This is actually a reread for me. I’d read the first three in the series and never finished it. I think the series may not have been fully published b...moreThis is actually a reread for me. I’d read the first three in the series and never finished it. I think the series may not have been fully published by then and that’s why I didn’t finish because I really enjoyed the first three books. Recently, I saw on Netflix that they’d made the books into a television series. I put the DVDs in my queue, but I decided that I wanted to finally read the full series first. I purchased the volumes that I didn’t own yet and am set to read them all.
Happily, I didn’t remember much of the plot of Blood Price when I reread it so I could get drawn into the story. Blood Price was published in 1991, well before the urban paranormal explosion. The books were recommended to me by a B. Dalton employee. (I miss that store.) I’d read Anne Rice, Laurell K. Hamilton, and Suzanne Collins before Tanya Huff. And one thing all of those vampires had in common was an aloofness to humans. They did not rub shoulders with us warm-blood folk. So Huff’s Henry Fitzroy was a breath of fresh air with his romance novel writing, condo, and desire for human connection. There was just enough in flashback to establish his character without weighing him down with too much history, and he just seemed so non-grandiose. He was short for Pete’s sake! So yes, I instantly liked Henry Fitzroy, but it was Vicky “Victory” Nelson, who really grabbed my attention, the fallible, everyday human. Her unwillingness to give up in the face of her mounting blindness made her admirable. She was no superhero, no Anita Blake with her superpower necromancy, far from it. Vicky couldn't walk down a street at night without real concern. Not because something would attack her, but because maybe she'd trip on a curb and seriously hurt herself. And the dreaded phone calls from her mother with their eventual guilt trips were a nice touch.
The mystery itself was actually a little too easy. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, but the bad guy isn’t that hard to find. Huff does put a lot of it in the killer’s perspective and we get inside his head, but he’s not that complex. I suppose the mystery couldn’t be too complex if Huff wanted to give her characters any time to shine. Several of Fitzroy’s flashbacks were simply for background information about him, not directly involved with the mystery.
I’ll be reading the next in the series soon. I read the first three in the series before stopping, but I have them all now and plan to finish before the end of the year.
On something of a side note, I didn’t realize this until someone in my writing group pointed it out, but Vicky in Scary Mary has the same name as Vicky in the Blood series. I picked Nelson as a last name because it is pretty common in my area. I didn’t remember Victory’s last name was Nelson, too. (less)
Garth Nix creates amazing worlds in his fantasies, and the first book in the Seventh Tower series is no exception. I teetered between giving this thre...moreGarth Nix creates amazing worlds in his fantasies, and the first book in the Seventh Tower series is no exception. I teetered between giving this three and four stars because I felt some of the fantastical elements were rather rushed. He throws out brief two sentence descriptions of all these unknown beasts, and they seem to be there purely to identify what the form a shadowguard assumed rather than truly adding to the story, and since none of the animals have familiar names, it's hard to keep track of them and what they're supposed to be.
The magic system is intriguing being based on light in a dark world with a strict color heirarchy for the society with those in the red tower being lower than those in the orange and so on. Finding out more about this world would be interesting. I will try to read the next in the series, but I'm not rushing out to get it. The book is listed as being for nine and up. I feel like maybe Nix was light on details to keep the younger readers interested, but older readers will be left wanting when they crack open the book. Because it is the first in a series, nothing is resolved, and Tal is no where near his goal. This is rather dissatisfying. Nix, at least, didn't leave off at too taunt a cliffhanger. I think he would've lost a star on this review if he had. (less)
Yes, I finally read this widely read, highly acclaimed, soon-to-be major motion picture book, and it was good. The story was familiar. The idea of peo...moreYes, I finally read this widely read, highly acclaimed, soon-to-be major motion picture book, and it was good. The story was familiar. The idea of people being chosen by lottery to kill each other has been done before. I feel every review should at least mention Battle Royale. I have not read the book but I've seen the movie of the same title and many elements are the same. Both stories center around teens who are forced to kill each other until there is one victor.
This is not to say that Battle Royale was the originator of this storyline. Go back to gladiator days and this story was actually lived by some poor souls. The idea of kill or be killed is plum storyline material. How Collins story stands out I think is in the character of Katniss Everdeen. She has lived a hard life and had only herself to rely upon, but she is still a good person. She's fiercely protective of her sister, is entirely self-reliant, and has a strong moral code. But she doesn't trust people and views everyone with suspicion and cannot accept things people say to her at face value. Her struggle to accept that other people might actually care for her and confusion of who she might care for beyond her family is wonderfully handled. I plan to read Catching Fire and am intrigued with how the story will progress beyond The Hunger Games. The world Collins created is still largely unknown but what Collins revealed in the first book makes me eager to learn more. (less)
Ember is a retelling of the Cinderella fairytale with Cinderella, renamed Ember, as a witch and with Prince Charming living under a curse that makes e...moreEmber is a retelling of the Cinderella fairytale with Cinderella, renamed Ember, as a witch and with Prince Charming living under a curse that makes everyone adore him. Every aspect of the classic story has been twisted and reinvented. Ember is the exact opposite of the Disney-fied Cinderella that we have all come to imagine. She’s hard, cruel, and unrepentant, though she acknowledges her shortcomings and fully owns them. The stepmother and stepsisters are not the cruel harridans that we’ve come to expect, and there are no woodland creatures in sweet little caps singing songs. If there had been any, Ember would have gutted them for her spells.
