Tag: reading challenge

Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge:Blood Song by Cat Adams

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations
The Particulars: Urban Fantasy, Tor, available as print and e-book
The Source: Purchased from Kobo.
The Grade: C
The Blurb:
Bodyguard Celia Graves has definitely accepted her share of weird assignments, both human and supernatural. But her newest job takes the cake. Guarding a Prince from terrorists and religious fundamentalists is hard enough, but it seems like the entire supernatural world is after this guy too. When she is betrayed by those she is employed to help, and everything goes horribly wrong, Celia wakes to find herself transformed. 
Neither human nor vampire, Celia has become an Abomination—something that should not exist—and now both human and supernatural alike want her dead. With the help of a few loyal friends—a sexy mage, a powerful werewolf, and a psychic cop—Celia does her best to stay alive. On the run from her enemies, Celia must try to discover who is behind her transformation…before it’s too late.
The review:
Cat Adams is another author that I have wanted to read for awhile, so when Tor offered their first three books for 2.99 I bought the first one.
Once I started reading this book, I devoured it. It is set in an intriguing world, filled with a number of paranormal creatures. What I liked were the fact that Celia was already a part of it as her job.
The world felt solid, and well researched both when it comes to vampires, werewolves and demons. I loved how holy water affected demons, and the silver affected werewolves. It was based on a lot of myths, with a twists.
Set against this background is Celia’s struggle to adjust to her life as an abnomation. Which is clearly shown through the book. I liked it. I especially liked that Celia refused to enter Birchwoods, but at the same time recognized that it might be necessary.
As if this isn’t enough, she also has to deal with her ex-boyfriend, and other life issues.
This was well written, but not perfect. I think some of the issues I had with it depended on my mood. The biggest issue I had was Celia. I had trouble connecting with her. I cared about what happened to her, but not much. Part of the reason were the fact that so much happened. Sometimes it felt as if the authors had gotten an idea, and added it without connecting it to the plot.
Will I read more books by Cat Adams? Maybe.

Urban Fantasy and Horror reading challenge: Matchbox girls by Chrysoula Tzavelas

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations


The Particulars:  Urban Fantasy, Candlemark and Gleam, available in print and as e-book
The source: Received as a Kickstarter pledge reward
The Grade: B+

The blurb:

Marley Claviger is just trying to get her life together. Stumbling into an ancient conflict between celestial forces is going to make that a whole lot harder…
When Marley wakes up to a phone call from a pair of terrified children, she doesn’t expect to be pulled into a secret war. She rescues them from an empty house and promises to find their missing uncle. She even manages to feed them dinner. But she barely feels competent to manage her own life, let alone care for small children with strange, ominous powers…
And when a mysterious angelic figure shows up and tries to claim the girls, it all falls apart…
Plagued by visions of disaster, Marley has no idea what she’s gotten herself into, but she knows one thing: magical or not, the kids need her.



The review
I received this book as part of a Kickstarter pledge. Since I was in an Urban Fantasy slump, I didn’t read it immediately. Which I regret, since this is a really good Urban Fantasy novel.  The intriguing worldbuilding takes the standard tropes of angels, demons and fairies, and twists them around a couple of times, until the end result is something unique.   The writing starts with a bang, or a phone call to be more correct, and it doesn’t slow down. Marley’s reaction to the  events were refreshing.  She isn’t a kick ass heroine, she is just an woman who wants to return to her normal life.

The plot is just as fast paced as it should be, and when you think that nothing else can go wrong for Marley and her friends, something unexpected, yet totally logical happens, that turns an already dire situation into a catastrophic situation.  

But what made this book for me were the cast of characters. All of them were deliciously flawed. From Marley with her shambled life, to Zacharias with all his secrets, to the impulsive twins, to the new friends she gets in Corbin and AT. And Neath.. I loved Neath. She behaved like I imagine a cat should.  The bad guys were scary. Brr. I wouldn’t want to be alone with either Severin, Tarn or any of the other bad guys.

