Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs

Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs

Book Stats:  

Reading level: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Hardcover: 371 pages
Publisher: Ace Books
Release date: March 7th 2017

Series:  Mercy Thompson #10

Source: 

Reviewed by: 

Order: Amazon | Book Depository

In the #1 New York Times bestselling Mercy Thompson novels, the coyote shapeshifter has found her voice in the werewolf pack. But when Mercy's bond with the pack and her mate is broken, she'll learn what it truly means to be alone...

Attacked and abducted in her home territory, Mercy finds herself in the clutches of the most powerful vampire in the world, taken as a weapon to use against alpha werewolf Adam and the ruler of the Tri-Cities vampires. In coyote form, Mercy escapes only to find herself without money, without clothing, and alone in the heart of Europe...

Unable to contact Adam and the rest of the pack, Mercy has allies to find and enemies to fight, and she needs to figure out which is which. Ancient powers stir, and Mercy must be her agile best to avoid causing a war between vampires and werewolves, and between werewolves and werewolves. And in the heart of the ancient city of Prague, old ghosts rise...

For once, Mercy was minding her own business, heading to the convenience store, a necessary step to feed chocolate chip cookies to a horde of video game playing werewolves, when she got caught in a near-deadly kidnapping plot. Unconscious and very badly injured, she was hauled all the way across the Atlantic ocean, in Italy, far from everyone she knows and cut off from her pack bound. How will she get out of this one alive?

The Mercy Thompson series has been one of my favorite for years and I am happy to say this novel did not disappoint. It actually made me fall in love all over again with my favorite characters! As much as I love my heroines getting the guy of their dream along a book series, couple lives can get a bit dull around the corners so I was very happy that I would get to see Mercy, and Adam, on their own in this novel. There is just this special and desperate energy going on when you are facing extremely dangerous situations by yourself and it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Mercy's determination, resourcefulness, and surviving skills were at the fore-front and I truly enjoyed it. I loved her spunk and the way she built on her coyote skills in this novel. On the other hand, I loved how Adam was forced to let Mercy deal with things on her own and how he had to develop his negotiating skills in a dire situation. Honey, a character I wasn't a fan off in the past, also happily surprised me. I did not expect it from her, but she really rose to the challenge.

This novel has a very special time-line and you have to pay close attention if you don't want to be confused. Add to it narration alternating between Mercy, Adam and other important characters and you have a recipe for chaos (if you don't follow along!) or sheer genius (if you pay close attention lol). Briggs really took her story-telling skills up a notch in this installment, and I'll tell you off the bat she threw one spectacular curve-ball that made me want to re-read the novel as soon as possible.

I don't think I could ever tire of these characters and it's a shame we have to wait so long between installments. I'm already super impatient for the next novel to release! If you haven't picked up this series yet, I urge you to start with the first novel, Moon Called, and I am sure you will crave for more!

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Posted by Tynga at 04:43

 Ace, Adult, Fantasy, Mercy Thompson, Netgalley, Paranormal, Patricia Briggs, Penguin, Review, Romance, Shifters, Urban, Urban Fantasy, Vampire, werewolf  3 People left their mark

Where the Wild Things Bite by Molly Harper

You know you're reading a Molly Harper book when the main characters are stuck in a crazy, life threatening situation but the author still manages to make you laugh. Molly Harper has this wonderful recipe for paranormal romance novels and it's infallible. I've never been disappointed by one of her books, probably because I understand her type of humour. Her characters are relatable, despite their peculiarities and you can't help but get attached to them. Where the Wild Things Bite, despite being short, is a wonderful addition to the Half-Moon Hollow series.

Anna, a rare book expert on the paranormal, is on a mission to return a valuable book to none other than Jane Jameson, after having appraised it, and confirmed it as an authentic and important document in the history of shifters. However, things go wrong as soon as she enters the plane that is supposed to bring her to Half-Moon Hollow. The pilot is deranged and threatens to kill her with a knife if she doesn't hand over the book, and when that fails, he tampers with the plane and crashes it in the middle of Kentucky lakeland. Anna would have crashed and died in it if it wasn't for Finn, the only other passenger of the plane. Anna accuses him of throwing her out of the moving plane but Finn guarantees her that he jumped, cradling her in his arms.

Together, they're lost in the woods, with no supplies and no sign of civilization. Only an old, but valuable book. So valuable that people are willing to kill for it. Anna, a germaphobic and very anxious person, quickly learns to survive in the woods. With shifters after her, she relies on Finn, who happens to be a vampire, to find her way through the woods. However, smart as she is, she soon realizes that Finn has somewhat questionable reasons for helping her. A liar, a thief and a con man, Finn tries to convince skeptical Anna that he really wants to help her, despite his previous motives.

Anna is a wonderful and realistic character, despite her neuroses. Her tendencies to learn every survival statistics and her obsession in reading survival guides to everything, helps her survive the Kentucky woods. Finn might be a liar and deceitful but I think he really wants to help Anna. I don't know exactly when he started to like her, but their close proximity leads up to steamy scenes. They're the most unlikely couple, but I think that's what so charming about the pair.

I really wish we could have gotten more out of Anna and Finn's story. Their trek through the woods was hilarious and entertaining, but what happened after the woods just went by so quickly. I'm glad Jane and the Half-Moon Hollow gang made an appearance but they didn't have much to do with the story. In a way, that made Anna and Finn the focus of the story. A delightful read, Where the Wild Things Bite is a must read for Jane Jameson fans.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:11

 Half Moon Hollow, Library, Molly Harper, Paranormal Romance, Pocket, Review, Shifters, Simon amp; Schuster, Vampire, werewolves  Leave your mark

Shadow Rites: A Jane Yellowrock Novel by Faith Hunter

This is a review of the 10th installment to the Jane Yellowrock series.  A thus far intriguing and exciting series that I would not want to spoil for any of you who may not be current in it.  If that is you, stop reading this and start reading the first book right away, I'm sure you'll be hooked immediately.  When you've caught up, come back and read up on what's new with Jane.

