Movie Review: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Title: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Year: 2013

Stars:  Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, Kevin Zegers, Jemima West, Godfrey Gao, Lena Headey, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Aidan Turner, Robert Sheehan, Kevin Durand, and Jared Harris

Director: Harald Zwart

Writer(s): Jessica Postigo Paquette (screenplay) based on book of same name by Cassandra Clare

Studio: Constantin Film

Distributor: Screen Gems (US), Entertainment One (UK)

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Synopsis: When her mother disappears, Clary Fray learns that she descends from a line of warriors who protect our world from demons. She joins forces with others like her and heads into a dangerous alternate New York called Downworld.

Taglines:

There is a world hidden within our own.

Worlds will collide. 

You have been chosen.

Favorite line:

What I liked: Jamie Campbell Bower's performance as Jace was dead-on perfect. I especially loved the scene where Clary walks in on him at the piano in the library for his facial expressions alone. I also liked how they streamlined the action from the book. What do I mean by that? Well, for example, where in the book Jace and Clary keep bouncing off the Institute as they go from one errand to another, the movie not only tries to get the most of their treks out into the world, but also has Alex and Isabelle come along more often, simultaneously adding fluidity to the narrative while allowing the opportunity for all the characters to have more screen time. In other words, it takes my biggest problems with the book and fixes them. I actually prefer its narrative to that of the book, truth be told.

What I didn't like: The world of the Shadowhunters is pretty complex. There are Shadowhunters who fight demons, and there are Downworlders, commonly referred to as vampires, werewolves, mages, and fairies. There are runes that, when written on the skin of Shadowhunters, imbues them with certain abilities. There's a cup, a sword, and a mirror known as the Mortal Instruments, empowered because of their association with the angel Raziel. The angel Raziel is important because a long time ago, he came down from Heaven, bled into a cup, and offered it to humans who became the first Shadowhunters, granting them Buffy-like powers so they could better fight the demons. Throw in a bunch of personal history affecting the various adults and a villain with a dangerous mix of delusions of power and total paranoia, and its no small wonder what the pacing can come across as a bit staggered.

Overall: Hollywood's gotten crazy lately adapting young adult series for the big screen; already this past year  The Host, Beautiful Creatures, Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters, and Warm Bodies have graced our theatres, with The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Vampire Academy, and Divergent all forthcoming over the next year or so and no doubt dozens more to come after that. I love book adaptations; screenwriters basically take your favourite books, pillage the best parts to bring to life, then twist and restructure making it more suitable for a big screen narrative while throwing in a dash of surprise, whether you've  read the books or not. Mortal Instruments: City of Bones lives up to this tradition and does a fairly good job of it. Yes, its bogged down by trying to explain its own mythology and history, but ultimately, the actors do a terrific job of bringing the characters to life and the action plays out well. I know that the author of the books has a horrible reputation for plagiarism and cyber-bullying, among other things. It's important to remember though that a movie is more than the book it's based on. Where a book is the brainchild of a single individual, a movie is brought to life by the actors, screenwriter, director, and countless crew members. Their work and efforts deserve to be seen and judged for their own merits, without the taint the books incur for their creator's past. 

Would I watch a sequel: Yes, so they had better follow through with its (currently postponed) production!

My rating: ☺☺☺☺/5


It's currently in theatres so I would definitely recommend making the trip to view it.

REVIEW: Maryjanice Davidson's Undead and Unsure

Book: Undead and Unsure

Author: MaryJanice Davidson

Series: Betsy Taylor, Vampire Queen

Publishing stats: August 6th 2013 by Berkley Hardcover

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Cover Blurb: It’s no surprise to Betsy that her trip to Hell with her sister Laura landed them in hot water. Betsy isn’t exactly sorry she killed the Devil but it’s put Laura in a damnable position: assuming the role of Satan (she may not have the training but she looks great in red)—and in charge of billions of souls as she moves up in the world. Or is that down?

But Betsy herself is in an odd new position as well—that of being a responsible monarch suddenly in charge of all things more earth-bound: like her vampire husband Sinclair who has gone from relieved to ecstatic to downright reckless now that he can tolerate sunlight. And if Sinclair isn’t enough to contend with, Betsy’s best friend Jessica is in her sixth (and hopefully last) trimester. Considering she’s been pregnant for eighteen months, she’s become a veritable encyclopedia of what not to expect when you’re expecting. Oh, the horror…

And speaking of growing pains, Betsy and Sinclair’s adopted little BabyJon is finally starting to walk. And if the increasingly unpredictable toddler is anything like his extended family, precisely where he’s headed is anyone’s guess.

First line: “The devil's dead, and the Antichrist is pissed.”

***** If you're behind on the series, below may contain minor spoilers *****

What I liked: Like in the second and eighth books of this series, this book featured a sprinkling of chapters told from a perspective other than Betsy, the regularly scheduled narrator. Not only does this let the reader in on information Betsy wouldn't be privy to, it also allows for other characters to be fleshed out and gives direct insight into their psyches. The treat here was that the character sharing the spotlight with Betsy this time around was none other than Eric Sinclair. It was surprising; I didn't expect the tone his thoughts took, didn't anticipate the emotions driving his actions, and most certainly didn't see that last twist coming until it had run me over and backed up to wham me again. Which, really, is par for the course where Sinclair is concerned.

What I didn't like: This books featured events that are no doubt going to have a huge impact on the future of the series. Unfortunately, they all happen at the end. Until that point it's basically Betsy planning Thanksgiving, Betsy fretting over her relationship with Laura, Jessica being pregnant, Sinclair being in the sun and, oh yeah, Betsy goes to Hell. It's literally the last three chapters that contain all action, so to speak. Don't get me wrong, the lead up is funny as all sin, but it just seems like a splash of ordinary life with OMFGPLOTPOINTS! tacked on the end.

Overall: I love this series; it's quirky, it's funny, it's surprising, it's innocent. No matter how bad things get, they'll always get better. No matter the tragedy, the betrayal, the horror, or the body count, sooner or later it clears up and bright skies shine through. I love the MaryJanice Davidson brand of comedy; her books never fail to have me laughing out loud, be they Betsy, Fred the Mermaid, or Alaskan Royalty. This book was by no means my least favourite (Undead and Unworthy still holds that claim - between a geographically divided cast, psycho Laura, and judgmental werewolves the plot was just too...un-Betsy), but I was disappointment by the pace of events. It was a little like going to a Spiderman movie where Spiderman only gets twenty minutes of air time (Oh, wait, that's happened - thanks a lot Spiderman 2). Point being, it was a good book, funny and with a great ending, but its flow of action left much to be desired.

Would I read this author again: Yes - she's hilarious.

My rating: ☺☺☺/5

To purchase the book for yourself, you can find it at Chapters.Indigo.ca, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, or The Book Depository. Enjoy!

REVIEW: Jennifer Estep's Deadly Sting

Book: Deadly Sting

Author: Jennifer Estep

Series: Elemental Assassin

Publishing stats: March 26th 2013 by Pocket Books

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Cover Blurb: Red is definitely my color. Good thing, because in my line of work, I end up wearing it a lot.

