Elsewhere by Will Shetterly

Elsewhere by Will Shetterly


When Ron runs away, he ends up in Bordertown, a grim city that lies between the real world and the world of faerie, a place where elf and human gangs stalk the streets side by side, and where magic works better than technology. If the city doesn't kill him, it just may teach him what it is to be human.

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I had a little trouble getting into this book, but I would guess that it was because there are a number of books in the 'Borderland' series that come prior to this book. I would guess that they are loosely tied, but probably would have made it a little easier to get into this book. That being said, once I did get past the fact that I might have missed something prior to the events in the book it got GOOD. I love the characters and the idea behind Bordertown. I am looking forward to reading more about Ron/Wolfboy and all of his friends in the next installment- Nevernever.






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Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book #5) by J.R. Ward

Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward


In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other—six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Now, the cold heart of a cunning predator will be warmed against its will…

Ruthless and brilliant, Vishous, son of the Bloodletter possesses a destructive curse and a frightening ability to see the future. As a pretrans growing up in his father's war camp, he was tormented and abused. As a member of the Brotherhood, he has no interest in love or emotion, only the battle with the Lessening Society. But when a mortal injury puts him in the care of a human surgeon, Dr. Jane Whitcomb compels him to reveal his inner pain and taste true pleasure for the first time- until a destiny he didn't choose takes him into a future that cannot include her...

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Fantastic. Another great book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. This book is one of my favorites in the series. There is so much going on with all of the subplots that reading these books is like stepping into another world.



Loved hearing V's story, but even more, I really enjoyed where Ward has taken this series. There are so many things coming together, coming to light. It really is my favorite vampire series.






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Lover Revealed (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book #4) by J.R. Ward

Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward


In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Now, an ally of the Black Dagger Brotherhood will face the challenge of his life and the evil of the ages.

Butch O'Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard living, ex-homicide cop, he's the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world- to engage in the turf war with the lessers. He's got nothing to lose. His heart belongs to a female vampire, an aristocratic beauty who's way out of his league. If he can't have her, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers...

Fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, found by a miracle, the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back, though even her love may not be enough to save him...

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Another fantastic book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.



I was thrilled to get to read Butch and Marissa's story. I liked Butch back in book one and was thrilled when the Brotherhood took him in. It was good to find out more about his background, and what about that conversation at the end of the book between his Mom and his sister. lol

Looking forward to reading more about the home that Marissa is putting together and the future of the Brotherhood now that Dhestroyer has joined them.

I really look forward to learning more about John as he gets closer to transition and I really like Rhev and want to learn more about him.

There is still so much left for Ward to reveal to us about the Brotherhood. I can't wait!


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Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book #3) by J.R. Ward

Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward


In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Of these, Zsadist is the most terrifying member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

A former blood slave, the vampire Zsadist still bears the scars from a past filled with suffering and humiliation. Renowned for his unquenchable fury and sinister deeds, he is a savage feared by humans and vampires alike. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion—until he rescues a beautiful aristocrat from the evil Lessening Society.

Bella is instantly entranced by the seething power Zsadist possesses. But even as their desire for one another begins to overtake them both, Zsadist’s thirst for vengeance against Bella’s tormentors drives him to the brink of madness. Now, Bella must help her lover overcome the wounds of his tortured past, and find a future with her…

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely love this author's writing style. The way that she will inject a bit of humor, often in the most unlikely places, is wonderful. I find myself smiling, chuckling and often laughing out loud.
The Brotherhood books are a roller coaster ride of emotions. There are ups and downs. This book was without question heartbreaking, but the best of the series so far. The story of Z and Bella involves a lot of abuse, emotional as well as physical scarring and the overcoming of that abuse through love.
I love the subplots that the author has going. It never gets overwhelming, just very involved. The ongoing story of John/Darius and his acceptance into the Brotherhood is a wonderful part of the story. We are getting a glimpse at what it is like for these fierce warriors before the transition. When they are struggling with their identities, like so may real life teens these days. The story of Tohrent/Wellsie that we have been getting little glimpses of throughout the books so far is wonderful and heartbreaking. The way that the author is able to pull you in and make you feel like you are a part of these lives is fabulous. I could not put this book down. I had to keep reading to see what would happen next. I have to pick the next book up immediately to see what is going to happen now.
Love the Brotherhood and look forward to the next in the series. I am getting a little worried as I only have 2 more books in the series so far to read. What will I do when I am done?


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Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book #2) by J.R. Ward

Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward


In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Possessed by a deadly beast, Rhage is the most dangerous of the Black Dagger Brotherhood...

Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetite. He's the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover-for inside him burns a ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin.

Possessed by this dark side, Rhage fears the times when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him. When Mary Luce is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world, she must rely on Rhage's protection. Knowing that Mary feels the same intense animal attraction, Rhage must make her his alone...

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Another fantastic book in the series of the Black Dagger Brotherhood!



The story of Rhage and Mary was sad, sweet, and fun. We learned more about Rhage's curse and met a few new characters.



I am absolutely loving this series. Probably one of my favorite vampire series.


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Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book #1) by J.R. Ward

Dark Lover by J.R. Ward


In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There also exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Among them, none relishes killing their enemies more than Wrath, the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood...

The only purebred vampire left on the planet, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But when one of his most trusted fighters is killed- orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate - Wrath must usher the beautiful female into the world of the undead…

Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn't there before, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes to her at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of brotherhood and blood frighten her. But his touch ignites a dawning hunger that threatens to consume them both…

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I knew when I picked this book up that it was going to be a good read as I had seen all of the wonderful reviews. But WOW! I loved this book.

There was an immediate connection to the characters. So much so that I was heartbroken over a death in the first couple of chapters. I was drawn into the Brotherhood and involved in the storyline right away.

