Deadly Sting Review

Title: Deadly Sting
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassin #8
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Elemental Magic, Assasins, Vampires, Giants, Dwarves

Review:

This review took long to get posted as work got in the way. Fortunately I was able to download the audiobook version and I was able to finish the audiobook in less than a day (listening while working has it's perks). 

I commend the author for changing the dynamics of the plot of Deadly Sting which is a change of pace compared to the previous releases. I like the new direction of the plot which is slightly similar to Steven Seagal's "Under Siege" with a twist. As with the previous book, Gin Blanco does her best: Killing her enemies with her silverstone knives and her elemental powers. 

I like the conclusion because we get to read one of Gin nemesis "removed" from the picture but the story doesn't stop there as a new up incoming nemesis comes which could come out on the next book entitled "Heart of Venom".

A Fistful of Charms Review

Title: A Fistful of Charms
Author: Kim Harrison
Series: Hollows / Rachel Morgan #4
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Witches, Vampires, Demons, Bounty Hunters, Pixies, Werewolves,

Review:
A Fistful of Charm is somewhat of a change of pace in terms of the paranormal genre as this time Rachel and co. are to rescue a former lover from a pack of werewolves (whom Nick stoled a rare ancient artifact called the "Focus") in Michigan. This will also be the time that our favorite pixie gets to be a size of a human (courtesy of Rachel's curse) *spoiler alert*.

We also get to read about a change in the relationship between Rachel and Ivy (and no they didn't become lovers but its close to that *wink wink*).

Overall the book is full of high stake chases and mis-directions to which would keep you excited and I am excited to know how they will handle the focus and if we are gonna expect Aljalierept's return.

As always Marguerite Gavin did a good job narrating on the audiobook version of the book.

Blue-Blooded Vamp Review

Title: Blue-Blooded Vamp
Author: Jaye Wells
Series: Sabina Kane #5
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Assassins, Vampires, Demons, Mages, Nymphs, Faeries

Review:

After finally acquiring an audiobook version of this book and finish listening to this within just two days, I finally get to the conclusion of this great series. This epic finale is not only about Sabina's final battle with Cain but a whole lot of revelation. We get to know who really is the mage Abel is a whole lot of more. 

Personally, I could have wish was bit longer as I really love each character interactions to the point that it almost comical (which is mostly true when Giguhl is involve), but we all know all good things must come to an end. Blue-Blooded Vamp has a great finale to this series to which everyone will enjoy reading. 

Cold Days Review

Title: Cold Days 
Author: Jim Butcher
Series: Dresden Files #14
Genre: Detective, Private Investigator, Urban Fantasy, Wizards, Faeries, Demons, Vampires

Reviews:
Before I get into my review, I was very happy that James Marster is back narrating for Jim Butcher and for the rest of the upcoming Dresden Files books (barring any scheduling conflicts..again).

Cold Days is the much awaited continuation to this great series and it started when we left off the final moments of Ghost Story. As we all know Harry has officially become the Winter Knight and Mab didn't waste time "training" his new tool to the best of her abilities. When all said and done with his training, Harry received his first official order from Mab: To kill an immortal named (Oops!, sorry spoiler alert).

The Cold Days by impression is like Summer Knight and Small Favor combined with all the conspiracies, drama and of course the overload of sarcasms and dark humor (which we can expect from a Harry Dresden book).

Overall Cold Days has surpassed Small Favor as my 2nd best Dresden Files book (behind only to Changes) however this might be a short-lived ranking as book 15 would be coming up and as with the trend we expect the return of Nicodemus and the rest of the Blackened Denarians (who will probably ally themselves with the new antagonists (Oops!, sorry spoiler alert again).

Ghost Story Review

Title: Ghost Story
Author: Jim Butcher
Series: Dresden Files #13
Genre: Detective, Private Investigator, Urban Fantasy, Wizards, Shades, Ghost, Wraiths, Demons

Review:
This the first Dresden Files book that I read rather than listening to it's audiobook version since I the narrator was not James Marsters and I want to preserve the the essence of the series rather than get dissappointed. Ghost Story left off from the from the final events of Changes. 

