tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72534115430333288432024-03-14T04:55:34.770-04:00Lil' Rae of SunshineMy life in words. A little something about the things I like, becoming a librarian, reading unashamedly, and everything in between.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.comBlogger265125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-32905464455192071162018-08-17T09:32:00.000-04:002018-08-17T09:32:21.296-04:00Book Review: Crime and Poetry<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7_BfTuNikRI/W3bOK9O7HyI/AAAAAAAACKw/Fysurwnxh0gPCDVflgYEkH6zSsOIg4f6gCLcBGAs/s1600/Crime%2Band%2BPoetry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7_BfTuNikRI/W3bOK9O7HyI/AAAAAAAACKw/Fysurwnxh0gPCDVflgYEkH6zSsOIg4f6gCLcBGAs/s320/Crime%2Band%2BPoetry.jpg" width="198" /></a><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28536296-crime-and-poetry">Crime and Poetry (Magical Bookshop Mystery #1)</a> </i><br />By Amanda Flower<br />***<br />
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I love a cozy, but there are definitely aspects common to the genre that I have difficulty dealing with. I know the whole deal with cozies is that you have an amateur sleuth, but a lot of times that leads to a bumbling snoop who has no reason to stick her nose into a murder investigation, neglects to tell the authorities important pieces of information, and sneaks solo into the dark basement where she inevitably meets the killer.<br />
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SO. Where does Crime and Poetry stand in lieu of these pitfalls? Our heroine has a good reason to start an investigation - she found the body and her grandmother was left as as suspect. She also had a good reason for not trusting the police, which involves a rather dark episode from her youth. There IS a sketchy cop. However, there's also a hot, trustworthy Captain, whom she really should have relied on more. Not just because he was so swoony, though that, too. And she is totally guilty of going alone into dark places where she really should have gone with backup (bonus points for the character realizing it, minus points for the thought being 10 minutes too late). On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being Too Stupid Too Live (TSTL) and 10 being Legit Sleuth, I'd stick our heroine somewhere around a 6 or 7.<br />
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Other cozy elements that worked REALLY well: Cute lil' town near Niagara Falls with magic water that feeds a magic tree that lives in a bookstore and makes the books magic and crime solvey. All the bonus points for Magic Books. There's also a talking crow and a too-smart-for-a-normal-cat Tuxedo named Emerson. All the bonus points for Precocious Pets.<br />
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Now that our heroine is established in the community and helped solve a crime, and the introductory kinks have been worked out, I'm hopeful that the next books will work a little better.<br />
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Also, I enjoyed the narrator. She read well with no weird character voices.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-55670477877838626152016-10-25T16:16:00.000-04:002016-10-25T16:16:34.589-04:00Book Review: Illuminae<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23395680-illuminae">Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1)</a> </span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">By Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">****</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><i>“Perhaps bravery is simply the face humanity wraps around its collective madness.” </i></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">― </span>Amie Kaufman<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">, </span><span id="quote_book_link_23395680" style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><i>Illuminae</i></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">A cross between Firefly and BSG, but with more teen breakup drama!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Kady and Ezra have just broken up when an evil tech corporation bombs their little ice planet, killing most of the inhabitants. Our heroes manage to escape to one of three space ships, but not together; Kady ends up on the science ship, Hypatia, while Ezra winds up on the military ship, Alexander. But now they're being chased by the BeiTech dreadnought, Lincoln. As if running for their lives from an evil tech company wasn't bad enough, BeiTech released some kind of chemical weapon on the planet and people are getting sick. And the Alexander took a lot of damage, particularly to its AI. Frying pan, meet fire.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">In a departure from most other books I've read, I found myself more drawn to the action and format of this book than the relationships between the main characters. This never happens - I tend to read for the people not the place. But in Illuminae, the format was half the fun - the memos and emails and messaging drew me in to the events instead of distancing me from the characters. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Alternately, while I was drawn to the characters, I wasn't drawn to Kady and Ezra's relationship. I found the relationships between them and secondary characters far more interesting. I was particularly fascinated with AIDAN's character and the portion of text pulled from its data. So well done!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Pros: detailed space chase, hacker extraordinaire, evil robot</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Cons: icky love stuff, that ending (I'm not so sure about that wrap up - </span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">I liked Kady giving the finger to BeiTech, I like that AIDAN will likely be back, but I'm not so sure that I think Ezra coming back is the right thing. I hate it when lead characters die, but I thought the story was far more interesting with him dead. Almost would say the same for Kady; like for reals, how did she survive that?!</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">) [Highlight for spoiler]</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">All in all, Illuminae was a great book and I'd highly recommend it. Great option for reluctant readers and sci-fi nerds of all ages (come on, it has space zombies AND an evil AI!).</span></span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-87426614251875250472016-06-09T09:23:00.000-04:002016-06-09T09:23:14.222-04:00Harry Potter House Book Recommendations<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qQZTMDpg7z0/V1ls61d8V5I/AAAAAAAACAw/lUiltJ-KxCE3nNBERT8P71is9cSLWe8zACLcB/s1600/hp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qQZTMDpg7z0/V1ls61d8V5I/AAAAAAAACAw/lUiltJ-KxCE3nNBERT8P71is9cSLWe8zACLcB/s320/hp.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="212" /></a>Harry Potter House Book Recommendations<br />
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There are a lot of fun aspects to the Harry Potter universe for its die hard fans. Like many of us, I have visited <a href="https://www.pottermore.com/">Pottermore</a> and got sorted into a house (Ravenclaw!). I have had detailed discussions about which houses celebrities and various characters would be in, as well as which combo houses I'm suited to (I think I'm actually more of a Huffleclaw). I've walked the streets of Diagon Alley (in Florida) and had a wand pick me. It was made of <a href="https://www.universalorlando.com/Merchandise/Gift/Interactive-Ollivanders-Willow-Wand.html">willow</a> and I've worked magic with it:<br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">WILLOW</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #5a5a5a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Willow wood has powers of protection, especially against natural disasters. Willow people are strong and flexible; they recover quickly from the unexpected. Willow people should face new challenges confident that each encounter only makes them stronger.</span></i></blockquote>
Knowing how strongly fans dig into the HP world, I decided to build a Suggested Reads list for each Hogwarts house. The books are all YA or YA-adjacent.<br />
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If you haven't officially been sorted into your Hogwarts house, click on the link above for Pottermore to find out where you belong, then peruse the lists below to find a great new read!<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3i4My6xcIIE/V1ljvJH-d6I/AAAAAAAACAM/4M2k-Ji7iiEU6F2u26H82xOtGom4iv-tQCLcB/s1600/Gryffindor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3i4My6xcIIE/V1ljvJH-d6I/AAAAAAAACAM/4M2k-Ji7iiEU6F2u26H82xOtGom4iv-tQCLcB/s640/Gryffindor.jpg" width="206" /></a><br />
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<b>Books for Gryffindors:</b><br />
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<ul>
<li><i>Red Queen</i> by Victoria Aveyard</li>
<li><i>Graceling</i> by Kristin Cashore</li>
<li><i><a href="http://raesamm.blogspot.com/2012/04/book-review-hunger-games.html">Hunger Games</a> </i>by Suzanne Collins</li>
<li><i>Read Player One</i> by Ernest Cline</li>
<li><i>The Eye of Minds </i>by James Dashner</li>
<li><i>Front Lines </i>by Michael Grant</li>
<li><i>The Giver</i> by Lois Lowry</li>
<li><i>Throne of Glass </i>by Sarah J. Maas</li>
<li><i>Dumplin'</i> by Julie Murphy</li>
<li><i>The Wee Free Men</i> by Terry Pratchett</li>
<li><i>Steelheart</i> by Brandon Sanderson</li>
<li><i>Ember in the Ashes</i> by Sabaa Tahir</li>
<li><i>The 5th Wave</i> by Rick Yancey</li>
<li><i>The Book Thief</i> by Markus Zusak</li>
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<b>Books for Hufflepuffs:</b></div>
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<li><i>The Perks of Being a Wallflower </i>by Stephen Chboskey</li>
<li><i><a href="http://raesamm.blogspot.com/2012/12/book-review-last-dragonslayer.html">The Last Dragonslayer</a></i> by Jasper Fforde</li>
<li><i><a href="http://raesamm.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-review-to-all-boys-ive-loved-before.html">To All the Boys I've Loved Before</a></i> by Jenny Han</li>
<li><i>Howl's Moving Castle</i> by Diana Wynne Jones</li>
<li><i>Hold Me Closer: The Tiny Cooper Story </i>by David Levithan</li>
<li><i>Legend </i>by Marie Lu</li>
<li><i>The Rest of Us Just Live Here</i> by Patrick Ness</li>
<li><i>Anna and the French Kiss</i> by Stephanie Perkins</li>
<li><i>Carry On </i>by Rainbow Rowell</li>
<li><i>Winger </i>by Andrew Smith</li>
<li><i>Black Dove, White Raven</i> by Elizabeth Wein</li>
<li><i>Ms. Marvel</i> by G. Willow Wilson</li>
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<b>Books for Ravenclaws:</b></div>
