SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion
Archive: Past Team Challenges
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R22: Team #4 ~ Pumpkin Spice and Plots so Nice
I immediately thought of innkeeper too - I love that series. Oh interesting about the Beginners Guide to Necromancy - I'd never heard of that.I was thinking Darkhouse might work - but it's a haunted lighthouse so ???
Those lists both show Undeath and Taxes which is another that is on my tbr. Thanks for sharing the lists!
Not a lighthouse Suzanne, must be a house :)And the Beginners Guide to Necromancy is excellent.
Completion Post - Free Space
Faithless in Death by J.D. Robb
How it fits: on best audiobooks series list
Date Read: 10/23
Pages: 400
Rating: ★★★★✰
Review:
I've read so many books in the series that it seems like so much of the stuff I've seen before. However, that is perfectly fine as long as I don't read a lot of them in a row. I really like the group of friends/coworkers that has developed around Eve.
In this book, Eve and Peabody investigate a murder that seems fairly straightforward but soon turns out to be called to a "religious" cult. The book was a lot more police procedural than some, and did a good job showing Eve's leadership as she manages the task force needed to take down the bad guys. And boy, they were bad, so there was some satisfaction in the ending.
Sandra wrote: "Not a lighthouse Suzanne, must be a house :)And the Beginners Guide to Necromancy is excellent."
Thanks Sandra!!
CONGRATULATIONS, Pumpkin Spice and Plots so Nice!You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'vampire(s)', 'witch(es' and 'free space'.
[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]
Good Job!! :D
Congrats on the stamps Spicy Pumpkin Books!
Completion Post - Shelf #3 - Haunted HouseBook:
How to Save an Undead Life by Hailey Edwards
Date Read: 10/28/22
Pages: 240
How it fits: The MC's house is haunted. From precis: "keep the lights on in her personal haunted mansion"
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
I had never heard of this series before it got recommended here - so thanks! The main character, Grier, just got out of prison and returned home to her sentient, haunted house. Little by little we learn bits about her experience there, as well as about her powers as a necromancer. And suddenly a lot of powerful people seem very interested in her.
I liked Grier's relationship with her neighbor friends, and I thought it was clever describing parts of necromancy as a money-maker (especially raising pets from the dead). I will definitely continue with the series.
Great review Suzanne, glad you enjoyed it. I must admit I haven't made much headway with my book, I will get my act together on the weekend. :)
Completion Post - Shelf #3 - Haunted HouseBook:
by Hailey EdwardsDate Read: 10/29/22
Pages: 286
How it fits: Wooly the house is sentient
Rating: ★★★★
Review: It has been a long time since I read the first book in the series. I love the number of threads that the author seamlessly merges to create her story: the potential relationship with Boaz, the growing friendship with Greer, the mystery of her past and powers, the circling forces that want to take advantage of her, her training to learn to better protect herself, and the main plot of the missing ghosts. I love watching Greer grow as she tries to find herself and put her life back together. Wooly's bond with her is amazing to see. The main plot of the missing ghosts was entertaining, and the ending came as a surprise. Overall a solid 4 stars.
Ooh nice - I have the latest Psy-Changeling - Storm Echo struggling a bit with Midnight's Daughter my haunted house book, but don't really know what else to choose, so will perservere.
Hang in there! I'm glad you have a desired PNR book :)
I'm reading
for PNR, which also works for another group challenge. Sorry I forgot to post earlier.
No problem! It's nice when a book works for multiple challenges :)
Completion Post - Shelf Three - Haunted House 
Midnight's Daughter (#1Dorina Basarab ) Karen Chance
How it fits: The House is built over two wey lines and has it's own personality, likes and dislikes.
Pages: 373
Review: Triggers: (view spoiler)
Overall, this was a decent first in series, however it was very fast paced with too many plot lines, so many in fact that it was easy to become a little confused and I had to stop and think to sort things through. The world building was interesting, but also very involved. Maybe this is part of the set up for first in series but it was often too complex with too many characters. I did like Dorina, and Louis-Cesare working together and there relationship has a lot of potential. 3 stars.