The book tells about Harry Dresden's adventures as a "Ghost". In retrospect, the story was slow and dragging which is disappointing. With Harry being a ghost would mean that there would be less magic action which also contributes to the books less than stellar appeal. 

The only brighspot in Ghost Story was the story got resolve in matter on which Harry has returned to his "well preserved" body thanks to Mab. 

If I where to rate this story. this would be the lowest.

Deadly Sting Cover Revealed

I have been a staunch follower of the Elemental Assassin series since last year and the author has recently released the the latest cover of the upcoming book "Deadly Sting". The book is scheduled to be released on March 2013.

Silver-Tongued Devil Review

Title: Silver-Tongued Devil
Author: Jaye Wells
Series: Sabina Kane #4
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Assassins, Vampires, Demons, Mages, Nymphs, Faeries

Review:

It's been a while since I did a book review yet I have finish a lot of e-books/audiobook for about a month now and I have a lot to write about. For the meantime I will be posting my review on Jaye Well's Silver-Tongued Devil, the fourth book of the Sabina Kane series.

Upon learning from that the Sabine Kane series will end on the 5th book, I was a bit dissappointed believing that this series could go far as with the other Urban Fantasy / Paranormal novels. However this penultimate novel was suprisingly great as it sets up the readers. This book is also one of the most emotionally charge story as each characters roles being put to the test to the point of almost breaking.

All-in-all Silver-Tongued Devil is another stellar installment in this great book series. Once it grabs a hold of you it won't let get go until the very end, and even then it will leave you reeling from the depths of emotion. I would recommend having the 5th book ready before you finish reading this book as the final scene would really stretch your imagination that not having the next book can be excitement-killer.

Widow's Web Review

Title: Widow's Web
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassin #7
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Elemental Magic, Assasins, Vampires, Giants, Dwarves

Overview:

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.

Review:

I am very fortunate to received the advance E-ARC of this book (in pdf format) from miss Jennifer Estep herself and was able to finish reading before the official release which is today. Widow's Web basically revolves around the Owen and Eva past lives (which is a good "change" in the series since the previous books are mostly focused on Gin and her personal struggles). This story also introduces a very cold-blooded antagonist which virtually mirrors Mab Monroe's and to make matters worse: She was Owen's former lover (Talk about a battle for this dudes love). 

As with the all the previous books the "signature Jennifer Estep story structure" is still intact (Meet the Antagonist ->Help The Victim -> Gin Got beaten by the main antagonist -> Healed back by Jo-jo Devereaux ->Kills the antagonist in the finale) to which I am getting used to and still loving it. Even the the catch phrases are still there (The count downs, "Crack, Crack, Crack") although I personally missed my favorite phrase "Sloppy, Sloppy Sloppy". 

Overall, I love the direction that the author takes in the series as we are able to transition from the post Mab Monroe era. I would hope that the author brings in another "bad ass" series antagonist that would span several books rather got killed in one book (I would assume Jonah MacAllister is that very person to which I would hope so).

Boneshaker Review

Title: Boneshaker
Author: Cherie Priest
Series: Clockwork Century #1
Audiobook Narrator: Karen Redding and Wil Wheaton
Genre: Steampunk, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Alternate History

Summary (From Amazon.com):
In the early days of the Civil War, rumors of gold in the frozen Klondike brought hordes of newcomers to the Pacific Northwest. Anxious to compete, Russian prospectors commissioned inventor Leviticus Blue to create a great machine that could mine through Alaska’s ice. Thus was Dr. Blue’s Incredible Bone-Shaking Drill Engine born.

But on its first test run the Boneshaker went terribly awry, destroying several blocks of downtown Seattle and unearthing a subterranean vein of blight gas that turned anyone who breathed it into the living dead.

