Tuesday 29 November 2011

quick update

I have quite a few reviews to tidy up then post so there should be an update soon. Blooger should come up with a better phone app, just saying...

Thursday 10 November 2011

A Little Gushing

Itried to read Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater a few months back and I ended up abandoning it. I really did try to like it but... well heres the review I have yet to post;

I've decided I don't really like dual pov's, especially if they are quite samey. I wasn't sure how I felt about this book when I started it. I'm not sure whether or not the negative reviews I'd read influenced me. It was a bit blah. The beginning was a little slow but I eventually settled into it, or rather, I got used to it being slow. I took a break a 3rd of the way in to finish another book I had going, and then another. I actually read 5 books in the time it'd taken me to finish this one. I had to force myself to keep going back to it. I hate not finishing a book. It was okay, kinda. I didn't love it but I didn't hate it either. It just didn't float my boat. Okay, okay it was as boring as hell and a little simple and innocent for my tastes. Maybe I would have enjoyed it if I was younger, way younger. Say 13 years old. I just didn't connect with Grace or Sam at all. I didn't feel the romance either. It felt more of an obsession with wolves (well one wolf in particular) than a romance and even that was lukewarm. After saying all this I may read the next book but only for the fact it's part of a trilogy. Rating: 2 stars.

So when I saw she had written another book I was a little ugh. Until I saw the cover


























Omg just look at it. I ADORE it. It kinda reminded me of The Moon Riders by Theresa Tomlinson which I also loved (must have been the horses). I was still a little sceptical though so I read the blurb on Goodreads

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die. At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them. Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

It was then that I knew I HAD to read it. I haven't got a thing for horses or anything so I don't know why it appealed to me so much. I just knew I needed to read it. I'd just downloaded this



Florence and the Machine's new album, Ceremonials, so I was listening to that the whole way through.

I love, love, loved it. Loved them both. The two will forever be one to me from now on. I now wonder if I should give Shiver another go. I just can't get The Scorpio Races outta my head



Tuesday 8 November 2011

Monthly Round Up: October 2011

89. Spider's Revenge, Jennifer Estep
90. Nightfall, Ellen Connor
91. The Diviner's Tale, Bradford Morrow
92. Silence, Becca Fitzpatrick
93. A Touch of Crimson, Sylvia Day
94. Fallen, kristina Douglas
95. Demon, kristina Douglas

So it seems October has been a better month for reading than September was but let's face it, that wouldn't take much. I'm still on my TV buzz but not as much as last month. I'm feel quite stressed with a situation I've got going on but I really need to focus on reading if I have any chance of successfully completing my 150 book goal this year. I've kinda done better than I thought I would if I'm honest. I knew when I set my goal that around half way through I'd begin to flag, and I wasn't wrong. What surprised me though was that I still kept going. My posting of my review took a hit, and I've still have loads I need to write up and get posted but I've done okay. I was hoping to use December to finish all the books I abandoned throughout the year but I'm thinking that may not be the best idea at the moment as it might stop me reading altogether.

Anyway...

Best read of October? Well Silence really surprised me. I thought I'd hate it, but even though I really struggled with Crescendo, I actually reallly liked Silence. It was a really enjoyable read, but it wasn't my fave. Biggest disappointment was Nightfall. I can't tell you how bad that let me down. I just expected so much more than it turned out to be. Maybe it was I expected more from Ann Aguirre as I really enjoyed her Corrine Soloman series.

My favourite has to be good ole faithful Spider's Revenge by Jennifer Estep, followed by either Fallen or Demon but I think Demon has the edge on Fallen.

So on to November. I'm hoping my Situation evens out to enable me to get back into the swing of things ready for the last push. The way it is I doubt it. I'm fighting an ox.

Tuesday 18 October 2011

Monthly Round Up: September

September has to have been one of my worst months for reading since I was 19. I thought August was bad. Well September has left August in the dust. Five. A total of five books read, and one was a short story. I have no excuse except that I'm still trying to dig my way out of my reading slump. TV is the devil :)

I have actually watched way too much TV this month. -I'm eating it up like devil cake. I'm currently enjoying;
Alphas
The Revenge
Son's of Anarchy
Terra Nova
Jersey Shore
The Secret Circle
Downton Abbey
Warehouse 13
Hart of Dixie
Haven
Awkward (although this has just finished)

And that's not including shows I'm downloading but have yet to start.

Anyway. Reading. I really enjoyed Outside In, Archangel"s Blade, and Touch of Frost. Archangel's Blade being my fave of the month. I was only a little disappointed with One Grave at a Time.

