Fair Game (Alpha and Omega #3)

  After being disappointed in Hunting Ground and River Marked , both of which I thought were lack luster reads by Patricia Briggs, I was hoping that Fair Game would infuse a bit more oomph to the characters and to the story line. I'm pleased to say that Fair Game delivers and sets up an interesting new direction for Briggs's future releases.

Description (from the publisher): They say opposites attract. And in the case of werewolves Anna Latham and Charles Cornick, they mate. The son-and enforcer-of the leader of the North American werewolves, Charles is a dominant alpha. While Anna, an omega, has the rare ability to calm others of her kind.
   Now that the werewolves have revealed themselves to humans, they can't afford any bad publicity. Infractions that could have been overlooked in the past must now be punished, and the strain of doing his father's dirty work is taking a toll on Charles.
  Nevertheless, Charles and Anna are sent to Boston, when the FBI requests the pack's help on a local serial killer case. They quickly realize that not only the last two victims were werewolves-all of them were. Someone is targeting their kind. And now Anna and Charles have put themselves right in the killer's sights...

Review: Fair Game is the third book in the Alpha and Omega series, a spin off to Brigg's popular Mercy Thompson series. Though the two series can be read independently, I would highly recommend that you read the Alpha Omega series in order and begin with the novella On the Prowl which first introduces us to the relationship of Charles and Anna.
  Briggs continues to explore the dynamics between the very alpha, serious and quiet wolf Charles and his stubborn, deceptively demure, and omega wife Anna. While they are still learning about each other and enjoying the early stages of their mating, Charles and Anna have hit a new bump in the road. Charles has a problem and he refuses to open up and let Anna help him.
   For many years, Charles has worked as Bran’s (the alpha of all werewolves in North America and Charles's father) executioner, destroying those who have broken the code of werewolves and have threaten the safety of the werewolf packs. Recent events have led werewolves to come out to the public and now Bran is trying to maintain a positive and safe image for his wolfs.
  Briggs's werewolves manage to keep the carnal aspects of the wolf without losing their humanity. While they can assimilate with the general public, they still pose a volatile and violent threat to those around them as their anger can be triggered very easily. For this reason, Bran sends Charles out to kill those wolves who are unable to keep their wolf in check. Neither Bran nor Charles take pleasure in hunting down fellow werewolves, but a system of balance is needed. Charles's executions are now taking their toll and as a result he is emotionally shutting everyone out, especially Anna.
  Charles's conflict is very complex, which Briggs effectively demonstrates this by showing how it effects many people especially Anna and Bran through their point of views. If we are placed in Anna's shoes, we can't help but wonder if Bran is just using his son to do the dirty work and is completely oblivious to see the ramifications on his son. If we see it through Bran's eyes, he knows he asks a lot from his son and feels guilty about it, but he really can't send out other alphas, fearing they couldn't handle it and it would push the older wolves to go lope. As for Charles, it's just another thing that he has to deal with and sort through himself.
  Readers of this series know that Charles is very introverted. His physically aggressive demeanor is a front and his reputation of a killer doesn't exactly make him approachable. In Fair Game we see Charles at his most vulnerable state. He has the ghosts of his previous kills lurking around him. They talk to him, scare him, and he is terrified if he acknowledges them too much, they will take control of him and eventually harm his wife. So he fights against the spirit's growing strength and keeps this pain and torment hidden from her. For the majority part of the book, Charles resorts to transforming himself to Brother Wolf, the name of Charles’s wolf, in order to deal with people. 

  Brother Wolf is an interesting character. Though completely separate from his human side. He is more forth coming and direct to the point. They both love Anna, but sometimes they disagree with each other. It is fascinating how Briggs is able to create different voices to these two aspects of Charles along with the long and serious struggle for Anna to break through Charles's walls.

  In order to reprieve Charles from his duties to the pack, Bran comes up with a somewhat temporary solution for him. There have been a string of murders in the Boston area involving werewolves. The FBI are desperate to catch this serial killer, and have given into the fact they might need a werewolf to give them some insight. With Adam Hauptmann home helping Mercy recover, Bran sends Anna and Charles to Boston. When a powerful fae’s daughter becomes the next victim, Charles and Anna stick around until they can bring justice. The mystery is probably one of the best plots written by Briggs as it not only matches the inner turmoil of her characters, but it also stays on track. There is no lengthy, long winded explanation of how the murder is solved like they can be in some of her books. There is also enough clues to keep the pages turning. While there is no cliffhanger per se, the ending leaves us with lots of questions about the future the political maneuverings of the various paranormal creatures in Briggs's world. It's too bad that we have to wait until March 2013 to find out what happens next.

 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: Strong violence, language, disturbing images related to mutilations and rape, and a small sex scene. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Mercy Thomspon series by Patricia Briggs, Nightshade series by Andrea Cremer, Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, Bitten by Kelley Armstrong, Silver by Rhiannon Held, Touch the Dark by Karen Chance

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Gunmetal Magic

Husband and wife team, Ilona Andrews, has delivered another engrossing and thrilling read set in the Kate Daniels World with Gunmetal Magic. Kate, our main heroine for much of this series, steps aside so her best friend, Andrea, can work out some issues.

Description (from Goodreads): After being kicked out of the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, Andrea's whole existence is in shambles. She tries to put herself back together by working for Cutting Edge, a small investigative firm owned by her best friend. When several shapeshifters working for Raphael Medrano--the male alpha of the Clan Bouda, and Andrea's former lover--die unexpectedly at a dig site, Andrea is assigned to investigate. Now she must work with Raphael as her search for the killer leads into the secret underbelly of supernatural Atlanta. And dealing with her feelings for him might have to take a back seat to saving the world...

Review: Gunmetal Magic takes place between the closing events of Magic Slays and the short story Magic Gifts. Andrea is Kate's best friend and side-kick. She is an integral character like majority of the secondary characters in the Kate Daniels series. In Gunmetal Magic we get to see all aspects to Andrea- the good, the bad, and the ugly- as the authors flesh out her character.
  We are use to seeing Andrea take action, loving her job in the Order of the Knights of Meriful Aid, and offering her sage advice to her best friend. In Gunmetal Magic, Andrea has hit rock bottom. She is fired from her job when her employer found out that she is a beastkin, a rare breed of shapeshifters, she broke up with her boyfriend, Raphael, and now lives in fear of repeating the abuse she receieved as a child when she was brought up in a clan. Andrea wants to start over, but only on her terms and with her being in charge. I loved Andrea in this book as much as I loved her in the Kate Daniel series. She is definitely a friend that I would want to have and I can see why Kate loves her. She is smart, extremely witty, but very guarded. It takes Andrea a long time to get comfortable in her beastskin and realize that it's not a flaw in her character but something to be proud of. Though we might not know exactly what it feels like to be in her shoes, we can empathize with her insecurities.
 Gunmetal Magic is very much plot driven as Andrea refuses to deal with her emotional turmoil for majority part of the book. Her relationship with Raphael, a character who I thought balanced her well, is antagonistic at best as each lash out from being suddenly dropped from each others lives. Though separated for majority of the time in the book, their sexual tension is still high. It's clear that both still have strong feelings for one another. Before this book, I like many other readers, were scrambling to figure out what happened that broke Andrea and Raphael apart as both seemed to be very much in love. In this book, we get answers and a more clearer understanding of how both characters feel. While I loved the action scenes and the humor to keep me on my toes, I really felt the absense of the emotional warmth I'm use to getting when I read about these characters. While things end up well, it doesn't feel as satisfying as it should. Nonetheless the book provides us with new questions about the structure of the Pack's order and what might happen next in Andrea's life. Gunmetal Magic is another exciting story that will help ease the waiting period for the next Kate Daniels book to come out.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: Strong violence, some language, and sex is implied. Recommended for mature teens and adults.

