I've have a huge pile of reviews that I just haven't had the time
to get to writing, and the pile keeps getting bigger and bigger with
each book I finish. So for this Write-A-Thon, I'm going to try to get as
many of the reviews listed below writtten!
Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
Blue Exorcist Volume 7 by Kazue Kato
Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs
Broken by Kelley Armstrong
Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs
The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
Immortal Hearts by Ellen Schreiber
Fever Moon: The Fear Dorcha by Karen Marie Moning and Al Rio
The titles that have links are the review that I have posted so far. Be sure to check back for the Taming of the Wolf, Promises, and Dire Needs reviews!
This write-a-thon was SO helpful for me to catch up. I get so far behind on my reviews sometimes that I need a write-a-thon once a month just to keep me up to date. (LOL)
It's on! Are you ready? Have you been working on a novel, short story,
etc. that you want to finish? Are you swamped with books to review
after all these read-a-thons this summer? Well, this is the week for
you!
Sign in at the starting line below (please link to where you're
updating...blog, Facebook, Goodreads...to a starting line post
preferably). Stop in on Twitter (or use Tweetchat, Tweetdeck,
Bottlenose) and use the hashtag #sitdownwrite. Maybe we'll have some impromptu writing sprints.
My Goals:
I've have a huge pile of reviews that I just haven't had the time to get to writing, and the pile keeps getting bigger and bigger with each book I finish. So for this Write-A-Thon, I'm going to try to get as many of the reviews listed writtten!
Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
Blue Exorcist Volume 7 by Kazue Kato
Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs
Broken by Kelley Armstrong
Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs
The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
Immortal Hearts by Ellen Schreiber
Fever Moon: The Fear Dorcha by Karen Marie Moning and Al Rio
Taming the Wolf by Stephanie Nelson
Promises by Amber Garr
Frozen Heart by Annabelle Blume
Dire Needs by Stephanie Tyler
Once they are written, I'll cross them out, and once I have them posted
I'll link the review to the title. All updates can be found on the
Write-A-Thon page of the blog.
Title: Fever Moon: The Fear Dorcha Series: Fever Author: Karen Marie Moning Artist(s): Al Rio, Cliff Richards Genre: Graphic Novels Elements: Fae, Shapeshifters Publisher: Del Rey Books, Random House Inc. Format: Hardcover, 184 Pages ISBN: 978-0-345-52548-2 Release Date: July 10, 2012 Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library Rating: 5/5
Tagline(s): ~NONE~
Summary: Dublin
is a war zone. The walls between humans and Fae are down. A third of
the world's population is dead and chaos reigns. Imprisoned more than
half a million years ago, the Unseelie are free and each one Mac meets
is worse than the last. Human weapons don't stand a chance against them.
With a blood moon hanging low over the city, something dark and sinister
begins to hunt the streets of Temple Bar, choosing its victims by
targeting those closest to Mac. Armed only with the Spear of Destiny and
Jericho Barrons, she must face her most terrifying enemy yet.
In this all-new Mac & Barrons story by #1 New York Times bestseller
Karen Marie Moning, we meet the most ancient and deadly Unseelie ever
created, the Fear Dorcha. For eons, he's traveled across worlds with the
Unseelie King, leaving behind him a path of mutilation and destruction.
Now he's hunting Dublin, and no one Mac loves is safe.
Review:
I love when books from my favorite series are adapted into graphic
novels, but I'm also wary because the story can end up too watered down.
That is not a problem in Fever Moon. Fever Moon runs parallel to the
main story in Shadowfever, as evidenced by some memorable scenes and
quotes, but it's more of an off-shoot story depicting what happens after
Mac meets the Fear Dorcha at Chester's and the Dreamy-Eyed Guy chases
him away. So basically this is the story of the Fear Dorcha's revenge
against Mac, the one who got away, by targeting those close to her.
So I was not disappointed in the story at all. I'm also glad that they
included the scenes from Shadowfever, so we know exactly when these Fear
Dorcha scenes happen in the Shadowfever storyline.
Now the artwork I thought was absolutely amazing. I don't think they
could have chosen a better artist than Al Rio for Fever Moon. His
artwork really brings out the feel of AWC Dublin. Mac looks just awesome
(although I do think she's a bit too sexy-looking, if that's possible).
I was a little disappointed with how Barrons was depicted. To be
honest, I don't think he looks hot enough. He looks more like a thug to
me. In regard to all the men in Fever Moon, they look too square and
bulky--sure they are muscular, but not BOOM!! muscular. Maybe I'm just
too picky when it comes to artwork depictions of my favorite characters,
though.
