Blood and Bullets Review

Blood and Bullets (Deacon Chalk #1)

 - James R. Tuck

Publisher: Kensington

He lives to kill monsters. He keeps his city safe. And his silver hollow-points and back-from-the-dead abilities help him take out any kind of supernatural threat. But now an immortal evil has this bad-ass bounty hunter dead in its sights. . .
Ever since a monster murdered his family, Deacon Chalk hunts any creature that preys on the innocent. So when a pretty vampire girl "hires" him to eliminate a fellow slayer, Deacon goes to warn him--and barely escapes a vampire ambush. Now he's got a way-inexperienced newbie hunter to protect and everything from bloodsuckers to cursed immortals on his trail. There's also a malevolent force controlling the living and the undead, hellbent on turning Deacon's greatest loss into the one weapon that could destroy him...

This is a complete anecdote for all those fed up of Urban Fantasy love triangles and unsure heroines. Deacon Chalk is big, determined and scary as hell – he’s as alpha as you can get without growing fur and howling at the moon. His family were attacked and killed monsters five years ago and ever since Deacon has hunted down evil and destroyed it. He has his team – all with their own reasons to fight the good fight but they mostly provide support while Deacon faces these monsters on his own. This is bloody, gory and violent – and I loved every minute of it. This is more Blade than Buffy with the good guy just as scary as the bad ones, but he has a heart and is a good catholic (even down to no meat on a Friday). The cracks into his head and thoughts are intriguing and add some real depth to what could easily be a Terminator style character.

Deacon gets things done – from start to finish this novel takes place over two nights and throughout that time Deacon never stops. He powers through. The fighting is quick, intense and very exciting, while the characters interactions are a lot of fun. Yes, Deacon has a mouth on him, but he does listen to others and the way his relationship with Larson and Tiffany changes is actually nice to watch. The writing is just like Deacon – at first glance stark and intense but with hidden depth and a promise of more to come. Reading it, I found myself completely swept up and on the edge of my seat as I wanted to know what happens next.

This is real urban fantasy with testosterone and a slight noir seasoning. The world is pretty dark with vampires the big bad, and some intriguing were-animals introduced. There is a paragraph near the beginning that is hilarious in-joke if you like vampire books and may throw you a little but overall this opts for action over comedy. If you like the new Bond films then this is a great introduction to Urban Fantasy and I for one will be looking forward to the release of Blood and Silver this summer! This is like an action film that delivers exactly what it promises on the cover – dark fun!

Recommended for fans of Harry Dresden and Rob Thurman. 8.5 out of 10

That Thing At The Zoo Review

That Thing At The Zoo (Deacon Chalk #0.5)

-       James R. Tuck

Kindle Book

Shredding monsters is his stock and trade. He sniffs them out, tracks them down, and corners them. End of story. But when the tables are turned, expect the unexpected. Knowing his enemy is a rule Deacon Chalk swears by. But he's never seen anything like whatever is leaving the Atlanta Zoo's most dangerous predators bloodless, skinned, and hanging high in the treetops. And he's only got until sunrise to keep it from turning the entire city into a slaughterhouse. Now Deacon is in zoo lockdown with a handful of staffers to save. His zookeeper backup has more guts than monster-hunting experience. And the only chance Deacon has to run this thing to holy ground is to unleash his darkest, most uncontrollable instincts

This is an enormously fast-paced, frantic, fun and entertaining read. Deacon Chalk is one hard-assed monster slayer. His family were killed by monsters five years ago and ever since he has dedicated his life to fighting the things in the dark that threaten humanity. When something starts skinning creatures at the zoo, Deacon Chalk is called in to figure out what did it and solve the issue.

Deacon is like Buffy but without the soul searching. He knows who he is and what he does. He fights hard and fast, but he thinks as well. He knows preparation is half the battle so he prepares and has a team that supports him. And once he goes in, he goes in strong and determined. While short, That Thing At The Zoo is a great appetiser for what promises to be a good anecdote to all those with Urban Fantasy fatigue. A hard hero with a trouble past, plenty of action and fantastic writing makes this a great introduction to a new series. In fact I picked up Blood and Bullets, the full length novel as soon as I finished this novella!