85. Outside In, Maria V. Snyder
86. One Grave at a Time, Jeanniene Frost
87. Archangel's Blade, Nalini Singh
88. Devil to Pay, Jeaniene Frost
89. Touch of Frost, jennifer Estep

Saturday 15 October 2011

Review: The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood and The Duchess Of Northumberland

Jessamine Luxton has lived all her sixteen years in an isolated cottage near Alnwick Castle, with little company apart from the plants in her garden. Her father, Thomas, a feared and respected apothecary, has taught her much about the incredible powers of plants: that even the most innocent-looking weed can cure -- or kill.n the right dose, everything is a poison. Even love . . .When Jessamine begins to fall in love with a mysterious boy who claims to communicate with plants, she is drawn into the dangerous world of the poison garden in a way she never could have imagined 

I saw this reviewed on The Book Smugglers and quickly added it to my TBR list. It sounded really interesting and very different from the books I'd been reading recently.

I loved it's tone and I really liked Jessamine. Weed was interesting but the father drove me crazy. You definitely got a feel for the era. It was easy to read, even when I was busy my stopping and starting didn't jar the story. I felt it got a bit silly towards the end but all in all it was quick, easy and fun to read. 


Rating: 4/6 - I liked It

Tuesday 11 October 2011

Monthly Round Up: August 2011

I wish I could get out of this slump I appear to be in. Yes, I'm enjoying a lot of TV shows at the moment even though there's still loads of books I want to read but never find the time. Obviously because I'm too busy sat in front of either my laptop or TV :/

Biggest disappointment this month was Working stiff. I thought that would be much better than it was, and I doubt I'll carry on with the series. My fave was a toss between Inside Out and The enemy. I really enjoyed both.

79. The Poison Diaries, Maryrose Wood, The Duchess Of Northumberland
80. The Enemy, Charlie Higson
81. Working Stiff, Rachel Caine
82. Inside Out, Maria V. Snyder

I watched too many films during August:
Super 8
Bridesmaids
Kick ass
Up
Rise of the apes
Diary of the Dead
The Road
Friends with Benefits
Choke

I've also managed to watch a lot of TV. A lot. I obsessively got into Fringe and watched all 3 seasons and I finally started series 4 of True Blood (and finished :'(). I also caught up with Bones and Sons of Anarchy, both of which I'd gotten seriously behind on. So all in all a very good month for TV, but not for reading.

Sunday 9 October 2011

Review: Venom (Elemental assassin #3) by Jennifer Estep

What kind of assassin works pro bono? 
It’s hard to be a badass assassin when a giant is beating the crap out of you. Luckily, I never let pride get in the way of my work. My current mission is personal: annihilate Mab Monroe, the Fire elemental who murdered my family. Which means protecting my identity, even if I have to conceal my powerful Stone and Ice magic when I need it most. 
To the public, I’m Gin Blanco, owner of Ashland’s best barbecue joint. To my friends, I’m the Spider, retired assassin. I still do favors on the side. Like ridding a vampire friend of her oversized stalker—Mab’s right-hand goon who almost got me dead with his massive fists. 
At least irresistible Owen Grayson is on my side. The man knows too much about me, but I’ll take my chances. Then there’s Detective Bria Coolidge, one of Ashland’s finest. Until recently, I thought my baby sister was dead. She probably thinks the same about me. Little does she know, I’m a cold-blooded killer . . . who is about to save her life.

I really need to stop star rating books on goodreads immediately after I finish reading the book. I'm way too involved and often give a 5 when really it should be a 4. I want to give this book a 5 though. :/ but I have issues with it. Notably the re-capping of previous events, and also the fact that Gin kept saying "don't worry I kill him/them. You'll never have to worry about him again" then she'd mess up, but she'd keep on saying it so that I stopped believing her. It's a little thing but still :/ 


After reading Spider's bite and Web of Lie in quick succession, I couldn't wait to get stuck into this 3rd instalment, Vemon. I'm loving this series. Gin is still kick ass but we're starting to see a little beneath the surface now. Again, it's action packed and fast paced. One of the many reasons I love this series. The only thing I don't like (and I've already mentioned) is the way Estep re-caps everything that happens in the previous books. Everything! All the time. It's like the start of a TV show "previously on..." but throughout. I find it jarring, and it makes me skip ahead a lot and I don't want to do that. This happens in every book and by the 3rd book I wanted to pull my hair out. Okay, it didn't bother me that much and the fact that it's a great series makes it up a little but I wish it would stop. I know there's a reason for it but it's getting repetitive, and to be fair, if you're going to start a series in the middle, or 3rd book in you deserve to not know what the hell is going on (IMHO). 