The Big Cat is back!  Along with her partners Eli and Alex  and so many of her friends and acquaintances that we have grown to know and appreciate.  Still in the Big Easy and still Enforcer for Leo Pellissier and getting ready for the big meeting between witches and vampires.  The only problem is, two witches decide to visit Jane early and leave a mystery in their wake.

When it comes to stories about anything fantastical or paranormal in the U.S., it's hard to beat a New Orleans for the setting.  It is a city rich in cultures and the histories that surround them.  Faith Hunter makes good use of this setting every time she brings back to visit with Jane.  In this book, as well as the others, her use of scenery enhances the mood either by matching it or by contrast.  Well appointed offices, posh parlors and smelly swamps all do their parts to lull the reader into false security or to put the reader on guard for the next beastly attack.

One of the traps for a series of this depth is the possibility of a lack of growth in the characters.  At ten books into the series, the Jane Yellowrock series does not have that problem.  Jane herself continues to have enough mystique in both her future and her past that we may yet see a great deal more of her in books to come.  Her compatriots get similar treatment.  We still don't know much of Eli Younger's past and Alex Younger might be a future that bears watching.

The plot and pacing themselves are somewhat familiar but, don't feel forced or formulaic.  We have general ideas that conflicts will happen and resolutions reached.  Thing is, it may not happen in the order you expect.  Some resolutions may be from books past some conflicts remain in place.  Much like real life, you don't know when things will settle down.

Shadow Rites: A Jane Yellowrock Novel by Faith Hunter  maintains and actually boosts the momentum initiated by the previous installments of this series. Very entertaining though it lands comfortably in the PG13 rating for me.  There's very little in the way of language but, the violence and mature situations keep it there.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Faith Hunter, Fantasy, Jane Yellowrock, Netgalley, Paranormal, Penguin, Review, Skinwalker, Urban, Vampire, Witch  4 People left their mark

The Single Undead Moms Club by Molly Harper

It's no secret that I absolutely adore everything Molly Harper writes. It probably has a lot to do with her creative wit and her inherent geekiness. There's also the fact that most her her heroines are just your average Jane (mostly--if you ignore the supernatural elements). However, I think what truly captivates readers are the fun and romantic stories that she delivers time and time again.

The heroines Molly Harper creates are always easy to associate with. Despite the fact that I have very little in common with this book's heroine, Libby, I still feel for her as she transitions into a vampire. Unlike her, I might not have in-law problems, child custody problems, PTA problems or blood issues, however, they are realistic enough that I can't help but root for her as she discovers her new self. Libby is a strong woman that has made the ultimate and final choice in order to stay alive and raise her son. It can't be easy suffering from cancer and knowing that you'll leave your son an orphan in just a few short months. I want to say, in her position, I probably would have done the same thing. I'm selfish enough that I would want to survive and not die so young because of bad genetics.

Wade was a nice surprise. He's definitely not the kind of guy you would expect a good PTA single mom to end up with. A Harley riding man full of tattoos isn't the kind of guy anyone expects to end up with. However since his and Libby's son form an inseparable childhood bond, they are forced to be civil, despite their bad initial meeting. I really like the fact that Libby takes it slowly and Wade respects her wishes without having to discuss it. Everything Libby does is in her son's best interest but at some point, I think she realizes she has to live for herself too.

It wouldn't be a real Molly Harper story without someone trying to kill the female lead. And I'm not talking about the racist/vampire hating PTA president who's out to socially destroy Libby. It isn't clear why a man dressed in a black ski mask is trying to kill her, but new vampire luck seems to be on her side every time she encounters her attacker. Luck, and the fact that her more or less absent sire is keeping tabs on her and secretly watching over her.

In the Half Moon Hollow world, vampires have "come out the the coffin" years ago, yet vampires still face prejudice and countless hate crimes. I think one of the books messages is that everyone should be given a chance, and you shouldn't hate someone because of who or what they are. In today's society, we might not be facing vampires, but we will be experiencing an influx of Syrian refugees. We can't judge these people because of their heritage or their religion, simply because it's different from our own. We have to respect them and try to be as accommodating as possible. We can't use fear as motive for hate because that would revert human society back centuries. (And don't twist my words as I compare vampires to refugees! I'm just saying their situations are similar.) Here in Canada, the government has done much to help the new refugees. In the USA, I just hope that when it comes to electing party candidates and a president, Americans will not let fear and hate guide their choices.

Fans of Molly Harper will love this book. Or fans of paranormal romance, for that matter. I've come to expect certain things from Harper yet she always surprises me with new stories and ideas. Libby and Wade make a great couple despite the fact that they're not your typical paranormal romance pair. The PTA and school activities might be new territory for Miss Harper, but her writing is still the same: fun, snarky and outrageous!

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Posted by Tynga at 03:09

 Chick Lit, Half Moon Hollow, Molly Harper, Paranormal Romance, Pocket, Purchased, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Vampire  1 Person left their mark

My Sunny Vampire by Stacy McKitrick

Since I've been travelling for the last couple of weeks, I needed a fun and easy read on my kindle and this is the book that I came upon. It was exactly what I was looking for and I'm glad to have met these vampires.

Jack and Sunshine are the main focus of this book and we first meet them in a alley where Jack is waking up and can't remember how he got there. What's more, he can't remember anything about the lovely young woman next to him who is in the midst of becoming a vampire. Since she looks like his late wife, he questions whether he's the one that turned her, but since it's illegal to turn someone into a vampire without their consent and the permission of the Committee, he really wishes he could remember what happened the night before.

Sunshine wakes up in the midst of becoming a vampire with no recollection of how she got there either. As she slowly comes to terms with her new status, she is also learning how to control her vampire powers and how to survive in this new world. Her transition isn't made easy as Jack tries his best to help her but can't seem to find the right way to explain everything. Their instant sexual attraction doesn't make things easy since it makes Jack forget to tell her a few (important) things.

Their burgeoning relationship is fun to read, if not a little bit unrealistic, since everything seems to happen really fast. You don't tell a guy or a girl that you love them after less than one week of meeting them! But for the sake of fiction, if you go along with it, Sunshine and Jack are a fun couple to read about. As they investigate their loss in memory that fateful night, secrets begin to unravel and Sunshine doesn't know if she should trust Jack anymore.

