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No review- End of April 2017

Assassin's LamentDT fall of gilead1ghoul's night out

 

Assassin’s Lament gets 3 of 5 stars. This moved a little slow for me and so I had a hard time getting into it. I do love the author however because he writes with passion.

 

Dark Tower: The Fall of Gilead #1 gets 4 of 5 stars. I loved all the books and this gives you a chance to see behind the curtain to what was going on that we did not get to see originally.

 

Ghouls Night Out gets 4 of 5 stars. This is book two of the series and it is a nice addition but pretty much the same type of thing that happened in the first with the addition of another male. Rose Pressey writes some sweet and sentimental books with fun characters and plenty of humor.

Nothing says romance like taking your date with you to exorcise a house. Candlelit dinners, flowers, and demons…yes, going to a movie and dinner was far too normal for me. I had to be different. No wonder I hardly ever had a date. Ghouls Night Out

 

 

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Proven Guilty

Proven Guilty

Proven Guilty (The Dresden Files #8)

by Jim Butcher, James Marsters (Narrator)

Another good Dresden book with characters we have not seen for a while as he avoided them. The story continues to evolve and his relationships continue to deepen and shift as he learns to deal with family. The characters themselves continue to grow and add new facets to their personalities.

Harry is tasked with contacting the Sidhe to find out why they are not helping with the fight against the Reds when they have violated their land. He is further given information that someone is using black magic in his town and that he needs to handle it. What he finds out about both situations brings him into contact with both the Summer Lady, Winter Lady, and Molly Carpenter. Molly is the wrench in the ointment because he has been trying to avoid her father and now he has no more excuses. As usual he is going to have to fight to save not only himself but his friends.

James Marsters continues to give life and breath to these characters, especially Harry Dresden, he has made him very real. Love it!

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
“I don’t care about whose DNA has recombined with whose. When everything goes to hell, the people who stand by you without flinching–they are your family.”
Jim Butcher, Proven Guilty

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Extinction End

extinction end

Extinction End (The Extinction Cycle #5)

 

I love this series and am very happy with the way things have played out in this last entry in the main story. The writing has just gotten better and better from book to book.The characters were already well done but have also seemed to gain more depth and emotion as things have progressed throughout. The language never caused the story to drag either through dialogue or descriptions. The action was just that, action packed and engrossing. The monsters were everything you would have expected as they morphed into even more grotesque creatures. I was totally into the story from the first page to last.

In the midst of some devastating losses we have even more things happening to make life almost unbearable. Kate, Meg, Tasha, Jenny, and many other survivors are taken from Plum Island and may be lost. Reed and Big Horn come home to find them missing but is still happy to see that Fitz and Apollo are not lost to them. The juvenile variants are a much bigger threat than originally thought, but they may still at least be able to eliminate part of the problem. But can they get back the woman who helped create the weapon? Will the remaining members of Team Ghost and the Variant Hunters be able to neutralize the juveniles and take back the cities? It is an uphill battle that is fought with courage and honor by everyone except a very few.

The action starts from the beginning and barely gives you time to breath as it moves from one tense situation to the next. One of the things I have loved about these books is that when they are in tight spots the way they get out makes perfect sense and does not seem contrived or over the top. I have cried and laughed and cheered for these characters because they have become like friends and family. I am going to miss them and hope to see them again in better times.
Great series, great book, Highly Recommend!

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“Fitz slid his mask into position and pulled his bandana up to cover it. He breathed in, and picked up a distinct sour smell of sweat. It took his mind a moment to grasp that it was from the bandana’s previous owner. A piece of Riley was going back out there after all. And so was a piece of Meg. Glancing down, Fitz admired the axe hanging from his belt. He’d sawed the handle down so it would fit over his armor, but that didn’t change the fact it had been Meg’s. She’d held onto it all the way from New York to the GW. When Garcia had given it to him, Fitz had thought he might display it as a memento of her. Then he decided that a better way to honor her memory would be to split some Variant heads with it. He wasn’t much of a religious man, but he did believe the deceased lived on in the hearts and minds of those they left behind. Today, Riley and Meg would join them in battle.”
Nicholas Sansbury Smith, Extinction End

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Dead Beat

Dead Beat (The Dresden Files #7)

This one is a little more fun than some of the other books though you get laughs with them all in one way or another. The wit and sarcasm really flow. As has been the case James Marsters does a fantastic job of bringing our hero and his friends to life. The story continues to evolve along with the characters.

