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The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark

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Title: The Demon Lover (Fairwick Trilogy #1)

Author: Juliet Dark

Publisher: Ballantine 2011

Genre: Paranormal Fiction

Pages: 416

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Popsugar - Based on Mythology; New to Me

Since accepting a teaching position at remote Fairwick College in upstate New York, Callie McFay has experienced the same disturbingly sensual dream every night: A mist enters her bedroom, then takes the shape of a virile, seductive stranger who proceeds to ravish her in the most toe-curling, wholly satisfying ways possible. Perhaps these dreams are the result of her having written the bestselling book The Sex Lives of Demon Lovers. Callie’s lifelong passion is the intersection of lurid fairy tales and Gothic literature—which is why she’s found herself at Fairwick’s renowned folklore department, living in a once-stately Victorian house that, at first sight, seemed to call her name.
 
But Callie soon realizes that her dreams are alarmingly real. She has a demon lover—an incubus—and he will seduce her, pleasure her, and eventually suck the very life from her. Then Callie makes another startling discovery: Her incubus is not the only mythical creature in Fairwick. As the tenured witches of the college and the resident fairies in the surrounding woods prepare to cast out the demon, Callie must accomplish something infinitely more difficult—banishing this supernatural lover from her heart.

Random read off my shelf. Don't know why I haven't read it before as I really really enjoyed this volume. I fell right into this collection of odd characters and beings. I immediately connected with Callie and her search for self. I loved the fact that Honeysuckle House became a character in its own right. I loved the slow unraveling of the world into a full-fledged reality. I especially loved the short but fascinating scenes featuring Adelaide. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. 

Fairwick Trilogy:

  • #1 The Demon Lover
  • #2 The Water Witch
  • #3 The Angel Stone
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Next up on the TBR pile:

jujutsu 17.jpg jujutsu 18.jpg ne'er duke.jpg wedding people.jpg familiar.jpeg raeliana1.jpg raeliana2.jpg beautifully.jpeg raeliana3.jpg raeliana4.jpg raeliana5.jpg raeliana6.jpg raeliana7.jpg drop of corruption.jpg somewhere beyond.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg grace year.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg maybe you should.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg wicked things.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg raeliana8.jpg
tags: New to Me, Juliet Dark, 5 stars, paranormal, mount tbr, Popsugar
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 11.28.17
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Tarnished and Torn by Juliet Blackwell

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Title: Tarnished and Torn (Witchcraft Mystery #5)

Author: Juliet Blackwell

Publisher: Berkley 2013

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Pages: 336

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsugar - Audiobook

When Lily arrives at an antique jewelry fair, her bargain sensors go off left and right—but she also picks up a faint vibration of magic. Could the hard-bargaining merchant Griselda be a fellow practitioner? It certainly seems that way when a sudden fire sends panic through the crowd, and Lily discovers Griselda murdered in a way that nods to an old-fashioned witch hunt…
 
A crime that hits close to home turns into an unwelcome flash from the past when the police bring in their lead suspect—Lily’s estranged father. Though he may not deserve her help, Lily is determined to clear her father’s name and solve a murder that’s anything but crystal clear. 

Grabbed this one in audiobook form as I thought it would be easy to listen while driving everywhere and I needed an audiobook for the Popsugar challenge. Unfortunately the audio version wasn't super enjoyable to me. Overall, I really enjoy these books. They are fun little supernatural mysteries that can speed through in between heavier books. While reading then, I often skim through the sections where Lily talks about her background (stuff I've already learned by reading the previous books in the series). With the audio version, I had to listen to all those passages (can't fast forward while driving) and there are many of those passages. It really got annoying after awhile. However, I really did enjoy the characters and the storyline in this one. The opening at the gem fair was especially fun. Definitely a good read. I'll just stick to the print versions for the rest of the series.

Witchcraft Mystery

  • #1 Secondhand Spirits
  • #2 A Cast Off Coven
  • #3 Hexes and Hemlines
  • #4 In a Witch's Wardrobe
  • #5 Tarnished and Torn
  • #6 A Vision in Velvet
  • #6.5 A Haunting is Brewing
  • #7 Spellcasting in Silk
  • #8 A Toxic Trousseau
  • #9 A Magical Match
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Next up on the TBR pile:

jujutsu 17.jpg jujutsu 18.jpg ne'er duke.jpg wedding people.jpg familiar.jpeg raeliana1.jpg raeliana2.jpg beautifully.jpeg raeliana3.jpg raeliana4.jpg raeliana5.jpg raeliana6.jpg raeliana7.jpg drop of corruption.jpg somewhere beyond.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg grace year.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg maybe you should.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg wicked things.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg raeliana8.jpg
tags: Juliet Blackwell, mystery, paranormal, Popsugar, mount tbr, 4 stars
categories: Book Reviews
Monday 11.27.17
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

In a Witch's Wardrobe by Juliet Blackwell

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Title: In a Witch's Wardrobe (Witchcraft Mystery #4)

Author: Juliet Blackwell

Publisher: Berkley 2012

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Pages: 337

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR

Taking a night off from running her successful San Francisco clothing store, Lily attends a local art deco ball where vintage fashions steal the show. But when a young woman at the event falls under a mysterious sleeping sickness, Lily senses that a curse was placed on the woman’s corsage. 

Before Lily can solve the woman’s magical ailment, she’s asked to assist in investigating a string of poisonings in the Bay Area witchcraft community. She’s gained the trust of the local covens by supporting women’s charities through her clothing store. But soon, Lily suspects that one of her new acquaintances might not be so well intentioned and could be dabbling in dark magic and deadly botany…

I feel like this series is finally hitting it's stride. I love the storyline revolving around the Art Deco Ball, the Paramount Theater, and other great places around the Bay. I loved meeting some new and interesting characters, especially Calypso. I loved the development of Lily and Sailor's relationship. I loved seeing more from all the great side characters like Bronwyn and Maya. And Oscar is just a treat. I really really love where the series is taking Lily's story. I can't wait to start the next one in the series.

Witchcraft Mystery

  • #1 Secondhand Spirits
  • #2 A Cast Off Coven
  • #3 Hexes and Hemlines
  • #4 In a Witch's Wardrobe
  • #5 Tarnished and Torn
  • #6 A Vision in Velvet
  • #6.5 A Haunting is Brewing
  • #7 Spellcasting in Silk
  • #8 A Toxic Trousseau
  • #9 A Magical Match
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Next up on the TBR pile:

jujutsu 17.jpg jujutsu 18.jpg ne'er duke.jpg wedding people.jpg familiar.jpeg raeliana1.jpg raeliana2.jpg beautifully.jpeg raeliana3.jpg raeliana4.jpg raeliana5.jpg raeliana6.jpg raeliana7.jpg drop of corruption.jpg somewhere beyond.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg grace year.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg maybe you should.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg wicked things.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg raeliana8.jpg
tags: Juliet Blackwell, mystery, paranormal, mount tbr, 5 stars
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 11.14.17
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Hexes and Hemlines by Juliet Blackwell

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Title: Hexes and Hemlines (Witchcraft Mystery #3)

Author: Juliet Blackwell

Publisher: Obsidian 2011

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Pages: 314

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; What's in a name - X

Lily gets called away from her vintage clothing store to give police a witch's take on how the leader of a rationalist society could be murdered, surrounded by superstitions he discredited. 

Evidence points to dark witchcraft. Lily's determined to use magic of her own to find the murderer, before everyone's luck runs out.

Another great volume in this oh-so-fun series. I loved getting to know Lily even more and see her get more comfortable in her newly adopted hometown. And oh my the secrets that are starting to come out. Each volume we get just a bit more of what is going on behind the scenes. I love how Blackwell teases out some clues and hints about the larger paranormal world in the Bay Area. This one was super fun. I loved the new incarnation of the Thirteenth Club. Great subject matter!

Witchcraft Mystery

  • #1 Secondhand Spirits
  • #2 A Cast Off Coven
  • #3 Hexes and Hemlines
  • #4 In a Witch's Wardrobe
  • #5 Tarnished and Torn
  • #6 A Vision in Velvet
  • #6.5 A Haunting is Brewing
  • #7 Spellcasting in Silk
  • #8 A Toxic Trousseau
  • #9 A Magical Match
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Next upon the TBR pile:

jujutsu 17.jpg jujutsu 18.jpg ne'er duke.jpg wedding people.jpg familiar.jpeg raeliana1.jpg raeliana2.jpg beautifully.jpeg raeliana3.jpg raeliana4.jpg raeliana5.jpg raeliana6.jpg raeliana7.jpg drop of corruption.jpg somewhere beyond.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg grace year.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg maybe you should.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg wicked things.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg raeliana8.jpg
tags: mystery, paranormal, Juliet Blackwell, 4 stars, mount tbr, What's in a Name
categories: Book Reviews
Thursday 11.02.17
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

A Cast Off Coven by Juliet Blackwell

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Title: A Cast Off Coven (Witchcraft Mystery #2)

Author: Juliet Blackwell

Publisher: Obsidian 2010

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Pages: 312

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR

Lily Ivory is not your average witch. She runs a vintage clothing store called Aunt Cora's Closet and has the magical ability to sense vibrations of the past from clothing and jewelry. When students are spooked at the San Francisco School for the Arts, Lily is called in to search for paranormal activity. She finds a dead body and a closet full of old clothes with some very bad vibes.

Really digging this series... I loved diving back into Lily Ivory and her witchy ways. We get more appearances by some great side characters (hello Aidan!) and a fun storyline involving an old nunnery, ghosts, and a demon. The only thing I'm not loving is Max. I get that we need a skeptical character, but seriously he treats Lily like crap most of the time. I hope he gets his act together in the next book. Overall, this series is just what I need for a fun enjoyable read!

Witchcraft Mystery

  • #1 Secondhand Spirits
  • #2 A Cast Off Coven
  • #3 Hexes and Hemlines
  • #4 In a Witch's Wardrobe
  • #5 Tarnished and Torn
  • #6 A Vision in Velvet
  • #6.5 A Haunting is Brewing
  • #7 Spellcasting in Silk
  • #8 A Toxic Trousseau
  • #9 A Magical Match
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Next up on the TBR pile:

jujutsu 17.jpg jujutsu 18.jpg ne'er duke.jpg wedding people.jpg familiar.jpeg raeliana1.jpg raeliana2.jpg beautifully.jpeg raeliana3.jpg raeliana4.jpg raeliana5.jpg raeliana6.jpg raeliana7.jpg drop of corruption.jpg somewhere beyond.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg grace year.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg maybe you should.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg wicked things.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg raeliana8.jpg
tags: Juliet Blackwell, mystery, paranormal, 4 stars, FrightFall Readathon, mount tbr
categories: Book Reviews
Monday 10.30.17
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell

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Title: Secondhand Spirits (Witchcraft Mystery #1)

Author: Juliet Blackwell

Publisher: Obsidian 2009

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Pages: 313

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; What's in a Name -- Alliterative Title; New to Me

Lily Ivory feels that she can finally fit in somewhere and conceal her "witchiness" in San Francisco. It's there that she opens her vintage clothing shop, outfitting customers both spiritually and stylistically.

Just when things seem normal, a client is murdered and children start disappearing from the Bay Area. Lily has a good idea that some bad phantoms are behind it. Can she keep her identity secret, or will her witchy ways be forced out of the closet as she attempts to stop the phantom?

Such a great little cozy mystery! Bonus points for being set in San Francisco, my adoptive city across the bay. I loved diving into Lily Ivory's world of clothing, mystery, witches, romance, and goblins (or pigs). I sped through this book waiting impatiently to find out the mystery behind La Llorona, Frances Potts, and all the other fun characters. I loved the world building in this volume. Can't wait to pick up the next in the series!

Witchcraft Mystery

  • #1 Secondhand Spirits
  • #2 A Cast Off Coven
  • #3 Hexes and Hemlines
  • #4 In a Witch's Wardrobe
  • #5 Tarnished and Torn
  • #6 A Vision in Velvet
  • #6.5 A Haunting is Brewing
  • #7 Spellcasting in Silk
  • #8 A Toxic Trousseau
  • #9 A Magical Match
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ao83h0.jpg
new-to-me.jpg

Next up on the TBR pile:

jujutsu 17.jpg jujutsu 18.jpg ne'er duke.jpg wedding people.jpg familiar.jpeg raeliana1.jpg raeliana2.jpg beautifully.jpeg raeliana3.jpg raeliana4.jpg raeliana5.jpg raeliana6.jpg raeliana7.jpg drop of corruption.jpg somewhere beyond.jpg seoulmates.jpg jujutsu 19.jpg jujutsu 20.jpg grace year.jpg jujutsu21.jpg jujutsu22.jpg jujutsu23.jpg jujutsu24.jpg black butler.jpg jujutsu25.jpg jujutsu26.jpg jujutsu27.jpg maybe you should.jpg mayor of maxwell.jpg wicked things.jpg antidote.jpg tales accursed.jpg raeliana8.jpg
tags: mystery, paranormal, Juliet Blackwell, 4 stars, mount tbr, What's in a Name, New to Me, FrightFall Readathon
categories: Book Reviews
Sunday 10.08.17
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Manners and Mutiny by Gail Carriger

Title: Manners and Mutiny (The Finishing School #4)

Author: Gail Carriger

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company 2015

Genre: YA Paranormal

Pages: 330

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 52 Books - W44

Lessons in the art of espionage aboard Mademoiselle Geraldine's floating dirigible have become tedious without Sophronia's sweet sootie Soap nearby. She would much rather be using her skills to thwart the dastardly Picklemen, yet her concerns about their wicked intentions are ignored, and now she's not sure whom to trust. What does the brusque werewolf dewan know? On whose side is the ever-stylish vampire Lord Akeldama? Only one thing is certain: a large-scale plot is under way, and when it comes to fruition, Sophronia must be ready to save her friends, her school, and all of London from disaster--in decidedly dramatic fashion, of course.

Oh my! A very fitting conclusion to this series. I loved seeing the Picklemen's plan uncovered by Sophronia and her band of misfit intelligencers. Very exciting! Plus we get the return of so many side character. And most importantly, we find out everyone's allegiances. (I really should have Agatha's, but she took me by surprise). This volume is a well-paced adventure from page one. Definitely an enjoyable read!

The Finishing School

  • #1 Etiquette and Espionage
  • #2 Curtsies and Conspiracies
  • #3 Waistcoats and Weaponry
  • #4 Manners and Mutiny
tags: 5 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, Gail Carriger, paranormal, young adult
categories: Book Reviews
Monday 10.31.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Waistcoats and Weaponry by Gail Carriger

Title: Waistcoats and Weaponry(The Finishing School #3)

Author: Gail Carriger

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company 2014

Genre: YA Paranormal

Pages: 317

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books

Sophronia continues her second year at finishing school in style--with a steel-bladed fan secreted in the folds of her ball gown, of course. Such a fashionable choice of weapon comes in handy when Sophronia, her best friend Dimity, sweet sootie Soap, and the charming Lord Felix Mersey hijack a suspiciously empty train to return their chum Sidheag to her werewolf pack in Scotland. But when Sophronia discovers they are being trailed by a dirigible of Picklemen and flywaymen, she unearths a plot that threatens to throw all of London into chaos. With her friends in mortal danger, Sophronia must sacrifice what she holds most dear--her freedom.

Loved this volume in the series! But oh man, that ending nearly killed me. Way to tear at the heartstrings Carriger. Usually I'm not a fan of constant action in a book, but this one just seemed like a rollicking good time. We get so much good action but also some great character development scenes. I especially loved the scenes featuring both Soap and Felix. So much fun! Plu

The Finishing School

  • #1 Etiquette and Espionage
  • #2 Curtsies and Conspiracies
  • #3 Waistcoats and Weaponry
  • #4 Manners and Mutiny
tags: Gail Carriger, paranormal, young adult
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 08.19.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Curtsies and Conspiracies by Gail Carriger

Title: Curtsies and Conspiracies(The Finishing School #2)

Author: Gail Carriger

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company 2013

Genre: YA Paranormal

Pages: 329

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; 52 Books - W32

Sophronia's first year at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality has certainly been rousing! For one thing, finishing school is training her to be a spy (won't Mumsy be surprised?). Furthermore, Sophronia got mixed up in an intrigue over a stolen device and had a cheese pie thrown at her in a most horrid display of poor manners.

