SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion
Archive: Past Team Challenges
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R6: Team #7 ~ 7 Deadly Readers
@ Lauren-I love this series, but it doesn't seem to have a very big following for some reason. @ Cathy-My youngest was a 6 weeks premature and only weighed 3 lbs. You NICU workers not only take care of those little ones, but the support give to mothers is not only the best, but needed. Thank you!
@Tiffanie - It also surprises me that so few PNR readers are aware of the series. It has one of the most terrifying yet exhilarating story arcs I've encountered in the genre and the characters are incredible. Madoc and Iain are at the top of my hot hero list ;0)I've finished Lord of the Abyss and loved every minute. Will write a full review in the morning (it's 2am here, time to go to sleep).
@ Cathy, I agree. Your coworkers are totally missing out! :) We are hitting the teenage years with my oldest. She will be 14 in January. It's pretty touch and go sometimes but I feel like the pre-teens were pretty bad. Now she atleast talks to me lol. My other girls are 7, 5 and 4 so a ways to go for them. Wish me luck, I'm sure to need it ;-)@Christal - Love Anna Strong though I'm not that far into the series.
*Tiffanie- Also love me some Anita Blake. Her early novels are addictive. Ones I will even reread some day and I don't typically do that. :)
I don't think I have read any of the other choices you ladies have picked so I can't wait to hear reviews!
Time to get ready for work... here I come Monday, ready or not.
Have a great day/night all.
Lord of the Abyss by Nalini Singh
Shelf: Kick-Ass Heroine
Finished: September 16
4.5 Stars
The Royal House of Shadows has been more miss than hit for me (book #1 is simply awful although #2 and #3 are quite entertaining). That said, Nalini Singh's installment makes it all worthwhile.
The story is a refreshing rendition of the classic Beauty and the Beast tale in which both hero and heroine are fundamentally flawed (Liliana is far from drop-dead gorgeous and Micah has been cursed with a monstrous alter ego) but able to see beyond surface appearances, fears and superstitions to the beauty, innocence and purity that lies beneath.
Lily (for some reason Christina Ricci in Penelope keeps coming to mind) has a will of iron and an innate courage that allowed her to withstand her father's physical and emotional cruelty. This is very appealing to Micah (and me) as she challenges him in ways no women ever has (mainly because they are terrified of him) and he is drawn to her - the fact that he is completely oblivious to her physical imperfections makes him particularly endearing.
Micah and Lily have an amazing connection. Singh certainly knows how to write emotional and poignant not to mention sensual and sizzling scenes and this is no exception.
The conclusion is exciting and the Blood Sorcerer's demise quite satisfactory. My one small nitpick is the lack of a coordinated effort between the siblings in the final battle. Nevertheless, the way they (view spoiler) is lovely.
Overall an excellent conclusion to a somewhat pedestrian series.
Lauren wrote: "The Royal House of Shadows has been more miss than hit for me (book #1 is simply awful although #2 and #3 are quite entertaining). That said, Nalini Singh's installment makes it all worthwhile. ..."I have to read series in order...and so got bogged down after number one...even though I'm really looking forward to this one! Feel more secure about picking up #2!
Book #2 is a huge improvement on #1. I really enjoyed the beserker and Ursan warrior lore and the romance is much better - Breena also has some great kick-ass powers.
Yay Lauren! And another series that needed to be bumped up the list.
Very good to hear! I haven't read Jill Monroe (except maybe a short??). One was rather lackluster (for me!) followed by an unknown-2-me-author which has equaled a "get-to-it-someday" even though Nalini's is the conclusion...and I love her books!
I hadn't read Jill Monroe before either and was pleasantly surprised because I knew that she had written mostly category romances before so this type of writing was new to her.The 3rd author is Jessica Andersen - I'm reading her Final Prophecy series which is very good. I love the Mayan mythology and ends of days prophecy stuff.
That sounds intriguing...have to check it out! (And boom...TBR gets a little fatter!)
@Angi I wasn't in love with the first Anna Strong book, but I do think I will give another book in the series a read.@Tiffanie/Lauren I don't read much PNR (more into UF) but Sharon Butcher has been on my list to read ever since I fell in love with her husband's Dresden Files series.
Kick-Ass Heroine Shelf:
Date Finished: September 12th
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review:
The Becoming had some interesting elements to it, but overall I didn't find it terribly unique. I did like that Jeanne C. Stein left some lose ends and short, tantalizing hints of things to come. Curiosity about the answers is bringing me back for the next book, even if I wasn't completely enthralled with the plot in this first installment.