 All in all Vemon is a great read. You get everything you expect from Gin and more, although, please start at the beginning of the series :) 


Rating: 5/6 - Really Liked It

Saturday 10 September 2011

So behind

Apologies if you read my blog. I've gotten so behind with posts. I can't even blame it on slow reading because I have at least 10 reviews in first drafts. They just need a bit of work and posting. My home and work life have become a little hectic so by the time I get home from work I have to start all over again at home, which makes going on the laptop feel like a chore.

Still, that's no excuse. Tonight is the night I clean the deck and get organised. Wish me luck!

Saturday 3 September 2011

Review: Street Magic (Black London #1) by Caitlin Kittredge

 Her name is Pete Caldecott. She was just sixteen when she met Jack Winter, a gorgeous, larger-than-life  mage who thrilled her with his witchcraft. Then a spirit Jack summoned killed him before Pete’s eyes—or so she thought. Now a detective, Pete is investigating the case of a young girl kidnapped from the streets of London. A tipster’s chilling prediction has led police directly to the child…but when Pete meets the informant, she’s shocked to learn he is none other than Jack. Strung out on heroin, Jack a shadow of his former self.  But he’s able to tell Pete exactly where Bridget’s kidnappers are hiding: in the supernatural shadow-world of the fey.  Even though she’s spent years disavowing the supernatural, Pete follows Jack into the invisible fey underworld, where she hopes to discover the truth about what happened to Bridget—and what happened to Jack on that dark day so long ago

I'd seen a review for this somewhere (most probably Goodreads) and it instantly caught my attention. It sounded dark and gritty, both of which I really love so I kinda had high hopes.

We meet Pete in the middle of a case where children are going missing. It felt like I'd been dumped in the middle of something and didn't know what the hell was going on, but saying that, that can be a usual thing for me. And although I liked Pete right away I Initially I found the 3rd person narration a little confusing. I don't normally, but for some reason I did while reading this.

I was disappointed to be honest. Street Magic had everything I like but it never got me excited. There was just something missing that I can't put my finger on. I don't know whether it was the fact that Jack was a heroin addict, or that there was no spark between the two, I just don't know. And I don't just mean a romantic spark SPOILER (scroll to see) incidentally, I really didn't understand why she'd offer to die for him. Up to that point it came across as she really didn't care for him at all END SPOILER. 

I need to mention the swear words. They were so distracting. On one page it would be all Wankstick, demon-buggering gits, then on the next it would be fucking cunts and dickheads. You either commit to swearing or you don't. The strange mix of hard and soft swear words just sounded stupid. 

Also I never really believed that they were in London. The story could have took place anywhere really. I first thought that it was maybe it was London USA until Big Ben chimed. But I never really felt it but that could be just my predjuice. If I think of London I think dank and dark Jack the ripper London. 

I never connected with Jack and I know it's not the actual drug theme as I never had a problem with the drug use in the Downside Ghost series. It's because he's a heroin addict. It's just a dirty stanky drug. I think if he'd had an addiction to a fictional drug, or pills, or anything else but heroin I would have felt differently but I just didnt like him because of that drug, and couldn't take to him on an emotional level. I've already said that I liked Pete, and I did at the start but Jesus H Christ what a nag she was. I felt like yelling for her just to stop. She didn't shut up whinging and moaning and after a while it wore on my nerves a bit. 

I just didn't become emotionally engaged in the two leads or the story at all. Not at any point of the story did I feel like I knew what the hell was going on, even the magic was confusing and wasn't very visual. The second half of the book was much better than the first but it wasn't enough. I will read the 2nd book in the series though. I thought it was okay (I did finish it) but I had issues with it. I'm sorry I didn't like it as much as I thought I would

Rating: 3/6 - it was okay

Thursday 25 August 2011

TBR Thursday

Although I've not been reading as much as usual it's not stopped me adding to my forever expanding list. 
First up is Switched by Amanda Hocking. I actually added this some time ago but it has a new cover and I love it. I adore the colour more than anything.






Switched - the first book in the Trylle Trilogy...

When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right.

With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it.


Next up is The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. I've added this because I've fallen in love with the story but I've experienced Maggie Stiefvater before. I really, really struggled with Shiver. In fact I've not even finished it. I started reading in January and finally abandoned it at some point in July. However, it has not put me off reading the aurthor's book, well it had before I read the synopsis for this story :)


It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

So not as many as last week, or even the week before but considering the amount (or lack of) I've read these past few weeks it's not surprising 