Most people shy away from blood, but for an assassin like me— Gin Blanco, aka the Spider—it’s just part of the job. Still, it would be nice to get a night off, especially when I’m attending the biggest gala event of the summer at Briartop, Ashland’s fanciest art museum. But it’s just not meant to be. For this exhibition of my late nemesis’s priceless possessions is not only the place to be seen, but the place to be robbed and taken hostage at gunpoint as well. No sooner did I get my champagne than a bunch of the unluckiest thieves ever burst into the museum and started looting the place.

Unlucky why? Because I brought along a couple of knives in addition to my killer dress. Add these to my Ice and Stone magic, and nothing makes me happier than showing the bad guys why red really is my color.

First line: “That would look fabulous on you.”

***** If you're behind on the series, below may contain minor spoilers *****

What I liked: The action of this book takes place primarily over the course of a single night. A night. Not even twenty-four hours. Now, I've read books before with small time windows, but Ms. Estep packs an unlikely amount of action into the small number of hours she has to work with; she even introduces new and significant characters. But that's not what's most impressive. What's impressive, most impressive is the amount of development the larger series arc receives in this book. In a single night, a mysterious future character is introduced, one who can't help but have an impact, and one who, given his/her connections, can't help but fill the currently vacant Big Bad role. Owen and Gin's relationship takes a tiny step closer to reconciliation. Gin's past tragedy is not only touched upon, but further fleshed out. Do you want to know what this book is? It's the TARDIS - much, much, much bigger on the inside than you can possibly imagine.

What I didn’t like: I want to slap Owen. I realize this book takes place over just one night and, hey, that's not much more than a snapshot, after all, but OMG, I want to slap him. I understand why he and Gin are currently on a break. I understand his reasoning and I understand Gin's acceptance of that reasoning. I mean, heck, if she pushes she'll end up with the rest of their relationship from then on tainted and overshadowed by doubt and questions. Letting him have the time to work through things on his own solves that problem. That being said, Owen didn't go into this relationship blind; he knew who Gin was, knew what she was, and he claims to have loved her. And yet he's all surprised when she holds true to character and makes the choice to save lives rather than spare pain. He had a rather sweet moment at the end of this book but, honestly, if this goes on past the next book, I'm going to start to feel like they're being kept apart for the sake of drama and suspense alone. Ashland isn't a safe town, not by far, and Gin is definitely one of the city's more at-risk (for sudden death that is) citizens. Owen needs to work his head out and fast; before it's too late and both his chance and Gin are lying cold in the grave.

Overall: This is the eighth book in this series and one of the things I love most about it is that even while relationships, circumstances, and villains change, the characters still remain true to themselves. A lot has happened leading up to this book, including the defeat of the archvillian in book five, the return of old loves and the true reunion of sisters in book six, and an unbelievable break-up in book seven. You'd think Ashland would run out of evil doers by this point but apparently Ashland is a lot like Gotham on that front. The thing about this book, about this series, is that in spite of what's going on in the story (and this was not your average hostage situation by far), is that at the core its characters remain the same. Gin will always do what needs to be done to protect her family, will always feel guilt for those innocents caught up as collateral damage, will always see herself as a cold-hearted psychopath even as she strives to protect her friends, family, and innocent strangers from the ruthless, murdering monsters in power. Finn will always be suave, flirtatious, arrogant, and greedy. Bria will always be brave, stubborn, strong, and realistic. And so on. It's that vein of consistency that tips this series from "good" to "great" and this particular book is a stellar example of the hows and whys of that.

Would I read this author again: Yes - did you not read above? LOL

My rating: ☺☺☺☺/5

To purchase the book for yourself, you can find it at Chapters.Indigo.ca, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, or The Book Depository. Enjoy!

Movie Review: Warm Bodies

Title: Warm Bodies

Year: 2013

Stars: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, Rob Corddry, Dave Franco, Analeigh Tipton, Cory Hardrict, John Malkovich

Director: Jonathan Levine

Writer(s): Jonathan Levine (screenplay) based on book of same name by Isaac Marion

Studio: Mandeville Films

Distributor: Summit Entertainment

Genre: Zombie romance

Synopsis: After R (a highly unusual zombie) saves Julie from an attack, the two form a relationship that sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world.

Taglines: Cold body. Warm heart.

He's still dead but he's getting warmer

There's nothing hotter than a girl with brains

Dead sexy.

Bros before brains

Love means never having to say you're undead.

Favorite line:

R: What am I doing with my life? I'm so pale. I should get out more. I should eat better. My posture's horrible. I should stand up straighter. People would respect me more if I stood up straighter.

What I liked: It's Romeo and Juliet with zombies. Really, what more could a girl ask for? What's more, I love how the movie compensates for their hero being an inarticulate zombie by having him narrate the voice-over. Doesn't hurt either that R's inner-voice has a knack for sarcasm and irony (see my above favourite line for proof). 

What I didn’t like: Well, for one thing, it was over too soon and the chances of sequel are slim since the ending left few, if any, strings lefts hanging. There's also one scene at the end where you sort of have to tilt your head and ask yourselves if the characters are paying attention to what it is they're actually saying because, while they realize the larger implications, they seem to be rather blind to their immediate ramifications.

Overall: I loved it! It proved to be a zombie movie where, praise the gods, the zombies weren't lame. Sorry, but I never got behind the zombie thing. I mean, heck, they SHUFFLE for crying out loud - how can you not outrun that?! Plus, there's no ambition to them; they just want to eat you. Is it wrong of me to want my villains to actually have plots and schemes and thus be a challenge? This movie, however, took zombies and made them something more. Sure, they're still shambling, undead, flesh-eaters. Heck, a major plot point with the hero is that he ate (and at some points eating) the heroine's former boyfriend. But they're still people, still have humanity, still want more than to be slaves to their hunger...until they don't and then they further devolve into a skeletal state with a beast-like mentality focused on their next meal. As R says, they'll eat anything with a heartbeat and while zombies will as well, at least the zombies feel conflicted about it. This is hands down one of the quirkier romances I've seen, and definitely well worth the admission fee!

Would I watch a sequel: Yes, but I find a sequel unlikely

My rating: ☺☺☺☺/5

It's currently in theatres so I would definitely recommend making the trip to view it. Sure, Valentine's Day is in the past, but it's still one of the quirkiest romances around at present.

REVIEW: Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey

Book: Northanger Abbey

Author: Jane Austen

Series: Stand-alone

Publishing stats: April 2006 by Penguin Books Ltd (first published December 1817)

Genre: Victorian Romance

Cover Blurb: While enjoying a six weeks' stay in fashionable Bath, the young and callow Catherine Morland is introduced to the delights of high society. Thanks to a new literary diet of the sensational and the macabre, Catherine travels to Northanger Abbey fully expecting to become embroiled in a Gothic adventure of intrigue and suspense and, once there, soon begins to form the most gruesome and improbable theories about the exploits of its occupants. An early work, but published posthumously, Northanger Abbey is a satire on the Gothic mode typified by the novels of Ann Radcliffe, as well as a witty comedy of manners in the style of Jane Austen's later novels and, ultimately, an enchanting love story.

First line: No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine.

What I liked: If Catherine Morland was the heroine of any other type of novel, she'd be branded too stupid to live within the first ten minutes of her adventure. She always believes the best of people, thinking that any wrongs they commit were done through ignorance rather than intent, and yet at the same time she allows the Gothic novels she reads to have her suspecting a general of murdering his wife (her justification being that his daughter's comment that she hadn't been home when her mother passed away). Enter Henry Tilney whose wit, humour, and compassion  paint him as the perfect match. And that's what I loved most - the pairing of Henry and Catherine and the balancing of their personalities. It was remarkably well done in true Austen style.