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<li><i>A Drop of Night </i>by Stefan Bachmann</li>
<li><i><a href="http://raesamm.blogspot.com/2015/03/audio-book-review-finishing-school.html">Etiquette & Espionage</a> </i>by Gail Carriger</li>
<li><i>Girl of Fire and Thorns </i>by Rae Carson</li>
<li><i>A Study in Charlotte</i> by Brittany Cavallaro</li>
<li><i>Illuminae </i>by Amie Kaufman</li>
<li><i>Glory O'Brien's History of the Future</i> by A.S. King</li>
<li><i><a href="http://raesamm.blogspot.com/2012/03/book-review-cinder.html">Cinder</a> </i>by Marissa Meyer</li>
<li><i><a href="http://raesamm.blogspot.com/2014/10/book-review-jackaby.html">Jackaby</a> </i>by William Ritter</li>
<li><i>Challenger Deep</i> by Neal Shusterman</li>
<li><i><a href="http://raesamm.blogspot.com/2016/06/audio-book-review-daughter-of-smoke-and.html">Daughter of Smoke and Bone</a></i> by Laini Taylor</li>
<li><i><a href="http://raesamm.blogspot.com/2012/06/book-review-book-of-blood-and-shadow.html">Book of Blood and Shadow</a> </i>by Robin Wasserman</li>
<li><i>Afterworlds</i> by Scott Westerfeld</li>
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<b>Books for Slytherins: </b><br />
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<li><i>Six of Crows</i> by Leigh Bardugo</li>
<li><i><a href="http://raesamm.blogspot.com/2016/06/book-review-white-cat.html">White Cat</a> </i>by Holly Black</li>
<li><i><a href="http://raesamm.blogspot.com/2014/10/book-review-anna-dressed-in-blood.html">Anna Dressed in Blood</a></i> by Kendare Blake</li>
<li><i>Ender's Game</i> by Orson Scott Card</li>
<li><i>Heist Society</i> by Ally Carter</li>
<li><i>Entwined </i>by Heather Dixon</li>
<li><i>Loki: Agent of Asgard </i>by Al Ewing</li>
<li><i><a href="http://raesamm.blogspot.com/2014/08/book-review-grave-mercy.html">Grave Mercy</a> </i>by Robin Lafevers</li>
<li><i><a href="http://raesamm.blogspot.com/2011/01/disreputable-history-of-frankie-landau.html">The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks</a></i> by E. Lockhart</li>
<li><i>I Hunt Killers </i>by Barry Lyga</li>
<li><i><a href="http://raesamm.blogspot.com/2013/08/book-review-how-to-lead-life-of-crime.html">How to Lead a Life of Crime</a></i> by Kirsten Miller</li>
<li><i>Revenge of the Wild</i> by Michelle Modesto</li>
<li><i>Alive </i>by Scott Sigler</li>
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Now it's your turn: tell us your Hogwarts House and if you think any of the books above would be better suited for a different House, or if the list is missing a great title for a specific house! </div>
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-35002030202346369062016-06-09T09:14:00.001-04:002016-06-09T09:14:23.713-04:00Book Review: White Cat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<em>White Cat (Curse Workers #1)</em><br />
By Holly Black<br />
****<br />
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<em>“Pet the cat dude," says Sam. "She brought you a present. She wants you to tell her how badass she is."<br /><br />"You are a tiny tiny killing machine." Daneca coos.<br /><br />"What's she doing?" I ask.<br /><br />"Purring!" says Daneca. She sounds delighted. "Good kitty. Who's an amazing killing machine? That's right. You are! You are a brutal brutal tiny lion! Yes, you are.”</em> </blockquote>
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In Cassel's world, some people can do magic and some people can't, but everyone knows it exists. The majority of the non-magic users fear people who do magic, so magic is outlawed. Therefore, the magic users tend to band together in organized magical groups, and since magic is outlawed, these groups participate in organized crime. In other words, a magic mafia.<br />
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That's right - <em>a magic mafia!</em><br />
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So Cassel's family are all magic practitioners and are connected to a major crime family. Cassel, though, (if I may steal a term from Harry Potter) is a squib - the only non-magic person in a magic family of con artists. His mother is in prison, his brother is interning at a law firm trying to get her out, and his other brother is an enforcer for the mafia don's heir apparent. Cassel's grandfather does the dirtiest work of all - his touch can bring death.<br />
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In this world, all magic is used through the power of touch; everyone wears gloves to keep from getting "cursed." But for every magic touch the magic wielder uses, he or she get's a whiplash-type effect. So if you are a memory worker, you lose your own memories. If you can kill someone with a touch, a part of your body dies (Cassel's grandfather is missing many fingers). So magic wielding isn't all fun and games, but Cassel still feels like the black sheep in the family because he doesn't have a gift.<br />
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To make matters worse, he killed his best friend.<br />
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The story follows Cassel as he tries to make a normal life for himself, but is finding that hard to do with his last memory of his best friend, his confusion about why he killed her, and other major family issues. And considering the fact that his best friend is the Don's only child and Cassel's family is keeping the secret that Cassel killed her, the issues are vast and troublesome. The story has a lot of twists and turns, but it is an engaging urban fantasy mystery. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes an edgier read with a supernatural twist!Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-41744520365547893012016-06-09T09:08:00.000-04:002016-06-09T09:08:25.386-04:00Audio Book Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xeeD-9f4y_U/V1lpvkZ9z2I/AAAAAAAACAk/OIoaU11wJeMc8zoJcYegWfFDGJTml4HbwCLcB/s1600/daughter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xeeD-9f4y_U/V1lpvkZ9z2I/AAAAAAAACAk/OIoaU11wJeMc8zoJcYegWfFDGJTml4HbwCLcB/s320/daughter.jpg" width="209" /></a><em><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12958067-daughter-of-smoke-and-bone">Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1)</a> </em><br />
By Laini Taylor<br />
Narrated by Khristine Hvam<br />
****<br />
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<em>“Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well.”</em> </blockquote>
Karou is a teenager who attends a school for the arts in Prague. She has blue hair and tattoos, the most obvious of which are the eyes on each palm and "true" and "story" on each wrist. She's also a brilliant artist and her friends love to look at her sketch book for the fantastic creatures she draws there. In addition to the beautiful drawings, Karou tells stories of the different "characters." What her friends don't know is that these creatures are real, and they're Karou's family.<em></em><br />
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Karou's family are Chimera - creatures made up of different animal parts (kinda like the Sphinx). Unbeknownst to Karou, her family has been fighting a war for a century: a war against the angels.<br />
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Enter Akiva, a beautiful angel who comes to earth to close the portals Karou's family uses to access our world. Akiva meets Karou and the sparks (and flames) fly. They fall in love, but there's far more to their story than either could possibly guess.<br />
<br />
<em>Daughter of Smoke and Bone</em> is a mesmerizing mix of love and hate, peace and war, romance and tragedy. Taylor has fused together two worlds in a fascinating and believable way and Hvam narrates it beautifully. And just when you have hope that everything will work out for our star-crossed lovers, Taylor comes along and sucker punches you. Thank heaven's there's a sequel!<br />
<br />
This is a great story for anyone who enjoys paranormal romance, mythology, or stories that take place in foreign locales. Highly recommended.<br />
<br />
P.S. Check out this <a href="http://animoto.com/play/0ss7ZoDEfS6KtlnYl4LzcQ#">book trailer</a> I did for <em>Daughter of Smoke and Bone!</em>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-9055282718700450082016-06-03T08:28:00.000-04:002016-06-09T08:21:33.578-04:00Manga Review: Behind the Scenes!!<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25986987-behind-the-scenes-vol-1">Behind the Scenes!! Vol. 1</a> </i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kFqR_6Lf8Co/V1F24eOVfvI/AAAAAAAAB_0/zy_BUtx7Exk8my6hVq89iu5o3selVENvQCLcB/s1600/behind%2Bthe%2Bscenes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kFqR_6Lf8Co/V1F24eOVfvI/AAAAAAAAB_0/zy_BUtx7Exk8my6hVq89iu5o3selVENvQCLcB/s320/behind%2Bthe%2Bscenes.jpg" width="213" /></a></i></div>
<i>
</i>
<div>
By Bisco Hatori</div>
<div>
***1/2</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"I prefer shade to sunlight." </i>-Bisco Hatori, <i>Behind the Scenes!! Vol. 1</i></blockquote>
<div>
<div>
This series has a lot of promise - a college "art squad" who creates the costumes, set designs, etc. for the campus film groups. The squad has a fun variety of characters and I think it'll be interesting to see where their stories go. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The only draw back (and the reason I didn't give this a higher rating), and one I felt happened with the Ouran series, too, is that it feels like too much is jammed into the first volume. Not just story-wise - Hatori does have a lot of characters to introduce in this ensemble - but even visually. There are a few pages and frames that have so much going on that I can't really tell what's happening in the picture. In Ouran, this settled down after a bit, and then I was fully immersed, and I hope that's the case here as well. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So far this series is starting out pretty tame, even though it takes place in a college setting. It looks like it will be a good fit for artistic types, particularly high school students. I'd recommend the series for anyone who's interested in film making, particularly the "Behind the Scenes!!" work it takes to get the film made.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Looking forward to finding out what happens next and excited to start a new series by the only manga artist/writer I've really gotten into. </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
