SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion
Archive: Past Team Challenges
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R5: Team #16 ~ Screeching Obscene Sixteen
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9... in main bingo discussion thread summarizes what shelves are going to give each team bingo.I am thinking next two shelves need to be first "urban fantasy" then "male lead" (ugh if order reversed) or "angels" and "paranormal romance" in any order for us to win.
I'm back! The wedding was very nice, very suited to my brother's and his wife's(!) personalities. I thought I'd have plenty of time to finish my ghost book I'm just the groom's sister, I thought. Surely I won't have anything to do, I thought. Well, I thought wrong. I was constantly on the go. I'm worn out. Anyway, I've got everyone's book choices for the demons shelf. I'm reading
since I just got it in the mail the other day and it's calling to me.
Demons Shelf
Last of the Demon Slayers by Angie Fox
Finished: July 23, 2012
Rating: ★★★★✩ 4 stars.
Number of pages: 320
Excellent story and another romp with favorite characters in a series I have read from book one (this is fourth in series and a complete story without irritating have-to-buy-next-book-for-resolution cliffhanger; a few well-done, brief sentences where appropriate to story flow will catch you up on plot/world/characters if read too long ago to remember or never read--but still recommend reading earlier books in series to "get" the characters and the relationships that have built versus *poof* these people are family or in love or hate each other).
I really enjoyed the read. A little hard to review because if I tell too much of the plot it will ruin the read; definitely had some surprises. In this book, Lizzie the "last demon slayer" is up against an even more powerful demon, relationships have grown (even Flappy, the dragon her dog adopted), and readers found out who her dad was (don't expect the big, weepy, tearjerker moments, not this author's style and would not be true to the characters), why/how she's the "last demon slayer," and generally Lizzie is a much more solid character (moments of being a little whining and self-doubtful in first books and pretty clueless about when to accept or ask for help). Still kickass without being all powerful. Still with the griffin, Dmitri, with more on the griffin politics. All in all, pretty much everything I would want from this story. Some truly hilarious moments. With tantalizing hints that there is plenty to come in the series! !
7/23/12 - Demon shelf
4 starsSummoning the Night by Jenn Bennett was an awesome read. I literally read the book in one day; I could not put it down. Excitement, edge of your seat action, and a few Indiana Jones-type moments made this book one of my favorite urban fantasy reads of this year.
This is a cool world. Earthbound demons (as opposed to summoned demons) live in plain sight. The humans (savages) are not aware of their demon neighbors. Earthbound demons have a “knack” or special talent. These knacks vary from healing to locating the dead to compulsion and more. Most of these Earthbound demons live around the La Sirena area and they frequent the Tambuku Tiki Bar, a Tiki lounge owned by Arcadia Bell and her business partner Kar-Yee.
One of the reasons why I enjoy this series is the lead couple: Lon Butler and Arcadia Bell. Lon and Cady are so perfect together. There is little angst between them and they make an excellent sleuthing team. Lon is an Earthbound demon with a knack as an empath. Lon makes a living as a photographer, photographing people and places all over the world. Cady is a magician who was specially bred by her crazy and now deceased parents. Cady’s powers are not fully developed yet, but she is a powerful magician, mostly self-taught. She is also learning how to use her new Moonchild powers as well.
Jupe is another reason why I love this series. Jupe is Lon’s precocious 13 year old son. Jupe is as cute as a puppy dog, intense, affectionate, adorable, and smart. Jupe is a walking encyclopedia of all movie related things. In this book, Jupe is coming into his knack and is able to manipulate people to do his bidding.
I can’t wait for the next installment of this series. More! I want more!
I so want more too. I read the series earlier this year and wondered why I did not start it sooner.....is it December yet?
I have to wait until December? Something to look forward to, when it is freezing cold outside.
It's only the short story in December...sorry.
OK, I'll be hanging onto StN till its closer to the next book then. LOL
Demon shelf
Wicked Nights by Gena Showalter
Rating: ★★★★☆
Finished 24/07
# pages: 441
Review:
I have always been a fan to the Lords of the Underworld and was really looking forward to this spin-off. Maybe it should be a more solid 4 stars but since I like most of the others books I have read by her I hope the next one will be even better.
Zacharel's army (20 about to fall angels) is unruly and some of the characters are downright interesting. Sure there is the awesome trio Xerxes, Bjorn and Thane with dark and tortured past. I wonder if they could put Paris to shame...