What I didn’t like: Given that what I liked best was the pairing of Catherine Morland and Henry Tilney it should come as no surprise that what I liked least was that there was so little of them together! In fact, what you get of their interactions is a few snippets of conversation, more often than not with his sister in attendance. I would have loved more of these two but, alas, instead there's more interaction between Catherine and the dastardly Mr. Thorpe. A waste. Like reading lots about Elizabeth and Wickham and being skimped on the Darcy airtime.

Overall: The book gives the impression of being but a brief window into this world; it's like a brief vacation taken in Catherine Morland's life. Incidentally, it actually does span Catherine Morland's six week visit to Bath and Northanger Abbey. Its tone is written as a third-party account, the narrator occasionally lapsing into first person to offer criticism, opinions, and explanations of the events and characters as they develop. It's definitely a memorable and engaging style. It was definitely over too quickly; several points, such as Thorpe's villainy (so to speak) and Catherine's romance with Tilney, could have used more fleshing out. I realize that this book is nearing its two hundredth anniversary, but I rather wish that Austen had written a sequel of sorts or perhaps an epilogue to show just what shape their happily ever after takes. Not to mention what becomes of the Thorpes and Catherine's brother, James.

Would I read this author again: Yes - Mansfield Park is up next!

My rating: ☺☺☺☺/5

To purchase the book for yourself, you can find it at pretty much anywhere, there are tons so many different editions out there! But, in the interest of keeping true to Calliope's Domain style, here are some links anyways!  Chapters.Indigo.ca, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, or The Book Depository. Enjoy!

REVIEW: Nora Robert's Morrigan's Cross

Book: Morrigan's Cross

Author: Nora Roberts

Series: The Circle Trilogy

Publishing stats: August 29th 2006 by Jove (first published as hard cover January 1st 2006)

Genre: Romance

Cover Blurb: In the last days of high summer, with lightning striking blue in a black sky, the sorcerer stood on a high cliff overlooking the raging sea...

Belting out his grief into the storm, Hoyt Mac Cionaoith rails against the evil that has torn his twin brother from their family's embrace. Her name is Lilith. Existing for over a thousand years, she has lured countless men to an immortal doom with her soul-stealing kiss. But now, this woman known as vampire will stop at nothing until she rules this world—and those beyond it...

Hoyt is no match for the dark siren. But his powers come from the goddess Morrigan, and it is through her that he will get his chance at vengeance. At Morrigan's charge, he must gather five others to form a ring of power strong enough to overcome Lilith. A circle of six: himself, the witch, the warrior, the scholar, the one of many forms and the one he's lost. And it is in this circle, hundreds of years in the future, where Hoyt will learn how strong his spirit—and his heart—have become...

First line: There was a storm in him, as black and vicious as that which bullied its way across the sea.

What I liked: I love those stories where the hero or heroine is from another time or world and finds themselves displaced into ours in the present day. Seeing them try to figure out computers, cars, and television, to say nothing of fast food and soda pop, is always a real delight and I particularly love when they start making comparisons between their world/time and ours. This book has half the main cast playing the displacement game; Hoyt is hopping forward in time and Larkin and Moira are crossing over from another world. I particularly loved the interactions between Hoyt and his brother Cian, his vampiric brother Cian who not only got himself to the present day by the long route, by living through the interceding years, but had the sardonic, embittered sense of humour to make the most of his brother's ignorance.

What I didn’t like: There's nothing wrong with the noble and honourable knight; he's stood as the heroic ideal for centuries after all. Unfortunately, as with everything else, virtue can be had too much as well - almost sickeningly so. Hoyt, his love interest, Glenna, Moira and Larkin have very clear ideas of right and wrong, good and bad, and stubbornly hold to them regardless of consequences. Don't get me wrong, it's admirable to hold on to your honour and beliefs. But when multiple worlds are relying on you to live long enough to face the big bad evil witch and her bigger and badder army risking your life - especially when you know your training is lacking and your chances of success are low is pure idiocy. And to do so repeatedly is just annoying. Especially when there are other characters about pointing out how dumb they're being.

Overall: I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. I love Cian - he was a great character that was a pretty good blend of sarcastic humour and classic vampire. Hanging around his brother and being drawn in to this battle preparation thaws him somewhat, but at book's end he's still the same dark and broody vampire he is at the start. What's more, he serves as a stand in for the reader (or at least this reader) and gives his cohorts a much needed reality check several times, though more often than not they dismiss his advice as coming from the vampire. The plot was intriguing, weaving history and religion together with magic and mayhem for a delightfully suspenseful and complex story. Unfortunately, the goody-goody quality of some of the heroes is too over the top; there's being moral and doing the right thing and then there's being stupid and risking too much. I understood where they were coming from, but it got to be tiresome more than once. What's more there are times where the story lagged, where the balance of Glenna and Hoyt's romance and their larger mission seemed off, and where the action seemed squeezed in. More than once it seemed like Lilith's appearances and mentions were more for the sake of reminding the reader she was around than for any actual development. Overall, therefore, my opinion of the book was rather lukewarm.

Would I read this author again: Yes - even if this book had been wretched, which it wasn't, Nora Roberts has written in so many other genres and styles that it would be utterly ridiculous to judge her whole volume of work based on but a single piece!

My rating: ☺☺/5

To purchase the book for yourself, you can find it at Chapters.Indigo.ca, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, or The Book Depository. Enjoy!

REVIEW: Stephen King's Christine

Book: Christine

Author: Stephen King

Series: Stand-alone

Publishing stats: June 1st 2007 by Hodder Paperback (reissue of 1983 original)

Genre: Horror

Cover Blurb: Christine, blood-red, fat, and finned, was twenty. Her promise lay all in her past. Greedy and big, she was Arnie's obsession, a '58 Plymouth Fury. Broken down, but not finished. There was still power in her - a frightening power that leaked like sump oil, staining and corrupting. A malign power that corroded the mind and turned ownership into Possession.

First line: This is the story of a lover's triangle, I suppose you'd say -- Arnie Cunningham, Leigh Cabot, and, of course, Christine.

What I liked: I thoroughly enjoyed the tone King used for the narrative. The book is divided into three parts, the first and third of which are written in the first-person perspective of Dennis Guilder. It's made clear early on that Dennis is in fact writing some years after the events he's recounting, events that occurred back in 1978 when Dennis was your average American teenager whose best friend just bought himself an old car to fix up. The phrasings and expressions used and, heck, even the emotions described, all seem to embody the voice of a teen. You get to read the story as a build-up, slowly seeing Arnie's descent into Christine's clutches from an outside perspective; it was amazingly well done.

What I didn’t like: The car is going to kill people. You know it. I know it. Illiterate island dwellers raised in isolation with no contact with the outside world know it. It took over four hundred pages for the car to kill someone. Up until that point, the horror element of the book was carried by creepy vibes, unexplained regeneration and a flashback vision or two. There was build-up and buckets of backstory was dished out and miles of ground work laid out.For four hundred pages. Just think about that for a minute. Four hundred pages of build-up, of working towards something you see coming from page one. Sure, it was well written, but for crying out loud there comes a point where you just want the car to make with the homicidal tendencies already!

