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92nd out of 616 books
—
1,006 voters
Zen and the Art of Vampires (Dark Ones #6)
by
Katie MacAlister (Goodreads Author)
White picket fences can be dangerous to vampires. Sometimes a woman’s gotta choose…
Pia Thomason doesn’t have a typical life, but she wants one. The husband, the kids, the house in the suburbs… With her fortieth birthday looming, she decides to do something drastic, and takes off on a singles’ tour through romantic Europe.
But the few guys on the trip leave much to be desire...more
Pia Thomason doesn’t have a typical life, but she wants one. The husband, the kids, the house in the suburbs… With her fortieth birthday looming, she decides to do something drastic, and takes off on a singles’ tour through romantic Europe.
But the few guys on the trip leave much to be desire...more
Paperback, 332 pages
Published
December 2nd 2008
by Signet
(first published December 1st 2008)
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Humpf! I've been a reader of Katie MacAlister's 'Dark Ones' series--a lighthearted take on vampires--since it began. These are some very sexy vamps, but they don't have most of the supernatural powers other writers have given to their vamps. They are pretty much a group of people like others, although extremely long-lived to be sure. Those without a soul are looking for their Beloved, the one woman who can return their soul to them...but most believe a Beloved is a lot like the tooth fairy or Sa...more
Dec 16, 2008
Chessa
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Fans of Katie MacAlister, MaryJanice Davidson
Shelves:
paranormal_romance,
series
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Zen And The Art of Vampires is a fantastic paranormal cozy mystery with a dash of romance to enhance the flavor. Yumm!! Katie is at her best here again and can't wait for the next book.
Pia Thompson is on a man hunting vacation. She is taking a singles' tour through Europe in hopes for finding someone who will spark her fires. She not's the usual skinny pretty woman that any man would drool over but instead she is a plain jane and has some meat on her bones. At least there is enough of her for a...more
Pia Thompson is on a man hunting vacation. She is taking a singles' tour through Europe in hopes for finding someone who will spark her fires. She not's the usual skinny pretty woman that any man would drool over but instead she is a plain jane and has some meat on her bones. At least there is enough of her for a...more
I can't say I liked this book much. I like Katie Mac and all, but I'm a little tired of her heroines obsessing about a few extra pounds for the ENTIRE book. Pia just came off as whiny and I didn't care much for her at all.
Zen And The Art of Vampires is a fantastic paranormal cozy mystery with a dash of romance to enhance the flavor. Yumm!! Katie is at her best here again and can't wait to read the next book.
Pia Thompson is on a man hunting vacation. She is taking a singles' tour through Europe in hope of finding someone who will spark her fires. She not's the usual skinny pretty woman that any man would drool over but instead is a plain jane and has some meat on her bones. At least there is enough of her for a m...more
Pia Thompson is on a man hunting vacation. She is taking a singles' tour through Europe in hope of finding someone who will spark her fires. She not's the usual skinny pretty woman that any man would drool over but instead is a plain jane and has some meat on her bones. At least there is enough of her for a m...more
Zen and the Art of Vampires: 4.5 stars
Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Stacey Agdern
In a climate where authorial desire for innovation and reader expectations have clashed in very notable ways, Katie MacAlister’s latest ‘Dark Ones’ novels stand out as examples of how best to deal with both concepts and come out with a home run.
No matter how many times people try to deny it, both authorial desire for innovation and reader expectations, are necessary and important parts of the au...more
Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Stacey Agdern
In a climate where authorial desire for innovation and reader expectations have clashed in very notable ways, Katie MacAlister’s latest ‘Dark Ones’ novels stand out as examples of how best to deal with both concepts and come out with a home run.
No matter how many times people try to deny it, both authorial desire for innovation and reader expectations, are necessary and important parts of the au...more
I didnt like that the book didnt finish. It sucks when you have to wait for the conclusion of the first book. I also wasn't a fan of her having to decide between two men instead of having a like for the man she was suppose to love.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I really enjoyed Katie MacAlister's Dragon series, so I had high hopes when I bumped into this book, but it seemed pretty much a flop to me. I don't mind her flighty main characters and their bumbling around in strange paranormal worlds. I like her sense of humor and playfulness, and I always love her hot romantic scenes. This book though, seemed a downgrade from others I've read. The plot came across to me as pretty silly, the main character as whiny, the cults as somewhat repulsive, and I foun...more
The story arc continues into 'Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang' which is due out in May. The hero and heroine are mated but not together at the end of this book, which I find annoying. If I had realized, I would have simply waited for the next book and read them together - I don't deal with 'serialized' stuff well.
