paulgoatallen wrote:
3monstersmom wrote:
Not sure why I haven't heard more talk about this book on the boards, but I found it to be an enjoyable, lighthearted, and just plain fun read. It's not necessarily groundbreaking or new material, in fact it has the good ole' werewolf-human-vampire love triangle, but it is entertaining and addictive.
The synopsis and cover art make it seem almost like a kids/YA book – but that isn't the case, right?
Nope, this is a straight up adult URBAN FANTASY. I don't even feel comfortable placing this in paranormal romance. Don't let the cover or synopsis fool you out of reading this.
It does contain some of the faults of a first book, but this was a solid 4 star rating. Really when it comes down to it the questions that matter are: Was it worth the money? Yes. Would you recommend it? Yes. Will you be reading book 2? Yes, in fact I'm planning on buying book 2.
Hold on; let me give you the required amateur reviewer blurb: A fast paced, highly entertaining, charming book chock-full of paranormal goodness that left me smiling and wanting more.
3monstersmom wrote:
paulgoatallen wrote:
3monstersmom wrote:
Not sure why I haven't heard more talk about this book on the boards, but I found it to be an enjoyable, lighthearted, and just plain fun read. It's not necessarily groundbreaking or new material, in fact it has the good ole' werewolf-human-vampire love triangle, but it is entertaining and addictive.
The synopsis and cover art make it seem almost like a kids/YA book – but that isn't the case, right?
Nope, this is a straight up adult URBAN FANTASY. I don't even feel comfortable placing this in paranormal romance. Don't let the cover or synopsis fool you out of reading this.
It does contain some of the faults of a first book, but this was a solid 4 star rating. Really when it comes down to it the questions that matter are: Was it worth the money? Yes. Would you recommend it? Yes. Will you be reading book 2? Yes, in fact I'm planning on buying book 2.
Hold on; let me give you the required amateur reviewer blurb: A fast paced, highly entertaining, charming book chock-full of paranormal goodness that left me smiling and wanting more.
Ok, you just made up my mind for me, I am going to get this book!
Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles Series #1)
Here is my review:
Cinder is Marissa Meyer’s debut novel, and in this readers opinion she knocked the ball out of the park for a Grand Slam home run. Cinder offers a futuristic, steampunk re-telling of the fairytale Cinderella. The world-building is magical with amazing characters and a plot that has endless possibilities. Meyer’s writing style is lovely and the tale was beautifully written. While some of the tale is very predictable Meyer's creates a storyline and world that are both unique and fascinating.
kimba88 wrote:Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles Series #1)
Here is my review:
Cinder is Marissa Meyer’s debut novel, and in this readers opinion she knocked the ball out of the park for a Grand Slam home run. Cinder offers a futuristic, steampunk re-telling of the fairytale Cinderella. The world-building is magical with amazing characters and a plot that has endless possibilities. Meyer’s writing style is lovely and the tale was beautifully written. While some of the tale is very predictable Meyer's creates a storyline and world that are both unique and fascinating.Cinder takes place in the Eastern Commonwealth capital of New Beijing sometime after WW IV. After the war, the people elected a king to govern them. While this is a peaceful time on earth, it is not without problems. A plague called Letumosis is affecting people throughout the world. I found the way in which they handled the ill, deplorable. However, I had to keep in mind the size of the city and the rapidness with which spread. As if this crisis isn’t enough they are dealing with another enemy. The moon is inhabited by aliens known as Lunar. They are ruled by Queen Levana who is constantly threatening war with Earth. The king has been trying to negotiate a treaty for years but the Queen wants something he has been unwilling to give. The Queen wishes to form an alliance through marriage thus ensuring her rise to power. She wants to marry, Prince Kai the king’s successor. This modern world is filled with futuristic hover crafts, communications, and embedded identification sensors used for trade and tracking. The people have robots to perform duties and have healed the injured with cyborg technologies; thus created human cyborgs. Sadly, they are considered second class citizens and they are even being drafted by the government as test subjects for research in finding a cure for the plague.The characters in this novel are delightful. Let me begin with Cinder. She is part cyborg. Her hand and part of her leg below the knee are