Overall: I can definitely understand why Stephen King gets the hype that he does; there's no question it's deserved. His narrative is stark, yet infused with the definitive voice of his character. I especially loved his choice of words for several of his descriptions; this is one writer who knows how to rock the simile, to say nothing of the metaphor. I also enjoyed the character development and how it unfolded, especially when limited as it was to the first person perspective for the first and third parts of the story. Incidentally, the second part of the book, which covered the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas while Dennis Guilder was hospitalized for a soccer injury and thus effectively cut off from the story's action, was written in third-person and bounced around between all the other characters. The concept of Christine being almost like a girlfriend to Arnie was a good way to view the relationship, even if a third-party did somewhat ruin that image. This third-party was, incidentally, my least favourite element of the book. I have to say that, in this instance at least, I much prefer the movie's interpretation of Christine as inherently evil rather than being possessed by a malevolent spirit. All-in-all, there was definitely, absolutely, positively no question that this was a horror story - it just took way too long to make the transition from thriller to outright horror.

Would I read this author again: Yes - the man knows how to give you chills!

My rating: ☺☺/5

To purchase the book for yourself, you can find it at Chapters.Indigo.ca, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, or The Book Depository. Enjoy!

REVIEW: Kristen Painter's Out For Blood

Book: Out for Blood

Author: Kristen Painter

Series: House of Comarré

Publishing stats: October 30th 2012 by Orbit

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Cover Blurb:  After nearly dying at the hands of the Aurelian, Chrysabelle finds new determination to move beyond life as a comarré. That is until the Kubai Mata bring a new task to her doorstep: rescue the child Tatiana has kidnapped, or Mal becomes enemy number one.

First line: Deep in sleep, Chrysabelle curled against a cold, steely form that paralleled her own.

What I liked: Since about five minutes into meeting each other, Chrysabelle and Mal have been dancing around loving each other. Unfortunately, they've also had more obstacles standing in their way than Romeo and Juliet and Tristan and Iseult combined. Chrysabelle is newly arrived in the modern world, innocent in many respect but possessing more bravery, stubbornness and conviction than you'd expect. Mal is a twice-cursed, mad as a hatter vampire who sees himself as a monster undeserving of friendship, let alone love. It was an uphill battle to say the least, but this book finally - FINALLY - brought all that tension and dancing to fruition. He said I love you. She said I love you. Smiles, kisses, and marriage proposals followed swiftly thereafter. I love these moments, these happy little pauses, these streaks of normalcy in a story where everything else is going to hell and resolving into chaos. Yes, she's a genetically engineered geisha-et-warrior. Yes, he's an insane monster with ghost issues. Yes, the world is on the brink of war in more than one sense. But as far as Chrysabelle and Mal together are concerned, she's a girl, he's a boy, and they're in love. What can be more simple than that? 

What I didn’t like: It is my deeply held belief that cliffhangers are the single most frustrating, most diabolical, most straight out cruel literary device to ever hit a page. You spends hours immersed in a story, invested in what's happening to the characters, in what's going on in their world, and then, suddenly, all you're abruptly cut off from what happens next at what must be the most inopportune time imaginable and then expected to wait months - MONTHS - for the story's continuation to release. Drives me bonkers. I mean, okay, it's one thing when you just have to wait a handful of weeks - the first three books of this series, for instance, released at monthly intervals one after the other. It's another thing entirely when the cliffhanger is followed by a, meep, nine month wait until its resolution. So, I think it goes without saying here that Out for Blood has a cliffhanger ending.

Overall: These books tend to be rather heavy on story, alternating between multiple perspectives and storylines. The upside to this approach is that it serves to give readers a fuller and more varied view not only on the characters, but on the various circumstances and philosophies running through the plot. On the downside, readers can get impatient waiting for the narrative to rotate back to a particular storyline. Personally, when I read these books I go skip back and forth through the book to read one particular storyline at a time: first Chrysabelle and Mal, then Tatiana, then Doc and Fiona, then Creek (who I am so not happy with right now), then Lola and so on. It works for me since I'm never really one for the linear path - I almost always read the ending of a book first, for instance - but others will just have to be patient. Its narrative style aside, one of the best features of this book is the constant references it makes to the duality of light and dark. Every character, every couple, every conflict in some way represents this dichotomy. Heck, case and point: Mal, who has dark hair and is an insane, murderous vampire covered in black tattoos, loves and is loved by Chrysabelle, a blond, innocent geisha-like blood donor who bears golden signum on her skin.  Add in all of the romance, intrigue, subterfuge, tragedy and risk and you're left with one heck of an epic ride.

Would I read this author again: Yes - I want the resolution to the cliffhanger, dang it!

My rating: ☺☺☺☺/5

To purchase the book for yourself, you can find it at Chapters.Indigo.ca, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, or The Book Depository. Enjoy!

REVIEW: Devon Monk's MAGIC FOR A PRICE

Book: Magic for a Price

Author: Devon Monk

Series: Allie Beckstrom

Publishing stats: November 6th 2012 by ROC

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Cover Blurb:  For most of her life, Allison Beckstrom has used magic and accepted the heavy price it exacts. But now that all magic is poisoned, it’s no longer just using people—it’s killing them.

With Portland about to descend into chaos, Allie needs to find a way to purify the wells of tainted magic beneath the city. But the only options left to her are grim: attempt to close down magic forever, or follow her father’s plan to set magic into the right hands—even though she’s learned to never trust his word.

Now, Allie will have to make a choice and face the darkness of her own deepest fears, before time runs out for them all…

First line: I never expected cookies at the end of the world.

What I liked: This book is the last in the Allie Beckstrom series and as such led to a lot of loose ends being tied up, what I liked, however, was that it wasn't done all at once or even one after the other. Right up until the very last minute there were questions hanging, questions that were answered in what felt like their own time rather than being rushed to shove it into the last book. Even better, those answers weren't what I was expecting, not by a long shot. This book also served to setup the upcoming spin-off series for secondary characters Shame and Terric in such a way that you have a firm idea of at least some of the plot points the new series will be tackling. Last books are never easy and I've read more than one where it ended and I was left staring at it thinking, "Seriously? That's...that's it? That's the end? You have GOT to be kidding me." This, I'm happy to say, was not one of those books; it was quite the feat and remarkably well done.

What I didn’t like: There was a lot of action going on, a lot of activity, which was by no means a bad thing, however with all of the story and the action going on there were very, very few moments of ordinary to break things up and remind the reader what it was the heroes were fighting to regain. Heck, I don't even think Allie went to Get Mugged for coffee until the very end. Understandable when you're a wanted fugitive, to be sure, but still disappointing that there were none of those happy ordinary moments, especially of the Zay and Allie variety.

Overall: I've waited eight books to see how happily ever after would be achieved for Allie; to say it seemed impossible at times is an understatement. The girl began the series with magic use costing her chunks of her memory and things just went downhill from there. Case and point, she began this book possessed by her dead father (whom she loathed when alive), on the run from a company of magical overseers led by a woman possessed by a pair of evil ghosts (there's a lot of possession going on, okay?) and whose every minute use of magic leaves her literally sick to her stomach or worse. But, hey, the book also starts off with cookies. Lots and lots of cookies - you can't go wrong with a book that starts off with cookies. Somehow, despite all the darkness and the seeming impossibility of happy endings, Ms. Monk manages to trudge her way through and  work everything out for one heck of an ending that's well deserved.

