June in Review

I hope your June was better than mine.  My right wrist has been aching for about 4 weeks now, so after one particularly painful episode, I made an appointment with the doctor.  It turns out that I have tendinitis in said wrist/forearm and to keep it strapped up and immobile for God knows how long.   As you could guess, this has severely limited my daily life, and has made typing on the laptop painful.  Therefore, I'll keep this short.

The last meeting of the book club went well.  Turns out we loved Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger - yeah! - however, The Goddess Test didn't get quite the same reaction (reviews to be posted later).  Then came the hard task of trying to select next month's reading material.  Turns out that there was one item on everyone's list...

So in the end, the reading list for July is:

Fated - Benedict Jacka

Tempest Rising - Nicole Peeler, and

The Reluctant Reaper - Gina X. Grant

In the mean time, I have to figure out how to keep myself sane now that the laptop is out of bounds, and holding onto a book for hours is painful.  This dilemma has given me the kick in the butt to delve into my stash of material kept hidden in the linen cupboard.  Now, surrounded by piles of beautiful fabric, I find myself mentally sorting through it all, designing quilts to make for family and friends.  I don't think I'm up for the sewing yet - I'm right handed! - but that hasn't stopped me from buying more material lately, so I think this winter I might ditch the knitting and crochet (too hard on the wrist), and think about some sewing instead...?

Happy reading!

New Titles for Book Club

It's taken me two days to get enough oomph in my WI-FI coverage just to blog without constant issues.  However, I'm excited to say that the second meeting of the Fangtastic Fiction Book Club met at my local library last Friday, and we spent a fabulous morning just chatting about books - it was great!

We then had the enormous task of trying to decide what to read in June.  It took us a while, but in the end it was decided that we shall be reading... {drum roll if you please}

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

I am looking forward to E&E - I loved the Parasol Protectorate series! - but I am not too sure about The Goddess Test.  For some reason we ended up with two books that are firmly in the YA section, but apart from the odd fabulous book, I've pretty much outgrown YA.  Who knows?  Perhaps The Goddess Test will be one of those stunning reads?   The other odd coincidence is that both books are the first in a series - a hint for later reading materials, perhaps?

Wish me luck, and happy reading!

Review - Dead on the Delta

Dead on the Delta 
Stacey Jay

Released: 31 May, 2011

Pocket Books, Mass Market, 400p.
ISBN: 9781439189863

From the author's website:

Once upon a time, fairies were the stuff of bedtime stories and sweet dreams. Then came the mutations, and the dreams became nightmares. Mosquito-size fairies now indulge their taste for human blood—and for most humans, a fairy bite means insanity or death.

Luckily, Annabelle Lee isn’t most humans. The hard-drinking, smart-mouthed, bicycle-riding redhead is immune to fairy venom, and able to do the dirty work most humans can’t. Including helping law enforcement— and Cane Cooper, the bayou’s sexiest detective—collect evidence when a body is discovered outside the fairy-proof barricades of her Louisiana town.

But Annabelle isn’t equipped to deal with the murder of a six-year-old girl or a former lover-turned-FBI snob taking an interest in the case. Suddenly her already bumpy relationship with Cane turns even rockier, and even the most trust-worthy friends become suspects. Annabelle’s life is imploding: between relationship drama, a heartbreaking murder investigation, Breeze-crazed drug runners, and a few too many rum and Cokes, Annabelle is a woman on the run—from her past, toward her future, and into the arms of a darkness waiting just for her. . . .

This is book one in a series, and although I found the overall ideas to be great - feral faeries that kill... ha! - there was just no getting around the fact that I didn't quite like our inept, inebriated, and mostly zonked on whatever-meds-she-can-find heroine.  Seriously, I really want to connect with, or at least care about, the characters I'm following.  However, with Annabelle, I just wanted to give her a good scrubbing down, dose her up with some strong black coffee - and then kick her butt!

Okay, so she has a screwed up past.  So what?  So do a lot of other really great characters - and those books are great!  But I digress.  Annabelle's life is stagnant, until the murder of a local girl draws ex-boyfriend to town as part of an FBI investigation.  Hitch is an hot, arrogant, potentially-cheating, so and so, who blows into town with his partner (in every sense of the word), Stephanie, who is the current lover looking to get revenge on the ex.  Add to the mix rabid faeries, Breeze-heads (drug addicts), weird supporting characters and a current sort-of boyfriend who also happens to be one of the cops investigating the murder and you have a whole lot of crazy packed into a book.