In this book, Stacy McKitrick hasn't reinvented vampires but she has put her own spin on vampire hierarchy. The Committee, the body of vampire that govern vampires and sets up rules, really makes sense. Honestly, their rules are realistic, such as a mortal can not be changed without his or her consent and the mortal needs to be educated prior to the change. What makes this book interesting is the fact Jack actually works for the Committee as a judge of sorts. Not having any recollection of the night Sunshine was turned really bothers him because he has no clue whether he changed her illegally or if he was set up to be punished by his own Committee.

Overall, My Sunny Vampire is a fun and fast read. Honestly, there's nothing exceptional about the book but it did keep me entertained with its fun and steamy scenes. The fun characters really do make this book interesting and if you're in the mood for an amusing paranormal romance, this book might be a good pick.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:25

 Bitten by Love, Lyrical Press, Paranormal Romance, Review, Romance, Stacy McKitrick, Vampire  1 Person left their mark

Secret Unleashed by Sierra Dean

SECRET UNLEASHED is another great roller coaster from Sierra Dean! She's written a harrowing chapter in Secret McQueen's life, probably the most haunting of all of the books in the series so far.

In SECRET UNLEASHED, Secret is sent to Los Angeles to assist the local vampire Tribunal, partially because it's a job she's well suited to and partially because she doesn't know who to trust in New York with Peyton on the loose. Her only backup? Holden, plus Sig's daytime servant Ingrid. As you can probably imagine, it's a great setup for awkward relationship moments (given the current state of Secret's love life) and also some nice fish-out-of-water moments for Team Secret. Secret is tasked with tracking down a missing vampire but things get incredibly dangerous once she starts. They also get extremely emotional because the missing vampire is none other than Secret's father.

It's hard to properly discuss SECRET UNLEASHED because the most interesting scenes in this novel take place in the second half of the book and I'm loathe to spoil anything for you. I can say that Secret and Holden find themselves in a situation unlike any other they've faced and that it will have lasting repercussions, particularly for Secret. (I don't think it's spoiler-y to mention this since there are eight books in the series and this is only the sixth.)

I'll also say that the usual strong romantic element is missing from SECRET UNLEASHED, largely because the focus of the book is on the aforementioned harrowing experiences. Romance wouldn't fit into this in any sensible way and so Dean back burners Secret's love life to a large extent. There are still scenes revolving around Secret's love for both Holden and Desmond, and they were all very well written. Dean is one of the few authors who write convincing love triangles. It's so easy to picture Secret with either of these two men and I'm eager to see how the situation gets resolved.

I'll wrap this post up by saying that SECRET UNLEASHED is a really exciting story and one that fans of the series shouldn't miss out on.

Read an excerpt

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Adult, Purchased, Review, Samhain, Samhain Publishing, Sierra Dean, Urban Fantasy, Vampire  Leave your mark

The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead

Something finally happened to Jill! I swear, I almost fell off my chair when I heard the news. This whole endeavor started to protect Jill from ill intentioned Moroi and yet nothing ever threatened her... until now. Sydney and Adrian want more than anything to retrieve the sweet girl, but locked away at court to stay protected from the Alchemists is making it very hard to run an investigation. When an escape opportunity presents itself though, they can't let it pass...

I really enjoyed this last installment in the series. Life as a married couple isn't like exactly like either characters thought, especially with Adrian's mom in the way, but they make the best of what they have. At least they are together now. Both are as determined as ever to retrieve Jill and will work really hard toward that goal and I can only command them for their determination and resourcefulness.

The investigation to locate the moroi princess was full of action and surprises and I truly enjoyed every twist. I never in a thousand years guessed who the villein was until it was revealed, and that's always a thrill when it happens! I think my favorite element was the side plot with the quest to find Olive, the moments at the commune and the tiny (literally) surprise. And who would've thought those two were cousins! WOW!

Something I really like also was that Rose and Dimitri held a more important place this time around. They've made guest appearances in the past, but now they are really part of the support team. I love how Mead wrapped up everything and I really really appreciated the epilogue. It was so nice to see how everything went a bit over a year after the big final smackdown.

Richelle hinted that even though this series was over, there might be more books int his universe in the future. I wonder what she has in mind!



 

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Posted by Tynga at 01:07

 Bloodlines, Dhampir, Fantasy amp; Magic, Magic, Paranormal, Penguin, Purchased, Review, Richelle Mead, Vampire, young adult  4 People left their mark

Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead

What a difficult situation! Sydney has been kidnapped by the Alchemists and sent to re-education. Can Adrian find her before they completely brainwash her? Or will he fall to despair and get back to his old way to cope?

This Bloodlines series is getting more and more intense! Mead really raised the bar when she split them apart, exposing their weaknesses and strengths in turns. I truly loved and respected Sydney's determination to not bend her will, and even though she had to to survive, she still managed to play the system. She's extremely intelligent and resilient and she more than prove it in this novel. As much as I love Adrian, it wasn't so easy for him to stay on the right path. He struggled a lot with his inner demons with his shield (Sydney) gone and he has to work extra hard to find the strength to be the man she needs him to be. I really felt for him in his dark moment, and I totally would've held his hand.

Nina, a moroi we met in the previous installment disappointed me. She allegedly has a crush on Adrian, yet she can't grow a spine and stop him from destroying himself in despair. I wish she'd have been a better friend to him instead of a weak tag-along. On the other hand, Marcus, Eddy and Neil worked really hard to find a way to get Sydney out and I command their effort. I felt particularly bad for Eddy who thinks he failed to protect her, just like he did Mason, in the original Vampire Academy series.

*very slight spoiler ahead* When Sydney and Adrian finally got back together (I mean they had too, right?) it got really intense in a very different way. I loved seeing them fight to avoid the alchemists and how Adrian managed to turn the tides. It was one hell of a conclusion and I NEVER saw it coming. I mean WOW. If you've read the book, you know what I'm talking about!