If you like this book try: Bloodsong series by Cat Adams, Mercy Thomspon series by Patricia Briggs, Fray or Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 graphic novel series by Joss Whedon, Chicagoland Vampires by Chloe Neil, Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare, Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones

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Tricked (Iron Druid Chronicles #4)

  Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne is a series that you should definitely check out if you are in the mood for a humorous, action-packed thrilled ride filled with mythological and paranormal creatures.  Many thanks to publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of the book so I can provide my readers with an honest review.

Description (from the publisher): Druid Atticus O'Sullivan hasn't stayed alive for more than two millennia without a fair bit of Celtic cunning. So when vengeful thunder gods come Norse by Southwest looking for payback, Atticus, with a little help from the Navajo trickster god Coyote, lets them think that they've chopped up his body in the Arizona desert. But the mischievous Coyote is not above a little sleight of paw, and Atticus soon finds that he's been duped into battling bloodthirsty desert shapeshifters called skinwalkers. Just when the Druid thinks he's got a handle on all the duplicity, betrayal comes from an unlikely source. If Atticus survives this time, he vows he won't be fooled again. Famous last words.

Review: Now that Atticus and company have complete one plot arc, we are now poised for the next one. We switch our focus from Norse mythology to Native Amerian mythology in Tricked, where Coyote as you might have guessed plays a very large plot of the book. I know some readers complain that Hearne veers off from his plot and does a crash course in mythology, but as someone who loves mythology I don't mind it a bit.
  Tricked is filled with a series of consequences after the major turning events that transpired in Hammered. The book is not as heavy on the gods or action, but strengthens the relationship between teacher, lovable dog/sidekick, and Druid apprentice. The humor as always is top notch and one of the best things that I love about this series.
 As the series progresses, we gain insight as to what it must feel like to live several millenias like Atticus. His vulnerability shows which is not to say makes him weak, but reminds us that his life isn't all fun and games. He too has suffered loss and is hesitant to move forward especially with building relationships to anyone in fear that he would lose them. I thought it was interesting that Atticus didn't always save the day, but his trainee and Oberon, his adorable dog, also pitch in and even help save Atticus's life.
 In an interview, which took place at the "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" read-along, Hearne mentioned that there is a start of a love interest for Atticus. There is a glimpse of this new budding relationship, but it is very subdued. I'm guessing as these characters grow, there may be more development in this aspect of the story. So readers looking for a full blown romance will be disappointed. As a fan of Atticus, I'm happy to know that the potential of romance is there. Overall, Tricked is a solid continuation of Iron Druid Chronicles and I'm looking forward to reading the next book, Trapped, very soon.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: Strong violence, some disturbing scenes, and language. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Trapped (Iron Druid Chronicles #5) by Kevin Hearne, The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher, Cal Leandros series by Rob Thurman,  Child of Fire by Harry Connollly

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Black Heart (Curseworkers #3)

  I was eagerly anticipating reading Black Heart, the third book, in the Curse Worker trilogy. My only qualm with the book is the cover. I really wish they stuck to the original cover as it matches the mood and tone of the book. This new cover does absolutely nothing and doesn't showcase the awesomeness of this series. Readers looking for a good, solid YA urban fantasy series to read should definitely pick this one up.

Description: Cassel Sharpe has been a con man for all of his life. He's been used as an assassin in a dastardly plot, but he's move beyond that glitch in his life. He's trying to be good and to do the right thing, even though the love of his life is inextricably connected with crime. How can you distinguish between truth and lies when things become blurry? With his life, future, and love on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet. This time he is playing with his heart.

Review: Black Heart is a solid conclusion to the Curseworker series. I loved this unusual world where magic, reality are intricately interwoven. To fully enjoy the solid world building and a terrific cast of complex characters, be sure to start with the beginning of the series with White Cat and Red Glove.
After going through the ringer, in more ways than one, it's surprising to believe that Cassel is up for one more adventure. He's figured out the truth about himself and his abilities as well as made the decision to no longer con people, but of course things don't go as planned. It's hard to let go of the game especially if that's all that you really know. Throughout the book there are lots of interwoven cons Cassel has either set in motion or disrupted but their ripples are still being felt. At times the government and the criminals are hard to distinguish with each driven by their own goals and manipulate the system to get exactly what they want.
  What makes the Curseworker series work for me is Cassel's voice. It never falters yet there is a certain type of vulnerability mixed with charm and sarcasm that makes him likable. He's actually the normal one in his twisted and disturbing family. When he says he wants to be good and get away from the con, you want to believe him especially witnessing his past, however, you know you're going to miss the rush of getting a way with a con or solving one.
  The pace of Black Heart is done quite well. I've gotten pretty good at figuring out a YA book's plot within the first 50 or 100 pages, but with Black Heart I like not knowing how things will end as the plot twists and turns. Along with a twisty plot, there is also a great balance between mystery and romance. There is romance where Lila, Cassel's best friend and the love of his life, is concerned. They are not on the best of terms with one another yet you can feel the romantic tension between them. The romance doesn't overtake the story, which is great because it can appeal to both female and male readers. The book's conclusion, while somewhat surprisingly happy but certainly not a pretty bow wrapped up altogether too nicely. I'm just sad to see Cassel and company go and I do hope that Black plans on doing a spin off series. If you haven't read anything by Ms. Black, do give this series a try. If you hated her faerie series, this series is really different. It's fun, smart, and very entertaining.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language, underage drinking, and a small non-explicit sex scene in the book. Recommended for Grades 8 and up.

If you like this book try: Heist Society series by Ally Carter, Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich, Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale

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Hammered (Iron Druid Chronicles #3)

  If you are in the mood for a humorous, action-packed thrilled ride filled with mythological and paranormal creatures alike, you should definitely pick up the Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne. There are currently four books out in the series thus far with more books to follow. I've yet to become disappointed with this series.  
 
