Thursday, April 29, 2010

Marked - P. C. Cast, Kristin Cast

Marked is the first novel in the "House of Night" series.  It's a novel with a new take on vampires, or vampyres as they're called in this alternate earth.  It's supposed to be for young adults, but it's a little too adult for my grandkids.  I enjoyed it a lot though.  Zoe Redbird is marked as a vampyre one day at high school and her whole world changes.  In her new vampyre school she makes new friends and discovers talents she didn't know she had.  No monsters or stakes in this book.  But I suspect the series will get a bit more monsterish as it goes along.  I'll be reading more of this series.  Highly recommended.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Blood Rites - Jim Butcher

Blood Rites is book 6 in The Dresden Files series.  This time Harry is dealing with black and white vampires and various other nasties.  Imagine flaming demon monkey poop bombs for starters and the action gets a lot hotter as the story moves along.  Harry gets a new pet and finds some long lost family.  Murphy plays her usual part and manages to amaze Harry with her wardrobe in more ways than one.  It's the same entertaining barely controlled mayhem that you expect from Butcher.  Highly recommended.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Strangers in Death - J.D. Robb

Strangers in Death is another Lt. Eve Dallas murder mystery.  I've read a few of the "In Death" series and they're all good.  They take place about 50 years in the future.  It gives them a little science fiction feeling.  Keep in mind that they are mostly detective stories but still a little bit romance novels.  I can live with that.  After all Robb is Nora Roberts.  This time Eve is up against a woman almost as tough and smart as she is, but with the morals of a crocodile.  This story has a twist that makes you wonder how anyone could be that devious.  Just be glad there are cops just as devious as the crooks.  Highly recommended.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Black Magic Sanction - Kim Harrison

Black Magic Sanction is the 8th Rachel Morgan novel. This time Rachel is under attack from the Coven. The Coven has decided shunning isn't enough. They have more drastic plans for Rachel. And of course she's still dodging demons and trying to avoid romance. I always regret finishing a Harrison book. It's going to be too long until the next one comes out. Highly recommended.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Death Masks - Jim Butcher

Death Mask is another Dresden Files novel.  This time Harry is up against the vampires of the Red Council and the Denarians.   Denarians are half demon and half human and all mean.  Not something you want to run into in a dark alley or anywhere else.  And Susan is back.  That makes things even more complicated.  As usual more action and suspense than three other average books.  Highly recommended.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Flashback - Nevada Barr

Flashback is an Anna Pigeon novel.  It's the first one I've read but not the last.  Anna is a park ranger and she's got temporary duty at the far edge of the Florida Keys in Dry Tortugas National Park.  She's temporarily in charge because her predecessor seemed to go insane.  Now she finds herself slipping into a mental fog too.  Finding the cause is just one of her problems.  It turns out that everyone working for her is not what they seem.  There's a little romantic angle to the story but I like that it doesn't interfere with the mystery and the solution.  Highly recommended.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Silver Borne - Patricia Briggs

Silver Born is a new Mercy Thompson novel.  Mercy has unwittingly borrowed something a fairy queen wants.  To make things more complicated her housemate Sam is having a identity crisis, her mate Adam is challenged for alpha of the pack, and her house (trailer) is burned to the ground.  That's just a few of the complications in this story.  It's another thrilling adventure with all the action and suspense you could want.  Briggs novels are too few and far between.  Of course I'd feel that way if she could bang one out every week.  Very highly recommended.
Publish Post

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Out of the Black - Lee Doty

Out of the Black is one of the best books I've read in a long time. It takes place just a little jump into the future. You're never sure where in the time line you are at first, but the book is so compelling you relish the razzle dazzle after a while. Your typical homicide detective, who has spent his whole live in martial arts, meets the sorcerer's apprentice and his beautiful companion. Then they meet the super sized superwoman clone who was souped up by a dying magical warrior. And it all happens so fast it's hard not to get out of breath just reading. The fight scenes scream out The Matrix or Aeon Flux. There are very few books I'd like to see made into movies, but this one would have to have some awesome special affects. Doty is amazing. I want to read more books by this author but I can't find any. I'll be watching though. Very highly recommended.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

The Dangerous Hour - Marcia Muller

The Dangerous Hour is a Sharon McCone novel. It's been a long time since I read one of these. Last time I read Muller, I seem to remember Sharon was a struggling investigator for All Souls. Now she owns a successful agency with offices and a staff. I lost touch. She's still not married to Hy though.

This book is about revenge. Someone Sharon brought down is out to return the favor and he's willing to kill to accomplish it. There's plenty of suspense and the usual cast of characters. I enjoy Muller but somehow I drifted away. Probably because so much time is spent in romantic and family angst. I like detective stories about detecting and not relationships. I still enjoyed the book. Recommended.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Summer Knight - Jim Butcher

Summer Knight is another Dresden Files novel. This time Harry has a new client who happens to be a Faerie Queen. He's looking for a whoever or whatever murdered her Knight, and the chances are the killer is something special. He's got to stop a Faerie war that could bring on a new ice age. And you thought humans couldn't affect climate change! Highly recommended.