Now, as she sneaks around the dirigible school, eavesdropping on the teachers' quarters and making clandestine climbs to the ship's boiler room, she learns that there may be more to a field trip to London than is apparent at first. A conspiracy is afoot--one with dire implications for both supernaturals and humans. Sophronia must rely on her training to discover who is behind the dangerous plot-and survive the London Season with a full dance card.

My fun series for August! After reading a bunch of nonfiction books, I needed something light and fluffy. This volume was just the thing! I love Sophronia and her motley crew of intelligencers and assorted helpers. I wished to see more of Soap and Vieve int his volume. We got a decent amount of Soap, but Vieve was left to just make appearances. And it seems that Vieve will not be regulated to guest appearances in the series. Boo! She's amazing! But we did get an appearance from some powerful vampires, most notable Lord Akeldama, one of my favorite characters from the Parasol Protectorate series. Will be diving into the third book soon...

The Finishing School

  • #1 Etiquette and Espionage
  • #2 Curtsies and Conspiracies
  • #3 Waistcoats and Weaponry
  • #4 Manners and Mutiny
tags: 4 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, Gail Carriger, paranormal, Read My Own Damn Books, young adult
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 08.12.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger

Title: Etiquette and Espionage (The Finishing School #1)

Author: Gail Carriger

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company 2013

Genre: YA Paranormal

Pages: 307

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Women Authors

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners--and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine's, young ladies learn to finish...everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but the also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage--in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education.

I picked this series up on the basis of my enjoyment of the Parasol Protectorate series. This particular series is set a few decades before that one. And I enjoyed this one also. I love how this series throws the reader right into the action. We are forced to figure out what is going on right along with Sophronia. The convention definitely works in this instance. While I like Sophronia, I think the side characters really make this series for me. I loved meeting all the professors and students. Plus, we get some intriuging scenes with Genevieve Lefoux. Love the connections to the Parasol Protectorate series. The writing isn't quite as exciting as as the other series, but this is young adult. And I'm okay with it. I can't wait to read the next volume.

The Finishing School

  • #1 Etiquette and Espionage
  • #2 Curtsies and Conspiracies
  • #3 Waistcoats and Weaponry
  • #4 Manners and Mutiny
tags: 4 stars, Gail Carriger, paranormal, Read My Own Damn Books, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 07.06.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Curious Case of the Werewolf that Wasn't... by Gail Carriger

Title: The Curious Case of the Werewolf that Wasn't, the Mummy that Was, and the Cat in the Jar (The Parasol Protectorate #5.5)

Author: Gail Carriger

Publisher: 2014

Genre: Steampunk Paranormal

Pages: 32

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

A short tale of mummies, werewolves, and well preserved felines set in the world of the Parasol Protectorate. Alessandro Tarabotti and his valet, Floote, are on a mission in Egypt when they encounter visiting tourists and things go all pie shaped. What is his real mission and will his Aunt Archangelica approve of his treatment of her cat?

A little short story about Alexia Tarabotti's father. Last night I finished a very intense book (High Rise by J.G. Ballard) and wasn't ready for bed yet but also didn't want to start some other intense book. Scrolling through my Kindle app, I realized that I had this story still sitting unread. So I dove in. This was a nice little throwback to the Parasol Protectorate series. We get to see Alexia's father in action in Egypt and we get some information about the werewolf that wasn't. We also revisit Floote. This was such a fun little short story. It got me in the mood to start Carriger's Finishing School series.

Parasol Protectorate

  • #1 Soulless
  • #2 Changeless
  • #3 Blameless
  • #4 Heartless
  • #5 Timeless
  • #5.5 The Curious Case of the Werewolf that Wasn't...
tags: 4 stars, Gail Carriger, paranormal, Read My Own Damn Books, steampunk
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 07.02.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Forevermore by Kristen Calihan -- Release Day!

It's release day for the final book in the Darkest London series! Check out my review, an exclusive review, and a giveaway below!

Title: Foevermore (Darkest London #7)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Forever 2016

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 308

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Popsugar - Published in 2016; Women Authors

Isolated and alone, Sin Evernight is one of the most powerful supernatural creatures in heaven and on earth. As an angel of vengeance, he hunts down the darkest evil, but when his long-lost friend, Layla Starling, needs him, he vows to become her protector. Even though she will be horrified by the man he has become.

Now a famous singer and the toast of London, Layla believes that Sin is only here to guard her from rabid fans and ardent suitors. However, the truth is far more sinister. Desperate to avoid losing Layla a second time, Sin will face a test of all his powers to defeat an unstoppable foe - and win an eternity with the woman he loves.

I received a copy of this soon-to-be-released book from the publisher. I didn't even realize that there was going to be a seventh book, but I'm so glad there is!I have loved Callihan's world building and twist on the paranormal world.  We get to see so many different beings and relationships. This volume wraps up the Darkest London world in a neat little package. We get a fitting ending to all the characters we've met in the previous books. And this one focuses on Sin Evernight. I thought he was an intriguing character in the previous storyline. It was nice to see him get his own story and romance! I sped through this book in one day desperate to see how everything came together. Oh man! I am going to miss this series, but it's a good absence.

An Awesome Excerpt From Forevermore:

One might think being an immortal was a blessing, never grow old, never grow sick, never die. At one time in St. John Evernight’s life, he considered it a blessing too. He would be around long after the simple humans who surrounded him were nothing but dust. They could stare all they liked at his “strange” hair and frosty green eyes. They could gossip and speculate about him until they lost their voices. It didn’t matter. He was untouchable, and they were but fragile sacks of blood and bone.

How naive he’d been. Because living forever merely meant a lack of escape from the desolation of regret and loneliness. He knew now that he could walk down Jermyn Street endlessly, see the sands of time shift and rearrange before him, and never be a part of life.