Normally this is the point where I would tell you how I am dying to read the final novel in the series, The Ruby Circle. But truth is, I already read it before I even wrote my review lol I went from this book right next to the following installment. And I do have a lot to tell about this one too in my next review *winks*

If you haven't read Richelle Mead's books yet, I strongly urge you to. Pick a series, any of hers, and you'll be pleased I am sure!

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Posted by Tynga at 01:38

 Bloodlines, Dhampir, Fantasy amp; Magic, Magic, Penguin, Purchased, Review, Richelle Mead, Vampire, young adult  4 People left their mark

Midnight Crossroad by Charlaine Harris

This book is definitely interesting. There's something mysterious and captivating behind the story and the characters kept me engaged through it all. I'll be the first to admit that this book isn't for everyone. From the various Goodreads reviews, it's obvious readers will have different responses to this first book of the series.

Midnight, Texas is a very small town. It's home to a variety of interesting characters, including a psychic, a witch, a vampire, a gay couple with a dog, a straight couple with a baby, and other seemingly normal people. One thing they all have in common, however, is that they all have their secrets. Manfred the psychic, the newest guy in town, quickly learns that no one asks questions in this small community. Those who want to share do, but it's unseemly to flat out ask about people's history. Manfred is alright with that until strange things start to happen. Especially when the community finds a decomposing body on the outskirts of town. Questions are now guaranteed.

The main reason why this book won't be for everyone is the slow build up. Not everyone will appreciate the slow and detailed introduction to the characters. Personally, I really liked it because it allowed me to really understand the characters before things unraveled. I'll admit, the book isn't full of action. It isn't even full of paranormal stuff. I would classify this book as a mystery first, with paranormal elements infused to add depth and detail. It's almost as if the author couldn't get away from the genre that truly made her famous. But somehow it works and I'm glad for the paranormal stuff.

Enter this book with an open mind. Forget that Charlaine Harris is behind the Sookie Stackhouse books. I haven't read Harris' other series so I can't speak for those, but Midnight Crossroad is definitely different from the Sookie books. It kind of reminds me a little of Kelley Armstrong's Cainsville series with the murder investigation and the constant secrets. It also has the mysteriousness of a Stephen King novel with all its different characters and point of views.

I'm keeping this review short because I truly believe readers need to explore it on their own. Do I recommend this book? Yes and no. Yes, because I really enjoyed it, despite being a little disappointed with the very little amount of action it included. No, because I don't want to be responsible for recommending a book that you won't like. I will be checking out the next book, which is releasing this week because the residents of Midnight, Texas charmed me as much as the ones from Bon Temps, Louisiana did. I definitely want to know more about them and see where their stories will lead us.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:38

 Ace, Charlaine Harris, Midnight Texas, Mystery, Paranormal, Penguin, psychic, Purchased, Review, Vampire, Witch  3 People left their mark

The Dangers of Dating a Rebound Vampire by Molly Harper

Honestly, Molly Harper can do no wrong when it comes to writing paranormal romance fiction. She literally has me laughing out loud while reading her paranormal romance books. Combining snarky, remarkable and witty female characters with supernatural hot men is always entertaining, but somehow, Molly Harper is a genius when it comes to humor in paranormal romance. The funny banter and the hilarious situations is what keeps me coming back to this series or her books in general.

Realistically, the plot of The Dangers of Dating a Rebound Vampire isn't all that extravagant, nor is it very detailed, but it does serve the purpose of advancing the story between Gigi and Nik. Gigi has landed the greatest summer job for a computer science undergrad and she's actually looking forward to working for the Vampire Council. However, she never expected to meet up with her mysterious vampire who kissed her and enthralled her during her last Christmas break. She was hurt when her mystery man left her after giving her the earth shattering kiss, without even saying a word. Now, what hurts even more is when Gigi and the mysterious man cross paths again, and he doesn't remember a thing about their heated kiss. Nik feels bad about his selective amnesia, but over time he starts to realize every thought in his mind about Gigi is muddled. Despite the mutual attraction, Nik can't stop trying to kill Gigi (involuntarily), and then forgetting about the attacks, almost as if he's being controlled by magic or something supernatural.

Amnesiacs are always fun to read because you never know how things will turn out. Reading about Gigi and Nik definitely was fun even though their relationship wasn't very believable. It felt too much like love at first sight. Gigi's older sister and brother-in-law forbid Gigi from seeing the centuries old vampire, but obviously forbidden love trumps over murderous fugue states from your vampire boyfriend. More scenes and more development between Gigi and Nik would have been fun and desirable.

The nerd in me is thrilled that Molly included so many pop culture references. Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, The Big Bang Theory, The Walking Dead, and Dr. Who references (and many more) were mentioned. Oddly enough, the references were not just thrown into the text for the heck of it. No, they were actually in context and they added an interesting layer to Gigi's character.

A light and fun supernatural read, this book is a definite read for any Molly Harper fans. It may not be the best book in the series, but it's a definite must if you want to read more about the comings and goings of the beloved vampires of the little town called Half-Moon Hollow. I'm glad the original Half-Moon Hollow vampire couple Jane and Gabriel were present, despite their brief appearances, because I really missed reading about their craziness. Gigi and Nik are a great addition to the gang, but I felt their story was a little bit too short, a little rushed for my tastes. I really hope Molly Harper has more vampire or werewolves stories to write because this girl needs her paranormal/pop culture fixes.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:38

 Half Moon Hollow, Magic, Molly Harper, Paranormal Romance, Pocket, Purchased, Review, Shapeshifter, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon Schuster, Vampire, Witch  2 People left their mark

Dark Heir by Faith Hunter

I have a longstanding love affair with Faith Hunter's writing (see my DYTR... post for SKINWALKER, the first book) and DARK HEIR has only furthered my admiration for her writing. In the series' ninth book, Hunter has managed to expand the world Jane lives in, in so many ways.

In DARK HEIR, the stakes are incredibly high (if you'll pardon the vampire-related pun). Jane has to track down and subdue one of the original vampires: Joses, one of the Sons of Darkness. It's an incredibly daunting mission but one she has no choice to accept because her city and her friends are in serious peril. Jane has faced down some serious foes in previous novels but there's a real sense of danger and potential failure in DARK HEIR. As events unfold, I honestly couldn't figure out how Jane was going to get out of the pickle she's in this time around. Joses is seriously powerful and Jane is seriously outmatched.

