Yes, the Divine Misdemeanors preview is out. It looks to be as promising as the first book in the series. There's murder, and there's an investigation... both of which drew me to Merry Gentry in the first place. I still think the way Laurell Hamilton writes the sentences in Merry Gentry is unnatural, but that may be because she's trying to emulate 1800's speech in 21st century... although I don't get quite the same feel from say vampire books or other immortal stories. At the same time, I *still* don't get the fact why she recaps her stories by repeating the exact same line with teh exact same feel as previous books. Redundancy is... old. Although Divine Misdemeanors is better than Swallowing Darkness in the way that the entire first chapter was not a rehash of the entire series. So far.

But as most addictions, yes, I will still probably be buying the book. T_T.

... Okay, I could not deal with teh way that this book crossed over from paranormal to sci-fi. I don't know if other people find it odd, but I do not like vampires mingling with ALIENS. It's too bizarre by far. I think it's the whole, it's a different reality spectrum that had me flabbergasted. Yes, I know that this book was supposed to deal with a lot of inter... paranormal type of thing, but aliens seem like a completely different concept all together.

That and they have another book which has blood biting and trust issues. I get enough of that aggravation from the Hollows and Riley Jensen. But yes, this biting aggravation takes it a tad bit better.

On a side note, I appreciate the fact that Vayl has an island in the Philippines. Seven days in the tropics. Haha, and they flew from the Philippines to Austraila... although now that I think about it... isn't a flight from the Philippines to Australia just like 4 hours and not 12? That would be like a flight from the Philippines to the US.

Well, I finished the book because it was a Jaz Parks novel but I liked the earlier books better. Probably becuase of the alien Ufranite bias and not through any fault of the author

A new book from Rob Turman [author of the Leandros Series]. Although I am a fan of Cal, I am finding that I might not be too much into Trick of Light. I was strangely disoriented with the setting of this one, although yes, it does have Robin Goodfellow mentioned once or twice, it is a completely different place from Cal's.

There are a group of characters whom I like. Trixia whom I can't decide if she's plain psychic or just a collector of lost souls, Leo the ever present friend, Zeke and Griffin who are both the most GAY couple I've ever seen {yes, Ms. Thurman seems to write things that make male bonding look gay to me}, and even Whisper. I like the cast of characters but they seem a little too much to handle for the first book, like they came all of a sudden not a gradual introduction. And yes, I even like Solomon, even if he does remind me of Jaf. I think reading Jaf (although I honestly can't read that book ever again) has spoiled me for any other demon creature ever written. Especially when he talked about the fall.

And for some reason almost every boo in existence that has angels on them make angels out as self righteous pricks. The only Exception to that is Rachelle Mead's Georgina Kincaid series.

I am not sure what to make of the objective of the entire series. But yes, there is backstory to it, about Trixia's brother and what happened that fateful day when he no longer walks the earth, which is what motivates Trixia.

And yes, the twist in the end. I didn't guess it. It wasn't obvious, at least to me. (I always love trying to guess twists). Okay there were one or two things that were glaring, like....

( glaring spoilers )

...

and goodness.... I thought the entire Cal Leandros series was over, but roadkill is up next.

All in all I liked this book, but I'd rather read about Cal.

Quotes:
Either you're playing games and you might die because of it, or you're not playing games ----and you will die because of it.

*sigh* well, more appropriately urban fantasy is killing every other genre.

Well, I have noticed that once a person is starting to write in the Urban Fantasy genre, every other book goes on the backburner. I'm not saying it's the author's fault, becuase, hey the author is writing where the money is, or where the publisher wants her/him to write. But I am following several authors who have stopped writing traditional fantasy or even chick-lit, put it in the back burner and write urban fantasy every six months.

I am not complaining about the urban fantasy, I love the genre (when the writing is good... and it is quite easy to fuck up writing urban fantasy for someone who isn't experienced in writing fantasy in the first place), but sometimes I wish the publishers would allow a fantasy or a traditional chick lit book to be written in between all of that ass kicking chick. For example, Jim Butcher releases the Dresden files every year, but manages to sneak in a coupe of Codex Alera in between. (okay, so that's not ass kicking chick.. haha) or Moning still writes her traditional romance between writing the Fever series (although, I really am not a fan of her traditional romances, go figure).