completely mechanical. She has built in sensors, programs and a plate in the back of her head. She was in a horrific hover accident that killed her parents. When she was eleven she was adopted by a man and moved to New Beijing. Shortly after her arrival, the man died, leaving her with a step-mother and two step-sisters. The mother doesn’t like cyborgs and treats her like a servant. She is unable to accept that Cinder has any human feelings. Cinder is the type of protagonist you can easily connect to. She is bright, honest, strong, snarky and independent. I quickly became invested in her story. Cinder’s only true companion is a bot called Iko. I adored Iko. Her programming, considered defective, makes her sarcastic and I laughed at the interactions between them. Prince Kai is a delightful, sensitive and caring young man. He shows wisdom beyond his years, and yet can still act like a smitten teen. A character you will love to hate is Queen Levana and she oozes evil. She is selfish, childish, intolerant and greedy. She demands complete power and respect. I will spend this series waiting for her to get her just desserts.The romance between Cinder and Prince Kai is sweet and for once we do not have a YA-novel serving up insta-love. Kudos to Meyer for letting the relationship build the old-fashion way. The relationship faces numerous complications which only makes it all the more delightful. I look forward to seeing their relationship develop.Cinder is fast paced, and I finished it the same day I started. I became completely immersed in the tale and the outside world melted away. I highly recommend this to fans of steampunk, dystopias and fantasy. I am looking forward to the next novel in the Lunar Chronicles series entitled, Scarlett, with an anticipated release date of 2013. I have added Meyer’s to my list of must read authors. If you want to learn more about Cinder, on January 18, 2012 Meyer’s is releasing Lunar Chronicles 0.5 entitledGlitches. Cinder is currently available in paper, audio and eBook formats.I gave this book 5 coffee cups out of 5.
I have to say the cover really got my attention. Soundslike a good read.
Yesterday I finished
Enter, Night. It took me only two days to read it and that's saying a lot given my low energy level of late. (I've had a reactionary and decidedly turgid reaction to the New Year.) OK--back to the book.
The HORROR in this book is propulsive. A stygian EVIL builds and gradually envelopes the characters. The lush and erie descriptions, from wild Canadian landscapes to the insular and decaying mining town, harmonize beautifully with this story of expertly humanized characters overwhelmed by darkness.
The story's 'Salem's Lot" trope is conventional, but the story itself is a dark symphony. Minor flaws do exist, but overall this book is a HORROR masterpiece.
I usually write reader reviews of books I really enjoy, but I'm afraid I won't do justice to this book. If you love HORROR with a capital H then read this book!
(See Paul Goat Allen's blog review of Enter, Night at Bloody Incandescence: Why Michael Rowe’s Debut Novel is the Vampire Fiction Release of the Year.)
fans of Mira Grant's Newflash trilogy will love this one, as it offers so much more...
Here is my spoiler free review:
Has anyone read this short story yet? Caught Forever Between It's set in the world of her Hoodoo books.
I bought it the other day and plan on reading it this weekend, just looking to see what your thoughts are! I mean, it's Adrian Phoenix, so it's gotta be good, but still curious!
ThirstyFlea wrote:
Has anyone read this short story yet? Caught Forever Between It's set in the world of her Hoodoo books.
I bought it the other day and plan on reading it this weekend, just looking to see what your thoughts are! I mean, it's Adrian Phoenix, so it's gotta be good, but still curious!
Just got it yesterday!
dalnewt wrote:Yesterday I finished
Enter, Night. It took me only two days to read it and that's saying a lot given my low energy level of late. (I've had a reactionary and decidedly turgid reaction to the New Year.) OK--back to the book.
The HORROR in this book is propulsive. A stygian EVIL builds and gradually envelopes the characters. The lush and erie descriptions, from wild Canadian landscapes to the insular and decaying mining town, harmonize beautifully with this story of expertly humanized characters overwhelmed by darkness.
The story's 'Salem's Lot" trope is conventional, but the story itself is a dark symphony. Minor flaws do exist, but overall this book is a HORROR masterpiece.
I usually write reader reviews of books I really enjoy, but I'm afraid I won't do justice to this book. If you love HORROR with a capital H then read this book!
(See Paul Goat Allen's blog review of Enter, Night at Bloody Incandescence: Why Michael Rowe’s Debut Novel is the Vampire Fiction Release of the Year.)