Would I read this author again: Yes - her next series cannot release too soon, especially if it includes more glimpses of Allie and Zay enjoying their happily ever after.

My rating: ☺☺☺☺☺/5

To purchase the book for yourself, you can find it at Chapters.Indigo.ca, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, or The Book Depository. Enjoy!

REVIEW: Carrie Vaughn's KITTY TAKES A HOLIDAY

Book: Kitty Takes A Holiday

Author: Carrie Vaughn

Series: Kitty Norville

Publishing stats: April 1st 2007 by Grand Central Publishing

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Cover Blurb:  After getting caught turning wolf on national television, Kitty retreats to a mountain cabin to recover and write her memoirs. But this is Kitty, so trouble is never far behind, and instead of Walden Pond, she gets Evil Dead. When werewolf hunter Cormac shows up with an injured Ben O'Farrell, Kitty's lawyer, slung over his shoulder, and a wolf-like creature with glowing red eyes starts sniffing around the cabin, Kitty wonders if any of them will get out of these woods alive...

First line: She runs for the joy of it, because she can, her strides stretching to cover a dozen feet every time she leaps.

What I liked: I really loved how Kitty's emotional turmoil was captured in writing. She had a rough time of it in the book before this and seeing her struggle through the emotions those events stirred up in her was a journey and adventure all its own. I especially liked seeing her interactions with the rival supernatural-based talk show host; it provided a nice sort of foil seeing how her views on the rival show changed with her views of herself.

What I didn’t like: The entire Cormac storyline. I felt that, with the past books, something was building on that front but with a few well placed swipes I feel as though that entire possibility came toppling down which makes me feel cheated. What's more, by the end of the book Cormac was taken out of play in more than one sense leaving me starring at the book and screaming, "How could you DO that?!" I love Cormac as a character and I saw a lot of potential in him - he provides a great contrast to Kitty in several ways - but now the writing's on the wall and all my hopes for him are pretty much rubble. Bright side, I'll hopefully get to rebuild them over coming books in new designs and directions.

Overall: One of the things I love most about this series is being able to watch (so to speak) Kitty grow and change over each book. In the first book, Kitty is a definite submissive, abused in several senses by her pack's alpha and whose only protection and affection comes from her best friend  and fellow wolf, TJ. By this book - third in the series - Kitty has left the pack and the abuse behind, developed a successful and prospering radio show and been out as a werewolf to the public with the video footage to back it up. This books really serves to show the final steps Kitty takes from who she was at the beginning of the first book to who she will be in coming books. The strength, courage and compassion she's been hinted to possess in the past comes to full flourish within these pages and it is truly a delight to see. At the same time, you get a very stark view of how the world - and its people - beyond Kitty's life
are adjusting to the realization that vampires and werewolves aren't just the stuff of story books.

Would I read this author again: Yes - the train wreck of the Cormac storyline aside, I still want to see how the rest of this story progresses and grows in coming books, to say nothing of its characters.

My rating: ♥♥♥♥/5

To purchase the book for yourself, you can find it at Chapters.Indigo.ca, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, or The Book Depository. Enjoy!

REVIEW: Sable Grace's Chosen

Book: Chosen

Author: Sable Grace

Series: Dark Breed

Publishing stats: August 28th 2012 by Avon

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Cover Blurb:  She was a Dark Breed -- half Vampyre, half Lychen.
Now she is CHOSEN…

Kyana is the new Goddess of the Hunt, chosen for her determination to survive as much as for her passion to protect those she loves. Now, just when she's finally ready to shed her past and let the one man who really matters into her heart, an evil has resurrected, and only Kyana stands in its way.

But Ryker, as the new Zeus, will not let her fight alone. It has taken him too long to convince Kyana they belong together for him to lose her. And if it means descending into the depths of Hades to make the ultimate sacrifice, then so be it.

The fate of the world is at stake, and for Kyana and Ryker, no fight has ever been more personal.

First line: She watched Haven tilt her head back and let out an unladylike shout of laughter, and everything in Kyana Aslan's body warmed with contentment.

What I liked: One of the things I love most about this series is the character development. In the first book, we're met with a Kyana who is essentially a lonely, angry warrior bitch with but a few friends to whom she is completely loyal. As the story  unfolds, however, and glimpses of Kyana's past are shown you come to gain a better understanding of Kyana. Simultaneously, as Kyana's present twists and turns in ways she never could have imagined, she comes to thaw and let more of herself be shared with those around her. In particular, the romance between her and Ryker acts as sort of a stablizing agent for the both of them. Serious and noble Ryker finds himself cutting loose, tough and prickly Kyana finds herself softening. This book had all of this development coming to full bloom and, finally, let readers see the final result.

What I didn’t like: The story happened, the bad guy was defeated, new roles were established and then...it was over. We didn't get to see Ryker and Kyana settled in their romance. We didn't get to see the reprecussions of a beloved character's death. This was supposedly the last book of the series but several loose ends were left dangling. I hope that this was intended to Kyana's story and not that of the series itself - it would be nice if there could be more books, perhaps taking on Haven as a main character, that would develop on the ending Chosen provided.

Overall: This book was not as good as its two predescessors and, in my opinion, did not live up to the tension the back cover blurb promised. That being said, that more than one character dies by book's end did come as a surprise, especially considering the identities of those characters. Overall, however, the book's redemption comes from the fruition of the character development and being able to witness just who Kyana and Ryker - among others - have grown into over the course of the three books. What is more, this book really highlighted the relationships that tie this cast of characters together and demonstrated how these relationships have served to shape and strengthen the characters.

Would I read this author again: Yes, if she (technically, they, I know) continued on with this series in some fashion - I did mention wanting the ending developed and fleshed out, didn't I?

My rating: ♥♥/5

To purchase the book for yourself, you can find it at Chapters.Indigo.ca, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, or The Book Depository. Enjoy!

REVIEW: Michelle Rowen's Blood Bath & Beyond

Book: Blood Bath & Beyond

Author: Michelle Rowen

Series: Immortality Bites Mystery

Publishing stats: August 7th 2012 by Signet (USA)

Genre: Paranormal Mystery

Cover Blurb: Sarah Dearly is adjusting to life as a fledgling vampire, satisfying her cravings at vampire-friendly blood banks. But when her fiancé Thierry takes a job with the Ring—the secret council in charge of keeping vampires in line—Sarah’s about to get more than a taste of danger…

Being engaged to a centuries-old master vampire can be challenging—especially when he takes a job with the Ring. Thierry’s in for fifty years of nonstop travel and deadly risk. It’s enough to make any woman reconsider the wedding…any woman except Sarah, that is.

Traveling to Las Vegas for his first assignment, they encounter a child beauty pageant contestant from hell, as well as a vampire serial killer leaving victims drained of blood, potentially exposing the existence of vampires to the whole world. But when Thierry’s truly ancient history comes back to haunt him, and he’s accused of a crime he didn’t commit, it’s up to Sarah to clear his name before their immortal lives come to an end.

First line: The fangs don’t get nearly as much attention as you’d think.

