Monday, February 24, 2014

Halfway to the Grave
Author - Jeaniene Frost  
Series - Night Hunter #1
Genre - Urban Paranormal
Pages - 358


Description from Goodreads

 Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership. 

 In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner—are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.


Half-vampire female lead slays vampires. She meets one vampire in particular, hes perfect, english and strong. Female lead falls in love with said vampire after he starts teachign her how to kill better.. yada yada. Nothing new right? However, I did find myself enjoying the books despite it's rather lackluster imagination.

 I could not get myself to love our heroine though. Cat is find as a person and shes fine as a slayer but she has one stupidly annoying quality that grated on my nerves: she never listened. Bones (we will get to him) would always try to protect her and keep her from rushing into things but she never would follow instructions. She would rush foward, she would demand to be part of soemthing dangerous or going somewhere where he clearly stated she did not want him to. Annoying.

 Bones however, now he was a treat. I am not one for english accents or short blond hair but he was just stunning to listen to and to read about. He is snarky and arrogant without being overly blatant about it, althoug he is blunt at times. He really cares for Cat and wants to protect her with everything he is. Truely, a vampire after my own heart. 

The storyline was a bit boring at points, it is your usual mystery vampire slaying gotta kill em' cliche but it kept me interested enough to finish the book and want to read the next one. There is a bit *cough* a lot of profanity and sex but if you can stand that then by all means read the book, while it won't blow you away it is a nice little number that will have you wanting more

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Dragon Wytch
Author - Yasmine Galenorn
Series - Otherworld #4
Genre - Urban Paranormal
Pages - 275


Description from Goodreads 

We're the D'Artigo sisters: savvy--and sexy--operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. But being half-human, half-Fae short-circuits our talents at all the wrong times. My sister Delilah shapeshifts into a tabby cat whenever she's stressed. Menolly's a vampire who's still getting the hang of being undead. And me? I'm Camille, a wicked-good witch, trying to juggle faulty magic, gorgeous men, and the demonic war in which we're embroiled. Sometimes, it's hard to know just who we can trust... 

 "The Equinox is coming, and mayhem rules. A crown-prince unicorn offers us a legendary gift, but it vanishes. Goblins and trolls swarm the streets of Seattle. And now Smoky, the sexiest dragon alive, decides to stake his claim--on me. Overshadowing it all, the third spirit seal surfaces and Shadow Wing's after it. But I've discovered a secret that could change everything. A new power is rising--a dangerous force from the past--one that intends to restore balance to the worlds...whether we like it or not..


Dragon Wytch is the fourth novel in the otherworld series and is told though the eyes of Camille, the moon witch. The sisters are looking for the third spirit seal to stop the demon Shadow Wing frmo destroying both otherworld and earthside. 

 The book was as up to par as the previous ones and i do enjoy Camilles voice. Her voice however just does not come with much action - outside the bedroom that is. Camille is sexy, Camille has three lovers, yada yada we get it. The book was more centred around her love life than it was about saving the world and yes, while it is also important to establish relationships, it was just too much to handle in one go. 

The other characters are still there, Morio, Trillian (who is there not so much) Smoky, Dellilah, Chase, Menolly, etc.. and each has retained thier personalities very well and make the book what i expect from this series: very well done.

There are some nice twists and turns and at one point i almost started crying. I am eager for the next book and the next point of view, lets just hope that it is more action outside of the covers.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

In My Mailbox


I have not been looking for books for myself lately. My friend has been on an Urban Paranormal fix so I have just been buying books for him. 
This is a culmination over a few weeks







Deadshifted (Edie Spence #4) by Cassie Alexander


Operation Shield (Cassandra Kresnov) by Joel Shepard (Review Copy)



Tears of the Goddess (Goddess #1) by R. M. Prioleau (Review Copy)




Thursday, January 16, 2014

The Kingmakers
Autho - Clay and Susan Griffith
Series - Vampire Empire #3
Genre - Steampunk/Paranormal
Pages -  392


Description From Goodreads

A war to the death. 

 Empress Adele has launched a grand crusade against the vampire clans of the north. Prince Gareth, the vampire lord of Scotland, serves the Equatorian cause, fighting in the bloody trenches of France in his guise as the dashing Greyfriar. But the human armies are pinned down, battered by harsh weather and merciless attacks from vampire packs. 

To even the odds, Adele unleashes the power of her geomancy, a fear- some weapon capable of slaughtering vampires in vast numbers. However, the power she expends threatens her own life even as she questions the morality of such a weapon. 

