Drink Deep Review

Drink Deep (Chicagoland Vampires #5)

-          Chloe Neill

Publisher: Gollancz

Clouds are brewing over Cadogan House, and Merit the vampire can't tell if this is the darkness before the dawn, or the calm before the storm. With the city itself in turmoil over paranormals and the state threatening to pass a paranormal registration act, times have never been more precarious for the vampires. If only they could lay low for a bit...
Then magic rears its ugly head when Lake Michigan turns black. The mayor insists it's nothing to worry about, but Merit knows a panic is coming. She'll have to turn to friends old and new to find out who's behind this, and stop them before it's too late for both the vampires and humans.

After a long wait between books three and four, I didn’t leave it very long before picking up book five in this series (See, I can learn from my mistakes!). After the shocking ending of book four, I thought this would be the start of a very different journey for Merit, the new vampire and Sentinel of Cadogan House and while there are some changes, this is essentially more of the same as we’ve had before. Something has turned the Great Lake black and while humans are blaming the vampires, Merit is tasked with trying to figure out what it is and how to resolve it. This means she gets to visit various supernatural groups around town and asks them if they had anything to do with it. It’s not the most original investigative route but for some reason it seems to work for Merit!

There are a lot characters in this book – I really liked getting to know Joshua and watching how he and Merit interact now  - it seemed like a step in the right direction. Mallory, Merit’s best friend is stressed about her sorcesser’s exam, while the vampires within Cadogan House continue to seem some of the most human vampires in Urban Fantasy complete with movie marathon and favourite bars. There is one character that is conspicuous by his absence but is never-the-less mentioned frequently and really casts a tall shadow over the whole plot. However, I really wanted Merit accept the current situation more – which made me a little disappointed that there was some balance returned by the end (Really difficult to talk about without spoilers!). The ending seemed a little simple and there are a few long running plot elements that are mentioned and still not resolved  - I hope they aren’t dragged on too long. However, it would be a big emotional punch for Merit and I hope this vibrates around the next book!

Despite these few reservations, Chloe Neill does have a knack for creating a world that feels real – there is colour behind the descriptions and personality behind the characters (even if you don’t always like them!). I always seem to get through these books far too quickly, leaving me wanting to know how the events of one book will impact Merit and her friends going forward. These books are like sushi – tasty and filling – something you get the occasional craving for but could use a little soya sauce to be extra delicious!

Recommended for fans of Jennifer Estep and Patricia Briggs. 7.5 out of 10

Magic Dreams: Novella Review

Magic Dreams (Kate Daniels #4.5)

-          Ilona Andrews

Kindle Book

Alpha Pack leader Jim Shrapshire has always been the strong, silent type. But something has come over him--a magic force currently residing in one of the Pack's headquarters. Were-tigress Dali Harimau has always wished she could get Jim's attention--but now he needs her help. Stricken with a magic-sickness, Jim needs Dali's flair for magic. And to save him, she must challenge a powerful, dark being to a battle of wits.

This novella is set in Kate Daniel’s Atlanta but is focused on two side characters to the main story – Dali, the half blind, Vegetarian were-tiger and Jim, the former Mercenary, Alpha werecat. Dali has long had a crush on Jim and when he shows up at her house unexpectedly with a magical curse, Dali knows she will do anything, risk anything to save him.

I was always intrigued by Dali before and I really liked seeing events from her point of view – she is not a fighter, but she does have magical abilities and uses her brain to investigate what is happening to Jim. Her family are great – I loved her relationship with her mother which was full of care and exasperations of real families. I loved that most of the characters and events occur in the Asian area of Atlanta as it gives some great insight into that culture. Jim is a fighter – strong enough to hold a warrior form, but he is the one in trouble and I loved that the traditional stereotype of the damsel in distress  was reversed with the man needing to be rescued – and through the use of brains rather than force.

Overall, the story is a quick but thoroughly enjoyable – a little too quick for me and I hope Ilona and Gordon Andrews do decide to write another story about Dali and Jim!

Recommended for fans of Patricia Briggs and Kelley Armstrong. 8 out of 10

Hot Mama Review

Hot Mama (Bigtime Superheroes #2) 

-          Jennifer Estep

Kindle Books

She can melt steel – and men's hearts ... 
By day, Fiona Fine is a successful couture designer, catering to the high society players of Bigtime, New York. By night, she's Fiera, a superstrong superhero who can create and manipulate fire with her bare hands. Fiera, along with the other members of the heroic Fearless Five, make life miserable for the ubervillains who want to take over the city. 
But Fiona's personal life isn't so fine. She still misses her fiancé, who was killed by ubervillains a year ago. But men admire Fiona's smoking assets, and she decides to get back in the dating game – especially after she meets Johnny Bulluci. But this notorious playboy has plenty of secrets to go along with his sexy smile. And, with two new ubervillains in town who are intent on raising hell, Fiona's love life might just crash and burn...

