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Love or Hate @ FIRST Sight Read 2012
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June update.
Title/Author: First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones
Series: Charley Davidson
Rating: ★★★★
Read: 6/8
First-time author: Yes
To-be-continued: Yes
Review: I've heard of this series for awhile but just now got around to read it. It's definitely funny and different. I really like Charley (yes she sees dead people) and all of the characters in the book including all ghosts she hangs around with. Tho, I can't help but compare her to Kitty Katt, I like both of them. Can't wait to read the next one.
And that my friends, I'm done! Congrats to everyone who finished.Love or Hate @ FIRST Sight Read
Duration: 1 July 2011 - 30 June 2012
12/12 Completed
July:
August:
September:
October:
November:
December:
January:
February:
March:
April:
May:
June:
(Post # 453)
Also Read:
July:
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)Aug:
(4)
(5)
(2.5)Sep:
(3.5)Dec:
(4.5)Jan:
(3.5)
(5)
(4) Feb: 
(3.5)
(3.5) Mar:
(4) Apr: 
(3.5) May:
(5) 
(4) June: 
(4)
Hooray, Wan!
I'm done, too! Congrats, everyone who finished!SOS: ~ Love or Hate @ FIRST Sight Read ~
June Update: 12/12
Title/Author: Daughter of Smoke and Bone, by Laini Taylor
Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #1
Rating: ★★★★★
Read: June 22, 2012
First-time author: Yes
To-be-continued: Yes!
Review: my goodreads review
*★★★★★ (This is a review of the audiobook.) Whoa. Babe. Khristine Hvam elevated this book – which started out very much a Young Adult Paranormal – to a sophisticated, thought-provoking Fantasy with mythological and religious overtones. Her narration is Exceptional, with a capital “E.” She delivers Ms. Taylor’s lyrical prose effortlessly while infusing the voices of human, seraphim, chimaera, and other magical creatures with distinct characteristics and a variety of multicultural accents. Each has a unique voice of their own, making them come vividly to life in the author’s, imaginative, whimsical and darkly parallel worlds. I see why this won an Audie Award.
The story starts out with Karou, a seventeen-year-old multi-lingual art student who is not above a little petty revenge. She lives in the cobblestone setting of Prague, with a host of mythical creatures in a small shop. Only her little cubbyhole has portals to extra-dimensional places and a father figure raising her by the name of Brimstone!
This is a detail-rich book that has clues as to Karou’s destiny everywhere. I know I’ll be listening to this one again if only to catch them all; however, next time I think it will be as a “buddy read.” There are too many provocative discussions that could arise from this novel. For one, you think Karou is just the typical “beautiful, kick-ass” heroine found in so many YA Paranormals. (view spoiler) Of course, there is her blue hair, her hamsas**, and, well…the whole issue of her true identity being more than an errand girl to a monstrous sorcerer who has a fetish for teeth!
Then there is Akiva, an angel with fiery wings, who believes pity and mercy have been extinguished in him. Nonetheless, his skin comes alive when Karou touches him, bringing him to his knees. She’s instantly smitten, too, though her palm tattoos burn and ache in warning. After all, his mission is to close the doors to Elsewhere, so these two are on opposite sides; nevertheless, this is more than a mire Romeo and Juliette star-crossed-lover formulaic relationship. Ms. Taylor has woven an enthralling love story into a magical tale with an underlying message of hope.
Is there a cliffhanger? Yes, to say the least. I gasped at the ending. Come on September!
*I like to thank Pamela (AllHoney) for finding the above picture and posting it on our community “Doors and Windows” Pinterest Board; perfect depiction for one of the portals to Elsewhere.
**hamsas - palm-shaped tattoo with an eye in the center
Indian-fusion Hamsa Tattoo, by Jimmy Blaze
Congrats, Lisa Kay, and everyone who's done!
Woohoo! I'm done! Thanks, Judithe & Sandra, for this fun challenge. Can't believe a year has gone by.Love or Hate @ First
Duration: July 1 2011 - June 30 2012
Completed: 12/12 - Done!
✔ July: Dragon Bound, by Thea Harrison ★★★★★ PB 7/22; my GR review
✔ August: Heartbreak Creek, by Kaki Warner ★★★★½ PB 8/11; my GR review
✔ September: The Texan's Wager, by Jodi Thomas ★★★★★ PB 9/2 "buddy read"
✔ October: Murder is Binding, by Lorna Barrett ★★★½✩ PB 10/13
✔ November: The Perfect Play, by Jaci Burton ★★★½✩ PB 11/12 my GR review
✔ December: Slave to Sensation, by Nalini Singh ★★★★★ PB 12/5
✔ January: How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf, by Molly Harper ★★★★½ PB 1/1
✔ February: Kiss of Fire, by Deborah Cooke ★★★½✩ PB 2/20 “buddy read”
✔ March: You Slay Me, by Katie MacAlister ★★★★✩ OneClickDigital 3/6
✔ April: The Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner ★★★★✩ CDs 4/6
✔ May: Storm Front, by Jim Butcher ★★★★½ PB & ODA 5/1
✔ June: Daughter of Smoke and Bone, by Laini Taylor ★★★★★ audible.com 6/21
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Hooray, Lisa Kay!