What keeps me from giving this book an A is the sparseness of description. It stopped me from imaging the settings to the level I wanted, and needed to get really sucked into the book.
Still, I’ll definitely get the sequel, since I believe in supporting good authors. And Chrysoula Tzavelas is definitely one of them.

 

Steampunk Challenge: Heart of Steel by Meljean Brook

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The Particulars: Steampunk, Berkley, available in print and as e-book
The Source: Purchased at Kobo
The Grade : A
The blurb:
Note: This blurb is the official one, but it  contain spoilers for Iron Duke.

As the mercenary captain of the Lady Corsair, Yasmeen has learned to keep her heart as cold as steel, her only loyalty bound to her ship and her crew. So when a man who once tried to seize her airship returns from the dead, Yasmeen will be damned if she gives him another opportunity to take control.
Treasure-hunter Archimedes Fox isn’t interested in the Lady Corsair — he wants her coldhearted captain and the valuable da Vinci sketch she stole from him. To reclaim it, Archimedes is determined to seduce the stubborn woman who once tossed him to a ravenous pack of zombies, but she’s no easy conquest.
When da Vinci’s sketch attracts a dangerous amount of attention, Yasmeen and Archimedes journey to Horde-occupied Morocco — and straight into their enemy’s hands. But as they fight to save themselves and a city on the brink of rebellion, the greatest peril Yasmeen faces is from the man who seeks to melt her icy heart…


The Review:
This is the second book in the Iron Seas series. I read The Iron Duke and enjoyed it. This one? Was better. Set in the same world, filled with zombies, bugs, and the Horde. I am not sure why I liked it better? Maybe it because it lacks the save the world mentality? The stakes is still high, for all of them but it is in’t on save the world level.
I enjoyed the fast paced adventure, the way it started with a bang and never slowed down. Or at least it felt like that. I am sure it was a slow paragraph here and there.
I loved the way everything felt connected, and that both Yasmeen and Archimedes had things at stakes.
But what I really loved with this book was the characters. The snarky banter between Archimedes and Yasmine. The sensual tension between them.
I also loved that there was so many different kinds of characters. From jackasses, to traitors, to rough brawlers, to smart women, and curious boys.
Most of all there goes a thread of loyalty through the book. In so many ways.
I loved this book in so many ways, and I regret that I waited so long with purchasing it. The only thing that bugged me were in the beginning Archimedes said intended to fall in love with her. I could have accepted seduce, since it would have fit better. On the other hand, after finishing the book, I can understand why he intended to do that, but it still bugged me. 

The Book of Shadows by Alexandra Sokoloff:

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The Particulars:  Horror, St Martin’s, available as e-book and in print
The Source: Purchased at Kobo
The grade: B-
The Blurb:
Homicide detective Adam Garrett is already a rising star in the Boston police department when he and his cynical partner, Carl Landauer, catch a horrifying case that could make their careers: the ritualistic murder of a wealthy college girl that appears to have Satanic elements. 

The partners make a quick arrest when all evidence points to another student, a troubled musician in a Goth band who was either dating or stalking the murdered girl. But Garrett’s case is turned upside down when beautiful, mysterious Tanith Cabarrus, a practicing witch from nearby Salem, walks into the homicide bureau and insists that the real perpetrator is still at large. Tanith claims to have had psychic visions that the killer has ritually sacrificed other teenagers in his attempts to summon a powerful, ancient demon.

All Garrett’s beliefs about the nature of reality will be tested as he is forced to team up with a woman he is fiercely attracted to but cannot trust, in a race to uncover a psychotic killer before he strikes again.

