"White Hot (Hidden Legacy #2)" by Ilona Andrews

White Hot is the second in the Hidden Legacy series, and this review contains some spoilers for the first book, Burn For Me. My review of Burn For Me is here.

This book contains some of the elements that made Fate's Edge one of my favorite Ilona Andrews' books- animals, ingenuity, and a lot of creative thinking. While the returning characters did sweeten the book, I love the fact that Cornelius returns with his animal menagerie to make this book even more Litha-approved. As you may know, a heavy helping of critters with personality goes a long way in terms of improving my reception to books.

Of course, I must discuss the cover, which basically gives some of the book away: Nevada and Rogan were (1st book spoiler) separated in the first book by Rogan's offer which Nevada refused. Obviously, something romantic is happening in this book. I think a lot of my fears about Rogan and Nevada's dynamic were answered in this book, because they get to know each other a bit more than in Burn For Me.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'Nevada Baylor has a unique and secret skill—she knows when people are lying—and she's used that magic (along with plain, hard work) to keep her colorful and close-knit family's detective agency afloat. But her new case pits her against the shadowy forces that almost destroyed the city of Houston once before, bringing Nevada back into contact with Connor "Mad" Rogan.
'Rogan is a billionaire Prime—the highest rank of magic user—and as unreadable as ever, despite Nevada’s “talent.” But there’s no hiding the sparks between them. Now that the stakes are even higher, both professionally and personally, and their foes are unimaginably powerful, Rogan and Nevada will find that nothing burns like ice …'

One of my favorite things about the Hidden Legacy series is Nevada's family, and her grandma, Frida continues to hold a special place in my heart with her mad vehicular modification skills. You get to see more of Catalina and Arabella (Nevada's sisters) in this book, and not just in the annoying lil' sis ways you'd expect of them (although there's more than enough of that too). There is definitely more of a focus on the Baylor clan than there was in Burn For Me, because although Nevada lived and worked with her family then there was less of their input on her everyday activities with Rogan.

I was impressed with the plot of this book probably even more than Burn For Me which was more of a typical series introduction book. Although there are some hodge podge action scenes, the overall story was impressive (especially the bit that involved the animals). This is supposed to be paranormal romance, but there is a lot more urban fantasy-ish situations than I recall a lot of Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance mixes having.

White Hot is the type of paranormal romance that brings me out of a bad mood with ease. I enjoyed it so much I decided to reread it before writing up a review- the Hidden Legacy series is quickly becoming one of my favorites. If you like action-packed books with realistic characters and a side of romance, this series might be for you.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars for an exceptional sequel that exceeded my magical expectations!

Age Advisory: Ages 18+ for violence, animal burglars, and sexual content.

Page Count: 389 pages

"Justice Calling (The Twenty-Sided Sorceress #1)" by Annie Bellet

I'm a sucker for Kindle freebies lately. And since this was a Kindle freebie, in one of my favored genres, with an author who knew to have a great cover for her book, I decided to give it a shot.

I know a bit about RPGs, board games that aren't Monopoly, and comic books, but I admit that in the grand scheme of things they aren't my favorite. Jade has a comic and game store in a small town, which also happens to be an attractive area for paranormal beings. Somehow, (perhaps through a surfeit of nerds in the area?) she makes a living, even though the local stores in my area in Idaho (and in a larger city) barely coast by. Being that this is urban fantasy, I wasn't too at odds with it, but when some of the minor inconsistencies that irk me started adding up, I began to question why I was reading this.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'Gamer. Nerd. Sorceress.
'Jade Crow lives a quiet life running her comic book and game store in Wylde, Idaho. After twenty-five years fleeing from a powerful sorcerer who wants to eat her heart and take her powers, quiet suits her just fine. Surrounded by friends who are even less human than she is, Jade figures she’s finally safe.
'As long as she doesn’t use her magic.
'When dark powers threaten her friends’ lives, a sexy shape-shifter enforcer shows up. He’s the shifter world’s judge, jury, and executioner rolled into one, and he thinks Jade is to blame. To clear her name, save her friends, and stop the villain, she’ll have to use her wits… and her sorceress powers.
'Except Jade knows that as soon as she does, a far deadlier nemesis awaits.
'Justice Calling is the first book in The Twenty-Sided Sorceress urban fantasy series. Readers who enjoyed The Dresden Files or The Iron Druid Chronicles will likely enjoy this series.'

One thing I enjoyed about this book was it did have some humorous moments, but there was a quote I found tasteless (not to mention other things):

He wears his hair in a long Mohawk and has enough piercings in his face that I joke I could peel his skin and use it to strain pasta.

            ~Justice Calling by Anne Bellet, 3% Kindle Edition (of the first three books)

At one point while reading this book, I'd just had enough. Because I like to finish all the books I start, though, I checked how many pages were left. Given I was more than halfway through, I decided to finish, even though I connected to zero of the characters and felt like most of the book was a rehash of urban fantasy things I'd seen before. Don't get me wrong- I can endure/adore a lot of vampire, werewolf, and evil magician rehashes, but the author has to make them their own. I'm not sure if it was the short length of the book or the way the author went about it, but I found myself not giving a crumbly cookie about what happened in Justice Calling or how it ended.

Justice Calling is urban fantasy that might appeal better to those who are deeper into the game side of nerd than I am. For me, it just didn't cut it. I'm tempted to read the next book in the series just to see if there's any improvement for me, but only because I got the first three books as freebies.

Rating: 2 of 5 Stars for an urban fantasy I just didn't care for.

Age Advisory: Ages 16+ for the occasional swear (including f-bombs), violence, and lines I wish I hadn't read.

Page Count: 119 pages

Twofer Review: "Legion" and "Skin Deep" by Brandon Sanderson (the Benevolent)

Legion and its sequel, Skin Deep are novellas written by Brandon Sanderson. Being that they're short-ish, I thought it a better idea to combine their reviews (even though they differ in rating) and not include anything spoilery so you can get a feel of what I thought of the series itself.

