Shiver–Maggie Stiefvater

Book: Shiver
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic Press
392 pages (Hardcover)
My Rating:


As a child, Grace was brutally attacked by wolves. She only remembers seeing a wolf with mysterious yellow eyes as she lapsed from consciousness. Over the years she watches this same wolf with amber eyes watching her from the woods. She feels drawn to him and has a real connection with him. Sam enters Grace’s life in the waning warm months of the year. He also has amber eyes and Grace immediately knows that there is more to Sam than most people think.

Rikki from The Bookkeeper and I decided to do a read-a-long together because I am not big on romance books and am trying to open myself up to different genres. She suggested Shiver because she hadn’t read it either and we have both heard good things about it. My review below will include some SPOILER type discussion so if you are interested in the book and don’t want to know anything about it, I would navigate away at this point.

Shiver has created a lot of dialogue between some of my book blogging friends and I. I found it enjoyable, but I also found that something was lacking for me. The writing had a distant quality to it, so connecting with the characters was actually quite difficult. I felt like even they felt like they were on the outside looking in on their own lives. I wonder if Maggie Stiefvater intentionally wrote the book this way or if this is just her writing style. Either way, it didn’t necessarily hamper my enjoyment of the book, but it was something that I noticed throughout the book. The chapters are divided into Grace and Sam point of view chapters

There is something about teen romance that I find problematic. I don’t know if things have changed that much since I was a teenager in the 90’s, but I feel like the YA books I’ve read to date are much more mature in teen language regarding romance and sex. For example, when Sam and Grace are having a “romantic” moment, Sam growls and Grace says:

‘That was so sexy,’ she said, voice uneven. ‘I didn’t think you could get any sexier.’

I find dialogue like this problematic between teens because as a teenager I frankly would have been too awkward to say something so bold to a boy. I also get uncomfortable reading scenes that include sex between teens (although I know in some books there is a sociological importance to confronting the issue) because frankly it makes me feel like a peeper in a inappropriate private moment between underage people. Can’t teens find something more constructive to do than fall into bed with each other? I know it’s just the reality of things, but I sometimes feel like sex between underage people is encouraged now. I was a teen in the time when it started being normalized, but we were introduced to the perils of it as well including teen pregnancy and STDs (which were both all too common at my high school). I feel like all forms of media now make teen sexuality less taboo than it probably should be. In this respect, I think Shiver is not alone in romanticizing teen sex rather than showing it for what it really usually ends up with—heartbroken young people who often make poor choices and give a part of themselves to someone.

However, this being said, I do think that Shiver dealt with parental neglect in a way that Twilight did not. There was actually discussion about the absentee parents Grace had to live with whereas in Twilight it was more taken for granted that Bella came from a neglectful home. Sam did confront Grace about her parents behavior and it was clear that she was hurt by them not being a major part of her life.

[Sam] ‘Does it bother you? That your parents are the way they are?’…[Grace] ’Why can’t I make them love me any more than they do?’…[Sam] ‘Grace, they love you. It’s not about you. It’s their problem.’ [Grace] ‘I’ve tried so hard. I never get into trouble. I always do my homework. I cook their damn meals, when they’re home, which is never—‘…”

Grace’s pain is tangible and real and is something that many teens deal with. I was glad for this discussion since essentially she was shacking up with Sam for a good deal of the book and her parents were none the wiser. I thought it gave a better understanding to her humanity and her desire to be loved. People might argue that Grace should not find her love and identity in a boy, but I think this is part of the human condition so I actually applauded this portion of the book because it is a situation I could see happening. However, I wonder how teens would deal with a passage like this. Are they mature enough to see that they don’t actually have to find their identity in a boy and that the fairy tale romance is not usually something that occurs?

Overall, I did enjoy the book. I will read Linger (the second book in the series) at some point in the future, but the disconnected feeling of the writing kept me from thinking this was a really good read. I also didn’t care for the song lyrics and poetry recitation in the book. What it boils down to is that I’m truly not a romantic for the most part. I think I would think it was corny if someone sang to me or recited a poem for me. I’m going to own that unromantic side of my personality. It may work really well for others though so if you enjoy those heartfelt declarations then Sam Roth is definitely a loveable male character. I definitely recommend Shiver as discussion material for teens and adults. I found that in the end it was definitely a worthwhile read because of the dialogue it created for me and my friends.

Links of Interest
Rikki at The Bookkeeper – Shiver Update #1
Rikki at The Bookkeeper's full Shiver Review
Chachic's Review of Shiver
Iris from Iris on Books' Review of Shiver


**I am a Book Depository and IndieBound afilliate so If you purchase any of the books I have featured through the links I posted or from the banners in my left hand sidebar, I get a small commission from them. I am in no way compensated for the reviews I post of my books.

The Gates–John Connolly

Book: The Gates
Author: John Connolly
Publisher: Atria Books
295 pages (Hardcover)
My Rating:


Samuel Johnson is ready for Halloween—so ready in fact that he and his dog Boswell have gone trick-or-treating a few days early. The first door he knocks on is the Abernathy house and he is rudely sent away. Little does he know that strange things are afoot at the Abernathy house and that all Hell is about to break loose. Literally!

I have never read John Connolly before and I don’t know much about him, but I have to say, my journey into YA has been quite fun because The Gates was AWESOME. I am not sure how to tell everyone that a book about the Gates of Hell being opened and demons wreaking havoc in England could be fun and hilarious, but this book was just that. Samuel is a really clever little boy and has the obligatory adorable and faithful dog, and his friends are pretty cool too. The book is a little reminiscent of The Goonies with the kids running around and having a great adventure, but instead of pirates, they are battling The Great Malevolence.

I like that the kids are at the forefront of the adventure and are basically put in place to save the planet because kids suspend disbelief more often than adults. This was pointed out to me at my book club and I wish I had thought of that while I was reading the book. There is a faith in children that adults just don’t have and The Gates truly showed that adventurous and creative spirit that kids have.

I didn’t find any of the demons to be scary. Some of them were downright funny. I don’t want to give any of their antics away, but there was one demon in particular that was a major character in the book that I feel ok to write about. Nurd, The Scourge of the Five Deities is the demon with the heart of gold. He’s a little rough around the edges, but he means well despite being a demon. He is the most loveable character in the book and he really is competing with Hellboy for my favorite demon of all-time!

In all, I thought this was a great book to read during Halloween or really any other time. It has more humor than horror and recommend it to people who want a light hearted, quick read. I will definitely be picking up more of John Connolly’s books in the future!




Link of Interest
Man of la Book's review of The Gates




**I am a Book Depository and IndieBound afilliate so If you purchase any of the books I have featured through the links I posted or from the banners in my left hand sidebar, I get a small commission from them. I am in no way compensated for the reviews I post of my books.