As always, the fight scenes and action are beautifully written but what really resonated with me was the way that Hunter has developed the different relationships in Jane's life. The Youngers, for example, are such a great addition to Jane's world, adding a great sense of family and a lot of humour to the series. I'm particularly fond of Eli - he's such a great partner for Jane! We also get some lovely progress in her romantic relationship with Bruiser, which always makes me smile. Hunter writes Jane's baby-steps in the romance department with such talent and I really enjoy watching Jane adjust to being in a happy and accepting romance. And then, of course, there's the dicey dance she does with Leo, which is always Entertaining with a capital "E".

There are so many reasons to love the Jane Yellowrock series and I feel like I've gushed about it time and time again. I won't belabour the point here. I'll just say that I think this is one of the strongest and most consistent urban fantasy series out there and you're missing out if you've not given it a shot.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:35

 Ace, Adult, Faith Hunter, Jane Yellowrock, Netgalley, Penguin, Review, ROC, Skinwalker, Urban Fantasy, Vampire  6 People left their mark

Off the Grid: A Jane Yellowrock Story by Faith Hunter

I know this is only a novella but, I had to review it as a prelude to the next installment of the Jane Yellowrock series.  This is the newest in that series and there may be some spoilers so, if you haven't started the series and intend on doing so, do so now!  It really is an excellent series in the genre especially if you like books with strong female central characters.  As usual, Faith Hunter does not disappoint us on that account with this story in the Jane Yellowrock saga.

In this story we see Jane continuing her arrangement with Leo Pellissier and goes to take care of one of the clans within his domain.  Of course, Jane sets out to take care of the clan's needs in her usual, no holds barred, style.  One of the things I really like about this book and, the series itself, is that it doesn't rely on the whole Monster of the Week trope.  Don't get me wrong, it is one of my favorite story lines.   The problem is that it gets over used by TV and movies to the point that it becomes predictable.  This is book tells a story about what I would think Jane would have to put up with between the big jobs.  You know, the everyday, hum drum life where hideous death or dismemberment lurks behind every door.

As usual, Faith Hunter does excellent work in weaving a tale, though briefer than most, is still filled with mystery and action.  There isn't a lot of connection with the overall storyline of the series but, one never knows what the future hold in store for Miss Yellowrock.  I have read short stories that have had major impacts on a books series.

Since this pick was an audiobook, I must comment on the talents of Khristine Hvam.  As always, she takes the characters that Ms. Hunter creates and breathes life into them.  Her delivery is clear, understandable and more than just somebody who's reading the text into a microphone.  She makes each character distinct and recognizable.

Off the Grid is a great addition to the series and a nice tease to the upcoming release of  her novel Dark Heir.  Considering most of the series has a more mature nature to it, I would still reserve this one for the more mature readers.

 

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Action amp; Adventure, Amazon Publishing, Faith Hunter, Jane Yellowrock, Khristine Hvam, Purchased, Review, Skinwalker, Urban Fantasy, Vampire  1 Person left their mark

The King by J.R. Ward

I really love this series. Even though I have my issues with the writing and some of the stories, J.R. Ward always has me coming back for more. You're always guaranteed a 500+ page book so you definitely get your money's worth when it comes to the Black Dagger Brotherhood. I admit, some of it can be simple filler and there's a good amount of gangster talk, but I've simply learnt to overlook these things and simply enjoy the ride. Although, we didn't need that many Miley Cyrus references in this book. I'm not a fan of Miley Cyrus but I still don't understand J.R. Ward's problem with the twerking celebrity.

My only major dislike with this book is the amount of point of views. I didn't officially count them all but in my opinion, when you have more than ten point of views, it feels a little bit overwhelming. Mind you, many POVs revolved around the same story lines, but all the same, when there's a switch in POVs every chapter, it's really difficult to get into the book. It made the book feel like a bunch of short stories or novellas all mixed up and crammed together. With that many story lines, it also reduced the amount of fighting and Black Dagger Brotherhood action. Brotherhood interactions were also missing in this book since a lot of the story lines were centered around couples or characters that are not part of the Brotherhood.

For a book that I really enjoyed, this review has been pretty negative so far! On to the good stuff. One of the greatest things about this book is revisiting Beth and Wrath. The couple that started the whole series are ever present in all the BDB books but it was still nice to read more about them. It goes to show that stories don't always end up with a happily ever after and that book couples do fight after their "ending". I liked how Beth and Wrath fought about realistic problems that readers could possibly associate with. Although their circumstances may be a little different, since Wrath is the blind king of vampires, but all the same, I thought it was a great idea to bring them back. However, we still don't know why Wrath is blind, and as an Optometrist, I'm ever curious about his condition. (Unless it was mentioned and I totally missed something?) I just wished the book was centered more around them, since the book is title The King. On another note, I loved reading about Wrath's parents because not only do we get some historical background, we also see how the glymera, the vampire aristocracy, was never fond of Wrath or his father. Tension between the royal family and the glymera is ever present and for the past few books, we've been expecting something big to happen.

For some reason, I really enjoyed Assail and Sola's story line. Although I didn't care much for Assail in the previous books and I really thought he was a bad guy, he did do some pretty heroic stuff in this book (if you ignore the death that followed his wake). His old fashion attitude combined with his drug dealing business makes for a pretty interesting and original character. But what sealed it for me was his interactions with Sola's grandmother. One way to a girl's heart is to woo her only living relative whom she adores. Assail and Sola's relationship is pretty strange, but like all J.R. Ward couples, it's heavy and intense.

I won't discuss any other point of views except mention Trez and iAm. These Shadows, a different "tribe" of vampires, if you will, are well set up for their own book, which releases at the end of March 2015. I'm not overly excited about their book because I still don't understand where they're coming from. When Territory and the s’Hsibe are mentioned, there's still a lot of mystery and I don't know what to make of it. Hopefully their story will grow on me and we'll finally get to learn more about their origins.