Description (from Goodreads): Thor, the Norse god of thunder, is worse than a blowhard and a bully—he’s ruined countless lives and killed scores of innocents. After centuries, Viking vampire Leif Helgarson is ready to get his vengeance, and he’s asked his friend Atticus O’Sullivan, the last of the Druids, to help take down this Norse nightmare.
   One survival strategy has worked for Atticus for more than two thousand years: stay away from the guy with the lightning bolts. But things are heating up in Atticus’s home base of Tempe, Arizona. There’s a vampire turf war brewing, and Russian demon hunters who call themselves the Hammers of God are running rampant. Despite multiple warnings and portents of dire consequences, Atticus and Leif journey to the Norse plain of Asgard, where they team up with a werewolf, a sorcerer, and an army of frost giants for an epic showdown against vicious Valkyries, angry gods, and the hammer-wielding Thunder Thug himself.

Review: Unlike Hounded and Hexed, Hearne turns a bit more introspective, dark, and serious in Hammered, but still retains its spectacular humor and action. Though we've traveled and battled alongside Atticus, we didn't get a chance to know him on an intimate level. Throughout the series thus far, we have been given glimpses into his long lived life. We know that he is capable of overcoming many obstacles and has been successful in being the oldest druid alive. In Hammered, we are introduced to the human Atticus who has made mistakes, loved and lost people he's cared for. Atticus's saddness becomes your own thus making you all that more connected to him. 
  For me the draw of the Iron Druid series has always been the perfect balance of Atticus's character. He’s a guy’s guy, who tries to think logically and long term without going crazy. He is blunt and honest, never to hide his emotions. He may not have all the answers and he does make mistakes along the way. He is fiercely loyal (especially to his wonderful, screen stealing irish wolfhound Oberon. Love him!) and a man of his word. Atticus is someone you want to have your back in times of trouble. Despite his very, very old age, he retains his humanity. 
  Since Atticus has promised Leif and a few others he meets along the way to finally kill Thor, Atticus is warned by none other than Jesus (over beer, fish & chips) to be reconsider, warning him that his move to the Norse god will have serious repercussions. Determined to keep his promise no matter the cost, partly out of a code of honor and partly out of pride, Atticus sets his path. He organizes his affairs in Tempe, Arizona, and set sails for a tumultuous odyssey. I have to say that I had two thoughts running through my head while reading Hammered. My first thought: I kept asking Atticus (yes, I know he's not real but still) whether or not he was really sure he sure about him committing deicide. My second thought: Why would you want to hurt this face? I did have to remember that I was meeting a completely different, unlikable Thor in Hammered who took satisfaction is causing people pain for no real reason. Hearne does a great job in giving a glimpse into the lives of those whose that Thor has hurt, especially Leif, which not only make you step back and view the actions and very some huge surprises but truly feel their anguish and anger. 
  Hearne continues to do a great job in exploring the theme of power, particularly with the mythological gods as the issue of keeping power in check versus behaving like spoiled little children. Questions of what makes us truly human, to the choices we tend to make shape our lives and the effects. It's very easy for Atticus to go down the dark road of a god complex, but he has learned the hard way of balancing his powers. We do, however, see how others deal with this same situation through Thor and Lief.
   Just a heads up, there is a slight, kinda big cliffhanger at the end of the book. One part of the plot arc has finished while another one leads to the next book. Overall, a very enjoyable read.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong violence, some language and sexuality in the book. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Tricked (Iron Druid Chronicles #4) by Kevin Hearne, The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher, Cal Leandros series by Rob Thurman,  Child of Fire by Harry Connollly

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Hunting Ground (Alpha and Omega #2)

Just a quick note: I will be on vacation when this review posts. I may not or may not have internet access during vacation, but I will play catch-up with your blogs and comments when I get back. 

  I'm really enjoying the Mercy Thompson spin-off series, Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs. While it's hard not to compare these two series together, the Alpha and Omega series explores the aspect of romantic relationships particularly of the main pair, Charles and Anna, much more than the paranormal politics in the Mercy books. I do highly recommend reading both series.


Description: Anna Latham didn’t know how complicated life could be until she became a werewolf. And until she was mated to Charles Cornick, the son- and enforcer- of Bran, the leader of the North American werewolves, she didn’t know how dangerous it could be either.
Anna and Charles have just been enlisted to attend a summit to present Bran’s controversial proposition: that the wolves should finally reveal themselves to humans. But the most feared Alpha in Europe is dead set against the plan- and it seems like someone else might be too. When Anna is attacked by vampires using pack magic, the kind of power only werewolves should be able to draw on, Charles and Anna must combine their talents to hunt down whoever is behind it all- or risk losing everything.

Review: Hunting Ground takes place a month after Cry Wolf. Charles and Anna are officially married as they accepted their wolves counterparts to be mated. Though they have a mating bond, their relationship needs work as both characters learn to trust one another and themselves. As I mentioned in my review of Cry Wolf, I love that Anna's and Charle's relationship is a work in progress. Despite them being paranormal creatures, their relationship makes them more human and familiar. Briggs does a great job in demonstrating how difficult it is for Anna and Charles to open themselves up as we get to be in both Anna’s and Charles’ heads and experience their doubts, fears and deep need for one another. Their ability to see one another for what they truly are, is what makes their relationship so special.
  I know many readers were a bit put off by the plot in Cry Wolf, but it didn't bother me as I was so entranced by the characters. Unlike many readers who enjoyed the mystery part of Hunting Ground, I found myself a bit annoyed with it. I thought Briggs took much time to introduce us to many different international werewolf packs mentioned in the book. While I did find a few of them piqued my interest, I got a little bored. I also thought the villain and the good guys were apparent to me in the book as well as the incorporation of Arthurian lore, while an interesting angle, appeared to be a bit forced. Despite these issues, I did enjoy the book and I absolutely love the idea of Anna, who appears to be fragile like the book covers indicate, is completely the opposite and continually saves the day with staying true to herself. She, like her mate, is a force of nature. I’m anxiously awaiting the third novel, Fair Game, which seems to be most people's favorite book of the series thus far. 

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, strong violence, and suggestions of sex in the book. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Fair Game by Patricia Briggs (Alpha and Omega #3), Nightshade series by Andrea Cremer, Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

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Cry Wolf (Alpha and Omega #1)

I really hope this review posts. Blogger has been glitchy for a few hours last night. I've received many recommendations to start Patricia Briggs' Alpha and Omega series. This new series is set in the same world as her Mercy Thompson's world but it focuses on different, secondary characters with rules of its own. I finished and really enjoyed the first book, Cry Wolf.

Description: Anna never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack... and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she'd learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. Then Charles Cornick, the enforcer- and son- of the leader of the North American werewolves, came into her life.
   Charles insists that not only is Anna his mate, but she is also a rare and valued Omega wolf. And it is Anna's inner strength and calming presence that will prove invaluable as she and Charles go on the hunt in search of a rogue werewolf- a creature bound in magic so dark that it could threaten all of the pack.

