New author perhaps?

While reading Kaylana Price's blog, I found a recommendation she gave for the Eli Monpress series by Rachel Aaron.  So, being a curious sort, I moseyed on over there and found - to my surprise - what sounds like a really good series.  Now admittedly, I don't seem to be taken by books that feature the male as the driving force of a book, but I'll be looking for this at my local library.

As far as I can see there are 4 books out now with the 5th to be released later this year.  There is also a short novella available and I've put a link below.  Now, before you rush off to buy the first couple of books I'll tell you that there is now an Omnibus that contains the first three titles (The Spirit Thief, The Spirit Rebellion and The Spirit Eater) and is available on Book Depository (UK) as well as Amazon, etc.

Spirit’s Oath: An Eli Monpress Novella

by Rachel Aaron

How Many Books Have You Read?

Found this lovely bookmark at our local library and thought that others might like to have it too.  If you're crafty, you can make/print a copy to mark off how many books you've read in this National Year of Reading 2012.

This bookmark is 300dpi and is shown at original size.  If you want to see any of the other downloadable stuff, head over to love2read2012.

Where's the Nightshade?

I've been reading Michelle Sagara's fabulous Chronicles of Elantra and just realised something. . . None of the women on the covers has a Nightshade tattoo on their cheek!

Yep, checked my book's covers again.  No tattoo in sight.  Since this symbol is nearly as well commented on as the ruins that cover her body, why have the artists forgotten to add it?  A mystery, perhaps?

Review - Cast in Ruin

Cast in Ruin (Book 7, Chronicles of Elantra)

Michelle Sagara

Release Date: 20 September, 2011

Seven corpses are discovered in the streets of a Dragon’s fief. All identical, down to their clothing. 

Kaylin Neya is assigned to discover who they were, who killed them–and why. Is the evil lurking at the borders of Elantra preparing to cross over? 

At least the investigation delays her meeting with the Dragon Emperor. And as the shadows grow longer over the fiefs, Kaylin must use every skill she’s ever learned to save the people she’s sworn to protect. Sword in hand, dragons in sky, this time there’s no retreat and no surrender….

I've just finished reading Book 7 of the Chronicles of Elantra and I only have one thing to say... WOW!

Kaylin Neya is finally growing up, but I have to admit that those Dragon's need a clip under the ears.  I'm hoping at some stage that Kaylin definitely gives them what for seeings how they treat her like dirt at times and she the freaking Chosen one!  For those of you who haven't read it yet - and there can't be many of you - I won't say who ends up as Kaylin's staunch supporter (and it's not Severn), but it's nice to know that Kaylin finally has someone of power who doesn't think of her as useless because of her mortality.

Lord Diarmat is a complete and total prat.  He reminds me very strongly of Sgt. Mallory, who replaced Iron Jaws for a while, in that he seems to intensely dislike Kaylin for things that she can't control.  I would just love to see old fussy-britches Dragon get his comeuppance.  Arkon plays more of a part in this tale.  He has some very scary moments, even going so far as to reduce another Dragon's clothing to ash - while they're still wearing it!  Lord Tiamaris and Tara are also key in the story.  Nightshade makes an appearance, and a request that will come to pass in Cast in Peril.

However, there is no interaction with the Foundlings or Marrin in this book which I found a little disappointing.  Kaylin needs all the unconditional love and support she can get, and Marrin and the children play a huge part in that.  Surprisingly, there was also no SOS from the Midwives Guild.  I think in part it is because the egg she is mothering will play an important role.  The egg itself is quite mysterious, and what happens to Teela when she tries to touch it is quite startling.  Although I think the race of the inhabitant of the egg is hinted at with the colours it turns - gold, orange and red.  Ring any bells?

Anyway, I found this to be a wonderful book.  Severn and Kaylin are more open about their feelings, and her past in the fief of Barren.  I think she'll have to make a choice soon.  Severn or Nightshade.

Janet Evanovich Contest!

Found this on Twitter...

Wicked Business Shout Out – Win Bulgari Green! 

Tweet a pic. of you or your pet trying to bend a spoon, 

#janetevanovich, contest ends July 17

Janet Evanovich (@janetevanovich)

Hurry up and get those pics up ASAP!

It's Ranger's scent!  Whoa momma, hold me back.

Cast in Peril - release date and cover

It's not long until the newest book in the Chronicles of Elantra is released, but finding the cover art has just been frustrating!  So far, all I've been able to find is a teeny-weeny little image at GoodReads.com.  If this is indeed the final cover design to be used, then it's great... although Kaylin Neya all neat and tidy in a dress?  I'll also assume that she's holding her magical egg-baby in her hands too.  Can't wait to see what she becomes mamma to :-D

From the back cover:

USUALLY DISASTER DIDN'T STRIKE QUITE SO CLOSE TO HOME...

It has been a busy few weeks for Private Kaylin Neva. In between angling for a promotion, sharing her room with the last living female Dragon and dealing with more refugees than anyone knew what to do with, the unusual egg she'd been given was ready to hatch. Actually, that turned out to be lucky, because it absorbed the energy from the bomb that went off in her quarters....

So now might be the perfect time to leave Elantra and journey to the West March with the Barrani. If not for the disappearances of citizens in the fief of Tiamaris-disappearances traced to the very Barrani Kaylin will be traveling with...

Release Date: 18 September, 2012

A Discovery of Witches and sniffles

Hello my lovelies,  I'm here hold up in bed with a stuffy head - thanks to whomever must have passed on their germs to me - and, being stuck in bed I decided to grab a few books to tide me over for however long this stupid headcold lasts.

Yesterday I finished re-reading A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, and let me tell you it was as great the second time as it was the first.  Of course, now I just want to get my hands on the next book, Shadow of Night, but unfortunately, the local library doesn't hold any copies of it yet.  Grrrr!  Anyway, what can I say?  I loved it.  Diana Bishop and Matthew Clairmont are wonderful - although IMO Matthew does in some ways remind me of an older, more mature version of Twilight's Edward with all the brooding he can manage - and I certainly loved the whole Ashmole 782 angle (and the fact that it is a real manuscript that has been missing for over 100 years!) plus the uber-witch angle.  The woman who for the first time since she was 7 will have to embrace her witchy-ness if she wants any chance of surviving. . . and, any book that includes witches, vampires and daemons just has to be worth checking out.

Now, I will admit that I did start to see parallel's with Twilight and other paranormal star-crossed lovers stories.  I guess when you're doing a forbidden love story you just can't get away from some stereotyping, but even that is not enough to put me off the book.  Now while the book is great, there are a few harsh moments when the reality of the world creeps to the forefront.  For those of you who haven't yet picked up ADoW, Diana's treatment at the hands of some vampires and a certain witch aren't for the squeamish.  It's a definite reminder that Diana and Matthew are involved in a cut-throat world where the weak don't survive long.  But, take heart dearies, while heavy moments like those are present, they are more than outnumbered by the relationship that's building between our witch and her man, and their families (plus a touchy cat, ghostly witch ancestors and a house that I would personally love to live in!

So, that is my quick once-over of the first installment of what promises to be a fabulous trilogy.  Next on the list, the Chronicles of Elantra by Michelle Sagara.  Wish me luck!