I don`t want to get too detailed because if you have not read the LotU...you are missing out on a lot of things. On the negative side, I was expecting Zacharel to take more time to...thaw since he was practically emotionless in Darkest Seduction. He meets Annabelle and has instantly emotions which was a bit swift. There was some good action also as a good torture scene or two on those poor demons. I always look forward to good written sex scenes but this time around seemed to have missed a few moments with little description. I felt a bit cheated.
The cover is beautiful, i think I stared at it a bit too long. The models are a pretty decent fit for the main characters.
Reading update: I am trying to get into 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover, but so far it is very put-down-able. I am going to focus on Wicked Nights. Then I will see about getting back to 50 ways, or I may pick a new book so we don't get to far behind.
50 Ways to Hex Your Lover was very uneven for me although I do see series potential (and except for in infodump on her background the ghost was just annoying). It does have its moments but I never gave a flying fig about what happened to the characters who seemed more self-involved twenty-something's than paranormals that have been around for centuries. Potential and concept is there; but, I only really enjoy books with characters I get into unless author can sustain a thrilling storyline pace throughout to where you don't have time to notice characters were not all that, LOL.
Deborah (Debbie Rice) wrote: "50 Ways to Hex Your Lover was very uneven for me although I do see series potential (and except for in infodump on her background the ghost was just annoying). It does have its moments but I never..."Deborah, you need to add date finished and your star rating for it to count for Bingo.
Deborah (Debbie Rice) wrote: "50 Ways to Hex Your Lover was very uneven for me although I do see series potential (and except for in infodump on her background the ghost was just annoying). It does have its moments but I never..."You hit my main problem right on Jazz seems more like a snotty, self-involved twenty-something's than a centuries old witch.
AH wrote: "Deborah (Debbie Rice) wrote: "50 Ways to Hex Your Lover was very uneven for me although I do see series potential (and except for in infodump on her background the ghost was just annoying). It doe..."I did on the review, I was just commenting back to Dawn's post about not getting into it. See http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9... for a double check. (sheesh, with potential 4 in a row for teams 17 and 18, I am now double checking everything anally)
LOL Poor Deborah ;)
Shelf is up at http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9... and it's urban fantasy http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/u... Urban fantasy. 4 in a row for several teams including us (I think). Overload on this one, so many just on first three pages to choose! Thinking have to rule out—to save for "male lead" shelf for our eventual win ;) these two
and
.Otherwise, I am not in the mood for teenage ya things taking place in a school but otherwise undecided. Next in series I was planning on reading (but not bought yet):
Kitty and the Silver Bullet,
Claimed By Shadow and
One Foot in the Grave. Love kitty but in a mood for meatier read and more emotional romance element (not angsty or love triangle but a bit deeper and less oooohh.just.met.destiny.soulmate style). Night huntress series first book I really liked but not sure in mood for its somewhat casual violence and potential government conspiracy. Claimed by shadow might be too gritty, too time travel-y and too off/on/angst to the love story.
Any thoughts or favorites?
Others on shelf in series I planned on starting (some even already bought):
Great!I'll go for a book that will finish a series.
by Mark Del Franco for Urban Fantasy.
Ok, I have grounded myself. I am totally not feeling any of the books for this challenge. I have read 5 books this week which is way above my average but none for this challenge. So I am hereby grounded from reading anything except the 3 books I need for this challenge. I have no where to go and nothing to do for the next two days so I should make some progress.50 Ways to Hex Your Lover I am at 40% and Jazz annoys me.
Wicked Nights I am at 35%, I feel I might be on the precipice of where background info actually turns into action.
I will be starting On the Prowl for UF soon. Since I checked it out from the library weeks ago to get the backstory I was missing and never got around to reading. It is due back Thursday so I will have to get it done this week.
Hopefully that will have me all caught up for next week when male lead is called.
Dawn (Kat N Hat) wrote: "Hopefully that will have me all caught up for next week when male lead is called. "You wish.
@Deborah,I have not read all those books but I'll give my opinion.
lots of action, tied into the Cassie Palmer world (returning characters are Louis-Cesar and Mircea)
, no romance in this one. Love discussion of Jane with Beast. Nice murder investigation.