Review: Cry Wolf continues the story found in the anthology On the Prowl, where we are introduced to Anna, a reluctant and new member of the Chicago Pack werewolves. Three years ago, she was turned against her will and since then went through emotional, physical and sexual abuse by her Pack. The purpose of the abuse, which thankfully wasn't shown but discussed briefly, was to 'break' Anna and make her submissive around dominant wolves. Anna is unlike many wolfs in the sense that she has a special ranking as an Omega, which means she is protective and brings peace to a pack with her natural ability to soothe the animal part of the werewolf. She has been made to believe that she is weak, but in reality she's fierce, strong willed, and incredibly determined to move beyond her brutal past. 
  When Charles Cornick, the enforcer and son of the Marrok (the leader of the North American Werewolves) and brother of Samuel, comes to Chicago to investigate the issue, he has an immediate attraction to Anna. Anna's and Charles' wolf counterparts pretty soon see each other as "mated". The human counterparts however, want to take their relationship slow, which is where Cry Wolf begins. Anna goes back to the Marrok's territory in Montana with Charles and tries to find her place in her new life, a chance to start over again on a relatively clean slate. In the mean time there's a rogue werewolf on the loose that is causing danger and needs to be dealt with.
 I really enjoyed Cry Wolf because the book's focal point is more on the character development and relationship between Anna and Charles which differs from the Mercy Thompson novels, where action and paranormal politics take center stage. With Cry Wolf, I follow the happenings of the other, secondary characters that are vital to Mercy's world but make a brief appearance such as the Marrok and Charles, who really come to life in this book.
     The love story was very well done. Though they are mated according to their wolves, Anna and Charles are at the beginning of their relationship, where they are learning things about one another and trying to become comfortable with having another person in their lives. There is lots of awkwardness, tension, misinterpretation of feelings going on between them. The distance between the characters isn't your typical hate/love relationship or the annoying "does he/she like me now? what am I doing wrong" running inner dialogue that cause a reader to groan, but rather a plausible conflict as each character have built defensive walls around themselves that will take time to break.
   Charles has been employed as his father's assassin for over 150 years. He is a not the first person you would think of if you're having a rough day. He is not good with words and keeps his distance. It's not that he doesn't like people or isn't personable, but he simply afraid to be close to anyone in fear that he'll have to harm them if they step out of the pack's rules. Being in a new, solid relationship is very foreign to him. Though he physically appears to be intimidating, he is incredibly patient, gentle and sweet with Anna. Similarly, Anna's walls are built from fear which makes sense given the horrors that she has experienced. She has to learn all over again to trust her instincts and needs time to rebuilt her trust, though she shares mutual attraction to Charles. Though the characters make strides in their relationship, there is still a lot of development needed. There is no doubt that my favorite parts of the book are when we see Charles and Anna spend time together, whether it's through dialogue or just being together. I think they both compliment each other very well.
    The mystery surrounding the rogue werewolf wasn't very action packed and unfolded leisurely. I wasn't bored with it, but I also thought it was more like a subplot of the book. I know that the mystery aspect is considered the weakest part of the book, but honestly, I was more interested in reading about the relationship amongst the characters to take notice. I liked meeting new characters and learning a bit more about background information on the Marrok, a character that I always found to be enigmatic.
  Briggs' writing style is simple, straightforward, but also has the right touch of emotions. You get a chance to tag along the characters, get to know them on a personal level without ever being intrusive. The paranormal and human aspect to the characters are balanced, which makes them very appealing.
   As a side note, I don't know if you should read the Mercy Thompson books before starting this series, as they both stand alone, however, I felt very comfortable in jumping on one to the other with having knowledge of the Mercy universe already established. I did pick up on the hints of what's happening outside of Montana. Overall, I really enjoyed this first book and I plan on reading the rest of the series. 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language, violence, and a brief non explicit sex scene that fades to black. Recommended for older teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Hunting Ground (Alpha and Omega #2) by Patricia Briggs, Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, Skinwalker by Faith Hunter, Chicagoland Vampire series by Chloe Neil

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River Marked (Mery Thompson #6)

 The Mercy Thompson series is a great urban fantasy series written by Patrica Briggs. Out of the series so far, my favorite has been Silver Borne which I burned through in a night. River Marked, while enjoyable, didn't meet my expectations.

 Description (from Goodreads): Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shape-shifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. She's never known any others of her kind. Until now.
  An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River-one that her father's people may know something about. And to have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate will need their help.

Review: Compared to the adrenaline rush of Silver Borne, River Marked is much more mellow and easy going. Mercy has taken a big step in her life, ready to settle down and marry her mate. Things are great with a lovely wedding and the start of a romantic honeymoon until a man is found in a boat on the Columbia River with a bitten-off leg and his sister is missing and presumed dead, that's when things get interesting and a bit weird.
  While there is not much character growth for Mercy, we do learn a lot about her Native American background which had been shrouded in mystery until now. I really enjoyed the Native American mythology and thought it was woven nicely into the story.  Though the usual cast in Mercy's world, which I love are missing after the wedding, the stand-in cast is funny and likable.
  The mystery surrounding the river creature was a bit ho hum for me. There wasn't intricate or dare I say complicated enough to resolve. I wasn't really excited and drawn into the story as much. After finishing the book, I thought River Marked might have worked better if it was a novella instead of an actual book. The pacing was a bit slow and the tone was different (not necessarily a bad thing) compared to the other books. Overall, I enjoyed River Marked but it's not my favorite book in the Mercy series.  

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, strong violence, and a few non-descriptive sex scenes which take place off the page. Recommended for older teens and adults.

If you like this book try: Kate Daniel series by Ilona Andrews, Bitten by Kelley Armstrong, Stray by Rachel Vincent

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Hexed (Iron Druid Chronicles #2)

  I had such a fun time joining in the Kiss Me, I'm Irish Read-along which featured Hounded, the first book in the Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne. The book is filled with action, humor, and mythology. I couldn't wait to find out what happens next. Luckily, books 1-3 are out and the fourth book will be released later this month!


Description (from Goodreads): Atticus O'Sullivan, last of the Druids, doesn't care much for witches. Still, he’s about to make nice with the local coven by signing a mutually beneficial nonaggression treaty when suddenly the witch population in modern-day Tempe, Arizona, quadruples overnight. And the new girls are not just bad, they're badasses with a dark history on the German side of World War II.
   With a fallen angel feasting on local high school students, a horde of Bacchants blowing in from Vegas with their special brand of deadly decadence, and a dangerously sexy Celtic goddess of fire vying for his attention, Atticus is having trouble scheduling the witch hunt. But aided by his magical sword, his neighbor's rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and his vampire attorney, Atticus is ready to sweep the town and show the witchy women they picked the wrong Druid to hex.