On the Edge–Ilona Andrews

Book: On the Edge (Book 1: The Edge)
Author: Ilona Andrews
Publisher: Ace Fantasy
309 pages / Paperback
My Rating:



Rose Drayton is a resident of the The Edge, the area between the non-magical Broken and the aristocratic magical Weird. The people of the Edge don’t quite fit into either world, but they are usually able to cross over into either realm. Rose works an under the table job in the Broken where magic doesn’t exist, but her astonishing abilities make her attractive to those in the Edge and the Weird. Between working hard for pennies and having people pursuing her for her magic, Rose’s plate is further filled with caring for her two brothers. When a blueblood noble named Declan shows up at her doorstep, Rose believes that he is only after her magical abilities. Little does she know that his appearance is about to turn her life upside down.

After reading the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews I was really excited to read On the Edge. However, because I'm not a huge fan of romance Chachic from Chachic’s Book Nook warned me that it is a little more on the romance side than Kate Daniels was. I’ve promised myself to be more open to different genres (including romance) so I picked it up and read it. The book is in fact more heavy on the romance, but it still features a woman that can take care of herself and doesn’t feel she has to identify herself by a man. I think Ilona Andrews definitely writes some of the better female characters when it comes to romance because there isn’t as much angst or misplaced anger in them. They are quite simply, strong women. Rose is no exception. Although she does spend a good portion of the book attracted to Declan, I never felt like her character was overtaken by the need to be loved by a man. She felt a strong duty to herself and her family and had her own identity throughout.

However, this book fell short to some extent for me. It just wasn’t as exciting as I thought it would be. There was definitely good world building and good action, but for some reason I felt a little disconnected with the characters of Rose and Declan. I actually enjoyed the supporting players in the book more than the the main characters. This isn’t a bad thing since I love a good supporting cast, but I wish that I liked Rose and Declan a little more than I did. I am not sure that I felt the real connection between them as a couple and their relationship was definitely a big part of the book. The romantic tension just wasn’t quite up to my expectations. Don’t let this turn you off the book though because the story was actually good and the world was interesting. I also say this because the first books of series oftentimes just set up what is to come in the world its building, and I’m wondering if that is the case in this series.

The world itself was interesting. There is a dark character that is bent on having his way (no spoiler here because that’s just a plot point in pretty much all fantasy books) and the way peoples’ magic is used in the story kept me guessing as to how things would turn out. I like the idea that the magical world and the non-magical worlds couldn’t mix except for this select group of people from The Edge. I also enjoyed the rural Georgia setting which I wasn’t expecting to like. I ended up thinking it was the perfect setting for a story like this.

I am definitely looking forward to reading book two of the series, Bayou Moon because it is about Declan's friend William who was my favorite character in On the Edge. I recommend this book to people who like enjoy urban fantasy and paranormal romance that is fast but with decent world building, strong characters, and a little bit of romance.

Link of Interest
Chachic’s Book Nook’s review of On the Edge (she loved it and her review will give you a different perspective)


*Notice of Disclosure: I received On the Edge for review from Penguin Books.

**I am a Book Depository and IndieBound afilliate so If you purchase any of the books I have featured through the links I posted or from the banners in my left hand sidebar, I get a small commission from them. I am in no way compensated for the reviews I post of my books.

Magic Bleeds – Ilona Andrews

Book: Magic Bleeds (Book 4 – Kate Daniels)
Author: Ilona Andrews
Publisher: Ace Fantasy
349 pages
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars


Magic Bleeds starts off where Magic Strikes (Book 3) leaves off. To prevent spoilers, I will just say that what you are anticipating after finishing Magic Strikes you will read about in the first few pages of Magic Bleeds. Kate is still working for the Order as a consultant and Curran is still running The Pack as Beast Lord. The story starts off with Kate being called in to investigate a fight at a local bar. She discovers that not only is it a fight with major carnage, the behavior of the bar patrons is not typical of a normal bar fight. Through her investigation she finds that the person responsible for the bar fight is linked to her in a very unique way and is ready to put Kate to ultimate test and fight of her life.

Where do I start with this book? Well, it’s the last one that is published at the moment and while Ilona Andrews has a contract for three more books, her fans are left pining for the moment when the next book is released. And pine we will because this book lived up to what the series has been so far and has what I have been looking for…a much more layered story. Kate and Curran’s relationship finally comes to a head and she has to decide if her lifestyle can mesh with Curran’s responsibilities as the head of The Pack. Kate’s background finally gets described in full force in this book and sets up the subsequent books for an ultimate battle that is sure to be nail biting.

The one thing in this book that kept it from being my favorite in the series was the development in Kate and Curran’s relationship. There is a minor spoiler here about the development, so scan down to the next paragraph if you don’t want to see! I was appalled at how Kate and Curran finally end up together. It was a fairly violent fight scene that ended in them consummating their relationship. Why does it have to be violent? It was just a big turn off for me and kept me from truly enjoying the rest of the book as much as I probably would have if it had not included a fight (in fact, that’s the only reason it didn’t get 4.5 or 5 stars from me). After this initial scene, their relationship does normalize. I should note that the world is a very different world and Kate is a tough mercenary-type so the scene fits in with her tough upbringing. I wouldn’t let this turn you off of the books by any means. I am anxiously awaiting the next book in the series.

The battles in the book are awesome and Kate breaks the mold with toughness. Even with the romantic storyline that has developed throughout the series, it hasn’t taken over Kate’s ability to handle herself. She is tough as nails and is an excellent swordfighter, and her supernatural abilities are beginning to be explained more and take shape more than ever. She still exhibits her characteristic snark through part of the book, but it quickly becomes a much more serious story where Kate and the rest of her friends are in real danger and face a foe that is the most menacing yet. I actually had serious doubts about who would and wouldn’t survive in this book!

I cannot wait for the fifth book in the series to come out. As of September 2010, Ilona Andrews’ website says that the fifth book is still untitled and is under contract. It’s a good thing that I haven’t read her On the Edge series yet because I am aching for more from this husband and wife writing team! This series has been infinitely fun, and I am waiting to see how the overall story arc is going to come together in the next three books. Through these four, the suspense has just built up rather than fizzle out like some series tend to do. If you are looking for a series that takes you on a wild ride, I highly recommend picking up these books! Kate Daniels is no wallflower, and I love it!



*Notice of Disclosure: I received this book for review from Penguin Books.


**I am a Book Depository and IndieBound afilliate so If you purchase any of the books I have featured through the links I posted or from the banners in my left hand sidebar, I get a small commission from them. I am in no way compensated for the reviews I post of my books.



Links of Note

• I read this as a mini read-a-long with Bella from A Girl Reads a Book. Click here to read her review of Magic Bleeds.
• My Review of Magic Bites (Book 1: Kate Daniels)
• My Review of Magic Burns (Book 2: Kate Daniels)
• My Review of Magic Strikes (Book 3: Kate Daniels)
• Chachic posted about a Curran's POV short story on her blog that Ilona Andrews wrote. Here is the link to Chachic's Book Nook for the info.

