Book Review: "Shadow Hunter" by B.R. Kingsolver

 

When my magic manifested at puberty, my parents sold me to the Illuminati. They trained me as an assassin, spy, and thief. But when they sent me to steal a magical artifact that reveals Truth in all things, I discovered that I was working for the Dark and not the Light. The Illuminati trained me well, and paid the ultimate price for their deception.

Thousands of miles away, I landed a job in a quirky little bar. But the scattered remnants of the Order still strive for world domination, and no one leaves the Illuminati alive. - from Goodreads.com

This is the first book in the Rosie O'Grady's Paranormal Bar and Grill series.

Erin is the main character in this tale, and like the brief story description above, the book was about that much illuminating. Basic story is she "leaves" the Illuminati, runs across the country, lands a job in a paranormal bar as a bartender. Then all the problems of the paranormal world drop in her lap and she is the hero at the end of the story. Well, it reads that way, and pans out that way, but the read to get there is pretty mediocre.

I actually started this series, knowing that there are at least five books to the story. I happened to come across it looking for some small series to read, and read descriptions on 2-3 of the books, to try to see a story line length. It sounded good enough to start, and though this first book is lacking a bit on depth of character background (which does pick up) it conveys an interesting story, with an origination line that is fantastical, but believable in a paranormal story.

Book Two does help expand a little more on character depth, and brings in more secondary characters.

Book Review: "Darkness Haunts" by Susan Ilene

Melena Sanders faced her fair share of danger with insurgents and terrorists when she served in the U.S. Army, but now she is about to go up against a new threat. Her best friend, Aniya, has disappeared while on a trip to Fairbanks, Alaska—a supernatural haven. Most humans have no idea darker races lurk amongst them. Mel knows better. If she wants to get her friend back, she’s going to have to go in alone—but not unarmed.

Melena has a few special skills the Army didn’t provide, but the odds are still against her. She’s got to come up with a plan fast that doesn’t involve her, or her friend, dying. But danger likes to play it rough. A war for power is about to rise in Fairbanks and if she wants to get Aniya back, she’s going to have to step right into the middle of it. - taken from Goodreads.com

Genre: Fantasy (Urban)
Author: Susan ILLene
Book: Darkness Haunts (The Sensor #1)
My Star Rating: 4 
Will I read I read it again? No

The story description does quite a bit to draw my attention. I'm thinking a soldier-type female main character, that evidently knows something about the supernatural (Supes) race(s) living among humans. She gets drawn into a search for a friend who has "gone missing" in Alaska - a supposed haven for these Supes. And supposedly she has some 'special skills'......

This is the kind of story I like in a good urban fantasy. I admit, it sounds like the same basic plot that so many of them have, but it is the story-telling of the plot with the details that draw me in. I was so looking forward to getting to this one, that I let it skip a few others I had in my pile before it. honestly, I was a little let down.

Our main character, Melena, is an orphan, raised by a foster family, which were killed/died/whatever, and she ended up with a "distant family member" to raise her. Around HS graduation age, she joined the Army, and supposedly served in Airborne, though it was as an interrogator. So, not to spoil it, she does have some "supernatural" power, but I'm not saying as it will spoil it for you. The rest of the book description pretty much covers it.

That all being said, there was no depth to the story, or its characters. Everyone is sexy/hunky for the most part. Every male loves/lusts/wants to be with the main character (and no one else it seems). Thankfully the most "sex scenes" were internal monologues that were very short (thank goodness) made by the main character about musculature features of said males. The story had a few small goodies I liked, and overall completed itself enough to be a stand alone story. 