Tuesday 16 August 2011

Review: Kiss of Snow (Psy-Changeling #10) by Nalini Singh


Since the moment of her defection from the PsyNet and into the SnowDancer wolf pack, Sienna Lauren has had one weakness. Hawke. Alpha and dangerous, he compels her to madness. 
Hawke is used to walking alone, having lost the woman who would've been his mate long ago. But Sienna fascinates the primal heart of him, even as he tells himself she is far too young to handle the wild fury of the wolf.  Then Sienna changes the rules and suddenly, there is no more distance, only the most intimate of battles between two people who were never meant to meet. Yet as they strip away each other's secrets in a storm of raw emotion, they must also ready themselves for a far more vicious fight… 
A deadly enemy is out to destroy SnowDancer, striking at everything they hold dear, but it is Sienna's darkest secret that may yet savage the pack that is her home…and the alpha who is its heartbeat…

It feels like I've waited for this book for so long. I adore this series. Nalini singh is the author I use to judge all other paranormal romance by. In fact she has spoiled me. I was introduced to this series at the start of my foray into PNR/Urban Fantasy by a friend and it set the standard. Sometimes I wish I'd read Christen Feehan first, because at least then I wouldn't have something good to compare it too. No one can beat Nalini Singh. No one. Hers are the only books I don't ever roll my eyes too (okay admittedly maybe once during the first book!). They are the only books I've come across that have great romance coupled with an interesting and kiss ass plot. No other series/book combines the two quite as well, no where near as well.

Hawke's story is one that has been slowly burning away in the background from book one (Slave to Sensation), and one I've been desperate to read. I'd read excerpts/quotes on Singh's website and on Goodreads and they only whetted my appetite. I wasn't disappointed. It was everything I'd hoped for and more. Hawke and Sienna's history being what it is, every look and interaction was filled with sexual tension, and both of them were at breaking point.

The second romance between the pack healer, Lara and, Walker Sienna's uncle, was an added bonus but I do wish they had their own book. I think they deserved that. There was also the birth of Sascha and Lucas's baby which was lovely, and I enjoyed seeing the Changelings reaction to this.

There are still a lot of questions that need to be answered surrounding the Psy, and to be honest I was far more interested in the Changelings this time round. I really need to reread the book again (maybe slightly slower this time :) ) to enable me to take more information in.

A fantastic read. 


Rating: 6/6 - It Was Amazing


Thursday 11 August 2011

TBR Thursday

The first book that's going on my TBR list this week is Dragon Bound. I saw this on All Things Urban Fantasy and was like 'oooooh hot guy and dragons! I like' Reading the blurb (from Goodreads) made me hesitate but I'm going to try it anyway. I'm usually hit and miss with PNR but fingers crossed.



Half-human and half-wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful-and passionate-of the Elder races.

Next up is Alpha Instinct by Katie Reus. It's not out yet, and with a 2012 release it's a long wait. Alpha Instinct is the first book in the Moon Shifter series. I love a good werewolf series (I haven't found anything to knock Mercy Thompson off the top spot though). I found this book on Book Chick City's wishlist. Okay so the blurb isn't the best, hardly tells us anything, but I like the cover, even if other people dislike the 'girl with tattoo' cliché that Urban Fantasy covers are known for (although this title is classed as PNR, it sure does look lie UF).


The series all feature a pack of shifters battling a radical hate group intent on destroying all paranormal beings.

Alpha, Connor Armstrong, will do anything to protect his intended mate and newly founded pack. Unfortunately when he offers protection things don’t go quite as planned. His new mate is as stubborn as she is sexy and getting her to submit proves almost impossible.


Another book from Book Chick City is Avenger's Angel, book 1 of Heather Killough-Walden's The Lost Angels series. The cover is really pretty, and the review by Carolyn is very good indeed. With November 2011 release I'm still going to have to be patient. 


The first in Heather Killough-Walden's fantastic new paranormal series, the Lost Angels, features Uriel, the Angel of Vengeance Four thousand years ago, four archangels were cast down to Earth in human form. God's favourites, they came to find their mates, the other half of their souls made only for them, without whom they will ever be complete. Uriel, Gabriel, Azrael and Michael, however, were not alone. They were followed by another, determined to find the archesses for himself, and whose power cannot be underestimated. But after centuries of fruitless searching, the archangels -- and their enemy -- have all but given up hope. Until one day beautiful and gifted Eleanore Granger crosses paths with Uriel, the Angel of Vengeance. And as a storm rages, outside forces conspire together, initiating an age old battle of good versus evil to win the first archess.

That's 3 PNR books I've added to my TBR list so I think it's time I go look for some Urban Fantasy :)




Monday 8 August 2011

Review: Magic Slays (Kate Daniels #5) by Ilona Andrews

Plagued by a war between magic and technology, Atlanta has never been so deadly. Good thing Kate Daniels is on the job. 
Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but she’s still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be—now that the Order is disparaging her good name, and many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate’s mate. 
So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. Turns out this is not an isolated incident, and Kate needs to get to the bottom of it—fast, or the city and everyone dear to her might pay the ultimate price.

