What I liked about this one, I liked quite a bit- enjoyed the voice the author gave her main character Marnie- surprisingly the potty mouth worked for...moreWhat I liked about this one, I liked quite a bit- enjoyed the voice the author gave her main character Marnie- surprisingly the potty mouth worked for me- really liked the love interest(s)- interesting twists and turns. Didnt like all the witchy stuff and MAN is she fairly graphic- in fact, if I was watching this, i'd be covering my eyes. But then, can zombie-like ghouls be anything but gross, I mean, really?
Marnie, recently retired paranormal consultant is sucked back in with the gory death of a young girl that has much of the paranormal involved. If it were not for the fact her one time f!ckbuddy is the one who's re-recruiting her, she'd be a little less reluctant.
But jump in she does, and the person- and reason- behind the murder is much more involved then she ever imagined- and much more surprising.
Like I said, I liked the characters, enough to want to read the next book, but this first one has a few issues- too much meandering and I was a bit startled with where she went relationship-wise. Not sure I'm okay with it, BUT she didnt close doors AND surprising this jaded reader is never a bad thing.
Curran and Kate go on a date- which of course is doomed to be interpreted being the alphas they are. Solving the problem dropped into their lap in the...moreCurran and Kate go on a date- which of course is doomed to be interpreted being the alphas they are. Solving the problem dropped into their lap in the form of the sudden death of an otherwise innocent takes them deeper than they wanted to go. The results are nothing but pure Kate Daniels… ie.- magical cluster fluff + plus heart-of-gold Kate unable to deny aid when needed= tangled knot only Curran and Kate can untie together. The story ends with a Happily Ever After of course… and Kate adding co-running the Guild of Mercenaries who cleanup magical messes to her list of duties.
PS the Fight with undead Draugr? Epic.
Oh and something’s up with Andrea and Raphael. You might want to read this to whet your appetite for Gunmetal Magic (Andrea’s book) coming out in the summer. (less)
Only read Frost's and Andrews's and both were good, but- TOO DAMN SHORT. :(
Frost’s entry is about a young woman lost while hiki...moreShort stories. ::sigh::
Only read Frost's and Andrews's and both were good, but- TOO DAMN SHORT. :(
Frost’s entry is about a young woman lost while hiking, suddenly having her world turned upside down by a werewolf bite. She’s shifter now- but one thing might make this okay with her- she’s found she has a mate, and he was her’s at first sight.
Andrew’s goes into a world of shifters and magic with a different twist- the heroine is indentured to the hero and she must use her magic to protect him in a survivor-esque game that is sure to get them both killed. There’s some mega chemistry between these two and I sure wish this had been a full length novel. ::doubledamn::
Both would have been higher in my grade scale IF THEY WEREN'T SO DAMN SHORT.
I dont know how to rate this. On one hand I once again loved the plot and setting, on the other I loathe how she brutalized and sexualized a 14 yr old...moreI dont know how to rate this. On one hand I once again loved the plot and setting, on the other I loathe how she brutalized and sexualized a 14 yr old. True she sorta did the same thing to Mac, the young- altho over 18- heroine in the Fever series, but she was an "adult" and I got where KMM was going with it. (She needed to be strong- fast- and pain makes strength.) But in my world you protect children until they can make their own decisions- yes, even the unborn. (Yeah I just outted myself, I'm pro-life and not ashamed).
I dont care how much you try to rationalize Dani's treatment with the fact she had a brutal, shitty upbringing and that's what made her grow up too fast, some things are just wrong.
Do I get that abuse happens to unnumbered children daily? Of course, I dont live my life blind with my fingers in my ears. But glorifying sexual and physical abuse of a child I cannot numb myself to and will not be okay with. Ever.
So what got me through the book- because I did read the entire thing? The fact that no 14 yr old is that self-aware or interpersonal relationship intuitive, thus making it easier to imagine her as an adult.
That said, Why the heck does Dani have be to be so young? Makes her interactions with Rhyo (and Christian for that matter)- whom I want to believe are hot and sexy- weird. And creepy. >_<(less)
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)
Armageddon has happened and with the death of Gabriel, The Archangel- apparently at the hands of humans- the earth plunges into a prolonged war with t...moreArmageddon has happened and with the death of Gabriel, The Archangel- apparently at the hands of humans- the earth plunges into a prolonged war with the Angels. In a post-apocalypse world, a girl and an angel with his wings torn off make their way through decidely uncivilization, meeting a resistance movement and gangs of roving thugs- and some rather creepy creatures we don’t fully grasp until the end. Through it all, remains Raffe, the fallen angel (or is he??), and Penryn on their determined mission to find her kidnapped little sister (for her)- and an Angel surgeon (for him). When she finds her sister in the abode of Angels turned slave masters- it's the very place Raffe will get his wings back. Suddenly, Penryn’s destiny transforms from just trying to survive, to warrior goddess and angel slayer- and I suspect, future demon hunter.