Now it is sixteen years later, and a wall has been built to enclose the devastated and toxic city. Just beyond it lives Blue’s widow, Briar Wilkes. Life is hard with a ruined reputation and a teenaged boy to support, but she and Ezekiel are managing. Until Ezekiel undertakes a secret crusade to rewrite history.

His quest will take him under the wall and into a city teeming with ravenous undead, air pirates, criminal overlords, and heavily armed refugees. And only Briar can bring him out alive.

Review:
Boneshaker is my fourth steampunk book that I finished reading (while listening to the audiobook version also for better experience. The story center around Briar Wilkes(narrated by Karen Redding)attempts to rescue her son, Ezekiel (or Zeke on which geek extraordinaire, Wil Wheaton was the narrator) who has his own personal quest on recovering his (in)famous father's science equipment inside the blight "zone" which is infested by "rotters" (aka zombies).

The overall story is very unique as it projects a semi-dystopian/post-apocalyptic feel once the the main character enters the "blight" area of the city. As with any steampunk books that I have read, the setting is held around the 1800's (around the American Civil War period). Boneshaker is a great beginning to a great steampunk series and I can't wait to read the next book "Celementine".

The Alchemyst Review

Title: The Alchemyst
Author: Michael Scott
Series: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #1
Audiobook Narrators: Denis O'Hare
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Alternate Universe, Mythology, History

Review:

I am glad that I decided to finish all six books first before writing a review as I am to excited to read the next book that reviewing would will have to wait. Each books are written mostly in 3rd person format which I like since this series has a number of interesting characters and doing a first person point-of-view would be straining to both the author and to the some readers (Which is why it took me a long time to finish any of George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire books).

The Alchemyst introduces us readers to initial set of characters which is Nicholas Flamel, his wife Perenell Flamel and the twins Josh and Sofie Newman which are the real focal characters to this series (To which I would personally change the series title to "The Chronicles of the Twins of Legend" or something like that if given a chance). We also get to know the main antagonist Dr. John Dee, as well as a number of supporting characters and places that are based from history and mythology (Scathach, Hekate, the Witch of Endor, Yggdrasil etc.) The audiobook narrator (Denis O'Hare) did a great job as he was able to infuse the proper pronunciations as well as the accents of every character.

City of Lost Souls Review

Title: City of Lost Souls
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instrument #5
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult, Nephilim, Angels, Demons, Warlocks, Vampires, Demons, Faeries

Review:

After at least a month of reading (without any assistance from an audiobook), I was able to finish reading "City of Lost Souls".

Obviously the story starts off where "City of Fallen Angels" left of as Clary and the rest of her friends are try every other ways to find Jace Wayland/Lightwood/Herondale after he went missing with the diabolical Sebastian a.k.a. Jonathan Morgensterm.

As the story goes along I was a bit disappointed on the bulk of the story as it was focused more on the "drama" between the love relationships with each characters and not with the issue at hand on which the Shadowhunters are to rescue or hunt down one of their own. 

I was glad though that upon Book III, we finally get the action I was clamoring for and in typical Classandra Clare fashion, the story ends in a favorable resolution (the rescue of Jace) and the signature cliffhanger (which serves somewhat of a preview of things to come in the upcoming sixth book "City of Heavenly Fire").

Every Which Way But Dead Review

Title: Every Which Way But Dead
Author: Kim Harrison
Series: Hollows / Rachel Morgan #3
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Witches, Vampires, Demons, Bounty Hunters, Faeries, Elves

Summary:There's no other Witch in Cincinnati tougher, sexier, or more screwed up than bounty-hunter Rachel Morgan, who's already put her love life (and her soul) in jeopardy through her determined efforts to bring a criminal night creatures to justice.

Between "runs," she has her hands full fending off the attentions of her blood-lusting partner, keeping a dark secret from Jenks, her pixie backup, and resisting a hot new vampire suitor Kisten.