There are some really graphic (no pun intended) scenes that should be
watched out for. Especially the scene depicting Mac's rape by the
Unseelie Princes that turned her pri-ya. So I definitely think reader
discretion should be used when deciding whether to read Fever Moon or
not.
With all that said, Fever Moon is probably one of the best adaptations
for a novel series that I've read so far. I hope that Karen Marie Moning
plans on more graphic novels in the Fever series in the future.
About this Author:
Karen Marie Moning (rhymes with
'awning') is the # 1 New York Times bestselling author of 12 novels,
including the Rita-award winning Highlander novels and the
internationally bestselling urban fantasy Fever series. Her books have
been published in 21 languages, and her events draw fans from all over
the world.
Title: Bone Crossed Series: Mercy Thompson #4 Author: Patricia Briggs Genre: Supernatural Fictions, Urban Fantasy Fiction Elements: Werewolves, Fae, Shapeshifters, Ghosts, Vampires, Zombies Publisher: Ace Books, Penguin Group Format: Hardcover, 309 Pages ISBN: 978-0-441-01676-1 Release Date: February 3, 2009 Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library Rating: 4.5/5
Tagline(s): ~NONE~
Summary: By day, Mercy is a car mechanic in the sprawling
Tri-Cities of Eastern Washington. By night, she explores her
preternatural side. As a shapeshifter with some unique talents, Mercy
has often found herself having to maintain a tenuous harmony between the
human and the not so human. This time she may get more than she
bargained for.
Marsilia, the local Vampire Queen, has learned that Mercy crossed her by
slaying a member of her clan--and she's out for blood. But since Mercy
is protected from direct reprisal by the werewolf pack (and her close
relationship with its sexy Alpha), it won't be Mercy's blood Marsilia is
after.
It'll be her friends'.
Review:
In Bone Crossed, Mercy struggles to cope with the terriblesexual
assault she suffered at the hands of a power-hungry murderer. She is
plagued by terrifying panic attacks and flashbacks that leave her
gasping for air. But life continues to move on and past actions have
repercussions.
Marsilia, Mistress of the local vampire seethe, knows that Mercy killed
her left hand man, Andre. And she's out for blood. But with Mercy's
protection guaranteed from the local werewolf alpha and his pack, it's
Mercy's friends who are the targets.
To give Adam a chance to negotiate with Marsilia and to take some time
away for herself, Mercy goes to Spokane to help an old college
acquaintance with a ghost haunting her house. But in escaping one
vampire, Mercy lands right in the path of another, aptly nicknamed The
Monster.
Mercy will have to fight mentally, emotionally, and physically to make it home in one piece.
Is it just me or does it seem like lately Mercy is the target of
victimization? In the previous book, she is attacked and sexually
assaulted, and now in Bone Crossed she has her shop vandalized with
derogatory words and images, and she's attacked again in her sleep by
The Monster! She leaves the memory of one attack behind in the
Tri-Cities and walks right into another in Spokane. It's one thing after
another and I'm wondering how much Mercy will be able to take before
she breaks. She's tough, but there is only so much one person can take.
Adam and Mercy really start coming together in this book. After Adam
comes to understand what Mercy was feeling after her attack, he tried to
help Mercy work through it. Now that Mercy has accepted Adam's mate
claim, he's been able to relax some and is more patient than before.
Adam doesn't walk on eggshells around her, but he exudes a gentleness
that let's Mercy know that he's there if she needs him, but he also
knows she can take care of herself. I'd say that this is the real
beginning for Adam and Mercy, and I can't wait to see how their
relationship continues to grow.
There was a great quote said by Adam about who Mercy belongs to that
further shows how much he understand her that I really liked:
"Like a coyote, Mercy is adaptable. She belongs to whom she decides. She
belongs everywhere she wants to, for just as long as she wants to."
(Page 212)
I love Bran! I mean, who doesn't? You can really tell how much he cares
about Mercy when he visits her in this book. He may not voice it, but
his actions speak louder than his words ever could. Mercy may not be
Bran's biological daughter, but her definitely sees her as if she were.
Bran is one of my favorite fictional fathers. I can't help but love him!
We get a look at the power struggle within the vampire seethe when both
Estelle and Bernard approach Stefan to join them in their rebellion.
