Tag Archives: urban fantasy

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Fool Moon

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Fool Moon (The Dresden Files #2)

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

 

When it comes to Harry Dresden I always have a great time reading about him and his misadventures in the world of magic. He is a wizard who does not always see things as they are. The characters are all likable in one way or the other, even the criminals seem to have some type of redeeming quality. The bad guys are always dark and menacing in the best possible way. The world inhabited by these characters is so obviously ours but with a twist that makes it special.

There have been several murders that Murphy has not told Harry about until it becomes obvious that they are not just animal attacks. When he finally gets involved he lets her know that werewolves or some flavor of shifter has come to town and is doing damage to innocents and criminals alike. Murphy has called in the FBI and they are pushing her out of the investigation for their own reasons. The real question comes down to whether Harry can figure out who is doing the killing and keep himself on the right side of a jail cel.

The Alphas make their first appearance here as college students. Susan and Harry are still circling each other but not committing to a relationship. Karrin and Harry are still trying to find common ground for their friendship and working relationship. This is a good series that makes reading more than once a fun venture.

James Marsters or Spike if you are a Buffy fan is Harry Dresden. When he starts to speak you will be pulled to Chicago and the trouble that happens when is around.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“There’s more magic in a baby’s first giggle than in any firestorm a wizard can conjure up, and don’t let anyone tell you any different.”
― Jim Butcher, Fool Moon

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Faded Steel Heat

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Faded Steel Heat: A Garrett (Garrett Files, #9)

Faded Steel Heat (Garrett Files #9)

I have always liked Garrett because he reminds me so much of the noir detectives of the 40’s who were tough guys who had a thing for the ladies but also had a soft spot that they had to hide. That is totally the world Garrett lives in, his just also happens to have ogres and elves and dwarves and trolls just to name a few of the nonhuman denizens who live there too. Sometimes the stories are exciting with plenty of action and sometimes they are like this one with a plot you have to follow closely to keep the characters straight.

Things are going downhill in Tunfaire with the Call still on their mission to get all the non-humans out of town by any means necessary. The problem for Garrett is that they seem to want to drag him into the middle of the mess and he would prefer not to have to get involved. When he gets a visit from Tinnie, Alyx, and Nicks asking him to go to work for Max Weider, whose brewery he is on retainer to, has been targeted for ‘protection money’ by men claiming to be from the Call, he has no choice but to get involved. If they are moving into the rackets to fund their racist agenda he wants to find out and stop them.

There are always so many players when it comes to these stories that if you are new to them you can get lost. The stories while not always super exciting are always interesting and make you think because they do mirror our world and what is or has happened in it. I am kind of over the rioting and beating of non-humans though and am ready to move on to something more interesting. Still well worth the time.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
“Relway mused, “Now that it’s happened I’m not so sure I’m happy with the outcome. Spared their racial theories The Call would’ve been good for TunFaire.” He would appreciate their interest in law and order and proper behavior. “Here’s a challenge you still need to meet. Glory Mooncalled. He’s weak now but he’s still out there somewhere. If you don’t get him now he’ll try to put something back together someday. He can’t help himself.” “It’s still great day for TunFaire, Garrett. One of pure triumph.” I don’t know if he meant that or was being sarcastic. You never quite know anything with Relway. And he wants it that way. “I liked the way you put it, Garrett. Faded steel heat.” I’d mentioned that to him the night he’d discovered the tanks in the old Lamp brewery. “But the war goes on.” “The war never ends. Tell you what. Send me a note when you do decide to roast that pigeon. I’ve got dibs on a drumstick.”
― Glen Cook, Faded Steel HeatGlen Cook
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The Wolf Who Stole Christmas

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18858777

The Wolf Who Stole Christmas (Xmas Tales – Legendary Lovers)

This is a short and sweet novella with just a hint of the erotic. The story progresses swiftly but does not lack a plot that involves and pulls you in. The characters are actually very well realized in a short period of time and make you feel what they are feeling. The dialogue is good and keeps the story moving forward. There are a few problems with words being wrong or grammar, but it is minor and does not take anything away from the story.

Holly is the only daughter of Santa and Mrs Claus. She has eyes only for their engineer, a wolf shifter named Furio, who is very tightly wound and does not seem to be interested in her. Then there is Jack Frost who has made no bones about his interest in Holly and with the blessing of her family who think he would be a great catch. Furio has a troubled past and does not think he is good enough for Holly, but he does want her, even if she cannot see it.