I guess having less than 10,000 copies sold for the non-urban fantasy series weighed with a whopping more than 500,000 copies for a good urban fantasy would have an obvious winner. That said, publishers really have no choice but to buy the manscript that crunches the numbers. But still, it's sad for the other genres, especially since urban fantasy is starting to get so saturated, that most of the ideas are already flung in the open and enjoying a book depends on finding the best author to write down the good idea or the first author who wrote in the genre.

... Well, what can I say about this book? I was looking for a good chick lit read, something similar to Sophie Kinsella and better than Jane Greene and I ended up picking this book out of curiosity, because of the amnesia. (And I love amnesia stories), but then it wasn't so much an amnesia story as much as a finding yourself. It's a non-linear story about what Anna and her guy go through the entire year or so together and what she must go through after her accident.

There are three parts to the book, and lest I spoil anything (because the twist in the first part was obvious, but the twist in the second part had me slack jawed), it was a really good read. But I must say I put this book down several times becuase though the feelings were intense, and the love palpable (or maybe it WAS becuase of those things) that I had to put it down. It's a sad book, more about picking yourself up, and a strong love that endures.

There were lots of happy times in the book too, but it was an emotional roller coaster, that I'd really recommend to anybody, but am havinga difficult time re-reading again simply because of all of the sadness. It does end up on a lighter note and makes me want to search for more books byt Keyes.

One of the best chick-lit/romance I've read in a long while, if you don't mind being bruised through the reading

Hmmm... I picked this book up because I had a love-hate relationship with her previous vampire story. This one is a post-apocalyptic story with angels and faeires (yes, both belief sets if you can actually... believe it)

In the bieginning it was difficult to picture the world structure, you are suddenly thrown into a hunt between an assassin and her prey, but it all gets waded through and explained through one history lesson in one chapter... yippee. Slowly, you learn as Malachi learns about the world. Malachi is a fallen angel... who has... Fallen... accidentally. Yes, you'll get it when you read it.

I thought the writing was awkward in the beginning because of the history lesson dump, telling us all about all the worlds all at once but once you get the gist of what has happened (Apocalypse, the humans have merged the wolrd of the impossible...faeries, angels, demons etc into the real) it was easier to read.

The story is a bit simple, a bit predictable and reads a whole lot like a person was reading Romeo and Juliet. It was like one moment they're at each other's throats and the next moment in love. In lterally a blink of the eye. It's the fastest love at first sight story I've ever seen. And the politics was... straightforward, ambition, regicide. Simple.

The words are stilted, sort of like reading a really old book, unatural to read even though it's post-apocalyptic set in the future and should ahve a more modern reading. Or maybe because it was supposed to read like a fairy tale.

All in all, okay, but I wish I never started reading it.

Quotes:
Perhaps your ways are strange, not because they are ancient, but becuase they are wrong.

Yes, Apparently. :) Joined Book Mooch, and am giving away these books:



Trade your books at BookMooch.com

And have this as my Wish list. Am excited about the entire mooching prospect :)



Swap books at BookMooch.com

What the heck was I thinking when I opened a facebook account??? Now I am addicted and it's a large time draining thing. Which brings me to this post. I am DYING in vampire wars. I need minions. Minions!!!!

So... if you have a facebook account and are not adverse to joining my clan (nothing involved but clanning) Join My Clan: http://apps.facebook.com/vampiresgame/status_invite.php?from=100000216516028 there's the link... And really, have pity on me, I'm DYING

Oh my GOD! I now understand why the entire Shadow Queen was a little bit left hanging (or maybe, due to fan clamor, Shalador's Lady was born... BUT!!! I am eagerly awaiting the release of Shalador's Lady next YEAR, and am hoping that by this time next year, I would have been able to buy the book.