This story was a delight to read. The dark twists Sharpe gives this fairytale reinvigorates the oft-told tale and gives it edge before unimagined by any retelling that I’ve seen. Ember is a strong, engaging character. She’s proactive and does not get things handed to her by a fairy godmother. She is her own fairy godmother. The Prince is an intriguing character as well, not just a means to happily ever after. His struggles and abuse of his curse make him believably human. Their courtship is not smooth and the pitfalls are nicely handled.
The only qualms I have with the story is that it is too short, and the central deception goes on too long for believability. Sharpe creates an intriguing world that could have been explored a little more through Ember’s growth into the witch she becomes, and though it is told in the first person by Ember, seeing Prince Adrian’s struggles with his curse would have been interesting, which could have possibly been accomplished through his journal that we get a brief peek at. I guess the fact that I finished wanting more is a compliment to the author rather than a problem with the story.
Sharpe warns that only readers 18 and older should read the story, but the sex is not too graphic or pervasive. What’s there suits the story well, though Ember and Adrian do go at it like rabbits. A sequel is planned, and I will happily read it.
I want to read the next in the series. Can any better compliment be given? I am intrigued by Charlie's family and the Red King and want to know more. ...moreI want to read the next in the series. Can any better compliment be given? I am intrigued by Charlie's family and the Red King and want to know more. I will read the next one!(less)
This was a great story. I loved all the characters and Kate's journey. Special mention must be made of Taggle! Loved him! Loved his evolution and gosh...moreThis was a great story. I loved all the characters and Kate's journey. Special mention must be made of Taggle! Loved him! Loved his evolution and gosh, he was just wonderful. I couldn't put this book down. A friend loaned this to me, and I believe I read it in a day. I wish I owned it. I will definitely buy it if I see it on the shelf. It was lovely.(less)
This was an awesome book. I really enjoyed the protagonist's struggle with her werewolf side and her desire to be normal. I loved that we are introduc...moreThis was an awesome book. I really enjoyed the protagonist's struggle with her werewolf side and her desire to be normal. I loved that we are introduced to her in the middle of her life. We don't begin when she's bitten or at her first change. She's an established werewolf who is used to her existence. Some of the situations of the other pack members seemed way too perfect. Everyone's rich! But Elena and Clay were great characters. I could've read another 500 pages, which is good since I have the sequel Stolen sitting on my shelf.
I've seen a few reviewers compare Elena's struggle to the modern woman's struggle. Girls are indoctrinated to be sweet, soft creatures. That idea has been eroding over the past fifty years, but it hasn't eroded completely. And Elena's struggle with her concept of normal and who she truly is resonated with me and made the story much richer than many urban paranormals I've read. Her revelation that she was a bitchy, argumentative woman, not because she was a werewolf but because she was human was a beautiful thing.
Well, Dead Girls' Dance picks up where Glass Houses ended. I wasn't sure it would by the sneak peek at the end of Glass Houses that was included in my...moreWell, Dead Girls' Dance picks up where Glass Houses ended. I wasn't sure it would by the sneak peek at the end of Glass Houses that was included in my paperback edition, but I'm glad it did. Caine continues to expand the world of Morganville. Our heroine Claire has to strike out on her own to save her friends. Everything continues to happen very quickly and action keeps coming. Caine does offer some nice respites from the action though that allow the reader a little bit of a breather, but one has to wonder how much longer someone can continue to live under the pressure and anxiety that Claire and her friends have to deal with. Luckily, Dead Girls' Dance doesn't end on such a dramatic cliffhanger like Glass Houses, but there is plenty of drama fodder for the next book, which I already own and plan to read.
One thing that I do question is the actual Dead Girls' Dance. I almost wish there hadn't been a party with that literal title. From the jacket blurb and the fact that the book takes it as its title, I expected it to figure much more greatly in the overall plot, but it is almost an afterthought at the end, while what happens there while horrific, it also seems superfluous to Claire and Eve's quest. They had much closer and dire problems to deal with without adding the Dead Girls' Dance to the mix. But still that is a minor quibble, and I can see mechanically why Caine included it. It does serve some purpose. I look forward to reading the next in the series.(less)
**spoiler alert** I liked this book enough to finish it, but it took me a while to read because I put it down a lot without feeling compelled to pick ...more**spoiler alert** I liked this book enough to finish it, but it took me a while to read because I put it down a lot without feeling compelled to pick it back up. The main character Cassie goes on the run from a slew of vampires on the first page, and the action never stops after that which got very tiring after a while. Cassie has a long history with vampires having been raised by them, and it was nice how she accepted them and didn't question their ways. They were ruthless killers, and she knew that, and she knew she couldn't change them. While Cassie had this long history with the vampires, which was believable half the time. There were some characters she supposedly knew really well, but I had trouble believing. One was Thomas, her roomie. On the one hand, the narrative indicated that they didn't get to know each other well, but on the other hand, Cassie seemed really hurt by him and very vested in him. I never really believed in the relationship. This is another story where there were far too many characters for me to keep up with and the ones I was interested in didn't have much time if any in the story. Tony, the vampire after Cassie, was only seen during a conference call. He's very important to the story but was never really in the story.