As for the portion of the story you do get - I happen to be reading some of Viehl's Darkyn books at the same time, so the parallels of frothing fanatics wanting to torture, maim and dest...more
As for the portion of the story you do get - I happen to be reading some of Viehl's Darkyn books at the same time, so the parallels of frothing fanatics wanting to torture, maim and dest...more
I loved this book! So much in fact that, I read it three years ago and still remember the names of the characters! Pia takes a singles cruise to Europe and can suddenly see ghosts. She does not know why or how but this just started. She also encounters two very good looking vampires. One who keeps throwing himself at her and the other who keeps cursing her out. Naturally she wants the one that seems to not want her. She is not a heroine in the normal since. She describes herself as fat and frump...more
Jul 07, 2011
A.Ivzir
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
adult-paranormal,
adult-romance
(2.5)MacAlister’s Zen and the Art of Vampires had been nothing like what I expected it to be at all. It had a completely different and some-what refreshing intake, plot wise. The fact that it had little romance disappointed me, the hero(s) and heroine seemed a bit thrown together. Pia pushing forty wasn’t as mature as I expected her to be either at least where it concerned about her weight. People have insecurities whether they are old or young but she seemed to constantly dwell on her big boned...more
I walked into the library the other day and I saw this book in large print. I picked it up and briefly looked over it. Like most trips to the library I pick up a stack that looks interesting and then move on to filter through them when I get home.
So, I really didn't know what to expect when I started to read. After about fifty pages into the book I realized this was not my type of read. It was dry and more on the end of romantic fantasy and supernatural. Well, a little more explicit then I had a...more
So, I really didn't know what to expect when I started to read. After about fifty pages into the book I realized this was not my type of read. It was dry and more on the end of romantic fantasy and supernatural. Well, a little more explicit then I had a...more
i can't say how annoyed i was to reach the end of this book and find out that the story wasn't over. be warned, it's at least a two parter
This book is so comical and such a good read. The book is about Pia, a lady whose a little pudgy and is not real comfortable on how she looks. In a way she feels why men don't really see her is because she's fat.
Pia lives in the Northwest and runs a no kill shelter for older pets. She decides she's going on a singles tour that takes her to Iceland. While on this tour she meets Magda, a curvy, voluptious Spanish lady who instantly bonds with Pia. Pia has a lot of fun with Magda. While at a festiv...more
Pia lives in the Northwest and runs a no kill shelter for older pets. She decides she's going on a singles tour that takes her to Iceland. While on this tour she meets Magda, a curvy, voluptious Spanish lady who instantly bonds with Pia. Pia has a lot of fun with Magda. While at a festiv...more
I had thought that I had read MacAlister's work before, but it turns out that Zen and the Art of Vampires is the first work that I have read by her. I must say that I really, really enjoyed it. I enjoyed her combination of humor with action, romance, and adventure. There were more than a few times that I laughed out loud. Its been a while since I have done that. MacAlister does a great job with her development of Pia. Pia was such a down to earth character and very relatable in a world when her...more
Eh. I don't have any idea what the title had to do with the content of the book, other than "vampires."
Pia sounds like a much more believable character than previous heroines, even if some times the humor takes precedence over the verisimilitude and logic of the story. I won't give details, but the story continues on the next book, so it kinds of becomes something in-between romance and something else. I also like that there are two men, and you don't know for a while who is the "real one" for her. Of course, the reader finds out way before she does, which seems to be a trait of MacAlister. The p...more
I have always liked the Dark Ones Novels. Katie puts in a lot of humor and there are often what I would refer to as a Lucy Situations (I have those occasionally and I relate to characters that do to.) But the books had all had a formulaic feel. (Heroine meets tall, gorgeous stranger, girl doesn't like or trust stranger, but is still deeply attracted, girl and stranger are plunged into peril and bond, fool around, discover girl is the Beloved who gives stranger his soul, couple lives happily ever...more
I love all her books, they're funny, romantic, serious, mysterious, and sometimes suspenseful. This is a very quick read and has some good twists and turns. I have to say I wasn't all that impressed with the new plot themes, that of the Brotherhood, and the Ilargi, but overall it was definitely worth it.
