I am just lucking into good authors all over the place these days. I guess I have been missing out on some great reads because I get so stuck on my favorites. I think this may just be another of my favorites. I liked the characters and the way that things progressed in the story. It was a little bit of instalove but it could be forgiven since they at least had been around each other more than a few days. I could however have done without the term ‘lover’ being used as an endearment from start to finish, it really did not resonate with me at all. Most of the dialogue was smooth and seemed to fit the characters but every once in a while things would come off a little stiff.
Abby Barlow ends up having one hell of a day. There is an explosion, she watches her employer die, has a bizarre dream, and finds herself on the run with Dante a man she both fears and desires. Dante was guardian to Abby’s employer for 341 years against his will. But now as the spirit which he has protected falls on Abby, he finds it not the burden it had been in the past. As Dante tries to protect Abby from the dark forces gathering to kill her they find that things are worse than either could have ever imagined.
I liked both Dante and Abby because I could identify with both of them as people. Abby had a horrible childhood but still managed to be a fairly positive person. I would have liked to get some more background on Dante since it was pretty sparse as far as getting to know him.
I like the action and romance of the story. I would recommend it to anyone who has a thing for vampire romance.
This is my first read by this author and I am glad that I took the time to try it out. The idea behind what the character does for a living is interesting and different from anything I have seen before. The setting is current and therefore makes it easier to relate to the surroundings. The characters themselves are fairly well defined and fleshed out giving you a good idea of who they are and what their motivations are. I was pretty much drawn into the story immediately, even though I had taken a bit of a dislike for the main character right away.
Sloane Osborne is a paranormal realtor, which basically means that she sells haunted houses once she can authenticate there is a haunting. Sloane’s real reason for doing this is to try and contact her dead fiance, Michael, who always said to wait or try things for a year and a day. Sloane has been looking and it has gotten to day 366 and she is hoping beyond hope it will happen.
Sloane has gone to a job in Wisconsin which she has found on her own in the hopes that it will be the one that allows her to make contact and gain her gift/curse of being able to speak with the dead. The house has a feel to it and the person employing her has not met with her. She investigates further in order to see who or what might be in the house. This places her in danger she could not have seen coming.
I did finally warm up to Sloane even if I felt like she was a weak individual in the beginning she showed me she could step up. I ended this really liking the story enough to want to read the next book in the series. There is a total creep factor and some great atmosphere. Not a lot of scares but it has a heavy feel that pulls you in and makes you a part of the hurt and betrayal of the story. Great for a Halloween read or just if you like a good ghost story.
I always enjoy the exploits of the psychics attached to the FBI unit because they are not simply suits. These agents have backgrounds and stories that are in some instances heartbreaking but that only makes them more interesting to read about. The characters whether good guys or bad guys are going to be nothing short f great because you are going to get someone who is either going to make you like them or creep you out and make you dislike them, both very good things while reading.
Agent Vaughnne MacMeans would do anything to avoid going back to Orlando after the last assignment in that city. Her new assignment, keeping an eye on a psychic kid who may or may not be in danger forces her right back to the city where her sister was murdered. As an added bonus she finds herself attracted to the kids’ guardians in a big way.
Gus does not understand Alex’s gift but he knows that some people would kill to have it. And he is prepared to do whatever it takes to keep the boy safe from anything. His first inclination is to run when the beautiful woman moves into the house across the street from his, but figures getting to know her first might not hurt. When danger does show Vaughnne may be the only person standing between them and death.
Things start a little slowly but pick up swiftly and things start happening that keep you wondering. There are a number of people who come into play some known and some new. The tension builds perfectly and keeps you waiting for the next event. There is also a romance that develops which you want to see grow and hopefully work. I would definitely recommend this!
The second book gives you a little more of the characters and brings them more personality and presence. You get more of a feeling for who they are and how they are going to grow in the future. Because we move to a new location you do not really get anything from that. The location descriptions are pretty generic and you never really get a feeling for the area. The story is interesting but they keep referring to a past event that has never been explained in a way that would make it very relevant to any situation.