Most fans of the series will enjoy The King if they can overlook the ridiculous amount of point of views. The book did have some flaws that I was able to overlook so some fans may not be crazy about The King, but then, if you've gotten this far in the series, you can turn around now. I loved revisiting old characters and the story development of newer ones. For future books, I say bring back more Brotherhood butt-kicking action. I need more!

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Posted by Tynga at 02:48

 Black Dagger Brotherhood, J.R. Ward, Paranormal Romance, Penguin, Purchased, Review, Romance, Signet, Vampire  Leave your mark

Hit List by Laurell K. Hamilton

This is the Anita Blake that I love reading about. The kick ass US Marshal Anita Blake that hunts serial killers with preternatural abilities and always comes out on top. In the last few books of the series we hadn't seen this side of Anita very much. She was more about keeping everyone around her safe from the supernatural bad guys by having sex with everyone that crossed her path. Mind you, I don't hate that part of Anita but I did miss the old Anita before she started having orgies.

Hit List  is pretty tame when in comes to sex, compared to some of the most recent Anita Blake novel. There is only one sex scene (and it's pretty normal!), although a few other scenes have some pretty heavy petting, and there are quite a few scenes where Anita takes the time to admire the men surrounding her. The fact that there is less sex is probably because Anita has gotten better at feeding the ardeur, that metaphysical sexual need she needs to feed in order to stay strong and to keep her safe. I hope this better control of the ardeur translates in the next books because I much prefer to read Anita when she's at her best.

There was also quite a bit of posturing and Anita defending her ability to be a good Marshall, despite the fact that she has a lot of "sweeties," as she calls them. I don't know how many times she had to defend herself and prove that she was able to do the job, despite how many men she was sleeping with. And how short and womanly she is. Honestly, if I crossed paths with someone that was actively sleeping with that many men, despite all their hotness, I think I would have a hard time taking her seriously. Personally, I think Anita spent way to much time explaining herself to everyone in this book. If felt like her little speech was on repeat.

One of the best part about this book is the fact that Edward, Bernardo and Olaf are all back. When those three US Marshals/mercenaries are present, things are bound to be interesting. In Hit List we see a different side of Edward, a more sentimental and emotional side of him. He reveals a little about himself, but for Edward, a little is a lot. Bernardo is always the same, never changing and always there to lighten the mood. But Olaf... what can I say. He's had a hard on for Anita ever since they met but coming from Olaf, that's a really bad thing. Anita doesn't know if he plans on killing her, raping her or just dating her. Bottom line, I think she just doesn't want to find out, if pushed, what Olaf would do.

Like all Anita Blake  books, this story ends really quickly. Once the conflict is resolved, everything unravels really quickly, almost too quickly there always seems to be missing a few pages. It's something I've gotten used to from Laurell K. Hamilton so I'm not really surprised, but sometimes I wish she would spend as much time on the last chapter as she does on a sex scene.

The Anita Blake that got me hooked on vampires and werewolves is back and I can't wait to read the next books. I've fallen quite a few books behind because of my lack of interest in the series, but since I've read so many book already, I can't just drop it now. I just have to accept this new Anita, not that the author makes it very hard with all the hot men she surrounds her with. For those of you who have a problem with this series like I do, do give Hit List a chance. The old Anita is back and she doesn't let anyone push her around!

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Posted by Tynga at 01:19

 Anita Blake Vampire Hunter, Berkley, Laurell K. Hamilton, Penguin, Purchased, Review, Urban Fantasy, Vampire  3 People left their mark

Easy Pickings by Faith Hunter and C. E. Murphy

When Dorothy and Toto are whisked out of Kansas, they are given a few guides to help along the way. When Jane Yellowrock and Joanne Walker get taken out of New Orleans close to Mardi Gras, they only get a man who’s all mystery and a rampaging demon. Dorothy and her dog also had the luxury of being from the same world. Jane and Jo seem to come from two different planes of existence. This is how we begin the crossover of two successful urban fantasy series (Jane Yellowrock Series and Walker Papers Series). I got this book as an audiobook and since there’s little question as to the abilities of the authors, I’ll talk a little about the performance and story.

Individually, Kristine Hvam and Gabra Zackman are excellent at their craft. I’ve always though Kristine Hvam’s voice was suited to the character of Jane Yellowrock. Gabra Zackman was a little different for me. She has a pleasant voice and reads well, putting emphasis and personality in all the right places. The only problem for me was that her voice gave a different mental image than the description in the text or the cover of the book. I know this is my perception and others may not see it that way. The difference is mild enough to not take me out of the story. My only real complaint was with the audio editing. There are spots where the levels were way off and did threaten to pull me out of the story.

The story itself was very interesting and I thought they handled the crossover well. They were able to take to characters from two very different worlds and make it seem not only plausible but almost inevitable for them to meet. I also applaud the authors for being able to meld the styles. It’s not seamless but, I thought the seams were part of the texture of the story.  In that they helped illustrate the disparity among these characters and worlds.

I am a big fan of both Faith Hunter and Kristine Hvam and love the Jane Yellowrock series. This book has done its job and tempted me to check out the Walker Papers series. If you are likewise a fan of either of these book series’, I highly suggest reading or listening to this one.

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Posted by Tynga at 00:36

 Action amp; Adventure, C. E. Murphy, crossover, Faith Hunter, Fantasy amp; Magic, Fiction, Jane Yellowrock, mardi gras, Purchased, Review, shaman, Urban Fantasy, Vampire, Walker Papers, yellowrock  Leave your mark

Dresden Files: War Cry #1 by Jim Butcher and Carlos Gomez

There’s a war on. The Red Court of Vampires is in conflict against the White Council. Who has the Council chosen to help champion their cause? Harry Copperfield Blackstone Dresden, professional wizard and Warden for the White Council.  In this issue, Warden Dresden is given a team of young magic users and the simple mission to safeguard a group scholars as they travel.  If you're familiar with Harry Dresden, you know that it won’t be that simple. Things go very bad in a very short amount of time. It’s classic Dresden.