While on assignment as bounty hunters, Anna and her partner David are trying to bring in a bail skipping suspect. The suspect, Donaldson, turns out the be a vampire and after a brutal fight, Anna ends up one as well. Now she has to face a new way of living, a new vamp society, and an all liquid diet. But who can she really trust?
Anna was a little annoying. She was very headstrong and didn't think things through very well. She tended to see a problem and just run at it head on. It made the story interesting because she was constantly facing trouble, but it didn't do much to endear the character to me. I do see the potential for growth with Anna though, so I am willing to give her another shot.
The other characters were pretty one-dimensional. They didn't get very much screen time unless they were named Avery. David, Anna's bounty hunter partner, was continuously described as an ex-line backer and that's about as much depth as we got. He was around to yell at Anna and tell her that her decisions were wrong. Then he disappeared and become a plot direction. Max, Anna's boyfriend, was in the book for maybe five pages. He is an undercover DEA agent and working a case for most of the book. Even though Anna professes that she might be in love with him, she didn't waste much time jumping into bed with her vampire mentor, Avery. Anna also gets some help from a shady character named Culebra. We know pretty much nothing about him, but his background could be an interesting plot for future books.
Avery was the other main character in the book and from the very first minute he was sketchy. When we learn he is also a vampire, it doesn't come as much of a shock. He takes Anna under his wing and begins to teach her about the vampire life. He also takes her into his bed and teaches her about the pleasures of sharing blood.
The main plot of this book seemed to be Anna figuring out her new life, but then things from her old life come under attack. Her house is burned down and someone very close to her is kidnapped. I liked that Anna was determined to figure out who was behind the destruction instead of forgetting about her mortal life as Avery wanted. The villain was pretty easy to guess about halfway through, but the final confrontation was interesting.
Even though I wasn't completely satisfied with this installment, I liked enough pieces of it to give the next book a try. Hopefully Blood Drive will develop Anna's character more and have a plot more fitting for a bounty hunter.
@Judithe - glad to have been of service .. or not? lol!@Christal - great review. Unfortunately, I don't read that much UF because most of it is written in the 1st person (pet peeve), which is why I gravitate more to PNR. Nevertheless, I have read a few UF books written in the 3rd person. Marie Treanor's Awakened by Blood series is excellent.
Lauren wrote: "@Christal - great review. Unfortunately, I don't read that much UF because most of it is written in the 1st person (pet peeve), which is why I gravitate more to PNR. Nevertheless, I have read a few UF books written in the 3rd person. Marie Treanor's Awakened by Blood series is excellent. "Thanks Lauren, I'll have to check out that series. I haven't heard of it.
Christal the Anna series does get a little better as it goes and a continuing storyline emerges. The same secondary characters do make appearances in the next books and you discover more about them. There is a tendency among her and her supporting characters of not making wise decisions. I've read the first 7.
Thanks Lis, I do plan to check out the second book soon. It's good to hear others enjoyed the newer books more.
Read: The Mane Event by Shelly Laurenston
Shelf: Kick Ass Heroine
Date: 9/17/2012
Pages: 446
Rating: ★★★★✩
Review: This is a two parter... Christmas Pride follows the reunion of two childhood sweethearts, a rich lion shifter Mace who just finished a 14 year stint as a navy seal and Dez a NYC detective. Mace returns to NYC right after a male lion was killed and reconnects with Dez as she is investigating the murder and trying to figure if she can pin it on his sister Missy who she still dislikes after 20 years. What's amazing to her is that the scrawny little 14 yr old boy has turned into 6'4" of hawt hunky muscle and seems to have his sights set on her, unaware that she is the reason he has come back to NYC. Her attempts to avoid him doesn't work for long and the steam factor is pretty high as he claims her, double D's and all.
Shaw's Tail begins towards the end of the previous story with Brendon Shaw one of Missy Llewellyn's Pride breeding male lions getting the crap beat out of him in the hyena tunnels while looking for his missing little brother Mitch. Dez is there and helps rescue him along with Smitty's wolf pack. When his own pride doesn't seem interested in nursing him back to health, Sissy Mae has Ronnie Lee watch over him during the Christmas break which begins the whole inappropriate attraction of a male lion and a she-wolf who he has to convince that he is her mate. This includes a lot of pack and pride mingling, family drama and squabbles, Hawt shifters and lots of steamy fluff in between.