The one saving grace in my mind, apart from Gimpy the Cat, was the Invisible Man and Tucker.  They have added a dash of mystery to the story and I will be checking out book 2 just to see what their deal is.  I know I have dumped on Dead on the Delta, but there is so much potential in this series.  I hope that Annabelle starts to figure out her life in book 2 so I can give it the review I would so love to.  So, having given this book low rating, I will try this book again at a later date - just to see if it's as bad as I think is was, or if I'm just having an off day?  But for how it's going on the bottom of the bookshelf.  If you like you're gals pretty messed up, then Annabelle is for you.

Review - Dark Serpent

Dark Serpent
Celestial Battle Trilogy, Book 1
Kylie Chan

Released: 01 May, 2013

Harper voyager, Trade, 468 p.
ISBN: 978-0-7322-9440-3


Back cover:

When the ancestry of Xuan Wu's fiancee, Emma, is revealed, it threatens the harmony of the whole Celestial realm.  The demons are gathering, powerful alliances are being made and stone Shen are under threat.  However, Xuan Wu is distracted - he must save Emma from the Demon King and give her the elixir of immortality, but at what cost?

I have been waiting on pins and needles for this book, for we finally find out exactly what Emma is!  There is so much I can't say because to go into all my favourite scenes will give away some good surprises.  What I can tell you is that if you have read the previous six books, then Dark Serpent is an absolute MUST!

"I've vowed to Raise Emma and marry her 

and that is all I want from life".

The story picks up what seems like years after book six, but I doubt it's that long ;-D  Emma is in her 40's now, and is still under the punishment that the Celestial handed down at the end of Heaven to Wudang.  No one can refer to her as 'my Lady', etc., nor can they talk to her about Celestial matters.  Quite hard for Emma as she was running the Northern Heavens for all those years that Xuan Wu was absent, but they're all handling it.

Emma gets into trouble again in this book, but this time the consequences are devastating **keep the tissue's handy** and all I will say is that George (our loathsome Demon King) has his hand in it.  There, enough said.  However, we do find out what George's interest is in Emma in particular, and what the appearance of the Western Shen, and East/West Hybrids have to do with George.

I motored through this book.  I just couldn't wait to find out what had happened to Emma and her celestial family.  However, now I have to wait another 18 months or so until I find out what happens next.... darn it ;-D  There was only one small issue I had with Dark Serpent, and that was the change in voices.  From the beginning we have been following Emma, and listening to things from her POV.  However, in Dark Serpent, Ms Chan has decided to add a new voice to the mix.  I was surprised to find myself following Xuan Wu and although novel, the change in POV jolted me out of the groove at times.  Personally, I preferred to see things through Emma's eyes.  But, even though I have had a quick gripe about that, don't let it put you off what is a fabulous book.

If you haven't yet read the series, then you need to start with White Tiger and work your way through the two preceding trilogies.  I would love for you to be able to just pick up this great book, but you do need know whats happened to appreciate, and get the most out of, Dark Serpent.

Review - Written in Red

Written in Red
A Novel of the Others, Book 1
Anne Bishop

Released: March 2013

ROC, Hardcover,  433p.
ISBN: 978-0-451-46496-5

Back cover:

As a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut - a gift that feels more alike a curse.  Meg's Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions.  But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard - a business district operated by the Others.

Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job.  First, he senses she's keeping a secret, and second, she doesn't smell like human prey.  Yet a stronger instinct propels hi to give Meg the job.  And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she's wanted by the government, he'll have to decide whether she's worth the fight between humans and the Others that will surely follow.

I enjoyed this book a great deal, although it did take me a while to shake off the YA fiction vibe I was getting from the book, but after I immersed myself in the story I was fine.

Meg Corbyn, our young heroine, is such an innocent woman.  Having escaped her cage, and unfamiliar with the ways of the world, she somehow manages to see the good in people.  Yet, to say she is totally naive would be a great disservice to her, as Meg's life (before escaping) was not all sunshine and roses.  At first, we find Meg quite skittish and wary where Simon and the Others of the Courtyard are concerned, yet there are glimpses of temper and backbone that hint to the woman she could become.  Meg's interactions with those in the Courtyard range from curiosity to fear, and with Simon it's often both at the same time.  