Recommended for fans of Jim Butcher and Faith Hunter. 7.5 out of 10

Throwback Thursdays #54 - Immortal Beloved

This is a great feature that Melissa at My World...in words and pictures has been doing for a while and I wanted to jump on board! There are plenty of books out there I desperately want...

But what about all those wonderful books that are ALREADY on my shelves?

Immortal Beloved - Cait Tiernan

Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiledrealizes something's got to change. She seeks refuge at a rehab for wayward immortals, where she meets the gorgeous, undeniably sexy Reyn, who seems inexplicably linked to her past.
Nastasya finally begins to deal with life, and even feels safe--until the night she learns that someone wants her dead.

I do like my vampires so most books with a vampire in them always catch my attention! I picked this up about a year ago and despite some positive reviews, I haven't read it. Any vampire lovers out there able to persuade me to read it...? :-)

Sins of the Demon Review

Sins of the Demon (Kara Gillian 4)
-       Diana Rowland

Publisher: Daw Fantasy

The homicide beat in Louisiana isn't just terrifying, it's demonic. Detective Kara Gilligan of the supernatural task force has the ability to summon demons to her aid, but she herself is pledged to serve a demonic lord. And now, people who've hurt Kara in the past are dropping dead for no apparent reason. To clear her name and save both the demon and human worlds, she's in a race against the clock and in a battle for her life that just may take her to hell and back

My first thought on finishing this book was ‘Oh, my god – it can’t end there! When’s the next book out?’ (yep, there is a cliff-hanger ending!) and my second thought was, ‘Why aren’t there more people raving about this series?’ Seriously, this is good Urban Fantasy with a likeable heroine who isn’t all powerful, but curious and has a unique ability. There are some yummy romantic leads as well as a strong mystery, detective element with each book. Added to which Kara is building a fun family of friends around her – everyone from her best friend Jill to her Aunt’s boyfriend, Carl to her demon roommate, Eilahn are great characters willing to work together and protect Kara. Why don’t I see more reviews of this series around? Well, the rest of the blogging community is missing out!

In this latest instalment Kara is still struggling with what she learnt in Secrets of the Demon when people she had a reason to hate start dropping dead around town. Is someone trying to ‘help’ her or frame her? Needless to say, I really enjoyed this story! Kara is feisty but has a wonderful group of people around her and I just adored the banter between them all – from Ryan attempting to get Kara to watch geek shows (which I think was Firefly!) to Jill’s light name calling all felt like real friendships and just made me relate to Kara more – even if I can’t summon demons from a nearby world!  

There are some exciting demon attack scenes and some tense scenes at Kara’s home when the police arrive to search her place – I love that Kara doesn’t have any magical abilities outside of her summoning circle – it means she can be shot, attacked and injured like anyone else. And the way in which Diana Rowland has created a unique demon race is fascinating. Honestly, this is one of my favourite UF series, an automatic must buy and I really want to find out what happens next when the last few pages change everything!

Recommended for fans of Patricia Briggs and Jim Butcher. 9 out of 10

Same Book/Different Cover - Storm Front

This is an occasional feature where I compare different covers of the same book...while usually I compare foreign edition, this particular book has be re-published so many times if I included all the copies we could be here all night! So what's the book this month?
This month I'm looking at the first book in one of the most consistently brilliant Urban Fantasy series out there - Storm Front: Book 1 in the Dresden Files. I adore this series as after a couple of  setting  the scene books it explodes into some of the best quality UF out there!
So enough gushing about the books, what do the covers look like?

US Cover

UK Original Cover

French Cover

Spanish Cover

Greek Cover

Limited Edition Cover

US Cover: This is ok, but a little bland. The storm in the background is cool  and Harry does look like he is described in the books, but I'm not really feeling it.

UK Original Cover: (Recent covers have followed the same as the US covers) This is the copy I owned and I actually like the old fashioned file style cover. It's very film noir and the blood splatter tell you that it will not be a normal book. Plus I like the tag line.

