Jesse steps in to help. She is very good at killing devils and this one needs it more than most.

Nice short story that holds your interest and makes you want to know more about the characters.


Hunter Healer by Jim C. Hines: 4 stars
Julia Chapel ran from a life that she could not live any longer. Now she is a Healer who has an assistant who is a hearth fairy, Hob. Terrence Chapel is Julia’s father and a Hunter, he is also the reason that Julia ran away. Julia had a twin sister, who was a very good Hunter, but now her sister resides within her making Julia double souled. When a Harvester comes to her it is only to gain her attention because it also leads a rogue hunter named Shard to her, and he wants to be the only one with a double soul.

Good story that draws you in and sets up the back story in a quick and effective way. The characters are well fleshed and give you a good look at who they are and can be. I enjoyed this one a lot.


Baggage by Erik Scott de Bie: 3 stars
Vivienne Cain, aka Lady Vengeance, former demon possessed super-villain turned edgy it-girl superhero turned fugitive from vigilante justice. She is a high functioning alcoholic who uses the drinking to keep her powers under control. V has been going to a gym working through some of her frustrations for a while when she senses a demon lurking about. As V becomes friends with a girl at the gym the demon gives glimpses of itself but never fully shows itself.

I really like the character of V but she is never as fleshed out as I would like her to be. None of the other characters are very fleshed out either and the story is a little thin. But it was still a good read.


Sales.Force. by Kristine Kathryn Rusch: 3.5 stars
Kaylee loses her fiancee, Dex, in a car accident after he has sworn that they would be together forever. Kaylee had not worked very much while she and Dex were together, her job is killing evil supernaturals. Kaylee goes back to work after only a week and her boss gives her an assignment that is not exactly up her alley, she is sent to investigate, not kill. When she looks into a love potion it may be the best thing for her.

Good story premise with characters who are likeable and make me willing to see more of in a longer version.


Impossible Monsters by Rob Thurman: 4 stars
“Infernally heroic Caliban Leandros takes a trip down memory lane as he deals with some overdue-and nightmarish vengeance involving some quite nasty Impossible Monsters”. Caliban has two lists, one that his brother made for him in order to keep him from doing something unforgivable and inhuman. The other list is one he has made for himself that has the names of people who have done things he feels are wrong but that he wants to give them a chance to change. It’s time for him to start working on that second list.

I totally like Caliban and plan to read the books which can give me a closer and deeper look into who and what he is.

Like with most anthologies this one has good, bad, and iffy stories in it. What did not work for me might work for someone else just as what I liked might not be as good for another. I would recommend this to anyone who likes urban fantasy.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars