SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion
Archive: Past Team Challenges
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R3 TEAM THREAD: Team #2 ~ Double Trouble [FIRST PLACE]
All BINGO CardsFantasy-Paranormal, I5 - 6/6 completed - Stamp Pending
***announced September 10 - completed September 20***
✔Heather Dragon Bound finished September 15 ★★★★★
✔Judithe Kiss of Fire finished September 16 ★★★★1/2
✔Laura Lulu Heroes at Odds finished September 20 ★★★
✔Rachel Warrior Rising finished September 15 ★★★★
✔Christina His Majesty's Dragon finished September 17 ★★★★
✔Ming Ghost Story finished September 12 ★★★★★
Read-in-2010, O4 - 4/6 completed
***announced September 17***
✔Heather The Mane Attraction finished September 18 ★★★★
✔Judithe Zombie Moon finished September 19 ★★★1/2
Laura Lulu A Reliable Wife
✔Rachel Secondhand Spirits finished September 23 ★★★★
Christina Blaze of Memory
✔Ming Bitten finished September 22 ★
First-in-Series, G3 - 0/6 completed
***announced September 24***
Heather
Judithe
Laura Lulu Legend
Rachel
Christina Viper Moon
Ming
I am cursed. I posted my "Fantasy-Paranormal" review on Tuesday evening, on my iphone while sitting at football practice. Granted, it was a sucky, poor showing of a review, but still. Did goodreads really have to decide that it wasn't worth posting? I got to the post when Judithe had finally had enough of my absenteeism, and posted an updated status post, and I thought, hmmm...that wasn't there when I posted my review the other day, but she doesn't have me as finished. So I go scanning back, and nope, no review. Ugh.
So really, the above status post, the one that says our stamp is pending for fantasy-paranormal? That's a lie. Give me five minutes to put together another review and then it will be true. :)
Well, at least I wrote a much better review this time around. :)Fantasy-Paranormal
*finished September 20* ★★★I wasn't crazy about this one. It felt like filler to me. The action wasn't as fast-paced as previous books, and I felt like the relationship between Lee & Taro was...I don't know. Underdeveloped? Lacking? Boring?
Actually, Taro felt completely two-dimensional to me in this book. I kept stopping and trying to remember the flighty, passionate, nonsense-spouting man I came to know and love in previous books, because this Taro was just a shell of his former self.
And their relationship was practically non-existent. Not one romantic scene, not a kiss or even a loving comment. Yes, their relationship felt solid, and there was no silly misunderstandings or jealousies, but they felt like a boring old married couple. I know this series is not a romance series, and I'm glad for that. But just because a book isn't a romance, that doesn't mean there can't be a romantic scene or two between two characters who are in love with each other. Am I wrong? The book is written in 1st person from Lee's POV, and she makes comments to herself all the time about how important Taro is to her, about how she loves him, about how her first priority is always to him. But she never tells HIM any of these things. Argh. It's enough to drive a reader up a wall.
I do enjoy Lee's POV, and her snarkiness and complete inability to suffer fools--her and I are kindred souls in that regard. But I do wish she would open her eyes and heart a bit to Taro. They are such completely different people, and often she has no idea of the right thing to do for him, and is often unaware that she even needs to do anything at all. She even comments at one point towards the end, something to the effect of, "And once again, I was unable to see what it was that Taro needed." Come on, girl. Try a bit.
I loved the addition of Lee's brothers, it was nice seeing Lee open up to them, and to see her finally start to learn the joys of family. And to see them embrace Taro, someone who has always yearned for a family that loved him. I hope we see much more of them.
And speaking of them, one thing I really love about this series is how homosexuality is accepted as completely normal. People just love who they love, and no one gives a shit about the genders. It's pretty awesome.
Laura Lulu wrote: "I got to the post when Judithe had finally had enough of my absenteeism, and posted an updated status post, and I thought, ..."LOL! Just worried the daunting task of tallying on top of all the other busy-ness would scare you off!
And nice review even though the book wasn't fantastic!