The second was more 3 1/2 stars for me but these are perfect shifter fluff reads that break up my darker UF and PNR reading. They are fun and have the elements of shifter politics, a sexy alpha shifter set on some wild and crazy gal that just wants some fun and he is going to make her his mate.
Book: Passion Unleashed by Larissa Ione
Shelf: Free Space
Finished: September 18
4 Stars
Review: Imaginative world building, fast paced action and a sweet romance.
Ione's Demonica universe is detailed and complex. The ethical dilemmas faced by the characters are unique and nothing is ever as it seems. In this installment, the question arises as to whether the tortured and seemingly irredeemable Wraith will kill an innocent to save his own skin. Of course, it is not that simple and it turns out that the fate of the world relies on the outcome.
Wraith is definitely a bad-boy but there is more to him than a granite exterior and a vicious tongue. It soon becomes evident that he cares deeply for those closest to him and his facade is merely a self-defense mechanism. His backstory is difficult to read although not as heart-wrenching as Zarek's in the Dark Hunters or Zsadist's in BDB (a series that is virtually impossible for me to read but don't get me started on those ridiculous Lessers).
The romance in Passion Unleashed plays out rapidly and is on the predictable side with the resolution to Serena's impending demise glaringly obvious. Nevertheless, it is entertaining to see how it all plays out as Wraith and Serena are a sweet couple with a compelling bond. The conclusion, while saccharine sweet, meshes well with the characters and the tone of the story.
The secondary characters are also nicely fleshed out from the repellant villain to the protective father figure and the developing romance between Gem and Kynan.
In sum, a strong addition to a solid series and there are hints and interesting things to come.
I'm doing it again, sorry Christal. I need a break from Shelley and her Pride, so I'd like to switch my free space book to
... I took it for a spin today and its caught my interest.
No problem, Lis. I understand needing a break between series books.
Hope you enjoy Burning Alive Lis. Looking forward to your review.
Free Space Shelf:
Date Finished: September 18th
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review:
I wasn't a die-hard fan of Anna Dressed in Blood, but I was expecting more from this sequel. I still enjoyed the characters of Cas, Thomas, and Carmel, but I thought the plot would be more exciting.
For the first 150 pages or so, I felt like the characters were just running around in circles. Cas was having visions of Anna being tortured, but he didn't know how to save her. When he would ask Gideon or Morfran, they would tell him it couldn't be done... but wait, I guess it can be done...but it shouldn't be done! This happened over and over until an outside organization sent Cas a suspicious picture. It felt a little deus ex machina, but it got Cas to London and the real story really began.
I liked the new character of Jestine. She was feisty and interesting; I wish that she had been in more than just the back half of this book. I also felt that Anna was underused. Yes, I know she was trapped in Hell but she is the most complex character in this duology and was barely in this book until the very end. I didn't really buy Cas and Anna's insta-love, but their scenes together are sweet and being with Anna makes Cas infinitely more interesting.
The final confrontation seemed a little too easy, but I was satisfied with the way the story ended. I wasn't sure where Kendare Blake was going to take a love story between a ghost and a human, but she managed to make it satisfying. Though I wasn't smitten by this series, it was well-written with likeable characters and a complex mythology. I would recommend it to other readers.
Book: Circus of the DamnedShelf: Kick Ass Heroine
Completed: 09-18-12
4 Stars
Anita Blake - Who wouldn't want to be that little ass kicker!
She is once again called to defend the innocents of her city from the dangers from the creatures of the night. Torn between her unwanted attractions to Jean-Claude, the Master vampire of the city, who would make her his human servant, and the vampire Oliver who wants all vampires to return to the shadows.
I love Anita. She tough, but you can still see her soft side through the cracks. This book was a great continuing story in the blood and death filled life of Anita Blake and the love/hate romance with Jean-Claude. Does he truly love her or just want to control her????? I can’t wait to read the other books.
I hope you enjoy the other Anita Blake books, Tiffanie. I jumped ship not too long after Obsidian Butterfly, but the first books were really great.
Just took a look at our progress in message #36. We are doing really well!
Book: Endlessly
Shelf :Kick-ass Heroine
Finished Reading: September 18th
Stars: ★★★★
Endlessly was the last book in this trilogy.