Stephen is a man with many hallucinations that are people (to him, at least) he refers to as 'aspects'. Aspects have names, families, skill sets, and identities beyond what Stephen feels he could dream up, but he nonetheless consults with them on multiple projects and/or cases he picks up as a kind of/sort of private investigator. He also has a mansion to keep his aspects happy in, a butler/driver, and a seemingly open schedule. Is there anything Stephen doesn't have?

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'Stephen Leeds, AKA 'Legion,' is a man whose unique mental condition allows him to generate a multitude of personae: hallucinatory entities with a wide variety of personal characteristics and a vast array of highly specialized skills. As the story begins, Leeds and his 'aspects' are drawn into the search for the missing Balubal Razon, inventor of a camera whose astonishing properties could alter our understanding of human history and change the very structure of society.'

In response to my very own rhetorical question, I have to say there is something that did bother me about dear Stephen. His aspects have almost off-the-wall sorts of personalities, while his own seems nonexistent. Sure, he's polite and snarky on occasion (in the first book, at least), but he seems there almost as a peacekeeper for his aspects. It's very hard for him to do anything without his aspects' inputs. He's the sort of mediocre/shadowy male lead I expect more from Neil Gaiman, to be quite honest.

Initially, it was hard for me to identify what was wrong about Legion to me. It was charming enough, creative enough, and mysterious enough to keep me engaged and reading, but somehow didn't measure up to enough in my book. Once I finished Legion's sequel, Skin Deep, I realized the problem- this is Diet Sanderson. I'm used to full fat, full sugar Fantasy Sanderson, and this being Urban Fantasy, well... it measures out to less in my estimation. I came to love urban fantasy later in my reading career, and though I do have favorite books in that genre, when I read something by Mr. Sanderson I want the works. Being that this is set in the "real world" and one of the key ingredients of the Sanderson works in my opinion is his worldbuilding, well- that's the problem, along with my high expectations of anything Mr. Sanderson writes.

Legion is a good, short urban fantasy novella that may have been better received by me if it had been penned by any other author. Skin Deep, meanwhile, felt like just a longer version of Legion, without as much of the aspects/characters that I loved in it. Both had good storylines, but I don't feel any sense of urgency in wanting another book in this series, despite Stephen's aspects charming me. If you like Gaiman-esque leads and find yourself craving urban fantasy, these novellas might suit you.

Legion Rating: 3 of 5 Stars for a light urban fantasy that held my attention.

Skin Deep Rating: 2 of 5 Stars for a sequel that lacked the primary novella's zing.

Age Advisory (for Legion and Skin Deep): Ages 16+ for violence, racism, and the occasional stereotype.

Page Count: Legion is 88 pages, Skin Deep is 208 pages

Early Critique: "Magic Binds (Kate Daniels #9)" by Ilona Andrews

Note: This review has a few spoilers for those of you who are new to or behind on this series. My review of the first book, Magic Bites, is here.

Disclaimer: I was given a free advance e-copy of this book via NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My opinion remains as forthright as ever.

Expected Publication: September 20th

Kate and company have overcome immense obstacles throughout the course of this series, but the one who has always loomed largest is Roland, the god-like magician. Kate has always assumed she would face him singlehandedly, but along the way she has picked up allies and even friends in her quest to rid the world of his presence. In the previous book I noted I was growing somewhat fond of him, but he (yet again) reveals his true colors in this book.

The ingredients to the perfect Kate Daniels book haven't changed: there must be sarcasm, prolific action scenes, mysterious mythological elements, and the secret sauce that is the wonderfully exuberant cast of characters to hasten things along. Despite a seemingly impervious group of friends surrounding her, her relationships do suffer with the growth of her power and influence- friendships I hadn't believed would falter did. I was a bit disappointed in several characters as a result of that, which might be why I didn't enjoy this one as much as some of the others in the series.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'Mercenary Kate Daniels knows all too well that magic in post-Shift Atlanta is a dangerous business. But nothing she’s faced could have prepared her for this…
'Kate and the former Beast Lord Curran Lennart are finally making their relationship official. But there are some steep obstacles standing in the way of their walk to the altar…
'Kate’s father, Roland, has kidnapped the demigod Saiman and is slowly bleeding him dry in his never-ending bid for power. A Witch Oracle has predicted that if Kate marries the man she loves, Atlanta will burn and she will lose him forever. And the only person Kate can ask for help is long dead.
'The odds are impossible. The future is grim. But Kate Daniels has never been one to play by the rules…'

In my Magic Shifts review, I mentioned Kate and Curran having to deal with the consequences of their actions all by their lonesome- and that theme expands in this book. With a wedding to plan, and Kate being not keen on wedding planning, you get to see some fascinating displays of procrastination that even veteran procrastinators (such as myself) can admire. Kate has always had tomboyish tendencies that clash with the impending festivities, giving lightness to a book that is on the darker end of the spectrum with some of its plot elements.

Making this book more complex is the choices Kate must make by herself, that may affect the future in a myriad of ways. I don't envy Kate's role in this book, as she must confront her fears, and her past, in order to envision a new future for herself, even if it means sacrificing something she loves. True to her character, she rises to the occasion, but I felt concerned about events that may or may not come to pass in the next book.

In addition to all the drama listed above, we also have a returning character I was a bit ambivalent about, given the role they played previously. I did a recent reread of this series and became even more opposed to the return of this character, because some of what they did previously doesn't make much sense with how they're acting now. However, I think this may lead to some developments in the next book, as there are many plot threads yet to be woven together for Book #10.

Magic Binds is preparing us for one hell of a finale, which might be why I hesitate to give it five stars. It ends on a semi-cliffhanger, making you eager to read the next volume of Kate and Curran's adventures, which you will have to wait (likely another year) to read. Nonetheless, this installment should prove curative to those Kate and Curran fanatics who require a fix- myself included.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars for exceptional displays of urban fantasy badassery and snark!

Age Advisory: Ages 18+ for the usual Kate Daniels mix of violence against mythological beings and foul mouthed epithets.

Page Count: 384 pages

"Sebastian (Ephemera #1)" by Anne Bishop

I was very excited to read another Anne Bishop series- perhaps a tad too excited (as per usual). It's hard to know what to expect from an author whose current series I adore (The Others) and whose past series I couldn't get into (The Black Jewels). Although the cover purports this to be darker fantasy with "sensual" elements, for the most part this reads like an original fantasy with some romance (but it isn't by any of the stretch of the imagination that "sensual").

The concept of this book is a great one- instead of a vast world, what if it were broken up into little Landscapes, and to get to different Landscapes, you had to cross a Bridge. To those of us who like video games, the concept should come easily- instead of a sandbox-type world, it's a scattered one where you have to plan how you'll journey from place to place (and you're never quite sure where you'll end up). Taking care of the Landscapes are the Landscapers (who seem to all be female) and the ones who build Bridges are called Bridges (and again, all male).

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'A world of shifting lands connected only by bridges, Ephemera has been kept stable by the magic of the Landscapers. In one land where night reigns and demons dwell, the half-incubus Sebastian revels in dark delights. But then in dreams she calls to him: a woman who wants only to be safe and loved-a woman he hungers for while knowing he may destroy her.
'But a more devastating destiny awaits Sebastian, for in the quiet gardens of the Landscapers' school, evil is stirring. The nearly forgotten Eater of the World has escaped its prison-and Sebastian's realm may be the first to fall.'

Sebastian is only half-incubus, but seems to be very much a human male. Although one would think even a part incubus would be busy seducing women physically, for the most part he seems to prefer appearing to women in their dreams and indulging their fantasies. Meanwhile, the female main character, Lynnea, manifests as a near carbon copy of Meg Corbyn (of Written in Red fame), but without too much backstory, which is part of why I love Meg in the first place. I'm not sure if the author plans to include her much in the second book, but based on the title and cover I'm guessing not. Lynnea was easily the most disappointing character in the book- not because she didn't have the potential to be a great character, but because her backstory was so vague that she wasn't that compelling.

The thing that turned me off in this book was the thing I expected to like a lot: the Landscape of Den of Iniquity, which serves as Sebastian's home. When you think of that Den, chances are you may imagine some dark place illuminated by flames, filled with all sorts of sensual delights. So imagine my surprise when, despite the author asserting that this Den is pretty darn devilish and sensual, it ends up being like a corny, cheesy version of Vegas. There are rolls that you dip in cheese in the shape of phalluses (Phallic delights), and stuffed mushrooms that have some odd, boob-related name and look like, you guessed it, breasts. Despite Sebastian and Teaser having to "shield" these poor innocent people that come to the Den, I have to say, other than the "lewd erotic statues" (which, who cares- that's art, people) and supposed debauchery on the streets (which is never really shown, and never stumbled upon) there is nothing that wrong (or devilish, evil- take your pick) with the Den. Sure, it's always night and the sun doesn't shine there, but for those of us who are sun sensitive that almost sounds appealing.

Despite the flaws, there was something about this book that had me reading it almost nonstop. One would think I would be too annoyed with my above grievances, but in actuality, there's just something about this book that was addictive to me. Maybe it was the awesome worldbuilding (once one ventures past the Den of Iniquity), or even Sebastian himself (who wasn't half bad for a half incubus)- regardless of either of those, something compels you to read this book. Personally, I think the demon cycles (sentient demon motorcycles, sans motor) were a charming touch.

Sebastian was a gripping read that opened up new Landscapes for me. Beyond its shortcomings, something about it makes me hopeful for the next books in the series- perhaps the frenetic pace or the mystery who is Glorianna Belladonna. If you're looking for a unique series starter that doesn't feel like that urban fantasy you read last month, Sebastian definitely fits the bill.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars for a page-turning series starter that didn't quite fulfill its potential.

Content: Ages 18+ for cheesy rolls, violence, and strange monsters that suck you in and feed you to their pets.

Page Count: 436 pages in my mass market paperback edition.

"Bayou Moon (The Edge #2)" by Ilona Andrews

This review is of a book that is the 2nd in the The Edge series. There are minor spoilers for those of you who haven't read On the Edge. My review for the first book in the series, On The Edge, is here.

You meet one of the characters from this book, William in On the Edge, but Cerise and the majority of the characters are new. Still, I recommend starting with On the Edge because 1) it's shorter, 2) I liked it slightly better, 3) series are less confuzzling when you don't read them out of order. William is an odd sort of shifter-man: he was raised in an orphanage/military school in the Weird, and for reasons revealed in On the Edge, doesn't exactly fit into that world anymore, if he even did in the first place.

My favorite thing about this book is all the characters that are brought into the series: Cerise's family, the Mars, are rife with every sort of misfit you can imagine. Being a resident of the island of misfit toys myself, I found it amusing to follow their antics (and battles, and unusual forms of revenge). If you find yourself in the Mire area of the Edge, I'd steer clear of them, as beyond their tendency to lock their "guests" up for the night, they also make deadly things that may seem innocuous, but definitely aren't.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'The Edge lies between worlds, on the border between the Broken, where people shop at Walmart and magic is a fairytale–and the Weird, where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny…
'Cerise Mar and her unruly clan are cash poor but land rich, claiming a large swathe of the Mire, the Edge swamplands between the state of Louisiana and the Weird. When her parents vanish, her clan’s long-time rivals are suspect number one.
'But all is not as it seems. Two nations of the Weird are waging a cold war fought by feint and espionage, and their conflict is about to spill over into the Edge—and Cerise’s life . William, a changeling soldier who left behind the politics of the Weird, has been forced back into service to track down a rival nation’s spymaster.
'When William’s and Cerise’s missions lead them to cross paths, sparks fly—but they’ll have to work together if they want to succeed…and survive.'

