Dead Until Dark

Title: Dead Until Dark
Publisher: Ace Books
ISBN: 9780441008537
Author: Charlaine Harris
Category: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

My Rating: ★★★

When urban fantasy readers think of staples in their genre, the Sookie Stackhouse series is usually one that springs to mind. As a UF reader myself, I figured I ought to read the series at some point. Having finally nabbed my own copy, I gave Dead Until Dark a try. After finishing it, I'm left with mixed feelings. It has a strong paranormal romance aspect (a genre I'm not overly fond of) and mystery elements (which, while apparently the main focus of the story, somehow never seem overly urgent). It's an odd balance and it didn't work for me.

Pros -

I liked the vampire culture Charlaine Harris developed. They're nicely recognizable as traditional vampires, but just different enough from most vampire stories out there. The back story and synthetic blood is a nice twist. Also, some of the vampires acted decidedly not human. I enjoy stories that keep monsters acting like monsters, or at least not like us.

I liked Sookies' narrative … kind of. Explanation: I'm not a big fan of Southern accents, and boy does she have one, but the way she thought and spoke helped bring life to the story. It really did sound like a three-dimensional person speaking to me, adding nuances and flare to the narrative.

Cons -

I didn't understand Sookie. She seems like an innocent country girl (a virgin, no less), and she jumps straight into the kinky sex with no problems. And some of the sex scenes were awkward, to say the least (the cemetery scene, anyone?). Reading them, all I could, “No thanks.” Given her supposedly innocent history, I had problems believing she'd accept all the things in this book in such a matter-of-fact way.

Please, please, please don't introduce everyone at once! I spent a good portion of the book not knowing most of the side characters because they were lump-introduced in the first chapter or two. When they reappeared, I had to hope Harris would give some hint who this person was.



This book is better suited for vampire or paranormal romance fans. It's not a hardcore romance, but there's enough sex, I think, to please the paranormal crowd. It does have action and gore as well, so anyone who doesn't mind some sex thrown in with their vampire stories may enjoy this.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season 8, Vol 4)

Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season 8, Vol 4): Time of Your Life
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
ISBN: 9781595823106
Author: Joss Whedon, Jeph Loeb
Category: Graphic Novel
Source: Advance Reader's Copy from NetGalley

Favorite Quotes:
Melaka Fray, “I fig we stake some lush haunt, lurks come out, we skin 'em for stories. Yeah?”
Buffy, “Does any part of that sentence involve me beating something up?”

Tree person-thing, “Let us show these abominations the forest's rage!”
Xander, “Followed quickly by the forest's denial, bargaining, and then short, painful acceptance.”

My Rating: ★★★

I enjoyed this book, but not quite as much as the previous three. I can't connect to a lot of shows or books that jump into the near future (flying cars and all, but no spaceships). They seem a bit cheesy and it's been done before. But the events here will resound into future books. Right after finishing it, I really didn't understand why the main antagonist did what she did. After some thought, I figured it out … I think. If I'm right, there will definitely be consequences.

Pros -

The 'future speak' was different enough from our current speech that I could believe they were in a different time, but still understand what they said. Whether language/slang will change that much in one hundred years, I don't know. But it's an overlooked detail many books/shows forget when doing a 'future' episode. People will talk different in one hundred years. It added an extra touch of believability to those scenes.

As with the previous Buffy Season 8 graphic novels, the humor and art were amazing. I keep saying that every time I review one of these. But really, it's true. I feel like I'm watching another episode on TV.

Cons -

I did have one problem with the artwork. One of the future characters looks a lot like Buffy, and it was a bit confusing (especially when she's first introduced, and we don't know who she is). When they're in the same scenes, they're dressed different and Buffy's hair is a wee bit shorter, so I could tell them apart. But they're just a little too similar looking.

Some of the speech squares (where there was dialog in a box, but the speaker's not in sight) were confusing, and I had to go back and figure out who was speaking. The worst incident happened when the internal dialog boxes switched suddenly between Buffy and the future slayer, Fray. The color of the box changed, which is usually an indicator of a new narrator, but it was similar enough that I didn't notice. For several frames, I thought Buffy was still 'thinking,' but her comments made no sense for her character. Eventually I caught on, but it ruined the flow of the story until I did.


This graphic novel is probably necessary for the continuing story arc, but it's not as good as the past ones. I think fans of the series should read this, but it doesn't do the series justice for a first time reader (in fact, it'll be very confusing).