Altho not crazy about the 1st person present narration, this author is hell on wheels in setting. Not overboard, as a lot of fantasy authors are want to do, her world is so crisp and clear, I followed it like a movie. *Heart* Penryn- strong but not bitchy and OMG RAFFE! Already in love, I want more of these two.
Fantastic Urban Fantasy- and apparently there is STILL a long wait for the next entry? ::pout:: (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)
A YA book, I would even say it fits for younger audiences- although some elements are quite frightening. I found the hook to be just too obvious- or p...moreA YA book, I would even say it fits for younger audiences- although some elements are quite frightening. I found the hook to be just too obvious- or perhaps simplistic is a more accurate word- for the more seasoned readers of dystopian fiction.
Set in a dark future where some time in the past the animals of earth became infected by a plague, the people of earth are still living behind man made walls in fortified cities. Little does everyone know that the walls and fortification are not to keep rabid beast out, but to keep them in. But one young girl, and the twin she hasn't seen since being kidnapped years ago, are about to expose the huge secret- one that goes to the darkest part of the human heart... because truth can never stay hidden for long, no matter what greedy men say.
The plot in The Roar is just a tad "done before" for my tastes and the revelation of the big bad made me roll my eyes because of its obvious agenda. (Which by the way, comes off as slightly hypocritical to me since an "agenda" is what the children are fighting against in this book.)
As YA fiction, this novel does fine. I think any kid under thirteen would enjoy it- if they're into the sci fi/fantasy genres. (The Hero & Heroine are only twelve.) But as older youth/adult fiction? Not so much.
Oh and don't expect a clearly defined ending- this book is most definitely sequel bait. (less)
Once again a great edition to Ilona Andrew’s Kate Daniels series!
Kate Daniels world is almost post apocalyptic- okay it is post-apocalyptic but not be...moreOnce again a great edition to Ilona Andrew’s Kate Daniels series!
Kate Daniels world is almost post apocalyptic- okay it is post-apocalyptic but not because two enemies dropped bombs and ravaged the planet. Nope, for thousands of years magic was repressed and technology ruled. Then magic came back- with a vengeance and now it hits in waves taking out tech with it. So when a wave of magic hits, cars stop running, buildings crumble, and forests take over. Along with the first wave of magic supernatural beings came to the forefront- Hence we have vamps (but different then we're used to) wizards and shifters running all over the place. (Think of it like the time of the world of Merlin suddenly taking over - violently.)
Now that Kate has quit her job with the ambiguously good Order of the Merciful Aid she’s having a difficult time acquiring clients for her new investigative agency, Cutting Edge. So when Master of the Dead (one who can control vampires), Ghastik, asks her assistance in capturing a rogue vamp- she jumps on it.
Bad enough a vamp is running around out of control- even worse the reason behind it. A new order is behind it and its fanatical about its mission. If Kate cant stop them now, many lives will be at stake- those of complete strangers, but also of every one she’s come to care about, including her mate. It will take the combined effort of magic and beast and an uneasy alliance to pull it off. But is this battle the signal of an even bigger war?
Although not my favorite in the series- I loved Magic Slays, because finally this world is starting to make sense! What’s carried the Kate Daniels Series thus far has been the fantastic characters and now that they are established, the world building can coalesce. As I’ve mentioned before on discussion threads, it took awhile to grasp what all was happening because the first book was so vague about its world- building. (However, I sense that it had more to do with word count than any fault of the writers’ craft. My guess is publishers idea of how big the book should be to make more sales caused some excising at the expense of explaining what all was going on.)
Yep, I get it now and it’s making the series even more enjoyable! (less)
There is so much to this book, so many twists and turns that now, months later...moreSpoiler Free!
i gotta process before i review this one....
It's too much:
There is so much to this book, so many twists and turns that now, months later on my second read, I cannot begin to even think of how to summarize it, much less do it without spoilers!
Suffice to say you’ll find out who the beast is, a bit of who Barrons is (altho not everything was answered on his end), who Mac’s sister’s Killer was, how the Mackeltar’s play into the fever plot, what V’Lane’s true stake in all this is and… who Mac truly is as well.