While I did enjoy William and Cerise's partnership, there was a slightly spoiler-ish issue with plotting that puzzled me. They had a love/hate thing going on, and on the day before a "big battle" that they were anticipating, they decided to fight each other to see which one of them was the better fighter. It would have been fine if they were sparring, but for two supposedly rational minded human beings to cut each other up the day before their "big battle" that they weren't sure they would win...

Yeah, that puzzled me.

There are many more positives with this book, not limited to Cerise being a magically bladed badass, but they were overshadowed by that odd plot piece. Kaldar Mar (conman lawyer extraordinaire) is introduced in this book, and I had worried he may not end up being featured in the series again, but guess who has his own book? The villains in this book become a key part of the series, giving it a slightly steampunk-ish vibe (I've only ever seen monsters like this in steampunk and/or horror books).

Bayou Moon is an excellent sequel that had an issue with plotting that made it falter a bit. Regardless of its failing(s), it adds to the Edge series by advancing the plot and introducing some of my favorite characters... and having a Princess Bride reference (page 53). If you've read On the Edge, I definitely recommend continuing the series- Bayou Moon is a key to many of the plot points in the series, which is likely why it's the longest of all the books.

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars for an urban fantasy sequel with some minor issues.

Content: Ages 18+ for sexual content, macabre violence, and gruesome abominations.

Page Count: 462 pages in my paperback edition

"On the Edge (The Edge #1)" by Ilona Andrews

Naturally, since I am addicted to any narcotic substance writing produced by Ilona Andrews, I picked up the entire series during my buying spree at Better World Books. This book has a lot in common with Ilona Andrews' other work, Burn For Me, which I also loved, but is set in a more 'hidden world'. It's also more romance oriented than Ilona Andrews' usual urban fantasy fare, but still can't touch Halfway to the Grave.

There are three worlds in this novel: the Broken, which is basically what normal, non-magical folks like us live in daily, the Edge, which has a bit of magic to it, and has no rule of law, and the Weird, where the most magical people live and is the essential 'magic kingdom'. Most magic users can only visit two worlds, the Edge and the Weird, due to the Broken being 'broken' of magic. Others don't have enough magic to visit the Weird, or have warrants out for their arrest in the Weird. Rose can visit all three, but doesn't have the necessary papers to ensure her and her brothers' rights are respected once they cross into the Weird, hence them living on the Edge, with the occasional venture into the Broken.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, between the world of the Broken (where people drive cars, shop at Wal-Mart, and magic is a fairy tale) and the Weird (where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny). Only Edgers like Rose can easily travel from one world to the next, but they never truly belong in either.
'Rose thought if she practiced her magic, she could build a better life for herself. But things didn’t turn out how she planned, and now she works a minimum wage, off the books job in the Broken just to survive. Then Declan Camarine, a blueblood noble straight out of the deepest part of the Weird, comes into her life, determined to have her (and her power).
'But when a terrible danger invades the Edge from the Weird, a flood of creatures hungry for magic, Declan and Rose must work together to destroy them—or they’ll devour the Edge and everyone in it.'

Rose is left to care for her young brothers after her father runs off when she is a teenager. Despite challenges, she raises them as best she can, until one day a stranger comes to her property looking to carry her off as his own. Declan is the kind of hero I usually wince at- he makes all kinds of demands, believes he is entitled to certain things, and will do anything to get what he wants. There are a lot of moments where my eyebrows were *almost* meeting my hairline... but all is revealed in the end, as with any good book.

Beyond Rose, who is a heroine I love (she has no issues telling bluebloods to get off her property... with actions), there are also Rose's brothers: Georgie and Jack. The way the book opens with them featured is somewhat strange- it again harkened back to Burn for Me, which also had zany characters and peculiar scenes. Although Georgie is somewhat dear to me due to his name, Jack takes the cake, as he is a lynx changeling kitten. So if you remember my obsessive Wolf puppy-centric review of Written in Red, you'll understand why I was so excited while reading this- children who turn into small fluffy things in books are on my list of favorite things ever. (Children who turn into small fluffy things in real life... now that's a nightmare waiting to happen.)

On the Edge is an exceptional escape from reality. If you've ever wondered if magic users frequent Wal-Mart, well, this book may indeed hold the answer for you. If you're addicted to fictional shifter children, this book has one. If you like urban fantasy and paranormal romance, but definitely prefer the urban fantasy bits, have no fear. I recommend this book to those who like books about adult magic users, both prosperous and penniless.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars for a new (to me) favorite Ilona Andrews series!

Content: Ages 18+ for violence, sexual content, likely a few naughty words, and irritating bluebloods.

Page Count: 309 pages in my mass market paperback edition

Interesting Fact: Jack and George are also featured in a scene of Sweep in Peace, a book I read last year and haven't reviewed (yet). I'll have to reread it!

"Vision in Silver (The Others #3)" by Anne Bishop

This review features a book that is the third in The Others series, and may have spoilers for those who have not read Written in Red and Murder of Crows. My review of the first book can be found here.

During the last book, I felt that all of the action was very anti-climactic- I knew Meg and Simon would be safe, so it wasn't a very interesting read for me. With this book, that certainty of safety was whisked away, and in its place doubts began to grow. Ultimately, this was a much better book for me due to the presence of those doubts.

