chez_jae: (Books)
Black Howl (Black Wings, #3)Black Howl by Christina Henry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I had half a chapter left in my work book; therefore I brought it home to finish it. The book was Black Howl, which is the third installment in Christina Henry's "Black Wings" series of urban fantasy. The protagonist is Madeline "Maddy" Black--Agent of Death, half-human, descended of Lucifer.

Maddy's job as an Agent of Death is to usher souls to the afterlife. When she begins encountering damaged ghosts, however, it becomes clear that someone is tampering with souls. It's something Maddy needs to look into, but she has other things on her plate. When the local werewolf alpha is kidnapped, along with the pack's cubs, Maddy is tasked with rescuing them. Things become even more dicey when her father's side of the family try to force her into the fold. Maddy is having none of it, but she knows that no one makes an enemy quite like family.

I read the first book in this series, once upon a time, but I didn't recall very much about it. The author did a so-so job of bringing me up to speed. While I wasn't completely lost, some things and nuances still escaped me. Maddy is an admirable character, brave and loyal to those who deserve her loyalty. The pace was non-stop, which was almost a draw back. It was exciting, yes, but most of the narrative was taken up with confrontations and bloody battles. Once again, we have a bad-ass heroine who requires saving more often than not. In Maddy's defense, however, most of those occasions were because she gave it her all in battle and burned herself out. There were some amusing quips throughout the story, but for the most part is was not humorous. Too many losses and too much death.

Favorite lines:
♦ "I resent the implication that I'm Three-Stooging my way through life."
♦ "This might be the dumbest thing we have ever done in a long line of dumb things."
♦ "We don't have time. I'd like to go home to my cat tonight."


Breath line:
♦ I exhaled the breath I hadn't realized I was holding.


The story was compelling, but I didn't really enjoy it. I would have liked fewer battles and more plot. Nevertheless, it was a solid read, and it's getting four stars.
chez_jae: (Archer book)
Seventh Grave and No Body (Charley Davidson, #7)Seventh Grave and No Body by Darynda Jones

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I finished Seventh Grave and No Body last night. It's the seventh (gasp!) book in Darynda Jones' "Charley Davidson" series. The main character is grim reaper, Charley.

Charley's life is never dull, but this week is exceptionally busy. Twelve hellhounds have been sent to the earthly realm, and their sole purpose is to kill Charley. On top of that, her father is missing in action, her dead ex-BFF is haunting her, she's been asked to assist on a rash of baffling suicides, a teen ghost claims her body is missing from the cemetery, and a local celebrity is stalking Charley's fiance, Reyes. With the hellhounds in the picture, Reyes isn't letting Charley out of his sight, which makes her job as a private investigator difficult. At least Reyes is encouraging Charley to explore and expand her own powers. It's a good thing, too, as she just may need them to save not only her life, but everyone else's.

This may be my favorite of the series. There was a lot going on, which is typical of these books, but things dovetailed together nicely by the end. Charley continues to be her witty, sarcastic self while still being a kick-ass grim reaper. I enjoy her relationships and interactions with other characters, including regulars and those who merely put in an appearance in this book.

Favorite lines:
♦ Reyes seemed to be the campfire that melted her creamy center. She was warm. Really warm. And her warmth was making me warm. Like a lot. I couldn't be 100 percent, but I was pretty sure we were in the midst of a ménage.
♦ There must be a special, less volcanic portion of hell that was partitioned off and set aside for people who weren't all bad, just a little vindictive. They could call it the drama queen ward. It would be a huge hit.
♦ "I contemplated changing my name to It when I was a kid to make playing tag more ironic."
♦ "What would you attempt to do if you knew you couldn't fail?" // "Calculus, prolly."
♦ "I'm not licking you." A line I rarely said aloud.
♦ Holy water may fend off demons, but spiders were completely unfazed by it.
♦ Clearly, the day was going to proceed as usual: hectic and slightly bizarre.
♦ "Fuck," I said. "And now I said fuck. Son of a fucking bitch. I'm going to be the worst mom ever."
♦ "Go talk to her." // "I can't go talk to her. She has a boyfriend." // "Oh, my gawd, you're such a girl. Want me to pass her a note before gym class?"
♦ "Everyone and their dog is mad at me or has been mad at me at some point today."
♦ "Are you off your soapbox yet, because I need to do laundry."
♦ My jaw fell open. "I am so indignant right now."


Love these books! Five stars!
chez_jae: (Archer book)
Final HeirFinal Heir by Faith Hunter

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I stayed up late last night to finish reading Final Heir by Faith Hunter, which is the 15th book in her "Jane Yellowrock" series. The main character is skinwalker and Dark Queen, Jane Yellowrock, and the story is in her first-person pov.

As the queen of vampires, it's up to Jane to keep the peace not just in her chosen city of New Orleans, but all over the world. She and her entourage are preparing for the coronation of Jane's primo, Edmund, as the Emperor of Europe when a new threat emerges. Jane learns that Mainet Pellissier is alive, and as the Heir of the Pellissier line, he is old and powerful and has aspirations. He wants to steal Jane's crown, along with the Heart of Darkness, and use the artifacts to bind both an angel and a demon, which would give him unlimited power in multiple dimensions. Jane will die before she lets that happen, but her people are intent on keeping her safe, rather than allowing her to fight. Jane will have to rely on her people--the humans, vampires, witches, and others to aid her in this battle. Because if she loses, they all lose.

This was a monster of a book at nearly 450 pages, but I flew through it. The narrative was engrossing and captivating and kept me on the edge of my seat. I am ashamed to admit a sneaked a peek at the back to see who survived. Oops? I couldn't take it; the tension was killing me! That being said, the author wove some down-time in there for Jane, giving her and the reader a bit of a breather now and again. Characterizations were top-notch, and the plot proceeded smoothly whether it was pelting along or slowing before the next heart pounding battle. Fight scenes were amazing and appropriately violent.