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season 8, Vol 3)

Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season 8, Vol 3): Wolves at the Gates
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
ISBN: 9781595821652
Author: Joss Whedon
Category: Graphic Novel
Source: Advance Reader's Copy from NetGalley

Favorite Quotes:
Evil henchman (referring to Buffy), “You didn't kill her.”
Head bad guy, “That's been done. To little effect.”

Dracula (insulted at the idea anyone could steal his powers), “The very idea that some two-bit, run-of-the-mill vampires could just come and … take them from the … Lord of … Darkness … (long pause) oh balls.”

My Rating: ★★★★

Anyone who's read my previous reviews knows I love Buffy and Joss Whedon. So this review shouldn't come as any surprise. This volume stays true to the TV series and Joss' own brand of humor, which equals instant love from me. There was one moment that pushed the corny-meter a little high (*cough* Dawn's adversary at the end *cough*). And Buffy's possible romantic interest came from left field. I didn't see that one coming, and I'm not sure it made sense. But Buffy's made “unique” romantic choices before when strung out (sixth season, anyone?), so maybe it's in character for her. In this one, we also see the return of Dracula. I didn't much care for his episode in the TV series, but he does better here. Not spectacular, but he has his moments.

Pros -

I really can't get enough of Joss Whedon's humor. He takes a typical scene you might see anywhere, and twists it just so, and suddenly its unexpected and hilarious. Banter between adversaries is rarely the normal back and forth you might see/read anywhere else. He makes it unique. Example: in this book, Buffy and another slayer are fighting some baddies while discussing person issues. The bad guys repeatedly try to start up the typical bad guy banter (“Your blood will taste so sweet...” etc.) and Buffy keeps telling them to shut up, she's talking to someone else. All kinds of conversations get the Joss Whedon “tweak.” And it never sounds forced, or artificial. The man's a master.

Like the previous two installments, the artwork is superb. The faces and expressions blew me away. I could almost see the actors on the page. I haven't seen the rest of the comics after this one, but I sure hope they keep this artist. Beautiful, just beautiful.

I mentioned this above, but it's worth repeating. The graphic novel stays true to the show. Granted, because of the different medium, they can plan things one a grander scale (like the final battle – that would've been very difficult to manage for the TV show). But the characters, the back story, dialog, everything is like watching the show again. As a huge Buffy fan, I love it.

Cons -

Also mentioned this above, but Dawn's adversary was a bit, um, yeah... The TV show got goofy sometimes, but still managed to pull it off. This pushed my suspension of disbelief, even for Buffy.

As for Buffy's person life choices, she's never shown that kind of side before. Or anything even remotely leaning towards that type of side. I have no problems with that life style, it just seemed a bit out of character for her. Makes me wonder where that'll go.


Like the previous two graphic novels, if you enjoyed the Buffy TV series, you should read the comics, preferably in order. They're entertaining, they continue where season seven ended and well worth the time.

Happy dance!

Thanks to FictFact*, which emailed me today, I know when the next book in Patricia Brigg's Alpha & Omega series is coming out! (Pause for fangirl squeel...) Fair Game is due out Febuary 7, 2012 (one day after my birthday - Happy Birthday to me!). Both the Mercy Thompson and Alpha & Omega series are on the top of my Must-Read list. I can't wait to read this one!

Links for Fair Game:
Amazon
Goodreads
FictFact

*If you've never been to FictFact, and you like series, you really should check it out. It's a great resource. You imput your series, and it tracks them for you and emails you when the next book is coming out (or, as in this case, when the next one is revealed). I love it.

Child of Fire by Harry Connolly

I just finished Child of Fire, the first of the Twenty Palaces series by Harry Connolly. Wow, it was amazing! I don't think “page turner” or “fast paced” can do this masterpiece justice.

My Rating: ★★★★★

I loved Child of Fire. I don't think any book has so completely engrossed me since (any of) the Dresden Files books. Now, I've heard this one compared to the Dresden books several times, and they do both have a male protagonist. Both are engrossing and action packed. But Ray Lilly is not Harry Dresden. He is harder and does not have Harry's refreshing sense of humor. Ray is in an awful situation – he only expects to live a few days, at most – and really, has nothing to joke about. Dresden's world can be dark, but Ray's manages to be darker. This is not a light read. But it's well worth it.