Well done, Lisa Kay. I agree wholeheartedly, this was a great challenge!
I love this challenge. :) Are we going to do this again?SOS Love or Hate @ FIRST
Duration: 1 July 2011 - 30 June 2012
Finished: 11/12
July:
August:
September:
October:
November:
December: (oops)
January:
February:
March:
April:
May:
June:
Also Read:
Hooray, Suzanne!Well done Cristina :)
For those interested, just about to post next years challenge :)
June update: Angelfall by Susan Ee
Read: 6/19/2012
Rating: ★★★★✩
First time author? Yes
To-Be-Continued? Yes
Review: What a great Apocolyptic ride! Penryn is the keeper of her family in a world where angels are the bad guys and it's everyone for themselves. She is desperate to save her handicapped sister and decides that Raffe may be her only hope in leading her to the other angels. I liked how the world building reveals itself slowly and you're not choked with this alternate reality all up front trying to digest too much info. This was a pretty dark read, not a fast mover in the beginning, but ewwww what an exciting finish. Alot of new questions to be answered in the next book.
Also read:
Complete... SOS: Love or Hate @ FIRST
Duration: 1 July 2011 - 30 June 2012
Read: 12 of 12
July: Jacob (The Nightwalkers) Jacquelyn Frank 7/7/11 ★★★★✩
August: The Iron Duke (The Iron Seas by Meljean Brook 8/16/11 ★★★1/2✩
September: Mind Games (The Disillusionists Trilogy) by Carolyn Crane 9/18/11 ★★★★✩
October: Darkness Unbound (Dark Angels) 10/8/11 ★★★★✩
November: The Rest Falls Away (The Gardella Vampire Chronicles) 11/29/11 ★★★✩✩
December: Aftertime (Aftertime) 12/4/11 ★★★★✩
January: Dragon Actually (Dragon Kin) 1/2/12 ★★★★✩
February: Kiss of Fire (Dragonfire) 2/29/12 ★★★✩✩
March: The Shadow Reader (McKenzie Lewis) 3/26/12 ★★★★✩
April: Raziel (The Fallen) 4/22/12 ★★★✩✩
May: Wicked As They Come by Delilah S. Dawson (Blud) 5/14/12 ★★★1/2✩
June: Angelfall by Susan Ee (Penryn & the end of days) 6/19/2012 ★★★★✩
READ:
ALSO READ:
July
3★
3★
5★
3★ August
2 1/2★ September:
3★
3★
4★ October:
audio 3★ January:
audio re-read 4★
audio re-read 3★ March: 
3★ 
3★ 
3★ 
3★ Re-read:
5★ April: 
3★ 4★ May: 
3★ 
3★ 
3★ and audio 4★ June: 2★ 3 1/2★ 3★ 3★ 3 1/2★ 3★
Hooray, Lis!
Thanks, ladies!Congrats, Suzanne and Lis!! Well done, Christina!
Love or Hate @ FIRST Sight ReadDuration: 1 July 2011 - 30 June 2012
Read: 12/12 DONE!!
August:
August:
September:
October:
November:
December:
January:
February:
March:
April:
May:
June:
June Update
Title/Author: Preludes and Nocturnes, by Neil Gaiman
Series: Sandman Vol 1
Rating: ★★★★★
To-be-continued? YES!
Review: I was very pleasantly surprised. This is not like the comics I used to read back in the day. I loved everything about the plot. Morpheus was fascinating. The final chapter especially, when death visits, brings a lot of excellent food for thought. Will definitely be going on to volume II
Hooray, Lady Jaye!
Congrats to all the finishers!12/12 Done Yay!
July 2011:
August 2011:
September 2011:
October 2011:
November 2011:
December 2011:
January 2012:
February 2012:
March 2012:
April 2012:
May 2012:
June 2012:
Also read these first's in June...
Hooray, Valorie!
9/12July Update:
by H.L. ReasbyTitle/Author: Akhet by H.L. Reasby
Series: Sekhmet's Light
Read: 01/07
Rating: ★★★
To-Be-Continued? Yes!
Review:
I really enjoyed this book for various reasons:
anything that has to do with mythology always attracts me and the author incorporated Egyptian mythology into this story beautifully.
the action begins with the first page and keeps going!
the story kept me interested throughout and it was the right length.
I liked how Nur/Nicole knew some things instinctively while she had to work to get better at others.
Another thing I liked about this book was that it can be read as a stand alone.
Looking forward to reading the next in the series.
Lisa Kay wrote: "Congrats, Lady Jaye & Valorie!!"Thanks!
10/12August Update:
Title/Author: Banshee Charmer by Tiffany Allee
Series: From the Files of the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency
Read: 17/08
Rating: ★★★
To-Be-Continued? Maybe
Review:
Hmmm not bad for a first book. I'm hoping that the series improves. Liked reading about a female lead who was a Banshee!
SOS: Serious Overload of Series
Books mentioned in this topic
Ashfall (other topics)Fury of Fire (other topics)
Once Burned (other topics)
Darkness Falls (other topics)
Demon's Caress (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
H.L. Reasby (other topics)Delilah S. Dawson (other topics)
Susan Ee (other topics)
Susan Ee (other topics)
Susan Ee (other topics)
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(view spoiler)[