Favorite lines:
♦ I was better at busting heads than I was at diplomacy.
♦ Wild guesses were both my forte and my undoing.
♦ She knew I hated pink. If I reminded her I hated pink, would she shoot me?
♦ "If I die, she'll slap me alive, kill me all over again, and you all too."
♦ "Now he has a glass of wine and half the guys in here need a cigarette."
♦ She flipped down a night vision occular and looked ready to shoot anything that moved. So did all the team. Jittery. Tense. I hoped no one let their little yapper dog out to pee or it might end up blasted to pieces.
♦ I was tripping over my protective detail. If we were attacked, I would as likely die from being trampled by my own people as from enemy weapons.
♦ "It is always a child, or a young woman, with the greatest power. This is why men fear us so."


I do love me a bad-ass heroine, and Jane is one of the baddest asses out there. I love her as a character, and I love these books! Five stars.

jane
Artwork by Cliff Nielsen...I believe?
chez_jae: (Archer book)
While searching for another holiday story on my Kindle today, I came across Silver and Salt, an anthology written by Rob Thurman, which included a short story in the "Cal Leandros" verse. I took the time to read it, just because I'm missing Cal. The story was "A Grain of Salt", and it featured a 14-year old Cal living in Chicago and encountering a human monster.

When Cal sees a man talking up a little girl in the park he walks by each day, he warns the girl, Melanie, to stay away from the man. Cal didn't anticipate the predator would find out where Melanie lived, take her, and murder her. Cal is no hero, but there's a part of him that won't tolerate a kid killer in his territory. When Cal dangles himself as bait, the man takes the lure, and Cal teaches him a lesson. Days later, the killer is back and following Cal, seemingly intent on revenge for what Cal did to him. Cal is done playing, but in order to deal with this problem permanently, he'll need Niko's help. The trick is getting Nik's assistance without letting him in on what's really happening.

Let's get the complaint out of the way first: Once upon a time, Thurman seemed to indicate in this series that Niko was five years older than Cal. Eventually, she settled on Nik being four years older. Okay, whatever. When Cal was taken to Tumulus and returned two days later, he was, at best guess, two years older. Okay, so for the rest of the series, Niko was two years older than Cal. I was fine with that. However, in this story, Cal is said to be 14, yet he is thinking ahead to when Niko will be 18, which will be next year. That means in this story (which took place before Cal was snatched up by the Auphe) that there were three years between them. Guh. Get your shit together, Thurman.

That being said, this was an interesting tale and an intriguing look into young Cal's life on the run. Throughout the entire series, Cal has had a soft spot for little girls, although he'd deny it with his dying breath. This story contained an incredible twist that was very satisfying. I wish we'd seen more of Niko, but he helped in his own way, although he never knew it. Hee!

Favorite line: I'd tried to shove one extremely loud kid out of a bus window. It sucked that he was chunky and didn't fit.

Good enough to earn 4 stars for this story, but now I must live with knowing I'll never have any new Cal Leandros to read because Rob Thurman is an enormous gaping asshole.

cal
Banner found on Pinterest; will credit artist if I find out who it is
chez_jae: (Archer book)
Chaos & Christmas (Mythverse #3.5)Chaos & Christmas by Demitria Lunetta

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I read the ebook Chaos & Christmas: Nico's Christmas Carol today. It's book 3.5 in the "Mythverse", uh, verse. There are three authors listed; I don't know if all had a hand in this particular story or if they tag-team for the series. The main character was one-eyed wolf shifter Nico Tralano, whose badass mother pounded all the joy out of his life and turned him into a cold-blooded killer. This is the first book I've read in the series, and I did flounder around for part of it. It would have helped to know the players better. And yes, it was a short novella, but it was chaptered and I'm counting it towards books read this year.

Nico is not just an assassin for hire, he'll do most any job that others are reluctant to. Now he's been asked to kidnap a woman whom he knew from Mount Olympus Academy. Nico feels a little bad about the job, but the money is too good to pass up. However, before he can nab Fern, Nico is visited by three spirits who show him the past, present, and future. It allows Nico to see how brutal his mother was and what his life might have been like, had he opened his heart to friends and other family. Finally, he sees what kidnapping Fern will result in, and it's not pretty. Is it too late for a hard-hearted lone wolf to change his ways and embrace the spirit of Christmas?

Again, this would have been more enjoyable if I'd either read the preceding books in the series or if the author(s) would have provided more back story. That being said, it was certainly interesting. Nico was not the most likable character, but we do get to see why he turned out the way he did, as well as how he now has a chance to redeem himself.

Favorite line: "Gotta do bro love tonight."

I'm not really sure about this one, which means it gets an average rating of three.
chez_jae: (Archer book)
Pure Blood (Nocturne City, #2)Pure Blood by Caitlin Kittredge

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I finished reading Pure Blood, by Caitlin Kittredge, at the office yesterday. This is the second book in the "Nocturne City" urban fantasy series, featuring Luna Wilder, homicide detective and werewolf.

After an enforced leave of absence, Luna has returned to her job as a detective just in time to stumble into a magical war between the Blackburn blood witches and the O'Halloran caster witches. Being saddled with a new partner, and an O'Halloran at that, is less than ideal, but Shelby proves her worth to Luna as they navigate the seedy world of drugs and fetish clubs. In the meantime, Luna's personal life is imploding. The were she recognized as her mate, Dmitri, has been forbidden to see her, as she is Insoli, a lone wolf, and his pack blames Luna for the fact that Dmitri was bitten by a daemon. Luna tries to keep her distance from him, but when Shelby is knocked out of commission, it's Dmitri Luna turns to for help in averting an all-out witch war in Nocturne City.

I did not particularly like this story. It was certainly fast-paced, almost too much so. Luna barely had any downtime between running here and there. Usually she was going off half-cocked, which made her come across as rash and foolishly impulsive rather than bold and decisive. It seemed she was always flying by the seat of her pants instead of formulating a plan and having a back-up plan. Also, she was brutally beaten more than once, which was difficult to read and left me cringing. Not helping is that in the two worst instances, the beatings were a prelude to sexual assault, although in both cases it never got that far. No, our intrepid Dmitri came in to save the day both times. That's another thing that I didn't care for. If you're going to write a kick-ass heroine, she should be able to hold her own in a fight and be capable of saving herself and meting out some retribution along the way. I'm not saying our heroine needs to be infallible, but she should certainly be able to take care of herself. World building was not top-notch. I am still unsure if plain ol' humans are aware of witches and werewolves in their midst or not. Maddening.