Pros -

Everything? Can I say that? It's hard to point out just a few great things with Child of Fire, because I loved it so much. When I was reading, I hated to put it down. It gripped me from the first few pages and didn't let go. I loved both the main characters, even though Annalise was almost an anti-hero (technically, on Ray's side, but still scary as all could be). I really understood Ray, and empathized with him. The plot intrigued me, although only part of it was still a mystery up to the end. The action was intense and thoroughly enjoyable. Just about everything about Child of Fire was amazing.

Cons -

This is more on me, I think, than the book. I couldn't keep up with all the side characters and the names being thrown around. Ray would learn some clue about someone, and mention that person later, and I wouldn't remember that name. Anyone who's met me in real life knows I'm horrible with names. There are plenty of names in this book, some of people we never meet.

This was not an issue for me, but others might have problems with it: this is closer to a horror novel than a fantasy (albeit urban fantasy). Many parts are surprisingly dark. The main plot revolves around children dying, horribly, and being completely forgotten by everyone around them. That's not a spoiler. The first one happens within just a few pages. It is very gritty and dark.


This is an excellent addition to the urban fantasy genre, and I recommend it to anyone who likes their UF dark or are looking for something new.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season 8, Vol 2)

I'm continuing my Buffy the Vampire fix by devouring the Season 8 comics I received free to review from NetGalley. I am so very, very glad Joss Whedon decided to continue the show, albeit in a different medium. I just finished Buffy the Vampire Slayer: No Future for You (Season 8, Vol 2).

My Rating: ★★★★★

The main story arc of this graphic novel follows Faith as she completes a mission for Giles. I've always loved her character, and I enjoyed following her story. She is still struggling to better herself and having lapses. Faith is a wounded soul, but not lost. She has taken up the responsibility of doing the dirty and thankless jobs that the new slayers just aren't ready for. In the opening scene of this book, a single mom has become a vampire. Faith is sent in to check on her children, who have all been turned as well. She's forced to slay several children (vampire children, but children nonetheless). It obviously disturbs her, but she still does it. We get the feeling this is not the first time she's done something she hates. Giles offers Faith a way out, if she'll do one last job. It's a great catching up with Faith.


Pros -

This is all about Faith. Buffy shows up, but Faith is definitely the main character. I've always enjoyed Faith, as both protagonist and antagonist. There are so much history and depth to her. She's always been one of my favorite characters.

Like the first graphic novel, the artwork is amazing. All the characters look like their actors. This wouldn't be near so enjoyable if the illustrations weren't so well done.

Also like the first graphic novel, Joss Whedon's humor shines through. There were many moments where I actually laughed out loud. I adore his humor.


Cons -

At first I couldn't really think of one, but I settled for the antagonist. She was a bit one dimensional. Her main reason for being there was to be a mirror for Faith to see herself in. But she had no real motivation other than wanting power because she could take it.


Overall, I loved this graphic novel. It's definitely for Buffy fans, and a must read for anyone who enjoyed Faith's character.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season 8, Vol 1)

Several years ago, a tragedy occurred on television: an amazing show was canceled after seven wild and wonderful years. Well, Buffy the Vampire Slayer lives on! Enter the official Season 8 comics, now collected in several graphic novels. NetGalley has provided me with several to review. I just finished Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Long Way Home (Season 8, Vol. 1).

My Rating: ★★★★

Thank you, Joss Whedon, for bringing Buffy back to us. The television show was my first experience with urban fantasy and lead to my current obsession with it. I have missed Buffy, the characters, humor, the world, everything. Reading this was like coming home after a long trip away. All Buffy fans need to read this.

Pros -

It's Buffy. Not only is it Buffy, it's by the original mastermind Joss Whedon himself. His trademark humor is peppered throughout, and reads just like watching an episode. It picks up after the seventh season, with all the history and characters present. It truly is the eighth season. Everything I loved about the television series is here.

The artwork captures the actors almost perfectly. There was only one person who I had to puzzle out which character he was (and honestly, his character could be considered very minor at best). Everyone else was drawn spot on.

Cons -

The story was good, but not amazing. I'm not sure how it could have been better, but it did not completely grip me. It was still enjoyable though.


I recommend this to all Buffy fans. Because of the extensive supporting cast, and history, it'd be very difficult for readers who don't know the universe to enjoy this as much.

Feast: Harvest of Dreams by Merrie Destefano

I just finished Feast: Harvest of Dreams by Merrie Destefano, which I received as an Advanced Reader's Copy.