Estelle basically just wants power, where Bernard really seems to have
the seethe's well-being in mind. But Stefan shows unwavering loyalty to
Marsilia when he refuses them both, even though she hurt him. He truly
is a Soldier at heart, and like a good soldier, the good of the whole
outweighs the good of one.
Though Mercy's trouble with the vampires is resolved, there is no hatred
lost between her and Marsilia. The next book, Silver Borne, brings us
back to the fae and someone really wants the book Mercy borrowed when
trying to free Zee in Iron Kissed. The adventures continues and they are
bound to be even more exciting that the last.
About this Author:
Patricia Briggs was born in
Butte, Montana to a children’s librarian who passed on to her kids a
love of reading and books. Patricia grew up reading fairy tales and
books about horses, and later developed an interest in folklore and
history. When she decided to write a book of her own, a fantasy book
seemed a natural choice. Patricia graduated from Montana State
University with degrees in history and German and she worked for a while
as a substitute teacher. Currently, she lives in Montana with her
husband, children and six horses and writes full-time, much to the
delight of her fans.
Title: Broken Series: Women of the Otherworld #6 Author: Kelley Armstrong Genre: Supernatural Fiction, Urban Fantasy Fiction Elements: Werewolves, Demons, Necromancers, Zombies, Sorcerers, Witches, Vampires Publisher: Bantam Books, Random House Inc. Format: Mass Market Paperback, 444Pages ISBN: 978-0-553-58818-7 Release Date: April 25, 2006 Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library Rating: 5/5
Tagline(s): ~NONE~
Summary: Ever since she discovered she's pregnant, Elena Michaels
has been on edge. After all, she's never heard of another living female
werewolf, let alone one who's given birth. But, thankfully, her
expertise is needed to retrieve a stolen letter allegedly written by
Jack the Rippper. As a distraction, the job seems simple enough--only
the letter contains a portal to Victorian London's underworld, which
Elena inadvertently triggers--unleashing a vicious killer and a pair of
zombie thugs.
Now Elena must find a way to seal the portal before the unwelcome
visitors get what they're looking for--which, for some unknown reason,
is Elena....
Review:
Who would have thought a mosquito could cause so much trouble?
Broken brings us back to my favorite narrator in the Women of the
Otherworld series, werewolf Elena Michaels. She's pregnant and
bored...never a good combination for a woman used to action. So when
Xavier calls about the favor Elena owes him for getting her out of a
sticky situation is Stolen, she couldn't be more excited.
But what seems like a simple B&E with a little theft quickly turns
not-so-simple when a squished mosquito falls on the From Hell letter
they stole and opens a portal to Victorian London. Now the famous
killer, Jack the Ripper, is loose in Toronto with two zombie goons in
tow. And for some reason they are targeting Elena.
What's a werewolf mama-to-be to do when she has to protect, not only her
own life, but that of her unborn child? One thing is for sure: The
portal needs to be closed, before it's too late.
Elena's fear of Changing while pregnant was very visceral. Any
mother-to-be would fear doing anything that could cause their child
harm, but it's more so for Elena. Changing is a very painful process,
not to mention that her body is contorting to a new shape, so she fears
and questions what that could do to the baby. And the fact that there
has never been a pregnant werewolf before leaves the entire Pack
cautious. But if you think about is in human terms, all new mothers and
fathers stress over the new arrival, so for Elena and Clay I'd say their
behavior is normal for new werewolf parents.
One of my favorite moments in Broken may not seem very significant, but
for Elena and Clay's relationship it is. Nick notices Elena wearing both
her engagement ring and her wedding band. The engagement ring isn't
much of a surprise since she's been wearing it on and off for years and
kept it on for the past five years as a sign to Clay that she's staying
for good. But where Clay's wedding band has been on his finger for the
past fifteen years, Elena's remained in it's original case, at least
until she became pregnant. Nick can't believe that Elena is actually
going to keep it on after the baby is born. I loved Elena's reply:
"What? You think I'm willing to have Clay's baby, but not wear his ring? We're even thinking of making it legal."
This small, seemingly insignificant moment really shows how much Elena
has grown since Bitten. She's accepted herself as a werewolf, forgiven
Clay for biting her, and finally committing herself to Clay completely.
And I say it's about time. Clay made one mistake (though it was a big,
life-altering mistake) and suffered for it for fifteen years. It's about
time he finally finds happiness, and I don't think anything could make
him happier than his mate accepting him and bearing his child.