Favorite lines:
♦ "And here I was just thinking I hadn't seen enough middle-aged men being spanked recently."
♦ Yeah, this was definitely in the top ten of Luna's Worst Nights Ever.
♦ I would have slapped the superior smirk off her face so hard she'd be a Picasso.
♦ Mac looked like a rabid pit bull was chasing him and he'd just realized his shoelaces were untied.
♦ "I don't care if Mary Magdelene and Jesus Christ have returned to earth and are out there in the street doing a cha-cha with Saint Peter."


I have the next book in the series on my shelf, but I don't think I'll read it. Maybe. I enjoy urban fantasy, but the brutality in this one was horrific, and there was no true humor to provide some levity. Luna was snarky, but it always came across as sarcastic rather than witty. Despite my misgivings, I'm giving this four stars. It was exciting and well-written; I simply did not enjoy it.
chez_jae: (Archer book)
Life Among the Tombstones (An Allie Nighthawk Mystery Book 1)Life Among the Tombstones by H.R. Boldwood

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Finished an ebook novella last night. It was Life Among the Tombstones by HR Boldwood, and it's the first (perhaps a prequel?) in the "Allie Nighthawk" urban fantasy series. The main character is corpse whisperer Allie Nighthawk, and narrative is in her first person pov.

As a corpse whisperer, Allie not only kills zombies, she also has the ability to raise the dead. She has been called on to use her skill to help solve murders. When jobs are few and far between and money is scarce, Allie returns to Cincinnati, where she at least will have a roof over her head. Her father left her his house when he passed. Allie doesn't even make it home before she puts down a "freshie", a newly-animated zombie, that some local cops thought was a homeless man. Now that the police know she's in town, Allie is called upon to raise the corpse of a high-price call girl, in hopes of finding out who killed her. From there, Allie finds herself drawn into the murder investigation, along with a partner, Harry, as they try to piece together the clues that Veronica provided. Sticking her nose where it doesn't belong lands Allie in danger, but she's not going down without a fight.

I liked this story. Characterizations were stellar, including secondary characters and even the pets that are introduced. There was a good pace throughout, and I enjoyed Allie's sarcasm, wit, and pluck. What I didn't care for ExpandSpoilers )

Favorite lines:
♦ "Do you have any idea what kind of shit storm you could find yourself in?" // Obviously, Cap didn't know me very well. I live in a swirling vortex of shit.
♦ "I'm a bottomless pit of contempt. Ask anyone."
♦ Well, slap my silly ass and call me Sally!


Once again, I'd dearly love to give half-stars. This deserves 3.5. Hm. It was enjoyable enough I'll round up to a four.
chez_jae: (Books)
Soul Taken (Mercy Thompson, #13)Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I knocked back Soul Taken, by Patricia Briggs, in 24 hours. Woo! This is the 13th installment in the "Mercy Thompson" urban fantasy series, starring our favorite coyote shifter, Mercy. Story is told in Mercy's first-person point of view, except for one chapter that was in Adam's third-person pov. I didn't see the need for that, and it sort of jarred me out of the narrative. Moving on.

There is turmoil in the pack when damaged wolf Sherwood regains his memories and it turns out he's more dominant than Adam. Neither wolf wants a fight, but the situation must be settled between them. During their cautious negotiations, Marsilia, the mistress of the local vampires, appears to warn Mercy and Adam that Wulfe, her damaged vampire, is missing. Mercy is worried, because what could take down a vampire as dangerous as Wulfe? Not long after, the pack is apprised of a potential serial killer in the area--a supernatural serial killer. One who seems to have drawn from a local legend, the Harvester, who kills with a cursed sickle. Since Adam's pack has claimed the entire Tri-Cities as their territory, it falls on them to investigate and eliminate this new threat. Mercy's ability to scent and parse magic, along with her hit-or-miss immunity to magic, makes her a valuable asset in this endeavor...until the Soul Taker sets its sights on the daughter of Coyote.

The book was pretty much pedal to the metal the entire way through. Mercy and Adam are pulled in so many different directions that I was exhausted for them. Add to that the issue with Sherwood, Zee's covetous desire for the cursed sickle, the disappearance of not only Wulfe but all the vampires in the seethe, and Warren's personal problem that left him snappish and very un-Warren-like, and I had difficulty setting the book aside. Characterizations were flawless, as always. The pacing was frantic with only brief, quieter interludes to allow a breather. Descriptions were vivid. The author hinted at what may be involved in the next "Alpha and Omega" book, much as the most recent "Alpha and Omega" book hinted at what would happen with Sherwood in this series. A cruel, yet brilliant ploy!

Favorite lines:
♦ Stories like to grow as they are passed around, becoming more exciting and less likely.
♦ "I'll find time to gibber in a corner with fear as soon as we're all safe."


I loved the book, but the ending was just a tad (Tad? Hah!) disappointing. Giving this one a score of four.

mercy
chez_jae: (Archer book)
Magic Triumphs (Kate Daniels, #10)Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Late last night, I finished the book Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews. It's the tenth and final book in the authors' "Kate Daniels" urban fantasy series. Story is in first person pov, as narrated by main character Kate Lennart, fka Kate Daniels.

After the birth of her son, Kate is waiting for the other shoe to drop with her father. Roland has made no secret of the fact that he covets Kate's magic-fueled child, intending to mold Conlan into an image of himself. Kate has more pressing things to worry about, however, when an entire village of people disappears, and a mysterious box is deposited on her doorstep. It seems an ancient, magical enemy has tired of biding his time between worlds and wishes to return to conquer the Earth, with Kate as his queen. To that end, Nieg has amassed an army, much larger than the forces that Kate and Curran can muster from their allies in Atlanta. With nowhere else to turn, Kate must reach out to her father to form an alliance, and hope that he doesn't betray her.