Amazing world-building with nice tension of the Beast Lord and Daniel. Really entertaining. Her romance book (On the edge) is not as good, softer.
You either love or hate this one. Different with a functional pill popper.
@ Val, a girl can dream. @ Deborah, the only one I have read is City of Bones and I loved it. I really liked all 3 of that series. It is a sweet YA, but has lots of action and gret world building.
Valerie ~ Val Hall ~ wrote: "Great!I'll go for a book that will finish a series.
by Mark Del Franco for Urban Fantasy."Sounds like a series that might be "male lead" shelf as well if there are more of them.
It's kind of sad when you've read the almost all of first 3 pages of that huge list, isn't it?I don't know. I'm not ready to commit to a book tonight.
It could be
,
or
.I'll sleep on it. Probably be Windfall because I've read 2 steampunks in a row and need a break from that genre.
AH wrote: "It's kind of sad when you've read the almost all of first 3 pages of that huge list, isn't it?I don't know. I'm not ready to commit to a bookTi..."
Steam punk seems to be taking over!
Deborah, since you asked for recs, I wholeheartedly endorse all Val's descriptions -
loved the story but not much real romance
more a fantasy book than uf, dragged a bit, but eventually a good romance
I haven't read it but all reports I've seen have been good, but unsure of how much romance is in it. I know Judithe loves this seriesMy rec would be
I love this series
Lack of romance okay. YA angsty stuff, instant soulmate stuff, whining and agonizing over relationship stuff for most of book, abused by then in love with....these things I cannot handle. No romance or a good romance, puh-lease, with only whatever amount of sex an author can write well. Add the love-interest being complete wish fulfillment cardboard cutout to stuff cannot handle. LOL, thinking back thru some really bad reads...I will be reading Kitty. Dependable for sucking me into the read and will not be a struggle to finish. So final answer for "urban fantasy" shelf is
Kitty and the Silver Bullet
Sandra wrote: "Deborah, since you asked for recs, I wholeheartedly endorse all Val's descriptions - loved the story but not much real romance more a fantasy boo..."I'm reading Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series. I like it because it is completely different from other stuff in the urban fantasy world.
Magic Bites is the second book, I think. The first 2 in that series aren't so good. They start getting better at book 3.
Deborah (Debbie Rice) wrote: "Lack of romance okay. YA angsty stuff, instant soulmate stuff, whining and agonizing over relationship stuff for most of book, abused by then in love with....these things I cannot handle. No roma..."I always end up reading a Kitty book for one of these challenges.
Lol, never read a Kitty book yet while I do have it in my TBR pile.
Valerie ~ Val Hall ~ wrote: "Lol, never read a Kitty book yet while I do have it in my TBR pile."They're engaging. I don't think of them as gritty enough to be urban fantasy versus paranormal. Not a lot of romance, sex, or exactly HEA so not really PNR—this one she has moved in with a pack member and the relationship/romance not typical of series. Fast paced and I enjoy so have kept as a go to series to perk my reading interest back up after a bad read. No nasty buy-my-next-book cliffhangers yet. The late night talk show patter works for me...oops, not reviewing yet as have not read.
Finished; will review after breakfast.
Finally finished my ghost book
★★
07/29/12
Booorrrrriiiiinnnngggg! I didn't find any character all that engaging. It felt long, although I don't think it actually was. There was a whole side plot that had literally no point to it (her boss was cursed by (view spoiler)). It sure seemed like the evil baddie was easily defeated in the end, but maybe I'm just being super critical. Not continuing the series (see my 2nd sentence of this review for why).
Now to finish Succubus Revealed and to pick from several books (
,
,
, or
being just a few of my choices).
LOL. Poor Crystal ;)
How sad, I thought it neat that there were 3 of us reading the same book. To bad it turned out horribly. I am over half way now. reading reviews has made it even less appealing.
OK, I've decided on
for urban fantasy shelf. It's time I caught up on that series.
Urban Fantasy Shelf
Kitty and the Silver Bulletby Carrie Vaughn
Finished: July 29, 2012
Rating: ★★★✩✩ 3¼ stars.
Number of pages: 326
Love this series and the Kitty Norville character. I have read the first three books. Some love/hate/mixed things about this one. Kitty and Ben return to Denver when her mom is diagnosed with cancer. Cormac is not forgotten. Rick and vampire politics get very interesting; so do the pack politics and there is the long awaited confrontation.