“Brooding, Mr. Evernight?”

Sin almost jumped at the sudden sound of Augustus’s voice by his side. Damn, the blasted man loved to startle him. He gave Augustus a passing glance. Dressed in conservative brown tweed and a bowler hat, the angel appeared every inch the English gentlemen, save for his dark coloring that marked him to be from Southern climes.

“It’s really quite the trick, popping up like a soap bubble whenever you choose, Augustus. You must teach me how one day.”

The man’s mouth twitched. “With your luck, you’d pop up in the middle of a parliamentary session.”

Yes, Sin had abominable luck. Or perhaps it was more a matter of making abominable choices.

“You’re brooding again,” Augustus remarked.

“I’m not brooding. This is simply my face.”

Augustus snorted but remained silent as they walked along, past Trafalgar Square and down Whitehall.

“Care to tell me why you called me here?” Sin asked, when they came upon the grounds of Westminster. For the past year, Sin had been in Rome, soaking in the warmer temperatures, drinking espresso in cafes along the Piazza della Rotunda, under the shade of the ancient Pantheon. He’d eaten simple but delicious food, and listened to the rapid fire of Italian, and felt…well, not peace, but a measure of contentment.

Until Augustus had sent for him. Returning to England sat like a stone in his gut. But he would obey. Augustus was his mentor, and the man who’d given him salvation. The price was a lifetime of servitude. To be fair, his role was for justice, not evil, which was a nice change of pace.

A massive dray rattled past, kicking up dust and sending a fug of stale manure into the air. They hurried past the cloud and headed for Westminster Abbey. Sin hadn’t planned on visiting today, but here they were all the same. He wondered if Augustus somehow had led him to their usual meeting place or if Sin had merely headed that way because of the man’s sudden arrival.

He’d like to think the latter. It did not sit well with him having another control his actions. Not since a certain evil fae had kept Sin as a blood slave for years. Even now, the memory made his stomach turn.

Not a soul acknowledged them as they walked through the abbey and into the cloisters. Here, a rare bit of sunlight peeked through the constant cloud cover and cast lacy shadows along the walkway. The sound of their boot heels clacked out a steady rhythm as they strolled along.

“Layla returns to London tonight.”

At the mention of her name, Sin’s heart stilled within his breast. He’d tried his best to ward off all finer feelings, to remain numb, detached from life. And yet he could not, for the life of him, remain immune to Layla Starling. His childhood friend. The one woman who could take his breath, his reason, simply by laying eyes upon her.

Stuffing his shaking hands into his trouser pockets, Sin forced himself to keep an even tone. “So then I am to begin watching over her?”

God, but he did not want to. It would be agony, staying so close to her and never being allowed to show his true feelings. And yet a thrum of anticipation went through him at the mere prospect of seeing Layla once more.

“Are you ready?” Augustus asked, though his expression told Sin he fully expected an affirmative answer.

So Sin told him the only truth left to him. “I will not fail her.”

BUY THE BOOK HERE

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AUTHOR INFORMATION

USA Today bestselling author Kristen Callihan is a writer because there is nothing else she'd rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewers' Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book, Firelight, received RT Book Reviews' Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher's Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

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Darkest London Series

  • #0.5 Ember
  • #1 Firelight
  • #2 Moonglow
  • #3 Winterblaze
  • #3.5 Entwined
  • #4 Shadowdance
  • #5 Evernight
  • #6 Soulbound
  • #7 Forevermore

a Rafflecopter giveaway

tags: 5 stars, Kristen Callihan, paranormal, Popsugar, Read My Own Damn Books, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 06.28.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Forevermore by Kristen Callihan

Releasing June 28th, 2016!!!!

Title: Foevermore (Darkest London #7)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Forever 2016

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 308

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Popsugar - Published in 2016; Women Authors

Isolated and alone, Sin Evernight is one of the most powerful supernatural creatures in heaven and on earth. As an angel of vengeance, he hunts down the darkest evil, but when his long-lost friend, Layla Starling, needs him, he vows to become her protector. Even though she will be horrified by the man he has become.

Now a famous singer and the toast of London, Layla believes that Sin is only here to guard her from rabid fans and ardent suitors. However, the truth is far more sinister. Desperate to avoid losing Layla a second time, Sin will face a test of all his powers to defeat an unstoppable foe - and win an eternity with the woman he loves.

I received a copy of this soon-to-be-released book from the publisher. I didn't even realize that there was going to be a seventh book, but I'm so glad there is!I have loved Callihan's world building and twist on the paranormal world.  We get to see so many different beings and relationships. This volume wraps up the Darkest London world in a neat little package. We get a fitting ending to all the characters we've met in the previous books. And this one focuses on Sin Evernight. I thought he was an intriguing character in the previous storyline. It was nice to see him get his own story and romance! I sped through this book in one day desperate to see how everything came together. Oh man! I am going to miss this series, but it's a good absence.