I re-read the first 4 books in the Kate Daniels series in January (for the 3rd time). Mistakenly thinking this was due out the beginning of February. I was wrong and I was only slightly annoyed that I had to wait another few months (yeah this review is kinda old).


I love this series. I love Kate and Curran, and I love Ilona Andrews. Although I didn't get ecstatic over the scenes from Curran's pov, I did enjoy them.


Magic Slays was released on the same day as Kiss of Snow, the 10th Psy-Changling book, and another favourite series of mine. I ended up reading Kiss of Snow first because I've been impatiently waiting for that one for what felt like ages, but that's neither here nor there regarding my preference.


The one thing about this series I'd forgotten about was the humour. In those short months I forgot how funny these books were. As with the other books, Magic Slay had me laughing out loud. I love Kate's and Curran's relationship and how they bounce off each other. The one thing that jumped out at me though was how violent they can be together when Kate is super angry. They get very physical and sometimes it's hard to read.


As usual the story felt very visual. I love the world building of this series, and Andrew's ability to put you in her world so easily.


A great read, and if you haven't started this series yet, what are you waiting for?


Rating: 6/6 - It Was Amazing

Saturday 6 August 2011

I got the tells...

I'm a little late with this but hey, what's new :)

I've just read an excerpt of Stacia Kane's next book, Sacrificial Magic here. Sacrificial Magic is the 4th book in the Downside Ghost series and it is one of my favourites. I'm kinda desperate to see what the cover is going to look like.

While we're reading excerpts, I've finally read the first 3 chapters of One Grave at a Time (Night Huntress #6) by Jeaniene Frost. I love Cat and Bones. Read them here


Both of these have me very excited!

Review: Grave Witch (Alex Craft #1) by Kalayna Price

As a grave witch, Alex Craft can speak to the dead-she's even on good terms with Death himself. As a consultant for the police, she's seen a lot of dark magic, but nothing has prepared her for her latest case. When she's raising a "shade" involved in a high profile murder, it attacks her, and then someone makes an attempt on her life. Someone really doesn't want her to know what the dead have to say, and she'll have to work with mysterious homicide detective Falin Andrews to figure out why.

I saw this book a while ago on a book blog or Goodreads, I forget which and I managed to picked it up a few weeks ago. It was the cover that caught my eye originally but the story also sounded really interesting so I didn't wait too long before starting it.

Alex is a grave witch. She can raise and speak to the dead but she goes near blind afterwards. I really liked that using her grave sight had a price -I not sure why I like the fact that she became vulnerable, but I did. She isn't stupid and that is a big plus for me. There’s nothing I dislike more than an annoyingly stupid heroine (coughMacfromDarkfevercough). Okay she rushes ahead sometimes and that can get her into trouble, but you can see why she couldn't wait around so it's easy to let that go.

Death (a sole collector only Alex seems to be able to see), and Falin (a police detective) are the two love interests and I liked them both. I felt that Death could have played a bigger part in the whole scheme of things than he did but because there was a lot more of Falin, it was him I felt I 'knew' better so was rooting for him throughout.

It was very easy to get into and the writing was really good. Alex is a rounded character and very likable. Death was cool but Falin was sexy.

I couldn't put it down. I really, really enjoyed it.

A great start to a promising series.


Rating: 5/6 - Really liked it

Thursday 4 August 2011

TBR Thursday

I first heard of The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark on Book Chick City's On My Wishlist. It was the cover that caught my attention, I love covers like this. I have quite a few on both my list and pile already.



I gasped . . . or tried to. My mouth opened, but I couldn’t draw breath. . . . His lips, pearly wet, parted and he blew into my mouth. My lungs expanded beneath his weight. When I exhaled he sucked in my breath and his weight turned from cold marble into warm living flesh.

Since accepting a teaching position at remote Fairwick College in upstate New York, Callie McFay has experienced the same disturbingly erotic dream every night: A mist enters her bedroom, then takes the shape of a virile, seductive stranger who proceeds to ravish her in the most toe-curling, wholly satisfying ways possible. Perhaps these dreams are the result of writing her bestselling book, 
The Sex Lives of Demon Lovers. After all, Callie’s lifelong passion is the intersection of lurid fairy tales and Gothic literature—which is why she finds herself at Fairwick’s renowned folklore department, living in a once-stately Victorian house that, at first sight, seemed to call her name.
But Callie soon realizes that her dreams are alarmingly real. She has a demon lover—an incubus—and he will seduce her, pleasure her, and eventually suck the very life from her. Then Callie makes another startling discovery: He’s not the only mythical creature in Fairwick. As the tenured witches of the college and the resident fairies in the surrounding woods prepare to cast out the incubus, Callie must accomplish something infinitely more difficult—banishing this demon lover from her heart.