Rachel must also take a stand in the war that's raging in the city's underworld, since she helped put away the vampire Piscari by making a deal with Algaliarept, a powerful demon, to do so that could cost her an eternity of pain, torment, and degradation.

And now "Big Al" is coming to collect his due.

Review:The third installment to the Hollows/Rachel Morgan series continues on from the events of the last book "The Good, the Bad and the Undead". It's past-paced, exciting, unpredictable and fun. Rachel is a wonderfully complex, multi-dimensional protagonist whose penchant for going with the immediate solution and worrying about long-term consequences later leads to no end of thrilling complications:

Make a deal with a demon now, worry about saving her soul later

Keep a secret now, worry about how to rebuild a friendship later

Take down the immediate threat now, and worry about dealing with the ally of convenience when he becomes a problem in the future.

It helps, of course, that she's surrounded by equally complex, equally active people. We also get to read how Rachel and Trent Kalamack's history to which their respective fathers where once very close friends. I would assume more will be revealed as the series continues on.

I was impressed on how Kim Harrison was able to juggle the proganist's various issues then later resolve them in one big swoop.

Blood Cross Review

Title: Blood Cross
Author: Faith Hunter
Series: Jane Yellowrock #2
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Hunters, Shapeshifters, Skinwalkers, Vampires, Witches.

Review:

In the second installment of Jane Yellowrock series, entitled Blood Cross, the stories continue from when Jane Yellowrock was hired by the vampire council to hunt down a rogue vampire who turns young and innocent humans into insane rogue vampire which violates the vampire laws. Jane later gets herself involve into power-play between major the vampire clans. It is also reveal that this power-play also involves an age old rivalry between the vampires and witches which lead to the Jane's bestfriend's children being kidnapped by the perpetrators.

The plot is a tad more complicated than one initially expects, and at times it can be distracting to try and figure out where Jane is on which case or line of inquiry. Despite the complexity of the plot, it still get resolve in a favorable way concluding which is considered a very gruelling story arc.   

Jane Yellowrock is by far one of the best urban fantasy books I have read and I can't wait to read the next book of the series.

The Good, The Bad and The Undead Review

Title: The Good, The Bad and The Undead
Author: Kim Harrison
Series: Hollows / Rachel Morgan #2
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Witches, Vampires, Demons, Bounty Hunters, Faeries, Elfs

Review:

The Good the Bad and the Undead is the second installment of the "The Hollows" series (To other this is called "The Rachel Morgan series"). Rachel Morgan, the series' sexy witch and one of the proprietor of a an independing runner service along with his partner's Jenks, a pixie and Ivy Tahmwood, a living vamapire (aka vampire with a soul).

This time Rachel accepts a contract from the FIB (Federal Inderland Bureau) to investigate a wave of witch murders and she goes undercover to spy on her former professor. Morgan suspects councilman Trent Kalamack of the murders (Along the way we also learn more about Kalamack's history). I like how the story gets resolve with an intertwined new predicament to the protagonist which will basically serve as a precurser to the next book.

The characters continue to develop so it isn't just the same plot but a different adventure. The evolution and and complex relationships of the characters is part of what makes you care about them. 

As always I love the witty banters between Rachel and Jenks (who I would now considered the resident comic relief of this series). Ivy's character continues her to emphasize his character being "mysterious" and she always give Rachel the "creep" whenever she 'vamps-out'. "The Good, the Bad and the Undead" is a followup to the series as a whole and with an in-depth revelation about Trent Kalamack, I suspect that this character becomes a factor to Rachel's history as series goes into a much more interesting path.

Green-Eyed Demon Review

Title: Green-Eyed Demon
Author: Jaye Wells
Audiobook Narrator: Cynthia Holloway
Series: Sabina Kane #3
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Assassins, Vampires, Demons, Mages, Nymphs, Faeries

Review:

The third installment of the Sabina Kane series picks up the action from The Mage in Black leaves off, with the series heroin half-mage, half-vampire Sabina heading to New Orleans accompanied by her demon familiar, Giguhl, and mage Adam Lazarus. Sabina is desperate to rescue her twin sister Maisie, who has been kidnapped by Lavinia Kane their wicked grandmother and the Alpha of the Dominae vampire group. 