Magic Strikes – Ilona Andrews

Book: Magic Strikes (Book 3: Kate Daniels)
Author: Ilona Andrews
Publisher: Ace Fantasy
310 pages
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars



In Magic Strikes, the third installment of the Kate Daniels series, Kate finds herself wrapped up in the fight of her life when she finds her friend Derek nearly dead from a fight that no one can explain. Her investigation leads her to an invitation-only Gladiator style competition, the Midnight Games, where the fighters are deadly and magical. In order to save Derek and the city of Atlanta, Kate must infiltrate the Midnight Games and defeat those responsible for nearly killing Derek.

Each book of the series thus far has featured mythical creatures from different areas of the world. Magic Strikes is no different—Hindu mythology takes the forefront in this book as Kate’s investigation unfolds. I am really liking how the mythology is different in each book. While it is just a taste of what the mythology is, it’s introducing me to so many new things that I can go and read about. I think the books are mainly meant to be a quick, fun read so I can’t complain much about them being short on explanation. It gives just enough explanation that I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything.

The mythical creatures are so menacing which is an aspect of this book that I love. Gone is the paranormal/urban fantasy with just romance and questionable female characters. Kate Daniels is awesome! She kicks so much booty in this book and her powers and back story keep developing. It just makes me like her more. The gladiator theme of this book is so appropriate because Kate Daniels reminds me a little bit of a Spartan from the movie 300. She is tough as nails and cares a great deal for her friends. There is more romance in this book, but there’s so much action that the romance doesn’t overwhelm the book. I’m not a huge fan of romance, but Curran and Kate’s interaction continues to leave me wanting more so Ilona Andrews must be writing the romance right!

The humor is also not lost in Magic Strikes. In addition to the action, this book is flat out funny at times. There are times when I caught myself laughing out loud and getting looks from my husband like I was a crazy woman. Kate’s internal commentary often bleeds snark and it often comes out in the dialogue to her own detriment. Her friends are also really likeable people, and I really root for all of them. They all argue like family but work together well as a team.

I’m a little sad that I’m getting toward the end of published books. Ilona Andrews has been contracted to write seven books but as of now, only four are published. I’m going to crack open the fourth book of the series, Magic Bleeds, right after I finish this review and then pine away with all my friends who are Kate Daniels fans until the fifth book is published. If you haven’t read the earlier books in the series, you really should start at the beginning of the series (Book 1 is Magic Bites and Book 2 is Magic Burns) because you’ll miss some of the character development if you read them out of order. They can be read as stand-alone books, but the relationships between characters in the books definitely have a continuity throughout the series that is best read from the beginning.

If you are looking for an ultra fun series that is quick and enjoyable, I highly recommend picking up this series.



*Notice of Disclosure: I received this book for review from Penguin Books.


**I am a Book Depository and IndieBound afilliate so If you purchase any of the books I have featured through the links I posted or from the banners in my left hand sidebar, I get a small commission from them. I am in no way compensated for the reviews I post of my books.



Links of Note

• I read this as a mini read-a-long with Bella from A Girl Reads a Book. Click HERE to read Bella's review of Magic Strikes.
• My Review of Magic Bites (Book 1: Kate Daniels)
• My Review of Magic Burns (Book 2: Kate Daniels)

Magic Burns – Ilona Andrews

Book: Magic Burns (Book 2: Kate Daniels)
Author: Ilona Andrews
Publisher: Ace Fantasy
260 pages
My Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars



Kate Daniels is back in Magic Burns, the second installment of the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. This time around, the former Guild merc is now working for the Order and is confronted with magical beings from Welsh and Irish mythology. In this book, Kate Daniels sets out to retrieve some stolen maps for the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapeshifters when a young girl named Julie is sought by sea demons and Kate must intervene to keep her from being harmed. The story that unfolds is action packed and threatens the city of Atlanta with destruction.

I admit it. I am not a fan of the covers of these books. I would never have moved these books to the top of my TBR List if it weren’t for Chachic from Chachic’s Book Nook. Even after Magic Bites, I was disappointed with the cover of this second installment. I was even a little embarrassed to pull it out on the plane a few days ago when I was flying home from vacation. However, the book was so engrossing that I ended up not caring at the few looks people gave and just thought that they were likely missing out on this fantastic series if they decided to judge the book by its cover.

Kate Daniels continues to be awesome. She is a little more vulnerable in this book, but still in a very kick ass way. There are little snippets of her back story in Magic Burns that will hopefully be expounded upon in the next few books in the series. I want to see how this part of the story will play out in further books. Her character grew and developed quite a bit in this book so I have high hopes for seeing how she continues to deal with her past and her present in the upcoming books.

I really enjoyed the Celtic mythology in this book. It’s just a small snippet of information since the book is only 260 pages, but a little trip to Wikipedia helped familiarize me with the characters in this book. I would actually like to read some more on Celtic mythology now that I’ve finished it. Morrigan and Morfran are interesting mythological characters and since they aren’t the super popular Greek and Roman gods/goddesses, it helped give the book a freshness that I wasn’t expecting.

Curran, the leader of the Pack also returns in this second installment and the witty banter between him and Kate is everything that the first book had and more. I’m usually not much one for romance, but the snarky dialogue between them creates a lot of sexual tension that I actually enjoy. I would compare their relationship to Castle and Beckett from the TV show Castle. The tension is there and you end up rooting for them to go the romantic route.

There are so many likeable characters that bring humor to the different situations that happen that I found myself laughing out loud a few times. The book really had everything that you could look for in a fun Urban Fantasy read. There is action, good character development, a strong female lead that isn’t whiny, and interesting antagonists. My only complaint is the same from the first book. I really wanted more world building, but that might be because I typically read longer books that have tons of detail in them. Magic Burns just left me wanting to immediately crack open the third book in the series, Magic Strikes which I will mostly likely do right after I finish writing this review. Yes folks, the series is that fun! I love it!


*Notice of disclosure: I received this book for review from Penguin Books.



Links of Note

• I also read this book as a mini read-a-long with Bella from A Girl Reads a Book. Click HERE to read her review of Magic Burns.
• Chachic’s Book Nook BBAW post on the Kate Daniels series
• My review of Magic Bites (Book 1: Kate Daniels) by Ilona Andrews

Fool Moon – Jim Butcher

Book: Fool Moon (Book 2 - The Dresden Files)
Author: Jim Butcher
Publisher: New American Library/ROC Fantasy
342 pages
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Fool Moon is the continuing adventures of wizard Harry Dresden. In this second book of The Dresden Files, Harry finds himself idly waiting for the Special Investigations unit of the Chicago Police to call him as a consultant. He doesn’t have to wait long because a gruesome murder has been committed in Chicago that screams supernatural. Suspicious paw prints are found at the scene and Karrin Murphy calls on Harry to help her solve the crime. Little does Harry know that his reputation also makes him a person of interest in the case. While holding off Karrin Murphy’s Special Investigation unit Harry must stop what he suspects might be a bloodthirsty pack of werewolves from wreaking further havoc on the city.

