#33 -- Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett

FROM THE PUBLISHER
The last thing the wizard Drum Billet did before Death laid a bony hand on his shoulder, was to pass on his staff of power to the eighth son of an eighth son. Unfortunately for his colleagues in the chauvinistic (not to say misogynistic) world of magic, he failed to check on the new-born baby’s sex…

My Opinion

Another great DiscWorld novel. In this book we meet several new characters. First is Granny Weatherwax a witch who is really good at heart and takes on the task of teaching the first female wizard in the history of DiscWorld. When a powerful wizard makes the mistake of passing his powers on to the eighth son of an eighth son, right before dying, only to find out that the son is a daughter, Granny takes on the task of teaching the child witchcraft, since women are not wizards. Needless to say that Esk, the 9 year old female wizard has other plans. lol

Overall a wonderful, engrossing story. I love Esk and hope that we see much more of her as she grows up as well as Granny Weahterwax who single handedly changes the ways of Wizards.

#32 -- The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett

From the Back Cover

Six months ago, Rincewind was a perfectly ordinary failed wizard. Them he met Twoflower, the Discworld’s first tourist, was employed at an outrageous salary as his guide, and has since spent most of his time being shot at, terrorized, chased and hanging from high places with no hope of salvation or, as is now the case, plunging from high places.

A lot more could be said about why these two are dropping out of the world, and why Twoflower’s Luggage, last seen desperately trying to follow him on hundreds of little legs, is no ordinary suitcase, but such questions take time and could be more trouble than they’re worth. For example, it is said that someone once asked the famous philosopher Ly Tin Weedle “Why are you here?” and the reply took three years.

What is far more important is an event happening way overhead, far above A’Tuin, the elephants and the rapidly-expiring wizard. The very fabric of time and space is about to be put through the wringer.

Now read on…

My Opinion

Another great DiscWorld novel featuring the ‘wizard’ Rincewind and his friend TwoFlower. This is the second Discworld book that I have read, the first being ‘The Color of Magic’. This book takes right up where the last lets off, with Rincewind falling off the Disc. This book has a much more solid storyline and the characters are fabulous. I look forward to many more hours reading about the adventures to be found on DiscWorld.

#31 -- The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett

From the Publisher

Terry Pratchett's profoundly irreverent novels are consistent number one bestsellers in England, where they have garnered him a revered position in the halls of parody next to Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, Douglas Adams, and Carl Hiaasen.

The Color of Magic is Terry Pratchett's maiden voyage through the now-legendary land of Discworld. This is where it all begins--with the tourist Twoflower and his wizard guide, Rincewind.

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I have decided that since Summer vacation has officially begun for me that I am going to read this as part of a couple of challenges. I have collected quite a few DiscWorld books and it is time that I start reading them. So for caligula03's Beach Blanket Bonanza Challenge & A 43things goal read all the Discworld novels I am currently reading this book!

My Opinion

What an introduction to DiscWorld! This was a fun book and great introduction to the DiscWorld series. While at times the story is a bit disjointed, overall it was a fun read. I enjoyed meeting the main characters. Loved Rincewind and TwoFlower as well as Death. They are very likeable characters and you want to read more about their exploits. The ending was quite a 'cliff hanger' LOL!!! Now I just have decided where in the DiscWorld series to go next!!

#30 -- Blood Games by Richard Laymon

From the Publisher
A group of four former college friends hold a reunion at an abandoned summer camp, only to find they're sharing the camp with a maniac.

Publishers Weekly
Like so much of his mid-career work, it's a middling effort, and it's also a mixed bag-nearly literally, as it offers a present-day scenario interspersed with flashbacks that are, in effect, standalone short stories. In the present, five young alumni of Belmore University are on their annual get-together; this year, the choice of what to do has fallen to Helen, a horror buff, who arranges for the group to camp out at a deserted backwoods lodge where guests were slaughtered by locals several years back. In time, the group encounter various townsfolk, including a witch, whom they must fight for their lives, resulting in a characteristic Laymon bloodbath. The action here is fast but predictable. Of greater interest are the flashbacks, showing first how the gang got together, then detailing their various exploits-taking revenge on some frat guys by setting fire to their house, on a cruel dean by trashing her office, on a nasty homeowner on Halloween by destroying his living room; seducing a young male surfer during a foggy nighttime trip along the California coast, etc. It's in these scenes that Laymon displays some, but not much, of the surreal nightmarish sensibility that hallmarked his great later work (The Traveling Vampire Show, etc.). Overall, then, this is brisk but routine entertainment from the controversial author, who died in 2001.