Many ups and downs in this book- I bit my nails up to Chapter 8 when I groaned, releasing a breath I was unaware of holding, I geared myself up to be thoroughly pissed off if Moning continued on the path I saw her going down – until she quite suddenly veered left much to my astonishment- then wanted to slam the book down in frustration at Mac and Barrons’s antics toward each other, once again. But, helpless, I kept reading until the end.
What a rush and what a ride. Although there were bits that were eye rolling- especially all the inner dialoguing Mac was doing AND the conclusion felt borrowed on certain aspects sad to say, still- I loved it.
In Bloodfever, the second installment in Karen Marie Moning's Fever series, our heroine Mac discovers there's a little bit more to being a sidhe-seer...moreIn Bloodfever, the second installment in Karen Marie Moning's Fever series, our heroine Mac discovers there's a little bit more to being a sidhe-seer then just being a person with the ability to see the beautiful and horrible otherworldly beings who are invading our realm once again. (Fae creatures far more fierce than the little winged pixie's most people think of when picturing faeries.)
Apparently she's not the only sidhe-seer around and there's a whole myth and sub culture surrounding them and discovering who and what they are is opening the doors to a past she never knew surrounded her- including the fact that the two people she's loved and known as her parents, arent really her birth parents after all!
She's also discovering more about Barrons, the enigmatic man who has reluntantly taken her in and mentored her on this journey. But dont think he's altruistic, he wants something from her- mainly her talents in discovering all artifacts of Fae origin- and he's ruthless at using her to get them to boot.
But he's the man to save her time and time again, even if Mac suspects his motives every single time.
Much story building in this book, including some cool addition of characters (Hello you gorgeous MacKeltar!) an escape into Faery land with death-by-sex Fae Prince V'lane- which believe me, drives Jericho Z. Barrons out of his mind- meeting a seedhe-seer enclave, and a battle royale with a character from Darkfever we thought was out of the picture!
The book ends with Mac on the stronger side, her naivete finally being shaken- especially with the realization that some of the choices she was making is subtly turning her to the dark side.
Loved this entry and love this series! Clues are given, but nothing really answered still I'm SO on board for the ride!
Ok. It ended up not sucking as much as I thought it would and also liking it more than I did the previous BDB. In fact I really liked it after V worke...moreOk. It ended up not sucking as much as I thought it would and also liking it more than I did the previous BDB. In fact I really liked it after V worked thru his Daddy issues which was just... whatever.
But what the hell was the whole Veck interlude about?? Pretty much skimmed those parts like I always do with the lessers.
All in all I woulda liked this book a hang of lot better if she would have focused a bit more on Manny and Payne.
Mercy and Adam are married and its time for the honeymoon- only the lake where they planned to spend it, quiet and alone, has a monster in it and it w...moreMercy and Adam are married and its time for the honeymoon- only the lake where they planned to spend it, quiet and alone, has a monster in it and it will take Adam and Mercy to defeat it... along with some help from the spirit world.
This was a great story- short, imo, but one of my favorites in the series. In it more of Mercy's native american roots are explored and we get a glimpse of who her father really was.
But the best part was Mercy and Adam time, their deepening bond and watching their very real love for each other unfold. Fantastic little interlude.(less)
I tried this, the first Riley Jensen novel by Keri Arthur, but couldn't get into it- I'm realizing I'm really not a huge fan of Urban Fantasy. I need...moreI tried this, the first Riley Jensen novel by Keri Arthur, but couldn't get into it- I'm realizing I'm really not a huge fan of Urban Fantasy. I need a Happily Ever After with one hero/heroine to root for- the bed hopping ala Laurel K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series makes me insane and this story was stacking up the same way.
Sorry to say, I couldn't get into this book. I generally need a Happily Ever After in my stories and it was no where in sight from what I read of this...moreSorry to say, I couldn't get into this book. I generally need a Happily Ever After in my stories and it was no where in sight from what I read of this the first in her Cassandra Palmer series. Worse, I couldnt get a grasp on Cassandra- it seems character development was sacrificed for the info dumping backstory. If I don't have someone to root for in the first 10 to 25 pages- you lose me!
So, too much information dumping and not enough character development early on made me put down this book before it was finished and never pick it up again.(less)
Cool world the author created- altho it ending up being too out there for my tastes. A little bit sci fi fatalistic future, a little bit vampish, and...moreCool world the author created- altho it ending up being too out there for my tastes. A little bit sci fi fatalistic future, a little bit vampish, and a little bit "Charmed"- only darker.
Rachel Morgan is a witch and quasi FBI agent for the paranormals who reign supreme in the future because a bio-engineered killer tomato, sometime in the past, killed off most of the "humans" (non-magicals like us).
Yeah, no kidding, killer tomatoes!