The war with the Red Court Vampires continues to rage and take casualties. Necromancers have come to town looking for The Word of Kemmler, a book, that will elevate them to the role of a god. Halloween is going to be less than stellar once again for the people of Chicago if Harry cannot stop the latest threat.

We get a lot more of Waldo Butters in this one as he is kind of featured. I had some laugh out loud moments because Harry has some of the wildest lines. James Marsters as usual brings it home in a big way as he continues to bring life to Harry and his merry band of friends and enemies.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“In the action business, when you don’t want to say you ran like a mouse, you call it ‘taking cover.’ It’s more heroic.”
Jim Butcher, Dead Beat
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Blood Rites

Blood Rites

Blood Rites (The Dresden Files #6)

by Jim Butcher (Author), James Marsters (Narrator)
I am listening to the Dresden Files because I have read all of the books over the past several years and it became one of my favorite series and Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden became one of my favorite characters. I am gearing up for the next entry in the series, which I hope will arrive soon after I finish the last book. The series is total urban fantasy without the major romance you find in some, and that is appropriate for the main character. The characters have a rich life that you get to share in as they evolve more and more before your eyes. The stories always have an element of mystery and a noir feel that you expect within this world.

Thomas Raith hires Harry to help a friend who seems to be under some type of curse which is causing problems for those around him. The Black Court, Mavra in particular has taken over a downtown location and is causing problems. There is only one of him and yet he is trying to make sure that everyone comes out alive. To top things off Karrin Murphy is having family issues and Harry must be there for her. Murphy returns the favor and is there for him when he needs her the most.

Some surprises are popped, some alliances are forged, some new characters are introduced. This is a wonderful piece of work. Cannot recommend it more highly.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“Jobs are a part of life. Maybe you’ve heard of the concept. It’s called work? See, what happens is that you suffer through doing annoying and humiliating things until you get paid not enough money. Like those Japanese game shows, only without all the glory.”
Jim Butcher, Blood Rites
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Death Masks

Death Masks

Death Masks (The Dresden Files #5)

by Jim Butcher (Author), James Marsters (Narrator)

Another good entry with the introduction of characters who will become very important later in the series. We meet Butters for the first time here in a limited way but you know he will be seen again since he is a doctor, even if he is into forensics. We also meet the Denarians and Nicodemus who are some very serious bad guys.

While a guest on a talk show Harry is ambushed by an emissary of the Red Court who informs him that there is a way to end the war. He also is sought out by a priest who wants to hire him for a job that could be very dangerous. He once again finds himself fighting for his life and trying to do the right thing for everyone.

Dresden is a good guy and a good wizard who does his best at all times but never seems to get ahead. Cannot help but be impressed by this character.We know how I feel about James Marsters. Love that voice! You have to listen to truly appreciate.

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“There are things you can’t walk away from. Not if you want to live with yourself afterward.”
Jim Butcher, Death Masks
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Summer Knight

Summer Knight

Summer Knight (The Dresden Files #4)

by Jim Butcher ( Author), James Marsters (Narrator)

Once again Jim Butcher gives me another great adventure with my favorite wizard. The Dresden series just continues to exceed my expectations at every turn. Having read the book quite a while ago it is something to listen to it and find all the nuances that you may have missed the first time jump out at you. The world continues to evolve and become richer as more about the wizard council and the fairies as well as the vampires is learned.

Harry cannot seem to catch a break. He gets a call from Billy which takes him to a park where frogs seem to be raining down, he is then informed by Billy that he has set up a meeting with a potential client, he is then summoned to a meeting of the White Council, and the Reds are still out for his blood. His year could not possibly get any worse. Or could it?