Riga has lost her magic and has gone to Lake Tahoe to hopefully get it back and spend some quality time with her new love, Donovan Mosse. Donovan owns a Casino that is being run by his cousin Reuben who is not happy to have Donovan back on the premises.
When a psychic is murdered the police seek out Riga, they believe she may be a suspect though they know she has consulted for the police in the past. Things go from bad to worse as a film crew hires Riga who uses them as a stepping stone to investigate what seems to be murders related to her past. Can she avoid being a victim herself?
Decent enough to keep the story moving forward but would really like to have some details on this past.
alchemy was first a method of transforming spiritual lead into gold, of dissolving the alchemist herself, removing impurities, and unifying her disparate spiritual and psychological pieces. It was also really complicated, which was why Riga had never gone further than an academic knowledge of the subject.
This is Dresden and I have loved him since the first time I opened a book and found this wizard who is flawed but tries to do the right thing no matter the consequences. I expect a great story with characters that are believable and more than meets the eye, and that is just what I got. The story is pure Dresden and true to who the characters have come to be as this tale has continued. The few new characters who were introduced fit very well with those we know so well. Everyone is evolving and becoming more than they originally were whether for better or worse, and everyone is surprising in how they react to Dresden.
When Harry became the Winter Knight he thought he would be able to deal with it and maybe find his way out as he has so many times in the past. What he didn’t expect were all the complications that kept him working for Mab even though he wishes he had made better choices. Because of the parasite growing in his head, he has been living Mab has kept him isolated and is wearing down his humanity.
Nicodemus Archleone, a Knight of the Blackened Denarius, is back and Mab has a debt to pay off to him. That is where Dresden comes in, Mab is loaning Harry to a man he hates and has defeated in the past, to help. Lucky for Harry he is given some say in how things will work and enlists the help of Karrin Murphy, ex-cop and good friend, to go on this particular adventure with him. The goal, to stay alive and thwart Nicodemus at all costs.
It may be just me but I have not found a Dresden novel that did not make me very happy to have read. As that is the case I will recommend this to any fans of Harry Dresden who have not already read it. If you want to start a really good series, then start with Storm Front and work your way up, they do need to be read in order as reference is made to early incidents.
** I listened to it for my second time around because I have fallen under the spell of James Marsters who I could listen to all day and be very happy. He is Harry and don’t let anyone tell you any different. I hope he will narrate all the books as they come out because I would not do audio without him. Enjoy this book both ways!
There’s power in the touch of another person’s hand. We acknowledge it in little ways, all the time. There’s a reason human beings shake hands, hold hands, slap hands, bump hands.
I enjoy these books and I like most of the characters because they have been able to grow as the series has moved forward, then there are some I could do without sometimes. Being set in New Orleans makes this work perfectly for the way things seem to go for everyone here. I have never been but every time I read one of these books I can imagine that I am visiting the French Quarter or the Garden District because of the vivid descriptions of the locales. I chose to listen and read because it does make it so much easier to keep the story going when I am on the go. I can listen in my office at work while still being productive and relaxed.
Jade has been left with only half her soul because of circumstances beyond her control, even though she was doing the right thing. But she decides that nothing is going to stop her from marrying the man of her dreams, Kane. Well, things never go smoothly for Jade no matter how much she wants it to.
Jade is possessed by the ghost residing in Kane’s family home while making arrangements for her wedding. Though they are able to save her once it becomes clear that in her weakened state she is easy prey. Now she will have to live with the person who has the other half of her soul in order to keep her safe, but that does not help her friends.
The narrator, Traci Odom, does a great job of bringing the characters to life, both male and female. If you have enjoyed the first three books in this series then you will enjoy the continued adventures of this new to her craft witch.
“Everyone in this room knows I’m going to say yes, but I’m not willing to let the realm have complete control over us. If we were to become slaves to you, our lives would hardly be worth living anyway. So my offer to you is this: the pair of us will accept your condition of becoming shadowwalkers, but we want to be compensated as a low-level angel would. We also want all the benefits and rights that they have under your laws. There will be no exceptions because we are humans.” ― Deanna Chase, Angels of Bourbon Street
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.
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.
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!
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.
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