Hunger by Jackie Kessler was added but I can't remember where I came across it. It's not even something I'd normally read but it looks interesting. I like the cover; dark is good :)


"Thou art the Black Rider. Go thee out unto the world."
Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?
     Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home—her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power—and the courage to fight her own inner demons?
     A wildly original approach to the issue of eating disorders, Hunger is about the struggle to find balance in a world of extremes, and uses fantastic tropes to explore a difficult topic that touches the lives of many teens.

Next to be added to my ever increasing TBR list is Night Veil. I first saw it over at Urban Fantasy Investigations. It was the whiteness of the cover that caught my eye (it's looking like I'm a sucka for a good cover). I added it to my list then realised that it was the second book in a series so of course I had to then add Night Myst also.


Blurb for Night Myst: Eons ago, vampires tried to turn the Dark Fae in order to harness their magic, only to create a demonic enemy more powerful than they imagined. Now Myst, the Vampiric Fae Queen of the Indigo Court, has enough power to begin a long prophesied supernatural war. And Cicely Waters, a witch who can control the wind, may be the only one who can stop her-and save her beloved Fae prince from the Queen's enslavement.

Hush by Nancy Bush is next up. It's a little different from the usual books I read, especially from the books I've been reading lately, but again, it was the dark cover caught my eye.


In the summer before their senior year, Coby Rendell and her friends take a beach trip together. Around a campfire on a foggy June night, Coby, Rhiannon, Yvette and the others share their darkest secrets, before a tragic accident shatters the bond between them...Twelve years later Coby attends a birthday party reunion that ends in horror when Yvette's sister's lifeless body is discovered in a hot tub. Soon others in the original group of tale-tellers begin meeting similar fates-unfortunate 'accidents' shrinking their numbers one by one...Conflicted by her growing feelings for Danner Lockwood, the investigating detective, Coby races to unravel a mystery buried in the past. But someone is watching her every move - someone prepared to kill again and again to protect a shocking truth.

Wednesday 3 August 2011

Review: Hunted By The Others (H&W Investigations #1) by Jess Haines

Shiarra Waynest's detective work was dangerous enough when her client base was strictly mortal. But ailing finances have forced her to accept a lucrative case that could save her firm - if it doesn't kill her first. Shiarra has signed on to work for a high-level mage to recover an ancient artifact owned by one of New York's most powerful vampires. As soon as Shiarra meets sexy, mesmerizing vamp Alec Royce, she knows her assignment is even more complicated than she thought. With a clandestine anti-Other group trying to recruit her, and magi being eliminated, Shiarra needs back-up and enlists her ex-boyfriend - a werewolf whose non-furry form is disarmingly appealing - and a nerdy mage with surprising talents. But it may not be enough. In a city where the undead roam, magic rules, and even the Others aren't always what they seem, Shiarra has just become the secret weapon in a battle between good and evil - whether she likes it or not.

I've been in a bit of a slum these past few days, flitting from book to book. I'd read a few pages of one then quickly leave it for another. Then the cover of Hunted by The Others caught my eye on Goodreads, I saw all the good ratings and thought why not. I'm kinda glad I did, at first.


Shianna is a PI, a PI whose business is in trouble and both she and it, are running in the red. Needing money fast she takes a seemingly easy job for a lot of money and bites of way more than she can chew.


I don't know how I feel about this book. It started off good but slowly turned into Darkfever #2.


The weapon cave made me think of Batman but nowhere near as cool. There was lots of mundane dialogue, no humour and not very exciting. I don't get why she was so special that everyone wanted a piece of her. I didn't feel the attraction/spark between her and Royce either.


I quite liked Shianna but I'd like her more if she'd shown some loyalty instead of switching sides so easily. I get the she was struggling with the fact that there wasn't a side she wanted to be on, but wow a show of fangs/a slight hint of a threat and she was anyones. A pair of balls wouldn't have gone a miss.


With frequent info dumps, no excitement and a dull protagonist, I not so much struggled to finish this, more that I wasn't really interest. After taking 3 days to read the first half of the book I finally seemed to settle into it around chapter 19. I still found the plot up to this point a little lame but I knew if I could get past all the setting up of the story/characters I'd start to enjoy it more because the writing was good.


I did hate the fact the belt could 'talk'. It was so cheesy but I'm nic-picking now.


Chaz was boring and I didn't trust him, in fact I didn't really care for any of the characters and I guess that was one of the main issues I had with it.


I may get tempted to read the next installment in the hope of it getting better, but I don't hold out too much hope.