Rachel's job stinks, so she decides to leave and join up with a gorgeous pixie (who has a ton of kids), and a seductive vampire-ess who may or may not have the hots for Rachel.
When she quits the IS (the quasi FBI agency for para-noramls) they put a hit out on her. To clear her name she goes after a mafiosa type whom she soon discovers is into pimping way more than the drug of the future called "brimstone".
And so it goes until at some point she finds herself trapped in the "mink" form she transformed herself into, gets involved in a literal rat race, escapes with the help of her little family and a fellow human trapped in rat form himself, until in the end ... well I'm not gonna tell you that! You'll have to read to find out.
I thought the part of the book told from her "mink" perspective was rather annoying and took up far too much space in the book, but I did like the family she put together.
Sookie Stackhouse has always felt the freak with her ability to hear people’s thoughts but after she is confronted head on with the paranormal life ar...moreSookie Stackhouse has always felt the freak with her ability to hear people’s thoughts but after she is confronted head on with the paranormal life around her she begins to realize benefits as a gift rather than the curse she always felt it to be. Someone is murdering those connected with the Vampires who have just recently come out of the coffin (so to speak) and Sookie thinks she can suss out who it is. She has to because- she’s next.
I watched the first season of the HBO series True Blood before I read the book, so much of the impact of Dead Until Dark was lost on me since I knew who the killer was already. Still I enjoyed it and like Harris’s prose enough.
I also found that I like Bill the Vampire much more in novel form than tv. The novel series is 1st person from Sookie’s POV but you get enough of Bill’s thoughts through his actions (as well as the other side characters that populate Bon Temps- the fictional town the Southern Vampire Series is set in) which I feel is essential when writing in 1st person. (less)
Read it on the plane to and from France. (Had to squeeze that in there :P) Cannot rec this author enough in the urban fantasy gen...moreMore of a 4.5 really.
Read it on the plane to and from France. (Had to squeeze that in there :P) Cannot rec this author enough in the urban fantasy genre. Charles almost broke my heart in this one- but I loved he and Anna together. Great character development and interaction and good seriel killer mystery. EPIC new direction for the magical world at the end. (This means war- Yeah, Patty Briggs went there.) Fair Game is a huge WIN in the Alpha and Omega series.(less)
Extremely well written, Bitten ise one of the best werewolf novels out there right now in the Urban Fantasy genre- from a female perspective at least....moreExtremely well written, Bitten ise one of the best werewolf novels out there right now in the Urban Fantasy genre- from a female perspective at least.
Narrated in the 1st person voice, Bitten starts off with the heroine, Elena Michaels, living in Toronto and trying to maintain a normal existence- far from her "pack". Elena has the distinction of being one of the few werewolves "created"- i.e. she was bitten and turned rather than born as one. And too, there aren't many female werewolves as the gene is inherited from male to male.
When she receives a message from her pack leader she's wary. If she responds, she knows they will suck her back in and, more than anything, she desires a normal life once again. But when the boys back home don't respond to her return calls, she's concerned enough to leave her live-in boyfriend and go investigate.
When arriving at the isolated pack compound, she's relieved to discover her two main concerns, the pack leader Jeremey and his number 1, Clayton, are all right. Still, she's ready to get the heck out of dodge even though it's the last thing these two men want or will allow:
Jeremy, for one, because he's got a problem that he thinks only Elena can help with. A mutt is on the loose- mutt being a rogue werewolf belonging to no pack- and he's apparently killing close to their home turf. Since they have been living peaceably with their neighbors for years and have been left relatively alone, this is the last thing they need. Elena's old job for the pack was keeping tabs on the mutts which is why she is needed so desperately by the pack leader.
Clay has his own selfish motives for wanting Elena to stay- she's his mate and he's tired of her running from it- even though she has a big VALID reason for wanting no part of him. How it all pans out, as well as what happens when Clay and Elena return to Toronto, made the book even more exciting as far as I'm concerned!
Armstrong has obviously taken a lot of time in research to put in as much authenticity to the world of werewolves she's created. The core of these characters is their animal nature and most of the time they are unapologetic about it- I think that's cool. Because of this, the novel comes off fresh while still retaining a dark, sexy edge.
Good read if you like the paranormal romance/urban fantasy genre!(less)
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)
I didn't realize at the time I got this book that it was actually the second in a series. I really wish I had known that, because even though I liked...moreI didn't realize at the time I got this book that it was actually the second in a series. I really wish I had known that, because even though I liked In The Blood, I think I would have liked it much more if I had read the first- A Rush of Wings.
