Cyn Newman
I just re-read Storm Front, after first reading it - well, I don't even know how many years ago! Shortly after it was first released, I think.
Now, it's important to know that I simply don't re-read books. I find that too boring, most of the time. There are a scant few exceptions. The Liaden Universe books by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller are the most remarkable of them. The fact that I would even consider a re-read speaks very, very highly of Butcher's work.
I'd forgotten far more than I expected, but I suppose that happens, with at least 15 years and goodness knows how many books in between readings. I knew it was a good book, I knew one important part of the ending (I mean, come on - there are many more books in the series, so you KNOW that Dresden lives!), but all else was lost. I wasn't sure I would like reading about old Harry with recent Harry fresh in my mind (I just read the short story “Jury Duty”).
If anything, I enjoyed it even more spiced by the knowledge of who Dresden (and Murphy) will become in the future books. I enjoyed the setting, the craft that went into building the whole novel, and seeing how Butcher's skill grew from the first book to the more recent works.
I'm going to go on with re-reading the entire series - I hadn't committed to it before, but now I'm looking forward to it!
More, please!
These two lovely stories from Sharon Lee and Steve Miller's universe dazzle as I've come to expect from them. First we visit Surebleak in the “present” of their timeline, then we go to the past in space with mentor Tolly Jones. I lost sleep because I couldn't put the book down, of course, and now I'm left wanting more, more, more!
Wardbreaker starts with a bang and never lets up. Lillim Callina was born to hunt preternatural creatures, but she's run away from the job - only to find herself in a town ruled by them. Will she keep to herself or stay true to her training and fight?
I enjoyed this novel far more than the prior prequel, short story “Alone in the Dark.” I'm glad that I gave the series another chance!
[b:Junkyard Druid 32440502 Junkyard Druid (Colin McCool Paranormal Suspense #1) M.D. Massey https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1475554697s/32440502.jpg 53028175] made for great airport and on-flight during a recent trip. It was not so detail-dependent that I couldn't stop when necessary, but it was engaging enough to keep me going. In fact, it was so engaging that I'm going to look up the earlier Colin McCool story, and read anything else [a:M.D. Massey 7558748 M.D. Massey https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1460298757p2/7558748.jpg] writes in this setting. I'm more than willing to check out anything else he writes, as well.
I was clued in to this anthology by a mention in [a:J.A. Cipriano 8560615 J.A. Cipriano https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1411265073p2/8560615.jpg]'s newsletter, which is worth subscribing to (hey, the man sends you free reads, and they're good!). Anyway, Cipriano and company are all dark urban fantasy authors who have written these stories specifically for this volume, so you won't find them anywhere else. The book is available via the Kindle Unlimited program. In fact, every related book that I checked on is available that way, so I'm wondering if this thing was sponsored by Amazon or something. If so, why doesn't it say so? Anyway, on to the review.“The Bull Demon King” is Cipriano's story, set in the Thrice-Cursed Mage universe. You don't need to have read those books to appreciate the story, and it serves as a nice little introduction if you're curious about the series (I've really enjoyed them). I think the story is set between the second and third books, but I won't swear to that and it isn't vital. We get to attend the Texas state fair with assassin mage Mac Brennan and his girlfriend Ricky, the local alpha werewolf. Of course, mayhem ensues, because that's Mac's lot in life - and what kind of story would we have otherwise?[a:Domino Finn 8035821 Domino Finn https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1394487436p2/8035821.jpg] contributes “The Black Door” which is noted as “A Black Magic Outlaw Story.” This story had me guessing right up until the end, which was delightful. The writing is wonderful, the world of an alternate magical Miami nightlife is very fully realized, and central character, Cisco Suarez, is extremely well drawn. I will be pointing my partner to Finn's work, for sure (he loves the macabre), but I think it may be a little too dark for me.On to Manhattan for our next piece, “Dance of the Dead,” which [a:Sonya Bateman 2984460 Sonya Bateman https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1478883650p2/2984460.jpg] tells us is a “Deathspeaker Codex Short Story.” It takes place just after the events of the first novel in that series, according to the author' note. Gideon Black drives bodies from crime scenes and the like to the morgue. Apparently he's not 100% human, and he's just learned that he can speak to the dead. That's very important to the plot. For some reason this story didn't grab me. I don't relate well to stories that deal with the dead, like zombies and so on, so it's probably a failure of imagination on my fault rather than anything wrong with Bateman's story. If I find something she writes in another setting, I will give her another go.