My Rating: ★★★

Feast is an unique and interesting urban fantasy. I've never read a similar story. The Darklings were completely new to me. It's nice to see a fresh spin in the genre. However, there didn't seem to be any set magic rules here. Yes, it's fantasy, but I like a firm framework and guidelines in which magic works. The Darklings did all kinds of magical feats, but we never get an idea of their limits. Feast has great potential, however it could have been better.

Pros -

Unique concept. I had no idea what to expect when introduced to the Darklings and they're great. They're non-humans, and they act like it. I dislike novels where the fae, vampires, shifters, etc, act just like us, but with extra abilities. Not the case here. At no point did I wonder whether a character was human or not.

Fast, easy read. This is a fun and quick escape.

Cons -

Undefined magic rules. There needs to be some kind of framework for what magic can and cannot do. The Darklings just throw veils and songs around, and things happen. I never got a real feel for them, or their limits.

Too many characters. I lost track of the number of characters Destefano introduced. And they are all told in the first person. Thankfully, every chapter tells us which person we're listening to, but it gets confusing.

Most of the chapters are very short. As in a page or two long. I'm not sure any chapter was longer than six or seven pages. It made reading it very choppy at times, especially with the constant POV changes.


Feast is an enjoyable read, but it could have been more. I'm up in the air about whether I'll read any more if this becomes a series. I recommend this for any urban fantasy reader looking for something new.

Turn Coat by Jim Butcher

I absolutely adore the Harry Dresden books, but for some reason it takes me awhile to finish one. But I finally finished Turn Coat. What a ride.

My Rating: ★★★★

Jim Butcher is amazing. The depth of his world, characters, plot, all of that, blows me away each time I read a Dresden book. Turn Coat is number eleven in the series, yet I'm still loving it. It shows no signs of slowing down or growing stagnant. Few authors can pull off long series well. Jim Butcher is one.

Pros -

It's a Harry Dresden book. I'm so invested in these characters and the world, I really want to know what they're doing, how they're going to handle the ongoing problems that cover several books. The whole world evolves and changes and you never know how it'll play out. Every time I pick up a Dresden book, I know it's going to be a wild, but fun, ride.

The writing itself is flawless. Okay, I'm not an English professor, but in my humble opinion, Butcher writes amazingly well. He throws in descriptions I'd never have thought of, but are just perfect for that situation. And, coming from Harry's point of view, the descriptions can be very humorous. I just eat it up.

Yet another beautifully complex plot. Butcher loves to take two radically different plots, force them both on Harry then let us watch him juggle them. In the end, the plots are directly tied together in a way that we never would have guessed. I love it.

I've mentioned the characters before, but they deserve their own section. Everyone in the Dresden-verse is amazing. These aren't names on a piece of paper. They're people. You feel for everyone of them. They all have their own struggles, thoughts and plans for the future. They're not some random figures moving in the background. This book is no exception. We see more of many of the side characters, and learn more. Everyone, like Harry, continues to grow.

Cons -

I have a personal pet peeve with books in a long series: when the author has to bring in a new bad guy every book that's more powerful than anything the protagonist has ever faced. Oh, no, nothing's ever been so evil and strong as this bad guy! After several books of this, I'm left yawning. Really, again? Granted, the Dresden books don't do this every book. But it happened in this one, and has happened before.

I figured out the traitor. And I don't mean, near the end I realized who it was. But shortly after seeing this person fairly early on, I had that “Aha!” moment. Sigh. I didn't get all of the details. There were many other things happening that had me utterly clueless. But I figured them out. It's the first time I've done that (and got it right) in a Dresden book.

A major character had something happen at the end of the last book. I really wanted to know how he was. But he only got mentioned in one sentence.

This is another, great Dresden read. Anyone who likes his stories should read this one too, in chronological order of course. This is not a series that can be enjoyed as much if read out of order.

Follow my reviews at Urban Fantasies Read and Reviewed.

Bite Me by Parker Blue

Originally posted here.

I just finished Bite Me by Parker Blue, the first book in the Demon Underground series.

My Rating: ★★★

I received this book as a free Advanced Reader's Copy from NetGalley to review.

I enjoyed this book, although I've had a hard time deciding why. It's been labeled as a book "in-between" Young Adult and regular adult Urban Fantasy, but it is truly pure Young Adult. The writing style practically screams it. It's also appears to be a homage to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, one of my favorite TV shows of all time (but without creator Joss Whedon's trade mark humor). In several scenes, the heroine Val is referred to as "the Slayer," even though she did not ask to be.

