false 66 515 409 true 5682278 read 1 true 829271 currently-reading 105 true 829270 to-read 175 false 1324308 teen 141 false 4034831 2009 122 false 1480850 fantasy 120 false 1800164 2008 34 false 3617571 classics 30 false 1324311 non-fiction 27 false 2869642 vamps-wolves 25 false 2148756 audio-books 23 false 2569595 fairy-folk-tales 21 false 2733311 futuristic-doomsday 21 false 1324307 all-time-faves 17 false 1897465 mystery 16 false 1520805 pure-comedy 14 false 1480851 kids 11 false 3833735 memoir-bio 8 false 2156537 fluff-n-stuff 8 false 2569708 didnt-finish 7 false 4190166 janeish 4 false 3901994 book-club 2 false 2733034 poetry 1 false 7316192 lit-101 1 false 5851502 sci-fi http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/55215394 Holly's review of Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, #1)
by Ilona Andrews

YES!! You will love this series! ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78775499 Courtney's review of Ten Cents a Dance
by Christine Fletcher

I too liked this one so much better than "What I saw and How I lied". LIked Ruby so much more. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78777958 Courtney's review of Lunacy and the Arrangement of Books
by Terry Belanger

oh goodness, this sounds like one that I, as an ocd book lover would adore. THanks ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79361801 Lunacy and the Arrangement of Books (Paperback) by Terry Belanger
bookshelves: to-read
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75762722 Mary's review of The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Ranch Wife
by Ree Drummond

Oh I am so happy to hear that other people have discovered this woman. Truly she is amazing. This is one cookbook I have to pick up immediately. Like you, many of my 'new' staples come from her blog!! All of which are so very yummy! ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78960084 to: Mercy Thompson: Homecoming (Mercedes Thompson, Prequel) by Patricia Briggs
bookshelves: 2009, fantasy, vamps-wolves
Patricia Briggs has really been feeling the love for her Mercy Thompson series lately. With Bone Crossed released in hardcover earlier this year combined with her first Mercy Thompson graphic novel - Mercy fans have plenty of reasons to become giddy. For myself, I'm not really a comic book person, but I am a dedicated fangirl of Mercy and couldn't wait to catch a glimpse of her adventures in full-color.

Homecoming is basically an origin story for Mercy Thompson: how she meets both Adam and Stefan and how she lands the mechanic position at Zee's shop. Although it is a stand-alone story, unless you've already had the privileged of reading Mercy's other adventures, Homecoming may not feel as robust as the others. It's fun, it's fast but I did miss the trademark Mercy narration. Several little details of Mercy's life are revealed that only long-standing Mercy fans will appreciate the significance of - little things like how Mercy gets her cat.

As for the artwork itself: Beautiful and suitably shadowy yet very powerful. Though it was a little jarring to see how often Mercy herself changed. I know there were multiple artists working on this book, but since she is the title character, I would have expected a little more continuity with her character at least. But that said, her action scenes were fabulous. Consequently, I had buckets of fun matching up my mental picture of Mercy's gang with the artists' rendering. Adam and Zee were just as I pictured, but I was a little disappointed with Stefan as a '80s grunge rocker. Not really the way I pictured the mystery machine driving vampire.

On a side note, Patricia Briggs and the artists of Homecoming did choose not to shy away (at all) from the shape-shifting side of Mercy's life - which to be honest, I'm happy with because Mercy herself is never really concerned about whether she is clothed or not. But gentle readers be warned: there are several panels of Mercy naked which might be off-putting. The artwork is stylized and the important parts are usually covered, but it is all still quite clear, which may keep the book out of the hands of Mercy's younger fans.

Homecoming was a fabulous fast-paced action story and an efficient reminder of why I love the Mercy Thompson series so much. I do wish it had been longer, but I understand the format is more suited to quick action and less dialogue. Thank heavens we have Silver Borne coming in March 2010. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78220902 to: Mortal Engines (The Hungry City Chronicles) by Philip Reeve
bookshelves: 2009, fantasy, futuristic-doomsday, teen
In the future, municipal Darwinism is King. After massive world-wide destruction, cities and towns have become mobile structures lumbering across continents 'eating' each other in a race to acquire more materials, fuel, and even slaves. Young Tom Natsworthy was born and bred in the traction city of London and even if he is only a third class apprentice in the Guild of Historians and an orphan, he's content to be a part of that great city - a pinnacle of progress. While on assignment, Tom can't believe his luck when he finally meets his hero, Mr. Valentine, the brave archeologist and darling of London - and his beautiful daughter Katherine. But after witnessing something he shouldn't have, he finds himself lost in the rugged Out-Country, desperate to find a way back to London and joined by the scarred Hester Shaw, a young girl bent on revenge and delightfully flawed. As Tom and Hester race across the desolate landscape after the mobile London, they face death at every turn as they stumble across pirates, slavers, and even the resistance movement, the Anti-Tractionist League.

Every so often I stumble across a little-known book that really hits a high note. I should have known Mortal Engines would have been a Sure Thing knowing it was 1. a dystopian book and 2. chock full of compelling characters, but be warned: this book will pull you in faster than you can say "anti-Tractionist League." Truly engrossing, the non-stop action of Tom and Hester's journey left me stunned. The whole idea that after massive world destruction, technology has evolved to allow entire civilizations to become mobile is fascinating. Throw in a very active resistance movement and the fact that Philip Reeve presents compelling arguments for each side without ever forcing an opinion on his readers and you've got yourself some compelling reading.

Staggering world building aside, characters are what make this book a stand-out. And I don't just mean the main characters; Mortal Engines boasts a superb supporting cast. The red-clad pilot Anna Fang: charming and kind but who would like nothing better than to see the end of mobile cities. The power hungry pirate Chrystler Peavey who only keeps Tom alive in hopes of turning his crew into 'proper gentlemen.' Not to mention Hester Shaw - whose scarred face and thirst for revenge has her wary of any overture of friendship. Be warned, as meticulous Philip Reeve is with crafting his characters, he doesn't think twice about killing them off. Several times, I would re-read passages thinking "did he really just do it again??! NOOO!!" But that's okay, I'm planning on returning to The Hungry City Chronicles just to find out what unique individual he's planning on introducing me to next. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78735593 Lips Touch (Hardcover) by Laini Taylor
bookshelves: to-read
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78732649 Holly's review of City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, #1)
by Cassandra Clare

Yep. I actually finished this one - why, I have no idea - but I have absolutely no desire whatsoever to return to this author. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78735511 Heart's Blood (Whistling Tor, #1) by Juliet Marillier
bookshelves: currently-reading
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