Waking the Witch - Giveaway Winner Announced!
Hi everyone! As usual, I wanted to thank all of you for participating, but now we have a winner. If you posted in the comment section of the announcement thread, you were entered for a chance (or multiple chances for those following the blog multiple ways) to win. And the winner is:
noraadrienne
Please check your email, Nora! Hope you enjoy! Thank you everyone for participating and I look forward to the next giveaway, which is coming very soon so stay tuned!
Review + Giveaway: Waking the Witch (Women of the Otherworld #11) - Small town, big problems!
Review
Oh the shock. I must confess that I’d never before read a novel by Kelley Armstrong. Though I’d heard about her often and saw her books on the shelves, I just never got around to her stuff. But now I understand what I was missing.
Waking the Witch is my first foray into the Women of the Otherworld series. The central character is Savannah Levine, an orphaned but proud and skilled dark witch. She must put her abilities to the test as a Private Investigator, looking into a string of peculiar murders in the small town of Columbus, Washington. Only to the supernaturally trained eye can we see that there’s a little more than foul play involved. And it will take a member of the otherworld to catch this serial killer. But Savannah must watch her back as she makes herself a target as well as those whom she holds dear.
One of the qualities I enjoyed about this was how easy to is to become immersed in the book. I thought the balance of mystery and magic was handled well. If you removed the magic elements, it would make for a pretty fascinating mystery and suspense novel. But because I love all things paranormal, the magic makes it even more interesting. Though I hadn’t read a prior novel, it wasn’t necessary to enjoy this particular story; yet I do want to go back and read the prior novels at some point. I get OCD like that sometimes, but I really like Armstrong’s writing.
For a long time Savannah’s been carrying a torch for her friend Adam, but her feelings have gone unreciprocated. I really liked their moments as friends, and found this to be an interesting approach to build a love story. The only potential problem is that really do feel like friends to me aside from her internal monologue desiring more. I think they need a little more romantic chemistry for me to buy them as a couple, but I want to see how this is resolved.
Serving as an introduction to bigger problems, this book isn’t necessarily a cliff hanger, but the story ends making it very obvious that there is more in store for the next one. And I will certainly read it right after this.
*Review copy provided by publisher
Giveaway
I am collecting entries through June 25, 2012. I will announce the winners on Tuesday, June 26, 2012.
How to Enter (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY): My giveaways are only open to followers of Your Urban Fantasy who are 18 years of age or older. In order to enter YOU MUST COMMENT ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT POST! If you’re a new member, sign up on the right panel to follow my blog via email and/or Twitter. (Make sure you check your email to confirm your subscription. You should receive a notification immediately, so check your spam folder if you don’t see it right away). Current followers can just say so in their post and your entry will be added. Overall, there are up to 3 chances to win:
- Follow this blog via email (THIS IS REQUIRED)
- Follow me on Twitter (bonus entry)
- “Like” Your Urban Fantasy on Facebook (bonus entry)
While I do appreciate RSS subscribers, I cannot confirm your status as a follower so your entry will not count (sorry!); however, you are welcome to sign up by email and Twitter or Facebook. Good luck!
Caressed by Moonlight (Rulers of Darkness #1) - It’s not *that* dark…
Well, this rounds out the final book from my latest poll of indecisiveness. Though it came in last with your votes, it’s certainly not ranked last when it comes to my reading experience.
Victoria Kingston’s early life hasn’t been easy. Following the death and her mother and suicide of her father, it’s up to her to take care of her younger sister. With no money and choice, they are forced to move to London to stay with a resentful aunt. Giving her an impossible ultimatum to marry a random suitor by the end of the month, Victoria tries her best to find a suitable gentlemen, or she surely will lose guardianship of her sister forever.
Crossing paths with Dorian Vlakhos, playboy aristocrat and secret vampire king, she tries to resist his whiles. But she is no match, especially as Dorian places his promiscuous side in check for good. While appealing and seemingly perfect, Dorian’s secret puts Victoria and her family at risk. As the target of witches and hunters, there is an all out war between their kind and he must fight for his people. But can he keep his new beloved safe?
I enjoyed Amanda Greene’s efforts with this book. It was a very light and breezy read, even with the drama, conflict and tension. Dorian is ancient, but you’d never really know it. His personality seems to evolve with the times and he rarely has to drink blood. For me, the more blood the better, but it’s certainly not a neglected plot point. Victoria is likable enough, but I think I liked her little sister the most. She’s been through a lot of tragedy but still finds a way to be a happy and innocent child; it was sweet to see how much Victoria cared about her. That relationship resonated with me a lot, along with Dorian’s interactions with her.