I've been waiting (and waiting, and waiting) to get this book at a decent price so I could read it- and it doesn't disappoint. Usually I build my expectations up so much during the anticipation of waiting for it (and salivating as I stroke the cover with my cursor while watching someone else read it on Goodreads), that the book can't ever reach the heights I've predicted. This one took me by surprise on several occasions- maybe because I've forgotten some of the plot points of the previous books (though I never forget the Wolf puppies), or maybe because the characters are becoming more dynamic in their roles.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'The Others freed the cassandra sangue to protect the blood prophets from exploitation, not realizing their actions would have dire consequences. Now the fragile seers are in greater danger than ever before—both from their own weaknesses and from those who seek to control their divinations for wicked purposes. In desperate need of answers, Simon Wolfgard, a shape-shifter leader among the Others, has no choice but to enlist blood prophet Meg Corbyn’s help, regardless of the risks she faces by aiding him.
'Meg is still deep in the throes of her addiction to the euphoria she feels when she cuts and speaks prophecy. She knows each slice of her blade tempts death. But Others and humans alike need answers, and her visions may be Simon’s only hope of ending the conflict.
'For the shadows of war are deepening across the Atlantik, and the prejudice of a fanatic faction is threatening to bring the battle right to Meg and Simon’s doorstep…'

The cassandra sangue have been freed, but they haven't been freed from their addiction. Where things seem to come much easier for Meg, they struggle- and so it becomes Meg's job to be their role model, and help find ways to help them cope. Meg as a character doesn't feel like leader material- over the past few books, she's evolved to be stronger, but by no means is she completely well-adjusted. I think that's why she's such a remarkable heroine- where many authors choose to make their protagonists invulnerable, Meg isn't that type of woman. It's easy for me to see pieces of my younger (and much less confident) self in her.

Beyond the characters, this book has the continuing darker undertones of the series. It's difficult to describe without spoiling, but things are even worse than they seemed in the previous book. Sometimes you get fooled into a false sense of security with authors' foreshadowing and perspective changes, and I feel that may be what is happening with this book.... but then again, I've been played a fool by authors' conniving plot twists before.

Vision in Silver is much better than Murder of Crows, but it doesn't quite hit the heights of the first book for me (still not enough Wolf puppies). I enjoyed the evolving relationship of Meg and Simon, but let's be honest: in which book haven't I enjoyed that??? Anne Bishop has done a spectacular job with a slow-building relationship, which contributes to a large part of my love of this series. All I know is, I can't wait to read the next book, Marked in the Flesh.

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars for a third book that exceeds the sequel!

Content: Ages 16+ for violence, cutting, and inhumanity.

Page Count: 493 pages in my mass market paperback edition.

"Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1)" by Patricia Briggs

I loved the start of this book, but once I read past that- there were problems. Problems, which, may be in part due to strong personal preferences on my part- I'm horribly biased against certain male characters who rub me the wrong way. If the book is set in a patriarchal society and I begin to have flashbacks, it instantly nullifies any enjoyment I gathered from the book.

So how did this book overcome my strong dislike, despite this bias of mine? I liked the worldbuilding, the action, and pretty much everything but the male characters. Male characters were most of the cast, by the way- Mercy is one of very few women in this book. I also enjoyed that the characters were of diverse backgrounds, and that Mercy was a mechanic. However, the tug-of-war over liking/disliking this book meant it was somewhat of a chore for me to read.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'Mercedes "Mercy" Thompson is a talented Volkswagen mechanic living in the Tri-Cities area of Washington. She also happens to be a walker, a magical being with the power to shift into a coyote at will. Mercy's next-door neighbor is a werewolf. Her former boss is a gremlin. And she's fixing a bus for a vampire. This is the world of Mercy Thompson, one that looks a lot like ours but is populated by those things that go bump in the night. And Mercy's connection to those things is about to get her into some serious hot water...'

As much as I liked Mercy, there were issues with my like of her too. It seemed every female she met who was around her age (not younger than her) ended up on her list of personae non gratae. I get it- you hang with the boys, so girls don't like you- except I don't. I think anyone should be able to have male and female friends, regardless of gender. Crazy, right? I understand that that might not come to fruition in the first book, but it really bothered me.

Onto the male characters. Although the author does sufficiently describe them so you get their individuality, I could not remember their names. The main issue was that their names were generic... and also, as much as they rubbed me the wrong way, they didn't strike me as being very different personality-wise from one another. The two male characters I was kinda-sorta okay with were Stefan (because he's a vamp) and Adam (he has his okay moments).

After reading the book, I was very curious as to where the author grew up- as it turns out, she was born in Butte, Montana. My problems with all those male characters likely stem from that- my "father" was from that area as well. I do have relatives I like there, but I'm still very, very uncomfortable around men from there.

Moon Called was a book I likely had too high of expectations for- and my biases kept me from liking it as much as I could have. However, I still bought another of the author's books (because: sale) and don't plan on avoiding her books until it becomes clear whether it's the writing or the books themselves I don't enjoy. If you've read my quandaries and still think this book would suit you, I wouldn't rain on your bookish parade. This book simply spawned too much hubbub with my personal opinions.

Rating: 3 of 5 Stars for a good start to a series I have very mixed feelings about.

Content: Ages 16+ for violence and sexual misconduct.

Page Count: 288 pages

"Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #1)" by Ilona Andrews

Full Disclosure: I only read this book because it was written by Ilona Andrews. I wasn't terribly interested in the plot or the cover, but then again, when I picked up Magic Bites, I wasn't *that* into urban fantasy, either. Since I've become an Ilona Andrews fangirl, all their books are on my Amazon wishlist, and this one had a recent price plunge. Given I'm in a rather 'meh' book mood, I assumed it couldn't hurt to read something by some authors I stalk.

Although this isn't technically like Written in Red, it gave me the same impression from the start. We have a lone heroine who runs an inn for some mysterious characters (at this point, only one). When dogs in her neighborhood start getting killed off, she decides to take action, especially when the werewolf in her neighborhood won't get involved. So what's a normal human woman to do? Perhaps things aren't as they seem...

