Category Archives: Fantasy

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Three Parts Dead

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Three Parts Dead (Craft Sequence #1)

Three Parts Dead (Craft Sequence #1)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this eventually, but it started out pretty slowly. Once we get past the first 4 chapters or so things start to flow nicely and we get to really know the characters. I was drawn to the book because of the premise but then it seemed to take so long to get there that I would have given up if not for the fact that I felt it was going to get better. The characters are different and the world they inhabit bares a passing resemblance to our own in many ways, but it’s the differences that make this worth reading.

” The Craft was difficult to master, half art, half science, and an extra half bull-headed determination.”

Tara Abernathy is a young Craftswoman who was not graduated from the Hidden Schools in a traditional manner, but was ejected though she has great ability. Though she has great ability she is untested in real world applications. Kos, the God of Alt Coulumb is dead and Ms. Keverian has chosen to take Tara on as her associate for the negotiations to resurrect him. This is a make or break situation for Tara, she can show that she knows what she is doing and gain a position in a prestigious firm or she can go back to her small town and fade away. The problem is that there is more to the death of this deity than has been revealed and now they have to dig deeper in order to find out what is really going on.

What you have here is a murder mystery within a world of technology, myth, religion, and law. There are Gods, Goddesses, vampires, and any manner of creature.

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Black Sea Gods

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Black Sea Gods by Brian Braden   Black Sea Gods (Chronicle of Fu Xi)
by Brian Braden

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was not what I expected when I started reading. I was expecting a tale of gods and goddesses only. But this was definitely more than that.

This story builds on the mythology of the Black Sea. It starts out slowly but once you get past the first few chapters it gets very

interesting. I found myself liking the characters and wanting them all to survive, but that does not always happen.

The best way to give a look at this is through the blurb:

“The fish have disappeared from the sea. The animals have vanished from the land. All humanity, and even the gods, tremble under the specter of a pending cataclysm. The demigod Fu Xi races home from the edge of the world bringing news of a looming god war, but finds his land under attack by monsters he once called his children. He discovers a terrible curse has been cast, one intended to destroy the gods and all life. To his shock, Fu Xi learns mankind’s hope rest solely on him, a simple fisherman and a banished slave girl.

Beset on all sides, Fu Xi knows he must act quickly and races west to rescue the saviors. Unaware of the real doom that awaits, Aizarg the fisherman and his party begin a perilous journey across a dangerous steppe. They seek the last of the Narim, the legendary Black Sea Gods, who hold the key to their salvation. Leading them is the rescued slave girl Sarah, the only one among them who knows the path to the land of the god-men.

Over seven days the defining struggle of gods and humans begins under the onslaught of a powerful force whose true objective and origin remain a mystery. Fu Xi knows the secret to victory resides in a fisherman and a slave girl, whose lives he must protect, even if it means the rest of the world must perish.”

If you want something that will make you think and not just entertain I think this would be a good read. It took myths I had known all my life and gave them a spin I would never had considered. I really enjoyed it!

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Oxford Blood

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Oxford Blood (The Cavaliers, #1)Oxford Blood by Georgiana Derwent
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While the theme is familiar the setting and tone make it something
different. At first I was not sure about what time period we were
dealing with, but once I realized it was more of a present day thing it
made more sense.

The Cavaliers are an elite group of men within
the walls of Oxford who have a secret which has been kept for hundreds
of years. They are known for their lavish parties, beautiful members,
and complete exclusivity. They are the rich, well connected society that
anyone would be thrilled to be asked to join. The problem is that in
order to join you must make a large sacrifice that might haunt you for
eternity.

Harriet arrives at Oxford for her first year, she is
not posh, but a girl from a humble upbringing. Her first day she meets a
boy and instantly has feelings for him, as he seems to have for her.
Tom is a Cavalier, though Harriet does not know this. What ensues is a
kind of Romeo and Juliet story with vampires. There are a lot of secrets
which have been kept from Harriet and it all comes out as she attempts
to start a life in a new place with new friends. As Harriet learns more
about her family and their connection to the Cavaliers she becomes more
determined than ever to take her life into her own hands and not be
pushed into doing something she does not think is right.

Though
it starts out a bit slowly soon you are caught up with Harriet in the
world of Oxford and all the things which are going on around her. Their
is what I suppose is a subplot which is not really well played out, at
least to my satisfaction. I saw that coming from a mile away from the
start.

But if you love vampires and romance and blood and
political posturing then you will like this. I have to continue reading
the next book because now I want to see what Harriet is going to do
about her triangle.

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Variant Effect

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The Variant Effect: GreenMourningThe Variant Effect: GreenMourning by G. Wells Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Variant Effect was first seen ‘back in the day.’ It was caused by a drug, Varion, which was put into circulation by Bezo Pharmaceutical. It was thought to be a wonder drug which helped with all types of mental disorders. The problem was that after years of use it built up in the fat tissue of users, this caused them to ‘present’ as feral, skin eating savages. They thought it had been eradicated, they were wrong.

Meet the Players:
Captain Joe Borland is an original member of the variant squads from the first outbreaks. With the resurgence of variant in the community he has been brought out of retirement as a consultant to the new 9 squad. He has lost a lot of friends as well as his own skin to Biters and he does not intend to lose anymore if he can stop it.
Captain Eric Hyde is another member of the original 9 squad and has never really stopped working. Hyde hates Borland because he feels that he is responsible for his condition, the loss of 85% of the skin on his body. His mind was not effected and he is brilliant even with his body ravaged by constant pain. He is now tracking a serial killer while variant runs through the streets and he has to stop him before the full effect takes hold.
Brass is a Bezo executive who is pulling the strings of everyone, particularly those of Borland. He is behind a massive coverup in regards to Varion and what was known about its potential for harm in the population. He is a shady character who has few redeeming qualities.