Simon Wolfgard, being the leader of the Courtyard, is a tough and dominant male who takes in this human waif for no other reason than he needs to fill the position - and doesn't want to employ a certain human.  He feels as though he's made a mistake almost as soon as he's hired Meg, but for some reason, he can't seem to fire her - or eat her - but that doesn't stop him from making a complete arse of himself at times ;-D  Although he is not the most demonstrative or emotional of characters, you get a real sense of his core beliefs.  

Written in Red is mainly told from Meg and Simon's POV, although the flow is occasionally interrupted by POV from Asia, Henry and the local police detective who is trying to forge good relations with the Others.  I loved the 'otherness' of the characters, and the way that there is definitely an us and them mentality.  The mysterious Tess is a real charmer - love the hair! - and Winter and her sisters have the potential to scare the pants off everyone.  I hope to see more of their true natures emerging in the coming books.  The ponies that help Meg deliver her parcels were a nice touch, especially when their true talents are revealed.

As a big Anne Bishop fan, I did notice some fleeting similarities between the characters in this book and those of her much loved other series, The Black Jewels.  No, seriously!   Just think about it...

•  Meg Corbyn/Jaenelle Angelline - both wounded souls who find themselves in a position of power and have to deal with deadly males.

•  Simon Wolfgard/Daemon Sadi - dominant men who both wield power without thought.  Dangerous.

•  Vlad Sanguinati/Lucivar Yaslana - the seconds.  Dangerous fighters who have a lighter side.

•  Tess/Surreal - deadly women who would kill you as soon as look at you.  Very protective of those they take under their wings.

I could go on, but if you've read the Black Jewels books, you'll see what I mean.

My only problem with Written in Red was Meg's nameless, faceless enemy.  We see agents of that enemy, but there is a disconnect between his/her role in the story and the way everyone else deals with the fallout.  Not a huge problem in the grand scheme of things, and will hopefully be addressed in the following books.

The style of writing used in Written in Red is very similar to Kelley Armstrong's YA trilogy - the one with the kids that run away from the mental facility (sorry, can't think of the name).  So if you enjoyed Armstrong's series, then you should love Meg and Simon's story.

UPDATE:  Book 2, Murder of Crows, is scheduled for publication in March 2014.  Yeah!

Lots of books to share

Finally, I'm back in the realm of connectivity!  The last week and a half have been oh so frustrating as every time I fire up the laptop to tell you all about the great books I've read, the connection has been slower than a slug.  But fear not, my lovelies! For I shall be changing providers soon, and big lags between posts will {fingers crossed} be a thing of the past ;-D

In the meantime, I'm coming to you live from my smart phone (they may be handy, but its such a pain in the butt to do!).  Anyway, here are the micro reviews of my most recent forays into the world of dead trees....

Written in Red (Anne Bishop) - Love, love, loved it! 4 1/2 stars

Unsympathetic Magic (Laura Resnick) - okay, but could have been better. 2 1/2 stars

Dark Serpent (Kylie Chan) - OMG!!!!  If you've followed the series then you must BUY IT! 5 stars

Dead on Delivery & Dead Letter Day (Eileen Rendahl) - not brilliant, but better than average.  Interesting twists here and there.  3 stars each

God Save the Queen & The Queen is Dead (Kate Locke) - absolutely awesome!  A must read steampunk series. 4 1/2 stars

Discount Armageddon (Seanan McGuire) - a non-starter for me.  Great ideas, but execution left me wanting. 1 star

New in my TBR pile are;

•  3-in-1 volume of Simon R. Greene's 'A Walk on the Night side'.  Can't wait.
•  As Wicked as She Wants by Delilah S. Dawson.
•  Binding the Shadows by Jenn Bennett.  Finally, I have book 3 in my hands, and lastly
•  Dead on the Delta by Stacey Jay (and my 2nd book club title).

Well, that's me done until next time.  I promise to put up the expanded reviews ASAP.  So until then...

Happy reading!

Review: Cry Wolf

Cry Wolf
Alpha & Omega, Book 1
Patricia Briggs

Published August, 2008

ACE, Mass Market paperback, 294 p.
ISBN: 978-0-441-01615-0

From the back....

