Thursday, October 25, 2012

Review - Slide

Slide
Author - Jill Hathaway
Series - Slide #1
Genre - YA
Pages - 250


Description from Goodreads

 Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth--her sister's friend Sophie didn't kill herself. She was murdered.

 Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn't actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else's mind and experiences the world through that person's eyes. She's slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed "friend" when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie's slashed body.

 Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can't bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting distant lately, especially now that she's been spending more time with Zane.


What?! Really? This book sucked! It started out pretty well but then took a very, very bad turn. The thought of a narcoleptic teenage girl who can slide into other people when she falls asleep holding something of thiers sounded so good, add a murder mystery and I thought I was going to love this book. Wrong, so wrong.

The book did not pan out, it felt thrown together, there was no great detail explaining her condition or her ability and I am the type who wants to know more about things, why they are the way they are and what makes them tick, the author fell terribly short on this.

Sylvia (Vee) is our main character, she is okay I guess, nothing really special about her and at times I really wanted to hit her for whineing so much and repeating things way too often. Okay, so she went through something traumatic, I get it but it does not need to be brought up five times during the book. The other characters where generic clichés, the bratty sister, the faithful friend who has a crush on main girl and the hot new guy who ends up dateing the main girl add in some mean girls.. cliché to the max! None of the characters really stood out for me. Also, does EVERYONE have to break down crying? I mean really! Teen angst is overflowing in this book and it got very annoying.

 The murder mystery part was a bit better, I was guessing throughout the book, at one point I did figure it out and it was a bit suprising but kind of thrown together at the end, you get info without substance. The killer is just thrown in and then thrown out of the book.

 Do yourself a favor, unless you can borrow this book or can read a sample on your ereader, avoid it!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. 

Rules 
  1. Grab your current read
  2. Share two sentences from a random page, you can share more but not too much!
  3. No Spoilers Please 

LINES

"Mock me again," she spat at Verin, "and I'll do that with my sword the next time." She turned from him, and found Brulle's face slack. "Here's a lesson for you, Weapons Master," she said, stalking past him. "Give me real men to fight. Then maybe I'll bother trying."

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Monday, October 22, 2012

Phoenix
(Greek meaning Purple)


FACTS

It is associated with the Garuda of the Hindus, Feng-Huang of the Chinese and the Egyptian Benu

Some say it looks like an eagle, or half eagle half pheasant. Some say it is more Heron like while others believe it is a mixture of all the worlds birds.

Symbolizes life after death, immortality and resurrection.

Only one Phoenix can live at a time.



PHOENIX IN BOOKS



Firebird by Neil Gaiman

Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchet

Sunday, October 21, 2012

In My Mailbox

Not many this week unfortunatly, but that just means I have more time to catch up on my 400+ books!




 

BOUGHT





GIFT

Wrayth (Book of the Order #3) by Phillippa Balantine

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Storm Front
Author - Jim Butcher
Series - The Dresden Files #1
Genre - Urban Paranormal
Pages - 322


Description From Goodreads 

The novels of the Dresden Files have become synonymous with action-packed urban fantasy and non-stop fun. Storm Front is Jim Butcher's first novel and introduces his most famous and popular character-Harry Dresden, wizard for hire.

For his first case, Harry is called in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with the blackest of magic. At first, the less-than-solvent Harry's eyes light up with dollar signs. But where there's black magic, there's a black mage. Now, that black mage knows Harry's name. And things are about to get very...interesting.



While texting my friend and talking about books, he mentioned the Dresden Files. I had seen the first episode on Netflix and liked it so I decided to give it a shot at his behest.

What can I really say about the book? I did not love it, but I did not dislike it either. It was sort of a middle ground for me, a solid 3 stars. The idea of a magical p.i… overdone. However, the book did keep me interested enough to finish it. Harry Dresden (I will not say his full name, it’s too long) is a wizard, the only wizard in his area, unfortunately he is broke. Because of this he decides to take a case from Monica Sells, her husband is missing. It is this plus the inclusion of a case from the cops that send Harry on a harrowing nightmare of cat and mouse for his life.

Alright, I made that sound better than it actually is. The book is quite stagnant. Nothing really happens, there is action but its pretty one-note. Harry gets his butt kicked, he gets out of bad situation by use of magic, rinse and repeat. Have I mentioned the other characters? No? well, you are not missing much. None of the other characters I really cared for. Not to say they are bad, they are just one-dimensional.

The love interest only comes on scene for a few pages and then disappears until the end, I forgot to also mention how dreadfully bad Harry is with women, Dreadfully. Freaking. Bad. I could go on and on, and I want to but ill end it now, Ill read the next book and possibly the rest, I just hope they get better. Although I heard the second one is the worst, I really hope I can get past it and get to the good stuff.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. 

Rules 
  1. Grab your current read
  2. Share two sentences from a random page, you can share more but not too much!
  3. No Spoilers Please

Lines

If Neferet believed she was his Consort, she was utterly, completely incorrect. The white bull of Darkness did not have Consorts - it had conquests.