Cons:
- MC tried to be a "big girl" and was saved by a hunky male way too many times, and way too obviously coming in the story
- no depth of character, or story world - this being mostly in Alaska - Fairbanks area - we are kind of left to our imagination 

Pros:
- Story idea was good, and I liked how it overall came together
- No cliff-hanger - even knowing there are like six books in the series
- MC superpower is one (or similar to) I have read about from other authors, and yet has it's own unique 'extra' to it

Middle of the Road: 
- The lack of description for the story world. I have no clue what the area around the location truly looks like, though I am sure it varies greatly from what I've seen on documentaries of polar bears. But I like that we could sort of form our own impressions of the "layout" from city to cabin to forests, etc. I thought it weird they could be in "downtown" Fairbanks, then five minutes later be at a cabin 200 yards off the main road, that has working plumbing. 

Book Review: "Deadly Vows" by Keri Arthur

Evil comes in all forms … and sometimes it wears a human mask.

When the body of a newlywed is discovered on the reservation, Lizzie Grace throws herself into the investigation, needing a distraction from what she fears is coming not only for her but also Belle—her best friend and witch familiar.

But as the body count grows and a desperate race begins to track down a supernatural entity capable of powerful magic, it becomes evident another deadly game has begun—one they may not win.

Because the past—and the man—they ran from thirteen years ago has finally caught up with them. - from Goodreads.com

This is Book 6 of the Lizzy Grace series by Keri Arthur.

'Deadly Vows' takes place in a fictional reservation in Australia, and continues the story of Lizzy Grace and her human familiar Belle. I won't expand on their background as it is covered more in earlier books. In this latest release, Lizzy and Belle have to confront a person from their past as well as deal with the murder of newlyweds from a supernatural source. Lizzy learns more about the Wild Magic, and expands her relationship with the local Ranger, and werewolf Aiden.

I don't remember when I first came across this series, as I had not read anything by Keri Arthur before book one in this series ('Blood Kissed'). After reading the beginning of the series, I felt hooked in. Arthur has am easy to read style of writing without over-detailing a scene. Main character is written with depth decently, but when it comes to side characters, the depth of character is lacking a bit. Would like to see more of what makes Aiden and Belle tick, let alone some of the others. I'm not big on romance bits of stories, and found the level of romantic interaction/description to be acceptable. Overall I enjoyed this book, and look forward to at least a couple more stories.

Book Review: "The Fall of Shannara: The Last Druid" by Terry Brooks

Hope blooms anew for the Four Lands in this riveting conclusion, not only to the Fall of Shannara series but to the entire Shannara saga—a truly landmark event over forty years in the making!

Since he first began the Shannara saga in 1977, Terry Brooks has had a clear idea of how the series should end, and now that moment is at hand.

As the Four Lands reels under the Skaar invasion—spearheaded by a warlike people determined to make this land their own—our heroes must decide what they will risk to save the integrity of their home. Even as one group remains to defend the Four Lands, another is undertaking a perilous journey across the sea to the Skaar homeland, carrying with them a new piece of technology that could change the face of the world forever. And yet a third is trapped in a deadly realm from which there may be no escape.

Filled with twists and turns and epic feats of derring-do—not untouched by tragedy—this is vintage Terry Brooks, and a fitting end to a saga that has gathered generations of readers into its fold.- from NetGalley.com


I was a bit hesitant to request this book. Having grown up in the world of Shannara, I was saddened to hear that this would be the last book set in that realm. Terry Brooks has done a marvelous job with all the books in this series, and this final one was no different.

Loved how the story moved along at a good pace, while even closing up all the "loose ends" that many writers tend to close off too early, or not at all. The writing style was easy to read, which is Mr. Brooks' style, and is great for young adult readers. Descriptive writing was good, and I felt the imagination fill my head with what scenes I was reading.

All in all, this was a great finish to a series. Thanks for an ARC in exchange for a review through NetGalley.

Book Review: "Circle of the Moon" by Faith Hunter

Set in the same world as Faith Hunter's bestselling Jane Yellowrock novels, the fourth Soulwood novel stars Nell Ingram, who channels her power from the earth.

Nell can draw magic from the land around her, and lately she's been using it to help the Psy-Law Enforcement Division, which solves paranormal crimes. Joining the team at PsyLED has allowed her to learn more about her powers and the world she always shunned--and to find true friends.
 