[a:Ambrose Ibsen 14031995 Ambrose Ibsen https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] offers up “Hard Row: A Demon-Hearted Story” for the collection. Lucian Colt works with other special enforcers to keep the threats from Beyond from encroaching on the mundane world of Detroit, and when he learns that there's a shipment of kidnapped children being moved, he's definitely down for tracking down the bad guys behind the trade. The fallen angel whose heart he carries is just glad to get a chance to throw down. The gimmick doesn't really carry the story here. It feels like Colt is too overpowered in comparison to his allies, as if they are a mismatched RPG party. Okay, I'll admit it: [a:Al K. Line 7804356 Al K. Line https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1409828837p2/7804356.jpg]'s name just annoyed me. So I had to get past that to give “Angry Spark,” set in his Dark Magic Enforcer world, a fair reading. Then the use name of the main character, “Black Spark,” hit me wrong. The guy's real name is Faz Pound, but obviously magic men don't go about giving their real names to all and sundry, hence the use name. Then I didn't like the remarks about a corpulent character. So I finally just decided to leave off on this story. Maybe someone else can give you a review of it.[a:Rob Cornell 4619015 Rob Cornell https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1466185830p2/4619015.jpg]'s “Family Business,” which is apparently a prequel set in his Unturned series' universe, is set in another alternate Detroit. Fortunately nothing annoyed me about this one, so I was able to read it. It's a wee bit hackneyed, but a bit sweet, too. It's sort of like when you hear a song and you know how the melody is going to go because the chords and the melody progression already feel familiar. I might check out more of Cornell's work, but it won't be at the top of my to-read list.On the other hand, “Valentine Blues” left me truly hungry for more of [a:James A. Hunter 10949813 James A. Hunter https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1419121016p2/10949813.jpg]'s work, and wanting to read more about Yancy Lazarus right now. This minute. Not soon, NOW. Lazarus is a traveling blues man with some interesting talents who takes an interest in the very strange behavior of the young people in Valentine, Nebraska. You can find the most interesting things on the road! I will most definitely be reading [b:Strange Magic: A Yancy Lazarus Novel 25695929 Strange Magic A Yancy Lazarus Novel (Volume 1) James A. Hunter https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1433885941s/25695929.jpg 43549112], the first book in this series, SOON.I know that I've read something about [a:Craig Schaefer 8180684 Craig Schaefer https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1399250281p2/8180684.jpg]'s Daniel Faust series somewhere before, but I've never actually read any OF the series until “A Drive in the Country.” It's set in and around Las Vegas. I have no idea where in the timeline of the series this particular story is set, but it's well-written. It pulls you into the gritty, noir world of gangsters plus magic and makes you feel the dark. If that's your thing, Schaefer's your man.New York is the setting for [a:Pippa DaCosta 7277852 Pippa DaCosta https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1446052111p2/7277852.jpg]'s “Chase the Dark,” set in the world of her Soul Eater series. I am highly intrigued, as I don't believe I've ever run into an urban fantasy series that draws upon Egyptian mythology the way DaCosta is here. The name of the main character, though, Ace Dante? Even though it's obviously an assumed name, it's terrible. I hate it. I'm jarred every single time my eyes come across it on the page. It kept pulling me out of what was otherwise a really good story, and is making me wonder whether or not I can handle reading Hidden Blade, the first book in the series.Now that I'm finished with the book, I can't help but notice a few things. There wasn't a single main character that was female, and while it's possible that Cisco Suarez is a person of color, his cultural background wasn't made clear in Finn's story. If any of the other protagonists were POC, that wasn't obvious (I'm not sure what to consider “Ace Dante.”) I'm pretty sure all these men were cisgendered and heterosexual, as well. I don't think it's too much to ask that there's a little more diversity in such a volume.All in all, a decent collection of stories and a nice introduction to some new authors, but a disappointment in some important respects.
