Since his second sight made him infamous for defeating powerful dark mages, Alex has been keeping his head down. But now he's discovered the resurgence of a forbidden ritual. Someone is harvesting the life-force of magical creatures—destroying them in the process. And draining humans is next on the agenda. Hired to investigate, Alex realizes that not everyone on the Council wants him delving any deeper. Struggling to distinguish ally from enemy, he finds himself the target of those who would risk their own sanity for power... - from Amazon.com
This is the second book in the Alex Verus series that started with "Fated", and continues the story from the first book. Due to events from the first book, Alex has started to receive more (unwanted) attention from those in the magic community, which leads him to the next spot of trouble. I won't go into detail, as I don't want to ruin the story.
I think Jacka does a great job of creating more character development, and background, as the story continues. The relationships between characters gets more defined, as well. How far will the author be able to take this series? I don't know, but books three and four are out, and I will be reading them as well!
Alex Verus is part of a world hidden in plain sight, running a magic shop in London. And while Alex's own powers aren't as showy as some mages, he does have the advantage of foreseeing the possible future--allowing him to pull off operations that have a million-to-one-chance of success.But when Alex is approached by multiple factions to crack open a relic from a long-ago mage war, he knows that whatever's inside must be beyond powerful. And thanks to his abilities, Alex can predict that by taking the job, his odds of survival are about to go from slim to none... - from Amazon.com
I only picked up the first three books in this series (well, only three that I know of at the moment) just due to the plot synopsis on the back of the book. Within the first 20 pages or so, I was pretty much hooked into the whole story. The plot kept me wanting to find out what the next twist or turn was going to be, and how the characters handled it. After completing this first book, I have many questions that deal more with the main character's background, more than what future adventures/situations he will be in. Perhaps those details will be given in the next book, or the next. Either way, it was a good read, and I enjoyed it very well for a modern day magic story.
Things are starting to look up for October "Toby" Daye. She's training her squire, doing her job, and has finally allowed herself to grow closer to the local King of Cats. It seems like her life may finally be settling down...at least until dead changelings start appearing in the alleys of San Francisco, killed by an overdose of goblin fruit.Toby's efforts to take the problem to the Queen of the Mists are met with harsh reprisals, leaving her under sentence of exile from her home and everyone she loves. Now Toby must find a way to reverse the Queens decree, get the goblin fruit off the streets--and, oh, yes, save her own life, since more than a few of her problems have once again followed her home. And then there's the question of the Queen herself, who seems increasingly unlikely to have a valid claim to the throne....To find the answers, October and her friends will have to travel from the legendary Library of Stars into the hidden depths of the Kingdom of the Mists--and they'll have to do it fast, because time is running out. In faerie, some fates are worse than death.October Daye is about to find out what they are. - from Amazon.com
This is the seventh book in the series following the exploits of Faerie Knight October Daye, as she does her best to right some of the wrongs she sees. October is only a Changeling, meaning she is part human and has limited Faerie power, but with the help of her friends, allies, and squire, she takes on the Queen in the Mists, to challenge the Queen's right to the throne.
Having read all the books in this series, I found myself, again, not being able to put the book down. I don't know if it is just the writing style, or the story, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the series. October seems more human than Fae, and though she seems to get the best of every bad situation, it still makes for a good read. Throw in some of the romantic tension from the previous books, her now current interest in this one, and you get yet another kink in the story, that adds to the plot.
Overall, the book could be read as a stand alone novel, though I suggest reading the series, to learn more detailed background on the characters. I enjoyed seeing October learning to use in more depth some of the power she has, and the fact that now she is being more pro-active in her fight against what she sees as wrongs in the world(s). There was more interaction on a world-scale versus some of the earlier more regionalized story-telling, bringing a larger cast together, yet McGuire was able to still get individualized on the characters, including the romantic stuff.
I enjoyed the novel, and hope that there may be a few more to be written yet for this series.
Former military cop Jack Reacher makes it all the way from snowbound South Dakota to his destination in northeastern Virginia, near Washington, D.C.: the headquarters of his old unit, the 110th MP. The old stone building is the closest thing to a home he ever had. Reacher is there to meet—in person—the new commanding officer, Major Susan Turner, so far just a warm, intriguing voice on the phone. But it isn’t Turner behind the CO’s desk. And Reacher is hit with two pieces of shocking news, one with serious criminal consequences, and one too personal to even think about. When threatened, you can run or fight. Reacher fights, aiming to find Turner and clear his name, barely a step ahead of the army, and the FBI, and the D.C. Metro police, and four unidentified thugs. Combining an intricate puzzle of a plot and an exciting chase for truth and justice, Lee Child puts Reacher through his paces—and makes him question who he is, what he’s done, and the very future of his untethered life on the open road. - excerpt from Amazon.com
Lee Child has brought Jack Reacher back again in this continuing storyline. Following his latest exploits, Reacher returns to Rock Creek, the place of the 110th he used to command when he was in the service, just to meet the current CO, a lady he had only talked to on the phone. From the time he arrives, things get interesting for Reacher as he finds out he has two very big problems to deal with: both of which require him to face justice or run.
I was a bit excited to get my hands on another Reacher novel, but was a bit disappointed with the ending. There is an issue about Reacher being brought back into active duty, but I didn't see any dismissal at the end of the story. Maybe it is an opening for another novel? Either way, the rest of the story is regular Reacher where there is an occasional fight, a little female companionship, and some bad guys getting what they deserve. Great for a day read!