Like most everyone else here, I did NOT like the cliffhanger ending. I was snuggling up in my chair hoping to finish the last few chapters with a happy ending but lo and behold, it was a freaking cliffhanger. And now I have to actually go out and get the book at a library or bookstore. It's really annoying when this happens.
I feel like the plot (or maybe it's her writing) was really sudden. I would be reading one thing and then boom, something appears and I would be really confused, thinking, "w...more
I feel like the plot (or maybe it's her writing) was really sudden. I would be reading one thing and then boom, something appears and I would be really confused, thinking, "w...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
The latest in the series of the Dark Ones, and the women destined to be their Beloveds, the ones who can redeem their souls.
Pia is nearing 40, and on a singles tour of Europe. She is mistaken for the reaper (who can usher souls to the afterlife) of a strange religious group, then the real one is found dead in her bathroom, sending her on the run and straight into the arms of TWO Dark Ones, who are mortal enemies of this religious group.
She's the Beloved of one, but which?
Who can she trust?
And w...more
Pia is nearing 40, and on a singles tour of Europe. She is mistaken for the reaper (who can usher souls to the afterlife) of a strange religious group, then the real one is found dead in her bathroom, sending her on the run and straight into the arms of TWO Dark Ones, who are mortal enemies of this religious group.
She's the Beloved of one, but which?
Who can she trust?
And w...more
I've enjoyed Katie's books, but the ditzy heroine who stumbles her way around is getting old. I skipped to the back and was annoyed to find that it continues into the next book.
1 like · like · see review
I liked this book a lot, but the cliff hanger at the end is what prevented a 5-star rating. I was so frustrated at the end of this book . . . I can hardly wait for the next book to come out.
2.5 ish.
I think most of this series just gets boring after a while since it seems to be rather repetative so I stopped reading it for a while. When I finally picked it up again it was because I needed a book that started with the letter Z for a challenge. This one is not great, but it stood out for me because it was different in some ways. Apparently the main character will be in the next story. I appreciate that the book ended the way it did because it took away a lot of the predictability fac...more
I think most of this series just gets boring after a while since it seems to be rather repetative so I stopped reading it for a while. When I finally picked it up again it was because I needed a book that started with the letter Z for a challenge. This one is not great, but it stood out for me because it was different in some ways. Apparently the main character will be in the next story. I appreciate that the book ended the way it did because it took away a lot of the predictability fac...more
This was a pretty fun book. I am noticing that MacAlister likes to use female leads that are not your typical beauties. In this case, the main character, Pia, is a 39 year old, "big boned", single woman on tour through Europe with a Singles Tour Group. She stumbles upon a secret society that "purifies" Vampires, is blamed for murder, meets a couple of hot Vampires, and starts being followed around by ghosts. The ghosts provide most of the funny dialogue in this book, and her two Vampires are awe...more
I loved this book and think I found a new series to catch up on. It's apparently a part of the Dark Ones series and the next one is due out in May. I can't wait as you are sort of left at a cliff hanger at the end of the book and I really want to know what happens. I kind of wonder if Magda is really who she says she is? Seems like she was too good to be true but you never know. Pia cracks me up and I can totally related to being the "big" girl and I am glad she actually ends up with several guy...more
1 like · like · see review
I stayed awake all last night reading this book. Katie's books are always the perfect escape for me. I was supposed to be studying for a philosophy test, but, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....boring! So I opted for this instead. (btw, I aced the test anyway!)
As always, I was not disappointed. BUT, do you know what that little Katie went and did? She didn't wrap things up all nice and tidy at the end. She left me (and our heroine) wanting! There's a sequel that won't be out until May!!!!! How ever will...more
As always, I was not disappointed. BUT, do you know what that little Katie went and did? She didn't wrap things up all nice and tidy at the end. She left me (and our heroine) wanting! There's a sequel that won't be out until May!!!!! How ever will...more
This was awesome! Funny, sexy and interesting. Great read! I cannot wait to see what happens with Pia next!!
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For as long as she can remember, Katie MacAlister has loved reading. Growing up in a family where a weekly visit to the library was a given, Katie spent much of her time with her nose buried in a book. Despite her love for novels, she didn't think of writing them until she was contracted to write a non-fiction book about software. Since her editor refused to allow her to include either witty dialo...more
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May 13, 2009 05:23am