Darkest London

  • #0.5 Ember
  • #1 Firelight
  • #2 Moonglow
  • #3 Winterblaze
  • #3.5 Entwined
  • #4 Shadowdance
  • #5 Evernight
  • #6 Soulbound
  • #7 Forevermore
tags: 5 stars, Kristen Callihan, paranormal, Popsugar, Read My Own Damn Books, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 06.01.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Title: The Night Circus

Author: Erin Morgenstern

Publisher: Anchor Books 2011

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 516

Rating:  5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: TBR Reduction; Mount TBR; Fairytales; New Author

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

Can I give this book more than 5 stars? This has just secured a spot in my Top 10 books of 2015 and may just be number one. I absolutely adored this book. Let's break it down: The writing is just gorgeous. It reminded me of The Shadow of the Wind or Tolkien. Lots of description, but it never felt too much. I craved the descriptions of the various parts of the circus. By the end of the book, I could see every nook and cranny of the world. Beautiful! The characters may not all be likable, but they are fascinating. My favorite character had to be Tsukiko. I found her more than just a contortionist right from the beginning. As the story unfolded and we got more glimpses of her, I loved her more and more. I also really enjoyed some of the other side characters: Chandresh, Herr Theissen, Lainie and Tara, and especially Poppet and Widget. The main characters were also great, just in a different way. Some of the side characters seemed more real to me, but that seems to be on purpose. Marco and Celia are not really of this world and it comes through. Finally, we get to the story. I fell into the story on the first page and didn't come up for air until after I closed the book. Morgenstern weaves a masterful story jumping back and forth through time without confusion. I was always wanting the story to come to a conclusion but loathe to leave the world of the circus. I heartily recommend this book to anyone and everyone I know. I'm glad this is our book club book for early August. I can't wait to discuss with others.

tags: 5 stars, Erica Morgenstern, fantasy, mount tbr, paranormal, TBR Reduction
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 07.03.15
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Dark Glamour by Gabriella Pierce

Title: The Dark Glamour (666 Park Avenue #2)

Author: Gabriella Pierce

Publisher: Alloy Entertainment 2011

Genre: Paranormal — Witches

Pages: 294

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read Your Freebies; 52 Books - W25

Gossip Girl meets Charmed in Gabriella Pierce’s fabulous follow-up to her debut supernatural romp,666 Park Avenue. Continuing her phenomenal gothic chronicle of witches, covens, and curses, and the darkness lurking behind the glitter of New York high society, Pierce enchants us once again with The Dark Glamour. Fans of Meg Cabot’s Insatiable and LJ Smith’s Vampire Diaries will love this edgy paranormal tale, as the unfortunate bride whose Prince Charming turned out to be the son of an elite Upper East Side witch must now reenter the Park Avenue mansion of horrors she only barely escaped with her life. But this time she has a whole new look…and some powerful new magic tricks up her sleeve.

Still reading this series. Mostly I want to find out what happens to Jane in the end. Plus, it's light and fluffy compared to most of my reads. I guess it's taking the place of my historical romances at the moment. But it's not the best series in the world. I think the characters got a little more interesting in this volume, but not by much. Most of the time I want to smack Jane for her ridiculousness. I'll still be reading the last book in the series.

666 Park Avenue

  • #1 666 Park Avenue
  • #2 The Dark Glamour
  • #3 The Lost Soul
tags: 3 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, Gabriella Pierce, paranormal, Read Your Freebies, witches
categories: Book Reviews
Monday 06.22.15
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

2013 Reading Challenge Round-Up -- Failed Edition

Not too bad this year.  I didn't have a ton of failed challenges...  but here they are.

Goal: 10/12 books

  1. Vampires — The Passage by Justin Cronin (1/20/13)
  2. Werewolves/Shifters –
  3. Fey — Iron’s Prophecy by Julie Kagawa (10/10/13)
  4. Angels/Nephilim — As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason (9/5/13)
  5. Mermaids –
  6. Dragons — Rose of Fire by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/21/13)
  7. Zombies — Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (6/13/13)
  8. Demons — The Bleeding Dusk by Colleen Gleason (8/1/13)
  9. Witches/Wizards — Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts (3/17/13)
  10. Ghosts — The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade (3/6/13)
  11. Aliens — The Host by Stephenie Meyer (8/24/13)
  12. Other (Djinn) — Ill Wind by Rachel Caine (1/12/13)

 Goal: 4/6 books

  1. The Postman by David Brin (5/27/13)
  2. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (6/20/13)
  3. The Road by Cormac McCarthy (12/6/13)
  4. 1984 by George Orwell
  5. Reahed by Ally Condie (7/12/13)
  6. Children of Men by P.D. James

Goal: 3/5 books

  1. Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George (3/2/13)
  2. Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George (3/2/13)
  3. Lost by Gregory Maguire (7/12/13)
  4. TBD
  5. TBD

Goal: 1/5 books

  1. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (10/27/13)
  2. All for Love
  3. The Devlin Diary by Christi Philips
  4. The Rossetti Letter by Christi Philips
  5. Pope Joan
  6. Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir

Goal: 2/5 books

  1. Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade (3/8/13)
  2. The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan (7/24/13)
  3. TBD
  4. TBD
  5. TBD

1 from TBR — Change of Fortune by Jen Turano (1/3/13)

2 from TBR — Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi (1/2/13); Wanted by Mark Millar(1/2/13)

3 from TBR — Locke and Key Vol. 1 (1/4/13), Locke and Key Vol 2 (1/4/13), Beauty and the Bitch by Jasmine Haynes (1/9/13)

4 from TBR — The Wedding Gift by Lucy Kevin (1/24/13), The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein (2/7/13), Cowboys vs. Aliens (2/9/13), Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman(3/30/13)

5 from TBR — One Day by David Nicholls (1/29/13), A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain (6/22/13), The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor by Robert Kirkman (7/27/13), The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (8/17/13), Fun Home by Alison Bechdel (8/19/13)

1 from series — Fables Vol 17 Inherit the Wind (2/4/13)

2 from series — Locke and Key Vol. 3 (1/5/13), Locke and Key Vol. 4 by Joe Hill (1/6/13)

3 from series — Pride and Prescience by Carrie Bebris (6/6/13), The Firebrand by Susan Wiggs (6/13/13), Reached by Ally Condie (7/12/13)

