Sparks (Anya Kalinczyk, #2) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Sep 23, 2012 Kelly (Maybedog) rated it really liked it

Shelves: what-modern-fantasy, what-demons, why-favorite-series

4.45 stars.

This was the second book I read today (well, finished the other and read this one) that had a theme of Spontaneous Human Combustion. I really hope this subject doesn't come in threes and manifest itself by me bursting into flame. That would just be my luck. Nah, that's too interesting a death. I'm fine.

I liked this much better than the first book in the series, so much so that I'm tempted to lower my rating on that one. This had what I felt was lacking in the first one: a greater conn 4.45 stars.

This was the second book I read today (well, finished the other and read this one) that had a theme of Spontaneous Human Combustion. I really hope this subject doesn't come in threes and manifest itself by me bursting into flame. That would just be my luck. Nah, that's too interesting a death. I'm fine.

I liked this much better than the first book in the series, so much so that I'm tempted to lower my rating on that one. This had what I felt was lacking in the first one: a greater connection to and presence of her love interest Brian; a big battle that had sides clearly drawn (i.e., I didn't think that I was supposed to empathize with the truly evil person, unlike in the first book where we were supposed to take pity on the really evil villain because he was helping battle someone even more evil, even though it was for selfish purposes--I like shades of gray but this guy was way darker than charcoal to me and I did not like having him be at all sympathetic); help in her epic battle from someone really likable; a really dangerous epic battle where she almost doesn't survive (yes, I know it's formulaic but I like that formula); people, especially her boyfriend, showing great concern for her peril; near death; no sex with evil characters; and so forth.

The story was interesting, the pacing was excellent (I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down), and there was a nice balance of drama, action, detective work and humor. I really like Bickle's characterizations, each person in the story very clearly defined in my head. I love a new character, Charon, and hope he appears in future installments.

I liked the evil villain who is a better/preferable foe than the one in the first book. That guy was evil but supposed to be mildly sympathetic as I mentioned and he just wasn't at all for me. This woman is truly evil, truly powerful, and legitimately scary.

Anna still has a lot of baggage but some of it was aired out a bit and we gain new perspective on parts of her past. I really don't like that horrible Ishtar painting that the villain in the last book painted for her, the one she slept with after she already knew he was the perpetrator, the guy who she still in this book refers to as a past lover. It's creepy that the woman in the painting looks like her and she still calls it Ishtar and she has it hanging in her bedroom where she refers to it as looking at her. CREEpy.

There were a few procedural issues that bothered me like the coroner does things in the lab that would completely compromise evidence; a whole lot of evidence gets destroyed because it's exposed but I'm pretty sure that in real life, only one thing is out of its carefully marked and sealed protected container at a time so it is, um, protected, not contaminated by other evidence; and doesn't the coroner have to confirm death on the scene?

I have to mention one minor irritation that probably won't bother most people at all and that is that at one point the underworld of Greek/Roman mythology is referred to as Hell. IT WAS NOT HELL. Not the same thing at all. Please, people, if you're going to include mythology, fact check.

Anyway, I did enjoy this book a lot and it made me eager to read the next one in the series but whoa, there isn't one. Both the first and the second books were published in 2010 as was the first book in another series she has, Dark Oracle (which incidentally I didn't really like). The second book in that series was published in 2011. Now she's started a new series, The Hallowed Ones, young adult of course since that's all the rage, which was published this year and the second book is coming out in 2013. Nothing on her site says anything about additional books in the other series even though she has a Twitter account for the salamander in this series I'm reviewing here. (My logic is that if she thinks that salamander is popular enough for that why isn't she working on the next book?) I have discovered a new pet peeve: two book series that haven't been finished that get set aside to start yet another series. Argh.

I broke my rule of never reading the last book in a series. I always want there to be one more to look forward to in case it takes the author forever to write another. It's easier for me to hold off after reading a cliffhanger if I know I can always pick up the next book if I want to. It's kind of like quitting chocolate but leaving one bar hidden that you can have any time. Anyway, now I'm regretful because unlike some authors who publish a book in their series every year, this writer doesn't seem to be in much of a hurry.

Oh well, I have other stuff to keep my occupied until then.

[My apologies: this was not a well written review, too stream of consciousness, but frankly, I am too lazy to rewrite it.] ...more

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May 22, 2010 Larissa rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, to-review

*4 & 1/2 Stars out of 5!

As much as I absolutely love Urban Fantasy, it is not often that a book or series brings something new to the table. When that happens, I can’t help but feel my love for the genre being reignited. I was pleasantly surprised by Embers a few months ago and was really excited about reading its sequel, Sparks. I have to say that Laura Bickle has done a superb job with this book and she has delivered an even better one than her debut.

Sparks starts off 3 months after the events *4 & 1/2 Stars out of 5!

As much as I absolutely love Urban Fantasy, it is not often that a book or series brings something new to the table. When that happens, I can’t help but feel my love for the genre being reignited. I was pleasantly surprised by Embers a few months ago and was really excited about reading its sequel, Sparks. I have to say that Laura Bickle has done a superb job with this book and she has delivered an even better one than her debut.

Sparks starts off 3 months after the events in Embers and we find Anya trying to cope with the happenings of the previous book, while she also gives a shot at moving on and giving her DAGR colleague, Brian, a chance at her heart. I am really loving Anya as a character and I feel that in this book she has evolved a lot. She has to deal with so many trial and tribulations in Sparks and the stakes just keep getting higher and higher.

We get an awful Villain in Sparks and she is just vile! We also get to see Anya learn more about her powers, interact with spirits and even deal first hand with her tragic past, which she has been avoiding for a long time. She also learns the truth about her mom’s death and we get a new mystery in the form of “Who the hell is Anya’s father?”. All the great side characters from Embers are back in Sparks and we even get some new ones that I can’t wait to read more about.

I really enjoyed the plot of Sparks and the set up for future stories just make me want more and more. I’m really rooting for Anya' and Brian’s relationship, but I feel that there will be much trouble ahead and I can’t wait to read about it. I really want my girl Anya to be happy, now, is Brian is her HEA? Well, that is definitely up for debate.

Sparks is such a thrill ride that I did NOT want to get down from! I read the book in one sitting and the pace was perfect and full of non-stop action. I just know now that Laura Bickle is the kind of author that will only get better with each book and I really hope there will be more books in this series. This is an awesome new Urban Fantasy series that you just have to read. I absolutely recommend it!

Also posted on my blog: Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life ...more

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Dec 17, 2011 Karen rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal, challenge-shelf-2013

Fascinating new character brought in, nice retirement of others, character development all around combined with a reasonably interesting plot. While I know that sounds less than a four star statement, this book was a very well done vehicle for character development, mythos and world expansion wrapped around an interesting artifact. And Sparky just gets better and better.

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