Read: Nov 3 ★★★✰✰
Deanna wrote: "I'm reading for PNR, which also works for another group challenge..."Suzanne wrote: "It's nice when a book works for multiple challenges :)"
Definitely I often fall down the rabbit hole of taking on too many challenges, but it is always fun searching out books to fit.
Nice job getting through that haunted house book Loriidae!
Completion Post - Shelf #4 - PNRBook:
Date Read: 11/4
Pages: 352
How it fits: tagged paranormal romance 24 times
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
The Vampire's Priceless Treasure is an entertaining hodgepodge of previously used ideas all mashed together. There was the treasure hunt subplot that felt a bit like National Treasure, the secret society subplot that reminded me of the Indiana Jones movie with the grail, and the Romanov/Rasputin subplot because what other famous Russian might have hidden a magical object. Still despite the mishmash of subplots, the author managed to keep the focus on the MCs Greyson and Kora and their growing relationship and add in a few links to tie the subplots into the world where Nocturne Falls exists. Overall I enjoyed the relationship growth and interaction between the MCs. The treasure hunt and secret society plots were just ok. That part of the plot was a little too neat with everything falling together a little too easily. Overall an entertaining read. 4 stars.
Nice job! I requested the Haunted House stamp.
My PNR is going to be a bit late because I have a science fiction book I need to finish first and it's pretty long. I'm reading Jane Yellowrock for my PNR - I've read the first bit and it's making me wonder why I waited so long.
I adore Faith Hunter - her attention to detail is amazing. I do prefer Nell from her Soulwood series which is the spin-off to JY.As an aside if you like medical mystery/thrillers - she has written several under the pen name of Gwen Hunter
Oh nice to know! I've heard Soulwood is great and I've bought several, but thought I should finish all the available Jane Yellowrocks first. I do like medical mystery/thrillers a lot!
As long as you have read up to #7.5 Off the Grid of JY where Nell is introduced. The two series run concurrently after that.
Completion Post - Shelf Four - Paranormal
Storm Echo (#21 Psy-Changeling) Nalini Singh
How it fits: Shelved as Paranormal Romance 115 Times
Pages: 376
Review:
Storm Echo the 21st book in the psy-changeling series, takes up the story of the ocelet clan that was a sub plot in #15 Allegiance of Honor
I loved Soleil and Ivan. They were both so very damaged but even so their relationship was beautiiful. Soleil was a strong heroine with the driving need to heal those in need including Ivan. Ivan was so protective as they sorted throught the misunderstandings and misinformation.
In a series this long and intricate, it has had a few downs, but this one is a winner. It was fun to catch up with the characters from the very first books in the series. I will now go back and reread Allegiance of Honor, to remember the beginnings of this amazng story.
Read: Nov 5 ★★★★★
Shelf #5 ~ 5 Nov: Ghoul(s), ghost(s), spirit(s) or poltergeist(s)DIRECT LINK(s) ~
I'm doing messy links since I only have a few minutes at home:
Ghost: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
Ghosts: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
Ghoul: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
Ghouls: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
SOS Ghost/Spirit shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...
Spirit: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
Spirits: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
Poltergeist: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
Poltergeists: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
Thanks SuzanneWow that's a lot of shelves, bound to be something interesting there
CONGRATULATIONS, Pumpkin Spice!You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'haunted/magical house'.
[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]
Good Job!! :D
Congrats on the stamp Spicy Pumpkin Books!
Completion Post - Shelf #5 - Ghoul(s), ghost(s), spirit(s) or poltergeist(s)Book:
Date Read: 11/6
Pages: 242
How it fits: tagged ghosts 1 time
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
Adam and Holly have finally finished renovating their new inn and are about to host their first guests when they discover their consultant dead in their back yard. The mystery plot seemed to take the background in this addition to the series. It was bare bones and quickly solved. I enjoyed just watching Adam and Holly work together to set up their inn and get through their first set of guests. Overall a great relaxing read for a quiet afternoon. 4 stars.