Ooooooooooo, another one that sounds good! GAH!
SciFiCanuck wrote:
dalnewt wrote:
Yesterday I finished
Enter, Night. It took me only two days to read it and that's saying a lot given my low energy level of late. (I've had a reactionary and decidedly turgid reaction to the New Year.) OK--back to the book.
The HORROR in this book is propulsive. A stygian EVIL builds and gradually envelopes the characters. The lush and erie descriptions, from wild Canadian landscapes to the insular and decaying mining town, harmonize beautifully with this story of expertly humanized characters overwhelmed by darkness.
The story's 'Salem's Lot" trope is conventional, but the story itself is a dark symphony. Minor flaws do exist, but overall this book is a HORROR masterpiece.
I usually write reader reviews of books I really enjoy, but I'm afraid I won't do justice to this book. If you love HORROR with a capital H then read this book!
(See Paul Goat Allen's blog review of Enter, Night at Bloody Incandescence: Why Michael Rowe’s Debut Novel is the Vampire Fiction Release of the Year.)
Ooooooooooo, another one that sounds good! GAH!
And from Canada!!! 
Last night I finished
Queen of Kings. This book transported me to the ancient world of legend and myth. IMO, it can best be described as a mythic dark historical fantasy. The third-person narrative utilizes the perspectives of several historical and fictional characters and unwinds a tale of love, despair, horror, intrigue, conflict and redemption.
The main characters include Cleopatra, Anthony (both as a man and a shade), Octavian (Augustus), Agrippa, three witches/shamans and a scholarly tutor of Cleopatra's children who supplies her with a faulty summoning spell. Surrounded by Octavian's forces and desperate to return Anthony to life, Cleopatra summons Sekhmet, the Egyptian goddess of Slaughter. Anthony returns to life only to die again, and Cleopatra transforms into a shape-changing monster ruled by the unending rage and bloodlust of Sekhmet.
The prose is flowing; and the mix of mythologies, often utilized in opposition to one another, is tantalizing. At times the book is the story of a love that defies death and at times it's a fantastical thriller with Cleopatra seeking vengeance on Octavian/Augustus while he and Agrippa seek to destroy her. The three witches/shamans add an element of intrigue as each seeks to further her/his own agenda. One is a priestess of Hecate who seeks to raise her dark goddess from imprisonment in Hades and somehow harness the power the Sekhmet. Another is a snake charming African shaman who has married the daughter of the Western Wind. The third is an aged Norse fate spinner who manipulates the life threads of mortals and seeks to discover the meaning of Cleopatra's transformation.
Each scene in this book is unbelievably rich. For instance, here's an early shape-changing description:
She slipped into the dirty water only out of desperation, used to the pure, rain-filled cisterns beneath the city of Alexandria, but now she stretched in pleasure. She had not recognized the life that filled the Nile, the tiny creatures and large, the plants and sands and scents of faraway places. She began to silently raise her head above the level of the water to take a breath, but the boat rocked with legionaries boarding it, and the wooden hull struck her skull. She was driven downward, inhaling burning fluid, her lungs protesting, gagging, but as she sank, something began to change in her body.
Her eyes widened under the water, and she felt her nostrils close. She felt her spine thrash and elongate, her throat stretch endlessly. Within moments, her shape was that of the river itself, long and narrow, limbless and yet pliant. Her bones fit together like a perfect necklace, an articulated chain, and each motion heralded the next.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a blend of dark fantasy, mythology and historical legend. If you love mythology and fantasy, you should/will love this book.
(See Paul Goat Allen's blog review at Mistress of the End of the World: Maria Dahvana Headley’s Debut is This Summer’s Fantasy Sleeper.)
So I am getting ready to start
I am super excited to read the third book in the Charley Davidson series!
However, once I am finished with this series I don't know what I want to read next...and I would like some help from this community.
So please some help, I love series (single books are ok, but I like the long term relationships of the characters).
THANKS!
angelcloud529 wrote:So I am getting ready to start
I am super excited to read the third book in the Charley Davidson series!
However, once I am finished with this series I don't know what I want to read next...and I would like some help from this community.
So please some help, I love series (single books are ok, but I like the long term relationships of the characters).