The story itself was pretty good. It had a bit of the ‘Monster of the Week’ feel to it but, since I’m also a Doctor Who fan so, I like that sort of thing. With a little more filling out, it could have been a regular novel. It occurs further along the Dresden Files series than I have read but, there were very few spoilers for me. I’m only up to the sixth book, just in case you need a timeline reference. There are  a few new characters introduced in this story. The Dresden Files has a pretty good stable of regular characters but, in this story, they opted to use a small core of regulars and bring in a few new people. I think that and the change in setting is what helps bring a level of freshness to the series. It can’t be the only place that has monster problems is Chicago. I mean, New York City alone must have enough to require the services of two wizards and don’t even get me started on L.A.

To honest, I am not a big comic book fan or even a graphic novel fan. I was given the chance to read this one before the hardcover release so, I took it. I thought it might be a simplistic story with a lot of things going “Whoosh” or “Bang!”. While there was typical comic book dramatizations it also had a decent story and good characters. It hasn’t sold me on comic books or graphic novels as true literature but, it was entertaining. If you have a Dresden Files fan in on you Christmas list this year, it might be a good stocking stuffer.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:32

 Action amp; Adventure, butcher, Carlos Gomez, comic, dresden, Dynamite Entertainment Publishing, Graphic Novel, Jim butcher, Magic, Netgalley, Review, Urban Fantasy, Vampire, War Cry, Wizard  Leave your mark

Lailah by Nikki Kelly

At first glance, LAILAH is a YA paranormal book, but deep down, it's really a book about self-discovery. When I first read the synopsis, I was intrigued by the mystery behind the story and the characters. I was even more interested when I realized that the story was originally posted on Wattpad, and eventually got picked up by a major publishing company. I've never read anything on Wattpad because I don't really have the time to read unedited books, but with a huge following on Wattpad, and a publisher that could polish and enhance the writing, I just couldn't stay away from LAILAH. Although it fell a little bit short of my high expectations, I still enjoyed the story quite a bit.

The main character's story is what really had me interested in the book. Francesca (or Cessie), or Lailah as she was known in her 'past life', isn't an ordinary girl. She doesn't know who she is, or what she is because she seems to be immortal and forever young. She explains her situation as best she can when she says, "Every time I die, I wake up. I don't remember anything about the past. I have some fragile recollection of who I am, who I was... The memories, the visions are the only insight I have. Some days, they seem more of a curse than a gift." (ARC p. 275) Obviously, because of the title, this book is her story, discovering why she's immortal and why both vampires and angels are after her. Character-wise, I find her very apathetic, despite being very mysterious. I would assume that someone who's known for a long time that they're immortal would want to know more about themselves and why they 'resurrect', especially since that someone barely remembers anything about her past lives. Eventually we learn that this has been going on for over 200 years without her finding out the truth. Don't get me wrong, I love learning things through characters, but this doesn't seem realistic because human nature would have her asking questions way before.

The whole story begins when Lailah saves a vampire and then meets an angel. They seem to hold the key to finding out more about her, especially since associating with them has brought her a lot of attention. Now, a large bunch of vampires and angels are after her, although we don't really know why they're interested. Gabriel, an angel of Death, Jonah, a new-ish vampire, and a few other vampires form a group that are trying to fight darkness and evil vampires. They more or less adopt Lailah to their little group, because most of them seem to really care about her, and want to help her survive against the dark vampires.

The mystery girl, the vampire and the angel end up forming a messy love triangle. I'm a fan of love triangle when done right, but in this case, it was quite typical. For most of the the novel, Lailah is pretty indecisive, and obviously with an angel and a vampire, you have the clichéd good boy vs. bad boy struggle. One thing I did like, however, is the fact that one love interest is completely new, and the other is someone she has known forever, but has forgotten almost everything about him because of her weird resurrection situation.

Many other clichés are found throughout the book, like the heroine always running away when faced with danger, the insta-love between characters, the one character that holds the answer to almost everything (Gabriel) but doesn't want to reveal too much, the character that is so special and has amazing powers and strength but doesn't know why (Lailah), the female lead always being told what to do by the male lead (or any male in general), and many others. I was also annoyed by the amount of time talking shopping and doing the actual shopping. I'm a big fan of that activity, don't get me wrong, but there's no sense in being overly repetitive.

I wish the author could have avoided some of the clichés, or at least toned them down a little. Despite all these little quirks I had with the book, I really did enjoy the story. The interactions between the characters and the overall mystery was exceptional. I didn't even mention the wonderful world Nikki Kelly created, which balanced mythology and original concept perfectly. Each chapter leads to more suspense and intrigue. The numerous and stimulating secrets will have you binge read this book because you won't be able to put it down without learning more. I'm definitely interested in finding out what happens next in this saga because I truly expect this series will continue to fascinate readers.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:54

 angels, Macmillan, Nikki Kelly, Paranormal, Review, The Styclar Saga, Vampire, young adult  Leave your mark

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

City of Lost Souls has been my favorite Mortal Instruments book so far.  At Book 5, I finally understand the fandom, and I am looking forward to City of Heavenly Fire, Book 6.

City of Lost Souls picks up only a few weeks after the end of City of Fallen Angels.  Jace is still missing, as is Sebastian, and Clary finds out the Lilith has tied Jace and Sebastian together.  She's tied them together so tightly, in fact, that everything that Jace feels, Sebastian also feels, and vice versa.  This means that killing Sebastian would also kill Jace, so Clary, Isabelle, Alec, Magnus, etc. all realize that they must find Jace, they must find a way to sever the tie to Sebastian, and they must tread carefully as they go.  The Council, however, sees things a bit differently.  To them, Sebastian is such a great danger that they are willing to sacrifice Jace's life in order to destroy Sebastian.  Thus begins a very exciting race between the Shadowhunters of the New York Institute and the Council.

Cassandra Clare did an excellent job with character growth in City of Fallen Angels, and in City of Lost Souls we get to see a lot of characters' relationships grow.  I love that!  This is Book 5 in the Mortal Instruments series, so by now the reader really knows the characters: their mannerisms, their goals, their feelings.  We know (and love!) Jace's dry sense of humor and Clary's impetuousness and Isabelle's fierce (almost to a fault) loyalty to her friends and family and Alec's sensitivity and Simon's peacekeeping talents.  I don't want to give spoilers, but there are some romantic relationships forged in this volume, and I found myself cheering for them all the way.  That being said, while this book is found in the YA section of bookstore and libraries, the reader may want to be aware that there are a few brief non-graphic "behind bedroom doors" moments.