BTW...I'm reading
for first-in-series. Liking it so far, but it still feels a little "rough-around-the-edges"...hmmm...keep getting distracted trying to figure out what it is that just doesn't quite come together. BUT, I do like the premise, and I'm enjoying the story.
CONGRATULATIONS, Double Trouble! You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'fantasy paranormal'.
[Your new BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]
Good Job!! :D
Yay, welcome back to GR, LLL! :D Judithe, I couldn't sleep. Figured if I was able to fall asleep after 4a, I wouldn't be posting the shelf before noon. So, I went ahead and posted it a bit early. :)
Congrats on your stamp, DT!
Congrats 2xT!
I will be reading
for the first in series shelf.
Judithe wrote: "Now starting my silly experiment....I'm posting this at 8:15 a.m. plus a minute or so on 9/25. (actual posting @8:24)490 8h4m ago...9/25 12:10a.m. or so
491 4h25m ago....9/25 3:55a.m. ish....Steph...were you just getting up or going to bed?
492 4h18m ago...9/25 almost 4 a.m.
493 25m ago...9/25 7a.m. or so)
"
Now I know the answer...GR now lists my post (@8:24 a.m. on 9/25) as 4:24 p.m. on 9/24...GR's clock is NOT my clock.
So....kind of freaky, actually! 16 hours earlier, which is about West Coast time...
490 9/24, 8:08 a.m.
491 9/24, 11:06 a.m.
492 9/24 11:54 a.m.
493 9/24 3:47 p.m.
And the minutes are hard to keep track of...page refreshing necessary, LOL!
Hooray!Also finished my book...review soon!
LOL! I've stopped trying to figure out GR time stamps. It'd be nice if it pulled from the users IP address, but maybe they want to keep it GR universal - one time (theirs) for all posts. Who knows.
Yep, it's California time - where GR is based. Sorry, I could of said but I thought you'd like to finish your experiment. LOL
Lol! I always thought it was my time, but I'm CST, so I guess it's 2 hrs early for me. 7:37am on 9/26 :)
LOL...well...if they gave the answers in real time instead of "Xhour, Y min ago", I'd know when it is "safe" to call my family!
Finished
9/26 4*A bit predictable, but I really enjoyed this one. I liked the supporting characters and expect next books will be about them (Dylan, Lucy,Regina)
Read-in-2010
*finished September 26* ★★★★★What a beautiful, depressing, heartbreaking, hopeful, despairing, sensual, and all-around emotionally wrenching book.
It's a hard book to review, I don't want to give anything away. It's best to read it without knowing anything beforehand. But suffice it to say, it's a book about the hurt people do to each other, and to themselves. How the pains inflicted in childhood stay with us, and shape us into who we are. And how some can try to rise above it, and how some are content to wallow in it.
It is about having hope, against all odds, and about being utterly hopeless, when the world is your oyster.
This book moved me, it gripped my heart and I truly felt for these people, I truly hoped--even when hope seemed lost--hoped that they might get a tiny bit of happiness in their lives. Even though they weren't perfect, even though they had hurt others in the past. Because really, who hasn't?
All BINGO CardsRead-in-2010, O4 - 5/6 completed
***announced September 17***
✔Heather The Mane Attraction finished September 18 ★★★★
✔Judithe Zombie Moon finished September 19 ★★★1/2
✔Laura Lulu A Reliable Wife finished September 26 ★★★★★
✔Rachel Secondhand Spirits finished September 23 ★★★★
Christina Blaze of Memory
✔Ming Bitten finished September 22 ★
First-in-Series, G3 - 1/6 completed
***announced September 24***
Heather Eternal Rider
Judithe Wraith
Laura Lulu Legend
✔Rachel Sea Witch finished September 26 ★★★★
Christina Viper Moon
Ming
Sandra wrote: "Yep, it's California time - where GR is based. Sorry, I could of said but I thought you'd like to finish your experiment. LOL"LOL!!
Geist by Philippa Ballantine finished 9.26 (pdt)***
A pretty standard fantasy work. Nothing to really set it apart, nothing to really complain about either.
Will I read the next book in the series .. maybe.
But I am looking forward to book two in the (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, series.