Review: Hexed takes place right after Hounded. New readers to the series who pick up Hexed should have no problem as Hearne provides enough recap to set the stage without dragging the plot down. After Atticus finally defeats his long time nemesis, he thought he get a nice break. Wishful thinking, of course! Not only does he almost get killed by a long distance magic attack by a new coven of witches, but he has to deal with Bacchus, a fallen angel, and the everyday troubles of keeping his true identity as a disguise. 
  Along with the action and humor, we slowly learn more about Atticus's past. We learned that he helped families in WWII. I can only imagine what he has seen through the millenniums. Though we admire Atticus as a hero who respects nature and understands his limitations of power, we are reminded that he is not perfect as his prejudice against all witches (after meeting the witches, it's kinda hard to disagree with him) come to the forefront. He struggles to change his mindset and places some of his trust on the coven he makes a treaty with, which alters his simple, black and white world view into shades of grey. My favorite moment describing Atticus's humanity is when he talks about his love for his Irish wolfhound Oberon and how losing Oberon would be devastating. For Atticus, Oberon isn't just a pet, but a confidant, a partner, and a true friend.  
  Characters that only get mentioned in Hounded get more time in Hexed such as the trickster Coyote, and Atticus's paranormal lawyers Leif and Hal. We also get to see Granuaile, Attiucs’s new apprentice, starts showing her smarts and her backbone, standing up to Attiucs when she feels he’s in the wrong. I loved to get more character development of these secondary characters in the next few books. I'm lead to believe we'll learn more about Leif as he is gunning to get his revenge on Thor (whom everyone seems to love to hate) and leaves a opening to the next book Hammered, which I can't wait to read.


Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some crude humor, brief non-explicit sex scenes, strong language, and strong violence. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Hammered (Iron Druid Chronicles #3), Harry Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher, Something from the Nightside by Simon R. Green

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Kiss Me, I'm Irish Read-along: Chapters 21-25 + Epilogue

  Sadly, this is the last week of discussion for the Kiss Me, I'm Irish Read-along.  Kiss Me, I'm Irish is a read-along of HOUNDED by Kevin Hearne, and hosted by awesome bloggers Felicia of Geeky Blogger's Book Blog, Amanda of On a Book Bender, Ash of Smash Attack Reads!, Jen of In the Closet with a Bibliophile and Missie the Unread Reader. Today we are discussing the last chapters and the epilogue. Head over to Missie's blog to participate in today's questions!

1. In a moment of anger, Atticus reveals something about himself that he usually keeps very secret, for his own benefit. Has something similar ever happened to you? Have you ever spilled a closely guarded secret in a moment of excitement or anger or absent-mindedness?

I can't say that I've spilled any secrets in anger, but I have mentioned past grudges to make a 'point' which almost always back fires or just refuels the fires more. 


2. Atticus tells Mrs. MacDonagh, "the universe is exactly the size that your soul can encompass. Some people live in extremely small worlds, and some live in a world of infinite possibility." Then he asks her what she is going to do with the new information she has discovered. What would you do if you found out that other beings were among us? Would you deny it or embrace it?

I would embrace it. Mind you, I will be honest and say that I'll be scared about it. I'd like they are nice and not like those zillions of sci-fi movies where they try to take over the planet. I always wondered why we, humans, think we're so superior and that it's always us against them.


 

3. So far, Atticus has revealed a few of his powers and has even shared some power by putting bindings on Granuaile. What do you think has been his coolest or most helpful power so far?

I love that his power is nature-bound and that he can refuel by absorbing those powers. I've finally got a hero who's got superhero powers without any scientific experiments gone wrong!


4. Atticus gets pretty pissed when he finds out that Aenghus Óg is drawing power from the Earth and, in turn, killing it. That's when Atticus decides he must fight the old Fae for committing such a heinous offense. What is something you would fight for, even if it meant you might die trying?

Besides family and my loved ones, I'm trying to defeat illiteracy and censorship daily. Sometimes it's a struggle, but it's incredibly important to me. 


5. What did you think of the final showdown between Atticus and Aenghus Óg? Did it go down the way you expected? Was there anything about their battle that surprised you?

I know this may sound bad, but I appreciated the fact that Atticus went down quickly. It goes to show that he is vulnerable and despite his awesome powers, he does have to struggle to fight. I'm so glad that Aenghus Óg was defeated, talk about a huge jerk.


6. What was your favorite/least favorite part of Hounded? Who was your favorite/least favorite character?

Favorite part of Hounded: All the dialogue! I totally didn't expect Hounded to be so funny. I was going into thinking since it's got a male lead character, it's going to be serious and all about the action.

Least favorite: The secret behind Granuaile was revealed too quickly. I would have liked to have a lead up to that part.

 Favorite characters: Mrs. MacDonagh (that lady made me laugh so hard, I could barely read the page!), Oberon (best sidekick ever), Leif and Hal (love the bromance with Atticus), Laksha (I'm excited to see what plans she has up her sleeves).

Least favorite characters: Morrigan- this woman scares the crap out of me and I have no idea where her 'relationship' with Atticus will go.

7. What do you think is coming up next for Atticus? Will you continue reading this series, and if so, what do you hope to see happen in the next book?     

Well, I've only read the first two books, but I'm curious to see how and if Atticus will go after Thor. I would love to know more about Leif and Hal too. 

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Kiss Me, I'm Irish Read-along: Chapters 16-20

  Kiss Me, I'm Irish is a read-along of HOUNDED by Kevin Hearne, and hosted by awesome bloggers Felicia of Geeky Blogger's Book Blog, Amanda of On a Book Bender, Ash of Smash Attack Reads!, Jen of In the Closet with a Bibliophile and Missie the Unread Reader. For more information on how to join, click here. Today we are discussing Chapters 16-20.

Chapters 16-20

1.  Just after Atticus is shot, Oberon has to "ninja" his way out of the shop and into Hal's Beamer (with the icky air freshener). Have you ever been in a situation where you had to "ninja" your way out and try not to be discovered? If so, what happened?

When you have a large family and four other siblings, it's hard to go or do anything unawares. ;)

2. Atticus's main goal through a large portion of the book is not only protecting Oberon, but also protecting the sword. You are now living in a paranormal world and you need a weapon! What weapon do you choose and what can it do? 

I have to fan-girly once again, but I'd pick Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth. The Lasso was forged by Hephaestus. It's unbreakable, and is capable of confining even beings as physically powerful as Superman. Empowered by the Fires of Hestia, the Lasso forces anyone held by it to tell the absolute truth. The fires are said to even be able to cure insanity, as they did in the case of Ares, God of War, when he attempted to incite World War III, but renounced his plan when the Lasso showed him that such a war would destroy all life on Earth, including any potential worshipers he sought to gain from it. (Source: Superhero Database).

3. To recharge and heal after being shot, Atticus sleeps naked, tattoos to the earth, in a patch of grass near the Civic Center in downtown Scottsdale. Where is the weirdest place you have ever slept? 