French Cover: The Polaroid of the storm over the city is beautiful and I like the detail of the photo mixed with the paperclips and magical symbols in the background.

Spanish Cover: Is Harry balding in this cover...? This reminds me of a dirty cop film somehow - very boring.

Greek Cover: Again this is how Harry is described but the brown over tones and not seeing Harry's face doesn't do it for me.

Limited Edition Cover: I have to admit this is beautiful - loads of colour, the storm, the giant scorpion and magical symbols. I do like it but it feels more graphic novel or film than book cover.

My favourite? I like the French cover best!

What do you prefer? :)

The Spirit War Review

The Spirit War (Legend of Eli Monpress #4)
-       Rachel Aaron

Publisher: Orbit (Kindle only in UK until November)

Eli Monpress is vain. He's cocky. And he's a thief.
All Eli Monpress wanted was the biggest bounty in the world. He never meant to have obligations, or friends, but master swordsman Josef Leichten and Nico, the daughter of the dead mountain, have saved Eli's life too many times to be called anything else. But, when a friend upsets your plans and ruins all your hard work, what's a thief to do
What started as a simple side trip to help a friend is rapidly turning into the most dangerous job of Eli's career, but he can't back out now, not when Josef needs him. But when you're under attack from all sides, even the world's greatest thief can find himself cornered, and it's going to take all the fast talking Eli can muster to survive the next few days

Eli is back! After what feels like a far too long a break, Eli, Josef and Nico are back, but before they can think up a new heist Josef’s bounty is raised – to more than Eli’s! Eli won’t let this stand but first they have to return to Josef’s home in order to confront his past. Meanwhile Miranda is learning some deep secrets at Shaper Mountain, and somewhere across the seas the Immortal Empress is stirring...

I have to admit I’ve missed Eli and friends. I really enjoyed the slow way in which each of their pasts and motivations has been revealed over the course of this series – answering questions but also raising more. This time Josef is the focus as we discover why he wants to become the world’s greatest swordsman and what drove to leave behind his family – and has called him home again. The Shepherdess is also more prominent as we learn a lot more about her and how the spirit world works. While Eli is as charming as usual there isn’t as much as before for him to put his charm to good use, as this time he and his friends are not skulking in the shadows but have themselves embroiled in politics at a global scale. Some of the light-heartedness has gone in exchange for full on war with the stakes much higher than ever before.

The writing is involving and drags you along – I really couldn’t stop reading at times. I loved the action and the story. I loved Miranda’s principals even as I rallied against them. I finally felt she caught up with the rest of us here as to what was going on with Eli and the spirit world. Plus Gin was a great protector as ever.

This is very fast moving with many more characters than ever before – which really rounds out the world. Even the bad guys are given time to explore their motivations. There are a lot of shades of grey – which if your hero is the greatest thief in the world is expected! A truly exciting read, with so many elements adding to a breath-taking finale. And my, what an ending! Yes, it’s a cliff-hanger! I want to read Spirit’s End now! But I have to wait to until November...*sob*

This is fantasy with a intriguing magic system, compelling characters, fast action and an element of fun. Just what I love!

Recommended for fans of Michael J Sullivan and Kristin Cashore. 9 out of 10.

My Book Haul/Showcase Sundays

I've decided to join Books, Biscuits and Tea's Showcase Sunday to share my lovely book hauls each week. Have a look back at Vicki's link up to see what everyone is up too! I actually had some time off this week so I might have gone a little mad with the shopping! Still book buying is a better obssession than many others...

The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

Publisher: Vintage Books

 The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.
True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

This looks like an interesting story and I've heard a lot of wonderful reviews so I was very pleased to win a copy from Donna and Jess at Book Passion For Life!