4 from series — Heat Stroke (1/12/13), Chill Factor (1/13/13), Firestorm (2/16/13), Thin Air by Rachel Caine (2/22/13)

5 from series — Princess of the Midnight Ball (3/2/13),Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George (3/2/13), The Ghost and the Goth (3/6/13), Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade(3/8/13), The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper (5/4/13)

1 from 2013 releases — Fables 18: Cubs in Toyland (6/23/13)

2 from 2013 releases — And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (8/8/13), Max Stops the Presses by Colleen Gleason (9/5/13)

4 from 2013 releases — A Beautiful Mess Photo Idea Book (9/10/13); The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (9/29/13); Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker-Smith(11/7/13); 100 Days in Deadland by Rachel Aukes (11/11/13)

5 from 2013 releases — Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh (11/26/13)

1 from everyone but me — The Passage by Justin Cronin (1/20/13)

2 from everyone but me — The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan (7/24/13), A Storm of Swords by George Martin (7/26/13)

3 from everyone but me — Every Day by David Levithan (8/15/13), The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (9/20/13); The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (9/28/13)

4 from everyone but me — Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (10/7/13); Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (10/27/13); The Road by Cormac McCarthy (12/6/13)

5 from everyone but me — A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (4/28/13), The Walking Dead Book Five (5/14/13), The Walking Dead Book Six (5/14/13), The Walking Dead Book Seven (5/17/13), The Walking Dead Volume 17 (5/17/13)

1 reread — Lost by Gregory Maguire (7/12/13)

2 rereads – Coraline by Neil Gaiman (3/21/13), The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (4/30/13)

3 rereads — The Host by Stephenie Meyer (8/24/13); Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne(9/10/13); The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman (10/9/13)

4 rereads — Persuasion (1/21/13), Mansfield Park (2/3/13), Emma (5/22/13), Pride and Prejudice (8/28/13)

5 rereads –

Free space — Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (12/3/13)

Point Total: 190/250

  1. Read the second book in a series – The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper (5/4/13)
  2. Read a book with water on the cover –
  3. Read a book with a colour in the title –
  4. Read  a book set in the 1900′s – And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini   (8/8/13)
  5. Read a book whose author name begins with M (First or last) – Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (6/13/13)
  6. Read a book published during your birth year – The Color Purple by Alice Walker (6/24/13)
  7. Read a book with a door, lock or key on the cover –
  8. Read a book with a flower/flowers on the cover – Wedding of the Century (8/14/15)
  9. Read a book with something ‘hot’ in the title (sun, fire, heat, etc) – The Firebrand by Susan Wiggs (6/13/13)
  10. Read a book whose author name begins with J (first name only) – The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga (7/27/13)
  11. Read a book currently on a bestseller list – The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (7/7/13)
  12. Read a book that shows a woman from behind – The Hostage by Susan Wiggs (5/22/13)
  13. Read a book with a moon or stars on the cover –
  14. Read a book with an adjective in the title – The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill by Mark Bittner (6/26/13)
  15. Read a book whose author name begins with J (last name only) –
  16. Read any book in one weekend (Friday to Sunday) – Fables Vol 18: Cubs in Toyland (6/23/13)
  17. Read a book with a child on the cover – Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (6/20/13)
  18. Read a book with over 400 pages – Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (5/11/13)
  19. Read a book with an animal on the cover – A Storm of Swords by George Martin (7/26/13)
  20. Read a book whose author name begins with A (first or last) – Emma by Jane Austen (5/22/13)

Point total: 245/250

  1. Read a book with a famous painting on the cover –
  2. Read a book with a man and woman on the cover – Beauty or the Bitch by Jasmine Haynes (1/9/13)
  3. Read a book by a new to you author – Locke and Key Vol 2 by Joe Hill (1/4/13)
  4. Read a book that you’ve read before – Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (2/3/13)
  5. Read a book whose author name begins with J (First or last) – Change of Fortune by Jen Turano (1/3/13)
  6. Read a book that’s a collection of short stories – Stories of Hans Christian Anderson (2/26/13)
  7. Read a book about family – The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (2/14/13)
  8. Read a book currently on the NYT Bestsellers list – Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (3/15/13)
  9. Read the first book in a series – Ill Wind by Rachel Caine (1/12/13)
  10. Read a book whose author name starts with F (first or last) – Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (2/9/13)
  11. Read a bio/auto bio/memoir – A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah (1/21/13)
  12. Read a book with a first and last name in the title – Good Omens (Agnes Nutter) by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (1/3/13)
  13. Read a historical mystery – A Foreign Affair by Caro Peacock (1/22/13)
  14. Read a book by a female author – Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi (1/2/13)
  15. Read a book whose author name begins with M (first or last) – Wanted by Mark Millar (1/2/13)
  16. Read a cult classic – Locke and Key Vol 4 Keys to the Kingdom (1/6/13)
  17. Read a book no longer under copyright – Persuasion by Jane Austen (1/21/13)
  18. Read a fantasy/scifi/steampunk – A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (1/9/13)
  19. Read a book you got for Christmas – Locke and Key Vol 3 Crown of Shadows by Joe Hill (1/5/13)
  20. Read a book whose author begins with A (first or last) – Terror by Night by Ambrose Bierce (2/14/13)
tags: book bingo, dystopian, fairy tales, historical fiction, paranormal, RC Check-up, t4mc
categories: Reading Challenges
Thursday 01.02.14
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Rose of Fire by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

rose (1920).jpeg

Title: Rose of Fire (Cemetery of Forgotten Books #0.5)

Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Publisher: HarperCollins 2012

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 20

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Paranormal -- Dragons; Mount TBR; 52 Books -- Week 43; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: I own it!