The Review:

I bought this a month ago, spurred by the fact that Alexandra Sokoloff blogged about her self-published UK version.   I bought it from Booksonboard, though. Or was it Kobo?  Anyway.  I started reading it, and I was hooked.   The book has everything I want in a good novel.  A gruesome murder, a healthy dose of suspense and interesting plot. I loved Garrett for the fact that he is ambitious, and he doesn’t hide it.   He is dating a DA  with connection, he relish tough cases. ( And this is definitely one).  I like that his partner is so different.   In many ways his partner is a cliche.  Old, chain smoking male detective.  He is a good contrast to Garrett, though. And Tanith.  Yepp, she is a witch.  But she is a strong character, without being bitchy.  Also, she has learned from her mistakes.

The plot is solid, and moves fast. But not too fast. They makes progress, and the decisions they make fits with the evidence. The  supernatural was woven into the plot from the start. And the supernatural part only grew. Which I gobbled up. It was fascinating how Garrett kept having to talk with Tanith, despite the mistakes he made. And he made mistakes. A lot.  But that was what I liked about him.  He dares to think outside the box, no matter if it gives him trouble with his boss.  He doesn’t give up.  He just continues,  determinded to get justice for the victims.  

What I liked about this book, was that Garrett is forced to think about the box. To step into the supernatural. He have a choice: start believing, or  don’t find the killer. 

So, what I didn’t like about this book.  I didn’t like the sex scenes with his girlfriend. It felt like they didn’t add anything to the plot. Also, sometimes Garrett felt a bit.. dense. No, that’s wrong. It felt like he was too arrogant, and didn’t really think about what consequences everything would have.

Still, the book was enjoyable and I will probably purchase more of Alexandra Sokoloff’s books in the future.

The Zero Dog War by Keith Melton

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations


The Particulars: Urban Fantasy, Samhain, available as  e-book.
The Source: Purchased at Allromance
The Grade: B-
The blurb:

After accidentally blowing up both a client facility and a cushy city contract in the same day, pyromancer and mercenary captain Andrea Walker is scrambling to save her Zero Dogs. A team including (but not limited to) a sexually repressed succubus, a werewolf with a thing for health food, a sarcastic tank driver/aspiring romance novelist, a three-hundred-pound calico cat, and a massive demon who really loves to blow stuff up.
With the bankruptcy vultures circling, Homeland Security throws her a high-paying, short-term contract even the Zero Dogs can’t screw up: destroy a capitalist necromancer bent on dominating the gelatin industry with an all-zombie workforce. The catch? She has to take on Special Forces Captain Jake Sanders, a man who threatens both the existence of the team and Andrea’s deliberate avoidance of romantic entanglements.
As Andrea strains to hold her dysfunctional team together long enough to derail the corporate zombie apocalypse, the prospect of getting her heart run over by a tank tread is the least of her worries. The government never does anything without an ulterior motive. Jake could be the key to success…or just another bad day at the office for the Zeroes.

The review:
I had heard good things about Keith Melton, so when Allromance offered a 50% discount on Samhain books, I bought it. The story starts with a bang, and everything wents down hill from there. The plot twisted and turned. I liked how they only had partial success, never a total victory, when they faced the villain.  I enjoyed the misfits of The Zero Dog Mercenaries.  From Rafe, the werewolf, to  Mai with her undead pets.  I enjoyed how the author played with the prejudices, and turned them into something new.  
This story has a large dose of humor with the action, and I loved the snark, and the way Andrea couldn’t  stop mouthing off with Jake.  However, at times it felt like the author focused to much on the humor. 

This especially shows when it comes to the villain, which is a heap of clichés.  In  fact, it felt like the author had piled on every cliché he could think off.  So, will I buy another book by  Keith Melton?  Probably.  It was a fun,  fast paced read and I enjoyed it.

  

Book Chick City’s Horror and Urban Fantasy Challenge

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

I decided to sign up to this challenge too:

From the challenge page:

Challenge Details

• Timeline: 01 Jan 2012 – 31 Dec 2012

• There are two levels:

– Read TWENTY FOUR (24) horror & urban fantasy novels in 2012
– Read FORTY EIGHT (48) horror & urban fantasy novels in 2012

• You don’t have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

• You can join the challenge at anytime. All books read in 2012 count towards the challenge regardless of when you sign up.