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's 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 the pack...

My thoughts...

I'm in a bit of a quandary over Cry Wolf.  The short story (in the On the Prowl anthology) was fabulous.  Quick paced and full of all the action I've come to expect from the Mercy-verse.  However, in Cry Wolf the pace seemed to lag.  Don't get me wrong.  I loved seeing more of Bran and Charles, but it became predictable in places.

Take Leah for example.  We first come across her royal bitchiness in Moon Called - as she's chasing Mercy through the woods - and from what had been said, we knew that she was motivated by her hatred of Mercy because a) she's a coyote, b) Mercy has a special place in Bran, Charles and Samuel's life, and c) she can still have children.  Simple, and sticks with what we know of her.  In Cry Wolf though, she could have been so much more.  Instead Leah was wasted in just furthering Anna and Charles' inner anxieties.  She's Bran's mate/wife for goodness sakes, yet she's used as no more than a footnote in the book.

But despite the annoying use of Leah, we did get to encounter the wonderfully complex Asil.  He's quickly became one of my favourite characters in the Mercy-verse.  The backstory Ms. Briggs established for him, and his involvement in the action are vital to whether or not this story worked.  Congratulations all round for giving us such a wounded warrior!

In Moon Called we only saw Charles for brief moments yet it was obvious that he was a much different wolf to Samuel.  And thank God!  Portrayed as the ultimate assassin for the Marrock, Charles' displays of vulnerability are very much unexpected yet appreciated.  Anna delves below the facade that Charles puts up between himself and the world - even Bran - and in return we see Anna slowly blossom as she discovers her own strengths and worth.  It is beautiful to watch this wounded wolf discover herself.

Bran is the real surprise in Cry Wolf.  Seemingly invincible, we explore the secret past that Bran has been struggling to hide - even from himself - and how this has led to his relationship with Leah.  There is a reason for her presence in their pack, and Bran's bed.  And Samuel makes a brief return to the fold and even though he's only around for a few scenes, he's always a welcome addition.

There are a few surprises for everyone, including what happens on the remote mountainside in Montana. I don't want to give away any spoilers, so I'll just say that we meet a fallen warrior who redeems himself, and a nasty piece of work from Asil's past that threatens to set off a chain of events that could have tragic consequences for all the Marrock pack.

So, while I have grouched about some aspects of the book, I still consider it a great book.  If you loved reading Mercy, then you'll have to include this in your reading pile.  A great start to a spin-off series.

Anita Blake wallpaper for you

Hi there!  Just thought that I'd post a copy of the Anita Blake wallpaper I made last week.

Enjoy!

Update - Fixer upper

Hi all,

Just typing to you from our local library.  The wi-fi connection has been terrible lately, so I decided to decamp to the library to use the free internet facilities.  As you may have noticed, I've changed the look of the blog.  Not sure if this is the finished layout, but have not had a huge amount of time to fiddle around.  Hopefully I'll get some free time in the next few days to have a good overhaul of the blog.

I've added a two new pages.  I had a great idea for another one last night, but I fell asleep before I could put pen to paper.  Now I can't remember what it was.  I hate it when that happens!

Oops, must dash.  Times nearly up.

Happy reading!

Book Review - When Demons Walk

When Demons Walk
Patricia Briggs

First published June 1998

ACE, Mass Market Paperback, 272 p.
ISBN: 978-0-441-00534-5

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME

Sham had spent most of her young life as a sorceress and thief, stealing from Southwood's nobility to survive.  Now she must face the greatest test of her skills...

A killer has struck Southwood, claiming the lives of nobles.  Lord Kerim, Reeve of Southwood, turns to Sham for help.  Posing as his mistress, she delves behind castle walls to find the killer.  But this murderer is not mortal - and Sham must use all of her magical wisdom to send the demon away.  Because the city of Southwood has nowhere to hide - and no time to run...

I picked up this book after reading a Iron Kissed, and as much as I love the Mercy Thompson series I wasn't too sure about what to expect.  It wasn't Urban Fantasy, there were no werewolves or shapeshifters, etc.  Would I really like it?   The answer was YES!  I really did enjoy this book.  The world Ms. Briggs has built for Sham is so well done that you don't really even think about it being a different world/realm, whatever.  You just accept it as part of Sham's life.