Insipid, misogynist dreck
I got it for free and I want my money-and time! - back.
A quick look through the ridiculously gendered tips in the bonus material will tell you all that you need to know about this thing, which I hesitate to call a book. It's more like a regurgitation of articles from women's magazines over the years.
I truly enjoyed Venom & Vanilla. I've liked Mayer's work before, and V&V lived up to my expectations. It is a fresh urban fantasy, a new twist on a genre that's becoming a bit stale. I'm a bit disappointed in the possibility of the vampire as love interest, because the whole “I hate him but I'm attracted to him” thing has been done to death - but I have hopes that Mayer will change that tune, as well.
I love them every one
Yes, another chapbook read, and I not-so-patiently await the arrival of number 23, which I guarantee I will purchase as well! I love every word that proceeds from the Lee-Miller collaboration, and I sincerely hope they continue to produce them in good health for many years to come.
Another marvelous tale!
I stretched it out as long as I possibly could, but ah, I finally finished this beauty, and what a joy it is! In fact, I am now of a mind to go back and re-read all the previous tales of Korval, because these books are always do very satisfying that I am left reluctant to read anything else.
The Boss Fight!
The climax to the Samir storyline that has been building throughout all seven volumes of the series, this plot does not disappoint. My only complaint about the book, as with the other six, is that it's short. Still, it's as long as it needs to be to tell the story, with nothing extraneous, so I guess it is the right length.
That was a satisfying read. There was a real sense of closure at the end, for several reasons - though I'm not going to give away anything! I do hope that doesn't mean that Briggs is done with Mercy and company, though. I enjoy them too much for that.
There is a trip Underhill, and a lot more involvement with the Fae in this volume than we've seen before. I had trouble remembering some of what had gone before, so I think I missed some references, but despite that, the book was wonderful.
I greatly enjoyed this book. In fact, I couldn't put it down last night and finished it in one fell swoop. The world is one of the most intriguing new takes in fantasy that I've encountered in years, richly imagined and off-center from ours with just enough familiarity to make the differences that much more striking. The characters are well-developed and believable, the Others different enough from anyone else's take on vampires, were beings and the like to stay fresh. I cared about Meg pretty quickly, and Sam almost immediately.
This isn't another boring romance book, which is a great relief. I can only hope that continues to be true for the series.
A Royce and Hadrian fix! Woo hoo! I love that!
Okay, now that I've calmed down just a WEE bit, I can say that the boys are in classic style here. I got a little confused with some of the interactions between Royce and the Countess Dulgath not wholly matching up with my recollection as to how things go later in Royce's life, but hey, it's been a while since I read those books, and I'm sure Sullivan knows better. I'm not going to nitpick, in any case.
I loved the way Hadrian treated Scarlett. He's always such a gentleman!
Hearne does it again! And one of the things I adore about this book is that Granuaile really comes into her own even more, pursuing her own goals and even pushing him to look more towards the long game as a Druid. This book definitely meets the Bechdel test in every sense. Deities are a little less present, which is fine by me. I rather like the mortals.
Not quite as good as her first book, but well worth the read. I probably should have gotten the abridged version, because as usual I got tired of the anecdotes.
I find her types interesting - there are upholders, obligers, questioners, and rebels. Apparently most people are questioners or obligers (I think - I may be wrong about the obligers). (I'm a questioner, so for once in my life I'm not weird.) Then she classifies people in additional ways, like abstainers or moderators and so on. In fact, there seems to be some sort of classification or label in nearly every chapter!
Anyway, the information in the book is useful, and I am already using it in analyzing my own habits and improving them. Rubin's reading voice is fairly pleasant (I listened to the Audible version), so I don't hesitate to recommend the book.
I was a teenager when my father recommended Mr. Carnegie's original book to me, and at 48 I finally got around to reading this version. I'm glad that I did, as it was well worth the time. I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone who deals with other humans in any capacity at all. And yes, I'll be suggesting it to my own daughter right away.
I loved this book in some ways, but I hated the ending, which didn't wrap up most of the plot threads. I also found the constant rehashing of prior events to be tiresome. Let's be honest: nobody is going to be able to follow this series by starting anywhere but at the beginning, and those who do already know all that stuff!