I read the ninth book in this series about three years ago. It took me this long to read the final book, because I kept waiting for it to be released in mass market paperback. You know, the same size as EVERY OTHER BOOK on my shelf in this series. Instead, I finally had to wrestle my OCD into submission and buy this larger copy. Still bitter about that. But, I digress. The book was fast-paced, exciting, and tense. There were some sweet, sexy times between Kate and Curran, along with plenty of humor, to provide some relief from what was otherwise constant battles: physical battles, verbal battles, battles of will. Kate has come a long way from a solo merc, trying to keep her head down and not let anyone know her heritage, to the In-Shinar, Daughter of Roland, Queen of Atlanta, and all-around bad-ass with a sword and blood armor. She is now comfortable wielding not just weapons, but her magic and the power words she had to fight to claim as her own. Her battles in this book were glorious. The ending was surprising but satisfying, although I'm bummed about some of the characters that didn't survive the final battle.

Favorite lines:
♦ "She tried to enroll her boys in gymnastics class in the city, and one of the other parents threw a giant fit, so they asked her to leave. She's been rolling in glow-in-the-dark powder and menacing that woman's house for the last three nights." // "Did you explain to her that intimidation isn't in the Pack's best interests?" // "I did. She told me that she would have gotten away with it if it weren't for me, a meddling kid."
♦ Teddy Jo grimaced. "It's not a corpse bus. It's a Multiple Recently Deceased Efficient Removal vehicle." // "You do realize that spells MURDER?" Derek asked. // Teddy Jo gave him a look. "Yes, I do. That's the point." // Angel of death humor, what would we do without it?
♦ "You will take the best care of him, right?" // "No, I'll drop him into the nearest sewer and throw dirt on his head."
♦ "If you can't trust an ice giant driving a creeper van with a dead body inside, who can you trust?"
♦ "It may or may not be part of the Illuminati cipher. I'm reasonably sure it's not a hobo sign." // I sighed. We had people being murdered and ancient abominations running through the streets, but yay, at least the hobos weren't about to invade.
♦ "Be careful," I told her. // "I was planning on blundering straight into danger without any preparation, but now that you told me, I will totally be careful."
♦ All of the Masters of the Dead dressed as if they anticipated being ambushed with a surprise board meeting.
♦ Six vampires came scuttling over the roof, in assorted colors of sunblock, like someone spilled a bag of Skittles. Taste the undead rainbow.
♦ The world was going crazy. Nothing left to do but hold on and yell, "Whee!" at strategic moments.
♦ "That's my boy." I made my voice happy and light. // Conlan hugged my neck. "Bad." // Razer was screaming because Curran had pulled his left arm off. "Yes, bad. Look at Daddy ripping the bad man to pieces. Go Daddy!" // Conlan clapped his hands. Curran snapped Razer's spine with a loud crack, then twisted off the fae's head. // "Look, Daddy killed him dead. All dead." // Conlan giggled. Dali was staring at me with a look of pure horror. // "I don't want him to have nightmares that the bad man is going to get him," I told her. "This way he knows his daddy killed him."


Amazing story, amazing series. I am sorry to see it end, although the authors have branched out with other books in the same verse. I will certainly check them out. Five stars.

kate by BFJay
Banner by BFJay
chez_jae: (Archer book)
Biting the Bullet (Jaz Parks, #3)Biting the Bullet by Jennifer Rardin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Brought my work book home with me on Friday and I finished it this evening. It was Biting the Bullet by Jennifer Rardin, and it's the third book in the "Jaz Parks" urban fantasy series. The main character is Lucille Richardson, code name Jaz Parks.

Jaz and her team, including the vampire Vayl, the Seer Cassandra, and weapons tech Bergman, are in the mideast to meet up with a Special Ops team in order to take down a terrorist known as the Wizard. As if the mission won't be difficult enough, Jaz and Vayl know they have a mole whom they'll need to deal with as well. Compounding problems is that Vayl has met another Seer that he believes can finally lead him to his sons--sons who died over 200 years ago and may have been reborn. His obsession means he's not present for Jaz when she needs his help, thus compromising the mission further. The worst, though, is when Jaz finds out the Spec Ops team is one headed up by her brother, her twin, who has never forgiven her for killing his wife in an act of mercy. It's up to Jaz to get Vayl to focus, get David's team onboard, and sift through subterfuge and double-crosses to hone in on their real target.

I've read the first two books in this series, but it's been so long ago that I was floundering through the first half of this one. Things came back slowly, and the author did do a good job of providing back story so that if someone read this one first, it would make sense. The story was exciting, but I'm not sure I'd bother to read more in the series. There was too much going on, and far too many characters, creatures, bad guys, etc to keep up with. I liked how tough and determined Jaz was, and there was some humor to lighten the mood, but there are other urban fantasy series out there I like far more than this one. And you know what bugged me the most? Jaz was reminiscing about how her boyfriend broke up with her when she was 14. She was crushed, as she'd been busily writing "Jasmine Elaine Smith" (or whatever his last name had been) on her school notebooks. BUT, at 14, she wouldn't have been going by the name 'Jasmine', would she? Back then, she was Lucille. WTF, author?

Favorite lines:
♦ This stud yanked the Ooh baby right out of the girl in me.
♦ "I am experiencing a deep-seated need to blow a bubble."
♦ "You been screwed, little girl. And not in the kick your legs up and squeal kind of way either."
♦ Thanks to Vayl I can fake my way through a seven-course meal alongside an army of French food critics without raising a single suspicion that I can't wait to run home, throw a burrito in the microwave, stuff it down my throat, and fart my way through an episode of South Park.


This was a good book, don't get me wrong, but it didn't grip me like other urban fantasies have. Giving it a score of four and letting the series slide off my radar.
chez_jae: (Books)
Sixth Grave on the Edge (Charley Davidson, #6)Sixth Grave on the Edge by Darynda Jones

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I finished reading Sixth Grave on the Edge by Darynda Jones last night. This is the sixth (obviously!) book in the "Charley Davidson" series of urban fantasy lite. Story is in first person pov by the mc, Charlotte "Charley" Davidson--PI and grim reaper.