Harry Dresden might be one of my favorite characters in urban fantasy. He’s snarky but good-hearted and has a great sense of humor to boot. Fool Moon picks up where Storm Front left off. Harry is hanging out at his favorite pub, McAnally’s when a woman asks him for help in deciphering some symbols from a circle she has seen. No sooner does Harry finish talking to the woman than Karrin Murphy appears and tells him about a case that needs the services of Chicago’s only practicing wizard. It only takes two pages in the book for the action to start. Murphy tells takes Harry to the scene of a brutal murder where the person has been torn to shreds and strange paw prints are all over. Harry learns that this strange murder is not the first and that the FBI has become involved. Harry goes home to Bob, one of the coolest spirits on the planet and asks for his help. What he learns is that the paw prints can belong to more than just werewolves which doesn’t bode well for Harry.

This book is no different from Storm Front. It’s fun and action packed and Harry Dresden is still spot on with his humor. I really enjoyed just about every moment of this book while reading it and can’t wait to move onto the next book. I loved the werewolf mythology (I have no idea if it’s accurate or just a creation of Jim Butcher’s mind) and the continuing banter between Murphy and Harry. There is also another familiar character that returns in this book. Marcone, the shady gangster is heavily involved in the plot. I was a little sad that Bob didn’t have more of a role in the book than he did. I kept waiting for Harry to have more interaction with him, but it never happened. Bob is hilarious and I hope that Butcher gives him more of a role in the later books.

I can’t wait to move on to the third book in the series, Grave Peril. These books read really fast and are great if you are needing a break from more serious reads or just from life in general. They are especially good reads with Halloween just around the corner so if you are looking for fast moving urban fantasy that is high on fun and thrills, definitely pick up Fool Moon. I will say that it is best to read the first book in the series (Storm Front) before you read this one, but if you decide to start here you won't be lost.

**Notice of Disclosure: I received this copy of Storm Front from Penguin Books.

Magic Bites - Ilona Andrews

Book: Magic Bites
Author: Ilona Andrews (click author's name to go to their website)
Publisher: Ace Fantasy
260 pages
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Some time ago on Friday Coffee Chat, we discussed whether we judge a book by its cover. Well, I have to admit that I judged Magic Bites by its cover. When I received it, I wasn't interested in reading it at all, but after hearing some really good things about it I was more excited to give it a try. I was not disappointed. This book is fantastic!

Kate Daniels is a member of the Mercenary Guild. Mercenaries are called in to deal with situations involving magic that the police either can't or won't handle. When Kate's guardian, Greg is found dead, Kate sets off on a mission to find out what happened. She finds a case of strange killings Greg has been working on, and it leads her to the necromancers who control vampires and The Pack, a group of shapeshifters.

Urban fantasy can be hit or miss with me. Magic Bites was definitely a hit. The story was never boring and kept me entertained the entire time. It reads like a thriller with some magic, vampires, and shapeshifters thrown in. The necromancers and The Pack are both suspected in the killings Kate's guardian was investigating, and it is left up to her to figure out who is responsible before all hell breaks loose between the two groups. Some people might be burned out on vampires and werewolves, but I assure you...these are more your standard fare than those of the sparkling, buff teenage variety. They are menacing. I found myself thinking that Kate was in danger throughout most of the book and had that "edge of my seat" feeling throughout the entire read.

It only took the first few lines of the book for Kate Daniels to become one of my favorite female characters. The story opens with her drinking Boone's Hard Lemonade and watching television...and she drinks Boone's not because she's poor but by choice! Who does that?!! Only someone who is very secure with themselves and VERY cool. When I read those first few pages I immediately knew that this book would be more like reading The Dresden Files than reading a romance-y girlie urban fantasy book. Kate seems more down on her luck in the romance department and can definitely handle herself in a fight. I happen to love female protagonists that aren't all bosoms and eyelash batters. Call it the feminist in me, but I like it when writers make women capable of more than seducing a man. Kate Daniels fits that profile for me, and I want to read more of her story!

For those of you that like a little hint of romance, there's definitely some romantic tension, and the series seems to hint at that being a part of the story arc in the coming books (which I will most likely be picking up soon). My hope is that they continue to focus on Kate Daniels being a hardened merc with a little bit of a soft side.

The only thing that left me wanting in the book is that I wish there was a little more world building on the part of the neuromancers and The Pack. Since the books are relatively short, that might come later in the series. Overall I thought the book was fun and quick. If you're an urban fantasy fan, like women who can kick booty, or even want to delve into urban fantasy, I highly recommend Magic Bites. It's definitely a good way to spend a lazy Saturday!

*Notice of disclosure: I received this book for review from Penguin Books.

The Tomb - F. Paul Wilson

Book: The Tomb
Author: F. Paul Wilson
Publisher: Tor Books
448 pages
My Rating: 4/5 stars

At the Thrill Me! Meetup book group I go to once a month, we read fun thrillers and mysteries and get together at a local coffee house to talk about the book (and a lot of other things as well). The leader of the group tends to have really good taste in fun reads that have interesting stories. In May, we asked her to tell us what her favorite thriller was and she said, The Tomb by F. Paul Wilson. Of course, we decided to read it for our June meeting.

Jack is a repairman but not the kind of repairman that you might expect. He doesn't fix appliances or toilets. He takes care of problems of a sensitive nature and which may also not be quite legal. The latest of his jobs is to help Kusum, an Indian diplomat who is asking for help when a member of his family is brutally beaten and her necklace stolen. Jack must find the thief and recover the necklace. However, after recovering the necklace Jack realizes that all is not what it seems and that is when the true job begins.

The book has elements of fantasy and the paranormal in it. I wasn't expecting that in the book, but I really enjoyed those parts because they involved what I assume is made-up Indian folklore. I also really liked Jack who is a complicated protagonist. He prefers to be invisible and is very efficient at what he does. Honestly, who wouldn't like a character named "Repairman Jack"? The name itself exudes awesomeness. His job also inevitably gets in the way of living a normal life so relationships are complicated with him but he's an honest man and you find out in the story what motivated him to become a repairman.

The little anecdotes about Jack's past life were my favorite parts of the book. To find out what causes a person to "live their life by sword" is always interesting to me and Jack's story definitely does not disappoint. The supporting characters in the novel are also likeable--whether it's Jack's ex-girlfriend, Gia or Jack's weapons friend, Abe, the people he surrounds himself with are all an interesting group. The main plot is also a nice joyride that kept me guessing through most of it.