The romance between the starring couple certainly doesn’t disappoint. Per the usual paranormal romance formula, it builds throughout the novel, but the teasing wasn’t very agonizing.
While it’s a period novel and the narrative is appropriate, there were times when I felt like the dialogue was too modern. I mean, how many people used the word “slut” back then? “Harlot”, maybe. “Jezebel”, sure! But I genuinely had to look up origins of the word just to check for consistency. Other words that bothered me were “pigheaded” and “Tory” (short for Victoria) to name a few. Though it was a minor quirk, it wasn’t significant enough to hamper my overall enjoyment.
While there’s nothing earth shatteringly new or original, I do recommend the book. It kept my interest fairly well and I wrapped it up in only two days. I look forward to reading the second novel, and if I wasn’t pressed for time I’d probably read it immediately. But since this book is a standalone it’s not completely necessary.
Do I love me some Alcide? I do, I do indeed!
And apparently so does People Magazine. But they can just get in line…
And did you read this?
“The 35-year-old True Blood star, who will bare all in the upcoming stripper flick Magic Mike, worked out with Hugh Jackman’s trainer Ron Matthews, who gave the actor a program of low-weight, high-rep, cardio-intensive workouts. “I didn’t want to be like one of those statuesque eighties action stars,” he told Details magazine.”
Magic Mike is OFFICIALLY on my movie list!
Human Sister by Jim Bainbridge - Not what I was expecting
I was hoping for a bit more than I got with this book. The perspective primarily focuses on Sara Jensen, a young teen girl who has lived a sheltered life, becoming an experiment of her grandfather as she is used to create an android. Though the world has been populated with thousands of these beings, this new android, Michael, grows and develops by being directly tied to her experiences. This helps humanize their kind a little more. However, the government wants to outlaw these practices and eliminate the world of all androids, believing that they pose a thread to the human race. So her family must keep the existence of their beloved Michael and their other androids a secret, going to amazing lengths to do so. But will their efforts be in vain?
To be quite honest, the beginning had a lot of promise, but it slows down for me immensely for the majority of the book. This book is classified as science fiction and that’s honestly all you get. The themes are thought provoking, but not to surprising. There is not a lot of plot progression, just pages and pages of useless detail. While the jargon wasn’t totally over my head, it’s an extremely cerebral read and you should be prepared for that. It’s so cerebral that it comes off as clinical and I honestly felt as if I was reading a text book most of the time. I really wanted more story, conflict, and drama. It gets there eventually, but I was tempted to stop reading for the majority of the book. It didn’t really feel like a climax either; it just happened.
This also reminded me at times of the film Artificial Intelligence(starring Haley Joel Osmet) with similar themes and an anti-android agenda. But I was genuinely more attached to that story.
I think the book would have been improved if it featured Michael’s POV as an android. I think it would have made more of an impact to get into his head and compare it to our own thought processes and emotions as normal humans. I would have enjoyed comparing the nuances that would give away that his kind is not quite right, but still ambitious.
I don’t see myself reading this again and I can’t really recommend it. It’s certainly strange and out there at times, but I’m sure there are other sci-fi books that accomplish this while moving the plot along at a good pace.
True Blood Premiere Tonight!
Dunno about anybody else, but I’m looking forward to a VERY nice Sunday evening. Can’t be anything but if we get a whole hour to look at exhibit A above…and Alcide ~_^.
Firelight (Darkest London #1) - Finally getting around to this review!
Thank you guys for your patience while I got around to this book. I’m finally getting back on track and I’m already well into Human Sister from my poll. Onto the review:
Kristen Callihan’s talent and skill shines through and through in Firelight, book 1 of the Darkest London series. No surprise, this book is set in late 19th century London, England. The story centers on Miranda Ellis, a beautiful young lady with the gift of fire…or is it a curse? Growing up it’s only been a struggle to try to harness her abilities. Unfortunately, one fateful night she loses control of her power and it destroys her family’s fortune. Carrying that guilt for most of her life, she is forced to marry a mysterious but feared nobleman, leading to events that neither one ever expected.
Her new husband, Lord Benjamin Archer, has secrets of his own. Some of his closest friends are turning up dead, making him look like the culprit. So now he must find the real murder before his new bride is next. Shielding his deformity behind a mask, it further adds to the ridicule he faces on a regular basis by his peers. Though regretful that he’s brought his new wife into this lifestyle, he can’t help himself as her presence ignites a passion in him that’s been long dormant. Fortunately, Miranda is no damsel in distress and may be able to help, peeling back the layers of her new husband along the way.