What I liked: What I've always loved about this series; the humour, the romance, the characters. Sarah Dearly is hands down one of the funniest, goofiest heroines (and narrators) I've had the chance to read. Between what she says and the antics she lands herself in, she'd give the entire cast of Friends a run for their money.  I especially love her unfailing ability, for good or bad, to always see the good the people be they blood addicted ancient vampire, demon bound vampire hunter or insanity prone wizard. The romance and relationship shared between Sarah and Thierry is one of the more unique ones; these two could not be any more different but, somehow, it works and not only that but seeing these two crazy kids together as they work through their differences and come out stronger than ever is one the book's true delights for the reader.


What I didn’t like: There were some points in the narrative that got a bit dry and felt just a tad repetitive, almost like the story had gotten itself stuck in a loop. I spent a great deal of time wishing I could slap Thierry - does that man learn nothing from his own past?! The resolution to one of the mysteries in this book came a bit out of left field - perhaps it was just me but until that last scene where the murderer spilled the beans I would not have thought that character guilty. I mean, okay, looking back there were hints for a potential motive, but there was nothing that connected that motive to the crimes until the murderer slipped up and did so right before the reveal. I'd like to think even Jessica Fletcher would have been hard pressed to see that reveal coming.


Overall: Back in September 2009, Tall, Dark and Fangsome ended the Immortality Bites series with a defeated big bad, a vanquished curse, a friend's wedding and a surprise engagement. It hinted at happily ever after and left the door open for potential sequels in the future. Blood Bath & Beyond blew that aforementioned door off its hinges, put a twist on the old story lines, tossed in a mystery (two, actually) and picked things up where they left off - more or less. All of the secondary characters from the first series were given happily ever afters, allowing for Thierry and Sarah to head out into the world to encounter new friends and new enemies while still connected with characters who previously had their lives revolving around the main plots. There were some rough spots to be sure but overall this was a great revamp (see what I did there?) on a great series. 

Would I read this author again: Yes - the humour is one-of-a-kind!

My rating: ♥♥♥/5

To purchase the book for yourself, you can find it at Chapters.Indigo.ca, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, or The Book Depository. Enjoy!

REVIEW: Jennifer Estep's Widow Web

Book: Widow's Web

Author: Jennifer Estep

Series: Elemental Assassins

Publishing stats: August 21st 2012 by Simon & Schuster (USA) (today!!)

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Cover Blurb: I used to murder people for money, but lately it’s become more of a survival technique. Once an assassin, always an assassin. So much for being plain old Gin Blanco. With every lowlife in Ashland gunning for me, I don’t need another problem, but a new one has come to town anyway. Salina might seem like a sweet Southern belle, but she’s really a dangerous enemy whose water elemental magic can go head-to-head with my own Ice and Stone power. Salina also has an intimate history with my lover, Owen Grayson, and now that she’s back, she thinks he’s hers for the taking. Salina’s playing a mysterious game that involves a shady local casino owner with a surprising connection to Owen. But they call me the Spider for a reason. I’m going to untangle her deadly scheme, even if it leaves my love affair hanging by a thread.

First line: Breaking into the building was easy.

What I liked: This book unloaded a heck of a lot of backstory, tying together characters in surprising way and fleshing the history and people of Ashland alike. It was a little like being an archaeological dig where for the past six books you know, just know, that there's something more to be found here and then, with this book, a sandstorm strikes and suddenly the revelations are flying a mile a minute. And the best part? Most of the discoveries were Owen-centric. The other element topping my "like" list is the villain. This is the seventh book in the Elemental assassins series and, depending on how you want to do the counting on this, at least the seventh villain Ms. Estep has delivered. Have you ever seen the Adam West Batman series? Almost each and every  villain had a theme and took it to the extreme; everything, from their costume to their henchmen to their crimes followed their theme (case and point: there was Bookworm who had a book theme and left literature based puns as clues, King Tut who had an Ancient Egypt theme and wanted Gotham as his new Thebes, Mad Hatter who had a hat theme and at one point stole hats with their wearer included - the list goes on). Ms. Estep's villains, however, are in a hell of a lot more individualized. With a heroine as powerful of Gin, it can be tough creating a villain that actually comes across as a believable challenge. Not only does Salina drive the back story discovery, she also leaves no doubt she's a contender as well, physically, mentally, magically, even romantically.

What I didn’t like: With this book, my biggest problem regarding these books holds firm. There is a habit in this series for key points - like Gin hearing the whispers from stones, for example, or specific events from past books - to be brought up again and again and again. It's a little like reading watching Murder, She Wrote and having the camera zoom in repeatedly on an otherwise subtle clue. These instances are blended in the narrative better than ever before with this book, but, alas, still persist.

Overall: The ending of this book had me screaming. I couldn't believe Ms. Estep actually went there and had that happen. There was so much to digest, so much emotion to wade through, and then BAM! You get slammed with the one thing you would have sworn going in would never happen. I mean, heck, after the events of the past books, you sort of come to think of elements of sacred. It would be like Ilona Andrews breaking up Kate and Curran or Patricia Briggs killing off Jessie or Jeanine Frost playing the amnesia card or...well, you get the idea. Some things you just do not do to your readers and Jennifer Estep went there, did that, and left us hanging. Otherwise, this was definitely one of my favourite books to date in this series and the next installment, Deadly Sting, cannot release soon enough!

Would I read this author again: Yes - the ending was pretty much a cliffhanger as far as I'm concerned!

My rating: ♥♥♥♥/5

To purchase the book for yourself, you can find it at Chapters.Indigo.ca, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, or The Book Depository. Enjoy!

REVIEW: Ilona Andrews' Gunmetal Magic

Book: Gunmetal Magic

Author: Ilona Andrews

Series: The World of Kate Daniels

Publishing stats: July 31st 2012 by Ace (USA)

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Cover Blurb: Some people have everything figured out — Andrea Nash is not one of those people. After being kicked out of the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, Andrea's whole existence is in shambles. All she can do is try to put herself back together, something made easier by working for Cutting Edge, a small investigative firm owned by her best friend, Kate Daniels.

When several shapeshifters working for Raphael Medrano — the male alpha of Clan Bouda and Andrea's former lover — die unexpectedly at a dig site, Andrea is assigned to investigate ... and must work with Raphael. As her search for the killer leads her into the secret underbelly of supernatural Atlanta, Andrea knows that dealing with her feelings for Raphael might have to take a backseat to saving the world ...

First line: Thud!

What I liked: I liked the chance to see the world and characters I'd come to know and love over the five books (so far) of the Kate Daniels series from a different perspective. In particular, I loved getting someone else's take on Kate and Curran - both as individuals and as a couple. I also liked how, despite being a spin-off from the Kate books, this book had a tone and voice all its own. There is no mistaking that Andrea is a distinct and markedly different character compared to Kate, with problems, personality, and past that help to distinguish her and guide the story in ways you just know Kate wouldn't go.

What I didn’t like: Huh. You know, I'm not really sure if there was anything I didn't like. I mean, okay, there were a couple of times where I thought Andrea was being an idiot and I'm not sure I agree entirely with where she ended up romantically - or a couple of other events and happenings peppering the plot - but there was no one element or item I can point to and commit to not liking.