The new location introduces another group of interesting characters – Voodoo priestess, Zenobia, changeling drag queen, Brooks/Pussy Willow, lesbian werewolf bar owner, Mac, and a reclusive rock star Erron Zorn (who happens to be an excommunicated mage). Aside from these interesting people we get to know the newest threat, the Caste of Nod.

We also get to read Sabina's improvement as a mage as he gets to raise a zombie (her Cthonic power is somewhat a form of necromancy magic). Which was very critical during the final battle between Sabina and her grandmother. In the romance depart Adam finally expresses his feelings to Sabina which to the delight of magepire. 

Green-Eyed Demon is the conclusion to the conflict between Sabina and her grandmother which I though was great as we get to resolve all issues in a fitting finale had this series stayed as a trilogy. With the upcoming threats to Sabina Kane and her companions, this series is far from over.

Violet Tendencies Review

Title: Violet Tendencies
Author: Jaye Wells
Series: Sabina Kane #2.5
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Assassins, Vampires, Demons, Mages, Nymphs, Faeries

Review:

Violet Tendencies takes place right after the conclusion of Mage In Black and before Green-Eyed Demon. This novella is considered a "fill-in" as there would be a missing character at the beginning of Green-Eyed Demon (which makes this novella a must read if in-case you went straight into Green-Eyed Demon). 

As with the first two books, this novella is no short of action and humorous sarcasm that you will surely enjoy reading. Personally I would really consider this as the first couple of chapter for Green-Eyed Demon. We also get a look at the different "class" of demons in Irkalla and scoop a tidbit of information about the time surrounding Demon existence.

I would recommend reading this novella before going into Green Eyed Demon as this would really make sense on some aspect of the series

Skinwalker Review

Title: Skinwalker
Author: Faith Hunter
Series: Jane Yellowrock #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Hunters, Shapeshifters, Skinwalkers, Vampires, Witches.

Review:

Since the 7th installment of Mercedes Thompson is still far from finished, I decided to read another "walker" book in Faith Hunter's "Skinwalker". Unlike Mercedes Thompson who is a walker and shapeshifts only into a coyote, Jane Yellowrock is a full-on skinwalker who can shapeshift into any animal as long as she has the proper mass to carry the change. For this series, she prefers to shapeshift into mountain lion more than any animal.

Another difference between the two protaonists is that Mercy is more of a mechanic than a hunter who only gets into action when forced into while Jane is a mercinary vampire hunter by trade.

The story starts when Jane is called to New Orleans by an old vampire named Katie, who hires her to track and kill a rogue vampire preying on not only the humans but other vampires in the city. Turns out this rogue vampire is a lot more older, more powerful, and much more harder to track than Jane thought. While on the hunt, she is introduced to the vampire world: the politics, lifestyle, and the who's who of vamp society.

Skinwalker is a breath of fresh air for me personally as I was able to read another "skinwalker" theme book that as a good as the Mercedes Thompson series (maybe better in terms of action). The caveat on this story is that there are two point of views: When Jane is in her human form, the conversation is conventional but when Jane shifts into her "big cat" form, Beast takes over the persona and the conversation is like someone is dictating a list of word (you'll know what I mean once you read the book).  

Mage In Black Review

Title: Mage In Black
Author: Jaye Wells
Series: Sabina Kane #2
Audiobook Narrator: Cynthia Holloway
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Assassins, Vampires, Demons, Mages, Nymphs, Faeries

Review:

Mage in Black is the second installment of Jaye Wells "Sabina Kane" series. The story picks up almost immediately where Red-Headed Stepchild left off, with Sabina and company on the way to New York City to meet her long lost twin sister Maisie and further learn about her mage side of the family.