Bonus Factors: Steampunk elements, art/design</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-523406030959352922016-06-02T14:26:00.001-04:002016-06-02T14:29:08.617-04:00Book Review: The Curse of the Tenth Grave<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7SElhvFoTZQ/V1B3tItFvbI/AAAAAAAAB_k/s7mRAjead0gnD_XCzxYteNa7j7aUz5x9QCLcB/s1600/tenth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7SElhvFoTZQ/V1B3tItFvbI/AAAAAAAAB_k/s7mRAjead0gnD_XCzxYteNa7j7aUz5x9QCLcB/s320/tenth.jpg" width="211" /></a><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24154660-the-curse-of-tenth-grave">The Curse of the Tenth Grave (Charley Davidson #10)</a> </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By Darynda Jones</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">*****</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"There are those in this world who, when they have to get up in the middle of the night to pee, turn on the light. And there are those who leave it off...I pee in the dark, baby." </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">― </span><span style="background-color: white;">Darynda Jones, <i>The Curse of the Tenth Grave.</i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;"> </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Review contains mild spoilers for the book and the series. Read at your own risk!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Things have really changed for the characters in the last few books in the series. Charley is back home in Albuquerque and back on a few new cases, all whilst rocking some new major powers, which makes her narrative even more interesting. On the bright side, she manages to solve her cases (per usual) without being beaten and mangled at the end of the book (not per usual). I really appreciated that, and hope that's one side effect of her new celestial powers. But with all that, she's still the same snarky, slightly juvenile character I've grown to love. It really makes me wonder what she was like in her "past life." Was she always like this? Was she once noble and serene? Or was she faking noble and secretly snarky the whole time, and now she's getting to be her true self? I'd read that novella!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The way things are progressing, I'm wondering where this series will lead. Do we have bunches and bunches of books to look forward to until the Big Event? Or will Jones fast forward at some point? Either way, I'm in it for the long haul!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18.018px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">**I received an Advanced Review eGalley of this title from NetGalley**</span></span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-16793203154461284202016-04-22T16:08:00.001-04:002016-04-22T16:08:25.277-04:00Audio Book Review: Trouble is a Friend of Mine<div>
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0FN39CeNjH0/VxqEKbbb9ZI/AAAAAAAAB_U/aYWpYrYyIukwkyxXZ5bx-ag_vSHdVHgngCLcB/s1600/trouble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0FN39CeNjH0/VxqEKbbb9ZI/AAAAAAAAB_U/aYWpYrYyIukwkyxXZ5bx-ag_vSHdVHgngCLcB/s320/trouble.jpg" width="213" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23354047-trouble-is-a-friend-of-mine">Trouble is a Friend of Mine (Trouble #1)</a></i> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By Stephanie Tromly</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">****</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;"><i>“Who brings a picnic to a break-in?”</i> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">― </span>Stephanie Tromly<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">, </span><span id="quote_book_link_22299181" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;"><i>Trouble is a Friend of Mine</i></span></span></blockquote>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ok, that was pretty fun. Zoe made a relatable character and was often the voice of reason (a voice that mainly went unheard, but still). Digby had some definite Sherlock vibes, but while he clearly had boundary issues, he wasn't a BBC Sherlock or Sheldon Cooper caricature - he may have been brainy and weird, but he was still a teenage boy. Even the mean girl wasn't quite as terrible as she could have been. I mean, she was pretty terrible, but not 100% irredeemable. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That being said, I honestly can't figure out why Henry was with Sloan, though. Like I said, she was terrible, while he seemed like a genuinely good person. I do not believe his mama would put up with her. Man, I hope that scene happens in the next book!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh, and Felix may have been my favorite. And his dad was pretty awesome, too.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I listened to the audio version of the book and the narrator was great. So many YA narrators go for the breathy, angsty voice, which makes me gag. Thankfully Kathleen McInerney did not do that; her voice was realistic to the characters and emotions without going into whispy voice of teen melodrama. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The mystery itself was solid. Frankly, I didn't expect any of the twists and turns that took place throughout the book. I also like how the mystery built; first they're looking for a missing person, then there's the weird cult and all kinds of criminality going on around them. By the time the story ends, the mystery is wrapped up neatly and, for the most part, satisfyingly, while a new mystery is planted for another book. This new mystery: I'm not sure if it will be the main mystery of the next book, or a series arc, but it looks like it will be a good one.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">All in all, <i>Trouble is a Friend of Mine</i> was a fun read and a nice change-up from the more drama- and dark-filled YA novels I've been reading. And the characters were pretty great - I'd want to be friends with most of them.</span></div>
</div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-83007989007933633632016-03-14T15:00:00.001-04:002016-03-14T15:00:29.689-04:00Book Review: The Colorado Kid<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6444429-the-colorado-kid">The Colorado Kid</a></span></i><div>
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XfFlcHKRYqE/VucKHqj5gpI/AAAAAAAAB-8/smdcfWWhLWUmKgjqpGIfOk608eBkbxn7w/s1600/colorado%2Bkid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XfFlcHKRYqE/VucKHqj5gpI/AAAAAAAAB-8/smdcfWWhLWUmKgjqpGIfOk608eBkbxn7w/s320/colorado%2Bkid.jpg" width="198" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">By Stephen King</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">****</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">“<i>Well then, I'm going to tell you a secret almost every newspaper man and woman who's been at it awhile knows: in real life, the number of actual stories - those with beginnings, middles, and ends - are slim and none. But if you can give your readers just one unknown thing (two at the very outside) and then kick in what Dave Bowie there calls a musta-been, your reader will tell himself a story.</i>” </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">― </span>Stephen King<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">, </span><span id="quote_book_link_10574" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;"><i>The Colorado Kid</i></span></span></blockquote>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">I read this book after watching the SYFY show, Haven, which is loosely based off <i>The Colorado Kid</i>. I needed - NEEDED - to know how the two compared and how closely the TV show followed the original book. The answer is "barely." There are few similarities between the two, namely the setting in a small town in coastal Maine; the two newspapermen, Vince and Dave; and a mystery around a body discovered in the 80s of a John Doe nicknamed the Colorado Kid. Everything else, including the heart of the mystery of the Kid, differ.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">This was my first Stephen King - I'm a big weeny, so the scary stuff just ain't gonna happen - and I really enjoyed it. There's a mystery, but you're not living in it; the reader, like Stephanie, is listening to a tale from over 20 years ago told by the only two people who are still interested in the story. In other words, it was a low-stress read. Also a quick one; it only took me a couple of hours to finish.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">There are some things about this story that will frustrate readers, and normally I would count myself among the frustrated, but I appreciated how the story evolved. It was a couple of hours reading well spent.</span></span></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-76056675372377882742016-02-18T15:19:00.000-05:002016-02-18T15:19:24.745-05:00Book List: Books With Bite<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-67vsyNYeKKc/VsYmgSHOEUI/AAAAAAAAB-c/kA-sNjNimcM/s1600/fangs.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-67vsyNYeKKc/VsYmgSHOEUI/AAAAAAAAB-c/kA-sNjNimcM/s200/fangs.png" width="200" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Books With Bite</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the many libraries in our system still has a number of folks asking for books "like </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Twilight</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">." Enough so that I decided it was time to create another book list. And so Books With Bite was born:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Twilight </i>Read Alikes - YA books with Vamps and Romance:</b><br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 424px;"><colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 9142; mso-width-source: userset; width: 188pt;" width="250"></col><col style="mso-width-alt: 6363; mso-width-source: userset; width: 131pt;" width="174"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Title</span></i></td>