Overall: The writing team that is Ilona Andrews can definitely write some damn awesome books. This one in particular tied up a lot of loose ends that wouldn't have been done justice in Kate's perspective. It built upon what Kate had established in the last five books in several ways; adding to the world, deepening the readers' understanding of shapeshifters both in and out of the Pack and developing the characters you've come to know and love in ways you never would have expected. As an extra special treat, included with Gunmetal Magic is the novella, Magic Gifts, originally released to fans on Ilona Andrews' blog back in December. This is a story that starts with a date that leads to Kate and Curran trying to rescue a boy from a fatal, magical artifact. The novella's events are intertwined with those of the novel and even share a scene or two, giving the reader a sense of just how much is truly going on in this world at any given time. Ultimately, a great spin-off that will hopefully set the standard for more to come.

Would I read this author again: Yes - I positively, absolutely adore this author!

My rating: ♥♥♥♥♥/5

To purchase the book for yourself, you can find it at Chapters.Indigo.ca, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, or The Book Depository. Enjoy!

REVIEW: Jeaniene Frost's One Grave at a Time

Book: One Grave at a Time 

Author: Jeaniene Frost  

Series: Night Huntress

Publishing stats:  August 30th 2011 by Avon Books (USA)

Genre: Urban Fantasy 

Cover Blurb: How do you send a killer to the grave when he’s already dead?
 
Having narrowly averted an (under)World War, Cat Crawfield wants nothing more than a little downtime with her vampire husband, Bones. Unfortunately, her gift from New Orleans’s voodoo queen just keeps on giving—leading to a personal favor that sends them into battle once again, this time against a villainous spirit.

Centuries ago, Heinrich Kramer was a witch hunter. Now, every All Hallows Eve, he takes physical form to torture innocent women before burning them alive. This year, however, a determined Cat and Bones must risk all to send him back to the other side of eternity—forever. But one wrong step and they’ll be digging their own graves.

First line: “Donald Bartholomew Williams, get your ass back here now!”

What I liked: I liked how Ms. Frost gave history her own vampiric twist. This wasn't the first time of course - what with Vlad the Impaler running about in modern times and Joan of Arc having been a dhampir, to name but a few instances - and I very much doubt it will be the last. What I love about this take, however, was that it took a real and true villain and served him up the just desserts reality denied him.

What I didn’t like: The past books in this series must have spoiled me because there wasn't nearly enough of Cat interacting with established characters. I mean, sure all the characters we know and love - Bones, Spade, Ian, Justina, Denise, Tate - were in the book but they were more equitable to furniture that characters. I mean, yes, the characters were present but their contribution to the plot was minimal; they came, they did their part, they moved off screen. Even Bones, who was with Cat almost constantly, didn't seem to be as involved as usual. The mission took center stage for this book, and in my opinion it was in detriment to the characters.

Overall: I liked this book and am a big fan of Ms. Frost's work. That being said, this was not my favourite of her books. In fact, if I'm too be honest, it was a disappointment in comparison to past Cat and Bones books. Don't get me wrong, on its own, it's a terrific book. But we're talking about the series with the infamous Chapter 32 here - there are standards! I loved the mission - stopping a ghost who was a real monster in life and who had only gotten worse in death was definitely a unique take on your traditional ghost story. I also loved the subplots that went on concurrent to the mission. In particular, I enjoyed the introduction of Don's replacement, Madigan; an ambitious man with several hidden agendas at play, at least one of which having something to do with Cat. I can definitely say I'm looking forward to seeing how that plays out in books to come. No, like I said before, my main problem with this book was the lack of participation from characters besides Cat and the newbies. Taken as a stand alone, however, this book was most certainly a worthwhile and engaging read.

Would I read this author again: Yes - I love Cat and Bones!

My rating: ♥♥♥/5

To purchase the book for yourself, you can find it at Chapters.Indigo.ca, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, or The Book Depository. Enjoy!

REVIEW: Yasmine Galenorn's Night Seeker

Book: Night Seeker

Author: Yasmine Galenorn

Series: Indigo Court

Publishing stats: July 3rd 2012 by Berkley (USA)

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Cover Blurb: Eons ago, vampires tried to turn the dark Fae to harness their magic, only to create a demonic enemy more powerful than they could have imagined. Now, the Vampiric Fae are on the move, hunting anyone in their path. As the war with the vampires ratchets up, Myst, Queen of the Indigo Court, enshrouds New Forest in her chilling grasp.

Cicely Waters, owl shifter and Wind Witch, has rescued the Fae Prince Grieve at a great cost. Their reunion has lost them the allegiance of the Summer Queen — and the tolerance of the vampires. In desperation they turn to the Consortium for help. Now, to regain the good will of Lainule, they must dare to enter the heart of Myst's realm. But as Cicely and Grieve embark on their search for the heartstone of Summer, Winter is already wreaking her terrifying revenge.

First line: The night was still.

What I liked: Ms. Galenorn has a definite knack for managing large casts. Not only does she ensure that each character is distinct, she has mastered the trickiest talent of all; providing each character with enough stage time so readers are content but in such a way that it is woven naturally into the story telling. In other words, in terms of style, think less General Hospital, more Avengers. I also liked the vividness and detail of description Ms. Galenorn employed. From the forests, to the characters, every sight was treated to a cloak of language that painted it as vibrantly in the mind's eye better than any literal picture could have managed.

What I didn’t like: There was something off about how Cicely talked. She's supposed to be a streetwise twenty-six year old who has spent the last couple of years moving about from city to city with her not-remotely-stable mother. But that's not the impression she gives when she talks. Her language is what you'd expect of a philosophical elder. Actually, it reminded me of Camille in Ms. Galenorn's Otherworld series. Not necessarily a bad thing but a bit out of character given what we know of Cicely.

Overall: I love Ms. Galenorn's writing and, in regards to the story itself, this book served to accomplish a lot. Readers are left wondering how the bad guys will respond while the heroes are given something of a respite and a glimpse at happily ever after. With another two books forthcoming in this series, you know the seeming peace won't last but it's a nice little moment where you realize that a happy ending is possible if only the bad guys can be overcome.


Would I read this author again: Yes - I want to know what happens next!

My rating: ♥♥♥/5

To purchase the book for yourself, you can find it at Chapters.Indigo.ca, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, or The Book Depository. Enjoy!

REVIEW: Gini Koch's Alien Diplomacy

Book: Alien Diplomacy

Author: Gini Koch

Series: Katherine "Kitty" Katt

Publishing stats: April 3rd 2012 by DAW (USA)

Genre: Science Fiction

Cover Blurb: Being newlyweds and new parents is challenging enough. But Jeff and Kitty Martini are also giving up their roles as super-being exterminators and Commanders in Centaurion Division while mastering the political landscape as the new heads of Centaurion's Diplomatic Corps. Enter a shadowy assassination plot and a new set of anti-alien conspirators, and nothing will ever be the same...

First line: “Missus Martini, can you please explain the proper way to greet a visiting dignitary from China when you are also in the company of dignitaries from Japan, Russia, Thailand, and Bangladesh?”

What I liked: What I've always loved most about this series is its humour. Whether Kitty is thinking through the evil plot, changing diapers, or chatting it up with the Big Bad there's always a sardonic and ironic tone that can't be missed. Of particular amusement is the interaction between Kitty and her uncle-in-law, former Pontifex Richard White. Imagine Mel Brooks' take on a retired James Bond partnered with a female Deadpool, up the sarcasm to eleven, and you've got a pretty good idea on how this partnership works and, damn, but its funny.