I also thing that Anne Bishop needed the break between the two books so that Gray could mature off reader's closely scrutinizing eyes.

I have read reviews in the past that said that they thought that Jeannelle and Daemon's story detracted from Cassidy's story, but HONESTLY, I will repeat again, I NEVER thought so. I thought that this eas Cassidy's and Gray's story BUT, I am HAPPY that I still get news of Daemon and Jeanelle because they are my one TRUE pair. haha.

I just finished my fourth re-reading of the book yes, I know, I'm addicted to re-reading urban fantasy... I think I'm on my tenth re-read of Anne Bishop's Dark Jewels trilogy... which is not urban fantasy but anyway..., breaking my book fast to review for my USMLE and not knowing what to do with myself waiting for the FINAL book. I thought the fourth book was going to be the LAST drat it

I am quite happy with the way things turn out in the book, even if I got annoyed majorly most of the time with Dani (with an i) because she is quite an annoying kid, (yes, because everyone was like that at 13) and everyone is so permissive with her (because what do you do with a kid you can't follow?).

I liked the way Mac handled things in this book. Heroines that can't seem to trust the hand that feeds them (yes, I'm not into feminism) has angered me in the past, but for some odd reason, you understand it coming from Mac. She has reasons she doesn't trust the people, and it's not because she has some convoluted issues with her self-esteem. And Mac doesn't WHINE, she does something about what's bothering her. It may be the wrong choice, but she does something about it. She also shows that she can learn from her mistakes, and she doesn't blame anybody for them. There was a point in the book where Barrons makes it clear that if Mac had reached out to him, he could have done something about what was happening to her, and the next time she fights when again faced with a similar situation, she doesn't hesitate, she asks for help.

And yes, there is plot progression in the book, more intrigue if that is possible and yes, this book makes up for the sad lack of Barrons in the third book. (Or maybe, there was a lack of Barrons in the third book, because the author knew there was going to be an abundance of him in the fourth....), and though Barrons is still mysterious, brooding, and drily witty, you see his past in this book (in sad chopped up segments, but his past nonetheless), there is something OF him than just a mentor character for this Barbie turned GI Joe. You also see that though he NEVER explains himself in ANY way, that yes, Mac has been his priority, and it doesn't turn cliche and it doesn't make you feel like you're reading an urban fantasy turned into romance. There was some romancing in it, but the dynamics of the characters don't change because of it, status quo remained, where all the romance, once done was placed in a small lead box, tied to chains and kept close with a reinforced lock. Barrons doesn't suddenly turn all soft and caring, he exhibits that in one moment and one moment only and then when the need for it stops he resumes his walls. He doesn't act tender towards Mac, and he still doesn't explain. (And unlike other characters who pretends not to explain but explains anyway in the end, Barrons sticks to it, her really doesn't BOTHER to show that his actions may mean something else in the larger spectrum of things, Mac figures it out by herself)

And Ryodan, who appears in this book, is not quite what you expect. (And if I suspect right, after the entire fever series, if Moning is still going to continue with spin-offs, Ryodan is going to be his own spin-off... with DANI... PLEASE, NOOOOO.) He doesn't care more for Mac, and just because Barrons has tasked him with caring for Mac when Barrons himself can't, he isn't permissive with her.

Maybe the most hated part about the book (besides its non-ending) is the part where everything shifts to the surreal. (Yes, i remember that I am reading an urban fantasy book). This is largely a small post-apocalyptic event. You know that the walls of Faery have gone down in the previous book, and you know everything is shot to hell, and you've survived it, and you're living it. And you either, to coin a phrase from the book, crawl or walk away from it. And yes, everything is turning from the more mundane (pre-apocalyptic) to obviously the more surreal. Because you have to see the surreal around you now, it's part of the real. But honestly the last part of the book (without giving too much away) might have been to much... surreal-ness.

( Spoils for the Dreaming )



All in all... need I say it? I am waiting in anticipation and pulling my hair out(please have pity on my hair roots) until the FINAL installment of the book.