 I can't think of any place. I had a professor in college who had the worst monotone voice ever. It took will power and large amounts of caffeine to stay awake in his class. I still remember a guy sitting in the front row who would fall asleep and snore very loudly within the first 10 minutes of class (I'd actually timed it after the third time). The class was very small, about 15 kids and there was no where to hide and sleep. I wondered if that guy ever passed that class. 

4. We finally find out some very interesting information about Granuaile and I don't know about you, but I certainly wasn't expecting to find that she's sharing her head with someone else. What about you, did you expect anything along those lines? If not, what were you expecting concerning Granuaile?  

 I really like Granuaile and think she will become an interesting character as the series progresses. I had a hint about her, but I thought she was just another supernatural character. While I wasn't disappointed to know that she's pretty normal besides the dual personality, I kinda wished there was more of a development leading up to the discovery. It seemed to kind of come out of nowhere. Now that I look back, I actually like how she's kinda like the 'normal' version of Atticus and serves as a great contrast to him.

 

5.  Laksha is a witch, a truly evil one at that for many of the things she's done in the past. However, she's supposedly seen the error of her ways. Do you think she really has? Would you be willing to trust her? Do you think Atticus is smart to have decided to trust her to help him with the "other" witches?

 I love Laksha only because I don't know what she has been planning and there's something spontaneous about her. I love the fact that she is Southeast Asian and not the stereotypical woman who is passive and quiet. I'm really curious about her background and hope to get more of her back story. I don't think she has seen the errors of her ways. Not at all. She got her butt kicked and now she's looking to dust herself off and get back in the fight. If I was Atticus, I would definitely keep my eye on her.

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Kiss Me, I'm Irish Read-along: Chapters 6-10 + 11-15

  


  Kiss Me, I'm Irish is a read-along of HOUNDED by Kevin Hearne, and hosted by awesome bloggers Felicia of Geeky Blogger's Book Blog, Amanda of On a Book Bender, Ash of Smash Attack Reads!, Jen of In the Closet with a Bibliophile and Missie the Unread Reader. This post will contain answers for last week and this week. Hope that's okay with you ladies!

Chapters 6-10

1. In Chapter 6, Atticus goes hunting with Oberon and Flidais. What was supposed to be a fun hunting trip turned rather disastrous. Were you expecting something like this to happen or did it catch you by surprise? Have you ever had something that should have been fun turn disastrous or nearly disastrous?

I expected something to go wrong and crank up the action in the book, but I didn't think it would be so disastrous. I've had lots of great plans and expectations to do things that I thought were fun like a part or a movie night only to find people back out at the last minute, which is why I stopped planning for things. It just seems counterproductive.

 

2. We are only briefly introduced to the witches (or, a witch) in chapter 7. What are your first impressions? How much would you trust the witches? Why?

 After reading lots of paranormal/urban fantasy books, I've learned quickly to never trust anyone who has super powers. I don't trust the witches at all, because they always seem to back out of their deals and twist things around to favor themselves just like the fey.

3. Oberon says, “With dogs you just go up and smell their asses and you know where you stand. It’s so much easier. Why can’t humans do that?” Do you ever wish there was an easier way to find out where you stand with someone (besides Oberon’s suggestion, of course)? In what cases would it be easier or better to hide your true feelings?

Of course! There were lots of times where I wished I had a radar like Cinder does in Marissa Meyer's book where she has a light that goes off when she suspects someone and if they are not telling the truth. I think it would be easier to hide your true feelings in a life or death situation or when you have the potential to really hurt someone. 

 

4. Chapter 9 makes Atticus’ life much more difficult: the witches are in some way working with Aeghus Og, Bres comes after Atticus, and more trouble appears at the end of the chapter. Have you made sense of what has happened thus far? Any predictions for what might happen?

 I had an idea of what would happen next, but since I already the book and knows what happens I'm going to avoid this question.

 

5. Atticus has had plenty of time to cultivate attitudes and ethics that would allow him to live a very long time. What do you think it is about Atticus that has allowed him to live for as long as he has?

 Well, he is smart and keeps thing in check.  He has a very small circle of people who can trust and help him when in need. Plus, you know, he's a druid so magic spells are also a big help. :)

Chapters 11-15

1. I love Leif Helgarson, Viking Vampire, Esq. I have to say that combo makes a pretty cool attorney. If you could have a paranormal/mythical beastie (or combo) covering your tuckus in court, what would you choose and why?

You're making me think on a Friday morning? Hrm..well, I guess I would have to go with Jim, the were-jaguar who is head of security, from the Kate Daniel series. Jim is a non-sense guy who doesn't hide around the bushes. He's super smart and a sleuth so he would have no difficulty in finding evidence and using those to my benefit.

2. The police show up to question Atticus about his Irish Wolfhound, Oberon. If you could own any dog breed, what would it be and why? (P.S. Oberon is going on my list of favorite sidekicks!)

 I honestly don't know. I don't own a dog or know much about them. 

 

3. Malina Sokolowski and the other Sisters of the Three Auroras coven have my antennae up. What is your opinion of them?

I don't like them at all. They're are sneaky and can't be trusted.  I'm pretty sure they have an ulterior motive too.

4. Brighid, goddess of poetry, fire and the forge, gave Atticus the power of Cold Iron, which can be used to fight off that nasty lilttle hellspawn. If you could wield one magical power, what would it be and why?

I know it's a cop-out but I would love to have Rogue's power from the X-men who is able to absorb other people's abilities by a touch. If that's not possible than Professor X's talent of memory manipulation. If you can't already tell, I'm a huge Xmen fan. :D

5. The cops show up at Atticus’ shop to search for poor Oberon, who remains magically hidden throughout the ordeal. What is the one thing you would do if you could remain hidden from sight? I want to hear some good answers for this one!

 Not sure to be honest. Being voyeuristic just sounds so ... creepy.

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Kiss Me, I'm Irish Read-along: Chapters 1-5

Kiss Me, I'm Irish is a read-along of HOUNDED by Kevin Hearne, and hosted by Felicia of Geeky Blogger's Book Blog, Amanda of On a Book Bender, Ash of Smash Attack Reads!, Jen of In the Closet with a Bibliophile and Missie the Unread Reader. Today we are discussing Chapters 1-5.

1.  Kevin Hearne had the most perfect beginning for this book:  "There are many perks to living for twenty-one centuries, and foremost among them is bearing witness to the rare birth of genius."  If you were to live for centuries what do you think you would be excited to see?  

I think I would be excited to see all the technological advancements in the future. I curious to see what the "it" technology we would have years from now. I'm still waiting for a remote control to pause time or a cyborg/robot ala Rosie the Robot from The Jetsons to be created so I don't have to do the dreaded house chores. Wouldn't that be nice?

2. In the 2nd chapter we learn about the amulet and its protection powers!  Do you think having met the Morrigan and heard about Aenghus Og that it will be enough to protect Atticus?  I mean the Morrigan has a point about hot chicks coming after him and his defenses might be down! He is very male! 

