Storm Front is first in the poplar Harry Dresden series and an introduction to Harry and his assortment of co-horts, magical and non. Harry’s a wizard...moreStorm Front is first in the poplar Harry Dresden series and an introduction to Harry and his assortment of co-horts, magical and non. Harry’s a wizard by trade and from the looks of it- one powerful wizard. He’s also a private detective of sorts- he puts his shingle out for anyone who needs a hired hand in the magical realm and though his business is an unpredictable way of making a living, it works for him.
At almost the exact same time his next client walks in the door, he’s called to assist the local police in solving a murder. (A hired consultant, he helps them from time to time when his particular talents seem warranted.) On this case, a couple is gruesomely murdered- and from the looks of it, by some pretty powerful black magic. It doesn’t take Harry long to encounter a mysterious figure called the Shadowman who is serious about stopping Harry from investigating further. Solving this one is gonna take him into the territory of evil magic, mobsters and demons- but solve it he must, because he’s shot to the top of the likely suspects list and that will mean certain death because aside from non-magical laws, he’s on probation from using that sort of magic from his kind as well!
I’ve heard such good things about this series, I was anxious to start it- however I found myself less then enthused as the story drug on. Don’t get me wrong, I get the appeal of self-depreciating Harry- Wizard and Hard Boiled Detective- but I felt like I was just following him around as a silent ghost. :/ I'm thinking, the first person narrative didnt help much in this one, because there was too much inner dialogue and not enough with the other characters. But then he is sorta of a lonely sort.
Perhaps its because there was much backstory that happened off page, well before this story. I didn’t get to walk with him as he was put under the Doom of Damocles (the magical probation referred to before) or establish his friendships and that sorta left me feeling less than engaged. Me? I like to feel what the characters feel, taste them. Never happened much here… until the very end when he battled his own nature against the lure of power.
I also liked the mystery and how the plot- well, it just fit, like a good puzzle. Nothing wrong with that. But again- I need more character development to keep my interest, so much of the middle of the book was just “meh” .
In the end, I liked Storm Front, it simply suffered from freshmanitis too much to be really good.
A friend mentioned that the series doesn’t really pick up till later- so I’m skippin on to the fourth book for my next venture into Harry’s world I think. ::shrug:: or not. We’ll see. (less)
It’s the old gods vs the new with man in between… but mostly unaware. Shadow, thinking himself just one of those average hu...moreAmerican Gods- 4 1/2 stars!
It’s the old gods vs the new with man in between… but mostly unaware. Shadow, thinking himself just one of those average humans with a string of bad luck, is none-the-less, less than average, considering he fairly quickly accepted the fact that the ancient god whom approached him soon after being released from prison and discovering his beloved wife’s death is indeed a god. What follows is a meandering tale of how Shadow finds himself in the midst of the struggle and in fact rather key to its outcome.
Creepy, sexed out and deliciously bizarre American Gods is a book one will never call easy- but it can be fun, given half the chance. Me I love me some subtle wit, and Gaiman’s pretty much mastered it. But that’s not what made American Gods fun for me- no what I enjoyed most was his clever detailing of how the ancient gods came to our shores thru vignettes and dialogue. Well, that and the way they look now living on the peripheries of humanity and interacting with our hapless protagonist. I also loved Gaiman’s bringing to life of our more recent idols- tv, credit cards and technology, among them.
The sub plot with Shadow finding out who he really is- mostly begins with him hiding out in- and liking- the small town of Lakeside WI, while the old god Odin sets up his war. It definitely felt superfluous at times, yet it becomes a good framework for defining Shadow. I found myself looking forward to getting back to him after I’d set the book down and pick it up later. Something about the setting made Shadow more human- even though we suspect he is anything but at this point. Later he walks thru death, judgment, hell and the grave to find his beginning and his true nature. (Hunh, never thought we were headed into the existential when I started this book. Very nice surprise- I was positively riveted when Annubis put Shadow’s heart on the scales!)
Still it’s the war of the gods (that's not a war at all) that defines the book. Ultimately American Gods is about what we as a western culture- specifically a North American culture- choose to believe as one nation. No longer are we believing in our own gods from our mother and father lands, and perhaps rightly so, so what are we believing in? Are the new American gods we are all are choosing to bow down too truly Technology and Science and Media? Gosh, it sure feels like that. Yeah, I’m not so sure I like those soulless fiends. But we have to believe in something because belief is what motivates us to "do", to make things better or to make things worse. I guess now we have to decide what is worthy to believe in before we lose our souls to worthless gods.