Head agent Rick LaFleur shifts into a panther when the moon calls him, but this time, something has gone wrong. Rick calls Nell from a riverbank--he's naked, with no memory of how he came to be there, and there's a dead black cat, sacrificed in a witch circle and killed by black magic, lying next to him. 
 
Then more animals turn up dead, and team rushes to investigate. A blood-witch is out to kill. But when it seems as if their leader is involved in the crime, the bonds that hold the team together could shatter at any moment.-from Amazon.com

This is the fourth book in the Soulwood series by Hunter. The series is an off-shoot from the author's Janne Yellowrock series (which I have also enjoyed). This ARC was given to me by the publishers through Netgalley.com in exchange for a review. #Netgalledy #circleofthemoon

I enjoyed reading this book, as I have for the previous ones in the series. Definitely would like more answers to questions that popped up regarding certain events that occurred in the story line. Would love to read more in this series if there are to be more. SPOILERS AHEAD: What's the deal with the vampiric tree sprout that Nell uses? If that tree is so bad, why does she travel with a sprout of it in her truck (and called it cute? Groot reference...)? Or maybe I missed something in the previous book or in reading of this one....

Either way a good read. Would definitely suggest to others for reading.

Book Review: "White Trash Zombie Unchained" by Diana Rowland

Angel Crawford has finally pulled herself together (literally!) after her disastrous dismemberment on Mardi Gras. She’s putting the pieces of her life back in order and is ready to tackle whatever the future holds.

Too bad the future is a nasty bitch. There’s a new kind of zombie in town: mindless shamblers, infectious and ravenous.

With the threat of a full-blown shambler pandemic looming, and a loved one stricken, Angel and the “real” zombies scramble to find a cure. Yet when Angel uncovers the true reason the plague is spreading so quickly, she adds “no-holds-barred revenge” to her to-do list.

Angel is busting her ass dealing with shambling hordes, zombie gators, government jerks, and way too many mosquitos, but this white trash chick ain’t giving up.

Good thing, since the fate of the world is resting on her undead shoulders. - from Goodreads.com

This is book six in the White Trash Zombie series, and is just as corny and full of "white trash" retorts as the first five. Throw in a rampaging plague affecting everyone, the race for a cure, and, yes for real, pet alligators, Angel is coming around to save the day again....

I consider this a great, fun read, as I did the others. Went through it pretty quick. Kept my attention, though doesn't goes overboard on character depth, which helps make it seem more funny for me. Would recommend this book for those that read for entertainment.

I received a free copy through Netgalley.com in exchange for this review.

Book Review: "The Brightest Fell" by Seanan McGuire

Things are slow, and October “Toby” Daye couldn’t be happier about that.  The elf-shot cure has been approved, Arden Windermere is settling into her position as Queen in the Mists, and Toby doesn’t have anything demanding her attention except for wedding planning and spending time with her family.

Maybe she should have realized that it was too good to last.
                
When Toby’s mother, Amandine, appears on her doorstep with a demand for help, refusing her seems like the right thing to do…until Amandine starts taking hostages, and everything changes.  Now Toby doesn’t have a choice about whether or not she does as her mother asks.  Not with Jazz and Tybalt’s lives hanging in the balance.  But who could possibly help her find a pureblood she’s never met, one who’s been missing for over a hundred years?
                
Enter Simon Torquill, elf-shot enemy turned awakened, uneasy ally.  Together, the two of them must try to solve one of the greatest mysteries in the Mists: what happened to Amandine’s oldest daughter, August, who disappeared in 1906.
                
This is one missing person case Toby can’t afford to get wrong. - from Amazon.com

This is book 11 in the October Daye series. It was great to get to read another Toby story! I have enjoyed all in the series, and even some of the short in-betweens, even if they don't really involve Toby. I feel there is so many more ways to expand on this series, including side stories/series on other characters in the realm. Don't want to spoil it, but October finds some new things about her faerie family .... and more about herself as well. 

I was given an ARC in exchange for a review at Netgalley.com.