Although Morrigan really freaks me out, it is smart of Atticus to have have a god on his side. I'm curious to see how their relationship progresses as the series continues. Though he is male, he doesn't strike me as someone who will lower his defenses when being seduced or tempted. Surviving two millenniums seem to be evident of that.  

3. The literary world's coolest dog is introduced in this chapter!  Did you love Oberon immediately?  Show me a picture or describe the type of animal you would love to have as a talking companion! (Cat, Dog, Mouse, Sloth, Horse---what is your pick--pictures please)?

I'm guessing were-creatures don't count? *Pouts* Well, I always thought Jack the monkey in the Pirates movies was cute. As long as he's not under the curse. 

 

4. In this chapter Flidais asked Atticus what his name is and then precedes to ask if anyone actually believes he is Greek?  He says nobody pays attention to names here.  Do you know what your name means and where it comes from?  Or do you have a name you wish had?  Let's talk names!

My first name is derived from the Arabic word rumman, which means pomegranate. I loved pomegranates long before finding out that's what my name means. Weird, huh?

 5.  We learn about Atticus' lawyers in this chapter, a rather unique combo!  Without jumping ahead, would you hire a lawyer combination of two supernaturals who on the surface would appear to be natural enemies or at the very least two very Alpha attitudes? What would be the positives and negatives of that decision.

 Absolutely! The lawyers would know everything about keeping my secret under control, especially with themselves being supernatural. While they both may have alpha attitudes, they would work different shifts- one during the day and the other during the night. It would also be nice to have some what you would call 'normal' friends where you can put your facade on hold once in a while. 

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Kiss Me, I'm Irish Read-Along!

 I had an incredible time hosting and participating in my first read-along, Tempting Tuesdays, and now I'm thrilled to participate in another fantastic read-along, Kiss Me, I'm Irish which features Hounded, the first book in the Iron Druid Chronicles series by Kevin Hearne. I really enjoyed Hounded and I can't wait to discuss the book with others. The Kiss me, I'm Irish Read-Along is hosted by Felicia the Geeky Blogger, Amanda at On a Book Bender, Ash at Smash Attack Reads!, Jen at In the Closet with a Bibliophile, and Missie at The Unread Reader.

Hounded Discussion Schedule:

March 02nd: Chapters 1-5 hosted by Geeky Blogger's Book Blog
March 09th: Chapters 6-10 hosted by On a Book Bender
March 16th: Chapters 11-15 hosted by Smash Attack Reads!
March 23rd: Chapters 16-20 hosted by In the Closet With a Bibliophile
March 30th: Chapters 21-25 + epilogue hosted by The Unread Reader
April 06th: Special interview with Kevin Hearne & announcement of winners!

Prizes!  

Everyone who signs up for the read-along and participates each week will be entered for a chance to win one of three prizes. Best part: there will one winner per prize! The first name drawn will get first choice and so on. Wondering what's up for grabs? A Third Eye Tote Bag, a Sausage Fest Pint Glass, and a personalized, signed copy of any book in the Iron Druid Chronicles.The prizes are also open to international readers as long as The Book Depository delivers to your country, though the prize is limited to any book in the Iron Druid Chronicles (not signed).

Visit Felicia at Geeky Blogger's Book Blog to sign up and to grab the first set of discussion questions for week one! 

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Tempting Tuesday: Guest Post: Chloe Neil on Writing + Prize Winners

  Today is the last day in the Tempting Tuesday read along event. I would like to thank again the incredible Chloe Neil for writing her awesome urban fantasy series Chicagoland Vampires and to my fabulous co-hosts, Jenny, Tina, and Missie. Ladies, we must do this again! A big very big thank you goes out to the participants who have made our Tuesday extra special by joining in the discussion. As promised, today we have a guest post from Chloe and the winners for the awesome prize pack.Without further ado, here is a letter directly from Chloe to her readers. I hope you enjoy!

Dear Reader:

Is it surprising to learn that I used to get panicky about writing assignments? That my only English class in college was "African Novel"? that I promised myself I would never, ever get a job that required me to write?

And yet, here we are. :)

In high school and my first year of college, I thought I was headed for a career in the visual arts. A "starving artist" of the New York variety, or maybe an illustrator. (I didn't know much about commercial graphic design back then, or surely it would have topped the list, too.)  I did not like to write; hated it, in fact. I wasn't good at constructing sentences, and the act of doing it made me nervous and fretful to the point of distraction.

It was probably a fateful decision, then, that I attended a liberal arts college that prized writing over multiple choice exams . . . and that led me away from studio art in my second year. I wrote a paper as a sophomore, a short essay intended to examine the women's rights movement.  Instead of jumping into a discussion of the history, I started by writing the story of a fictitious woman named Hillary.

In other words, instead of simply writing a summary, I wrote a story. It got a good review from my professor, I recall, but that didn't change my mind one iota. Writing was not for me.

The song didn't change after grad school, or in a summer job as I watched my employers lock themselves in their offices to finish drafts. The proposition of having to write for a living, on a deadline, horrified me.

But then, after a string of random occurrences, I got a job as a kind of pseudo-reporter. I watched things happen; I wrote about them. I wrote about them every day for months on end. And in that process, I got more comfortable constructing sentences, putting clauses together and shaping paragraphs.

I learned, in the most basic sense, how to write.

Still, that was it. I read--had always loved to read--but I was quite content to leave the fiction writing to others. It didn't even occur to me to write fiction. After all, I only barely liked writing at my job. Why do it for fun?

Unfortunately, one sad day around that time, an important relationship ended. I healed by reading. And then reading more. And more and more and more. I devoured 8 or 10 paperbacks a week, usually romance, usually in a series of some type because I loved recurring characters and inside jokes.

Eventually, I ran out of things to read. I couldn't find a series I enjoyed or a romance with enough sparkle to hook me.

I thought, at first, I'd try my hand at fan fiction. I loved Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series. Since I read faster than she published, I decided to imagine myself into the books to fill time until the next episode was released.

After about 2,000 words of Dark Hunter fan fiction, I felt silly. These weren't my characters; they were hers. It felt weird to play the game using someone else's cards.

So, on Labor Day in 2005, I opened a Word file and I started to write.

When I wasn't in class (grad school, at the time), I was writing. Weekends, I was writing. I wrote the same way I'd read--voraciously. I created a family of characters and a bevy of sarcastic inside jokes. I plotted seven books in a paranormal romance series, one romance per book, and I plastered a wall in my apartment with sticky notes--ideas and quips for later books.

I finished the manuscript on New Year's Day. It wasn't very good--and I have a rejection letter to prove it. But I'd done it, and it hadn't been nearly as bad as I'd imagined.

A few months later, I started my second manuscript, which I called The Prodigal Daughter. (Seriously. Isn't that terrible?)  It took six months to write and six months to edit. When I was reasonably confident I was done, I sent it to one publisher--Penguin.