Makes you think doesn’t it? And that’s why I loved this book. (less)
Dream War begins by introducing us to Hector Lopez, a marine passed over for promotion but invited to take part in a secretive program that enters int...moreDream War begins by introducing us to Hector Lopez, a marine passed over for promotion but invited to take part in a secretive program that enters into the covert metaphysical realm. The government has learned to infiltrate dreams and it wants to use it's new toy as a weapon. But their visions of glory are quickly deflated when the program implodes before their very eyes- but not before Lopez learns of a fantastical world existing right along with ours!
Years later Lopez masquerades as a burnt out detective while secretly waging a lonely war against ultimate evil embodied in Luzveyn Dred, an evil creature that will stop at nothing to break out of the prison some may call hell. But soon Lopez won't have to fight alone anymore, for in rapid succession a young couple, a little girl and some fierce allies join his side. They must keep the little girl safe because she is key to Luzveyn Dred's master plan of overtaking the world!
Wow- what a ride! I love fantasy/speculative fiction but Dream War is much more than that. Part Urban Fantasy, Spy/Psychological Thriller, mixed with fantastical Apocalyptic Fiction of biblical proportions - literally!- and a smidge of Da Vinci Code this book weaves a tale that enthralls and keeps the pages turning.
When I started Dream War I wasn't quite sure where the author was leading us with action and new characters seemingly unconnected. But I found myself rapidly drawn in with the fascinating, very real, historical tidbits woven into his world of demons and dream magic. The characters felt fleshed out and I loved how the author connected us instantly with them by having them touch on common everyday things that surround us- from U2 on our Ipods to light reflectors embedded on the roads! (The subtlety of it added a dimension to them that we don't always get from a new author.)
The evil of a parallel universe wants into our world and it's using our dreams to infiltrate.
Luzveyn Dred, the very embodiment of every evil thing to cross our hearts and minds has already planted parts of his world inside of us, so whatever you do- stay awake!
All around a darn entertaining read! Prosapio needs print published now- the masses need to get this!
This one was, so many times, almost a dnf for me. It took the author far too long to engage the audience as her characters wandered around meeting mor...moreThis one was, so many times, almost a dnf for me. It took the author far too long to engage the audience as her characters wandered around meeting more and more characters, all the while tryinig to find others.
But I liked the ending, and the promise of how it might end is what kept me reading.
Briar Blue has a big secret- oh not that her husband and his dreaded machine known as the Boneshaker set off an explosion that caused a blight to occur which turns people into Zombies, whilst extending the American Civil War- everyone knows that. No, her secret is wrapped up in far more guilt and shame concerning her late husband. Because of this, she's told her son Ezekiel nothing of his father and his past. To clear his name, Zeke decides to go into the very heart of the blight- and into the heart of danger- and Briar must follow him and bring him out before he dies any number of deaths... not the least of which is getting turned into a Zombie.
A little bit steampunk, a smidge of Mad Max, a whole heap of apocalyptic alternate reality and you get Boneshaker.
(btw, for you romance readers- there's nil in this one. In the end, it's the boring cataloging of her world that killed it for me. Hopefully by the next book it'll be more about the story.) (less)
A book about Angels, Demons, An 11 year old Anti-Christ, Armageddon and the end of the world. It's sacrilegious & hilarious, with startling moment...moreA book about Angels, Demons, An 11 year old Anti-Christ, Armageddon and the end of the world. It's sacrilegious & hilarious, with startling moments of insight about human nature and, through no fault of their own, theological truth. (Oh, not about the end of the world, but most definitely about the ineffable ways of God.)
Did I mention it's hilarious? I too literally laughed out loud while reading this book!
The story starts out at the very beginning when an Angel and a Demon hold a conversation about the ousting of Man and Woman from the Garden of Eden. It then jumps ahead thousands of years to present day.
The Angel Aziraphale is still around, awaiting the final days as a part time antique book collector. The Demon- once known as Crawly because of his part in the fall of Man- has changed his name to a more palatable Crowley and is doing his part to irritate the sons of man by screwing with traffic and tying up phone lines. Crowley has just been notified that its time. The Anti-Christ- that much prophesied Son of Satan- is about to be born and it's time for Crowley to step up and make sure the spawn of the devil is sent to the right home.