I thought that City of Lost Souls has been one of the most action-packed titles in the Mortal Instruments series.  It's non-stop!  One of my few beefs with City of Fallen Angels was the multiple angsty lets-talk-about-feelings scenes; you find almost none of that here.  Yes, the characters still have feelings, but they squeeze those in between all the action, and they're mostly "action" moments too: quick, passionate, intimate moments where there is definitely more "showing" than "telling."   And last but not least, let's talk about the ending.  It is definitely skillful writing to have a book end like this one.  The main plot of this individual title was resolved while still leaving enough questions to carry the overarching plot of the series into the sixth and final book.  I am definitely left wanting more, and can't wait to start in on City of Heavenly Fire!

**A Note on Narration:  I listened to City of Lost Souls on CD, and the narration was fantastic.  I truly think that the narration on this book actually improved my experience over reading a print version.  Molly Quinn narrates City of Lost Souls solo.  She is the same female narrator from City of Fallen Angels.  I really loved her part on that title, while not really digging the male narrator, so I was very excited to see her name on the CD case.  She has a nice, even tone and cadence that is never boring, but also never requires me to fiddle with the volume controls chapter to chapter.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_FUJU3q9xY&w=560&h=315]

 

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Action amp; Adventure, Angel, Cassandra Clare, Library, Mortal Instruments, Paranormal, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Vampire, werewolf, young adult  4 People left their mark

Evernight by Kristen Callihan

I am a big fan of Kristen Callihan and once again I enjoyed my ride with her great characters. This time around, we follow brilliant, human, Holly has she tries to regain her composure after being kidnapped and forced to do terrible things. One of her terrible actions resulted in William Thorne having a titanium heart, poisoning his body and mind. He wants nothing more than the death of the tool (Holly) who forced this transformation onto him, but he had no idea how amazingly good she would make him feel.

I've heard other say this novel was their favorite in the series so far and while I cannot claim the same, I definitely enjoyed it. The most amazing thing about this series is that each novel is so great I simply cannot pick a favorite. They are all equally awesome.

One of the aspects I particularly liked about this installment is that Holly, even though she has an affinity to control metal, is human and that she pulls her own weight in a world of supernaturals. She is super smart, and trained physically be as strong as the supernatural next door and I can only command her for it. I don't want to spoil anything but at some point she fought against a particularly nasty demon and I was awed by her quick thinking and tricks. She is definitely a force to be reckoned with even though she flies under the radar because of her quiet and over-analyzing demeanor.

Will was a delight and I loved witnessing his contradictory feelings. He is a rebel, yet falls for quiet Holly and find himself craving a simple life. She is, despite her circumstances, the source of his torment but her regrets are palpable and go straight to his heart. I really loved how he slowly falls for her and that it drives him nuts to see her so devoid of emotions. They are complete opposites, but draw each other like magnets.

On a side note, the cover is super pretty, and Holly is well represented, but William has long white hair... so yeah, I wish to cover portrayed him better.

I was completely committed to the plot and was surprised by the different twist and turns. The bad guy isn't necessarily whom we think they are and I always appreciate that in a novel.

I loved the conclusion even though it was a bit predictable. I just love those HEA!

I am under the impression the next novel will feature Adam and Eliza May and I can't wait to know more about these two!

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Posted by Tynga at 01:30

 Darkest London, Grand Central Publishing, Hachette, Historical, Kristen Callihan, Netgalley, Paranormal, Review, steampunk, Vampire  Leave your mark

Broken Soul by Faith Hunter

Jane Yellowrock is back and Faith Hunter has hit another home run with BROKEN SOUL! I'm such a huge fan of this author and so I jumped on the opportunity to be a part of her blog tour, especially since it meant an early peek at BROKEN SOUL.

The Jane Yellowrock books are very much a series so you'll need to start with  SKINWALKER. [You can check out my Daring You To Read... post here.] Assuming you're caught up with the series, though, keep reading to find out what I thought of Jane's latest adventure.

BROKEN SOUL keeps us in New Orleans. Leo hires Jane to improve security for the inevitable visit from the European vampires, who want Leo's territory and secrets. Jane is transitioning out of her role as Leo's Enforcer (a role that Derek is stepping into) but she's still for hire and tied to New Orleans so she gets to work. Unfortunately for Jane, European vampires aren't the only ones looking to get their proverbial and literal claws into my favourite skinwalker since she's being stalked by a mysterious creature that no one else can see. The creature becomes less mysterious as the novel goes on and this reveal gives us a lot of new information about how the universe works in the Jane Yellowrock series. It's suddenly a lot bigger in Jane's world -- and a lot more interesting!

What I really love about this series is the way that Jane's relationships have developed. She was quite the loner with a duffel bag in SKINWALKER and now she has a mini family with her partners (Eli and Alex), Aggie, and even some of the people who work for Leo. And, of course, there's Bruiser. Their attraction has been heady since they first met but there are fewer obstacles between them now that Bruiser is Onorio and Rick is a part of Jane's romantic past. This plot thread gets a nice amount of attention in BROKEN SOUL, which should satisfy all of the shippers out there who have been waiting to see what might happen when there isn't as much baggage for Jane and Bruiser. Jane and Beast's relationship is also changing, as they move towards a harmonious partnership. As always, I love reading the chapters told from Beast's perspective because she's such a cat and her outlook at life is just so perfectly written.

The best scene in the book? Well, I won't say but it involves a closet. You'll see why I loved it so much when you get there. :)

Run, don't walk, to the store and get yourself a copy of BROKEN SOUL! It's the latest step in Jane Yellowrock's journey and one you cannot miss.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:30

 Adult, Faith Hunter, Jane Yellowrock, Netgalley, Penguin, Review, ROC, Skinwalker, Urban Fantasy, Vampire  Leave your mark