8-25-12 The Wolf Hunt by Gillian Bradshaw - Fiction

4 - Oops, forgot one!  This is a period book set in France in the days of lords and lieges.  It is a good combo of intrigue, romance, politics, and the supernatural, surprisingly so.  Marie Penthievre is the heir to her fathers estate and is kidnapped by the Bretons from her Norman priory.  Ironically, one of her kidnappers is a blood relation.  She is kept at court but is treated as one of the family.  At the beginning of her stay, there is some drama with one of the lord's knights rushing off to steal away with his lover before her wedding to another.  The story is full of twists and turns with one mystery leading into the next and the battle, legal and personal, for Marie's lands once her father has been killed in the crusades.  This was a much more interesting book than I initially expected and well written historically.

9-2-12 Gil's All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez - Fiction

5 - So a werewolf and a vampire walk into a diner.....that's how this fun book starts.  They meet a determined owner Loretta who, after serving them their food, proceeds to shoot up the zombies that start attacking her diner.  Again.  So begins a strange sort of partnership.  Earl, the vampire, and Duke, the werewolf, stay to help Loretta with her zombie problem and to install a gas line to the kitchen.  Who would have guessed that in such a small town in the middle of nowhere someone would be trying to raise the old gods and start the apocalypse?  And did you know the language of the old gods is pig latin?  I laughed a lot and really enjoyed this book and I know I'm going to read more of Martinez's work.  It's just the kind of quirky that I love.

8-12-12 Hounded by Kevin Hearne - Fiction

4 - This was a surprisingly good read!  I was doing the random walk down a library aisle, turn & grab something, and this caught my eye.  I figured it would be some of that mediocre fantasy that has been released lately but it actually was a well researched and fun book.  It's set in Tempe, AZ so I had a great time because I knew where everything was.  The story is about a Druid living in our time.  He's still living because he is smart and can blend in.  And he has great friends including his dog, Oberon, who he speaks with mentally, his lawyers, a werewolf and a vampire, and the blessings of the Morrigan, one of the Irish goddesses of death.  Hearne intertwines modern day with Irish mythology so well.  Very fun, so I will read the other two books in the set.

8-12-12 Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris - Fiction

5 - This is a great addition to the series and seems to pull a little more of Sookie's & Sam's relationship to the forefront.  Sookie is having a time trying to keep her vampire boyfriend from being married off to a queen as his maker's final wish and now the fae on this side of the door are starting to get antsy.  Then there are problems with the werewolf pack too.  And this whole time, Sookie is trying to hide that she has possession of a very powerful Fairy gift.  Really picked my interest back up in this series as Sookie is faced with a few life changing decisions.

8-12-12 The Sacred Band by David Anthony Durham - Fiction

4 - Definitely interesting but this final book of the trilogy let me down a bit. Corinn just becomes such an annoying and blah character.  If you read it, you will understand what I'm saying.  Mena is still a great character and so is Dariel and their parts in this are still fabulous.  Overall, a bit disappointing as the end of a trilogy, but it does ties everything up.  You have no real questions.  Meh.

8-12-12 The Other Lands by David Anthony Durham - Fiction

5 - A fantastic follow up to the first book, Acacia.  Corinne is queen and the power is going a bit to her head.  She sends her brother, Dariel, across the ocean to the Other Lands as an envoy but is double crossed by the League and does not know the fate of her brother.  She sends Mena to hunt the twisted creatures created during the war.  But her sister is certainly not her pawn.  Still a lot of political finagling in this book and some new factions enter play.  I was enthralled.

4-27-12 A Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison - Fiction

4 - Harrison delves more into Trent and Rachel in this book.  Rachel is still wearing the charmed silver band and is trying to live as just a witch.  Unfortunately, there is a militant human faction that wants her blood to create their own demon and engineer a curse to destroy all Inderlanders.  Rachel's life is at stake, as usual, and Trent offers her his own brand of elven magic as help.  There's not too much interaction with Jenks and Ivy in this one but it is still a great adventure as Trent starts trying to master and use his elven magic and Rachel has to decide if she wants to live as half a witch or as a full fledged demon.  Too bad this just came out because I'm all ready for the next book!

4-22-12 Acacia by David Anthony Durham - Fiction

5 - I had totally forgotten about this trilogy since I read the first one 5 years ago.  Then, when I was looking at my stats for the blog, I noticed the title again.  So I looked it up and now all three books have been released.  So I re-read this one and will read the other two shortly.  I still loved this book.  A great work of fantasy with lots of intrigue and military action.  Acacia is the story of four royal siblings who are whisked away to the four corners of the kingdom when their father, King Leodan, is assassinated and war begins.  Nine years later, the kingdom is under the conquerors rule, Leodan's eldest daughter is the conqueror's mistress, his oldest son is a desert warrior, his youngest daughter is a priestess, and the youngest son is a pirate.  The four children are united in their desire to avenge their father and take back the kingdom but none of them are aware that any of the others survived.  Truly a great story with so many factions and twists that it will hold your interest.  I can't wait to read the next book.