We reunite with previous characters and meet new additions in Broken.
One new addition that really stood out for me was Zoe Takano. Zoe is a
vampire and the original thief of the From Hell letter. She has a little
crush on Elena that left Elena feeling awkward and me laughing. What is
it with Elena and vampires anyway? One wants to be her BFF and the
other wants to make out (or possibly more) with her.
I was all over the place while reading Broken. I was rooting one moment,
then totally grossed out the next. And let's not forget completely
terrified for different reasons, one of which included Clay's injury.
And I thought that the birth was such a magical moment! It's one of my
favorite moments in the entire series so far. I don't know much about
Jack the Ripper, but Kelley Armstrong's use of the killer's story and
knowledge of the time made for an interesting and compelling addition to
this series.
Book Trailer:
About this Author:
Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could
write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a
story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead
girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to
make her produce "normal" stories failed.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves,
while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the
author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal
suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy,
as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in
southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
Broken was read during the Summer Wrap-Up Read-A-Thon
Broken was read during the Review Copy Cleanup Challenge
Review was written during the Sit Down and Write Write-A-Thon
Title: Magic Bites Series: Kate Daniels #1 Author: Ilona Andrews Genre: Supernatural Fiction, Urban Fantasy Fiction Elements: Vampires, Necromancers, Shapeshifters, Mages, Psychic Abilities, Werewolves Publisher: Ace Books, Penguin Group Format: Mass Market Paperback, 260 Pages ISBN: 978-0-441-01489-7 Release Date: March 27, 2007 Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library Rating: 4/5
Tagline(s):Atlanta would be a nice place to live if it weren't for the magic...
Summary: When the magic is up,
rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to
fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic
recedes as unpredictably as it arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal
problems in its wake.
Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck
mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But
when Kate's guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a
power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta's magic
circles.
The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control
vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each
other for a series of bizarre killings—and the death of Kate's guardian
may be part of the same mystery. Pressured by both sides to find the
killer, Kate realizes she's way out of her league—but she wouldn't have
it any other way…
Review:
A magical apocalypse has
destroyed the technological world we all know so well in Magic Bites.
Our once proud technological advancements have been laid waste by the
resurgence of Old World magic that now runs wild once again. Skyscrapers
are ruinous heaps that are home to magical outlaws, while guns fail to
fire and vehicles fail to start. When magic hits, technology doesn't
stand a chance. After learning of her guardian's
death, Kate Daniels travels to Atlanta in search of answers. But the
questions lead to a building feud between the Pack and the People, and
Kate is caught in the middle. Both factions have members mysteriously
murdered and they are blaming each other. Pressured by both sides, Kate
must figure out who (or what) is behind the killings and what they have
to do with her guardian's murder, before war breaks out. The world of Magic Bites is
really intriguing and complex. I mean, there are so many factions and
groups that it's hard to keep them straight sometimes. There is the
Pack, the People, the Order, the Division, and the Guild just in this
first book. I'm not even sure what all of their purposes are, especially
the law enforcement factions. But the intricacies of the Pack and the
People are really interesting. There is still so much to learn about
this world and its people. I loved the dynamic between Kate
and Curran. They both push each others buttons, in good and bad ways. I
loved the incident where Kate sent Curran a saucer of milk at a
restaurant when she finds him basically spying in her. It was such a
hilarious moment, I couldn't stop laughing. And you can definitely feel
something simmering between them. We don't see much in Magic Bites, but
you just know something is going to happen between them. Magic Bites was a great
introduction to the world and people in the Kate Daniels series. We meet
key characters that will show up throughout the series, and I'm sure
there's going to be even more about post-magical-apocalyptic Atlanta to
learn in future books. This is an exciting start and I can't wait to
read the next installment! About this Author:
Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym
for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born
Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army.
Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer
with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy
who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where
Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)
Gordon
and Ilona currently reside in Oregon with their two children, three
dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban
fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.
Magic Bites was read during the Summer Wrap-Up Read-A-Thon
Magic Bites was read during the Review Copy Cleanup 2.0 Challenge
Review was written during the Sit Down and Write Write-A-Thon
Title: Taming the Wolf Series: Anna Avery #1 Author(s): Stephanie Nelson Genre: Supernatural Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Elements: Werewolves Publisher: Stephanie Nelson Format: PDF, 114 Pages ASIN:B008BKT3UO Release Date: June 13, 2012 Source: Tour Host {Promotional Book Tours} Rating: 3.5/5
Tagline(s): ~NONE~
Summary: Attacked by a wolf while hiking, Anna Avery's life just got a little
hairier. Living in the Big Horn mountains in Wyoming, with a group of
werewolves who are more animal than human, Anna must try to hold onto
her human side.