Sham, or Shamera, is a wonderfully strong and driven character.  I do like a sassy heroine, and Sham fits that to a tee.  Living as a thief has given her the connections that see her moonlighting as the mistress of Kerim, aka The Leopard, as she tries to discover the identity of a killer.  It's great to have a lead female that has knowledge, or abilities, that makes her self sufficient in a world where women still rely on the men in their lives.  Now with a formidable heroine like Sham you'd assume that our hero would be muscled up the whazoo, but Kerim, comes into Sham's life in a physically compromised position.  Despite this, he is a strong leader who keeps his feeling to himself, but Shamera has no problems reading him.

Our secondary characters, Dickon, Elsic and Talbot, are very much a part of the story.  They each have a history of their own that helps to shape their responses to the action.  Scorch is another character to keep an eye on, too ;-D.  There are other notable characters, such as Shark and Lord Halvok and Lady Sky, but many of the others just drift out of your mind as soon as they leave the scene.

Potentially this is the start of a great series, but like Nightseer, it is likely that this will remain a one-off story.  There are quite a few dangling threads that need to be tied up, but it looks like they will stay that way.  Although not part of a series, it is a great book to read.  If you liked Nightseer, Masques (Briggs), or the Chronicle of Elantra, then you'll enjoy this.

Book Review - Nightseer

Nightseer

LKH

First printed, March 1992

ROC Fantasy, Mass Market Paperback, 303 p.

ISBN: 978-0-451-45143-9

Author of the New York Times bestselling Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series, Laurell K. Hamilton has brought the supernatural to light - and has given readers a vision of a world aflame with electrifying suspense and violent passions.  In this, her debut novel, her rich imagination spreads its wings to fly - in a tale of a woman known as sorcerer, prophet, and enchantress...

The mark of a demon can open the door to undreamed of powers and possibilities - or expose a soul to the darkest and most forbidden forces of sorcery.  Now Keleios wears the mark - and the time of avenging her mother's death is at hand...

This was a chance find for me about 10 years ago.  I wasn't in to the paranormal/fantasy genre then, but I loved the Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series, so I thought I'd give it a go.   Actually, it was the cover that caught my eye in the beginning.  There it sat on the bookshop shelf.  A medium sized book, surrounded by plain or boring looking covers, that stood apart with its image of a tattooed woman holding magical flames in her hands... beautiful.

The world LKH has created for Keleios is both beautiful and deadly.  Magic is a formidable weapon in the right hands, and the gods work in mysterious ways.  There are dragons, cats who can 'talk' in a fashion, and the elf and sidhe races aren't the beings from your childhood fairy tales.   Nightseer follows Keleios, a half-breed elf, on a quest of sorts.  Full of action, magic slinging, unrequited love (of a fashion) and good old fashioned revenge, it's a great introduction into the fanasty genre for someone who has read urban fantasy, but wants more.

Although it is one of the few stand alone books by LKH, Nightseer finished with so many unanswered storylines that it's just begging for a sequel.  I mean, what happens to Keleios and Lothor now that they are married?  Does Keleios get her revenge on Nesbit?  Who was the grey, green-eyed Black Healer that wanted a word with her?  So many questions and no answers!

Book Review - Rogue Descendant

Rogue Descendant
A Nikki Glass Novel, Book 3
Jenna Black

Released: May, 2013

Pocket Books, Mass Market Paperback, 370 p.
ISBN: 978-1-4767-0008-3

Nikki Glass, descendant of Artemis the Huntress, is all for justice, but she draws the line at cold-blooded murder.  Too bad she works for Anderson Kane, a god in disguise who just happens to be the son of a Fury.  He wants Konstantin, the deposed leader of the Olympians, dead, and he needs Nikki's help to hunt his nemesis down.  Saying no to a god might be bod for her health, bu Nikki is no pushover ... until Konstantin claims responsibility for a fire that destroys her parents' home.

Nikki would do anything to protect her family, and now she sets off on the deadliest of hunts, knowing that a single false step could trigger a war between Anderson and the Olympians - a war Anderson cannot hope to win.  But is it possible she has another enemy?  Maybe even one in her own house?  As the mysteries deepen and the suspects mount, Nikki must try to put the pieces together and catch the real culprit before innocent people get caught in the cross fire.

Wow!  I love this series, so when I saw a new title was available, I jumped at the chance.