Fiona Fine is the leading fashion designer in Bigtime with a hugely successful business, beautiful apartment and a short temper. She also moonlights as Fiera one of the Fearless Five, a team of superheroes helping to keep the city safe from Uber-villains with schemes of conquest and destruction. Still recovering from the death of her fiancée the year previously she decides it’s time to move on with a fling with the newly returned to the city and devilishly handsome Johnny Bulluci. However, Johnny has secrets of his own…

Hot Mama is one of those rare books which is plain fun without taking itself too seriously. The world of Bigtime has superheroes with superpowers and secret identities, massive battles that destroy buildings across the city and uber-villains who fail to kill the good guys quickly despite the heroes perchance for escaping regularly. This means you recognise the world pretty quickly and even make some simple deductions regarding heroes and villains alter-ego a long time ahead of Fiona...something which can be a little annoying but is in keeping with the world. I liked Fiona – she’s not an easy person to get to know and is pretty opinionated, but she doesn’t have any shades of grey – she works for the good guys, she misses her fiancée and she can eat whatever she wants as she literally does burn calories off with her superpower over fire. A lot of the book is description of the amount and frequency with which Fiona has to eat so this is not a book to read if you are on a diet! J

The romance between Fiona and Johnny is steamy and fun. They are physical attracted to each other from the start, and manage to build upon that foundation as they get to know each other and work together. I felt there was some slight repetition with Fiona or one of her friends saying that her fiancée Travis would have wanted her to move on and be happy. Ok, we get it – she’s been in love before! But I liked the differences between their characters and the idea that Johnny’s secret although easy for us to guess, does create some friction in their relationship they have to resolve. While the relationship was nice, I have to confess I most enjoyed the action and superhero high-jinks. Jennifer Estep has a real flair for excitement and the fight scenes are never less than entertaining – especially with the heroes and villains falling into typical roles and catchphrases. This adds an extra layer of fun for the reader although it can mean that there are no surprises or twists to the plots  either. Overall, this is exactly what you think it is from the blurb and it delivers an entertaining few hours that will leave a smile on your face.

Recommended for fans of Darynda Jones and Jaye Wells. 8 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!

So last week my book buying ended with my birthday! One of my lovely friends sent me an amazon voucher and I wasted no time picking up a few goodies!

Magic Dreams (Kate Daniels #4.5) - Ilona Andrews

Kindle Book

Alpha Pack leader Jim Shrapshire has always been the strong, silent type. But something has come over him--a magic force currently residing in one of the Pack's headquarters. Were-tigress Dali Harimau has always wished she could get Jim's attention--but now he needs her help. Stricken with a magic-sickness, Jim needs Dali's flair for magic. And to save him, she must challenge a powerful, dark being to a battle of wits.

Kate Daniels is one of my favourite series so I really wanted to get my hands on this novella - especially as Dali has always intrigued me!

Mina Wentworth and the Invisible City (The Iron Seas #1.5) - Meljean Brook

Kindle Book

After Mina is called in to investigate the murder of an aristocratic bounder, her husband Rhys—known to the world as the Iron Duke—must overcome his fear for his new bride before his need to protect her tears them apart. But when she invites him to join her at the murder scene, a search for a mysterious killing machine puts her in more danger than ever before…a danger that leads straight back to Rhys.

The Iron Duke has been one of my favourite reads in 2012 so this was another novella I wanted to get my hands on before I read Heart of Steel, which is at the top of my TBR pile!

Riveted (The Iron Seas #3) - Meljean Brook

Publisher: Berkley UK

A century after a devastating volcanic eruption forced Iceland’s inhabitants to abandon its shores, the island has become enshrouded in legend. But the truth behind the legends is mechanical, not magical—and the mystery of the island a matter of life and death for a community of women who once spilled noble blood to secure their freedom. 
Five years ago, Annika unwittingly endangered that secret, but her sister Källa took the blame and was exiled. Now Annika serves on an airship, searching for her sister and longing to return home. But that home is threatened when scientific expedition leader David Kentewess comes aboard, looking to expose Annika’s secrets. Then disaster strikes, leaving David and Annika stranded on a glacier and pursued by a madman, with their very survival depending on keeping the heat rising between them—and generating lots of steam.

And as my steampunk fascination continues I couldn't not get Riveted as soon as the book buying ban finished! :-)

So what have you picked up this week?

Oh - and today is the last day to enter my birthday giveaway - check it out here! 

Mel's Random September

Another month bites the dust! I have to confess September was going well for me until this past week which just sucked big time (more illness in the family which just has me wondering when will it get better?). Up until this week though, September was rocking with my birthday a great excuse to see all my lovely friends - and hearing from those who I don't see often enough because of distance! One of my friends even got me one of the most fantastic homemade birthday presents...