While Charley contemplates how to respond to a marriage proposal from Reyes Farrow, the son of Satan, she is keeping busy with her PI work. Charley has her hands full when a client claims to have lost his soul in a card game and wants it back, an FBI agent has dumped a cold case on her lap, which turns out to involve Reyes, and a local crime lord threatens to kill her friend if Charley doesn't find out the location of a woman who plans to testify against the crime lord in an upcoming trial. On top of all that, Charley is intent on setting up her Uncle Bob with her BFF, Cookie, since neither of them can seem to make the first move. It's a good thing for Charley that she has coffee to get her through.

This book was a hilarious romp, as the others in the series have been. If I have a complaint, it's that there wasn't one dominant story line so much as a smattering of plotlines, not all of which were resolved by the end of the book. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the story and laughed out loud more than once while reading it.

Favorite lines:
♦ "I sold my soul to the devil and I need you to get it back for me." // That was new. I blinked a few times, took a slow sip, then asked, "Did it fetch a good price?"
♦ "What are you doing?" // "What?" // "You're intimidating him." // "I'm standing here." // "Yes, intimidatingly."
♦ Life was good. Until I lost seventeen million dollars in a card game.
♦ "He can be the sweetest thing when he's not killing demons and shit."
♦ "We should grab a bite. Talk about it." // "What about Muffy?" I asked Garrett. // "Who's Muffy?" // "Daniel's Yorkie." // "Well, okay, but only one. I'm not that hungry."
♦ "Oh my god, I will give you a million dollars if you just tell me." // "You don't have a million dollars." // "Fine," I said, patting my pockets. I brought out what I did have: three ones, some spare change, and a watermelon Jolly Rancher. "I'll give you three dollars, fifty-two cents, and a Jolly Rancher." // "I was going to say no, but since you threw in the Jolly Rancher..."
♦ The man beside me spoke. "Would you like to switch?" // "Absolutely, but I don't think you can wear my clothes. You're more of an eight, maybe?" // He was even more uncomfortable. And confused. And he clearly had no sense of humor. "I meant stools. Would you like to switch barstools?"
♦ "You forgot something." He tucked something into my hands. A bra. My bra! What the--? I wiggled my shoulders, testing Danger and Will. Yep, no support whatsoever. // He watched me for a sec, then said, "Want me to put it on for you?" // "Okay, but I doubt it's your size."
♦ "This is Pari. She's a killer tattoo artist and has only been to prison twice."

This line sent me into gales of laughter! I totally want to introduce people like that from now on.

Amazing fun! Five stars.
chez_jae: (Books)
Banshee Blues (Bones And Bounties #1)Banshee Blues by Bilinda Sheehan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Last night I completed the ebook Banshee Blues by Bilinda Sheehan. It's the first part of the "Bones and Bounties" urban fantasy series, featuring Darcey Thorne, one of the few remaining banshees.

After running afoul of the Faerie Court, Darcey is beholden to them in exchange for being allowed to live. She acts as a bounty hunter for the Fae, but she also takes on jobs for humans as a private investigator. It's her mundane jobs that pay the bills. When two jobs land on her doorstep at nearly the same time, Darcey finds herself hunting down MacNa, a frenemy of sorts, searching for a wayward husband, tangling with witch traffickers, shot with iron bullets, and framed for murder. Worst of all, an adorable kitten has barged into her apartment and her life, and she can't seem to get rid of it. Hunted and betrayed, Darcey must rely on her wits and ingenuity if she is going to get out of this alive.

Hm. First of all, I felt like I'd begun watching a TV series somewhere in the middle of season three. I don't know if this book is a spin-off from another series, but a lot of Darcey's past was simply glossed over, which I found frustrating. Second, the plot was mainly comprised of Darcey going here to investigate and getting in a battle, or Darcey going there to speak to someone and getting into a battle. The narrative was choppy, for lack of a better word. Nevertheless, it was gripping and exciting and certainly kept me invested. The ending lacked resolution, which I also found disappointing.

Favorite lines:
♦ She had used enough hairspray to trap a small child on her head if one wandered too close.
♦ The thought of giving up what I was for a man just felt wrong.


This deserves a score of 3.5, but since I can't award half stars, I'm bumping it down to a 3 for the lack of backstory/world building and the unsatisfactory ending.
chez_jae: (Books)
Nevermore (Cal Leandros, #10)Nevermore by Rob Thurman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I began reading Nevermore, the 10th and final(?) book in the "Cal Leandros" series by Rob Thurman, last night and I finished it tonight. Story is told wholly in Cal's first-person point of view.

When Cal gates out of the Ninth Circle to get the pizzas he forgot to buy for the celebration within, he gets to see his world end before his very eyes. The Vigil, who've been gunning for Cal since he outed himself as not-human, have made a final attempt on his life by ramming the bar with a truckload of explosives. Cal wasn't inside, but everyone he ever cared for was. Cal is about to eat his gun when he learns that Robin had one last trick up his sleeve. The Vigil have sent an assassin back in time to eliminate a younger, more vulnerable Cal. If Cal can go back and prevent that, he may also be able to prevent the tragedy that happened in his own time. To do so, however, he'll need his big brother's help, never mind that Niko is now six years younger than Cal is. He also must deal with his annoying younger self and a Robin who can't leave well enough alone when trickery may be involved.

It's up to Cal to convince Niko who he is and that he's telling the truth, fend off Robin's brand of help, locate and exterminate a supernatural assassin, deal with the fresh hell of seeing everyone he loves die in a fiery explosion, and oh yeah, refrain from killing himself in the process.

I knew going in that reading this would not be pleasant. Cal just wants to fucking die, but he's holding it together for Niko and Robin. His Niko and Robin, because the eight-years younger versions just aren't quite the same. It really reminded me of what Niko went through when Cal had his bout of amnesia in Blackout: it was Cal, but not quite his Cal. A lot of the book was consumed with flashbacks, not just of the events leading up to the explosion, but also of past lives. There was a lot of introspection and angsting on Cal's part, and the fact that he managed to cling to his sanity was amazing. Cal did manage to give Niko some serious shit about his sex life, which was epically hilarious. However, Cal spent the majority of the book hurting (physically, mentally, emotionally) and exhausted, and my heart ached for him. I knew the story would end on a cliffhanger, and hell yeah, I'm bitter. I'm bitter, because the author wrote the sequel to this, but she never published it. My understanding is, she pulled the ultimate fandom flounce and refused to publish until people bought more of her other series of books. Sooooo, does she know what it means to "cut off your nose to spite your face"? Because that's exactly what she did. Not only did her fans deserve better, but her characters did, too. Perhaps even more so. Robyn Thurman, you officially suck.