Tranquility's Blaze - Krista D. Ball

Publisher: Mundanian Press

“What will I do? What I do best. I’ll find him and I’ll kill him. And then I’ll kill Garran’s murderer.”
Even if the killer is my sister.
A half-breed and a female, Lady Bethany clawed her way to the ranks of the Elven Service’s top military elite. They only knew her as their champion against Magic, and not the daughter of a Goddess. She’d expected a long, rewarding life protecting those under her care. But that was before her twin sister returned from exile, addicted to brutal Magic and human sacrifice, twisted inside, and abusing ancient prophecies to overthrow their mother and destroy everything Bethany holds sacred.
The world will burn in flames and innocents will die, unless Bethany can stop it. Unless she can take the life of her own sister.

I won this from the lovely Melissa at My World...in words and pages  - I have been on a bit of a fantasy kick recently so this will fit in perfectly!

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines 2) - Richelle Mead

Publisher: RazorBill

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students--children of the wealthy and powerful--carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.

I got this for review. I was a huge fan of Vampire Academy series and I have Bloodlines in my TBR pile so I have a little while to go to catch up - but that won't be a hardship! :-)

Blackout (Newsflesh 3) - Mira Grant

Publisher: Orbit

Rise up while you can. -Georgia Mason
The year was 2014. The year we cured cancer. The year we cured the common cold. And the year the dead started to walk. The year of the Rising.
The year was 2039. The world didn't end when the zombies came, it just got worse. Georgia and Shaun Mason set out on the biggest story of their generation. The uncovered the biggest conspiracy since the Rising and realized that to tell the truth, sacrifices have to be made.
Now, the year is 2041, and the investigation that began with the election of President Ryman is much bigger than anyone had assumed. With too much left to do and not much time left to do it in, the surviving staff of After the End Times must face mad scientists, zombie bears, rogue government agencies-and if there's one thing they know is true in post-zombie America, it's this:
Things can always get worse.

Feed was one of my favourite reads of 2010 and I had to pre-order Deadline and Blackout as soon as possible! Sadly I haven't had a chance to read Deadline yet - and now Blackout is out so at least I won't have a long wait between books! :-)

Shadow Bound (Unbound 2) - Rachel Vincent

Publisher: MIRA

Kori Daniels is a shadow-walker, able to travel instantly from one shadow to another. After weeks of confinement for betraying her boss, she's ready to break free of the Tower syndicate for good. But Jake Tower has one final job for Kori, one chance to secure freedom for herself and her sister, Kenley, even if it means taking it from someone else....
The job? Recruit Ian Holt-or kill him.
Ian's ability to manipulate the dark has drawn interest from every syndicate in the world, most notably an invitation from Jake Tower. Though he has no interest in organized crime, Ian accepts the invite, because he's on a mission of his own. Ian has come to kill Tower's top Binder: Kori's little sister.  Amid the tangle of lies, an unexpected thread of truth connecting Ian and Kori comes to light. But with opposing goals, they'll have to choose between love and liberty.

Rachel Vincent is one of those authors I must buy - even if I haven't started the series yet!

The Dead (The Enemy 2) - Charlie Higson

Publisher: Puffin

A terrible disease is striking everyone over the age of fourteen. Death walks the streets.Nowhere is safe. Maxie, Blue and the rest of the Holloway crew aren't the only kids trying to escape the ferocious adults who prey on them.Jack and Ed are best friends, but their battle to stay alive tests their friendship to the limit as they go on the run with a mismatched group of...moreA terrible disease is striking everyone over the age of fourteen. Death walks the streets.Nowhere is safe. Maxie, Blue and the rest of the Holloway crew aren't the only kids trying to escape the ferocious adults who prey on them.Jack and Ed are best friends, but their battle to stay alive tests their friendship to the limit as they go on the run with a mismatched group of other kids, nerds, fighters, misfits. And one adult. Greg, a butcher, who claims he's immune to the disease. They must work together if they want to make it in this terrifying new world. But as a fresh disaster threatens to overwhelm London, they realize they won't all survive...

After loving The Enemy I was lucky enough to swap one my books for The Dead on ReaditSwapit! I think this might be a read for the All Male Genre Review in July!