<td class="xl65"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Author</span></i></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Vampire Academy series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mead, Richelle</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Marked series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cast, P. C.</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Blue Bloods series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">de la Cruz, Melissa</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bloodlines series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mead, Richelle</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Morganville Vampire series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Caine, Rachel</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Evernight series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gray, Claudia</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Blood of Eden series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kagawa, Julie</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Night World series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Smith, L.J.</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Vampire Diaries series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Smith, L.J.</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Interwined series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Showalter, Gena</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dead Is series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Perez, Marlene</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Coldest Girl in Coldtown</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Black, Holly</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Vamped series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lucienne Diver</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Immortals series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Noel, Alyson</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chronicles of Nick series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kenyon, Sherrilyn</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>YA Vamps Outside the Box:</b></span><div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 424px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 9142; mso-width-source: userset; width: 188pt;" width="250"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 6363; mso-width-source: userset; width: 131pt;" width="174"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 188pt;" width="250"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Title</span></i></td>
<td class="xl65" style="width: 131pt;" width="174"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Author</span></i></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Vladimir Tod series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Brewer, Heather</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Vampire Knight series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hino, Matsuri</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cirque Du Freak series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Shan, Darren</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chibi Vampire series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kagesaki, Yuna</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Reformed Vampire Support Group</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jinks, Catherine</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Finishing School series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Carriger, Gail</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Department Nineteen series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hill, Will</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Hunt series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fukuda, Andrew</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paranormal Romance - YA Without Vamps:</span></b></div>
</div>
<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 608px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 9618; mso-width-source: userset; width: 197pt;" width="263"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 6253; mso-width-source: userset; width: 128pt;" width="171"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 6363; mso-width-source: userset; width: 131pt;" width="174"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 197pt;" width="263"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Title</span></i></td>
<td class="xl65" style="width: 128pt;" width="171"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Author</span></i></td>
<td class="xl65" style="width: 131pt;" width="174"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Notes</span></i></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mortal Instruments series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Clare, Cassandra</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">supernatural</span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wicked Lovely series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Marr, Melissa</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">fairies</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Shiver series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stiefvater, Maggie</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">werewolves</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Grisha series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bardugo, Leigh</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">magic</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hush Hush series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fitzpatrick, Becca</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">angels</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fallen series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kate, Lauren</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">supernatural</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lux series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Armentrout, Jennifer</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">aliens</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Caster Chronicles</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Garcia, Kami</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">magic</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Legion series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Garcia, Kami</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">hunters</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Strange Angels series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">St. Crow, Lili</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">hunters</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Splintered series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Howard, A. G. </span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wonderland</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Raven Cycle series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stiefvater, Maggie</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">paranormal</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Darkest Powers series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Armstrong, Kelley</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">ghosts</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 403px;"><colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 9618; mso-width-source: userset; width: 197pt;" width="263"></col><col style="mso-width-alt: 5120; mso-width-source: userset; width: 105pt;" width="140"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 197pt;" width="263"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 577px;"><colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 9618; mso-width-source: userset; width: 197pt;" width="263"></col><col style="mso-width-alt: 5120; mso-width-source: userset; width: 105pt;" width="140"></col><col style="mso-width-alt: 6363; mso-width-source: userset; width: 131pt;" width="174"></col></colgroup><tbody></tbody></table>
</td><td class="xl65" style="width: 105pt;" width="140"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></td><td><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">And now to the Adult Read Alikes:</span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Vamps in Adult Titles:</span></b></div>
<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 424px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 9142; mso-width-source: userset; width: 188pt;" width="250"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 6363; mso-width-source: userset; width: 131pt;" width="174"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 188pt;" width="250"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Title</span></i></td>
<td class="xl65" style="width: 131pt;" width="174"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Author</span></i></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jane Jameson series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Harper, Molly</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sunshine</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">McKinley, Robin</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jane True series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Peeler, Nicole</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Vampire Chronicles</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rice, Anne</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dark Hunter series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kenyon, Sherrilyn</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Black Dagger Brotherhood series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ward, J. R.</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sookie Stackhouse series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Harris, Charlaine</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Immortals After Dark series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cole, Kresley</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Night Huntress series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Frost, Jeaniene</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fever series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Moning, Karen Marie</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Otherworld series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Armstrong, Kelley</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hamilton, Laurell</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dark series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Feehan, Christine</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Undead series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Davidson, MaryJanice</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dark Ones series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">MacAlister, Katie</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Parasol Protectorate series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Carriger, Gail</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Hollows series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Harrison, Kim</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cassandra Palmer series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chance, Karen</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adult Paranormal Romance:</span></b></div>