Only Crowley isn't so much interested in ending the world. He likes it here. And so does the Angel Aziraphale. But they go about their business anyway, because after all, that's what they were created to do, setting things into motion that will bring about the final battle of good and evil. Yeah, Crowley messes it up, but somehow, like much of the things that happen in this book- and in life, really- it was all part of the Grand Scheme, anyway.
I loved this book! My favorite bit was how these authors bring the notorious characters from Revelations into the 21st century- the four horseman in particular! (I.E. Famine invented starving yourself to be fashionable, nouvelle cuisine, & fast food chains. Very Clever!)
This book came to me as recommendation, - so I'm passing it along to you! If you haven't read it yet, you MUST! (less)
A quick read, Magic Burns, the second offering in Ilona Andrews’s popular Kate Daniels Urban Fantasy series, is action packed and full of characters....moreA quick read, Magic Burns, the second offering in Ilona Andrews’s popular Kate Daniels Urban Fantasy series, is action packed and full of characters.
The gist of the tale is simple on the surface: Kate finds herself in the middle of danger- once again- when she finds a young girl who is looking for her missing mother while tracking a mysterious assassin making trouble for the shifters and vamps. Magic is very much its own character as it flares up at unexpected moments and causes chaos for everyone it seems but our gutsy heroine who apparently feeds on it. (hmmm interesting??)
But of course, nothing is ever simple in Kate's world- so the man you think is the bad guy isnt really bad at all...much, anyway.
The epic battle at the end between an evil god and his minions and well, everyone else, was certainly a page turner- but that’s because Curran was involved. :P Otherwise, this one was so-so for me. Funny but I almost liked Magic Bites better because, dagnabit, other than the end, there just wasn’t enough Curran! (Hmpf) (And I felt MB wasnt even all that great, so that's sayin something. It wasnt bad, just not that great.)
Well that’s out of the way, now I can finally get to Magic Strikes- which everyone tells me is when it starts ramping up! I'm looking forward to it! :P (less)
More of a 3 and half star really. Although I did like Magic Bites, it suffered from freshman-itis. The world building was a bit convoluted and difficu...moreMore of a 3 and half star really. Although I did like Magic Bites, it suffered from freshman-itis. The world building was a bit convoluted and difficult to nail down, but that's mostly because its an intricate world Andrew's building and one like no other. (I also get the feeling the book was reedited for page count with, unfortunately, world building becoming the bloody casualty.)
Still the tale of Kate Daniels and her search for the being that not only killed a beloved friend but also is cutting a bloody path thru magical beings to set himself up for some mighty twisted power intrigued me.
Kate is a strong UF lead with a clear voice. I like her but the one I'm truly curious about is the Beast Lord Curran.
I think this little display taking place between Kate, the Beast Lord and a young wolf shifter under his authority pretty much sums why I dig him. (Derek, a wolf shifter and friend to Kate, has been healing from a bad wound and needs to eat because of the energy it takes to heal. Kate sets some left over fried rice in front of him and wants him to eat right now- pack rules says he doesnt eat till his alpha is thru....)
"The Beast Lord scraped the bottom of his container, licked the spoon, reached over and took away Derek's rice replacing it with the brown paper sack he had brought. Derek glanced into the sack and retrieved a bundle of waxed paper tied with a chord. He snapped the chord and unwrapped the bundle. A five pound shoulder roast looked back at him.
Curran jerked his head toward the hallway. "Dont make a spectacle of yourself."
Derek rose, gathering the roast and disappeared into the depths of the apartment. I glared at Curran.
"I like fried rice," he said with a shrug. He slid the spoon under the paper flaps of the other small paper box, forced them open, and proceeded to pick out the peas.
The low rumble of a predator feeding came from within the apartment.
"Keep it down," Curran said without raising his voice.
The snarling died.
"So what do you have?"~ Magic Bites , Ilona Andrews
So many authors, well non-authors too, think a person who bullys and belittles, ruling with fear is the sign of an alpha leader. I've always maintained A true alpha doesnt have to raise his/her voice or use fear to get people to follow. Looks like Andrew's thinks so too.
Loading...