Wow deanna on the ball... I haven't even chosen a book yet. :)
Shelf #6 Urban Fantasy https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...
https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...
Suzanne wrote: "I'll read A Hard Day for a Hangover for that one. It's tagged urban-fantasy 4 times."That one doesn't come out till 6th December, unless you have an ARC?
I do have an ARC - I THINK those are ok to read?
But if not, I can definitely find something else :)
UF - I have Jane Yellowrock Final Heir - I am saving Mercy Thompson Soul Taken in case Pumpkin comes up (author P)
I checked the rules Suzanne, and ARCs aren't mentioned, so I'd say its ok as it has a page number greater than 200 and its listed as urban fantasy on the top shelves.
Thanks so much for checking on that!And nice picks Loriidae. UF is a great call for book choices - so many great series.
Completion Post - Shelf Five - Ghosts
Whispers Underground (#3 Rivers of London) Ben Aaronovitch
How it fits: Shelved as Ghosts 32 Times
Pages: 418
Review: Ben Aaronovitch has a wonderfully dry sense of humour which is almost a send up or at least a gentle dig at English policing, (admittedly my entire knowledge is from British shows such as The Bill and Line of Duty). Peter is a young constable employed by the Magic Division (three people) and is generally ridiculed or ignored by those who are “real” policemen. The world that Aaronovitch has created is quite fascinating, each of the rivers is a spirit. There is an underlayer of magic beings that are generally dismissed as imaginings by the general population.
While I really enjoy the world and the many unusual chracters, the plots have been the weakest part of the series so far. I will continue the series for the enjoyment of the writing style. 3 stars.
Read: Nov 14 ★★★✰✰
Completion Post - Shelf 4 - PNR 
Dark Queen by Faith Hunter
How it fits: Shelved as paranormal-romance 16 times (page 1 of top shelves)
Pages: 432
Date Read: 11/14
Rating: ★★★★★
Review: Wow - it finally happened. We've been building up to this confrontation with the European vamps for several books now and all the threads came together. I loved some of Jane's contributions to the plans, and alternately loved and hated all of the things that happened.
Faith Davis is so good at details, but my favorite part of these books is Jane's family that she has gathered - Eli, Alex, Edmund, etc. We meet her brother in this book too, but I haven't decided if I'll accept him yet :)
I really want to read the next book, but it won't be really soon because my emotions need to settle down a bit.
Oh Loriidae, can you change your review to "Shelf 5 - Ghosts"? I just noticed :) I finally finished my PNR book and I'm almost done listening to my Ghosts one - it'll be done today.
Completion Post - Shelf #5 - Ghosts 
Book: Slow Dance in Purgatory
Author: Amy Harmon
How it fits: Shelved as Ghosts 31 times (its also an MPG)
Pages: 232
Date Read: 11/15/2022
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
I really love how Amy Harmon tells stories so well in so many different genres.
This is the story of Johnny and Maggie - teenagers who fall in love. However, Johnny has been haunting the high school for over 50 years, and Maggie, an orphan, is the only one who can see him. The story is sweet and tender, and sometimes sad. Maggie has a great family around her now - her great-aunt Irene, and dear family friends Gus and Chad - and I thought they added a lot to the story.
Given the ages of the characters, I think this book would appeal to teenagers on up. And happily it didn't trigger any of my "I usually dislike YA buttons. "
SOS: Serious Overload of Series
Books mentioned in this topic
Whispers Underground (other topics)Slow Dance in Purgatory (other topics)
Slow Dance in Purgatory (other topics)
Dark Queen (other topics)
Dark Queen (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Ben Aaronovitch (other topics)Amy Harmon (other topics)
Amy Harmon (other topics)
Faith Hunter (other topics)
Faith Hunter (other topics)
More...
I found two listopia lists and Midnight's Daughter by Karen Chance is on both of them, so I will try that one.
Sentient Houses
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...
Magical and Mysterious Houses
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...