I love the interaction between the brothers. The author did a fantastic job developing the individual characters as well as the relationship between them.

There were times when I chuckled, laughed out loud and even got teary eyed reading this book.

I am thrilled to say that I have #2 sitting right here and will be devouring it now.


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Wyrd Sisters: A Discworld Novel by Terry Pratchett

Wyrd Sisters: A Discworld Novel by Terry Pratchett


From the Publisher

Witches are not by nature gregarious, and they certainly don't have leaders. Granny Weatherwax was the most highly regarded of the leaders they didn't have. But even she found that meddling in royal politics was a lot more difficult than certain playwrights would have you believe ...

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was another fun DiscWorld book. We get to know Granny Weatherwax better, as well as a couple of other DiscWorld witches as they save a future king and DO NOT meddle in the politics of the kingdom.



Death makes a brief appearance, which is always nice as he is my favorite DiscWorld character so far.



This book was not as good as some of the other DiscWorld books that I have read, but it was a fun jaunt in a small area of the Disc.


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Evil Reincarnate by Leigh Clark

Evil Reincarnate by Leigh Clark


From the Publisher
As murderer and sexual psychopath Tod Jarrow's pyschiatrist, Connie Stallman finds to her horror that she is inexplicably drawn to the seductive and enigmatic killer. She soon realizes that she can communicate with him on a level so intimate and deep that it seems to be telepathic. But how can she feel so close to a cold-blooded murderer?

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book ended up being a pretty good SS read.



Connie Stillman is a psychiatrist who believes that almost anyone can be helped, no matter the crimes they have committed. But when she encounters Tod Jarrow, a serial killer who mutilates his victims, she is drawn to him in a way that goes beyond a doctor/patient relationship. She finds herself on a journey that traverses time itself and she faces an evil worse than anything that she has every imagined before.



Not only her life, but the lives of her husband and children depend on her ability to understand what is happening to her and her ability to defeat an evil worse than the devil himself.




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13 Bullets (Vampires, Book 1) by David Wellington

13 Bullets by David Wellington


From the Publisher
All the official reports say they are dead-extinct since the late ’80s, when a fed named Arkeley nailed the last vampire in a fight that nearly killed him. But the evidence proves otherwise.

When a state trooper named Caxton calls the FBI looking for help in the middle of the night, it is Arkeley who gets the assignment-who else? He’s been expecting such a call to come eventually. Sure, it has been years since any signs of an attack, but Arkeley knows what most people don’t: there is one left. In an abandoned asylum she is rotting, plotting, and biding her time in a way that only the undead can.

Caxton is out of her league on this case and more than a little afraid, but the fed made it plain that there is only one way out. But the worst thing is the feeling that the vampires want more than just her blood. They want her for a reason, one she can’t guess; a reason her sphinxlike partner knows but won’t say; a reason she has to find out-or die trying.

Now there are only 13 bullets between Caxton and Arkeley and the vampires. There are only 13 bullets between us, the living, and them, the damned.

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Well the first thing that I can say about this book is that you could not possibly confuse it for an urban fantasy. This book is horror through and through.



The characters could have been a little better developed and the background could have been explained a little better, but over all this was a very interesting take on the whole vampire myth. Totally different from anyting that I have read before and I really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.


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Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews


From the Publisher
Mercenary Kate Daniels cleans up urban problems of a paranormal kind. But her latest prey, a pack of undead warriors, presents her greatest challenge. [close] Mercenary Kate Daniels cleans up urban problems of a paranormal kind. But her latest prey, a pack of undead warriors, presents her greatest challenge. [close]

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Excellent new urban fantasy series. This is much darker than the typical urban fantasy out there but quite enjoyable.



This story takes place in Atlanta, Georgia an undetermined number of years in our future. At a time when magic and technology coexist in a very unstable environment. A time when magic takes over for periods of time that causes technology not to work and even be destroyed by the waves of magic. A time when vampires are creatures that are used by humans as weapons and werecreatures are monsters that try to hold on to humanity by The Code.



The main character, Kate, is a bit of a mystery. A very powerful woman who fights evil, but on her own terms. She gets pulled into a battle when her Guardian is killed that leads to an alliance with The Lord of the Beasts, Curran, a werelion who is the King of the werecreatures.



An excellent read and I was very lucky that the second in the series 'Magic Burns' came up on my wishlist at PBS today and I should have it soon. Looking forward to it!!










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The Mammoth Book of Comic Fantasy by Mike Ashley

The Mammoth Book of Comic Fantasy by Mike Ashley


Synopsis
The very best in whimsical and hilarious fantasy writing, this collection features specially commissioned stories by such masters of the fanciful imagination as Rabelais and Swift, Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear, P.G. Wodehouse, and James Thurber.


Includes stories by

Neil Gaiman
Tom Hold
Terry Jones
Terry Pratchett
Jane Yolen

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
Let me start by saying that this is a huge book. There are only 512 pages, but it seems to go on forever. I think that this book would be enjoyed most if it was placed on a coffee table in your living room and picked up every now and again when you are in the mood for a short read. But to sit down and read it straight through was quite a chore.



I originally picked this book up solely for the Terry Pratchett Discworld story 'Troll Bridge'. But there are quite a few great stories in here. My favorite was probably 'A Fortnight of Miracles' by Randall Garrett -- but there were quite a few others worth mentioning --



Pizza To Go by Tom Holt

Death Swatch by Esther Friesner

Alaska by John Morressy

The Return of Mad Santa by Al Sarrantonio

Ruella in Love by Molly Brown



I know that there were others that I enjoyed as well, but these stick out.



Overall a fun read, but one that probably needs to be savored in small bites.


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