Overall, the book was engrossing and fun. I will definitely continue reading this series. If you are looking for fun, adventure, and an occasional fantastical creature mixed in with a little bit of seriousness and a little bit of funny, this is the book for you.

**Note that I read the 1984 version of the book. F. Paul Wilson wrote this first book and then did not write another one for the series until 1998's Legacies was published. The Tomb was updated for cultural references and republished (the 1984 version includes references to Betamax videos and other things which I'm told were all changed for the 1998 version). I have heard that fans loved Repairman Jack so much that they kept asking F. Paul Wilson when he was going to write another book about the character and so he decided to continue the series--I frankly think that is pretty cool.

The Way of Shadows - Brent Weeks

Book: The Way of Shadows (Book 1 of The Night Angel Trilogy)
Author: Brent Weeks
Publisher: Orbit Books (Imprint of Hachette Book Group)
My Rating: 3/5 stars


I have been wanting to read The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks for months now, so when my Shelfari Fantasy/Science Fiction Book of the Month group recently chose to read The Way of Shadows (Book 1 of The Night Angel Trilogy), I was excited.

Azoth is a young boy who is for all intents and purposes, is a street rat. He has to fight for what little food he gets, is bullied by a stronger boy, and is a champion for a few that are even weaker than he is. He runs around with a group of children that are living under the same conditions, and he is desperate to get out of this situation. He dreams of becoming a wetboy (an assassin of sorts) after he encounters the most infamous wetboy, Durzo Blint. He begs Durzo to take him on as an apprentice and after a series of events, Durzo agrees.

Azoth's training includes weapons, poisons, and learning how to blend in with upper class society. He becomes friends with Logan, a prince who may one day become king. As with any story about kings, princes, and assassins, a power struggles ensues between kingdoms and a powerful antagonist is revealed.

I wanted to love this book, but I ended up just liking it. I thought Brent Weeks built the wetboy/apprentice relationship between Durzo and Azoth quite well. I enjoyed reading every moment of Azoth's schooling. I thought the character conflict about what it means to be an assassin was executed very well. About two-thirds of the way through the book, I became less impressed. Weeks continued to introduce characters and bring back characters from earlier in the book that I couldn't remember much about. It also seemed like he decided that because he was writing a fantasy book, he needed to throw a lot of magic in and all at once. There were inklings of magic early on in the book, but toward the end it just felt like he poured a whole gravy boat of magic into the story. It felt forced and really diminished what he had done early on in the book.

Overall, I did enjoy the story and I thought Weeks' first effort was a good one but not a great one. I have been told that all the characters he introduces in the first book begin to make more sense in the next two books in the series so I am definitely willing to give the second book a try. Azoth's story was compelling enough that I do want to find out what happens to him. I think Weeks has good storytelling capability overall, but I do hope the next book is less rushed and has more complete character development with the supporting characters.

Storm Front - Jim Butcher

Book: Storm Front (Book 1 - The Dresden Files)

Author: Jim Butcher

Publisher: New American Library/ROC Fantasy

322 pages

My rating: 5/5 stars

Jim Butcher is one of those authors that has been on my "To Be Read" list for a long time. It wasn't until a friend recommended that I watch SyFy's series The Dresden Files that I felt like I couldn't put it off reading Butcher's books any longer.

Harry Dresden is a wizard in Chicago that helps people with problems of an unusual nature. At times, even the Chicago Police ask him for help with crimes that cannot be solved using conventional methods. In Storm Front, the first book of The Dresden Files series, two people have been found murdered in a hotel room. The scene is grisly--the man and woman appear to have had their hearts torn out of their chest. Karrin Murphy of the Chicago Police knows the crime is of a supernatural nature and calls Harry in to examine the scene. He immediately knows that black magic has been used and to solve the crime he may be put in harm's way. 

Storm Front was an extremely fun read. Adventure, action, swaggering wizard, hard-nosed police detective--what more could I want for a quick Summer read? I really like Harry--he's smart, funny, and a little bit flawed which makes him relatable to the reader. He and Detective Karrin Murphy have a strong but arduous relationship because the paranormal is not the easiest thing to believe or feel comfortable with to the "normal" human being. I like the tension between them because it's what all noir novels have and need. Other characters in the story are also written with the same color so that you have definite, strong feelings and associations with them. There is Bob, the spirit stuck inside a skull, that constantly negotiates with Harry to give him temporary respite from his prison; Mac, the pub owner, who likes Harry but keeps his head down to avoid trouble with those who have magic; and Morgan, Harry's assigned Warden by the White Council, who would like nothing more than for Harry to mess up so that he can execute swift and final justice against him.

This may be one of the first noir books that I've read in awhile, and the book's gritty, dark vibe was mixed in with a little bit of humor made it difficult to put down. It read quickly, had an engaging plot that sucked me in immediately (I didn't even figure out who committed the murder until I read it--I will admit that I try not to figure out the mystery usually so I won't ruin the book for myself), and left me wanting to crack open the second book in the series immediately. One of the only issues I had with the book was Harry's wardrobe--a duster....really?!! Harry, you live in Chicago, not Texas! My friend (who is also a fan of the series) agreed with me and said the duster was "silly" and thought it might be a "geek-macho thing". Other than that, I think that if you like detective mystery/thriller novels and want to throw paranormal into the mix, Storm Front makes for a worthwhile trip the bookstore.

Read the Book, See the Movie Challenge

As I wrote above, I actually started watching The Dresden Files on Netflix Instant Watch before I read the books. A friend of mine has been hosting a Farscape meetup and I admitted to him that I'm a fantasy reader more than I am a science fiction reader (which I am in fact trying to work on). He immediately said that I should watch The Dresden Files even though it had already been cancelled by SyFy. I came home that night and watched the first episode, Birds of a Feather. I was hoping not to get too creeped out because frankly, the episode looked a little scary. I cannot watch horror films because it normally results in the bathroom or closet light being turned on for a month at a time when I go to bed. However, even though the episode was kind of creepy with the paranormal beings, it was not scary enough for me to lose any sleep at all. The show was really fun to watch. 

Since that first episode, I've watched two thirds of the series including the pilot episode, Storm Front, which was based on this first book. While the show is different from the book, I REALLY enjoyed it. I have been suggesting the show to all my friends that haven't seen it, and now that I've read the first book, I can recommend the books to them too (my post from the Books Application on my Facebook wall created some good discussion which resulted in my cousin saying that she needs to both watch the show and read the books). 