Now, let's examine the illogical premise behind the story:ExpandMeandering Middlings on Time Travel + Spoilers for the Series )

The only author I ever saw handle time-travel well was Dean Koontz in Lightning, in which it was only possible to travel into the future as it was not yet set. That makes far more sense than traveling back in time.

This story was an emotional minefield. Am I sorry I read it? Yes and no. I'm going to soothe my pique and my psyche by clinging to my belief that the events in Thurman's short story, "Impossible Monsters", took place after Everwar, the unpublished 11th book in the series. That being the case, I can then presume Cal saved the day. Hell, he told Ishiah in that story, "I saved the world, saved your life, saved everyone you ever knew or will know." Bet you didn't think of that either, when you wrote/published "Impossible Monsters", did you, Rob Thurman? Hah! That sucking sound coming from Indiana is still you, though.

ExpandFavorite lines )

This one had my feelings all over the place: angst, genuine laughter, despair, hope, and yeah, some teeth-grinding anger at the author for the shabby way she left her characters hanging while she held them hostage (and continues to do so, it seems) in an effort to force readers to buy her other books. That's okay. Have your titty tantrum, bitch. We have fanfic. Hah!

I'll be generous and give this a four.

cal
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chez_jae: (Archer book)
Wild SignWild Sign by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I spent a good portion of my weekend engrossed in the book Wild Sign by Patricia Briggs. It's the 6th installment in her "Alpha & Omega" series. This one features werewolf Charles and his Omega mate, Anna.

When an entire village of people disappear on lands owned by the Marrok's pack, the FBI drops the issue on Charles and Anna, whom they have worked with before. Charles and Anna, along with Tag, one of Bran's damaged wolves, head to the California mountains to find out what has happened. When they arrive, they find the area steeped in magic and danger. Anna's affinity for music puts her in a particularly precarious position, as the entity dwelling there also has an affinity for music. She calls it the Singer. Throughout their investigation, the werewolves encounter enemies both old and new, but they also have allies, both old and new, whom they can rely on to assist them. Charles and Anna will need to pull on everything they have to destroy an entity that is on the verge of becoming a god.

I liked some aspects of this book and disliked others. It was interesting to learn more about Tag and about Bran's mate, Leah, whom I've never liked until now. However, for the most part what we knew about Leah was from Mercy's point of view (the coyote shifter from the author's "Mercy Thompson" series), and Mercy and Leah have never gotten along. It was also interesting to learn more about Sherwood (the damaged wolf in Adam's pack), even though he never had any screen time. Correction, he literally had one sentence of screen time.

What I didn't like was the lack of resolution for some plot points. While the overall story had resolution, there was that one sentence about Sherwood that just left the reader hanging. Also, what did Coyote do at the "assisted living" center? Has anything truly changed between Bran and Leah? And then there was the bombshell in the epilogue. Argh! Maddening.

Favorite lines:
♦ And they had added two and two and come up with twenty-two.
♦ There were things that grew more powerful when spoken of.
♦ The person who'd turned Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" into elevator music should have been shot.
♦ "You can feed your wallet, or you can feed your soul, but you seldom can do both at the same time."
♦ "It's not ideal, but it's the best of bad options."
♦ "At least it's not the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man."


Not my favorite of this series, but as I mentioned, it was virtually un-put-down-able, earning it five stars.
chez_jae: (Archer book)
I bought an anthology called Shadowed Souls because it contained a short story by Rob Thurman in her "Cal Leandros" series. I read the story, 'Impossible Monsters' last night. Since it was a short, I'm not counting it among my books read, but I did want to review it.

The story was told in Cal's first-person point of view, as is much of the series. Here we have Cal thinking back about a human predator he encountered when he was a teen, as he's hunting the man down to eliminate him. The only other familiar character the reader encounters is Ishiah. I was disappointed that Niko only put in an appearance in Cal's memories, and Robin not at all.

I was so excited to have something new in the Cal verse to read, even just a short story, that I bought that entire book. Unfortunately, I found the story disappointing. Cal's "voice" seemed...off, almost as if someone other than Thurman wrote the story. Cal seemed colder, his trademark snarky sense of humor was all but missing, and he was utterly vicious in meting out what he perceived to be justice. Now, Cal is a killer, through and through, but he doesn't typically torture anyone or anything. He tortured this guy, and I didn't like it.

I've read the entire series through #9 - Downfall, and I thought that Rafferty had "re-set" Cal so that he was back to being half-and-half (half human, half Auphe). The caveat being Cal would be able to Gate, and his eyes would still turn red from time to time, but in this story, he still had his Auphe teeth. I may have missed something by shying away from reading the 10th (and final) book in the series, but I'm still bitter that what was MEANT to be the final book in the series was never published. I'm reluctant to read Nevermore, knowing it ends without any overall resolution. Le sigh. However, this short story was copyrighted in 2016, while Nevermore was published in 2015. Dare I hope that means Thurman wrote 'Impossible Monsters' after she'd written Everwar (the unpublished 11th book)? Hmmm...

Favorite line: Sometimes it worked and sometimes it failed. Other times it failed spectacularly.

Again, this didn't seem like the Cal I've come to know and love, and I was disheartened reading the story. Giving it two stars. I may read the rest of the stories in the book some day, but not today.

cal
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chez_jae: (Books)
Downfall (Cal Leandros, #9)Downfall by Rob Thurman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Over the course of approximately 24 hours, I read Downfall, which is the 9th installment in Rob Thurman's "Cal Leandros" series. This time, the story is told in the alternating, first-person points of view of both Cal and Robin. Getting Robin's take on things was interesting and eye-opening.