Upon arrival, Sabina gets to continue her training under the supervision of an elder mage. With here financial resource cut off by the Dominae, Sabina and her demonic minion Gighul joined demonic version of the "Fight Club" own by a former Dominae assassin name Slade. Sabina also gets to survive several assassination attempts which lead to uncovering a mysterious plot from a secret group call the "Cast of Nod" which lead the to the Dominae  attacking the Hekate council which was later reveal to be a diversion inorder to kidnap Maisie. 

Over all, Mage in Black is a great follow up to the "Red-Head Stepchild" as there was a clear progress to the story with a great balance of action, humor (mostly from Giguhl who now becomes this series' comic relief much like Jenks in Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series and Bob the Skull in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series) and romance. 

Dead Witch Walking Review

Title: Dead Witch Walking
Author: Kim Harrison
Series: Hollows / Rachel Morgan #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Witches, Vampires, Demons, Bounty Hunters, Faeries

Review:
Dead Witch Walking is the first installment of the Rachel Morgan/ Hollows series by urban fantasy writer Kim Harrison.

The story sets in an alternate universe Cincinnati on which all supernatural entities like vampires, werewolves faeries, etc. At this time these beings are now called "Interlanders" At the time there are several agencies that handle the enforcement of these Inderlanders, one of which is the Federal Inderland Bureau which the new moniker of FBI and it's rival agency the Inderland Security or I.S.

Our story protagonist is Rachel Morgan, a witch who works as an I.S. runner which is basically a contract bounty hunter who hunt illegal Inderlands with Jenks a pixie as her backup and her colleague a "living" vampire name Ivy who is I.S. best runner.

The story gets interesting when all three decided to quit the agency they are working for and create their own "bounty hunter agency" which they become a target by their former employer's assassins. They also found themselves a string of inter agency conflicts as well as a rodent fighting ring with the rodents turn out to be people that have been turned into one.

What I really love about this book is the comical banter between Rachel and Jenks as they remind me of another Harry Dresden and Bob the Skull in Urban Fantasy hit Dresden Files by Jim Butcher.

All in all, I really love the direction of the story as this book is considered a great introduction of all characters involve. I'm looking forward to the next book of this series.

Red-Headed Stepchild Review

Title: Red-Headed Stepchild
Author: Jaye Wells
Series: Sabina Kane #1
Audiobook Narrator:Cynthia Holloway
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Assasins, Vampires, Demons, Mages, Nymphs, Faeries

Review:

While waiting for Widow's Web to be released (which is month's away), so I to read another urban fantasy assassin book and I choose Jaye Well's Red Headed Stepchild. What's interesting about this book (and the series) is that Sabina Kane,the protagonist is half-vampire and half-mage. Red-Headed Stepchild is set in a world where vampires, mages, demons and faeries exist mostly unnoticed by its largely human population. The vampires in this world are not undead but are living supernatural beings that are born, rather than made. They have a lot of the usual strengths and weaknesses of vampires but their origins, and their genetic red-hair, are linked back to original bible myth (they are the descendents of Lilith and Cain).

During the course of the novel Sabina is forced to re-evaluate the relationship she has with her grandmother and the Dominae - rapidly coming to the conclusion that she has been a useful tool rather than a loved family member. Sent to infiltrate a group of rival supernaturals and assassinate its leader, she has to think on her feet and make some new friends if she wants to avoid her assignment turning into a suicide mission…

What I love about this book is the comical banters between Sabina and her demon/cat familiar Giguhl on which resembles the banters of Harry Dresden and Bob the Skull in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series and Rachel Morgan and Jenks in the Hollows series by Kim Harrison (which I will be writing a review soon).

All in all, Red-Headed Stepchild is a great introduction for the protagonist's personal history and to the series as a whole. I am glad that I already have the next audiobook "Mage in Black" in queue.