Pros -

A quick, entertaining read. Like most YA books, it focuses more on the action and dialog than descriptions. Yet it's engaging enough that I flew through it.

The Buffy angle. As a Buffy fan, several parts reminding me so much of the show that I felt nostalgic. The very first scene could have been straight from it.

Cons -

Everything comes to Val a little too easily. The author tries to explain it later, but I like more struggle from my protagonists. For goodness sakes, Val is thrown out of her house, but very quickly lands on her feet: she gets a job perfect for her abilities, she runs into sympathetic side characters, a personal conflict is solved rather quickly then all is forgiven, and let's not forget the final battle. It's almost if the author was afraid to make her suffer too much.

The dog was kind of cute, but I like my non-humans to act like non-humans. He made a few doggish comments, but most of it seemed rather normal. He even called her "Babe" on several occasions. And what's with the caps lock speech? Every time he spoke, the author used all caps.

Unbelievable parts. This ties into the "everything's a little too easy" comment above. There were more than a few moments that just were not realistic. Even in my Urban Fantasy, I like it believable.

No suspense. There was no immediate sense of urgency, where I really worried about any of the characters. Sure, someone close to her is in danger, but it just never felt that compelling.

Blah vampires. They were not interesting, or threatening, or even creepy. Yes, some of them attacked and killed people, but they could have easily been strong humans. Nothing set them apart, made them unique.


Several of the "Cons" above would normally make me put it aside, but despite itself, I enjoyed this one. Are the similarities to Buffy enough to ignore its other flaws? For me, apparently, yes. And everything comes down to the most important aspect of a book; did I enjoy it? I did.

Phoenix Rising by Philippa Ballantine

Originally posted here.

I received Phoenix Rising as an Advanced Readers Copy to review.

My Rating: ★★

I made it almost a third of the way through before I had to stop reading it. I didn't hate it, I just couldn't get into it. It read like an action movie, fighting and an over-the-top protagonist, but no character development. At the part that I quit, the plot was thin and did not engage me at all. There was no urgency to it.

Pros-

The writing sounded authentic for the time period and setting. At the beginning of each chapter there is a blurb that goes like this, "Chapter xxx: In which our hero...". It added a nostalgic feel to the writing. The setting and details drew you into that era.

Cons-

Flat characters. As noted above, one of the protagonists (the female agent) could have been pulled straight from an action movie. She's an expert in weapons and combat, loves to get into trouble, does things her way (read: blows things up, or lets her pistols/fists fly) and, all in all, completely unbelievable. She has no depth, no explanation as to why she has all these skills. By the time I stopped reading, I knew about as much about her as I did in the first chapter. Oh, and she's rich. I was left wondering how/why a well-to-do lady around the Victorian era would be like her? The other main character was more believable, acting like a gentleman of that time period, but still there is very little of his motivations revealed. Neither did any of the few side characters stand out in any way.

The authors tried for a smart-ass, wise cracking heroine. But she came off as mean, bitchy and self-centered. There's a fine line between sarcastic-funny and sarcastic-annoying.

The vocabulary, while authentic sounding, also confused me in several spots. Perhaps the authors are English, and they used words we don't hear in the States, or maybe they assumed that anyone reading steampunk would know those terms, but I had problems following what was happening. I had to re-read several sections, which was very frustrating.

Along with the confusing vocabulary, the writing was disjointed in several scenes. For example, the female agent would raise her weapon, and her target dies. However, at no point do we see her firing the weapon. That lead to more re-reading on my part. Again, frustrating.

I'm not sure who to recommend this book for. If they can get past the frustrating writing, action movie fans might enjoy this. Just don't expect much depth.

Originally posted here.

I just finished River Marked by Patricia Briggs. This is the sixth book of the Mercy Thompson series.

My Rating: ★★★

I love the Mercy Thompson books, so I went into this one with high expectations. And it was good; it just wasn't great.

Pros-

It's a Mercy Thompson book. That alone put it on my instant read list. I adore Mercy's world and the characters within. Briggs has created a truly wonderful and enjoyable universe for us to enjoy.

As always in this series, Briggs displays her strength as a great author. I don't remember any scene that I had to re-read or puzzle through. She paints such a vivid picture with her words that I barely noticed that I was reading. It felt like I was there.

Great characters. Really, do I need to say more?