Cal and Niko Leandros have met and outmatched every awful thing that life and the Auphe have thrown at them...except for Grimm--another half-Auphe who wants Cal to join in play time. At the moment, however, Cal is unable to gate, thanks to his battle with Spring-Heeled Jack. It may make him less Auphe on the inside, but on the outside he is becoming more and more Auphe. Cal's hair is turning white, his eyes are becoming red, and he's even gaining some of the natural weapons of the Auphe. Unfortunately, it's not only Grimm who's coming after Cal. The Vigil, a group of humans who want to make very sure that the rest of humanity has no idea that monsters exist, has decided that Cal is an out-of-control liability. They are now gunning for him, literally. Things seem pretty bleak, but Robin Goodfellow, the ultimate Trickster, is determined not to lose Cal and Niko at so young an age this time around, no matter how many bribes, cons, and tricks it takes. If he also has to con and trick the Leandros brothers to accomplish that, so be it. What they don't know won't hurt them, but it may save their lives.

Most of this book was bleak. Cal is horrified by the physical changes he's undergoing, mainly because he doesn't want Niko to recoil from him. Robin is pulling out all the stops, and throughout the narrative, he is thinking about Cal and Niko's past lives and how he failed to save them time after time. Niko is alarmed by the changes in Cal, but he's determined to stick with him no matter what. As for Grimm, he has some tricks of his own up his sleeve, but even he may be no match for Robin Goodfellow--born of the First.

There was a lot to like about this story:ExpandSpoilers )

There was also a lot I didn't like about this story:ExpandSpoilers )

ExpandFavorite Lines )

Overall, it was as enjoyable and engrossing as the others in the series, but I was dismayed that Niko almost faded into the background. Some things seemed forced, including the tidy ending. It read like it should have been the end of the series. Now I am faced with a dilemma: There is a final book the author published. Note I said "published". She wrote two more, but only published the first of them. It's my understanding that one ends on a hell of a cliffie. *wibbles*

I hate to do it, but I'm giving this book a mere, average rating: 3 stars.

cal
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chez_jae: (Books)
Slashback (Cal Leandros, #8)Slashback by Rob Thurman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Since I didn't have to work today (government holiday, for the win!) I used my day off to read Slashback, which is the 8th book in Rob Thurman's "Cal Leandros" series. Lest you think I didn't read any Cal books last month, hah! I spent most of October skim-reading the previous seven. Again. Yes, I am addicted. Moving on...

Before Cal and Niko made monster killing their livelihood, they were nearly victims of a human monster--a serial killer. They survived that encounter, but the killer didn't. What they didn't know was the man had been the protege of a malevolent, supernatural killer, the legendary Spring-Heeled Jack. Now Jack has arrived in NYC, and he is gunning for the Leandros brothers. It takes awhile before Niko, Cal, and Robin figure out this current killer is the same as the one of yore, and even longer to realize they locked horns with him once before, if only via his underling. In the meantime, they are trying to flush their quarry out, with disastrous results. It's going to take a combination of grits, guns, and guts to put this monster down, and the Leandros brothers may also need the help of the angels...if angels actually exist.

Whew, okay. "Fast-paced" doesn't begin to cover it. The story is told in alternating povs again, but this time, Niko's point of view is from twelve years ago, when he was fifteen and Cal eleven. It's the recounting of their encounter with the serial killer. Cal's pov is from the present, as he and Nik and Robin seek to identify and eliminate Jack. In spite of the subject matter (and the fact that Cal and Niko got their asses handed to them more than once) this was probably the most humorous book in the series. I lost count of how many times I said aloud, "Poor Niko!" and then laughed. You couldn't help but feel sorry for a teenage Nik having to deal with a snotty, sarcastic, snarky tween brother. Promise was not as prevalent in this story, but when she was, she tweaked Cal's tail but good, which, while hilarious, seemed somewhat out of character for her. Ishiah was more prevalent, and we finally learn his true nature (and that of all peris).

Other things I enjoyed...ExpandSpoiler Alert! )

Characterizations were stellar, the narrative was pell-mell-er (hee!), fight scenes were exciting and violent, there was the humor interwoven to balance it out, and the emotions were heartening and heart-wrenching all at once. Niko has always taken care of Cal, but now Cal is stepping up more and more to take care of Niko, and he doesn't care if that means letting his inner-Auphe off the leash. The only thing that allows him to rein it in at all is his love for Niko.

ExpandFavorite lines )

Engrossing, entertaining, emotional, exceptional! Five stars!

cal
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chez_jae: (Books)
True Dead (Jane Yellowrock #14)True Dead by Faith Hunter

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I was up past my bedtime last night, but I wanted to finish reading True Dead by Faith Hunter. It's the 14th Jane Yellowrock novel, featuring Cherokee skinwalker, vamp killer, and newly crowned Dark Queen, Jane Yellowrock.

After healing in the rift, Jane is enjoying some well-deserved R&R in the mountains with her closest confidantes. However, she can't hide from her responsibilities forever. As the Dark Queen, Master of the City of New Orleans, and Bloodmaster of Yellowrock Clan, Jane has people depending on her. When an attack is launched at vamp HQ in NOLA, Jane is thrust back into the thick of things. Used to being an Enforcer, she is now forced to take a back seat in her role as the Dark Queen. Jane doesn't like it, and neither does her twin-soul, Beast. Not content to sit idly by, Jane begins delving into the history of vampires, specifically from NOLA, in an effort to learn who may be behind the recent attacks. What she learns is that the enemy may be closer than she thought, and that no one in NOLA is safe.

I love this series, period. This book was somewhat of a departure in that Jane wasn't involved in many battles except on the periphery. She still took an active role, working to unravel the tangled threads that had been in place for centuries as she sought to identify enemies and allies both. Near-immortal vampires can afford to be patient as they lay their traps and put their pieces into play. None of them counted on Jane, however. There was a lot of action in this one, stunning betrayals, and some sobering losses. Beast is present but not always forthcoming with Jane. In fact, a lot of people were keeping things from her, and Jane didn't like it.