<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 577px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 9618; mso-width-source: userset; width: 197pt;" width="263"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 5120; mso-width-source: userset; width: 105pt;" width="140"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 6363; mso-width-source: userset; width: 131pt;" width="174"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 197pt;" width="263"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Title</span></i></td>
<td class="xl65" style="width: 105pt;" width="140"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Author</span></i></td>
<td class="xl65" style="width: 131pt;" width="174"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Notes</span></i></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Outlander series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gabaldon, Diana</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">time travel</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mercy Thompson series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Briggs, Patricia</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">werewolves</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lords of the Underworld series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Showalter, Gena</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">demons</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Charley Davidson series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jones, Darynda</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">supernatural</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Naked Werewolf series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Harper, Molly</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">werewolves</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">GhostWalkers series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Feehan, Christine</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">supersoldiers</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">InCryptid series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">McGuire, Seanan</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">supernatural</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dark Kings series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Grant, Donna</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">dragons</span></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Broken Destiny series</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">Frost, Jeaniene</span></td>
<td><span style="font-family: inherit;">visions/paranormal</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-8693399201966408012016-02-05T14:52:00.003-05:002016-02-05T14:52:50.404-05:00Book Review - Feint of Art<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Y_FK2XV36g/VrT9ZJNGglI/AAAAAAAAB98/VlDhO9HHRYM/s1600/feint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Y_FK2XV36g/VrT9ZJNGglI/AAAAAAAAB98/VlDhO9HHRYM/s320/feint.jpg" width="198" /></span></a><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8701455-feint-of-art">Feint of Art (An Art Lover's Mystery #1)</a> </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By Hailey Lind (Pseudonym for Juliet Blackwell and her sister Carolyn)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">*****</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This cozy was fantastic! It had a little more action than most cozies, enough that I'd totally watch it as a show on USA or TNT. Annie is a struggling artist who had a little run in with the law as a teen when she joined her grandfather in a forgery spree. After quickly learning her lesson and going straight, she tried to make a career in art restoration, only to have her past bite her in the butt as she got booted out personally by the Brocks of the Brock Museum.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Fast forward several years and after a short spurt in ho-hum office drudgery, she was inspired to turn to interior design, with faux-finishes and the like. Until an ex asked her to verify a painting. Chaos, murders, kidnappings, thievery, and shenanigans ensue.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Annie was a great heroine, with a lot of spunk, some moral fiber, and a healthy helping of knowledge about the world of art forgery (her grandfather is one of the greats, after all). In addition, there were a lot of minor characters that I also loved - Inspector Annette was pretty darn awesome (I'm totally picturing Gina Torres), neighbor Pete was endearing, and the X-Man was very Neal Caffrey, and Fender Bender has the potential of joining X as a potential suitor. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm oddly drawn to books about art forgery. I don't know why - it's not like I can draw anything better than a stick figure - but I find it fascinating. Hence, the career background and plot set up for this particular amateur sleuth was a lot of fun. It also made sense that Annie would find herself investigating, considering she has a very distinctive skill set and knowledge base that even experts in the field wouldn't be able to compare to. I prefer my cozy detectives to have a good reason for getting mixed up in the investigations. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Highly recommended. </span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-80346454243158355532015-12-18T14:15:00.001-05:002015-12-18T14:15:35.852-05:00Book Review: It Takes A Witch<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L_ewnF8-rIA/VnRbPOxXPJI/AAAAAAAAB9k/uYsRigZP7HM/s1600/blake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L_ewnF8-rIA/VnRbPOxXPJI/AAAAAAAAB9k/uYsRigZP7HM/s320/blake.jpg" width="198" /></a><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13361746-it-takes-a-witch">It Takes A Witch (A Wishcraft Mystery #1)</a> </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By Heather Blake</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">*** 1/2 stars</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">“He does manage the bookstore, which is currently my favorite place on earth." Her eyes glazed over. "All those books. If I married him, I could probably work there the rest of my life. Nothing would make me happier."</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">"What about love?" Ve asked.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">"Oh," Harper said solemnly. "I love books.” </span></i><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">― </span>Heather Blake<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">, </span><span id="quote_book_link_11018878" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;"><i>It Takes a Witch</i></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After reading a bunch of duds, this cozy actually had characters that didn't suck and a plot that made sense. I was getting really tired of heroines that were too stupid to live, but Darcy had believable issues (ok, there are magic powers involved as well, but that didn't make anything less believable), and her attempts to solve the mystery actually made sense. For one, she actually *wanted* to get the police involved. And when that didn't turn out to be a viable option, she turned to the hunky former-cop. See, things making sense and characters acting reasonably. Was that really so hard?! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Darcy wasn't the most engaging protagonist I've ever read, but she wasn't "screw-up-cute" or "clumsy-adorable" and I don't think there were any occasions where she made me want to throw the book in frustration. (Man, I've really read some losers lately.) She seemed like a real person, and I appreciate that. And the supporting characters were also interesting and well-developed. Even the the character who everyone kinda hates was redeemed by the end. I loved that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The town itself seemed like a magical Stars Hollow. It's a magic-themed town, but only some of the townsfolk know that real magic exists. Those with magic are called Crafters, and each Crafter family has a different ability. Darcy, her sister, and her aunt are Wishcrafters. When someone makes a wish out loud, and they're pure of heart, the Wishcrafter must grant the wish. The world building here was pretty cool, and the first I've read like that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But the best part, bar none, are the familiars. If you don't love Pepe, you're wrong.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">***</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ok, now my brain is busy imagining that Stars Hollow, like Enchanted Village (the name of the town in <i>It Takes A Witch</i>), has folks secretly hiding magic abilities, while other townsfolk know nothing about it. Miss Patty and Babette definitely have magic. Taylor Doose definitely doesn't. And he's constantly frustrated because he knows that Something Is Up, but can't figure out what. Kirk is totally a squib. Luke has magic, but is curmudgeonly about it, like everything else. Suki, yes. Jackson, probably not. Lorelai and Rory are No's, but they are completely enchanted by the magic, even though they don't know it's there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I would totally watch that show. </span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-37464599239095604542015-12-11T13:33:00.000-05:002015-12-11T13:33:38.883-05:00Book Review: Winter<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CSnnsjDqjaA/VmsWl3xoZtI/AAAAAAAAB9M/TzVOtJEmfaM/s1600/winter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CSnnsjDqjaA/VmsWl3xoZtI/AAAAAAAAB9M/TzVOtJEmfaM/s320/winter.jpg" width="211" /></span></a><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13206900-winter">Winter (Lunar Chronicles #4)</a> </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By Marissa Meyer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">**** 1/2</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><i>“She was prettier than a bouquet of roses and crazier than a headless chicken. Fitting in was not an option.” </i></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">― </span>Marissa Meyer<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">, </span><span id="quote_book_link_13206900" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><i>Winter</i></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I finished it! Man that was a long book! And STRESSFUL. Even knowing that HEAs were assured, this book kept me in a constant state of worry. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">While the cover and title are given to our fourth heroine, Winter, I didn't feel like this was necessarily her book - all the stories entwined perfectly and felt very balanced as the changes in viewpoints progressed the plot. It didn't feel like Winter was the major focus; that being said, I still felt like I really got to know her and Jacin. Like I said, everything was really well balanced. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This series was fantastic - I connected to all the characters and loved them all, Iko in particular. I sort of find myself shipping Iko and Kinney...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now can we get an epilogue? I'd like to hear more about those Happily Ever Afters...</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-32236867407929180582015-12-07T10:21:00.000-05:002015-12-07T10:21:05.758-05:00Book Review: The Dirt on Ninth Grave<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YClaorQ2MLs/VmWjY4QcXbI/AAAAAAAAB84/yUWeiIkp9sY/s1600/dirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YClaorQ2MLs/VmWjY4QcXbI/AAAAAAAAB84/yUWeiIkp9sY/s320/dirt.jpg" width="210" /></a><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25348554-the-dirt-on-ninth-grave">The Dirt on Ninth Grave (Charley Davidson #9)</a> </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By Darynda Jones</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">*****</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"<i>I took a quick sip of my coffee before explaining. "I'm, like, stupid smart. I'm probably a prodigy of some kind."</i>" --<i>The Dirt on Ninth Grave</i>, Darynda Jones</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love this series so much. There was a major twist that occurred at the end of book #8 that sends Charley to Sleepy Hollow, New York, where of course she meets the headless horseman. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I won't go into what the twist is, but it changed Charley's circumstances. Despite what was a pretty big change, the book itself didn't really differ in tone or structure from previous books. If you're anticipating a major change, the way I was, you're not going to get it. That being said, I've enjoyed the tone and structure for the last 8 books, so I'm not too disappointed in the way this one played out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Charley remains our snarky heroine, Reyes still steams up any room he enters (good thing since the story takes place during a New England winter), and Cookie is still the best friend we all wish we had. We have various threats of natural and supernatural natures and the story arc progresses further. All in all, this series still ranks among my favorites, and <i>Ninth </i>was another great addition to it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">**I received an Advanced Review eGalley of this title from NetGalley**</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-66727029332670669152015-12-01T12:36:00.001-05:002015-12-01T12:36:47.481-05:00Book Review: Witches of East End<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wUlSsvQdy5Y/Vl3Z7NtsFlI/AAAAAAAAB8k/Vbod573efRQ/s1600/east%2Bend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wUlSsvQdy5Y/Vl3Z7NtsFlI/AAAAAAAAB8k/Vbod573efRQ/s320/east%2Bend.jpg" width="204" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">For once I'm going to use the Media cover<br />since I liked the show so much better!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11604445-witches-of-east-end">Witches of East End (The Beauchamp Family #1)</a> </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By Melissa de la Cruz</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">**</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><i>“Joanna, like her daughters, was neither old nor young, and yet their physical appearances corresponded to their particular talents. Depending on the situation, Freya could be anywhere from sixteen to twenty-three years of age, the first blush of Love, while Ingrid, keeper of the Hearth, looked and acted anywhere from twenty-seven to thirty-five; and since Wisdom came from experience, even if in her heart she might feel like a schoolgirl, Joanna's features were those of an older woman in her early sixties.” </i></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">― </span>Melissa de la Cruz<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">, </span><span id="quote_book_link_8113940" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><i>Witches of East End</i></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Another book picked up because I enjoyed the TV show - and another book that was kinda "meh" in comparison. I've never read de la Cruz before, but she's prolific and popular, so I had high hopes. Unfortunately, there wasn't really anything I liked about the book. The plot was spotty; the characters were dull (and occasionally too stupid to live); and the resolution was tied up too neatly and entirely told, not shown. TV-Joanna was a total BAMF and a force to be reckoned with; Book-Joanna, not so much. And Wendy, my favorite character from the show, didn't exist in this book. Maybe she'll show up later. Maybe she was a creation for the show. I don't know, but I missed her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I feel like the show took all the weakest points from the book and patched them up. Plus, they had a fantastic cast, so connecting to the characters was easy. I didn't connect to any of the characters in the book, and frankly, sometimes I just didn't like them. The twist was interesting (book twist was different from TV twist), but so quickly revealed and resolved it didn't feel like it mattered. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is one of the few times where I'll definitely recommend the TV show over the movie. And wholeheartedly at that. </span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-69211391815550220432015-11-09T08:04:00.000-05:002015-11-09T08:04:23.791-05:00Book Review: Cocaine Blues<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19199290-cocaine-blues">Cocaine Blues (Phryne Fisher #1)</a> </span></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--xfDYv5jyyM/VkCZUdNdRHI/AAAAAAAAB8E/-y_fbNVFeOs/s1600/Miss%2BFisher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--xfDYv5jyyM/VkCZUdNdRHI/AAAAAAAAB8E/-y_fbNVFeOs/s320/Miss%2BFisher.jpg" width="206" /></a></span></i></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By Kerry Greenwood</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">***</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><i>“Her heart was beating appreciably faster, and she took more rapid breaths, but she was enjoying herself. Adventuresses are born, not made.” </i></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">― </span>Kerry Greenwood<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">, </span><span id="quote_book_link_83927" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><i>Cocaine Blues</i></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;">I absolutely adore Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries - the show. I'm afraid this is one of those rare times when I can honestly say the book *wasn't* better.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;">There was much more detail to the mystery in the book - obvs - though the first episode did follow the plot fairly closely (book #1 = episode #1). The main problem I had with the book was that I never managed to connect to the characters. I made an instant connection with the characters on the show, even immediately shipping various pairings (Dot and Hugh 4eva!). Of all the characters in the book, I felt most drawn, of all people, to Bert. If I could have mustered up enough interest to ship any characters in the book, it would have been Phryne and Bert. For anyone who's watched the show, this sounds like crazy talk. But Hugh didn't exist, Dot was a bit harsher, and Jack was kinda dumb (and barely present). </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;">So there you have it. Watch the show. If you loved it, learning about its origins is interesting, but a little boring. At least it's a super quick read.</span></span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-46961329016567821132015-10-29T12:20:00.001-04:002015-10-29T12:22:30.130-04:00Halloween Book Review: Secondhand Spirits<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6609349-secondhand-spirits">Secondhand Spirits (A Witchcraft Mystery #1)</a> </span></i><br />
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<i><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-axK3PiwKy54/VjJGUStArUI/AAAAAAAAB7o/ubIpHLlxCOs/s1600/secondhand%2Bspirits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-axK3PiwKy54/VjJGUStArUI/AAAAAAAAB7o/ubIpHLlxCOs/s320/secondhand%2Bspirits.jpg" width="198" /></span></a></i></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By Juliet Blackwell</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">*** 1/2</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">I don’t want to be seen as a scary freak anymore.” And with that I dropped a freeze-dried bat into the bubbling brew."</span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">― </span>Juliet Blackwell<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">, </span><span id="quote_book_link_6609349" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><i>Secondhand Spirits</i></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;">While not exactly a Halloween title - the story takes place in March - it still seemed like an appropriate book for the season. <i>Secondhand Spirits </i>is an enjoyable cozy mystery with strong paranormal elements. Witch Lily Ivory wants to settle down a bit and make a home for herself, maybe even some friends, and begin a new business selling vintage clothing in San Francisco. But she's not able to keep her witchy ways quiet for long, as she gets involved with what appears to be a supernatural kidnapping AND a murder.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;">The mystery was strong - I only started to suspect who the Bad Guy was towards the end. I do like a bit more humor/snark in my cozies, but this one had a lot of heart and great supporting characters. Oscar is my clear favorite, obvs: Lily's new gargoyle-esque familiar who turns into a little piggy so the muggles don't freak out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;">Bonus: anyone who enjoys vintage fashion will love the descriptions of the clothes Lily sells in her shop.