Top 5 Sundays #15 - Worst Fictional Dads

Okay, okay - it goes without saying but, once again, I'm late getting my Top 5 post out. To be fair though I usually write up this post much earlier in the week, as soon as it's clear what way the poll over at this feature's originating blog, Larissa's Bookish Life, is going to go in fact. Unfortunately, this week's poll was tied right up until the last minute and so I went away for the weekend without being able to post this week's Top 5 in a timely manner.

But now I'm back, the tie is broken, the topic is clear and I'm all set to go! So, without further ado, Calliope's Domain presents this week Top 5 list featuring the worst daddies the fictional world has to offer!


#5 - The Tulpa, Joanna's father, Signs of the Zodiac series

Once upon a time, he was a mental construct. Fast forward and he's a big bad who could give Darth Vader a run for his money. And Joanna Archer is his bouncing baby girl all grown up. Since learning of her existence (as his daughter, that is - he dispatched one of his minions to rape her at the tender age of sixteen not knowing of their familial connection), he's alternated between wanting her to join him on the dark side and trying to kill her and, really, he has no preference which way the results go so long as she's removed as an interference to his master plans. Can you say "fatherly affection"?

#4 - Daniel Beckstrom, Allie's father, in Devon Monk's Allie Beckstrom series

When he was alive, he had no qualms about using his magic and power to manipulate his family - namely his wife du jour  and daughter, Allison - into being more manageable, more in line with what he wanted them to be. When Allie realized what he was doing to her, she turned her back on him and his plans for her and struck out on her own, happy to be ignored by Daddy Dearest for years to come. Then he died - killed, to be precise - and took up residence in his daughter's head. I'll admit that he's has some kick ass knowledge to impart and has proved useful at times but when you get right down to it he's still using his daughter as a time share to escape death.

#3 - Jeffrey, Elena's father, in Nalini Singh's Guild Hunters series

Jeffrey wasn't always such an ass, it's true, but following the brutal murders of his wife and two eldest daughters, he shut up his softer emotions and became a man driven solely by his ambition and greed who sees his remaining daughters (from his first marriage at least) as assets to be exploited. First time he's introduced in the books, for instance, is when he summons Elena to his presence to demand she use her newly established acquaintance with an archangel to further his own business interests and, when she refuses, berates her for her lack of family loyalty, never mind that he'd all but disinherited Elena before that moment.

#2 - Max, Cat's father, in Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series

Alright, so the question of whether or not daddy dearest raped Cat's mother has gotten a little murky since the first book but even if Max was innocent in that instance he's more than made up for it since. To date he's hired multiple hit men to try and kill his daughter and when they all failed took a turn at capturing and torturing her himself. Fortunately, like many a villain targeting an urban fantasy heroine, Max made the grave error (See what I did there? Ha!) of forgetting about the love interest.

#1 - Roland, Kate's father, in Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series

Roland is a powerful, ancient man responsible for the creature of vampires and whose very blood is a weapon all its own; he's also a horrible father. Throughout history he's fathered numerous children and without fail every single one of them has tried to kill him, necessitating a bit of preemptive action on Roland's part. Fast forward a century and ten and Roland has a bit of a memory lapse and caves in to his latest concubine's desire to have his child. By the time he remembers why it was he was against having any more children, his concubine is already pregnant. So he tries to kill her and things just go downhill rather spectacularly from there...

And there you have it! Tune in next week for yet  another Top 5 list - hopefully on time! Kiss, kiss!

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!