It's not easy when the alpha continues to persuade her
into his bed, while another wolf is chomping at the bit to become her
mate. To top it all off, dead bodies are showing up and it just so
happens that Anna was the last to see them alive. She'll have to work to
prove her innocence and taming the wolf who bites first and asks
questions never.
Review:
Three months ago, Anna Avery was attacked in the woods by a wolf while jogging. Anna was found close to death by Adam Everwood, the alpha of the Everwood Pack. Now, three months after her attack, Anna is a functioning member of the pack, but because she's the newest member she's at the bottom of the pack order. She does the chores, gets her meals last, and is supposed to be submissive to those above her.
But there is just something clawing its way out that won't allow her to cower. Anna sees herself as being equal to the alphas, and Adam begins noticing that she may very well be his equal. Eve, the alpha female, notices this change too, and it's made worse when Adam begins showing interest in Anna, therefore threatening Eve's place in the pack.
As this power struggle continues, humans are turning up mauled to death. With each new attack, Anna has a dream-vision of it happening. Scared of what these visions could mean for her, Anna keeps them to herself. But as more humans are turning up dead, the Leaders are called in to investigate, and Anna is the number one suspect.
I couldn't help but love Anna. She's supposed to be the small submissive at the bottom, but she's way more assertive than a submissive should be. I love that she doesn't back down from Adam and looks him right in the eye. Another thing I really liked about Anna was her morals. She won't give herself to just anyone, and she won't become the mate to someone who doesn't love her. The one she chooses for her mate has to be hers completely, just as she would be his completely.
It is mentioned multiple times that Anna is the only snow white wolf in the pack, and it is believed that it could be a sign of great things in her future. In the three months that she's been in the pack, though, Anna hasn't shown any special abilities or the like. Though it's questionable that the dream-visions she's been having are the abilities of a seer, because Anna's fur color is emphasized many times, I feel there has to be something special about her. Maybe even Adam's coloring being exactly opposite of Anna's means something. Anna is snow white and Adam is jet black. Or I could be reading way too into things.
And maybe their colors even have a little something to do with them being each others "Chante." A wolf's chante is his or her heart, their soul mate, their other half. When I thought of their coloring and being each others chante, it made me think of a ying-yang, they each are a half of a whole.
The discovery behind the reason for Adam and Anna's attraction wasn't smooth and was quite a bumpy, sometimes painful process. Neither can understand why they feel such a strong draw to each other, and both try to push against it. But when Anna's life is in danger, they choose to give in for a night that may be their first and last. It's after that that they know the chante legend is true. I'm glad that this wasn't an instant relationship. There were obstacles at every turn. But the end result was worth waiting for.
There was a surprise revelation concerning Eve that left me reeling. Not to mention why she framed Anna for the killings (it's kind of obvious from the beginning who how jealous she was of Anna that she was the one behind it). Murder, jealousy, and revenge reign supreme where Eve is concerned.
Taming the Wolf was an exciting read and I can't wait to read the next story of Anna Avery.
Book Trailer:
About this Author:
Unlike most authors, Stephanie Nelson didn't dream of becoming a writer.
Her interest laid in photography. It wasn't until four years ago when
she picked up her first paranormal romance book and fell in love. Books
became her addiction and the local bookstore her favorite place to
visit. It wasn't long before her own stories began to form and nag her
to try her hand at writing. After countless attempts, Stephanie ended up
giving up on writing for a while. But her imagination wouldn't allow
her to quit. Deciding to give it another shot, Stephanie began to write
the Gwen Sparks series. The first book in the series, Craved was
published seven months later and reached #1 on Amazon's bestseller list
and #6 on the Barnes and Noble bestseller list.
Stephanie
resides in the Midwest with her husband and their furry children. When
she manages to pull herself away from the computer, she enjoys
traveling, fishing, playing board games and spending time with her
family.