THANKS!
I am reading it now ...wahoo!
Here is my review..which again was banned for inappropriate language in violation of TOU.
Ugh..I am so going to the dark side..this is the third one this week!!!!!!!!!!
kimba88 wrote:
Here is my review..which again was banned for inappropriate language in violation of TOU.
Ugh..I am so going to the dark side..this is the third one this week!!!!!!!!!!
When I saw the cover and read the synopsis I was immediately intrigued by Starters. I have a real love for dystopias and post-apocalyptic novels. Starters is the debut novel of Lissa Price and the exciting start of a new series. The world-building and story are fascinating. Parts of the tale, had a disturbing ring of truth to them. This novel quickly captured my attention and I breezed through it in a single day.The protagonist sixteen year old Callie, lost her parents during the Spore Wars. Without grandparents or any other living relative, she and her seven year old brother Tyler are left to fend for themselves. They are living in abandon office buildings with their friend Michael. Callie learns of a way to make income through another Starter. Prime Destination’s offers Callie an opportunity to gain enough money to rent a home and provide food for a few years. The catch, she has to rent out her body three times to an Elder. Her instincts scream this is dangerous, but after a raid on their shelter, she makes the decision to take the job. The tale that unfolds is mine boggling and kept me engrossed. Callie is lovable, confident, and intelligent. Her courage and loyalty when faced with adversity was refreshing. I connected with her and other key characters such as Blake and the Elders. The relationship between Callie and Blake was interesting and a startling revelation near the end of this novel shocked me. The villain, referred to as the Old Man was creepy and his motives not yet clear, I am looking forward to learning more in the next novel.The world-building, and history of the reality Callie, and the other Starters find themselves living in was intriguing. Some of the issues in this society, eerily parallel our own reality. A lot of moral issues are raised regarding a society where the gap between the poor and the wealthy has widened. Where the rich take what they want regardless of the impact of the rest of society. The world building wasn’t without flaws. I question some of the back story. The large number of children left without guardians in a world where the average grandparent is 100 years old. The math just doesn’t add up.To believe what is written, there is a whole generation missing from this tale. The way in which the unclaimed young are treated is deplorable and the governments reasons and actions vague. I felt the storyline needed to be more tightly knit. Despite these concerns; I loved the characters and plot.I highly recommend Starters to fans of post-apocalyptic dystopias. Price shows tremendous talent as a young writer and I look forward to watching her growth. I will definitely continue with this series.Starters is scheduled to publish on March 13, 2012 and will be available in paper, audio and eBook formats.
Ahem. Virgin. 
I agree, I just finished the Rachel Vincent, Shifters Series, and I really enjoyed it. It's action packed, sexy, and suspenseful, and you really get to grow with the main character, Faythe. Who I sometimes didn't agree with, but understood nonetheless.
I would also Like to Recommend the Jeaniene Frost Night Huntress Series!!
Thanks for the Carrie Vaugh recommendation, I'll try it .
Not really sure if this is the right spot to ask about this, but has anyone read Djinn by Poppet? I saw it on the Free Fridays today (although I think it's always free), and seems to have great reviews wherever I look. I downloaded it, but am just curious to see what anyone's opinions are!Sasha doesn't know it's her he has to save, because evil hides in the strangest places.
This is an insider's view of possession, and the tension of two lovers battling it.
ThirstyFlea wrote:It seems all the reviews are calling this a horror story. Other tems used: tension, suspense, disturbing...Product DescriptionCindy's life changes the minute she receives the book Djinn from Sasha. Within hours the forces of darkness infiltrate her life, forcing them to run for their lives.
Sasha doesn't know it's her he has to save, because evil hides in the strangest places.
This is an insider's view of possession, and the tension of two lovers battling it.
Hey Thirsty. I haven't read Djinn by Poppet, but have read two other books by this author that I enjoyed. Thanks for letting us know this was on the free list, I'm going to try it just because I have liked his/her other novels that I have tried. I'm not sure if this helps or not, but just think of it this way. Its free, and it you don't like it you can just remove it from your library... Unless you're me and then i just have to finish whatever I start, it like a compulsion to finish what I'm reading, even if i'm not totally enjoying it...