Cons-

River Marked takes Mercy (and one other major character) out of the Tri-Cities and away from the pack, her friends, etc. It's missing (or there was only very brief appearances of) several side characters we've come to love. Her characters are so interesting that I missed them. Their absence lessened my enjoyment of this book. We meet new minor characters, but the rapport I had with the others is not there.

I found one scene unnecessary and particularly disturbing. ((SPOILER)) Did Briggs need to have the scenes with the children? Yes, I know it was for emotional impact, but I have a personal problem with parents (real or in fiction) killing their children. I understand she was controlled, but it truly disturbed me. Too many times in real life, parents (or people in a position of trust) have murdered children. Before I had my daughters that sort of news saddened me, but now it horrifies me. Thinking about those scenarios bothers me for days sometimes. I did not enjoy reading it, albeit in fiction.((END SPOILER))

I enjoyed River Marked, but it is not the best Mercy Thompson book.

Grimspace by Ann Aguirre

Originally posted here.

Last month, I got my hands on a copy of Grimspace by Ann Aguirre.

My Review: ★★★★

I really enjoyed this one. It's a very gritty, down and dirty narrative. The author writes as Jax thinks it: incomplete sentences, self-deprecitating comments, smart-ass thoughts. Unlike several "smart-ass" heroines, I really got a sense of Jax. And a huge point in her favor, I never wished she'd just shut up. Some authors try for smart-ass, and only get bitchy or whiney. Ann Aguirre pulls Jax off wonderfully. Jax isn't perfect. Far from it. There are several occasions where she points out how broken she is. It works. Jax is an engaging person to read about, and care for.

I wish Aguirre had added a few more descriptions, especially with the few aliens we're introduced to. One, the Morguts, I didn't have any real mental picture of at all. Other times, the narration lost me and I didn't quite understand how Jax made certain jumps in logic.

The story's not terribly original: big, bad corporation has a nasty secret; good guys (don't realise it for most of the book but) know the secret and are moving to stop the corporation; things go from bad to worse; etc, etc, you know the rest. Yes, it's a great story. I enjoyed reading it. But unfortunately, it's not all that original. I had a real good idea how they were going to win at the end. I was right.

I really liked this book and recommend it, although it's not for hard-core sci-fi readers. Too many little details glossed over. It focuses more on the action, than the science. I will read the rest of the series.

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Originally posted here on March 6, 2011.

As part of a "Book of the Month" read, I read The Iron King by Julie Kagawa.

My Review: ★★★★

This is a very entertaining read. I enjoyed the introduction of the Iron Fey. It was a new and unique concept (although I admit I haven't read many fey books). The earlier parts, before the iron fey come in, are similar to other books involving the fey realm. The adventure's different but with similar themes. It doesn't truly grow into its own book until the iron fey show up. They were wonderfully unique.

The characterization was weak. It didn't really take much away from the book, but the chacters (other than Meghan) needed more fleshing out. The rulers of the courts (the Iron King included) had no depth to them. Not a huge loss, except with the Iron King. He was a disappointing antagonist, his goals linear and predictable. He needed more depth. Ash and Robbie had hints of personality, but stayed within their archtypes: one a sexy warrior, the other a prankster. The relationship between Ash and Meghan irked me. I have an old pet peeve about characters falling in love because one is hot. There was no personal chemistry there (just physical). Meghan had a much deeper and stronger history with Robbie. Meghan was believeable, although I never really connected with her I still liked her. By far, Grimalkin was my favorite. Best line ever, "I am a cat." How very cat-like. I laughed at that.

Even with the just-okay characters, this is still worth reading. I'll pick up the next one.

Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur

This was originally posted on my LiveJournal blog on March 6th, 2011.

I read Full Moon Rising, the first Riley Jenson novel, by Keri Arthur awhile back.

My Review: ★★

I'm not sure I can give a fair review on this one. It's not my type of book (more sex than story). I got it free, however, so I gave it a try. I had to put it down for several months, and only finished it because I was between library books, waiting for the next one to come in.

This one's for those who enjoy sex, sex and then maybe some more sex. I found the reason for the constant sex scenes (I couldn't call them love scenes) to be thin and manufactured, an obvious excuse to add more body on body action and unnecessary for the storyline.

The world was interesting (except for the constant sex), and the plot was okay. Keri Arthur wrote well, I just didn't enjoy the subject. Normally any book I put down automatically rates one star, but I'm giving this one some leeway because it's not my type of book. I will not be reading any more of this series.