One thing that suprised me was Chance's use of historical figures as vampires. This could be an incredibly clever idea, but I never got a real sense of these historic figures. For the most part, they never featured heavily in the story, and I didn't get a true sense that this would be for example what Raphael would be like if he were a vampire. The character could've been anyone because his actions and personality didn't seem modelled after the artist.
This is a minor quibble, but Chance's vampires can go out during the day, feed without biting, and wipe memories--Why aren't they ruling the planet? Anyway, the story is basically a set up for Cassie inheriting a whole slew of powers on the last page. There's a bit of a deus ex machina at the end, whcih was as annoying as the character that delivered it. I liked many parts of the book, but it seemed like Chance was trying to do too much with this one story. By the end, I wasn't sure what all had gone on and what all still needed to be done and not really caring. There's time travel, vampires, wererats, witches, ghosts, faeries, and mention of demons. I won't be actively looking for the second in this series unless I'm given serious guarantees that it gets better.(less)
Bring on the Faerie Apocalypse! Really enjoyed the world Simner created in this book. It was wonderfully terrifying. The way the plants and animals we...moreBring on the Faerie Apocalypse! Really enjoyed the world Simner created in this book. It was wonderfully terrifying. The way the plants and animals were changed by rampant magic was very interesting. Wish a bit more of the history of the war was revealed and a little more time spent in the village before the journey so we could see 'mundane' life, but this appears to be the first in a series so that's all fodder for future books. (less)
This was a very fun read. I didn't know much about the Morganville Vampire series except a lot of people seemed to like it. I picked it up and was hoo...moreThis was a very fun read. I didn't know much about the Morganville Vampire series except a lot of people seemed to like it. I picked it up and was hooked. The characters and situation are great. The vampires are clearly the bad guys, which is actually refreshing in our post-Anita Blake/Sookie Stackhouse world. I've already placed my order for the second in the series and look forward to cracking it open. The story ended on quite the cliffhanger. (less)
**spoiler alert** The story, writing and characters were all good and fascinating, but there was so much going on! And Huff was not interested in slow...more**spoiler alert** The story, writing and characters were all good and fascinating, but there was so much going on! And Huff was not interested in slowing down to explain anything. There were some fly away comments to help, but for the most part, the reader is on their own in this rich magical world.
There was one aspect of the story which I was a little uncomfortable with, and I don't know if I'm just more prudish than others, but it caused me to have trouble falling firmly on the side of the Gales, which may have been Huff's intent, but would've liked some discussion or something about it. I don't know if it's spoilery to say this (it appears in first few pages), but they liked to keep things in the family. They tried to make sure the family wasn't too close, but still it was kind of unnerving how matter of fact they were about it, and we know from history it's not good to do that sort of thing.
That aside, the writing is sharp. A lot of funny dialogue is sprinkled throughout and interesting characters are everywhere (probably too many). But because of my before mentioned hangup, I don't think I'd read a sequel if Huff wrote one. I do have hazy plans to reread her Blood series. I never finished it and would like to. (less)
This book was frustrating not because of the writing or the plot but because though it says it's number 1 in a series, it is actually the continuation...moreThis book was frustrating not because of the writing or the plot but because though it says it's number 1 in a series, it is actually the continuation/sequel of a novella that was published in the anthology Prom Dates From Hell. I didn't know about the anthology before picking up this book, but I could tell that I was missing a lot of backstory and character details, and I kept checking the cover flap to make sure it was the first in the series. Instead of reintroducing the characters and world, Harrison just drops the reader into the story midstep. I wish the novella had been included in the book. It has the true beginning of this story. Or if the novella couldn't be included, I wish Harrison had paused sometimes to give us some exposition. It would've helped. As it was, I didn't feel like I knew or cared about any of the characters by the end.
I've enjoyed other Harrison books and really expected to enjoy this one. I don't think I'll read the sequel.(less)
This was a fun witchy mystery. I'd definitely like to read the next in the series. The protagonist was strong without being obnoxious, and the romanci...moreThis was a fun witchy mystery. I'd definitely like to read the next in the series. The protagonist was strong without being obnoxious, and the romancing was very minor. The main thrust of the story was the mystery.(less)
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