This is a very nice addition to a holiday reading list.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
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Storm Front

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Storm Front (The Dresden Files #1)

by Jim Butcher , James Marsters (Narrator)
I remember the first time I read this book and it sucked me in pretty quickly because it was different from anything else I ever read before. This time was the same even though I knew what to expect this time around. The idea of a real life wizard living and working as a private eye is very cool. The way he is introduced is good because it is not a far fetched story but something that is more or less plausible. The language is perfect and conveys the the feelings, thoughts, and lives of the characters perfectly. The characters take on a life even in this first book where you can see who they are and what they will be later as they evolve.

Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden is a wizard, but not an old hermit type, but a wizard who lives in the world and has to survive there. He has a P.I. license and also consults for the police department on cases that do not have an obvious cause and seems to have a supernatural component. When he is called in on a case that involves a man and woman having their hearts explode in their chests by means that are not apparent he steps into something that is more than it seems on the surface. As the only known practicing wizard in Chicago Harry falls under suspicion not only with the White Council but by his friend Karrin Murphy who does not understand why he is holding back information from her.

Harry has only two days to find the real killer and stop him from taking even more lives. But when he is targeted can he find the killer before his own time is up. And can he possibly have a life outside of magic and death.

I love Harry now and forever because he is a wizard with a heart and sense of fair play like no other. This introduces you to his world and the people and places that he interacts with the most. This series can be fun but it will always have a dark edge because true magic and magical beings have a tendency to do what they want and it will not always be nice. Go for it!

“I’d made the vampire cry. Great. I felt like a real superhero. Harry Dresden, breaker of monsters’ hearts.”
― Jim Butcher, Storm Front                Jim Butcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
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A Nomadic Witch

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A Nomadic Witch (A Modern Witch #4)

These are quirky stories about a group of witches who keep expanding because of the internet and I really love it. The characters are all strange in one way or another or they have some type quirk you can identify with. The characters are all down to earth types who just happen to have the ability to manipulate the elements.

Marcus lost his brother to the mists over 40 years ago, he was a traveler and never returned to his body, he got lost. Marcus has never forgiven himself for not being able to save him and has become a bitter old man who pushes everyone away. In recent months, since the birth of new babies, and pushing by Moira, he has started to interact with others more. But something happens that could push him back into his shell.

A baby is left on Marcus’s porch and he is not sure why. When he finds out that it was sent to him by his brother, and that the baby is also a traveler, he is ready to give it up. But how can he turn his back on a baby who needs him when she was sent by the brother he still misses and loves?

This is fun, light, and total escapism. I can listen or read this and enjoy myself because I really care about these characters and what is going on in their lives. They always put a smile on my face even as I cry for the sad things that befall them. You cannot help but be charmed by these witches and the love that surrounds them. Give this series a try!

 

My rating: 5 of 5 magical stars

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Cherry Pop

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Cherry Pop (Vampire Cherry 0.5)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I read a short story in an anthology which was good enough to make me want to read more about this character because it sounded like it would be fun. Well, it is still basically good but I think I am going to need to read more to see if it gets better. This was an introduction that was a bit slow and did not really give much of a background on any of the characters that were introduced. The language is fine and is descriptive enough to keep your interest for the most part. This is a novella length book but could have contained so much more.

Cherry is found by a woman who brings her to Los Angeles and places her in porn movies under the name Cherry Stem. She has been a bit player in a few movies but has now been offered a starring role and is very excited about her big break. In order to get her face out there she is sent to a party full of up and coming stars where she meets someone she cannot resist. Cherry wakes up the next morning not exactly herself and finds her life completely altered with no way back.

This is a different kind of vampire story with some old and new myth’s about how vampires interact with the human population as well as how they interact with each other. Cherry is a likable character who could be really fun if she is fleshed out more and given more of a personality. This is a nice diversion when you are in between reads.

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Dresden Files: Downtown

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Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files: Down Town Collection (The Dresden Files Graphic Novels #5)

by Jim Butcher (Goodreads Author), Mark Powers, Carlos Gómez (Illustrator)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I totally have a thing for Harry Dresden and I am happy to read about him in any medium I can find him. This is a really nice new story that gives you a chance to become better acquainted with Molly Carpenter and what she is doing with Dresden as his apprentice. We also get to see the character of Marcone who does not appear a lot though he is mentioned quite often in any number of novels.