Read in 2010
Blaze of Memory by Nalini Singh - ★★★★★ - 18 Sep 11
I was a little wary about reading this book because I'd noticed that some fans of the series didn't like it as much as the others. I needn't have worried because it turned out that the book really worked for me. I loved it just as much as every other book since Visions of Heat.
What made it work for me is that it focused on the Forgotten, descendants of the Psy who fled Silence. The author gave us a glimpse of their struggles and the challenges they are facing -- unusual Psy powers; re-emergence of Psy talents that haven't manifested since fleeing the Net; and the continued threat of mental meltdowns. The fact that some of the Forgotten are seriously considering the return to Silence to save a loved one is pretty significant and add to Dev's burden as head of Shine.
Since the Psy are at the heart of this series, to me it was only natural that the author present a Psy couple. Of course, neither are "normal" Psy -- Dev is one of the Forgotten and Katya was broken and remade to fulfill a mission she doesn't really remember, but she's pretty sure it's not a friendly one. I really liked this couple. Their hurdles were different from what the other couples have gone through -- and though I knew everything would work out in the end, the last part the book did get to me. The surprise wasn't so much of how it worked out, but who facilitated it.
Though they didn't have much page time, I liked seeing how the others were brought into the story. Several play important roles and they really come through for Dev and his charges.
This time I KNOW we're ready for a the stamp! :DWelcome back, Laura! :D
CONGRATULATIONS, Double Trouble! You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'read in 2010'.
[Your new BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]
Good Job!! :D
Ming wrote: "Geist by Philippa Ballantine finished 9.26 (pdt)A pretty standard fantasy work. Nothing to really set it apart, nothing to really complain about either.
Will I read the next book in the series..."
Glad to hear you're looking forward to #2 Ministry, Ming, I've got the first one tbr.
By the way how many stars did you give Geist?
Congrats 2xT!
Judithe wrote: "BTW...I'm reading for first-in-series. Liking it so far, but it still feels a little "rough-around-the-edges"...hmmm...keep getting distracted trying to figure out what i..."First-in-Series
★★★★ 9/26/11Well...maybe it's closer to 3.75 stars. After some thinking, realized it was all the pop/kid culture references that were throwing me...Sponge Bob slippers really are NOT part of my world...and I'm happy with that. So, once I realized those were the things that were throwing me, and once the author seemed to feel her characterization was established and the number of references like that decreased (or my mind just skimmed right by them without registering the annoyance), the book was enjoyable and fast paced. I had many bash-her-upside-the-head moments, but she also "pre-noted" them (ok, another annoyance...) That was one way the 1st person POV did not work so well for me.
So, what did I like? I liked the whole traveler bit. I want to know more about what being a "wraith" really means. I want to know if she ever has hot, steamy lovin' with Daniel (which means I'll be reading #2 at some point...but "sooner" rather than "soonest"). Her mom is great, too~love the unexpected things, and want to know a LOT more about dad... Lots of twists and snarky turns, too.
Our Next Shelf is: 'urban fantasy'DIRECT LINK: 'urban fantasy'
Still no winner yet! Mr. R isn't ready for the game to stop, I guess.
Happy Reading!
;-D well so far pages of books I've read, with a few scattered books by authors I don't like, or books in series I didn't care for. Ya think this one is my Genre?
I think I will read
. I have been hoping to read it the last couple of weeks, but the called shelves have not cooperated. I almost done with my 1st in series, sorry, we have soccer 6 days a week these days and have been getting ready for a party tonight at our house for my husband's 40th b-day, so it has been an especially busy week. I have about 90 pages left which should be a breeze tomorrow and I might even get through a big portion of this week's book. Tomorrow is his actual birthday and I think we are just going to hang out around the house and relax.
Game wise, this shelf help us and Teams 1 and 3.For the Urban Fantasy shelf, I'll be reading
My review of Viper Moon is forthcoming. :)
Also, I'll have limited to no internet access next weekend, so. . .I'm crossing my fingers and hoping one of the non-bingo winning shelves are called (I've got a list ;-D)
Heather - I'm looking forward to starting that series. Just have 3 more Psy books to read. :)
I'm reading
I think I'm going to read
for Urban Fantasy--it's not really UF, but I thank the 5 people who shelved it accordingly. :)
All BINGO CardsRead-in-2010 - 6/6 completed - stamp awarded!