• Audiobooks do not count, but all other formats are accepted.

• No non-fiction – only fiction.

• This challenge can crossover to other challenges.

• You DO NOT have to write reviews of the books you read, but if you decide you would like to then Mr Linky will be available each month so you can link up your reviews.

• You don’t have to have a blog to join in – for those without a blog but who use Goodreads, Amazon, LibraryThing etc, you can add the URL to where you track your books. If you don’t have a URL at all then choose a name you would like to use and then copy and paste the following link:

http://www.bookchickcity.com/2011/12/sign-up-horror-urban-fantasy-reading.html

Please add your DIRECT URL link, not just your blog link. If you have trouble adding your URL link below, just drop me an email.

My goal is to read 48 novels. It will be mixture of UF and Horror, new books and PD books. And re-reads. :).

Tentiative reading list:

  1.  Child of Fire by Harry Connelly ( library book)
  2.  Raven Cursed by Faith Hunter ( Unread)
  3.  Zero Dog War by Keith Mellon.
  4.  Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent (Unread)
  5.  Hot trick by Patricia Rosemoor ( Unread)
  6.  Aberswyth Mon Amour by Malcolm Price ( Unread)
  7.  Faerie Blood by Angela Korra’ti ( Unread)
  8.  Convent of the pure by Sara M Harvey ( Unread)
  9.  The Wyvern Mystery by Joseph Sheridan ( PD)
  10. The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde ( PD)
  11.  Run by Blake Crouch ( Amazon freebie)
  12.  The Wedding Gift by Kathleen McKenna( Amazon freebie)
  13.  Book of Shadows by Alexandra Sokoloff
  14.  Shadow City by Diana Pharaoh Francis (Unread)
  15.  Fair Game by Patricia Briggs ( TBR list)
  16.  Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews ( TBR)
  17. Demon Marked by Meljean Brook ( TBR)
  18.  No Dominion by C.E Murphy ( plus assorted novellas)( April 2012)
  19. . Raven Calls by CE Murphy. ( TBR)
  20.  Dragon Justice by Laura Anne Gilman ( TBB)
  21.  The Negotiator triology by CE Murphy. ( Re-read)
  22. Matchbox Girls by Chrysoula Tzavelas

All these books have one thing in common: They are either among the 200 e-books I have marked as unread in Calibre or on my TBR list. O_o.

Dark Faerie Tales Steampunk reading Challenge 2012

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

I wanted to join Dark Faerie tales UF challenge last year, but since I discovered it in september I decided to wait. So when I spotted the Steampunk Challenge, I decided to join it. I view it as a good way to get introduced to the genre. The challenge runs from Jan 2012 to Dec 2012. My plan is to post one review each month.

The tentiative reading list is:
1. Bone Shaker by Cherie Priest
2. New Blood by Gail Dayton.
3. Heart of Steel by Meljean Brook
4. Tin Swift by Devon Monk
5. Soulless by Gail Carriger
6. Leviathan by Scott Westerfield
7. Viridis by Claire Taylor
8. The Grey Friar by Clay and Susan Griffith
9. Clockwork angel by Cassandra Clare
10. Wicked as the come by Delilah Lawson
11. The Iron duke by Meljean Brook
12. The Iron Wyrm Affair by Lilith Saintcrow

Review: Hounded by Kevin Hearne:

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations1 Comment


The Particulars: Urban Fantasy, Del Rey, available in print and as e-book.
Source:  The Library
The Grade: C-
The Blurb:
Tempe, Arizona is as far removed from paranormal activity as is possible. And that’s where Atticus O’Sullivan, rare book salesman, herb peddler, and 2,000 year old Druid – the last of his kind – has decided to set up shop. He’s been on the run, guarding a very powerful sword from a very angry ancient Celtic god for over two millennia now.