Evie spends a lot of trying to figure out what happened to her mentor, why all of the paranormals are whispering and conspiring around her and what is going on with the fairies. She comes to find out that her mentor is on trial for a bogus claim due to the new head of the organization conspiring against her for a deal she made with the unseelie court. Meanwhile she discovers the paranormals are coming together in hopes that Evie can make a gate to send them back to where they came from -where they can be what they were originally before they got sucked into the world as we know it and became less than than they were. There were some big battles with the dark unseelie queen and some great moments with Reth, the arrogant fairy that loves Evie in his own way. I think this was a great ending. Everything worked out how it should, Evie got to keep her man and all the paranormals were sent back by a gate she and her sister were able to create.
@ Christal - I wasn't in love with it either, though I did like it. Perhaps that is why it's so easy to put it down and not pick it back up. Hence that I'm only on book three... I think? Great reviews ladies! I LOVE Anita Blake also, right up until Obsidian Butterfly. Then, I couldn't go any further.... though I did try!
For my free space I'm choosing one from the group's book shelf:
Shelf : Free SpaceRead : Spellbound Falls by Janet Chapman ★★★★
Date Finished : September 19, 2012
I love Janet Chapman's books. Her books always make me smile. Spellbound Falls didn't disappoint. Janet Chapman's trademark humor with the interaction between alpha male and the woman he loves is definitely present and had me frequently laughing out loud.
Maximillion Oceanus is an ancient wizard/theurgist and son of sea god Titus Oceanus. Mac recently found out he is the father of a adorably serious little boy named Henry, whose mother passed away. Mac has one year to settle down and become a good father or Titus is going to marry him off to Gadzalina (a.k.a. Godzilla). So Mac and Henry head off to a camp that specializes in family bonding and teaching parenting skills. The camp is run by Olivia Baldwin and her in laws. Olivia has an eight year daughter Sophie and huge self worth issues. She was orphaned at a young age, seemingly abandoned, grew up in foster care and has a monster of a mother in law. Mac draws her out of the shadows and she blossoms into the brave woman she truely is. Because it will take a brave woman to accept Mac for what and who truely is.
Lauren wrote: "Hope you enjoy Burning Alive Lis. Looking forward to your review."So far so good, I'm about half way thru and liking it.
@Cathy, glad you like Spellbound Falls, I love all her books involving those time traveling Scotsman and their friends. One of my fav scenes was a few books back when the single mom who's husband left her for a young barely twenty something was making out with her alpha male. He goes for her bra and the underwire springs out and poked him in the eye. Classic Chapman moment.
Christal wrote: "I hope you enjoy the other Anita Blake books, Tiffanie. I jumped ship not too long after Obsidian Butterfly, but the first books were really great."I'd like to, but just can't help punish myself every year when she releases a new book.
@Lis It was hard for me to break up with the series, but I finally just had to do it. I still read her Merry Gentry series though... if she ever puts out another book in that series.
I like the Merry Gentry series too.
Christal wrote: "@Lis It was hard for me to break up with the series, but I finally just had to do it. I still read her Merry Gentry series though... if she ever puts out another book in that series."I'm pretty much at that point, too. I'll pick up Anita if she shows up on the e-library shelf, but still willing to buy Merry.
Sigh...this was one of my "firsts" after a very long break from vamps and things that go bump in the night (in the scary way!). So, it was hard to "let go"...
I loved Merry Gentry. Read the whole series. I was told Anita Blake was better.....I've only read 3 of Anita's, but so far I like Merry much better.
I think with the Merry series you start off knowing she's fae, and a fertility gal, and in a race to get pregnant... So you kind of expect her harem of fae men all a part of the storyline. With Anita the series begins more UF and dark, and she's this tough FBI necromancer that keeps taking down the baddies. It's got plot, a challenge, and some romantic under tones. Then... (view spoiler). Ok, rant over... Is it my imagination or do you get the Frost/ Richard vibe? Nathaniel / kito? Dole / Micah?
I feel the same way, Lis. I really liked the first Anita books but the pornucopia killed them for me, while I enjoy all the smexy in the Merry books because I was expecting it. I do see the similarities between the men. Have you read her blog at all? Richard is basically her ex-husband, I can't remember who her new husband is... maybe Micah, Anita is pretty much her herself, and Nathaniel is based on her "rumored" boyfriend.
I did read about the Richard part somewhere. I really do like the first ones and think with each release, ok this is the one that fixes the series... But, not happening yet.