What I didn’t like: I think the past books spoiled me because this book...well, with everyone being shuffled about job-wise, there just wasn't as much interaction with the secondary characters as I'd come accustomed to. I was disappointed. In the previous book, Ms. Koch has done a remarkable job balancing page time between established friends and family and new characters, both good and bad. A lot of Diplomacy, however, was given over to the new with what felt like mere glimpses slipped in of such beloved characters as Reader, Christopher, Lorraine and Claudia. Not that the new characters weren't awesome - Olga and Senator Macmillan in particular were fantastic - but I regretted not having the banter and interaction I'd come accustomed to in the past books.

Overall: If I had to sum up the overall theme of this book with one word, it would be frustrated. The characters were frustrated on several levels. The transition into their new roles rough and awkward; everyone realized the necessity and accepted the responsibilities their new jobs entailed, but between trying to live up to expectations of one kind or another and dealing with the actual demands of their jobs the overall impression was that they'd run away screaming if they could. The Bad Guy Plot was largely unknown resulting in, you guessed it, frustration. Multiple assassination attempts, the appearance of several poorly disguised strangers and clues and hints that only lead to questions and no answers only add to the frustration. I honestly have no idea if this is a good or a bad thing - I guess it depends on the reader. Personally, this was not my favourite in the series but it was by no means a bad book, quite the contrary in fact.

Would I read this author again: Yes - there has yet to be a book in this series that has not made me laugh and, really, what's not to be loved about that?

My rating: ♥♥♥/5

To purchase the book for yourself, you can find it at Chapters.Indigo.ca, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, or The Book Depository. Enjoy!

REVIEW: Kelly Meding's Changeling

Book: Changeling

Author: Kelly Meding

Series: MetaWars

Publishing stats: June 26th 2012 by Pocket Books (USA)

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Cover Blurb: HEROES FOR HIRE

After barely escaping a madman's attempt to annihilate all MetaHumans, Kelly Meding's supernatural crime fighters have banded together to take back the streets of war-ravaged Los Angeles.Dahlia "Ember" Perkins still feels like an outsider among her new Meta friends, despite everything she's been through since coming into her miraculous ability to absorb heat and extinguish fires. But when the police need help investigating human skins discarded like slipcovers on the street, the Metas' youngest team member quickly finds her place. Evidence points to a murderer the likes of which they have never encountered but who inexplicably seems to be gunning for Dahlia-and who may be neither human nor Meta. After a bullet meant for her nearly kills one of her teammates, Dahlia uncovers a connection to the crimes buried deep in her past. As the danger escalates and her personal life falls apart, Dahlia soon learns there's no such thing as a "normal" relationship when you're a superhero. . .

First line: "Who’s got the friggin’ fire extinguisher?"

What I liked: I loved how the perspective change in this book really and truly affected a brand new view of this world. The first book in this series was narrated by Teresa "Trance" West and focused on the heroes getting their powers back after a fifteen year absence and learning how to cope and find their place in a hostile world. This book was narrated by Dahlia "Ember" Perkins, the new girl on the super-powered block and the only member of the team who didn't spend a chunk of their childhood living with the others. I loved that her tone was so distinct from Teresa's. It was nice starting the series with a narrator who was able to contrast the characters against their childhood selves and then, for the second book, see those same characters with fresh eyes ignorant of who they once were.

What I didn’t like: This is another one where I didn't like the ending. Not because it wasn't good - it was great and accomplished everything an ending in an ongoing series is supposed to do, namely leave you wanting more. My problem with it was that it felt less like an ending and more like a pause. Which would be fine if the next book was picking up with a new point of view and focusing on other characters having their time in the limelight. The love story element in particular was left in question with one hell of an obstacle left in its path.

Overall: One of the things I love about this series is how the author takes pains to deal with consequences. How many times has Superman been thrown through a building? How about Green Lantern - how often has his ring-generated creations gone awry and squashed a car or two? And those are just the good guys. Ms. Meding takes the genre of superheroes - the powers, the team dynamics, the villains, the government agencies/distrust - and infuses the lot of it with a heavy dose of realism, transitioning it from the impossible to the improbable. The adventures these heroes undergo are believable and playout in a Hansel and Gretel style that keeps you guessing until the last minute - and in neither book did I see the major twists coming until POOF! There they were. Overall, a fantastic read.

Would I read this author again: Yes. I've always been a sucker for superheroes and their adventures.

My rating: ♥♥♥♥♥/5

To purchase the book for yourself, you can find it at Chapters.Indigo.ca, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or The Book Depository. Enjoy!

REVIEW: Caris Roane's Ascension

Book: Ascension

Author: Caris Roane

Series: The World of Ascension

Publishing stats: December 28th 2010 by St. Martin's Paperbacks (USA)

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Cover Blurb: On The Wings of Desire

Alison Wells is no ordinary woman. Born with super-natural powers, she can never make love to a man without putting him in grave danger. But when her special vision reveals a glorious muscled man soaring overhead on might wings, she feels an overwhelming attraction she cannot resist-even as he tells her “I have come for you. Your blood belong to me.”

In the Heat of Passion

Kerrick is a vampire and a warrior who has fought his hunger for a woman’s love for the past two hundred years. As a Guardian of Ascension, he is sworn to protect Alison from the death vamp armies who crave her blood and her power. But Kerrick has cravings of his own-a forbidden longing to open his heart and veins to Alison. To share his blood…satisfy his thirst…and seal their fates forever.

First line: Kerrick stood by the bar at The Blood and Bite, looking for a woman, the right woman, the one that would keep his head straight, the one he craved.

What I liked: This book had humans transcending to live as super-powered, vampire-angels hybrid warriors. Just...think about that for a minute. One minute the main character - Alison - is just your ordinary, one of the mill psychologist. Sure, her psyche isn't the healthiest, but she's basically pretty normal. The next minute she's shooting beams out of her hands, teleporting all over, taking telepathic strolls, rewriting genetic code with her thoughts, and being informed her wings are on order. It's ridiculous. And yet...it works. Somehow, with the plot, with these characters, what you would normally think of as beyond campy comes across as exotic and sexy.

What I didn’t like: I hate those romances where the hero and heroine dillydally getting together because of they let their pasts get between them. Repeatedly. Alison allowed her greatest fears to be played against her by the enemy and Kerrick lets her go because he fears the danger his lifestyle might pose to her. And you know what? I'd be just fine with that...if both of them weren't already in danger independently. I mean, heck, if bad guys are going to be targeting both you and your significant love regardless of whether or not you're together, using that as your reason not to be together is just plain dumb. 

Overall: Ms. Roane works with a large cast, including - but in no way limited to - over a half dozen warriors, their femme fatale boss, her administrative staff, the Big Bad, his minions and Alison's family. Dips are made into several of the characters' back story - including two of the bad guys and the roots are laid for the romance of set to take centre stage in book two. The most amazing part of all this, however, is that the writing accomplishes all this without sacrificing the integrity of any other elements. A truly amazing feat when you take in just how complex and varied a book this really is.

Would I read this author again: Yes. I love the flow of the writing and the vein of humour that runs through it. Definitely makes future books worth the read.

My rating: ♥♥♥♥/5

To purchase the book for yourself, you can find it at Chapters.Indigo.ca, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or The Book Depository. Enjoy!