Title: Iron Kissed Series: Mercy Thompson #3 Author: Patricia Briggs Genre: Supernatural Fictions, Urban Fantasy Fiction Elements: Werewolves, Fae, Shapeshifters, Ghosts Publisher: Ace Books, Penguin Group Format: Mass Market Paperback, 287 Pages ISBN: 978-0-441-01566-5 Release Date: January 2, 2008 Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library Rating: 4.5/5
Tagline(s): ~NONE~
Summary:I could smell her fear, and it satisfied
something deep inside me that had been writhing under her cool, superior
gaze. I curled me upper lip so she could get a good look as my sharp
teeth. I might only weigh thirty or so pounds in my coyote shape, but I
was a predator...
Mechanic Mercy Thompson can shift her shape--but not her loyalty. When
her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind
bars by his own kind, it's up to Mercy to clear his name, whether he
wants her to or not.
Mercy's loyalty is under pressure from other directions, too. Werewolves
are not known for their patience, and if Mercy can't decide between the
two she cares for, Sam and Adam may make the choice for her...
Review:
In Iron Kissed, Uncle Mike and Zee call in the debt Mercy owes them for
borrowing fae objects to kill two vampires. Someone has been murdering
fae on the reservation, and with Mercy's nose she may be able to sniff
out who did it. BFA agent O'Donnell was present in each of the victim's
homes, but when Uncle Mike and Zee pay the guard a little visit, they
find him dead in his home. Now Zee is being framed for the murder of
O'Donnell. Mercy, great and loyal friend that she is, will not let Zee
go down for something he didn't do. At least not without a fight.
Mercy couldn't have gotten herself in a more dangerous situation than
sticking her nose (literally) into fae business. Though she was asked to
help, she has gained the attention of some very powerful fae, ones who
aren't very happy with her knowing their secrets.
First, there is the Great Carrion Crow, who goes by the name Nemane, who
also happens to be blind. She finds Mercy sniffing around O'Donnell's
place and having possession of one of their treasures. Then there is The
Fideal, who catches Mercy sniffing around the local Citizens for a
Bright Future chapter. He decides that since he hasn't had a good meal
in a while, Mercy will make a great snack. It's amazing that Mercy is
still alive considering how much trouble that nose of hers gets her
into.
The treasure that I mentioned Mercy being in possession of is a walking
stick that is supposed to cause its owner's sheep to bear twins. For
some reason the walking stick has grown attached to Mercy and will show
up wherever she is. I thought it important to mention the walking stick
because it appears in future books and sometimes plays a key role in
saving Mercy's life.
We learn about a couple anti-fae groups in Iron Kissed. The first is the
one O'Donnell was a member of, Citizens for a Bright Future. This
anti-fae group is more for the common, blue-collar person. Whereas the
John Lauren Society, which is the largest anti-fae group, is geared
toward those of the high class variety. Coincidentally, the lawyer Mercy
hired to represent Zee is a member of this group.
Another cool thing that is revealed to us is what Zee really looks like
beneath his glamour. By my mental image, he looks pretty awesome!
The side story in Iron Kissed centers around Mercy's indecision
concerning Adam and Samuel. Warren warns her that she needs to choose
one or neither of them before one of them loses control. They both have
been in pretty good control of themselves, but Adam is more restless and
his temper more volatile.
We learn the reason for this lies in Adam's mate claim being
unfulfilled. When Adam claimed Mercy, a spot was opened for her in the
pack, and that opening (which has not been filled) is a weakness within
the pack. Adam is absorbing the effects and that leaves him constantly
on edge. So there is a lot more to Adam's claim than Mercy thought, so
she needs to really think about her choice.
Ben was a character that I had a love-hate relationship with. But when
Ben had a one-on-one talk with Adam it really made it easier to
understand him. His hatred of women and his feelings about the rape he
was accused of really make sense after this. Ben even seems to soften
toward Mercy after this point. Ben is probably one of my favorite
characters in thise series now.
Mercy shows great strength in the face of a terrible circumstance. But
it will take time for her to heal completely and I can't wait to see how
she grows after this point.
About this Author:
Patricia Briggs was born in
Butte, Montana to a children’s librarian who passed on to her kids a
love of reading and books. Patricia grew up reading fairy tales and
books about horses, and later developed an interest in folklore and
history. When she decided to write a book of her own, a fantasy book
seemed a natural choice. Patricia graduated from Montana State
University with degrees in history and German and she worked for a while
as a substitute teacher. Currently, she lives in Montana with her
husband, children and six horses and writes full-time, much to the
delight of her fans.