The world Jenna Black has created for Nikki Glass and Co. is brimming with fabulous imagery, and mythological themes - but it doesn't hurt that she's surrounded by hunky Immortals either.  In this sequel, we're dealing with the fallout from what happened in Deadly Descendant.  Nikki is still coming to terms with her altered destiny, now that she is nearly immortal and all, and the role that she will play in the house.  Her sister still frustrates her no end, and the destruction of her parents house - as well as other nasty surprises - mean that Nikki is stuck between a rock and a hard place.  Say no to Anderson, and let Konstantin off the hook - or hunt him down like the dog he is, but at what cost?

Although the events of this book are set over only a matter of days, it does get bogged down a little at times with all the drama surrounding Nikki and one of her other cranky Immortals - you know who I mean ;-D.  The pacing of this book, and a scene or two that I thought was a bit long winded, were the only cons to this installment in the series.

In Rogue Descendant, Ms. Black has really upped the ante for not only Nikki, but Anderson as well.  The unexpected twist at the end certainly means I'll be eagerly awaiting book four.  If you enjoy reading Ilona Andrews, Nalini Singh, or urban fantasy in general, then you will not be disappointed with Nikki Glass.  I'd recommend you start at the beginning with Dark Descendant - otherwise you'll just get lost.

Book Review: Dead Ever After

Dead Ever After
Sookie Stackhouse, Book 13
Charlaine Harris

Released: 07 May, 2013

Gollancz, Paperback, 352 p.
ISBN: 978-05750-9662-2

On the back....

Sookie Stackhouse has one last adventure in store.

Life has taken from her a waitress in Merlotte's Bar, Bon Temps, to part owner; from social outcast to the heart of her community; from a vampire's girlfriend to the wife of one of the most powerful vampires in the state.  She has survived explosions, revolutions and attempts on her life.

Sookie has endured betrayal, heartbreak and grief... and she has emerged a little stronger, a little wiser, every time.

But with life comes new trials...

The question is, in the end: who will love, who will live, and who will be dead ever after?

*** May contain Spoilers ****

So what did I think of this, the not so final installment of the Sookie Stackhouse series?  Having just finished it about an hour or so ago, I have to say that I like it.  I tried to stay away from all the other reviews so that it wouldn't influence my own thoughts on this book.  Now, looking at other reviews, I see that there are mixed opinions on the success of the final book.  All I can say is that I'm just glad that I finally have some closure in the whole Sookie/Eric, will they - won't they, quandary.

For me, I liked they way things were resolved with Eric.  He's been such a manipulative undead so-and-so for a long time now.  He's made his bed, and now he has to lie in it.   Although it was strange that he really has no presence in this title.  He only has one or two meetings with Sookie.  Strange, but I thought Ms. Harris would have an Eric laden finale.  However, the vamps were mostly in the background of this book.  This was a huge surprise.  No one - except for Bill - was speaking to Sookie.  Pam had a few words, and so did Karin, but that was it.  

Bill's presence however, was well executed.  There was none of the anger, sadness, manipulations, etc., that have been the broody trademarks we've come to look for.  Bill was his old self in this story.  Not overly solicitous, nor was he moody and distant.  He was the Bill that we saw in the earlier books, the one that was a good friend to Sookie.  Sam's role in DEA was not so much an unexpected twist for me, but a welcome surprise.  I've always thought that this should be the ending he had.  I can't wait to find out if they stay together (sorry, trying not to give away spoilers to those that haven't read DEA yet ;-D ).  There was a stage while reading the book that I thought Sam might be a little 'altered' thanks to Sookie's use of the cluviel dor in Deadlocked.  It would have made a nice twist, but I'm happy enough with the way the story unfurled.

Pam's promotion was great, and I'm glad that she would like to keep Sookie in her life.  The introduction of Karin was a tad unexpected, but then, those who get sent to guard Sookie's house are always unexpected.  I did wonder why we didn't get even a cameo from Bubba?   He wasn't even mentioned!  As far as I can remember, he's still alive... right?!

It was great that a lot of characters from previous books got a final look-in here.  Some we loved, and others we loved to hate.  There are more than a few suspects in the 'who want's Sookie dead' club.  And I was surprised to see Arlene back, even if it was briefly.  The real twist in the tale for me was Claude, and what he's is involved with.  I really did get a surprise when his role in the events of DEA were revealed.   