Favorite lines:
♦ Beast liked secrets. All cats liked secrets.
♦ "I'll be annoyed if you paranormal psychos ruin my wedding."
♦ No way was I giving in to this hilarity.
♦ She was neither disdainful, nor in awe of my magnificent ears.
♦ Cats must always confuse humans. Confusion was why humans loved cats.
♦ I had never been pretty. But by all that was holy, I was badder than bad.


This didn't end on a cliffhanger, per se, but it created a nice set up for the future of the series. I am looking forward to it! Five stars!

jane
Artwork by Cliff Nielsen...I believe?
chez_jae: (Books)
Doubletake (Cal Leandros, #7)Doubletake by Rob Thurman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I took Friday off work, just for the hell of it, and I spent most of the day reading Doubletake, which is the 7th part of Rob Thurman's "Cal Leandros" series. Main character, of course, is our favorite snarky half-Auphe, Caliban "Cal" Leandros. Note that I mentioned he's our favorite; this becomes important later. Foreshadowing!

Family is a bitch, and no one knows that better than Cal. He's one-half of a monster so horrific that all other supernaturals live(d) in fear of it. This time around, however, it's his brother, Niko, who is feeling the familial pain when his previously absent father shows up, needing a big favor. Cal takes an immediate dislike to Emilian Kalakos, but he steps aside to let Niko handle the situation as he sees fit. In the meantime, Robin Goodfellow, the puck of legend and a friend to Cal and Niko, has his own family issues to deal with. The entirety of his race is descending on NYC for their once-in-a-millennium reunion. The gathering is called, appropriately enough, the Panic. Every other non-human has the sense to leave town, which means that Robin has only Cal and Niko to call on in order to serve as bartenders/security for the Panic.

The Panic and Kalakos would be enough of a headache, but Cal is also confronted by family--another half-Auphe who is keenly interested in seeing which of them is the better monster. Cal must play along to keep his family and friends safe, even if it means shedding more of his own humanity to do so.

Let me just say this upfront: Enough. I am growing weary of the Auphe. Cal (and the readers) deserve respite. In book 1, the Auphe were destroyed. In book 2, oh hey, some of them managed to survive. In book 4, the rest of the Auphe were destroyed. Yay! In book 6, Cal learns there are other halfbreeds, so he finds them, caged and insane, and delivers a quick coup de grace. Phew! Now, here we are in book 7, and, oh no, there's another evil half-Auphe out there. Better yet, he's found the perfect source of "broodmares", and he's amassing his own, diluted Auphe army. *head desk*

That's not the only thing that bothered me; my Logic Brain kicked in once again to ruin a good story. ExpandHere be Spoilers )

I wish authors wouldn't forget their own plot devices or, as may be the case, simply choose to ignore what they'd laid out in earlier books. It would be like JK Rowling having Harry Potter Apparating in and out of Hogwarts, even though she'd earlier specified no one could do such a thing. I dunno. Not happy about the never-fucking-ending saga of the Auphe.

Okay. All of that aside, I did enjoy the book. How could I not? It's Cal and Niko and Robin! Again, I would have loved to get some of this in Niko's point of view. He was keeping it together rather well but for a marked increase in cursing. Even Cal was impressed. Ha ha! We learned more about Robin, and it was funny to find out that he'd foisted three of his mummified cats off on Promise...and that Promise was unable to evict them from her penthouse because they were too fast for her to catch. LOL! Cal and Niko are still as devoted to one another as ever, maybe even more so in the face of family neither one ever wanted to meet. The plot caromed along at a frenzied pace, and there were some stunning twists and surprises.

ExpandFavorite lines )

This was as exciting, entertaining, and enthralling as every other book in the series, but I'm knocking one star off (Auphe?) for the lather-rinse-repeat of Cal's heritage coming to bite him in the ass. AGAIN. Four stars.

cal
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chez_jae: (Books)
Blackout (Cal Leandros, #6)Blackout by Rob Thurman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I spent my day off knocking back Blackout, which is book # 6 in the Cal Leandros series by Rob Thurman. I'd been a tad reluctant to read it, because I knew it involved Cal losing his memory, and I have to say, ye olde "amnesia trope" is one I do not care for. At all.

When Cal wakes up alone on a beach, surrounded by the dead bodies of monsters, he has no idea where he is nor who he is. From the evidence surrounding him (and the weapons he's carrying), he can tell he's a monster hunter, but beyond that...nada. Cal hoofs it into town and does his best to assimilate as he tries to remember. Four days later, a man claiming to be his brother comes for him and takes Cal back to NYC. There, Cal learns that he and his brother are both monster hunters, which suits him just fine. Monsters are evil and need to be killed, right? In the meantime, some of the monsters he encounters seem confused by him, leading Cal to believe that people are keeping secrets from him. What Cal doesn't yet realize is that the biggest secret is his own monster heritage, and that it may be the only thing that can save the city when a would-be goddess arrives to drain the local Wolves and vampires.

As mentioned, I really don't like amnesia as a plot-device. It's far too soap-opera-y. However, the author made it work in this book. We get to see what Cal might have been like, had he been born fully human. Worse, Niko gets to see what Cal would have been like, and it leads to him making some less-than-honorable decisions where Cal is concerned. While Nik is desperate to have his brother back, he's also reluctant to burst this new Cal's happy little bubble. Of course, Niko's machinations are no match for Cal's Auphe half, which begins to reassert itself as time goes on. The story did have some humor in it, from Cal getting drunk (which he never would have done in his right mind) and singing with Robin in a bar, to him dragging Niko next door to the bar and insisting his brother get a tattoo. Niko, bless him, allowed it, although he nixed Cal's first suggestion of a "Bros before Hos" tat. Ha ha! A fun, fast read that managed to be melancholy and uplifting both.

ExpandFavorite lines )


Now, this is certainly an instance where I would have loved to get some of the story in Niko's point of view. I felt bad for him, dealing with a Cal who wasn't quite his Cal, but I don't think it excused what he did to keep his brother happy and Auphe-free. I would have liked to get his reasoning, first-hand. Again, not a fan of amnesia-trope, but it certainly made for a different story in this series. Five stars.

cal
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