Big differences between the show and the books:

• Harry Dresden doesn't wear a duster and boots! He carries around a drum stick for his wand and a hockey stick instead of a staff which is both more urban and updated, and let's face it, funnier!
• Bob is much more parental and less out of control than in the book (but still smart and funny).
• Karrin Murphy looks nothing like the description of Murphy in the book, but Valerie Cruz who plays Murphy does a terrific job in capturing the character's essence. I actually prefer her in the show than in the books because she seems a little more believable as a hard-nosed detective in her looks.
• The show doesn't follow the books other than the premise, but it definitely pulls off the spirit of the books perfectly (as opposed to Legend of the Seeker which I reviewed for the Read the Book, See the Movie Challenge a few months ago).

I actually started following Craig Engler who tweets as @SyFy because I am really tired of finding all these great shows AFTER they are already cancelled. I really enjoy The Dresden Files. I really wish the show had better ratings because it was good and the actors are fantastic in it. Terrence Mann plays Bob and is one of my favorite actors on the show. Paul Blackthorne (Harry Dresden) and Valerie Cruz (Murphy) are also amazing on the show. I highly recommend renting it through Netflix or even taking the plunge (which I myself will most likely do) to buy the show!

**Notice of Disclosure: I received this copy of Storm Front from Penguin Books.

Temple of the Winds - Terry Goodkind

I started reading the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind at the beginning of this year because a friend from Shelfari highly recommended the series. Temple of the Winds is the fourth book in the series and continues the story of Richard and Kahlan and their adventures through the Midlands. A terrible plague has broken out in the Midlands and threatens to kill many inhabitants. Through investigation, Richard and Kahlan learn that the Emperor Jagang has unleashed the plague through the use of magic. Men, women, and children alike are all afflicted and few recover. In addition, a prophecy has been revealed that Richard will either have to let the plague go unchecked in which case he will die, or if he chooses to try to find a cure for the plague he will be destroyed in the process. Richard and Kahlan also find out that another prophecy has said that they are both destined to marry other people.

The prophecies themselves made the book quite interesting. They are revealed quite early in the book so I was really interested in finding out how it would all play out. The storyline was more compelling in Temple of the Winds than in Blood of the Fold and I found that I liked this book better than Blood of the Fold. There were some characters that I wasn't overly fond of (Nadine) and a storyline that I thought was extraneous (Zedd and Anne). In addition to the plague, there is a serial killer on the loose that is murdering women. I really found that storyline to be the most compelling in the book because it was the most mysterious. I found myself trying to figure out who it was through most of the book and actually wished Goodkind had written a little more of that story. The politics of the novel was definitely interesting if a little underdeveloped, but overall I like reading how Richard chooses to lead the Midlands and how he deals with people from other lands.

I have to admit that overall I am needing to take a break from The Sword of Truth series. The books are anywhere between 600-800+ pages so I am feeling the fatigue of reading the books. Since it is a series, there is a lot of repetition in the books. I'm sure they were written that way to remind the reader of what happened in the previous book since there was an obvious delay between publication of each book. When I read them one after another, I get kind of tired of the constant reminding of what happened. I also am just ready to read something shorter because I feel like I spend half my month just reading one book. I'm also ready for a little more variety in my reading so I am going to take a break for a month or two from this series. I want to be able to honestly review the book rather than get bitter about series because I'm finding it to be a burden.

I am told that the sixth book, Faith of the Fallen is fantastic so I will continue reading the series. I'm enjoying it, but I will say that it's not my favorite fantasy series that I've read (that honor would go to Mr. George R.R. Martin and his Song of Ice and Fire series). Still the books are adventurous and interesting enough that I want to keep reading it. Also, Kahlan at one point in the series was about the most awesome female character I've ever read (the book I'm referring to is Stone of Tears where she leads a young, inexperienced army into battle--simply amazing). I'm hoping that she regains some of her greatness because at this point, Goodkind's exploration into her humanness has begun to overshadow her role as the Mother Confessor and the awesome inner and outer person that it makes her. I am definitely still wanting to know how all the characters continue to develop so the series is compelling. I just need a break!

Blood of the Fold - Terry Goodkind

Ahhh....the continuing journey of Richard and Kahlan through the Sword of Truth series. I'm reading one of these chunksters a month so I was excited when I picked up Blood of the Fold and saw that it was only 623 pages long. I figured, "This is a short one compared to the 800+ pages I've been reading in the series. This will go fast!" I was wrong. While I enjoyed the book, it was definitely slower moving than the first two.

Blood of the Fold continues on where Stone of Tears leaves off. The Sisters of the Dark have fled the Palace of the Prophets, Richard is back in the Midlands, and Kahlan is still separated from him on her own journey. While Richard and Kahlan were able to defeat Darken Rahl again in Stone of Tears, a new threat has emerged. The leader of the Imperial Order, Jagang is threatening to take over the world and eradicate it of magic. The Blood of the Fold, a group of people who believe magic is evil and will stop at nothing to eradicate it, has forced Richard to take over the Midlands and demand all people of the Midlands surrender unconditionally and swear fealty to him in order to quell the thread from the Imperial Order (to which The Blood of the Fold belongs).  He is also trying to protect Kahlan from being discovered because her magic is exactly what the Imperial Order is trying to eradicate.

The Palace of the Prophets has a really large role in this book. I found its storyline in Stone of Tears to be somewhat boring, but in this book the pace really picks up. There is still the boring element to it. Poor Sister Verna has a lot of paperwork which Terry Goodkind really wants to tell us readers about (I felt like that went on for way too many pages), but Verna and Warren are very likeable characters and I much preferred their storyline in this book to the last one. I also liked how the Sisters of the Dark who were a major threat in Stone of Tears played out in this book. They were infinitely more interesting in Blood of the Fold. For all those fans of Zedd, Wizard of the First Order, you might be disappointed in this book. His role is somewhat reduced as is Kahlan's. I like them both immensely and was waiting for them to have a more prominent role. It never happened. The book is largely about Sister Verna and Richard. It was appropriate for the storyline, but also made for a little bit slower reading.

I do recommend people who have been reading this series and have the same problem as I did to trudge through and prevail! I am about 200 pages into the fourth book, Temple of the Winds, and am really enjoying it so far. It's a big chunkster at 822 pages, but I am breezing through it and finding it difficult to go to bed at night for want of reading more! Don't worry, while Blood of the Fold is slower, it sets up Temple of the Winds nicely as far as I can tell and brings Terry Goodkind back from my "On Notice List" (thank you Stephen Colbert for letting me borrow your list), to my "Awesome Author List".

Stone of Tears - Terry Goodkind

For those of you that read my blog, it's been a few weeks since I actually posted a book review. This is because Stone of Tears is a whopping 979 pages long (and I have had a terrible addiction to the Olympics)! It took me about two weeks to read it, but it was well worth it. Beware that spoilers from the first book of the Sword of Truth series, Wizard's First Rule, will be included in this post!