Iron Kissed was read during the High Summer Read-A-Thon
Review was written during the Sit Down and Write Write-A-Thon
Title: Blue Exorcist Volume 7 Japanese Title: Ao no Exorcist Series: Blue Exorcist #7 Manga-ka: Kazue Kato Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Graphic Novels, Older Teen Ages 16+ Publisher: Viz Media, Shonen Jump Advanced, Shueisha Inc. Format: Paperback, 177 Pages ISBN-13: 978-1-4215-4262-1 Release Date: April 3, 2012 Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library Rating: 4.5/5
Tagline(s): Fight hellfire with hellfire!
Summary: Mamushi and Todo now have both eyes of the Impure King
and are headed for the temple that was once the center of the Myodha
sect. Mamushi wants to seal the eyes away, but may be too late to
realize Todo’s true purpose—the awakening of the Impure King! Meanwhile,
Rin learns more about Father Fujimoto’s connection to Tatsuma and the
origin of the Koma Sword. Rin will need the weapon and all of his
strength to face the terrible power of the Impure King!
Review:
As the past continues to be revealed, Todo and Mamushi take the Eyes of
the Impure King to the husk that was its body. Once the eyes are
returned, the Impure King will live once again. But Tatsuma won't let
that happen without a fight. But as it turns out, Tatsuma (or rather his
familiar, Karura) was Todo's target all along. Reviving the Impure King
was just an added bonus.
When Rin come to the end of Tatsuma's letter, he wishes to help in any
way he can. There's just one problem: He can't draw his sword! Rin is
scared of what he is capable of and has lost all his confidence. And it
really doesn't help that he's been given a death sentence for using his
flame. But Rin's power is needed to defeat the Impure King, so it's up
to his friends to break him out!
I don't really have much to say about this volume, but one thing stood
out. While all the chaos with the Impure King is raging and Rin is
facing death for using his flame, his friends realize that they couldn't
bear for him to die, so they set out to free him. Shiemi realizes her
mistake in only thinking of her own hurt feelings and not what Rin must
be going through. I think the most powerful moment between Rin and his
friends was when Rin asked Konekomaru if he would trust Rin with
protecting Suguro. Konekomaru's nod yes was really important to Rin
because he knows how much Suguro means to Konekomaru, and his trust is
priceless to Rin.
I can't wait to see what happens next with the fight against the Impure
King and what Rin's fate will be when it's all said and done.
About this Manga-ka:
Kazue Katō (加藤和恵, Katō Kazue), born on July 20th, 1980 in
the district of Shinjuku, in Tokyo, is a Japanese mangaka, author of
shōnen manga. She is mainly known to be author of Blue Exorcist. She also created Robot to Usakichi ( ロボとうさ吉 ), for which she received the price Osamu Tezuka Award.
Blue Exorcist Volume 7 was read during the High Summer Read-A-Thon
Review was written during the Sit Down and Write Write-A-Thon
Title: Dire Needs Series: Eternal Wolf Clan #1 Author: Stephanie Tyler Genre: Supernatural Fiction, Paranormal Romance Elements: Werewolves, Shapeshifters, Deities, Witches, Ghosts, Demons Publisher: Signet Eclipse Books, Penguin Group Format: Mass Market Paperback, 390 Pages ISBN: 978-0-451-23623-4 Release Date: March 6, 2012 Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library Rating: 4/5
Tagline(s): ~NONE~
Summary: The
full moon is their mistress. They are predators of pleasure and pain.
Feared by humans, envied by werewolves, the Dire Wolves are immortal
shifters, obeying no laws but their own bestial natures. Once they were
many, but now only six remain, a dangerous wolfpack forever on the
hunt…
Rifter leads the pack, embracing the lifestyle and ethics of an outlaw
biker even as he battles an ancient enemy who has become a new,
powerful force. But with his Brother Wolf raging inside him, howling to
be unleashed, he needs to satisfy his hungers. And when he meets a
drop-dead gorgeous blonde drinking alone in a bar that caters to both
human and inhuman, Rifter’s primal instinct is to claim her.
Gwen has her own desires, long unfulfilled. She hopes a passionate
night with the leather-clad, Harley-riding biker will ease her
suffering. The seizures that have wracked her body her entire life are
incurable—and they’re killing her.
But none of that will matter if Rifter can’t stop the growing threat to
them all–trappers who are determined to enslave humankind and use the
Dire wolves as part of their nefarious plan.