Rating: 3/6 - It Was Okay

Monday 1 August 2011

Review: A Fistful of Charms (Rachel Morgan/The Hollows #4) by Kim Harrison



Description (from Goodreads)

The evil night things that prowl Cincinnati despise witch and bounty hunter Rachel Morgan. Her new reputation for the dark arts is turning human and undead heads alike with the intent to possess, bed, and kill her -- not necessarily in that order.
Now a mortal lover who abandoned Rachel has returned, haunted by his secret past. And there are those who covet what Nick possesses -- savage beasts willing to destroy the Hollows and everyone in it if necessary.

Forced to keep a low profile or eternally suffer the wrath of a vengeful demon, Rachel must nevertheless act quickly. For the pack is gathering for the first time in millennia to ravage and to rule. And suddenly more than Rachel's soul is at stake.


I took a mini break after reading book 3 of The Hollows series, Every Which Way But Dead. I was rushing through them as per usual and I always end up regretting it, so I decided to read a different book in between. The book I chose took me a few days to finish so I was more than ready to get back to this series.


Jenks was kinda getting on my nerves at the beginning. I wanted to get hold of him, give him a rough shake and shout at him to get a grip. I didn't see the point of his sulking. Yes, small Pixies have massive egos but what was Harrison's point of having him run off at the last 1/3 of book 3 and just disappear? It didn't benefited the plot any, not as far as I can see anyway. It just made me annoyed with him. He's a blabber mouth, everyone knows it, even him and we love him anyway. He really needed to get over it more quickly. I forgave him not long after, though :)


I was a little shocked at how Kist went from bad ass to domestic kitten in the space of 5 months. Yes he's still dangerous (he's got sharp teeth, duh) but he just seemed like 'the boyfriend' and not a very interesting one at that. I want to see bad ass Kisten!


The first half was a little slow for me. In fact, it felt like it went on forever. It wasn't until I looked on goodreads that I realised how long it was (500 odd pages). I'm still liking Rachel but I'm noticing that she's really quite selfish (I may be late to party with this). I don't think she realises it, though, or that it's done consciously. She just is. It's most obvious with her treatment of Ivy.


And what the hell happened to Nick? Okay, fair dues, I didn't particularly like him anyway but wow he really did get the shitty end of the stick in this book. He went from being an okay kinda guy to a real slimy jerk. I also have to mention the weres. I love werewolves. I really, really do, but they are horrible in this book. Yes, okay they are the bad guys, but come on, really?!


Overall I did really like this book, although I do think it would have been better if the werewolves had more character. They could have been fleshed out better.


Rating: 5/6 - Really Liked It

Sunday 31 July 2011

Monthly Round Up: July 2011

An okay month this time round with a total of 9 books read. I've even managed to post it on time :) Only 2 re-reads this month so I can add 7 to my 150 book goal. Sadly though I'm currently 7 books behind so I'll have to get a shift on in August. Most anticipated book was Grave Dance, and I loved My Life as a White Trash Zombie. 


72. The First Days, Rhiannon Frater
73. Ashes, Ashes, Jo Treggiari
74. Grave Dance, Kalayna Price
75. Firewalker, Allyson James
76. Strange Angels, Lilith staintcrow
00. Mind Games, Carolyn Crane
00. Double Cross, Carolyn Crane
77. My Life as a White Trash Zombie, Diana Rowland
78. Raised by Wolves, Jennifer Barnes



Friday 29 July 2011

Review: Every Which Way But Dead (Rachel Morgan/The Hollows #3) by Kim Harrison



Description (from Goodreads)
There's no witch in Cincinnati tougher, sexier, or more screwed up than bounty hunter Rachel Morgan, who's already put her love life and soul in dire jeopardy through her determined efforts to bring criminal night creatures to justice. Between runs, she has her hands full fending off the attentions of her blooddrinking partner, keeping a deadly secret from her backup, and resisting a hot new vamp suitor. Rachel must also take a stand in the war that's raging in the city's underworld, since she helped put away its former vampire kingpin - and made a deal with a powerful demon to do so that could cost her an eternity of pain, torment, and degradation. And now her dark "master" is coming to collect his due.

This is the third book of Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series and it has a lot of meat. I'm hooked on this series now and I really enjoyed this one, in fact, I think it's my favourite so far. Although it doesn't seem to have much plot it makes up for it with character development and lots of acton.


Rachel doesn't have it easy. There's a lot going on in this book. Big Al continues to be the bane of Rachel's life. Always turning up when he's least expected to leaving Rachel way under prepared, but she always manages to come up triumphant. Luckily (very lucky) for her she has friends who would do anything to help her.


I really loved the date with Kisten and I'm really, really glad it happened. It did kinda feel a little sudden though, that's he's gone from scary to dateable in such a short space of time but hey I'm not complaining :)


Rating: 5/6 - Really Liked It

Follow Friday Blog Hop


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I'm away right after work and my phone won't let me comment on any blogger blogs for some unknown reason so I'm going to leave this here even though I cant take part this week. If you follow me I'll follow back saturady evening :) roll on next follow friday!