The book picks up where Wizard's First Rule left off. Richard and Kahlan are returning to the Mud People and Zedd is still at the People's Palace where Richard has just taken over from Darken Rahl. Richard was able to defeat Darken Rahl using the Wizard's First Rule. Little does Richard know that the way he used the rule actually violated the Wizard's Second Rule causing a new threat to emerge.

As the story progresses, Richard learns that he is a wizard and must learn to control his powers. He and Kahlan's story diverges at this point as they each take a different direction to accomplish a common goal. Kahlan's journey takes her to Aydindril where she seeks to appeal to a council to help her fight the new threat. Richard's journey takes him to the Palace of the Prophets where he is taught how to control his wizard powers. Nothing is as it seems in the Palace of course and Richard is left to uncover another plot that could possibly destroy the land.

I have to admit that I think I enjoyed Kahlan's storyline more than Richard's. Terry Goodkind is a master of describing the horrors of war and battle. It is graphic, but I understand why he does it. In a lot of ways it makes it more real and shows the desolation that war has brought to the people. Kahlan has some Eowyn (from Return of the King--the movie brings a few thoughts to mind) moments where she just kicks a lot of butt. I love strong female characters and Kahlan is no exception! Richard's story is very important to the plot, but at times I found that it dragged on. I don't know if it's because I was feeling a little burned out on reading (I had two other books I had to read for book clubs this month that were not short and this was a 979 page book), or if I was just watching too much TV (those Olympics!!!). It became more interesting as time went on, but I felt like it took awhile to get there.

Still, I really enjoyed this book. Goodkind throws in some nice plot twists that I definitely wasn't expecting. I thought it really added to the book and at times made it really heart wrenching and difficult. I really did feel a little empty while I read this book because the characters go through such loss and betrayal. I like it when an author can really suck you into what the characters are going through and make you feel their emotions. I am thoroughly enjoying this series and am looking forward to the third installment, Blood of the Fold.


Read the Book, See the Movie Challenge

TV Show: Legend of the Seeker

I am still making my way through Legend of the Seeker. I am working hard not to watch the series too quickly because frankly, I have come to really enjoy it! Sure, it has very little to do with the Sword of Truth series even though it is "based on" it, but I find the show pretty entertaining and fun. I would probably compare it to Robin Hood (from British television) or less schlocky (but still with some schlock) Hercules. I know in my last review of Wizard's First Rule/Legend of the Seeker I was disappointed in the show, but it has really become quite fun to watch. I am taking my time to get through the show because I have noticed that they introduce characters from the books that I haven't read about yet. In other words, the story on the show isn't going in the same order as the books. However, if you decide to read the books and watch the show, it doesn't really matter because the characters are fairly different from the book. I just don't want to ruin any major plot points by watching the show too fast. I'll definitely keep posting my thoughts on the series as I read the books and watch the show, but I am changing my mind from my last review and giving the show my thumbs up.

Anne McCaffrey BotM - The White Dragon

I feel a little sad after reading this month's Anne McCaffrey and All Her Worlds BotM. We are finishing off the last Dragonriders of Pern book, The White Dragon and moving onto the Tower and the Hive series. As you know from my previous posts, I love the Pern series and have really enjoyed revisiting these books.

The White Dragon is the story of Jaxom, a boy who will become Lord Holder of Ruatha Hold. He has inadvertently Impressed a dragon that is unlike any other dragon on all of Pern. His white dragon, Ruth has thrived and grown along with young Jaxom. Still, Jaxom has to endure the taunts from holder and weyrfolk alike at the small, odd dragon. Jaxom knows Ruth is unique and Ruth also has special talents that other dragons do not possess. This sets up for a very interesting adventure when a queen dragon egg goes missing from Benden Weyr.

When I read the books the first time through, I read The Harper Hall trilogy first. This time around, I have read The Dragonriders of Pern first. I have to say that I think I like reading it in the order I originally read. There are a few characters that McCaffrey throws in as if you already know who they are in The White Dragon. If I had not previously read The Harper Hall Trilogy, I would have been a little confused as to who Menolly and Piemur were. I also think you get a much fuller version of Masterharper Robinton in The Harper Hall Trilogy which makes him even more likeable in the Dragonriders of Pern.

I have heard that the recent release of the film Avatar has a lot of people wishing they could live on a planet as beautiful as Pandora. I readily admit that when I was reading The White Dragon I looked at my husband and said, "I just want to live on Pern." I think I always have! Too bad it is a fictional place! I think Anne McCaffrey fashions her characters so that readers find themselves able to relate to them and even think of them as people that we might either like or hate to be friends with. I love how she describes the Southern Continent as well. It sounds like such a beautiful place. I think I also find myself wanting to be part of a society that truly does work together instead of only looking out for #1.

Honestly, I am looking forward to The Tower and the Hive series with the group because I have been so fixated on Pern for so long that I really feel like I need to explore Anne McCaffrey's other work. I am hoping that we go back to the Pern novels though because I really enjoy them. The series is my favorite....yes, I love it more than Harry Potter, Twilight, Lord of the Rings, The Sword of Truth, The Song of Ice and Fire, etc....it's my absolute favorite!

List of Pern series I have mentioned in this post:

The Harper Hall Trilogy
Dragonsong
Dragonsinger
Dragondrums

The Dragonriders of Pern
Dragonflight
Dragonquest
The White Dragon

Wizard's First Rule - Terry Goodkind

There are a few fantasy series that most every fantasy fan has read. The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind seems to be one of those series. Every fantasy group on Shelfari seems to have loads of people talking about it and how great it is. Because of this, I decided to pick up the series and give it a try. Wizard's First Rule is the first book in the Sword of Truth series. Richard Cypher is a young woods guide who meets and aids a young woman on the run from a group of men in the forest of Hartland. Little does he know that this encounter is the beginning of his destiny. The woman Kahlan is searching for the wizard that can help her save her land from Darken Rahl. Richard decides to help her and in the process finds out that he is the Seeker. He is given the Sword of Truth (which can only be used by The Seeker) by his wizard friend to aid him in his quest to stop Darken Rahl from opening the Three Boxes of Orden which would give him control over all life and death.

Richard and Kahlan's relationship is very interesting throughout the book. She keeps a secret about herself from Richard because she is afraid that he would not receive the information well. Goodkind did a good job keeping up the suspense and weaving the secret into the story so that I was constantly wondering what it was myself! Almost every chapter ends on a cliffhanger as well so I found it difficult to stop reading. The book's 820 pages read so fast that I didn't even realize how fast I was going. I really got sucked into the story and adventure of their journey. There were a few parts in the book that are not appropriate for younger readers -- there is torture in the book and a few absolutely brutal scenes which might bother a really young reader. An employee at Barnes and Noble told me that there were younger kids around 10-12 that were coming in to get the books because they had seen the Legend of the Seeker show which is based on The Sword of Truth series. If you are a parent, you might want to read the book first to see if your child can handle those parts.