3-29-12 Pale Demon by Kim Harrison - Fiction

5 - One of the best adventure books in the series.  Rachel, Trent, Jenks, and Ivy are on a road trip to get to the west coast and, of course, it does not go smoothly.  Trent's on an elf quest so there are elf assassins on their trail and Rachel's still in trouble with the coven so they have a tail on them too.  Throw in a psychotic day walking demon and Rachel's uncertain status in the ever after and this is a true adventure.  Can't wait for the new book!

3-18-12 Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison - Fiction

4 - Well, Rachel has been shunned, the Coven of Moral and Ethical Standards is after her, Al keeps trying to snatch people she knows, and then there's Trent. A fun adventure that keeps the world of the Hallows alive and kicking. Rachel keeps learning more about what she, as a survivor of the Rosewood syndrome, can do and keeps being surprised by the expanse of her abilities. Aaand, a main and loved character dies in this book. Yes, I cried. Only one more book in this series until the brand new book. I can't wait!

3-8-12 White Witch, Black Curse - Fiction

4 - Another fabulous entry in the Rachel Morgan series. Rachel is still struggling to remember the events from her last night with Kisten and discovers that she has a ghost in the church. Not just any ghost but Pierce, a ghost she summoned accidentally when she was 18. Unfortunately, Al grabs Pierce before she can really speak with him. So while she helps the FIB catch a banshee, Rachel tries to get Al to pay attention to her and agree to some ground rules. It's always fun visiting the Hallows.

3-1-12 The Outlaw Demon Wails - Fiction

5 - Another one of my favorite Rachel Morgan books! Rachel learns a lot more about herself and witches in general in this one as well as a lot more about demons. Plus, a gargoyle moves into the belfry of the church and Rachel starts to find out about the link between gargoyles and witches. This one also has a lot of action here and in the ever after. Another bonus: but it in paperback and you'll get the bonus short story that explains how Ceri became a demon familiar. Awesome!

2-24-12 For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison - Fiction

3 - This is one of my least favorite Rachel Morgan books. It's not that it's bad, but it just doesn't have quite the oomph that most of the other books do. The focus isn't quite in hiding anymore and Rachel is caught in the middle of the beginning power struggle in Cincinnati. Not to mention she's having demon problems again and Ivy is starting to act a little weird. But I still do love this series! One bonus though...if you buy the paperback edition of this book you get an additional short story featuring Kisten & Rachel, the events of which are mentioned in the next book.

2-15-12 A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison - Fiction

5 - This is one of my favorite books in the Rachel Morgan series and it's all because Jenks gets big. If you haven't read the books yet, Jenks is a pixy. Picture a swearing bloodthirsty Peter Pan with 54 kids who's only 4" tall and you might be able to understand why having him be 6'4" is amusing. Rachel's pity for the underdog has gotten her into trouble again because this time Nick has gotten himself kidnapped in Michigan and she feels it's her duty to help him out. In doing so, she is now involved in the beginnings of what could be a world tearing war between the Weres and the vamps. Her life just doesn't get any easier.

2-7-12 Every Which Way but Dead by Kim Harrison - Fiction

4 - Rachel's deal with Big Al is now coming back to bite her in the ass. She has to figure out a way that she can fulfill the technical terms of the deal without being dragged into the everafter to be Al's familiar for eternity or until he finds something better, whichever comes first. Not only is she trying to keep herself on this side of the lines, but she also has to deal with Trent again, or more correctly, his security head Quen. And she has pissed off Jenks so much that he has left the firm and moved his family out. Just another day in the life of Rachel Morgan.

2-4-12 The Bride Wore Black Leather by Simon R. Green - Fiction

5 - You didn't really think John Taylor's stag party could go off without a hitch did you? As the new Walker, John has to give up his PI business but he wants one last case to go out with a bang. And he gets it. So on the night before his wedding he's chased all over the Nightside by everyone, including his fiancee, for the murder of one of the most beloved members of society. But, as you know, nothing is quite what it seems in the Nightside and there are always many sides to a story here. LOVE this series!

1-27-12 Destined by PC & Kristin Cast - Fiction

4 - I still like this series and I still get really swept up in the stories. This is the 9th book in the House of Night series and Zoey and her crew are still all tied up in the thick of things in the battle between light and dark that has them facing off against their former High Priestess, Neferet. This story includes not only the main characters we have loved and followed but Kalona, the white bull, and Thanatos all are involved and a new character, Aurox is introduced. Of course, you never know if anyone is what or who they seem to be. Still love these!

1-19-12 The Good, the Bad, and the Undead by Kim Harrison - Fiction

5 - Yup, another Rachel Morgan book. After she has the death threat lifted you would think she could stay out of trouble. Nope. Of course, if she did it would make for very boring reading!

1-15-12 Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison - Fiction

5 - Because the new Rachel Morgan book comes out in February, I'm re-reading the whole series. Again. I know all my re-reads can get boring for you guys but I'm fitting in a couple new things too here and there. You can check out my previous review for this book but, take my word for it, these are great stories that should appeal to lovers of fantasy, mystery, and action.

1-11-12 Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris - Fiction

4 - THIS is the second book. I was finally able to get to the library when it was open. I really enjoyed this volume in the series because Sookie gets to travel to Dallas and stays in a vampire hotel where she finds some interesting humans. She also gets to meet the king of Texas and, as per her agreement with Eric, offers her assistance with her special skills. A wild ride.