Set at the time of the Spanish Inquisition in the fifteenth century, "Rose of Fire" tells the story of the origins of the mysterious labyrinthine library, the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, which lies at the heart of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's novels The Shadow of the Wind, The Angel's Game, and now The Prisoner of Heaven.

This is a super short story and I wish it was longer.  But it includes the same beautiful language from Zafon.  Plus we get a bit of insight into how the Cemetery of Forgotten Books came to be. Zafon crafts a fantastical story to that's more outright fantasy than the books in the series, but I always suspected that the Cemetery had a fantastical origin.  Nice little free story to get me ready to read the latest book The Prisoner of Heaven.

Cemetery of Forgotten Books

  • 0.5 The Rose of Fire
  • 1. The Shadow of the Wind
  • 2. The Angel's Game
  • 3. The Prisoner of Heaven
tags: 5 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, fall into reading, fantasy, mount tbr, paranormal
categories: Book Reviews
Monday 10.21.13
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
Comments: 1
 

Iron's Prophecy by Julie Kagawa

irons (1920).jpeg

Title: Iron's Prophecy (Iron Fey #4.5)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 2012

Genre: Paranormal - Fey

Pages: 66

Rating:  4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Paranormal - Fey; Mount TBR; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: iPad Read

Meghan Chase is finally getting used to being the Iron Queen, ruler of the Iron Fey. Her life may be strange, but with former Winter prince Ash by her side at last, she wouldn't have it any other way.

But when they travel to the Summer and Winter courts' gathering for Elysium, the oracle from Meghan's past returns with a dire prophecy: "What you carry will either unite the courts, or it will destroy them."

Now Meghan faces a devastating choice that may determine the future of all fey—and her and Ash's unborn child…

Picked this one up as a free Kindle book to continue the Iron Fey series.  I wasn't hugely fond of The Iron Knight, but felt like I wanted to continue Meghan Chase's story. This was a nice wrap-up to the cliffhanger after Ash won a human soul.  But it did leave me wanting more.  I may just have to read The Lost Prince now...

The Iron Fey

  • #1 The Iron King
  • #1.5 Winter’s Passage
  • #2 The Iron Daughter
  • #3 The Iron Queen
  • #3.5 Summer’s Crossing
  • #4 The Iron Knight
  • #4.5 Iron’s Prophecy
  • #5 The Lost Prince
  • #6 The Iron Traitor
  • #7 The Iron Warrior
tags: 4 stars, fall into reading, fey, Julie Kagawa, mount tbr, paranormal
categories: Book Reviews
Thursday 10.10.13
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine

Title: Total Eclipse (Weather Wardens #9)

Author: Rachel Caine

Publisher: Roc 2010

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 305

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Seriously Series; Mount TBR; Fall into Reading;

How I Got It: I own it

Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin, her husband, the djinn David, and the Earth herself have been poisoned by a substance that destroys the magic that keeps the world alive. The poison is destabilizing the entire balance of power, bestowing magic upon those who have never had it, and removing it form those who need it. It's just a matter of time before the delicate balance of nature explodes into chaos-and doom.

Holy crap!  What a way to end the series!  I sped through this volume on the edge of my seat.  I couldn't wait to see how Joanne got herself of the end-of-the-world situation she got herself into.  The volume did not disappoint.  Like most of of the books in the series, this one hits the ground running.  The action starts right away and never stops.  I loved that!  We get a whirlwind of activity and yet we still connect to the characters.  I loved seeing some of the side characters reappear, but glad that Caine focused on our main group.  I was even satisfied with the ending and epilogue.  Usually I hate epilogues, but this one was nice.  Overall, I really liked this series.  The middle books meander a bit from the main story arc, but everything gets back on track for a couple of explosive books at the end.

Weather Warden:

  1. Ill Wind
  2. Heat Stroke
  3. Chill Factor
  4. Windfall
  5. Fire Storm
  6. Thin Air
  7. Gale Force
  8. Cape Storm
  9. Total Eclipse
tags: 4 stars, action, adventure, fall into reading, FrightFall Readathon, mount tbr, paranormal, Rachel Caine, Seriously Series
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 10.05.13
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Cape Storm by Rachel Caine

Title: Cape Storm (Weather Wardens #8)

Author: Rachel Caine

Publisher: Roc 2009

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 308

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Seriously Series; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: I own it

Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin and her new husband, the Djinn David, are running from a malevolent hurricane bent on destroying her. Joined by an army of fellow Wardens and Djinn onboard a hijacked luxury liner, Joanne has lured the storm into furious pursuit. But even their combined magic may not be enough to stop it-nor the power-mad ex-Weather Warden controlling it...

After the whirlwind that was Gale Force, I liked the slightly slower pace of this volume.  I liked getting back to being focused on the main characters of the series.  Instead of attempting to update everyone, we get more Joanne, David, and Lewis.  I really really love Lewis in this volume.  He has taken complete responsibility for the Wardens and for the Earth itself.  I also love the villain in this volume, very over the top and slightly cartoonish, but in a good way.  And I was very excited about where the whole series is going.  I'm very excited to read the last volume in the Weather Wardens series.

Weather Warden:

  1. Ill Wind
  2. Heat Stroke
  3. Chill Factor
  4. Windfall
  5. Fire Storm
  6. Thin Air
  7. Gale Force
  8. Cape Storm
  9. Total Eclipse
tags: 4 stars, action, adventure, fall into reading, FrightFall Readathon, mount tbr, paranormal, Rachel Caine, Seriously Series
categories: Book Reviews
Monday 09.30.13
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 
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