Love Kitty. And no submissive, put up with abuse stuff in this book. Something she had to work on but she did pull it off. Some interesting twists, alliances, and betrayals with all the vampire, werewolf, and paranormals in what is still delightfully fresh worldbuilding.
Mixed feelings about "character development." I still have trouble with how flat her relationship with Rick comes across. They do question if they would be together without the assorted traumas. I do like that the world consists of more relationships like family and friends versus just love interest(s) and over the top villains. Even Arturo got a little more complex. But this has got to be one of the most uninteresting romances ever between Kitty and Ben; it's like a switch was hit between last book with Ben more 3D and a not always easy relationship to their now acting like a very staid married couple.
The action/politics that really take off last third of book, awesome, fantastic, and cannot say too much without spoilers. Very satisfying. The amount of time spent realistically on mom's cancer and other health scares....well written but absolutely not what should be in a series I read for escapism. Great that Kitty cares about her mom, cancer a scary evil and I have all the sympathy in the world but took up way too much of book and made this my least favorite in series. And the flat romance that had them questioning if love or circumstance put them together, well, not sure book had right resolution. Spoiler (well if you have not read blurb or title of next book in series it's a spoiler) (view spoiler).
I am continuing the series; but, sincerely hope author lets Kitty's character and her paranormal world take center stage versus letting bulk of book be suited to a Lifetime channel movie. Escapism and fantasy; not women's fiction.
AH wrote: "OK, I've decided on for urban fantasy shelf. It's time I caught up on that series."You know...there's a reading challenge for that. ;)
Thanks. I'm just so bad at updating the challenges once I am done.
That's why you need to make your own group or thread and update it as you go. You post when you have enough material.
Urban Fantasy shelf
Undone Deeds by Mark Del Franco
Rating: ★★★★★
Finished 29/07
# pages: 336
Review:
I will miss Connor Grey. In many respect I loved this character with his flaws, this bitter man but with supporting friends that actually helped him. This book ties the series together with deeds left undone and actions that should have taken place. We finally know what is Connor Grey. There were a few things that I was not satisfied execution-wise but it is the hallmark of the series to tie the loose ends late.
Urban Fantasy shelf - Finished 7/30 - 4 stars
Wow. Another great installment in Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series. Jo is no longer working for the Weather Wardens, instead she works at a local Fort Lauderdale television station as a weather girl - or straight man to the meteorologist's cheesy jokes. Her sister pops in to stay after a messy breakup with her French husband. And David...he's changed the most. I loved how the author breaks up the very long chapters with interludes depicting the build up of a very large storm. The storm is personified and is out to wreak havoc and cause damage. A great series and I can't wait to read the next book Firestorm.
Another series I should try sometimes since it has so many good reviews.
Valerie ~ Val Hall ~ wrote: "Another series I should try sometimes since it has so many good reviews."The bonus is - it's a finished series. No waiting for the next installment. If you don't mind mismatched books, BD had a bunch of the books on sale for under $5 for a while.
I shudder to think how many series I have already started. It's in the hundreds for sure and I need some serious catch-up.
Valerie ~ Val Hall ~ wrote: "I shudder to think how many series I have already started. It's in the hundreds for sure and I need some serious catch-up."Oh me too. I'm a chronic series sampler. This year, I plan to finish Weather Wardens, catch up on The World of the Lupi, and catch up on Psy/Changelings and maybe read an Ally Beckstrom or two.
If
next week's shelf is male lead, we have a change of winning....that is if we manage to have stamps for ghost and urban fantasy before that. We would go head to head with team 17....and they seem to read fast since they are up-to-date.
SOS: Serious Overload of Series
Books mentioned in this topic
At Grave's End (other topics)The Beast in Him (other topics)
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (other topics)
Smokeless Fire (other topics)
Frostbite (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Ilona Andrews (other topics)Richelle Mead (other topics)
Richelle Mead (other topics)
Darynda Jones (other topics)
Meg Cabot (other topics)
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Oh well, I think I will be reading my freshly autographed copy of Last of the Demon Slayers by Angie Fox
[image error].
Angie Fox seated bottom right, seated top is Richard Kadrey. Gut sticking out on the lady with sucky posture...not sure I want to admit to.
Double-checked, on page 14 towards middle of announced shelf link. 8 people shelved, 322 pages.