Thursday 28 July 2011

Monthly Round Up: June 2011


Again I'm a little late with this, okay maybe a whole month late :/ but it a good month this time round, especially if it's compared to the last few months so smiles all round :) 13 books read and no re-reads! Mid month I began my zombie kick and it hasn't abated yet. Two of my favourite authors had books released; Nalini Singh with Kiss of Snow (Psy-Changling #10 by Singh), and Ilona Andrews with Magic Slays (Kate Daniels 5). I really enjoyed reading both of them. I've been waiting for Hawkes story for a while now so I gave a little squee when I got hold of that. My favourite of the month has got to be Feed with Deadline a close second. Both books by written by Mira Grant. Feed introduced me to the zombie genre (although maybe Enclave prepared me a little) and totally blew me away. 


70 books read out of the 150 challenged :) I think I may be one book behind, but I think that's only happened because I have at least four books that I'm more than halfway through and can't seem to finish (Darkfever, Shiver, Passion, Dime Store Magic), and I'm not really keen to abandon and read again in December.


58. Kiss of Snow, Nalini Singh
59. Magic Slays, Ilona Andrews
60. Street Magic, Caitlin Kittredge
61. Divergent, Veronica Roth
62. Enclave, Ann Aguirre
63. Feed, Mia Grant
64, Deadline, Mia Grant
65. Unearthly, Cynthia Hand
66. Matched, Ally Condie
67. Warm Bodies, Isaac Marion
68. The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Carrie Ryan
69. The Dead-Tossed Waves, Carrie Ryan
70. The Dark and Hollow Places, Carrie Ryan

TBR Thursday

TBR Thursday is a new feature where I tell you about the books I've recently added to my TBR list. I'm experimenting so I'm not sure if it'll be a weekly or fortnightly feature. I think I do actually add enough for it to be weekly, but I don't want to start something that may lose steam after a few weeks.

So first up is a book I saw on another blog, fangtastic books. It was the book cover that made me take notice. Gun and swords are alway a good thing :) I like the blue tone. This kind of cover always makes me think it's dark fantasy, which I love, but sometimes it's not.





 Irreverent. Irresponsible. Insatiable. Who says immortals can't have any fun?
 The year is 3048, Earth is no longer habitable, and man has fled to the stars where they’ve discovered the secret of immortality—Meridian. Unfortunately, the radioactive mineral is exorbitantly expensive and only available to a select few. A new class comprised of the super rich and immortal soon evolves. The Collective, as they’re called, rule the universe.

Two-thousand-year-old Ricardo Sanchez, vampire and rogue pilot of the space cruiser, El Cazador, can’t resist two things: gorgeous women and impossible jobs. When beautiful Skylar Rossaria approaches him to break a prisoner out of the Collective’s maximum security prison on Trakis One, Rico jumps at the chance. Being hunted by the Collective has never been so dangerous–or so fun!

Next on top is the Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George. God I love that dress. If I was going to a fancy dress party I would want this gown. Actually I just want it full stop. Before my fantasy obsession I was obsessed with Marie antoinette, Georgina Cavendish, and the regency era, and this book cover totally appealed to that.


A tale of twelve princesses doomed to dance until dawn… Galen is a young soldier returning from war; Rose is one of twelve princesses condemned to dance each night for the King Under Stone. Together Galen and Rose will search for a way to break the curse that forces the princesses to dance at the midnight balls. All they need is one invisibility cloak, a black wool chain knit with enchanted silver needles, and that most critical ingredient of all—true love—to conquer their foes in the dark halls below. But malevolent forces are working against them above ground as well, and as cruel as the King Under Stone has seemed, his wrath is mere irritation compared to the evil that awaits Galen and Rose in the brighter world above.

Captivating from start to finish, Jessica Day George’s take on the Grimms’ tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses demonstrates yet again her mastery at spinning something entirely fresh out of a story you thought you knew.

This book had totally pasted me by. I came across it by accident while browsing over at The Book Smugglers. How on earth have I missed it? Apparently it's really gory *squees* Have I mentioned that I LOVE gory?


They'll chase you. They'll rip you open. They'll feed on you...When the sickness came, every parent, policeman, politician - every adult - fell ill. The lucky ones died. The others are crazed, confused and hungry. Only children under fourteen remain, and they're fighting to survive. Now there are rumours of a safe place to hide. And so a gang of children begin their quest across London, where all through the city - down alleyways, in deserted houses, underground - the grown-ups lie in wait. But can they make it there - alive?