I’ve been told to go to Hell more times than I can count. But this time I’m actually going.
My name’s Bobby Dollar, sometimes known as Doloriel, and of course, Hell isn’t a great place for someone like me—I’m an angel. They don’t like my kind down there, not even the slightly fallen variety. But they have my girlfriend, who happens to be a beautiful demon named Casimira, Countess of Cold Hands. Why does an angel have a demon girlfriend? Well, certainly not because it helps my career.
She’s being held hostage by one of the nastiest, most powerful demons in all of the netherworld—Eligor, Grand Duke of Hell. He already hates me, and he’d like nothing better than to get his hands on me and rip my immortal soul right out of my borrowed but oh-so-mortal body.
But wait, it gets better! Not only do I have to sneak into Hell, make my way across thousands of miles of terror and suffering to reach Pan- demonium, capital of the fiery depths, but then I have to steal Caz right out from under Eligor’s burning eyes and smuggle her out again, past demon soldiers, hellhounds, and all the murderous creatures imprisoned there for eternity. And even if I somehow manage to escape Hell, I’m also being stalked by an undead psychopath named Smyler who’s been following me for weeks. Oh, and did I mention that he can’t be killed?
So if I somehow survive Hell, elude the Grand Duke and all his hideous minions and make it back to the real world, I’ll still be the most hunted soul in Creation. But at least I’ll have Caz. Gotta have something to look forward to, right?
So just pour me that damn drink, will you? I’ve got somewhere to go. - from Amazon.com
I received a copy of this book for free for a review from the publisher, PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW.
Bobby Dollar is back in the second installment from Tad Williams. Bobby is an Advocate of Heaven, sort of a lawyer that deals with certain people when they die, to help plead their case for Heaven in the afterlife. However, after events that happened in the first book, he is on a suspension of service, which leaves him plenty of time to 'rescue' his demon lover from Hell. Williams has created a different viewpoint of how Hell is, and what happens there to souls. Bobby has a grand adventure trying to survive it all, and get back what he feels is his. Good follow up story line, and I look forward to another book in this series.
The Republic has fallen.Sith Lords rule the galaxy.Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi has lost everything . . . Everything but hope. Tatooine—a harsh desert world where farmers toil in the heat of two suns while trying to protect themselves and their loved ones from the marauding Tusken Raiders. A backwater planet on the edge of civilized space. And an unlikely place to find a Jedi Master in hiding, or an orphaned infant boy on whose tiny shoulders rests the future of a galaxy. Known to locals only as “Ben,” the bearded and robed offworlder is an enigmatic stranger who keeps to himself, shares nothing of his past, and goes to great pains to remain an outsider. But as tensions escalate between the farmers and a tribe of Sand People led by a ruthless war chief, Ben finds himself drawn into the fight, endangering the very mission that brought him to Tatooine. Ben—Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, hero of the Clone Wars, traitor to the Empire, and protector of the galaxy’s last hope—can no more turn his back on evil than he can reject his Jedi training. And when blood is unjustly spilled, innocent lives threatened, and a ruthless opponent unmasked, Ben has no choice but to call on the wisdom of the Jedi—and the formidable power of the Force—in his never-ending fight for justice. - from Amazon.com
I received this book for free in exchange for a review from the publisher, Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey Spectra, through the Netgalley.com website.
Since 1978 when I first saw the movie STAR WARS (episode IV, A NEW HOPE) I was 8 years old, and fell in love with it. Aside from anxiously watching as each new movie episode came out (with years in between) I would grab up any side story of STAR WARS that would appear on bookshelves. After many years, it seemed there were too many books in the STAR WARS universe, covering such a vast time span, I just sort of lost interest if the books weren't about specific people I liked from the main storyline from the movies. When I saw STAR WARS: KENOBI being released, I knew this was one I wanted to read!
This takes place immediately after Obi-Wan Kenobi has fled with the twin children of Darth Vader (Annakin Skywalker) and left one (Leia) with Ambassador Bail Organa of Alderaan, and the other (Luke) with Owen Lars on Tatooine. With the need to disappear, as the Emperor is hunting down any remaining members of the Jedi Order, Kenobi stays on in the deserts of Tatooine, to keep an eye of protection on the young Skywalker.
While trying to remain aloof and separate from anyone, to not attract undue attention to himself, and possibly young Skywalker, Kenobi assumes the moniker Ben, and tries to avoid getting involved in the small town-like life of a nearby oasis community as it deals with problems of it's own in the form of the Tusken Raiders. However, Ben's Jedi training will not allow him to see evil being done, even if it may expose the secret he is hiding.
This novel kept me reading at a fast pace as the story developed. Being able to invest some time in an area of the STAR WARS story that had not had any description, was a treat, especially concerning one of the last Jedi at that time. Sharing the guilt that Kenobi had following what he thought as as Annakin's death, and the "signs" he felt he should have seen showing Annakin turning to the Dark Side, it brings out a personal side of the Obi-Wan character we usually do not see.
Overall, I felt the story was well created and told in a third person narrative. There seemed to me to be a good connection of events/characters from my memory of the timeline before, and what is to come, and able to leave room for possible more stories of Obi Wan from this time period he spent on Tatooine while watching of young Skywalker.