But while these years have been good to him – Atticus has become more powerful than he could have possibly imagined – The Morrigan, a very old god of death, has predicted death and doom for our hero, and it’s up to Atticus, with help from a pride of werewolves, and a gorgeous bartender with a secret of her own, to stay alive, hopefully for another thousand years.

The Review:


What I liked:
The premise is what hooked my interest, and I am glad that I downloaded it. 
This is the first book in the Iron Druid series.  It is a funny and fast paced Urban Fantasy, with a solid base in Celtic Mythology.  I liked the druidic magic Atticus use, how he has developed it in ways that even the gods haven’t thought of. I must admit that I liked the Celtic gods that appeared regularly.  It was fun to watch them trying interact with the modern world.  Atticus was wise enough to not mouth off to them.
It is clear from the start who the villain is, but the element of uncertainty comes from the fact that Atticus doesn’t know if the other deities will tell Aengus Og were he is, or not.
What I didn’t like:
I had a couple of issues with the plot.  The  plot felt, well, a bit pat as if there were no real surprises.  Yes, there was some uncertainty, but none of the totally unexpected twists that the best Urban Fantasy novels have.  That might be because Atticus is so old, and because he knows how Aengus Og thinks.  

Summary:
A fun read, with a lot of promise.

I Heart Indie books reading challenge

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I signed up for the Indie books challenge in March, but I forgot to post about it. Oops.
  This is a simple challenge, just state how many indie books you plan to read during the year.  I thought about it, and decided to aim at Level 1, silver.( 7-13 books).  I can already now say that I will reach the goal before that. 
So far I have read 12 indie books in  a number of genres. Most of them have been by authors that have been published by a publisher before.  ( Yes, I am wary).  Since I am close to reaching it, I have decided to up my goals to 16 books. 
 At the end of the year, I’ll  post a list of the books I have read, and with links to any reviews. Some have been reviewed, some are upcoming :).

Next year, I’ll probably join another reading challenge. One that forces me to post, you know, reviews. But that is next year. 

Review: Born to Run by Mercedes Lackey

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Born to Run (SERRAted Edge, #1)Born to Run by Mercedes Lackey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Blurb:
Book one of a new urban fantasy series centered on hot cars, fast elves, and rock-n-roll. Good elves are intrigued by stock car racing, and bad elves run kiddie-porn and drug rings. Trapped in between are three runaways who are in serious trouble and about to get into more–unwitting pawns in a deadly game between good and evil.

The Review
What I liked about it:

This is the first book in the Serrated Edge series, and it is a bit dated now. But when I read it, all those things turned into quaint details. This is a surprisingly complex book, and a book I urge everyone to read. Yes, I know it is an urban fantasy. The focus of the conflict is the animosity been Keighvin Silverhair and Vidal Dhu. If I explained how much it affected the book, I would spoil the plot. Fairgrove, and Silverhair, are genuine do-gooders. But since the world is much more technical, they cannot conjure gold. No, they need to earn money. And that’s where this book starts. The plot moves on rapidly, and every decision, both good and bad, makes sense from the characters point of view. What makes this book so important is Tania, and her story. Tania is a runaway teenager. This is as much about her as it is about Fairgrove and Vidal Dhu.

The characters had their flaws, both good and bad. Sometimes I wanted to scream at them, since they could be so stubborn.

So, that’s what I liked but what I didn’t like:

It might be because I haven’t read her books in awhile, but I didn’t like that there is always a runaway in her books. Or at least it feels like that to me. But, on the other hand it is the strong social theme that makes her urban fantasy novel stand out. So, I guess it is something I have to swallow.

I am not sure if it is something I didn’t like, but I was struck by the fact that it is unusual to have the classic Sidhe/ Unseelighe rivalry as the main source of conflict. That could be because I haven’t read the right books.

Summary:

The book is a bit dated, but when I reached the end, I felt satisifed.  Which means it is still a good read, filled with good characters and a dose of humor to lighten the bleak stuff..

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