</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-15406583336257031542015-10-20T14:29:00.001-04:002015-10-29T12:22:47.784-04:00Halloween Book Review: Shutter<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20757532-shutter"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Shutter</span></i></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6lVytRo8PSU/ViaH1IRbZOI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/dQnK5GmVeK8/s1600/shutter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6lVytRo8PSU/ViaH1IRbZOI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/dQnK5GmVeK8/s320/shutter.jpg" width="212" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By Courtney Alameda</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">***</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"><i>“My people are condemned to wander this eternal twilight” </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">― </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6983061.Courtney_Alameda" style="background-color: white; color: #666600; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">Courtney Alameda</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">, </span><span id="quote_book_link_23617249" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/24502382" style="color: #666600; text-decoration: none;">Shutter</a></i></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;">I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this book. There were a few things the characters did that bugged me (Why do characters always keep vital information to themselves? SHARE WITH THE CLASS, PLEASE.). Mostly I think this would fit into horror-lite. It wasn't incredibly scary, but there was plenty of gore. I honestly think if this was made into a movie, I would have been unable to watch it. As it was, I had no problem reading the story...well, I wasn't keen on reading it <i>right </i>before bed, mostly because it was just a dark story, not because it needed to be put in the freezer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;">My biggest problem with this book was that I just wasn't in the mood for it. October has been a very finicky reading month for me, and I've picked up and put down several books. So I probably would have enjoyed this more if I hadn't been in such a reading funk.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;">Pros - no love triangles, cool friend relationships, and a romance that began before the book (so there's some element of history there - no instalove). Also, cool world-building.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;">Cons - occasional teenage obnoxiousness (see above re: sharing vital information), bad-dad, and partial open-ending without confirmation of a sequel.</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-67981409046850432952015-10-01T10:58:00.001-04:002015-10-29T12:14:42.230-04:00Book Review: Cast In Honor<i>Cast in Honor (Chronicles of Elantra #11) </i><br />
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<i><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kf-cE7HRTrI/Vg1J0gdJWjI/AAAAAAAAB7A/6GdLgxxS8pg/s1600/cast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kf-cE7HRTrI/Vg1J0gdJWjI/AAAAAAAAB7A/6GdLgxxS8pg/s320/cast.jpg" width="215" /></a></i></div>
By Michelle Sagara<br />
*****<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Do these cracks look strange to you" she asked. "What cracks?" Which answered that first question. "You know, when I first started training with the two of you, we had normal cases."</i> <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;">―</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Michelle Sagara, <i>Cast in Honor</i></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When our story opens, Kaylin and Crew are trying to get to the point where they can go on the hunt for Nightshade, who disappeared in the last book. But an investigation changes everything; and it turns out the investigation has more than a little to do with Nightshade.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We get to see more of some old characters, like Ybelline and Moran, and we're introduced to new characters Gilbert and Kattea, both of whom are pivotal to the investigation. And in the process, we learn just a bit more about Ravellon and the Shadows that abide there. Because of these new characters, and the mystery at the heart of this story, this entry in the Chronicles of Elantra felt a little different than the previous books. It added to the world building of the series, but it felt more removed from the overall story arc than the the last few books. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The build up with Moran at the beginning of the book didn't really take off, as I expected it to. I have to assume that Moran's story will be coming up in the next book or two. As we haven't delved into the Aerian culture the way we have with other Elantran races, I'm anxiously awaiting that story line. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As always, I loved this book and I can't wait to get my hands on the next!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">**I received an Advanced Review eGalley of this title from NetGalley**</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-954450435351111192015-09-17T11:33:00.000-04:002015-09-17T11:33:13.444-04:00Book Review: Indexing<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N9Uo-11Wt0s/Vfrc1iy7g8I/AAAAAAAAB6c/Weczn0bzbTM/s1600/indexing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N9Uo-11Wt0s/Vfrc1iy7g8I/AAAAAAAAB6c/Weczn0bzbTM/s320/indexing.jpg" width="226" /></a><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Indexing (Indexing #1) </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By Seanan McGuire</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">****</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><i>“When you’re late in a fairy tale, people wind up dead. And not true-love’s-kiss, glass-coffin-nap-time dead. Really dead, the kind of dead you don’t recover from.” </i></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">― </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2860219.Seanan_McGuire" style="background-color: white; color: #666600; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">Seanan McGuire</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">, </span><span id="quote_book_link_17907054" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/25089153" style="color: #666600; text-decoration: none;">Indexing</a></i></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Police procedural meets Grimm Brothers. <i>In the fairy tale justice system, memetic incursions are considered especially dangerous. In the Real World, the dedicated detectives who defend Happily Ever After are members of an elite squad called the ATI Management Bureau. Beware of their stories. Chung Chung.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;"><i>Indexing </i>is the story of a team of agents who investigate memetic incursions - where fairy tales invade the real world. Seems it happens more often that you'd think. Nice girl with a dead mom, stepmother and two stepsisters? She's ripe to turn into a 510A "Cinderella." Despite Disney's best efforts to subvert the grimmer aspects of the original tales (pun intended), fairy tale incursions rarely have an HEA. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;">It took me a while to get into the story, but it wasn't long before I became *involved*. This story was written as a serial - new chapters added on a regular basis, rather than a full book offered all at once. I didn't read it in installments, thank heavens, as I'm not sure I could have handled that. But the story definitely would have worked in that format. I just have no patience. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;">This was a cool story and a new twist on old fairy tales. Recommended.</span></span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-78330393382160719662015-07-27T08:13:00.000-04:002015-07-27T08:13:47.877-04:00Book Review: Beastly Bones<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Beastly Bones (Jackaby #2) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UidJtVp_7XQ/VbYgHKJ7_cI/AAAAAAAAB4o/QqqyGOf9RII/s1600/beastly%2Bbones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UidJtVp_7XQ/VbYgHKJ7_cI/AAAAAAAAB4o/QqqyGOf9RII/s320/beastly%2Bbones.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
</span></i><div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By William Ritter</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">****</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I’ve found very little about private detective R. F. Jackaby to be standard in the time I’ve known him. Working as his assistant tends to call for a somewhat flexible relationship with reality.”</span></em></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Another great novel by William Ritter. Beastly Bones was a lot of fun to read and the beast in the title was particularly cool. Abigail Rook and R.F. Jackaby are great characters and I loved that Abigail got a chance to explore a dream of hers in this book. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As much as I loved the first book in this series, my main issue with it was the weak-ish mystery. It was fairly obvious who-dun-it, though the why and what of it all remained unknown until the end. In Beastly Bones, the mystery was much more solid and a bigger puzzle began to unfold towards the end that I can't wait to dig in to. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm totally loving this series and highly recommend it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">**I received an Advanced Review eGalley of this title from NetGalley**</span></div>
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-87641777225893740422015-07-01T13:56:00.000-04:002015-07-01T13:58:09.210-04:00Graphic Novel Review: Nimona<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23131088-nimona">Nimona</a></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Story and art by Noelle Stevenson</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">*****</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i>“Halt you villains! Unhand that science!”</i><br />― <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6887314.Noelle_Stevenson" style="color: #666600; text-decoration: none;">Noelle Stevenson</a></span></h1>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eRcb6F7bhfY/VZQphXATE5I/AAAAAAAAB38/Xef33-Kt9Dg/s1600/nimona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eRcb6F7bhfY/VZQphXATE5I/AAAAAAAAB38/Xef33-Kt9Dg/s320/nimona.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i>From Goodreads:</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i><span id="freeText16385393639358001743" style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The graphic novel debut from rising star Noelle Stevenson, based on her beloved and critically acclaimed web comic, which Slate awarded its Cartoonist Studio Prize, calling it "a deadpan epic."<br /><br />Nemeses! Dragons! Science! Symbolism! All these and more await in this brilliantly subversive, sharply irreverent epic from Noelle Stevenson. Featuring an exclusive epilogue not seen in the web comic, along with bonus conceptual sketches and revised pages throughout, this gorgeous full-color graphic novel is perfect for the legions of fans of the web comic and is sure to win Noelle many new ones.<br /><br />Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are.<br /><br />But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit.</span><span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> </span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">From Me:</span></div>