A great way to end what has been a fabulous, and much cherished, series.

Book Review - Disappearing Nightly

Disappearing Nightly
Esther Diamond, Book 1
Laura Resnick

This edition published 2011

DAW Fantasy, Mass Market Paperback, 386 p.
ISBN: 978-07564-0766-7

From the back cover...

"I'm not a heroine; I just play heroines.  Also psychotics, orphans, vamps, hookers, and housewives..."

Thus begins the first fantastical misadventure of Esther Diamond, a struggling actress who seems destined to  attract supernatural mayhem.

When bizarre magical disappearances disrupt performances in the Big Apple, Esther receives a mysterious warning not to go on with her off-Broadway show.

Desperate to say on stage rather than resort to waiting tables, Esther turns to her new BFF, Dr. Maximillian Zadok, a 350-year-old mage whose day job is protecting New York from Evil.  Determined to get to the bottom of this mystery without losing her job, Esther and Max team up with a conjuring cowboy, a banker with stage aspirations, and a flock of fearless drag queens.  Also on the case is Detective Connor Lopez, a sexy cop who has a thing for Esther, but who fearsthat she and Max may be a bigger problem than the vanishing performers.

Since the show must go on - and the astronomical rent must be paid - Esther, Max, and their friends pursue Evil to its lair in their fearless determination to find the missing performers and restore harmony to the city that never sleeps. 

Here are some of my thoughts about this title at random.

** Spoilers might be included **

Firstly, I loved the cover art!

Esther Diamond is a great leading lady.  Smart, funny, strong, independent and willful.  Just how I like my heroines.  She is very much aware of our hunky detective, Connor Lopez, and it's sweet to watch them tiptoe and flirt around each other as they try to suss each other out.  Det. Lopez is gorgeous, smart and sees just enough to know that he's not getting the full story out of Esther and Max.  He knows something is going on with Esther, but just can't quite put his finger on the cause.  I wonder how long it will take him to finally figure out the truth?

Some of the names the characters sported were quite corny, but that's part of what made them so memorable.  I mean, who could forget a woman with a name like Golly Gee?  Is it any wonder with a name like that that she was such a diva!  The drag queens were a laugh and a half.  Fabulous names, and not your stereotypical queens either.  Loved the meeting between the gang and Lopez at the bookstore.  Our Johnny-come-lately mage, Lysander, was such a stick in the mud.  Someone really needs to pull that stick right out of his tush.  Oh, and Hieronymus - yet another great name - is wonderfully annoying as the lisping assistant mage.  

I could keep going on about how this book engaged me, but it would be simpler (and a whole lot shorter) if I just put it down like this:

Pro's

• great characters
• fast paced
• wonderful storyline
• great moments - such as Connor's revelation to Esther about how his brother's have dodged the 'matchmaking and nagging mother' routine
• all the secondary characters have enough of a personality to have a life of their own outside of their part in the dialogue.

Con's

• too many voices at times!  All those secondary characters seem to overwhelm a reader (especially if you're reading into the wee hours of the morning like someone I won't name ;-D )
• what happened to Matilda?  She was such a vocal and fiery character - getting into verbal tussles with Esther - then, poof!.... she disappeared about half way through?  I thought she might have had a hand in it at one point.  Can't have a great character you love to hate, then loose them part way through.
• I also didn't like the way Lopez portrayed Esther to his mother during that phone call
• There was not enough of Det. Lopez in the story.   Perhaps in the next book he's got more page time
• I didn't think that both our main characters, Esther and Lopez, needed to have the annoying, nagging mothers.  Overkill!
• Our resident mage, Maximilian, is very bumbling at times.  For a 350 year old, you'd think he'd have a mind, and tongue, as sharp as a razor.
• Okay, I'll say it.  Hieronymus was a prat!  Enough said.
• No romance!  All we got was one lousy kiss!

So, these are my thoughts on Disappearing Nightly.  A wonderful start to a collectable series.  When I first started reading it last night, I was struck by how similar in style it was to Carole Nelson Douglas' 'Delilah Street' series.  If you like Esther Diamond, then you'll love Delilah Street.

Merry Gentry Wallpaper

Had Merry Gentry on the brain recently.  Hope you enjoy!

Feedback would be appreciated ;-D