There is a lot more going here than usual, not only do they have to deal with the Biters but it appears that they are becoming more intelligent than previous encounters. They also have a serial killer taking choice parts off of young men in an attempt to build the perfect body or so they think.

It is a good story that gives you a lot to think about.

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Convergence

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Between Their Worlds (Noble Dead Saga: Series 3, #1)Between Their Worlds by Barb Hendee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a fairly nice beginning to the continued exploits of Magiere, Leesil, and Chap as they continue in their quest to thwart The Ancient Enemy. Because they have been separated from Wynn for more than a year this book acts as a bridge to bring them back together and combine their stories before they are separated once again.

Wynn is no longer the wide-eyed observer she was in the beginning and has grown into a woman of strength, which annoys her previous companions. She has allowed a Nobel Dead, Chane, to protect her and work alongside her. Particularly since Magiere had killed him and hates him as does Chap and Leesil they feel as if she has betrayed them.

The story centers around the Guild of Sage Craft and the fact that they have locked Wynn in her room and the grounds. Things have become complicated and scattered because you have multiple factions working for multiple goals throughout the book and sometimes it is hard to figure out what is going on from minute to minute. This is not a place to start this saga if you have not read the previous novels as the characters from many of those novels converge here.

Not a lot of action but the story does move us to the next step and allows us to become re-acquainted with friends who have been absent for so long. If you like this series then it is a must read.

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Bride of Fae

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Bride of Fae (Tethers, #2)Bride of Fae by L.K. Rigel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I would give this 3.5 stars because while I enjoyed it, there were places that it lagged. This is the second in a series though the action takes place prior to the events in the first book.

Having read the first book it took me a while to reconcile what was happening here because the threads were pulled in several directions. Beverly is the mother of the heir of Dumnos, she is a simple woman who marries an Earl not for love but for the sake of a legacy. The love of her life is a faerie by the name of Dandelion, a prince of the Fae court.

There is travel through time, faerie intrigue, romance, corruption, and family loyalty.
It is worth a read!

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Wyrd and Fae

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Give Me: A Tale of Wyrd and Fae (Tethers #1)Give Me: A Tale of Wyrd and Fae by L.K. Rigel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m going with 4 1/2 stars here, it would have been 5 but it didn’t totally blow me out of the water.

I started this not really expecting much but was pleasantly surprised. 😉 The writing is good and combines two of my favorite things witchcraft (wyrding) and the Fae. The story stretches from the middle ages to modern-day England in a small county off the beaten track which does not have cell reception or access to the internet. But they have a rich heritage and a wyrding woman who has been there from the beginning. The story goes from that castle in the middle ages to modern-day California and finally to modern-day Dumnos and back.

This is a story of love and loss and the desire to fix a mistake made a thousand years ago. The characters are well established and likable bringing you into their world more fully. Not something for everyone but romantics will enjoy this I’m sure. No real sex but descriptions of desire and longing that work for this.

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Brot’ân’duivé

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The Dog in the Dark: A Novel of the Noble Dead (Noble Dead Saga: Series 3 #2)The Dog in the Dark: A Novel of the Noble Dead by Barb Hendee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have been reading this series since the beginning, though I started with book three and had to backtrack. I love the characters because they are not always who you think they are. Each is searching and hoping to be more than what is expected of them from various factions.

This entry does not have the action of series one, or the interesting fumbling in matters over their head of a scholar like series two. What is does have is a chance to fill in all the gaps between the ending of one series and the other. The chance to get a voice other than Wynn, Chap, Magiere, or Leesil on the current threat to the world.

Brot’â’duivé, who’s name means The Dog in the Dark, is an Anmaglâhk (spy & assassin) of the an’Cróan elves of Leesil and Magiere’s continent. He comes to protect Magiere from ‘Most Aged Father’ and his loyalists. What he gives to us the reader is the story of what happened after Magiere and friends left the Elven lands. He gives his story slowly and only with reluctance as they travel.

We are also allowed to find out what happened to Magiere, Chap and Leesil as they separated from Wynn and went to hide the orb that they had uncovered. Each of them has been changed by the experience and have memories which weigh heavy on them.

If you have enjoyed this series in the past I think you will not be disappointed by this entry. Just know that there are not a lot of battles with Nobel dead but there is action.

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The Hollows

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Ever After (The Hollows #11)Ever After by Kim Harrison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have been reading this series of books from the beginning and I love Rachel. You don’t often find yourself liking a heroine who sometimes seems completely lost but this girl has endured so much and come so far. I got to watch her mature into a pretty cool person even if she cannot pick men for anything. A world populated with everything from witches, demons, elves, were-persons and vampires is an interesting place indeed.

This book finds Rachel in over her head (as always) and trying to save the world once again. She does not have her usual crew of Ivy (a living vampire) and Jenks (a pixie) to back her up this time. Instead she is working with Trent Kalamack (rich handsome elf) and Al (her demon teacher) to go up against a threat to the demon realm and magic. The story is fast paced and grabs you from the start. All the questions from past adventures are answered here, but of course we get a whole new set to ponder.

If you have read any of the books in the past you will definitely want to read this one and if not you should maybe start. This is not a stand alone novel so pick up that first one and see if you don’t get interested enough to read them to this point. I do not think you will be disappointed.

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