 As the war turns ever bloodier and Adele is threatened by betrayal, Gareth faces a terrible choice. Their only hope is a desperate strike against the lord of the vampire clansâ��Gareth's brother, Cesare. It is a gamble that could win the war or signal the final days of the Greyfriar.

 The Vampire Empire trilogy rushes to a heart-wrenching conclusion of honor and love, hatred and vengeance, sacrifice and loss.


The war with the vampires and Equatoria is on and the fight between brothers has started.

The kingmakers was far better than its predissesor, as it told a better and more cohesive story. The vampires are attacking and it is up to Adele and crew to save Alexandria and ultimatly the world. However she must contend with the vampire prince Ceasar, the haughty americans and her old mentor Mamoru. It seems everyone is out to kill her and Gareth! 

 Thier romance sparks in this volume and hits a sweet high note. I was very happy with it, even if it did get very mushy at times. Adele has also grown, she is not the simpering little princess she once was, but now a capable and strong empress. She has learned to use her geomancy to astonashing results and one heck of a vampire killer.

 If you have read the first two books then you know what to expect, if you have not then i suggest you do... you would be lost trying to read this book otherwise. The trilogy was a fun ride and the small steampunk details add a nice flair to the popular concept of vampires.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Top 10 Tuesday





This week is 2014 debut books HOWEVER, I am way too many series books I want so I will be picking those instead since I found it very hard to find debuts, I have been off the blog circut for a month or so, I am so out of the loop!

(in no particular order)

Skin Game (Dresden #15) by Jim Butcher 

(Don't you) Forget About me by Kate Karyus Quinn

Poison Promise (Elemental Assassin #11) by Jennifer Estep

Shattered (Iron Druid Chronicles #7) by Kevin Hearne

Magic Breaks (Kate Daniels #7) by Ilona Andrews

Crimson Veil (Otherworld #14) by Yasmine Galenorn

Sixth Grave on the Edge (Charley Davidson #6) by Darynda Jones

The Winds of Winter (A Song of Ice and Fire #6) by George R.R. Martin

Ruin and Rising (The Grisha #3) by Leigh Bardugo

Redeemed (House of Night #12) by P.C + Kristen Cast



Sunday, December 8, 2013

In My Mailbox



So it was my bday last month, i am 27 now! I treated myself to quite a bit of books and some reviewer books happened to come my way as well. I am quite happy with my haul!











Horde (Razorland #3) by Anne Aguirre

Allegiant (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth


The Waking Dark by Robin Wasserman


Inhuman by Danielle Q. Lee



The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray

Blood Burn by J. E. Fletcher (Review Copy)




Saturday, November 9, 2013

The Sword of Shannara
Author - Terry Brooks
Series - The Original Shannara Trilogy #1
Genre - High Fantasy
Pages - 726 







Description from Goodreads 

Long ago, the wars of the ancient Evil ruined the world. In peaceful Shady Vale, half-elfin Shea Ohmsford knows little of such troubles. But the supposedly dead Warlock Lord is plotting to destroy everything in his wake. The sole weapon against this Power of Darkness is the Sword of Shannara, which can be used only by a true heir of Shannara. On Shea, last of the bloodline, rests the hope of all the races.


As I read reviews for this book I noticed that people took two different but distinct direction when writing about it. One was those that generaly liked the book like me, the others where those that said it was too reminiscent of Tolkien and thus, a bad book. Both sides have ther merit and both are correct and true. It IS a good book and it IS Toklien-esque.

 At first glance you may be daunted by the sheer length of this novel, 700+ pages is quite a bit to read (it took me six days!) but the content delivered within will keep you hooked until the very last pages. Granted the story is nothing new: Good guy goes on quest to find magical artifact that is the only thing that an destroy the big bad evil bent on world destruction. 

While some of the descriptions were overbearing and far too long the world that Brooks has created is lovely. Sprawling grasslands, misty, dreadful marshes and wastelands were nothing can grow or prosper, it was marvelous. The races of the world are also vast and noteworthy. I especially loved the dwarf Hendel, he was my favorite character. There are the enemy gnomes and trolls, the skull bearers, elves and of course, humans. 

 One of our main characters is just that. Flick the human along with his half elf brother Shea are our tasked heros. The must find the Sword of Shannara (big suprise there right?) before the Warlock Lord can amass and send his armies toward the the innocent people of the southlands. 

While the characters themselves do not really have descriptive backgrounds they are well endowed with thier own personalities. You have the loyal Flick, the adventurous Menion Leah, the steadfast Hendel, the elf brothers Durin and Dayel who are both serious and boyish and more. 

Altogether even though it brings nothing new, the package is a complete and well rounded out epic fantasy.

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