Oh my word I loved this book! The story takes place in a sort of medieval, magical land that has refrigerators and pizza delivery and dragons. The story is heartfelt and I may have teared up once or twice, while at other times I struggled to hold in my giggles since I was reading it over lunch at work.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The art is fantastic and the story is lovely. I read a library copy, but this one is going to have to go permanently on my shelf.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Highly recommended.</span> </span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-67530104288763958052015-04-29T09:55:00.000-04:002015-06-15T11:25:32.719-04:00Book Review: Day Shift<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VtMLDWn-plM/VUDhMAwX4AI/AAAAAAAAB3A/7eRWYkIwhQU/s1600/day%2Bshift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VtMLDWn-plM/VUDhMAwX4AI/AAAAAAAAB3A/7eRWYkIwhQU/s1600/day%2Bshift.jpg" width="212" /></span></a><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23281944-day-shift">Day Shift (Midnight, Texas #2)</a> </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By Charlaine Harris</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">****</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">A fun follow up to Harris's <i>Midnight Crossroad</i>. This time around the focus is on Manfred and Olivia as the primary voices, and Joe as a secondary voice. (I kinda love that there's no single main character in this series - Manfred takes the lead, but the other characters seem to be getting their own chance to take focus from book to book.) </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Things are changing in this unchanging little town and nobody likes it. There are several mysteries for our characters, some of which aren't revealed at the end. What <i>was </i>revealed was more about the characters, namely who and <i>what </i>they are. While I enjoyed the mystery, what I really loved about this installment was getting to know the characters better. I can't wait to find out more about them and see what happens next to their little town, because clearly something is coming.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">In my review of <i><a href="http://raesamm.blogspot.com/2014/06/book-review-midnight-crossroad.html">Midnight Crossroad</a></i>, I commented on how various characters and references were made to Harris's other series. The only reference I hadn't caught in the first book was to Sookie Stackhouse's world. Well, <i>Day Shift</i> is chock full of Sookie references, and they aren't even little minor ones. I love that we're getting a new series and a new set of stories, but I also like that I don't have to completely leave those past worlds behind.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Another great book for fans of Charlaine Harris! Recommended.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">**I received an Advanced Review eGalley of this title from NetGalley**</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7253411543033328843.post-32102573725523503132015-04-28T09:10:00.000-04:002015-04-28T09:10:30.671-04:00Book Review: Seven Kinds of Hell<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTpOCFHJpWA/VTqjbVYo99I/AAAAAAAAB2Y/Ejsd90EQVdc/s1600/seven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTpOCFHJpWA/VTqjbVYo99I/AAAAAAAAB2Y/Ejsd90EQVdc/s1600/seven.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTpOCFHJpWA/VTqjbVYo99I/AAAAAAAAB2Y/Ejsd90EQVdc/s1600/seven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16244759-seven-kinds-of-hell">Seven Kinds of Hell (Fangborn #1)</a> </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By Dana Cameron</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">*****</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><i>“I felt the shame of unleashing the Beast only until I was washed in a flood of righteousness...As I stepped out of my cheap black China-doll shoes, I felt elegant, sleek, graceful. The wind ruffled my fur.” </i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">― </span>Dana Cameron<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">Seven Kinds of Hell</i></span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Take everything you know about vampires and werewolves and toss it out the window. Go ahead and toss it, I'll wait.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Dana Cameron's Fangborn world is made up of vampires, werewolves, and oracles, and they are completely different from anything I've read or watched. And they're FASCINATING! I'm particularly intrigued by Dana's vampires - which can turn into giant, colorful snake-creatures. Seriously, how cool is that? (Ok, maybe less cool if you have a snake-phobia. Fortunately for me they didn't turn into giant spiders.)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">The story follows Zoe, a young woman pursuing an education in archaeology, who spent her life on the run from her father and his family. Her mother believed they were some kind of mafiosi, and they shuffled from place to place over the years to keep them at bay. Now Zoe is an adult, her mother just passed away, and it looks as though her father's family has finally caught up with her. Oh, and either she's insane, or she can turn into a werewolf. (Spoiler Alert: she's not insane...)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">You'd think this would be enough of a story - woman on the run trying to stay a step ahead of her werewolf family, but noooo, Dana turns it up a notch by adding an international artifact hunt, mythology, several baddies of human and non-human nature, and various allies and enemies with Zoe trying to figure out which is which. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">This story subverted ALL of my expectations and gave me a book so far beyond what I could have hoped for! I gave up trying to figure out what could possibly come next after the first few surprise twists. And to top it off, Dana is a real-life archaeologist, so when she gets into aspects of that field, it's truly fascinating (or at least it was to me, who at one point thought I wanted to become an archaeologist - see my review of <a href="http://raesamm.blogspot.com/2015/02/book-review-lives-in-ruins.html"><i>Lives in Ruins</i></a> for more info about <i>that</i>). </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Bonus: I haven't traveled much, and what I *have* done took place over 10 years ago, but the characters traveled to places that I've seen in the flesh, and that was awesome for me. I've seen the ruins at Ephesus, and I've shopped the streets of Kusadasi (where I was proposed to...by a random fella outside a shop), and I've wound my way through the twisty alleyways of Mykonos. Luckily my trip didn't involve any murders or vast conspiracies...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Double Bonus: I had the chance to meet Dana last month at my library's annual Book Fest and she is super nice, incredibly funny, and wicked awesome. If you ever have the chance to hear her speak, take it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Seven Kinds of Hell was such a cool book. There's a lot too it, but it's one helluva ride!</span> Highly recommended.</span></div>
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By Seanan McGuire<br />
****<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i>“Hello,” she said. “Have you heard the good word of Wadjet, Protector of Egypt and great snake of the Milky Way?” </i></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">― </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2860219.Seanan_McGuire" style="background-color: white; color: #666600; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">Seanan McGuire</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/29660349" style="color: #666600; text-decoration: none;">Pocket Apocalypse</a></i></blockquote>
The fourth book in the InCryptid series had me on edge! The danger-level in this particular book seemed more intense than in previous installments. Normally I'd pick up a book in this series with the general assumption that the leads would live and there'd be a standard, if open (due to it being a series), HEA. I did not have that assurance as I read this story! Alex and Shelby head to Shelby's home in Australia after learning about a werewolf outbreak. In McGuire's world, werewolves are diseased - with a rabies-like virus - that makes them crazed killing machines. There will be no romantic interludes with these creatures. As they investigate the beastly menace, Alex also has to deal with Shelby's family, who pretty much hate him on sight as he's 1) an outsider, 2) a Price, 3) a grandson and cousin to a cuckoo, and 4) dating their daughter/sister.<br />
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The Aeslin mice, my favorite anthropomorphized characters since...ok, maybe ever, provide much needed levity, as everything else was stressing me out! They are basically the best. Despite the levity and all the madness and mayhem, there's one particular death that I'm still bitter about. Seanan, you know what you did!<br />
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I loved this book and I love this series. I can't wait to see what Verity's been up to in the next installment! We're going to a TV dance competition! HAIL!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PaUkciPWR5Y/VRqtb2CPXhI/AAAAAAAAB2A/GTPIuy3MSQI/s1600/mice.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PaUkciPWR5Y/VRqtb2CPXhI/AAAAAAAAB2A/GTPIuy3MSQI/s1600/mice.png" height="247" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #003300; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Artwork by Kory Bing. Image taken from </span><span style="color: #003300; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://seananmcguire.com/fgaeslinmice.php</span></span></td></tr>
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01028148935620694358noreply@blogger.com0