Review:
"When Fenrir was killed by the
god Odin, Hati created two beings in his image who would become known as
Mother and Father Wolf, Dire wolves born in human form so they could
walk among the humans without fear, but change to their true form at
will." Thus the Dire race was born, but
as the packs grew, they became envious of what the humans had. In their
quest to gain power, wealth, and respect, the Dires began killing
humans and eventually became uncontrollable. The Elders sent them a
warning, but it was not heeded and the Elder set the Extinction upon
them. Now there are only six known Dire alphas left, cursed with the
inability to die and charged with protecting the very humans their
ancestors murdered. "Rifter needed a woman, Brother
Wolf needed to run wild, and their appetites for sex and destruction
mingled, rose with a hot howl as Rifter's Harley roared through the
winter night." One night as Rifter was out
riding his bike, he stopped at a bar named Bite, because he smelled
danger. There at the bar was a young woman who, not only caught the
attention of all the men, but Rifter as well. Gwen is a human and for
some reason Rifter feels drawn to her. "She was already living with a death sentence, so why make it harder?" Earlier that day, Gwen went to a
neurology appointment for her seizures, and the truth wasn't good. The
seizures are killing her and the medication isn't helping. So with that
news, Gwen went to the bar, looking to awaken long-buried instincts she
suppressed because of her illness. When she literally felt Rifter walk
into the bar, she knew he wouldn't be gentle and treat her carefully. This fated meeting between
Rifter, the reluctant King of the Dire pack, and Gwen, the dying doctor
who only wants to live, will change both their lives forever. I thought it was interesting how
in this series the wolf is their natural form and the man their
secondary. It's different from how shifter stories are usually written
with the man turning into the animal, instead of the animal turning into
the man. The coexistence between the men and their Brother Wolves was
pretty tame. Everything is equal, they work together, and there isn't
any struggle for control between the two. There is one thing both man
and wolf disagree on: their goals in life. In Rifter's case, his Brother
Wolf's main goal is to become Father Wolf, which can only happen
through mating. The fact that there are no Dire females makes that near
impossible. Whereas Rifter only wants to die. Although that changes when
he meets Gwen. Rifter is a reluctant hero in
Dire Needs. He doesn't want the responsibility of leadership, but knows
that he needs to accept that role for the good of the pack. I think what
will make him a great leader is his humbleness. He's confident and
self-assured in his abilities, but he doesn't gloat about it. Confidence
is good, but too much confidence can be a leader's downfall. "According to Facebook, Rifter left the bar with a human. Twitter confirms." Okay, am I the only one who
thought that the use of social media was hilarious and kind of
unbelievable? I mean, they value secrecy and don't want humans to know
about their supernaturalness. How in the world could they keep humans
from seeing their status updates and tweets? That is the unbelievable
part. There is just no way. The hilarious part is the picture I get in
my head as I read the quote Stray said above. He sounded like a teenage
girl using Facebook and Twitter to stay in the know. He's this huge,
masculine guy using social media for confirmation regarding Rifter. That
just paints a funny picture in my head. I really liked Rogue's
description of Gwen and I totally agree with him that it's going to make
things a whole lot more interesting. Gwen is hovering between life and
death, she's a healer and a destroyer. She's dying because of her
seizures, but she recently learned that she may yet live. Gwen is a
doctor who heals the sick, but she also has the ability to destroy the
Dires. It's like Gwen's very existence is liminal, an inbetween
exixtence. She's inbetween who she was and who she's going to be. She's
half one thing and half another. It's very interesting to think about. I
can't wait to see how her liminality affects future events. With the revelation that there
are more Dires in the world than was thought, a great war between the
supernatural and humans is beginning, and long-dead prophecies are
turning out to be true. Stray will need to call in his brother, Killian,
to help in the upcoming battles, but why was Killian kept a secret from
the rest of the pack? I can't wait to find out in the next book, Dire
Wants. Standout Quotes:
"You are magic to my logic."
"Forget your science. Embrace your wolf."
About this Author:
NY
Times Bestselling author Stephanie Tyler writes what she loves to read -
romantic suspense with military heroes and paranormal romance - all
with happy endings. Her Eternal Wolf Clan series begins with DIRE NEEDS,
which is available March 6, 2012 from NAL.
She also co-writes paranormal erotic romance for Bantam Dell under the pen-name Sydney Croft.
She lives in New York with her husband, her daughter and her weimaraner and she adores her job.
For more information on Stephanie, please visit www.stephanietyler.com or email her at stephanie@stephanietyler.com.
For more information on Sydney, please visit www.sydneycroft.com or email Sydney at sydney@sydneycroft.com.