As a period novel, the writing style is absolutely perfect. Callihan captures the world and the characters brilliantly. There are poignant moments that really make you connect to the lead couple. They have their angst, but there is evolution along the way to embrace their cursed powers and turn it into an advantage.
It offers a blend of all genres with historical, paranormal, romance, and murder mystery elements. While this is the beginning of a series, it appears that it will work well as a standalone. When it comes to your enjoyment, it’s just a question of what you are looking for in a book. I appreciate it for what it is, but for me I would have liked a little more action at times. Considering their supernatural powers, I would have liked to have seen that put to more use throughout the book. There are some slow moments as well when I really wanted the story would move along.
The love story is well done, and I actually experienced Beauty and the Beast vibes while reading it. I was then told that this is like a retelling of that fairytale. There are some similar elements, but the work is original and deviates enough to stand on its own. Since Miranda doesn’t actually see him, they are working off of pure chemistry and it is very strong. That made it enjoyable at times, but I admit that it was killing me to wait to actually see Archer’s appearance under the mask.
I definitely don’t regret reading this book, even with the slow moments. It seems as if the next book will focus on another character or pair. I’d like to see how Callihan plans to expand this world. Overall, I do recommend the book, but it may not be as enjoyable for everyone.
Rush of Darkness (Primal Instinct #7) - It’s good if you like female vampires
Despite my best efforts and the decent writing and plot, it took me a while to get into Rhyannon Byrd’s Rush of Darkness. I mostly fault my own personal tastes. I’m more sure now than ever before that I just simply prefer it when the male love interest is the vampire. The female can be a vamp as well, but the male definitely has to be a vamp, too. Might there be something a little psychologically off with that? Probably. But that’s my story and I’m sticking to it! The Cheshire Red Reports series is pretty much the only exception for me.
That said, my personal preference shouldn’t hold anyone else back from a good read. There’s a lot of tension between Raine Spenser, a psychic vampire who was recently held prisoner for her abilities, and Seth McConnell, a capable soldier whose ultimate mission and goal is to hunt and destroy her kind. Though destined to be enemies, they find that they have a mutual adversary and must work together to defeat him. Of course tension evolved into sexual tension and then…
While the premise isn’t the most original, I thought that the read was overall engaging. Both the hero and heroine have sympathetic back stories that helped mold them into what they are. The villain is interesting too and I was glad that he received page time from his point of view. There’s a gritty feel to this book and I didn’t really sense any slow moment, which is a sign of good pacing. Their chemistry is as much as any paranormal romance fan can hope for. Byrd definitely delivers on this front.
This is the 7th book in this series, but it works well as a standalone. I hadn’t read any of the prior 6 novels, but I never felt lost. I enjoyed the author’s writing style so I am willing to try her other books, especially since I’m eager to see what she can do with male vamps.
Warrior (The Fallen #3) - The best of the series so far
It looks like Kristina Douglas has finally hit her stride in The Fallen series. Warrior is the best yet. What a difference adding more plot and featuring a better romance dynamic can make.
Raziel and Azazel have settled and found happiness with their human mates, but now it’s Michael’s turn. He’s the fiercest warrior of The Fallen, shying away from love as much as he possibly can, even to the point of only drinking blood from The Source to avoid a deeper connection to his partners. However, his practices and beliefs are challenged in this installment as he is must marry the reincarnation of Victoria Bellona, the Roman Goddess of War.
Throughout history Victoria (“Tory”) does not live past her 25th birthday, which is convenient as the prophecy states that in order for The Fallen to win against Uriel and his plans for destruction, Michael must fight with her by his side as his wife…and she must die. Knowing her fate ahead of time should make this process easy. However, as Tory and Michael grow closer they realize this is more difficult than they were expecting.
This series is not the best and it’s not my favorite, but yet I keep coming back for more. I did enjoy this book quite a bit. Tory is actually a cool heroine this time around. Who doesn’t like a character that kicks butt? It certainly ups the action factor which this series needs to add interest and excitement. I like that she is so skilled and even gives some of the angels a run for their money. All but Michael of course, though I’m not complaining because this is where I felt their chemistry was the strongest. They feel like a well-matched pair so I enjoyed seeing the relationship flourish. It has an angst factor, but I was a lot less bothered by their situation compared to Azazel and Rachel in book 2.
I also enjoyed what was going on around Michael and Tory. Characters from the past still get attention, especially Ally who has been experiencing a sickness that no one can identify. I predicted her issue early on, so I felt that it was dragged out for too long, but the possibility of Sheol evolving shows that Douglas is only getting started with this world. I look forward to what comes next. Each book is better than the last and the preview of book 4 makes me believe this trend will continue.
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