***announced September 17 - completed September 26***
✔Heather The Mane Attraction finished September 18 ★★★★
✔Judithe Zombie Moon finished September 19 ★★★1/2
✔Laura Lulu A Reliable Wife finished September 26 ★★★★★
✔Rachel Secondhand Spirits finished September 23 ★★★★
✔Christina Blaze of Memory finished September 18 ★★★★★
✔Ming Bitten finished September 22 ★
First-in-Series - 3/6 completed
***announced September 24***
Heather Eternal Rider
✔Judithe Wraith finished September 26 ★★★★
Laura Lulu Legend
✔Rachel Sea Witch finished September 26 ★★★★
Christina Viper Moon
✔Ming Geist finished September 26 ★★★
Urban-Fantasy - 0/6 completed
***announced October 1***
Heather Archangel's Blade
Judithe The Darkest Kiss
Laura Lulu The Lies of Locke Lamora
Rachel Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand
Christina Shadow Kin
Ming
I finished
on 10/1 and give it 4*'s. I loved the Demonica series and hoped that this spin off would live up to that series and it definitely did. I loved Ares and Cara. The last book of the Demonica series sets up the premise for the Lords of Deliverance series. In this book, Cara gets possession of Ares' agimortus, if it breaks(she dies), he becomes War, if it stays in tact, he remains Ares. Humans are not meant to carry something so powerful, and only through other events is Cara able to carry it for as long as she has. Ares has to protect Cara at any cost, or he will become War and the Apocalypse will arrive. If you enjoyed Demonica, this series reads very similar and most of the characters from the first series were in this book. I can't wait for the second book, coming out next month, about the third horseman of the apocalypse, Ares' sister Limos.
Changing my book to
since I will finish this one first
Heather wrote: "I finished on 10/1 and give it 4*'s. I loved the Demonica series and hoped that this spin off would live up to that series and it definitely did. I loved Ares an..."Glad to hear we get glimpses, at least, of the Demonica crowd! I'll have to pick this up soon!
For MeSpider's Revenge
Author: Jennifer Estep
how do you get the little covers into your posts?
Hi, Ming. If you click on "add book/author" above the comment window you can pull up the cover art. Just select "cover" vs. "link".
I finished Archangel's Blade on 10/2 and give it 4*'s. I loved this book. Dmitri has always intrigued me in the other books, I knew there had to be a reason he was always behaving the way he did. To learn more about him really helped fill in the relationships of these books. Some of the aspects of his and Honor's relationship was a little difficult to buy, which is why I gave it 4*s instead if 5. For people that thought there were too many bedroom scenes in the previous books, this book seemed to have fewer than the others.
Judithe wrote: "Heather wrote: "I finished on 10/1 and give it 4*'s. I loved the Demonica series and hoped that this spin off would live up to that series and it definitely did. ..."Judithe, we see Kynan, Reaver and Arik a lot and the others here and there. I was sad when I finished Demonica so I was glad that it continues at least a little in this series.
Read
, 4* Finished 10/4Really enjoyed this one. It was hard to put down once I started to read. Really like Nicki, Joe was okay (he got better towards the end), and all the supporting characters.
1st in Series
Viper MoonLee Roland - ★★★ - 29 Sep 11
If you look at the spine of Viper Moon, you will see that the book is labeled "Urban Fantasy Romance" and that is a pretty accurate label. Like many other urban fantasy novels, it has a kick-butt heroine and first-person narration; however, the series isn't about her -- Cassandra Archer, it's about the Earth Witches. The next book will feature a different heroine, though I don't think we've seen the last of Cass, Flynn, and the rest.
I thought Cass was a very unusual urban fantasy heroine. She had a happy, normal childhood. She was raised on her parents farm and has a affinity for animals. On her eighteenth birthday, the Earth Mother asked her to become her Huntress, which she willingly accepted. Her job is to rescue children. Sometimes she's required to deal with some unsavory characters in her hunt, but she'll do what it takes to save the children.