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'On the outside, Dina Demille is the epitome of normal. She runs a quaint Victorian Bed and Breakfast in a small Texas town, owns a Shih Tzu named Beast, and is a perfect neighbor, whose biggest problem should be what to serve her guests for breakfast. But Dina is...different: Her broom is a deadly weapon; her Inn is magic and thinks for itself. Meant to be a lodging for otherworldly visitors, the only permanent guest is a retired Galactic aristocrat who can’t leave the grounds because she’s responsible for the deaths of millions and someone might shoot her on sight. Under the circumstances, "normal" is a bit of a stretch for Dina.
'And now, something with wicked claws and deepwater teeth has begun to hunt at night....Feeling responsible for her neighbors, Dina decides to get involved. Before long, she has to juggle dealing with the annoyingly attractive, ex-military, new neighbor, Sean Evans—an alpha-strain werewolf—and the equally arresting cosmic vampire soldier, Arland, while trying to keep her inn and its guests safe. But the enemy she’s facing is unlike anything she’s ever encountered before. It’s smart, vicious, and lethal, and putting herself between this creature and her neighbors might just cost her everything.'

My favorite part of the book is... things aren't as they seem. I love that there's a bit of a mystery aspect to this book with regards to its paranormal content. More than that, there's plenty of snark to be had, an old sentient mansion (love that), and most importantly, a shih tzu. Why most importantly?

Tsuki and Torrie: Camping Canines

Back when Torrie was a freshly adopted beastie, we had another older dog named Tsuki, who was a shih tzu mix. I had adopted Tsuki when he was 15 (unbeknownst to my mother and I), and I was 16 at the time. It had come as a shock he was 15, and I made him promise me he would live a year. He lived to be a month shy of 18 years old. Shih tzus, for all their fluff, are tough little things- and I was glad to see that feature exhibited in Beast, the female shih tzu in Clean Sweep.

Beyond that, I just liked the way the characters interacted- Ilona Andrews is great at making me laugh and making characters come to life. Dina really doesn't want the help Sean wants to give her, but she gets it anyway. The mysterious killings kind of took a backseat to that, so in a way this book was character driven- not a bad thing, in my opinion.

Clean Sweep is an absolutely flipping adorable urban fantasy read. I finished it with a smile on my face- more than I can say for most of my reads, which sometimes leave me with mixed feelings. However, it was on the short side, and being a lover of longer books, I had wanted a little extra- a little extra I'll have to get whenever I get my hands on Sweep in Peace, the next book in the series. So if you like urban fantasy and don't mind some sci-fi crossover, I recommend you look no further than Clean Sweep.

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars for a read that brightened my day!

Content: Ages 16+ for violence.

Page Count: 235 pages

"Urban Shaman (Walker Papers #1)" by C.E. Murphy

This is probably a book I should've cast aside, but chose to muddle through because I was already halfway through when it was clear I wasn't enjoying myself. Not exactly a good reason to keep reading, but I'd also had books that have redeemed themselves with their ending, and I was hoping that would be the case with this one.

The pacing with this book is strange. It might be different if you find dreams/weird spiritual scenes truly interesting (which I thought I did before I read this), but in my case, due to the prevalence of such scenes, the book seemed 800 pages long. I am relatively open to fictional spirituality-wanderings, but honestly, this book didn't make me curious- it made me skim the scenes because it was fairly obvious I would not find what I wanted from them.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'Seattle cop, Joanne Walker, returns from vacation to have her life turned upside down. She is pursued by a Celtic God, and forced to acknowledge an aspect of the universe she's never seen before. Even if she survives, she will forever be changed by this adventure.'

Joanne Walker is a character I could relate to, but didn't really care about due to the author fiercely defending her 'secrets'. There are things you learn about Joanne/Siobhan (yes, even her name isn't what it seems) very late in the book that explain some of her stupid secrecy, but at that point, it's too little, too late. In a way her characterization was half and half- she was friendly, joking with her cop buddies, but then none of them really knew much about her. I found Kate Daniels much more realistic in that, to keep her 'secrets', she shied away from anyone and kept up a 'hard-ass' facade. Joanne wasn't real to me like that.

I'm not sure why the paranormal/spiritual aspects made me want to grind my teeth, other than they were much more boring than I thought paranormal/spiritual things could be. Also, in a way I found them stereotypical- I don't know very much about Native American culture, but I do know it can be written in a much more enthralling way than it was presented here, while keeping true to it. I was honestly horrified when I found out how little Native mythology the author had thrown in- not only did it feel like an afterthought to me, it didn't feel the least bit authentic (perhaps due to the heroine's incessant disbelief/Spock-mindedness).

Urban Shaman had me excited when I heard about it. I am devoid of enthusiasm now. I can't think of the last book that had me really disappointed, but this one certainly fits the bill. Although there were interesting and amusing turns of phrase sprinkled throughout this book, it wasn't near enough to keep me interested. Because this book has such potential, I give it 2.5 stars, but I really can't recommend it unless it really sounds like your piece of cake.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 Stars for an okay book that could've been simplified into a better one.

Content: Ages 16+ for gorey bits and violence.

Page Count: 410 pages

"Twice Tempted (Night Prince #2)" by Jeaniene Frost

This is the second book in the Night Prince series, a spin off of the Night Huntress series. Yes, there may be spoilers. My review of the first book of the Night Prince series is here, and my review of the first book of the Night Huntress series is here.

I have to admit, I don't mind when fictional vampiric heroes get all cruel and unusual (towards enemies, obviously not the heroine), especially when they happen to be the inspiration for Dracula. That is part of the reason behind why I think I liked this book better than the first- in addition to some other happenings.