Beginning soon after the first book ended, FBI agent Heather Wallace is dealing with the fallout of being magically healed by Nightkind Vampire Rocker Dante Prejean. Ever since Dante "unmade" an evil woman behind much of the repressed pain of his childhood, people- shadow government type people- want him in bad way. They are sure Heather knows more than what she's letting on, but thus far have no proof. Still, that doesn't stop them from siccing their agents on her.
Because of secret Manchurian type programming, Dante is in the dark on much of his past, but the memories are starting to resurface and they are causing seizure inducing agony, though he's clueless as to why. To further cloud the issue, Dante has discovered he is much more than the Nightkind Vampire he once thought himself to be- he's the son of a fallen angel named Lucien. And he's not just any son of a fallen angel, he's what's known to his kind as a Creadwr- a powerful god who not only as the ability to unmake, but to make, or create, as well. Certain angels would like to use that wondrous power, but his father has taken precautions to hide him. Unfortunately, as Dante's repressed earthly memories are creating havoc with his mind, his powers are wild and uncontrolled and it's quite obvious that Lucien is not going to be able to keep him hidden for much longer.
In the meantime, Heather is doing her best to protect the man she's falling in love with from a very earthly evil, even though powerful people are bent on capturing and using him as well. Add to that two supernatural whackjobs driven crazy by the same man who caused Dante's psychosis who are just as interested in using Dante for their own nefarious reasons, and you have a heap of trouble for our hero and heroine.
The books ends with earthly and heavenly powers focused on the one man who can destroy them all.
It's a fascinating realm author Adrian Phoenix is playing in. Artfully blending usual Urban Fantasy Vampiric characters with ancient angelic mythology, the end product becomes anything but typical.
Because of the complex world the author is creating, I highly recommend you don't do as I did- start with the first in the series! Although I was able to catch on to what was going on, it just would have been easier starting at the beginning.(less)
After losing good friends to a Strigori attack (renegade vamps in the Vamp Academy world) just weeks earlier, Guardian and Strigori Slayer-in-training...moreAfter losing good friends to a Strigori attack (renegade vamps in the Vamp Academy world) just weeks earlier, Guardian and Strigori Slayer-in-training, Rose Hathaway, starts seeing the ghost of one of the victims. It doesn't help that she sees him when she's in the midst of her field training possibly ruining the destiny she's trained for all her life. Compound that with the debilitating dark emotions overwhelming her at the most random of times, she's almost certain she's losing it.
But things come crashing together when the Strigori make their way onto the Academy Quad in a deadly attack that will force her to make a choice between her purpose and best friend and the man she's come to love above all others. Will the tie between herself and Lissa, the Moroi Vampire she's known all her life and swore to protect, survive when the tie becomes a danger to not only Rose but Dimitri as well?
In this the third installment of Mead's Vamp Academy series, Rose discovers that she desires something more than the life she's always wanted- that being Dimitri the Guardian she shouldn't love but does with all her heart and soul. The connection between she and Lissa becomes darker as she discovers what it truly means to be a shadow-kissed Guardian to her best friend and it's that revelation that makes this book hard to put down.
The best Vamp Academy book thus far, I'm looking forward to where Mead takes us in the next installment!(less)
Frostbite begins not long after the deadly happenings in the end of the first book of the series (Vampire Academy).
After witnessing the aftermath of g...moreFrostbite begins not long after the deadly happenings in the end of the first book of the series (Vampire Academy).
After witnessing the aftermath of gruesome attack perpetrated by the renegade vampires known as the Strigori, Rose knows- more than anyone- why the Guardians, (half vamp, half human protectors of full blooded Vamps called Moroi), have descended upon St. Vladimir's Academy- the premier prep school for the upper class children of the Moroi. But that doesn't mean she likes it. Especially when she discovers her absentee mother is among them. In addition, her best friend, Lyssa- the Moroi she is curiously linked to- is inadvertently sucking Rose into her emotions at the most embarrassing of moments and, to make matters worse, the man she's helplessly drawn to is flirting with another woman.
A heavily guarded ski trip for the entire school becomes a welcome distraction for Rose's teenage woes, but when the trip turns deadly, Rose finds herself swept into the very heart of a Strigori plot which gives Rose far more advancement in her Guardian training then she ever bargained for.
The author ups the ante in our heroine's training with a deadly aim straight for the heart. People close to Rose are in danger and one friend will pay the ultimate price- their very life.
I enjoyed Frostbite although I sense the series needs another voice other than Rose's to tell the story to get more depth out of the other very intriguing characters. Still, where Mead is taking us, with the ultimate showdown between Strigori and Moroi is a good enough hook to keep me reading!(less)
Loading...