One of the questionable people is Micheal. Instincts tell Cass to be wary of him, even when her hormones have different ideas. Michael has his own secrets and agenda. He's interested in Cass romantically, but I never got the impression that she would chose him as a lover, ever. She may care about him, but she doesn't love him.
Detective Flynn, however, is a different case entirely. Solid, dependable, decent. His younger sister is one of the two kidnapped children Cass is tasked to find. Flynn isn't too thrilled with having to rely on someone like Cass -- he's a cop and her activities are questionable at best. But one thing he can't overlook -- her success rate. He doesn't believe in the supernatural, but his mother believes in Madame Abigail (Abby the Earth Mother's High Priestess) and she sent him to Cass.
One thing that I missed was the hero's point of view. Though both of them are honest with each other, we don't see the internal struggles and doubts Flynn goes through.
There is a lot of action in this story and I really liked the world building. The series name is "Earth Witches", but it's Abby who can read auras, make charms and potions, not Cass -- she's the muscle. If you take into consideration that, back in the day, women who followed Earth goddess/mother would be labeled a witch regardless of "magic powers", then it's an accurate statement. I read the short excerpt for the next book and I'm looking forward to reading more about Madeline.
Urban-Fantasy
finished October 3 ★★★★Riley has gone through, and continues to go through, a lot. Each story has fast-paced action, and it's interesting to see the various characters as they overcome their different challenges.
In this story, some new types of vamps showed up, and wreaked havoc very close to home for Riley and her brother. Quinn also stepped back in the picture, and it was a frantic rush against time as they hunted down the bad guy.
The burning question for me is will Riley find her soulmate? And what affect will her hybrid state have in determining the final outcome. This especially keeps me coming back for more.
Our Next Shelf is: 'dragons'DIRECT LINK: 'dragons'
Busy day tomorrow, so I'm making this week's announcement early.
Still no winner! Happy Reading!
I'm so glad a packed
SOS: Serious Overload of Series
Books mentioned in this topic
Bonds of Justice (other topics)Succubus Revealed (other topics)
The Sleeping Beauty (other topics)
Last Dragon Standing (other topics)
The Mage in Black (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Nalini Singh (other topics)Deborah Cooke (other topics)
M.J. Scott (other topics)
Lee Roland (other topics)
Nalini Singh (other topics)
More...
Judithe wrote: "Hang in there, LLL!!! Hope the stuff with kids is super fun, rather than super stressful!"
Usually super fun, thankfully I love football & football season, but practice four nights a week, plus games on the weekend, means it eats up a ton of our time. I've been working 5 days a week the last 2 weeks since we have a stupid state sales tax audit. I get home at 3pm when Grace gets off the bus, then Jack gets off the bus at 4pm. We hurry and do homework and eat dinner, then leave for football practice at 5:30 and get home at 8:30. Monday nights off. Oh, and on Tuesdays, Grace has Girl Scouts from 4pm-5:30, so Tuesdays are really fun. :)
Then we have their games on either Saturday or Sunday. The games are 2 hours each, and we have to be there for two games, since Grace cheers and Mike coaches for the team younger than Jack's, and we have to be there 1.5 hours early. Or at least Coach Mike has to be there 1.5 hrs early. But Grace has to be there 1 hr. early, so usually, we all go together. So we're there for 5.5 hours. Yikes. But it doesn't feel that long, and I love it, so it's not all bad. I'll actually be a bit sad when it's over in 3 weeks.
Oh, and our homecoming game is next Sunday, and I'm on the blasted Homecoming committee, so I've had to do crap for that, and I'll have to be there the entire day for those games, so from 10am - 8pm. That will probably not be such a fun one. :) Plus, the cheerleaders have "Spirit Night" on this Wednesday, where they make signs for the boys and make the big paper thing they break through when they're running onto the field, and I have to help with that, and Friday night is our "Patriot Pride" bonfire/pep rally thingie. So a busy week around here. Again. Lol. But I'm only working 3 days, so at least there's that. :)
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