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Great book. This is the third Laymon book that I have read and probably my favorite so far. Not a lot of blood and gore as some of his books are prone to, but a good solid story that makes you want to keep reading. The book jumps back and forth between present day and the past when the five friends were in college. It tells the story of how the girls met and became friends. They were always 'adventuresome' and made a pact when they graduated that they would meet for a week once a year to go on an adventure together. Only this adventure is more than they planned. Excellent read!!

#29 -- Mysteria by various authors

The Barnes & Noble Review
The dramas of Wisteria Lane are nothing compared to those in the small town of Mysteria, a refuge for faeries, demons, werewolves, and more. This magical town is the setting for four original stories of paranormal love and seduction by MaryJanice Davidson, Susan Grant, P. C. Cast, and Gena Showalter.

In this lively anthology, unusual problem meets unusual solution. Harmony Faithfull is the failed new minister in town in Susan Grant’s “Mortal in Mysteria.” Then a naked demon lands in her garden and attracts not just Harmony but all the faithful. MaryJanice Davidson’s “Alone Wolf” stars Cole Jones, literally a lone wolf in search of a home, who falls for the local realtor, Charlene Houtenan, and the first (haunted) house he sees. A lovesick witch, Genevieve, and the object of her desire, the very crazy-making Hunter Knight, are the fated couple in Gena Showalter’s “The Witches of Mysteria and the Dead Who Love Them.” When Hunter succumbs to her love potion number13, he finds a love worth dying for. In “Candy Cox and the Big Bad (Were)Wolf” by P. C. Cast, a burned-out high school teacher who has had it with marriage after five failures finds unexpected magic with a former student, hunky werewolf Justin Woods. Ginger Curwen

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I really enjoyed this book. The idea—a town created as a haven for supernatural beings by a demon who suddenly wants to do good, is a wonderful idea. All of the storied take place in Mysteria and are intermingled enough to keep them interesting. The first story tells the tale of Damon, the demon who created Mysteria and then was punished by Satan by being turned into a mortal man and being banished to Mysteria. All of the stories are romances with just a little bit of paranormal thrown in. My least favorite story was the one by MJD. It was very disjointed and a bit odd. But overall, all 4 stories were fun to read and I definitely look forward to more stories from Mysteria.

#28 -- The Nymphos of Rocky Flats

From the Publisher
The first and only vampire book to be declassified
by the federal government . . .

Felix Gomez went to Iraq a soldier. He came back a vampire.

Now he finds himself pulled into a web of intrigue when an old friend prompts him to investigate an outbreak of nymphomania at the secret government facilities in Rocky Flats. He’ll find out the cause of all these horny women or die trying! But first he must contend with shadowy government agents, Eastern European vampire hunters, and women who just want his body . . .

Skewering sexual myths, conspiracy fables, and government bureaucracy, The Nymphos of Rocky Flats reveals the bizarre world of the undead with a humorous slant and a fresh twist.

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Totally enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, loved the storyline and there was enough action to make me want to keep reading and not put the book down. Loved the twists on the vampire tale and loved the way that more than just vamps are introduced. I hope the author writes more tales about Felix in the future.

#27 -- Dead and Loving It by MaryJanice Davidson

From the Publisher
USA Today bestselling author MaryJanice Davidson has enchanted readers everywhere with her delicious blend of wicked humor, sizzling sex, and totally unique vision of vampires and werewolves. In this collection of four novellas she brings her beloved Wyndham werewolves (featured in her acclaimed novel Derek’s Bane) together with the vampires ruled by Betsy Taylor (from her bestselling Undead series).