Overall, I thought the book was excellent. I gave the book 4.5 out of 5 stars because there were two things that really irritated me. There was a very Tolkien-esque character in the book which made me groan a little. The Sword is also somewhat similar to Tolkien, but it didn't bother me because Terry Brooks also had a book with a sword that in my opinion, borrowed from Tolkien. Let's face it. Tolkien was great and it's hard not to be influenced by him! There was also another part of the story which made me groan a little because to me it was obvious, but to others it might not be so I am not going to give it away here. Besides those two relatively minor things, I absolutely loved the book and can't wait to pick up the rest of the series.


Read the Book, See the Movie Challenge


TV Show: Legend of the Seeker

As part of the Read the Book, See the Movie Challenge that I'm taking part in this year, I decided to watch the Legend of the Seeker show by streaming it off of Netflix. There are 22 episodes in the first season and to avoid ruining any of the other books for me (I am going to start book two of the series, Stone of Tears in a few weeks), I have only watched four episodes so far, but I feel like I can safely say that the series isn't anything like the book. The characters and their occupations are from the books, but the story is vastly different from the book. I am not very impressed with the series and would prefer if they said that it was "inspired by" the Sword of Truth rather than "based on" the series.

It's not that the series isn't enjoyable. If I hadn't read the books, I might enjoy the series. The producer of the series, Sam Raimi, also produced Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess. I really enjoyed the schlockiness and tongue-in-cheekness of Hercules. I just think that too much of the story is completely different from the books to say that it is "based on" the books. That being said, I have only read Wizard's First Rule and have only watched four episodes of the show. It's possible that I could change my mind later on. I think I am just disappointed that Terry Goodkind's masterful story has been taken apart and turned into something that is almost not recognizable as his work.

If you have read the books and watched the series, what do you think?

The Waste Lands - Stephen King

The Waste Lands is Book 3 in The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. I got so caught up in The Drawing of the Three that I wanted to read The Waste Lands a few months ago but ended up getting sidetracked by other books. So, here I am months later finally getting to it and I have to say that I think it was phenomenal! In the series, King has created these minor characters in each book that I really fall in love with. I loved the lobstrosities in The Drawing of the Three, and now I absolutely love the Tick Tock Man, Charlie the Choo-Choo, and Oy. Oh if I could only have a companion like Oy!

The story picks up with Susannah, Eddie, and Roland continuing their quest to find the Dark Tower. Along the way, Roland's boy, Jake comes back into the story and has one of the more scary parts of the series. For most people I wouldn't say Jake' story is scary, but there is one scene that a lightweight like me would be a little freaked out reading. Let's just say if there is a Dutch Hill in Brooklyn then I don't want to visit! The group travels to a few places and meet some very interesting people.

I don't know if Stephen King does this in every book he writes, but I often feel like I'm missing something that I'm so close to understanding with The Dark Tower books. It's not a bad thing of course. It means that the story has enough nuances to it that it keeps me guessing about things that aren't necessarily a huge part of the story. I admit that his writing sometimes isn't the greatest, but the man is a masterful storyteller. The story is truly original and is unlike any fantasy I have ever read. I highly recommend this series to anyone that likes westerns and wants to break into the fantasy genre. What can be cooler than a gunslinger in another world?!! I can't wait to start the fourth book in the series, Wizard and Glass!

Anne McCaffrey BotM - Dragonquest

Well, it's time for my Anne McCaffrey Shelfari Group Book of the Month post! I am so excited. I am really enjoying revisiting the Pern books. It has been so many years since I first read them that it is like reading them for the first time in some ways. I am already very attached to the characters, but the stories I have forgotten somewhat over the years. Last month, I wrote about Dragonflight and how much I enjoyed rereading it. Can it be possible that I liked Dragonquest that much more? Yes! I have to admit that Dragonquest blew Dragonflight out of the water. I loved every minute of the story and fell in love with the characters all over again.

Dragonquest introduces Brekke of Southern Weyr and her gold dragon, Wirenth. I loved Brekke because of how solid and hard working she is. I wish I could be more like her in some ways! I also really enjoyed the growing friendship between her and F'nor (who by the way is my Pern crush...yes, I am that nerdy) as he recovers from wounds he received in an altercation. I also enjoyed reading about Lessa and F'lar whose relationship has really grown in the seven Turns between Dragonflight and Dragonquest. This book embodied how I remembered Lessa: a strong, competent woman who made solid decisions and was very self-assured. I really admired her character growing up and this book really brought that out.

Some of the other books in the Pern series focus on Hold life, but this one is much more focused on the Weyrs and their interactions with the Holds and other Weyrs. It also continues the story in Dragonflight of the Oldtimers after their journey forward through time to help Benden Weyr fight Thread. All I can say is, "Wow...things have changed!" The story is also much more focused on the bond between dragon and rider which I find so engrossing.

Over the years I have recommended the Pern books to so many people. I am not sure if any of them have picked the series up, but I think it's a great series to break into science fiction and fantasy. The reason I say this is because there are no magic/spells, elves, dwarves, space battles, or other weird creatures that people associate with fantasy and science fiction. It reads more like a novel out of the middle ages with the added fantastical element of dragons and fire lizards. These are some of my favorite books of all time and I am sincere when I say that I had to live on any other planet, Pern would be my first choice! I love the books, and I love Anne McCaffrey for bringing so much life to her fictional world that it almost feels real to me. It's one of the best reading escapes around!

Fantasy Challenge 2010

After thinking for weeks about whether or not I should sign up for one final challenge, I decided that the Fantasy Reading Challenge hosted by Royal Reviews wouldn't be too difficult for me to complete in 2010.

For my level, I have chosen Addicted and will read 12 Fantasy novels in 2010. Shouldn't be too hard since Fantasy is my favorite genre, right?!!

Here are the instructions from Royal Reviews in case you are interested in signing up:

The Fantasy Reading Challenge can include YA Fantasy or Historical Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy or any other sub genre of Fantasy. There really are no limits to this challenge as Fantasy is such a wide and varied genre. Just enjoy and have fun! I'm planning on reading the Katherine Kerr Deverry series if anyone would like to join me in a read along.

Challenge Guidelines:
1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
--Non-Bloggers: Include your information in the comment section.

2. There are four levels:

-- Curious – Read 3 Fantasy Fiction novels.

-- Fascinated – Read 6 Fantasy Fiction novels.

-- Addicted – Read 12 Fantasy Fiction novels.

-- Obsessed – Read 20 Fantasy Fiction novels.

3. Any book format counts.

4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010.

6. When you sign up under Mr. Linky, put the direct link to the post about the Fantasy Fiction Reading Challenge. Include the URL so that other participants can find join in and read your reviews and post.




**Edit**
I lied. I am going to do OBSESSED and read 20 Fantasy novels because I realized that this month alone I plan to read three fantasy novels.