Destined by P.C + Kristen Cast

Monday, October 15, 2012

Hellhound

Art by WhiteSpiritWolf

FACTS
 
  • Associated with Fire
  • Features of the Hellhound can include black fur, sharp jagged teeth, fiery glowing red eyes, phatom-like abilities and may even be able to talk 
  • According to legend if you stare into its eyes 3 times, you will definatly die
  • Cerberus was a Hellhound
  • Hellhounds were also a part of The Wild Hunt in Celtic mythology

Art by TheTyro


HELLHOUNDS IN BOOKS

The Black Jewels Series by Anne Bishop
A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore


Sunday, October 14, 2012

In My Mailbox

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Nightlife
Author - Rob Thurman
Series - Cal Leandros #1
Genre - Urban Paranormal
Pages - 339



Description from Goodreads 

There are monsters among us. There always have been and there always will be. I’ve known that since I can remember, just like I’ve always known I was one ... Well, half of one, anyway

. Welcome to New York City - a troll under the Brooklyn Bridge, a boggle in Central Park, and a beautiful vampire in a penthouse on the Upper East Side. Most humans are oblivious to the preternatural nightlife around them, but Cal Leandros is only half human.

 His father’s dark lineage is the stuff of nightmares – and his entire otherworldly elf race are after Cal. His half brother, Niko, gave up college to keep them on the run for four years, but now the Grendel monsters are back. And Cal is about to learn why they want him. He is the key to unleashing their hell on earth. The fate of the human world will be decided in the fight of Cal’s life..


Nightlife starts off narrated by Cal (Caliban) a half human/half Grendel and his brother Niko. What is a Grendel? A monster, an ugly, mean and vicious little beast. Cal and Niko have been running from Grendels for a very long time, but this time is different. Everything changes for them and now they are fighting for their lives, and the lives of the entire world

. The author did a pretty good job with the book, this being her first. There were a few hiccups here and there, some characters were mentioned, but came and went and I wanted more. The female characters especially, the only one the author spends any true time on was Meredith and that wasn’t anything special. I wanted to know more about George and Promise, perhaps in the next book we will but in this one the females were stinted at best.

Now the male characters? They had personality, sure it’s a bit cookie-cutter, Niko is too perfect in body, mind and spirit but hes a terrific older brother and when he cut his hair I was devastated, when I found out why, I broke down and cried. Cal is a punk, not the cool kind with mohawks but hes sort of the ‘I don’t care, lazy, world-beaten’ type. He acted like his life was one big burden, sure I get hes been running but have a little enthusiasm and stop being so sarcastic! Robin was an interesting character as well, a little sex crazed and arrogant but hes a good guy at heart. I want to know more about him as well as Rafferty and Chaser.

 Besides Niko and Cal the other characters just fell short on backstory or description. However, I did fully enjoy this book, while not having an abundance of action it did keep me interested and entertained and I do look forward to when I start the next book (more George please?!)

Friday, October 12, 2012

Follow Friday




Question - What book do you think would make a great Halloween (Samhain to our pagan friends) movie? Please explain in graphic detail and goriness.
I would have to say Charlie Higsons The Dead, I have not ready many horror books so i do not know if this would be a good movie but I did enjoy the book immensly! Its a post apocalyptic/dystopian book about kids who get this disease after the age of 14 and turn into flesh eating monsters. Its gory and with the just the right amount of grossness for a good horror flick.






Saturday, October 6, 2012

Blood Cross
Author - Faith Hunter
Series - Jane Yellowrock #2
Pages - 321





Description from Goodreads

The vampire council has hired skinwalker Jane Yellowrock to hunt and kill one of their own who has broken sacred ancient rules — but Jane quickly realizes that in a community that is thousands of years old, loyalties run deep...

With the help of her witch best friend and local vigilantes, Jane finds herself caught between bitter rivalries — and closer than ever to the secret origin of the entire vampire race. But in a city of old grudges and dark magic, Jane will have to fight to protect both sides, even if no one will protect her


For some reason I thought I had read the first book in this series (Skinwalker) but I had not, I will not read it however since the author does give enough back details to figure out what happened and not be lost.

 Blood Cross was an okay book, it wasn’t spectacular but it wasn’t horrible either, definatly less action than I like though. Jane Yellowrock is a skinwalker, she can shift into animals at will (painful as it is) but she really likes her mountain lion form the most. Beast, her inner big cat can talk to her and when she shifts she takes over as alpha, I liked Beast and I liked that she talked in short, clipped sentances it really felt cat-like, a big hunter dosnt need to waste time on words. Jane also hunts vampires, rogue young ones to be exact but she isn’t above killing the adult one or two if they get in her way or try to kill her, which happens from time to time.

 Jane is a good character, strong and independent but knows when she needs help. The other characters are good as well, I am really interested in Angelina and her powers, also im interested in Rick and how their relationship will develop, him being human and not knowing what Jane is. I will read the next book in the series and I hope it is better, it just seemed like I drudged through this one, without really letting it sink in and stick with me.

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