Filled with equal parts of spicy heat and laugh-out-loud moments, this collection will drive Davidson’s legion of fans wild with blood-pounding delight.

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I started this book with the last story—A Fiend in Need because it ties in to the Undead series and I wanted to read it before I read Undead & Unpopular. It actually ended up being my least favorite story.

All 4 of the stories involve werewolves who are loosely tied into the Wyndham pack that we meet in Derik’s Bane. What I enjoyed is that each of the stories is about a pack member who is different and finds love in some very different mates—One a human, one a vampire, one a fairy, and one a fiend. The stories loosely tie into one another with the exception of the last one so that it almost seems like you are reading one long story instead of 4 shorts. I enjoyed the book and am glad that I finally picked it up and read it.

#26 -- Undead and Unpopular by MaryJanice Davidson

From the Publisher
This New York Times bestselling author’s Undead series is more popular than ever!

With her birthday coming up, Betsy isn’t in the best frame of mind to face the powerful European vampires who have finally come to pay their respects. Playing politics is not her strong suit, especially when she finds out her best friend Jessica may have a life-threatening illness. Sure Betsy can save her life by taking it-isn’t that what friends are for?-but the choice isn’t in her hands.

With her fiancé Eric dodging all the wedding plans, Betsy’s plate is full-and not with birthday cake. But who has time to pout? Not even a reluctant vampire queen, who is taking it one high-heeled step at a time in MaryJanice Davidson’s creative, sophisticated, sexy, and wonderfully witty series.

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While I enjoy the Undead series and I read it when I am in the mood for a little mindless fun reading, I have to say that I found this book a bit rambling. There really was no storyline or plot, no real beginning or end, just a middle. If at all possible Betsy was even more shallow in this book than normal and things happened that seemed to have absolutely no bearing on this or any other storyline. I mean it was okay for a quick afternoon read, but I am really hoping for more in her next installment of this series.

#25 -- The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov

From the back of the book:

In the fantastic world of THE END OF ETERNITY this terrifying forecast was entirely possible. The Eternals, the ruling class of the Future, had the power of life and death not only over every human being but over the very centuries into which they were born. Past, Present, and Future could be created or destroyed at will.

You had to be special to become an Eternal. Andrew Harlan was special. Until he committed the one unforgivable sin-falling in love.

Eternals weren't supposed to have feelings. But Andrew Harlan could not deny the sensations that were struggling within him. Andrew knew he could not keep this secret forever. And so he began to plan his escape...a plan that changed his own past...and threatened Eternity itself.


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This was a good read. I have always been interested in Time Travel, alternate realities, etc. This book explores those avenues. Imagine a society where Eternals have the ability to make changes in reality to make the world a better place. Is that a good thing?

#24 of 2007 -- From Black Rooms by Stephen Woodworth

#4 in the Violet Series
From the Publisher
Natalie Lindstrom has finally left the underworld behind for a new career in the art world. But there’s one world she can’t escape: the Other world of the dead. As a former Violet, an elite crime-fighter with the power to channel murder victims, Natalie is now using her paranormal gift to summon the spirits of legendary painters. But she’s about to discover how far some people will go to keep their hold on her–and others like her…. Evan Markham, her ex-lover-turned-Violet-Killer, has escaped from prison. And he’s been made an offer he can’t refuse: Natalie. But first he must help contact a deceased geneticist whose most intriguing experiment was brutally interrupted: an attempt to manufacture Violets.

To protect her young daughter and herself, Natalie must search for the scientist’s only living test subject–a handsome but tortured artist to whom she is dangerously attracted.

For he is caught in the grip of two opposing forces, one that wants his survival, another that wants him–and anyone connected with him–destroyed….

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I enjoyed this book after being disappointed in #3 in the series. This book takes us back to what was so enjoyable about the first two books in the series, Natalie’s struggles as a Violet. The action kept me wanting to read, especially at the end. Speaking of the ending, this book leaves off with some interesting possibilities for the next book, which I hope that we do not have to wait too long for. If you have enjoyed previous Violet books then this one is a must read!!