Leila is much stronger in this book than she was in the first, both emotionally and physically. Her powers have grown, and her tolerance for Vlad's behavior has plummeted, leading to the opening events of Twice Tempted. I won't spoil it for you, but I had to resist the urge to stand up and cheer when she made some difficult choices that you don't often see chosen in urban fantasy or paranormal romance.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'Dating the Prince of Darkness has its challenges...
'Leila's psychic abilities have been failing her, and now she isn't sure what the future holds. If that weren't enough, her lover, Vlad, has been acting distant. Though Leila is a mere mortal, she's also a modern woman who refuses to accept the cold shoulder treatment forever–especially from the darkly handsome vampire who still won't admit that he loves her.
'Like choosing between eternal love and a loveless eternity...
'Soon circumstances send Leila back to the carnival circuit, where tragedy strikes. And when she finds herself in the crosshairs of a killer who may be closer than she realizes, Leila must decide who to trust– the fiery vampire who arouses her passions like no other or the tortured knight who longs to be more than a friend? With danger stalking her every step of the way, all it takes is one wrong move to damn her for eternity.'

Despite not seeing much of Vlad for the first part of the book, you get to know him more than you did in the first book. I can't say I was sure I actually even liked Vlad as a hero until this book, when his motivations became more clear. You become horrified in the first book by his 'fierce loyalty', but Twice Tempted actually shows you how he came to be that way.

Cat gets a cameo appearance in this book, but honestly... I'm on team Leila now. Cat is a fine heroine, but she doesn't have quite as many scars as Leila carries, nor is she entirely human. Leila isn't entirely human either with her powers, but at least she doesn't look like a Barbie doll. Yes, I judge characters' appearances harshly- anything anti-perfect matters to me in that area.

A favorite quote of mine:

Piss off a modern guy and he'd likely go to a local bar. Piss off a vampire with an impalement habit and an in-house dungeon, and it was a no-brainer where he'd go.

                 ~Twice Tempted by Jeaniene Frost, page 318 Kindle edition

Twice Tempted was a much-needed sequel to the series- I liked it so much I reread parts of it just so I wrote this review with the perfect amount of fervor. Not only was Leila much stronger than I took her to be in the first book, she proved she wasn't just a pawn to be played. I could go on, but I may devolve into inarticulate blabberings of spoilers. If you are a fan of Dracula and paranormal romance, you shouldn't resist trying to read the Night Prince series- it might surprise you.

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars for a sequel that exceeded my expectations of the series!

Content: Ages 18+ for the usual Vlad Tepes goodness. (Gore, sex, and the odd dismemberment).

Page Count: 360 pages

"Magic Shifts (Kate Daniels #8)" by Ilona Andrews

This review features a book that is the eighth in the Kate Daniels series, and may have spoilers for those who have not read the first seven books of the series. My review of the first book can be found here.

I spoiled myself and bought Magic Shifts on its release day, since I haven't bought any fresh-off-the-presses books this year. It actually took me by surprise that it was available because I hadn't quite left my 'it's July' state of mind.

First off, I was trying to make this last, because the next Kate Daniels book is roughly a year away, but my book appetite had other ideas. I gobbled it up in two days, not even trying to stop after each chapter and read another book. Obviously this means it's as well paced as previous books, which also didn't stay me very long. It's difficult to pace yourself when the lives of the characters you love are at stake.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'After breaking from life with the Pack, mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate—former Beast Lord Curran Lennart—are adjusting to a very different pace. While they’re thrilled to escape all the infighting, Curran misses the constant challenges of leading the shapeshifters.
'So when the Pack offers him its stake in the Mercenary Guild, Curran seizes the opportunity—too bad the Guild wants nothing to do with him and Kate. Luckily, as a veteran merc, Kate can take over any of the Guild’s unfinished jobs in order to bring in money and build their reputation. But what Kate and Curran don’t realize is that the odd jobs they’ve been working are all connected.
'An ancient enemy has arisen, and Kate and Curran are the only ones who can stop it—before it takes their city apart piece by piece…'

We get to see a little more of one of my favorite characters, Saiman, in this book but his scenes are shorter than I wanted. The Pack is also now behind the scenes- since Kate and Curran left the throne (as it were) in the previous book. This changes a lot of the elements in the series- previously all their actions had to be approved by the Pack before they could actually act. Now they can do whatever they want- but still reap the consequences for themselves.

Kate, Curran, Julie, and Roland all naturally steal the show in this book. Kate has a natural distrust of her father due to all his actions have put her through, though he acts every bit the kindly old man in his appearance. To be honest, he gives me the creeps, but he still brings a lot of fun moments to this book. Curran is surprisingly the same, even without his title to back him, but he's more invested in Kate than he's ever been before. And Julie- you see more of her than Saiman or my other favorites, but she's growing on me. I love that she still plays a role in the series- a lot of authors discard the helpless orphans on someone else, noting that their hero/heroine is too 'dangerous' to have a kid. Yeah, well things happen, authors. And sometimes you can't just conveniently pass them off to Aunt Suzie.

One of my favorite quotes:

"Okay," Juke said. "Your horse is a donkey, your poodle is a giant wolf breed, and your boyfriend is whatever the hell he is. You have problems."

               ~Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews, 48% Kindle edition

Magic Shifts was an exceptional addition to the series- but it didn't hit me quite as hard as Magic Rises or Magic Breaks, despite lots of drama still going on. Yes, I still love the characters (perhaps even more) and the action was well-packed, but I always need an emotional punch in the gut to tip it up to five stars, and this one just didn't quite do it. I obviously still recommend it, although you may want to pace yourself on this one better than I was able to, as I have a long wait ahead of me.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars for an exceptional book that didn't quite hit me as hard as the previous two.

Content: Ages 18+ for the usual suspects in the Kate Daniels series.

Page Count: 342 pages

"Once Burned (Night Prince #1)" by Jeaniene Frost

Vlad the Impaler is... too sexy for his shirt.