James Marsters continues to bring life to Harry and his merry band of friends of foes. His narration is the major reason to listen to these books, besides the fact that the stories are amazing. Continue the story and enjoy!

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
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Grave Peril

grave-peril

Grave Peril (The Dresden Files #3)

by Jim Butcher (Author), James Marsters (Narrator)
The story just gets better and better as it moves along. Though each book is basically a standalone, the story is advanced every time because we always know what has happened before. They are also always at least a year or two after. Every book introduces new characters who Harry gets to interact with and maybe become friends with. The world that they live in is our world with the only twist being that the fantastic and mystical exists, and who wouldn’t want that.

The barrier between reality and the never-never is thinning. Ghosts are coming through and causing a lot of trouble in Chicago and people still do not believe. Harry has been invited to attend Bianca’s elevation in rank within the Red Court of Vampires. While Harry did not consider going the invitation was issued while he was with Susan and she is one tenacious reporter who does not get the real danger involved. There is always more going on than meets the eye and Harry is blaming himself for a lot of things.

I loved the book the first time I read it and for the second time I listened and got even more out of it. James Marsters does the narration and he is Harry for me at this point. He does a great job not only with Harry but with every other character and brings them to life  wonderfully. I loved him as Spike on Buffy, and can hear him with some characters, and could and do listen to him for hours as he takes me away to Chicago and my favorite wizard detective. This is Urban Fantasy at its best!

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“Holy shit,” I breathed. “Hellhounds.”
“Harry,” Michael said sternly. “You know I hate it when you swear.”
“You’re right. Sorry. Holy shit,” I breathed, “heckhounds.”
Jim Butcher, Grave Peril
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Angry Lead Skies

9723006

Angry Lead Skies (Garrett Files #10)

This is one of the really good ones as far as Garrett and his adventures are concerned. I always like that he has something different going on that takes place in his fictional land. The story moves pretty quickly and we get to see how he acts with women other than those he always has around. The characters are fairly well defined and fleshed out.

Garrett is awakened from a deep sleep by Playmate who comes to him and asks that he help protect an obnoxious kid named Kip Prose who is being threatened by creatures who are hard to describe. Kip is a teenager who was befriended by two strange guys who have been giving him ideas for inventions that could make someone a lot of money. Opening his door when a woman is not knocking does not ever work out for him, but neither does it when they do.

Enjoy this adventure and watch Garrett try to please everyone and still get paid.

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
“The Dead Man once told me that monsters aren’t born, they’re made. That they are memorials which take years of cruelty to sculpt. And that while we should weep for the tortured child who served as raw material, we should permit no sentiment to impede us while we rid the world of the terror strewn by the finished work. It took me a while to figure out what he meant but I do understand him now.”
Glen Cook, Angry Lead Skies
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Dead Witch Walking

Dead Witch Walking (The Hollows, #1)
Dead Witch Walking (The Hollows #1)
byKim Harrison( Author), Marguerite Gavin(Narrator)

 

This was my second reading of this book and I enjoyed it a great deal but found some things that I thought were perfect the first time not so perfect this time. The characters are well defined but still seem a little one note in their reactions sometimes. The story is still very interesting and gets you acquainted with a number of the principles in the Hollows and outside who we will see later. It is told mainly from Rachel’s view point which works, but do wish it could have branched out.

Rachel Morgan is a runner for Inderlander Security but feels that she is being under used and resents it. When an opportunity presents itself she decides that leaving her job would be the best thing to do. What she does not expect is for Jenks, a pixie, and Ivy, a living vampire, to jump ship with her. What she expects even less is to find herself under a death threat from the agency since they wanted her to quit, they just didn’t expect her to take their best runner with her. Now she must find a way to stay alive, live with a vampire who is going cold turkey off blood, and a pixie and his family.

Good start to a series that gets better and better as it goes along.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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