Something is killing innocent people and the police, Karrin Murphy, calls in Dresden because it is obvious that whatever it is its not human. While Harry has never seen anything like it before he is ready to stop it no matter what it takes.

This does not have a lot of plot, it is simple and straight forward, which is perfect for a graphic novel. Good story told in minimal space with decent characters, no need for major development, some fun facts.

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Wolf at the Door

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Wolf at the Door (Shifter Town Enforcement Book 4)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I do love a good shifter story! I fell in love with the Shifter Town Enforcement from the first book that introduced them. The characters are always believable and draw you in with their personalities. There is also a nice balance between new and established characters, so that you always have someone that you are getting to know while you learn more about someone you have met before. The plots are always interesting even though you know that there is going to be a love match between two of the characters, usually someone you know from a previous book. The stories do pull you in though and that is the important thing. You cannot help but want to see that things work out for the best because there is likely a killer on the loose and he is not going to be easy to find

Timber Kearney is a wolf shifter who had the bad luck to come to the attention of a man who wanted more than anything to be turned. He takes Timber and for a full year tortures her and forces her her to bear witness as he murders other young she wolves. When she finally escapes all she wants is to help others and forget what was done to her, if only her subconscious would cooperate.

Brandt Lawrence worked on the Wolfman case all those years ago and he was never caught. Brandt knew that they were looking for a human who tried to kill like a wolf but that did not make it any easier. Now the killings have started again, even though he is in a new state, and he is sure it is the same man but he is now a real wolf. This time he has someone who has first hand knowledge and a name of the killer, but can he keep her safe long enough to capture a man/wolf who seems always to be one step ahead of them.

This was a really good entry with a killer who was a worthy adversary for Brandt. I can only hope that we will get more in the future because there are some great twists and turns within each story. They also feature some truly strong women who go through hell but always manage to pull themselves through whatever has been thrown at them. I like these for that in particular, even though they have low spots, the women never really give up. This is a fun series with some seriously hot moments which do not take away from the serious business going on around them. Well worth a try!

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Books with No Review but 5 stars

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18166667  21509141  15781825   13477321  Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake Vampire Hunter - The First ... by Laurell K. HamiltonLaurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake Vampire Hunter - The First ... by Laurell K. Hamilton  Laurell K Hamilton’s Anita Blake Vampire Hunter – The First Death # 1 & 2 ( Marvel Comics) by Laurell K Hamilton (Author), Jonathan Green & Wellington Alves (Illustrator)

Each of these books is really good as far as I am concerned. Each is from a slightly different genre so there should be something here for most tastes.

 

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Enraptured

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Enraptured (Vampire Awakenings #4)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am so in love with this series! I love the characters who continue to grow and make me care for them and what is happening in their corner of the world. I was pulled into this story pretty fast and did not want to stop reading until the end because something was always happening to pull me along. Even though they are vampires they are more human than some that they come in contact with. The new characters are always fully fleshed out with a background that makes sense for their interaction with our mains. The language of each character is right for them and does not cause a drag on the overall story. Everything flows very well and the story moves forward at a pace that builds the tension and gives you a chance to follow and figure things out for yourself.

Ian reached maturity 11 months ago and has seen his sexual appetites go off the charts. He only has a few more months until graduation and then he will not see a lot of his college friends again since he has stopped aging, and will have to devise a new way to find women to bring to his bed. While his older sister and brother have found their mates, he does not think he will be doing so for a while and so must simply endure.

Paige has had a hard life after being attacked by a vampire and left for dead. She has aligned herself with the hunters because they have promised to help her track the vampire who scarred her. But as luck would have it she finds him and is not prepared but is lucky enough to be at the bar frequented by Ian who finds her being drained and rescues her, with no sign of her backup.

Paige wakes up and finds herself in a house filled with vampires, whom she believes to be nothing more than monsters. Here is where things get crazy for both as they try to find trust and safety for each other and family.

Another great entry and I am already jonesing for the next one. I want Aiden to hit his maturity next but it can be about one of the new guys we have met or even one of the Stooges (that would be a hoot). I enjoy the fact that the family is always in whatever story is being told because they really are a part of the whole. As usual there was a little hot sex, some great banter, laughs, tears, and heartache. These books take you through the wringer and leave you wanting even more. Highly recommend the series!!