*Sorry, not sorry*

Ahem.
I readily admit when I first dipped my toes into Jeaniene Frost's work, I was expecting a bit more than I got from Halfway to the Grave. Yes, it was fast-paced, the romance was steamy, and although I was lukewarm about that hero who everyone loves, Bones, I did love Cat. There was something missing. I didn't know what it was, but I think I found it in the spin-off series, the Night Prince.

Speaking of Vlad's shirt, it's weird he's on the cover without it. Most of the book is about Leila trying to keep the dang thing on, or Vlad keeping it on expressly to annoy her. The shirt should be on with this particular cover, but since I'm not your average paranormal romance reader (half of the genre I loathe or am lukewarm about), I suppose my two cents don't really count. Other than that, I feel the cover is a decent likeness of Vlad, who I met before in one of the Night Huntress books (a series which I haven't yet finished). Although it was somewhat beneficial to me to have 'met' him before, I don't believe you have to read the Night Huntress series beforehand, unless you hate spoilers for that series and actually plan on reading it.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'She's a mortal with dark powers...
'After a tragic accident scarred her body and destroyed her dreams, Leila never imagined that the worst was still to come: terrifying powers that let her channel electricity and learn a person's darkest secrets through a single touch. Leila is doomed to a life of solitude...until creatures of the night kidnap her, forcing her to reach out with a telepathic distress call to the world's most infamous vampire...
'He's the Prince of Night...
'Vlad Tepesh inspired the greatest vampire legend of all—but whatever you do, don't call him Dracula. Vlad's ability to control fire makes him one of the most feared vampires in existence, but his enemies have found a new weapon against him—a beautiful mortal with powers to match his own. When Vlad and Leila meet, however, passion ignites between them, threatening to consume them both. It will take everything that they are to stop an enemy intent on bringing them down in flames.'

In this book, I wasn't 100% on Vlad's side. I'm notoriously picky about alpha males, having grown up with a control freak male figure in my life who could be compared with both certain dictators and beloved romance heroes, and Vlad was everything you'd anticipate in a medieval male. This greatly concerned me, but I have to admit, his savagery is what later makes me appreciate his character. I'd loathe it if an author took a beloved historical figure like Vlad Tepesh and make him into some sort of wheatgrass-guzzling, well-adjusted modern male with a degree in political correctness.

The character who made me stand up and cheer was obviously Leila. It's pretty obvious why- she grew up different, having to keep other people at arm's length (or actually longer) due to her powers. As a teen, I struggled with doing the same thing because of my incessant medical issues, which made being social a bit of a choreographed dance. With Vlad, none of her objections to being close with a person apply, leading to a bout of instalust. But really, who would pass up the only person in the world who can stand your touch? Leila does her best to.

I warmed to Once Burned much more quickly than I have to any of Jeaniene Frost's previous works. I hadn't expected that, despite snapping up all of the series as a Kindle Daily Deal, but some part of me wanted to fall in love with some of her work just to hang out with the cool kids (hi there, cool kids!). If you liked the Night Huntress series, I can't imagine this being a disappointing read for you, but I also recommend this if you're obsessed with Dracula. This from someone who knows.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars for a great start to a series I've enjoyed immensely so far!

Content: Ages 18+ for the expected violence/vileness (he's Vlad the Impaler), and the obvious paranormal romance scenes.

Page Count: 346 pages

"Burn for Me (Hidden Legacy #1)" by Ilona Andrews

So, the first agenda in this book review is to cover that awful cover. Ignore it. As I imagine the characters, they look nothing like that. Nevada is supposed to have skin as dark as Rogan, and she never once wears a 'Gone With the Wind' rejected dress/top, and I don't recall reading Rogan as 'shirtless with dog tags'. Nevada would also never pose like that with Rogan, since he kidnapped her- and not in the fun 'I'll let you go after I torture you with a feather' way.

Now that we've moved on from that subject (and mourned the loss of the original cover), it's onto my first impressions. This is a much easier book to crack into than Magic Bites, which had uneven pacing. I was in a headache-induced slump when I picked this up, hoping it would prove as entertaining as my beloved Kate Daniels series, and it was. We have a larger cast of characters in this book, in addition to a mechanic grandma who fixes up tanks for private security firms. Yep, you read that right.

The Plot: (As Seen on Goodreads)
'Nevada Baylor is faced with the most challenging case of her detective career—a suicide mission to bring in a suspect in a volatile case. Nevada isn’t sure she has the chops. Her quarry is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, who can set anyone and anything on fire.
'Then she’s kidnapped by Connor “Mad” Rogan—a darkly tempting billionaire with equally devastating powers. Torn between wanting to run or surrender to their overwhelming attraction, Nevada must join forces with Rogan to stay alive.
'Rogan’s after the same target, so he needs Nevada. But she’s getting under his skin, making him care about someone other than himself for a change. And, as Rogan has learned, love can be as perilous as death, especially in the magic world.'

As always, a good urban fantasy cannot be good without a decent amount of worldbuilding. In Burn for Me's case, we have a world that's similar to ours, but changed as a byproduct of magical inheritance. People in power marry other people with magical genes so they might stay in power, since the serum that gave them the magic has been destroyed.

The characters, as I may have eluded to previously, were of Ilona Andrews' usual caliber. In other words, they were pretty much perfectly personified. In 'Mad' Rogan's case, it worked against him, because he was so brash and stupid with how he went about things, but I believe in later books I may warm more to his character. Nevada and her family were my favorites, winning me over whenever I began to grow a little too creeped out by Rogan.

Burn for Me isn't what I'd thought it would be- which is a good thing. While the cover suggests an excess of paranormal romance, in reality, it's much less than other books people deem Urban Fantasy like Halfway to the Grave. I recommend Burn for Me to Ilona Andrews fans (no duh), urban fantasy aficionados, and those who like urban fantasies with superhero-like characters.

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars for an excellent start to a new Ilona Andrews series!

Content: Ages 18+ for kidnapping, monstrous magic, some sexual elements, and some swearing.

Page Count: 400 pages