A few months later, we mutually decided that Some Girls Bite was a much better title. :)

Today, I have a day job (in which I write) and a writing career (in which I write). I write a LOT, and there are still times when the words don't come and the fear rises up. But I'venow written ten novels, and each seems to reinforce one central idea: A book is crafted one sentence at a time. Don't worry about the last sentence in the manuscript--worry about the next sentence in the manuscript. You can deal with everything else later.

Thanks for listening. And reading.

Love,

Chloe

  

Winners of the Read-Along Contest

Grand Prize Winner:
Christy @ Love of Books

Charmfall Winners:
Heidi @ Rainy Day Ramblings
Chantaal @ Wandering Fangirl

Congrats to the winners!

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Magic Gifts (Kate Daniels Novella)

  As a gift for their readers during the holiday season last month, husband and wife team Ilona Andrews offered up a free Kate Daniels novella for a limited time. The novella, Magic Gifts, takes place at the same time as Andrea’s book, the upcoming Gunmetal Magic and right after Magic Slays. The two stories intersect. If you have not already, I highly recommend reading the Kate Daniels series. It's one of my favorite series that I recently discovered. There are currently five books out and it's best to read them in order as the series builds upon itself. You can click on my review link which will bring the books up in order for you. 

Description (from Goodreads): A dinner date after a hard day at work sounds heavenly. Of course, when that date is between the Beast Lord and Kate Daniels, things don’t go as planned. Before you know it, undead are running amok, heads are being chopped off, lawyers are deployed and used with extereme prejudice, and drunk vikings are calling people out. 

Review: Reading about Curran and Kate is a special treat and Magic Gifts is no exception. I know when I read the Kate Daniel series I'm always craving more scenes that feature both Curran and Kate together and in Magic Gifts we get a glimpse into their relationship and in their daily lives. What was suppose to be a simple, relaxing dinner date turns out to be anything but as a battle between vampires, mages, shape-shifters, and Vikings with the mead and axes interrupts.   
 I thoroughly enjoyed Magic Gifts and read it in one sitting as there were no dull moments in the book. I liked learning about what is going on with the Merc and how Kate was going to deal with that situation. While this is discussed and touched on a bit, it was quickly pushed to the wayside while the characters faced a more prominent issue. I also loved learning about more mythological creatures that inhabit Kate's world and I made a mental note to never tick off a Viking. *shudders* Though the conflict gets resolved by the end of the book, I though it was a bit rushed and that may because the novella is a mere 100 pages. The novella does fulfill its purpose in just whetting our appetites while we agonizingly wait for Gunmental Magic (August 2012) to be released and I'm dying to know what happened to Andrea and Raphael.


Rating: 4 stars


Words of Caution: There is some strong language and violence. Recommended for older teens and adult only.


If you like this book try: Bloodsong series by Cat Adams, Mercy Thomspon series by Patricia Briggs, Fray or Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 graphic novel series by Joss Whedon, Chicagoland Vampires by Chloe Neil, Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

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Tempting Tuesday: Some Girls Bite Read Along Chp 13-15 + Epilogue

 Welcome to the fourth week and final discussion of the Some Girls Bite Read-Along! For those of you who don't know, the fabulous ladies behind Tina's Book Reviews, Superntural Snark, The Unread Reader and myself are hosting a read-along of the first book of Chloe Neill's outstanding Chicagoland Vampires urban fantasy series. For all the details about the event and our grand prize giveaway, be sure and check out the introductory post HERE.
   Missie from The Unread Reader is hosting the discussion this week so head over to Missie's blog to link up your posts. Check back next week with a very special guest post from Chloe Neil and the announcement of our giveaway! I would like to thank Ms. Neil for supporting our read along of her awesome book series and to my fellow hostesses who made a newbie read along member feel so welcome. Thank you, ladies! Without further ado, here are my answers to this week's questions

Discussion Questions Chp 13-15 + Epilogue

Chapter 13 opens with Merit describing her new job routine as House Sentinel. Considering that every job at Cadogan House is important in helping to make the house run efficiently, which job do you think you'd like to have (guard, cook, social director, gardener, etc.) and why?

 I bet you probably thought I'd be the librarian, eh? Actually, I would love to spend time in the Cadogan library because it does sound awesome but I wouldn't be active in all the action. I'd like to be one of the guards who work behind the scenes. While I detest the idea of working out, I do love solving puzzles and finding out the answers to questions that I don't know. I'd rather work with Luc instead of the grouchy guy in the library that pops in and out. :)

In the supernatural world of Chicagoland Vampires, politics seem to play an important role in the way the Houses are run. Now that you've been introduced to the Rogues, do you think it's better for vampires to be a part of a House or to live outside of one. 

 From what I know I think I'd rather be part of a House instead of a rogue. We really don't know much of the Rogue lifestyle besides being independent and fighting for your own survival. I think it's interesting that human Merit's life seems to be more akin to a rogue where she virtually had no family connections (Man, did her family get on my nerves and didn't really want almost anything to do with her!) and now vampire Merit finally does have a family.

After Morgan openly asks to court Merit, she feels betrayed when Ethan commands her to accept for the show of alliance it could bring to Cadogan House. Do you think her reaction was warranted?

Ah..yeah! Merit was treated as piece in Ethan's politics game. He saw an advantage in forming 'allies' and took the opportunity. It's also a kind of slap in the face for Merit. She finally accepted she her role in the Cadogan House and only to realize that she's nothing more than a pawn. As for Morgan, ugh! I liked him at the beginning and thought there was some potential but he just reminds me of a junior high kid. Actually that scene reminded of the time when you are in junior high and you have to tell your friends to tell your crush that you like them because you don't have the guts to do it yourself? Yeah, it was cheap back then and it's still cheap now.

When Ethan meets with the perpetrator of the murders, were you surprised to discover who it was? If you suspected someone, were your suspensions correct? What did you think of the perpetrator's motive?

  I wasn't really all that surprised with the motive, but I was surprised how none of the vamps could figure it out. I think there were really large clues staring them in the face. I also knew there was another reason why I hated Amber so much. LOL!

What was your favorite/least favorite parts of Some Girls Bite?

Favorite parts: Hanging out with Mallory, Catcher, and Jeff. The commendation scene was beautifully written and the almost kiss with Ethan and Merit was such a tease. Luc's introduction to the guards and meeting Lindsey.

Least favorite parts: Merit talking with her dad, Morgan openly asked to date Merit  

 What do you think is coming up next for Merit, Sentinel of Cadogan House? Will you continue reading this series, and if so, what do you hope to see happen in the next book?

I already know what happens to her in the five books that are released till date. So in order to not spoil anyone who hasn't, I will say that she will face a lot of surprises that she didn't see coming involving her various relationships that will test her in many ways. Merit's got a lot of growing up to do and a lot to deal with. I can't wait to August to see how she deals with it.

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