A knitted Tower Bridge!

I love it! It was a fantastic surprise and so cool!

So what impact did this have on my reading?

Books
Kitty Steals The Show (Kitty Norville #10) - Carrie Vaughn
Rome: The Eagle of the Twelfth - MC Scott (British Book Challenge)
Hard Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires # 4) - Chloe Neill (TBR Reading Pile Challenge)
Enclave (Razorland #1) - Ann Aguirre (TBR Reading Pile Challenge)

Ebooks
The City's Son - Tom Pollock (British Book Challenge)
Full Blooded - Amanda Carlson
Hanging By A Thread - Sophie Littlefield
Poltergeeks - Sean Cummings

Novella
Blooded - Amanda Carlson

Guest Reviews
With Sarah back from holiday, she was in full review mood - reading and reviewing:
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell - Susanna Clarke
Die for Me - Amy Plum
Pride (Shifters #3) - Rachel Vincent
Plus my friend Emma stopped by to review one of my favourite books:
The Knife of Never-Letting Go - Patrick Ness


As part of my blogging anniversary I asked you to interview me - and I had so questions I had to answer them over four weeks!
You Asked Me about...Blogging
You Asked Me about...Books & Authors
You Asked Me about...Me - Part 1
You Asked Me about...Me - Part 2

Regular Posts
In addition there were the usual wishlist posts, in my mailbox and Throwback Thursdays.

So updating the challenges -
British Books Challenge - 27 Read
2012 TBR Reading Pile Challenge - 31 Read

Best of the Bunch: This month my favourite read was Enclave - so thanks for pointing me towards it!

Honourable Mentions: Full Blooded & The City's Son were fun reads!

 

 What was your month like?

Early Review: Poltergeeks

Poltergeeks

-       Sean Cummings

Publisher: Strange Chemistry – To Be Published on 2^nd October

E-Arc courtesy of Netgalley and Strange Chemistry

15-year-old Julie Richardson is about to learn that being the daughter of a witch isn't all it's cracked up to be. When she and her best friend, Marcus, witness an elderly lady jettisoned out the front door of her home, it's pretty obvious to Julie there's a supernatural connection. In fact, there's a whisper of menace behind increasing levels of poltergeist activity all over town. After a large-scale paranormal assault on Julie's high school, her mother falls victim to the spell Endless Night. Now it's a race against time to find out who is responsible or Julie won't just lose her mother's soul, she'll lose her mother's life.

Julie is a teenage witch, apprenticed to her Mum, but when she and her best friend Marcus run into a Poltergeist terrorising an old woman, she finds herself involved something much bigger. Julie is a typical teenager – over confident in her abilities, keen to prove herself to her mother and figuring out what is important to her. The fact that she happens to be a witch adds an interesting twist. At its heart this is a book about relationships with Julie trying to figure out how her relationship with her Mum and her best friend is evolving.

 Poltergeeks is bags of fun – the plot is fast-paced, funny and with some genuinely exciting moments. The writing is deft with a light touch that perfectly portrays the personality of a teenage girl – hormones and school worries included. There are some great confrontations with Julie’s magic being put to the test. The fight scene in the cemetery was creepy and well placed to balance out a lot of recent info-dumping.

This is one of those books that makes you feel excited about being a reader again – flicking through the pages quickly and leaving a smile on your face. While there are emotional aspects to the story, it doesn’t overwhelm the plot or hold it back at all. It’s nice to read a book without being overwhelmed by angst and instant teenage lust. This is like a breath of fresh cleansing the cobwebs away and leaving you with a massive smile on your face.

Recommended for fans of Sabrina the Teenage Witch and 8 out of 10

Throwback Thursday #65 - Blonde Bombshell

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?

 

Blonde Bombshell - Tom Holt

The year is 2017. Lucy Pavlov is the CEO of PavSoft Industries, home of a revolutionary operating system that every computer in the world runs on. Her personal wealth is immeasurable, her intelligence is unfathomable, and she's been voted World's Most Beautiful Woman for three years running. To put it simply - she has it all. But not everything is quite right in Lucy's life. For starters, she has no memories prior to 2015. She also keeps having run-ins with a unicorn. And to make matters even worse, a bomb is hurtling through interstellar space, headed straight for Lucy - and the planet known as Earth.

 

I enjoy the occasional comic fantasy and Tom Holt is one of the best. His humour is so british and he has a great skill of turning the ordinary into magic. So when I won Blonde Bombshell last year I was really excited to see what he had come with now. 18 months later and I still don't know! I want to try this soon though...

 

Have you ready anything funny recently I should try?