A Quick Bite - Lynsey Sands

Publisher: Avon

Lissianna has been spending her centuries pining for Mr. Right, not just a quick snack, and this sexy guy she finds in her bed looks like he might be a candidate. But there's another, more pressing issue: her tendency to faint at the sight of blood . . . an especially annoying quirk for a vampire. Of course it doesn't hurt that this man has a delicious-looking neck. What kind of cold-blooded vampire woman could resist a bite of that?
Dr. Gregory Hewitt recovers from the shock of waking up in a stranger's bedroom pretty quickly—once he sees a gorgeous woman about to treat him to a wild night of passion. But is it possible for the good doctor to find true love with a vampire vixen, or will he be just a good meal? That's a question Dr. Greg might be willing to sink his teeth into . . . if he can just get Lissianna to bite.

I haven't read any Lynsay Sands books but I seem to be collecting them!

The Court Of The Air - Stephen Hunt

Publisher: HarperVoyager

When streetwise Molly Templar witnesses a brutal murder at the brothel she has recently been apprenticed to, her first instinct is to run back to the poorhouse where she grew up. But there she finds her fellow orphans butchered, and it slowly dawns on her that she was the real target of the attack. For Molly is a special little girl, and she carries a secret that marks her out for destruction by enemies of the state.

Oliver Brooks has led a sheltered existence in the backwater home of his merchant uncle. But when he is framed for his only relative's murder he is forced to flee for his life, accompanied by an agent of the mysterious Court of the Air. Chased across the country, Oliver finds himself in the company of thieves, outlaws and spies, and gradually learns more about the secret that has blighted his life.

Soon Molly and Oliver will find themselves battling a grave threat to civilization, an ancient power thought to have been quelled millennia ago. Their enemies are ruthless and myriad, but the two orphans are also aided by indomitable friends in this endlessly inventive tale full of drama, intrigue, and adventure.

This is another swap as I thought sounded interesting and a little different! Has anyone read it?

77 Shadow Street - Dean Koontz
Publisher: Random House

The Pendleton stands on the summit of Shadow Hill at the highest point of an old heartland city, a Gilded Age palace built in the late 1800s as a tycoon’s dream home. Almost from the beginning, its grandeur has been scarred by episodes of madness, suicide, mass murder, and whispers of things far worse. But since its rechristening in the 1970s as a luxury apartment building, the Pendleton has been at peace. For its fortunate residents—among them a successful songwriter and her young son, a disgraced ex-senator, a widowed attorney, and a driven money manager—the Pendleton’s magnificent quarters are a sanctuary, its dark past all but forgotten.
But now inexplicable shadows caper across walls, security cameras relay impossible images, phantom voices mutter in strange tongues, not-quite-human figures lurk in the basement, elevators plunge into unknown depths. With each passing hour, a terrifying certainty grows: Whatever drove the Pendleton’s past occupants to their unspeakable fates is at work again. Soon, all those within its boundaries will be engulfed by a dark tide from which few have escaped.

Dean Koontz is one of my favourite authors - I always enjoy the ride and it's often a nice break from my usual reads!

Secondhand Spirits - Juliet Blackwell

Publisher: Signet

 Lily Ivory is not your average witch. Her spell-casting powers tend to draw mischievous spirits while keeping normal humans at a distance. But now her vintage clothing store could give her a chance to make friends in San Francisco....
Lily hopes for a normal life when she opens Aunt Cora's Closet. With her magical knack for vintage fashion -she can sense vibrations of the past from clothing and jewelry—her store becomes a big hit. But when a client is murdered and children start disappearing from the Bay Area, Lily may be the only one who can unravel the crime. She tries to keep her identity a secret while investigating, but it's not easy—especially under the spells of sexy "mythbuster" Max Carmichael and powerful witch Aidan Rhodes. Will Lily's witchy ways be forced out of the closet?

This was another swap, but it's been a book I wanted for ages! It's looks so cute! :-)

The Gathering Dark - Leigh Bardugo
Publisher: Indigo

The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka.
Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free?
The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfil her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him. But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t she ever quite forget him?

I've heard a lot about this book recently and have definitely been feeling the fantasy vibe so I couldn't resist picking this up when I saw it!

What did you pick up this week?