Understandable, I'm always tempted by the new releases. They are always billed as a return to the kick-ass necromancer Anita and I get excited until I read reviews that say they're more of the same old same old. So far I've stayed strong. I wouldn't be opposed to coming back though so I will keep reading reviews.
I'm with you Lis. That is exactly how I felt about the series which was a shame because I adored Anita when she was really UF.Okay, so sorry but I received my book order and I am going to change my free read to " The Mage in Black" as opposed to "My Soul to Save" just because I've been waiting not so patiently for this second book I just finished recently :-D
Book: Dying WishShelf: Free Space
Completed: 09-20-12
5 Stars
Jackie Patton, left a shell of former shelf after being held for 2 years by the evil Synestryn for 2 years, falls in love with a man with no soul. She has to fight to bring herself to a place of peace instead of pain and try to get Iain to want to live and love her. Soul or no soul he is a good man. Iain determined to die a man of honor before he turns completely evil, wants to love Jackie, but doesn’t feel he is worthy.
This is book 6 in the Sentinel Wars Series. One of my favorite series, but doesn’t seem to have a big following. Which I find sad. I would recommend this series to anyone. It has a slightly different take on vampires, demons and those dang sexy warriors. Can’t wait for the next book.
Christal wrote: "Understandable, I'm always tempted by the new releases. They are always billed as a return to the kick-ass necromancer Anita and I get excited until I read reviews that say they're more of the same..."The last Anita sneakily started like old ones (and was what you got in free sample downloaded). I think that was just totally wrong....
Great review Tiffanie. I loved Iain too - his struggle to control his dark side and hang on to his honor makes him an amazing hero and Jackie is his perfect match.
Can't wait for the next book - I'm wondering who the hero will be.
Tiffanie wrote: "One of my favorite series, but doesn’t seem to have a big following. Which I find sad. I would recommend this series to anyone. It has a slightly different take on vampires, demons and those dang sexy warriors...."I think I'm joining the club! Enjoying the first book, hope to finish before the next shelf is called and review. Kinda reminds me of Frank's Nightwalker series and a less fluffy version of Feehan's Carpathean's... The first one has enough battles that it has a more darker PNR feel, which is what I like to read.
@Deborah (Debbie Rice) - That's how they get you! It's so unfair.@Angie - Yay, I hope you like it! I love Sabina Kane; she's up there with Kate Daniels for me.
@Lis - glad you are enjoying "Burning Alive". The series only gets darker as the story progresses from book to book. Definitely not for the faint of heart.
Finished: Burning Alive by Shannon K. Butcher
Shelf: Free Shelf
Date finished: 9/22/2012
Pages: 358
Rating: ★★★1/2✩
Review: Drake and his fellow Theronai warriors fight against demons and have protected unknowing humans for centuries. Their lives are reflected by the tree tattoo on their chest and torso that loses its leaves as they near the end as the power that builds up has no release. Their only hope is to find a compatible Theronai woman that they can bond with and share power and completes them. This is near impossible for these Sentinels as they have been sterile for centuries and many of their women have been killed. Helen is a miracle for Drake and brings hope to all the warriors like him who thought finding blooded females an impossibility. When Drake and Helen meet and she fears him because she has been having visions of her death for years as he watches her burn. But, their connection is too strong and they grow closer despite the fated event that will end her life in fire. So they are racing against time as she is brought into this new power and trying to learn how to use it before she gets Drake killed too.
I enjoyed this book and will definitely continue with this series. I had a little difficulty with the world building and the feeling of being dumped into the middle of a movie along with Helen and very confused about what was happening. I really needed a sentinel dictionary for all the races and demon types. Everything is a mad rush until page 200 when Drake finally gets to sit down with her and starts to explain. Lots of action and pretty dark moments and an ominous epilogue that hints that we've only been allowed to see a very small portion of the bigger picture. Interested to see where this storyline is headed.
Shelf #2 ~ 9/23/12: 'Favorite Author'DIRECT LINK: This is a personal shelf, not a Goodreads shelf.
I'm going with
for my favorite author shelf.
Hi ladies, I'm out of town this weekend but I will get message 36 updated as soon as I get back and have a real computer. It's hard to update on my phone, lol.
SOS: Serious Overload of Series
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Karen Marie Moning (other topics)
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J.A. Saare (other topics)
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@Cathy - that must be a very emotional but rewarding job. I agree, your co-workers don't know what they are missing.