Saturday, April 26, 2014

Shifter's Wolf : “Masques” and “Wolfsbane”

 “Shifter's Wolf” by Patricia Briggs includes two books, previously published separately. I’d enjoyed the “Masques” and “Wolfsbane” so much that I kept rereading them. When the books came out in one volume, I was glad I’ve waited and hadn’t purchased each individual book. 
 
In “Masques”, we meet Aralorn and then Wolf and see how their friendship forms. The perils they go through and how they come to know each other, become comrades and finally lovers. Although this story is more about Wolf and his background. The next book is all about Aralorn.

Wolfsbane” by Patricia Briggs is the second book of Aralorn series. Aralorn receives the news of her father’s death and hurries home after ten years to say goodbye. Her companion and lover is coming with her in his “Wolf” persona. Once there they find out that Father is not dead but simply under a deathly spell, a trap. We get to meet Aralorn family including some of her shapeshifting relatives and learn why she left home all those years ago.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Dare I say…

I’m back?

I thought I’ve given up on this weblog. Not only I haven’t done any individual book review for a couple of years but also didn’t get to post new Book Waiting Lists or yearly Reading Lists in the last year and half either. All I can say in my defense is that I dedicated my writing energy to more academic projects. That doesn’t mean I wasn’t reading my favorite genres, only that I wasn’t in the mood to, too lazy to writing about them.
I’m sorry to say I wasn't feeling bad about the lack of posts for the last couple of years until…. A few days ago when I started to look for a book I liked and read last year and couldn’t remember neither the title nor the author. That felt pretty bad, let me confess! So yes, I am back to posting. I probably won’t be able to post reviews on all the books I’ve read these past couple of years, but I will post a few lists. Reviews will be on series I’m still following and if there is time I will review newly read books from now on.

Let’s hope for the best and happy reading!

Monday, July 29, 2013

New books to look for:

I've neglected to put together a new list which has caused problems when I'm looking for the latest from my favorite authors. So let's see what is out when!

Antiagon Fire (Imager Portfolio) by L. E. Jr. Modesitt (May 28, 2013)
 Spartan Frost (Mythos Academy) by Jennifer Estep (Jun 25, 2013)
Kiss of Venom by Jennifer Estep (Jul 22, 2013)
Midnight Frost (The Mythos Academy) by Jennifer Estep (Jul 30, 2013) 
Kitty in the Underworld (Kitty Norville) by Carrie Vaughn (Jul 30, 2013)
The Passion of the Purple Plumeria: A Pink Carnation Novel by Lauren Willig (Aug 6, 2013) 
Heirs and Graces (A Royal Spyness Mystery) by Rhys Bowen (Aug 6, 2013)
Omens by Kelley Armstrong (Aug 20, 2013) 
Heart of Venom (Elemental Assassin) by Jennifer Estep (Aug 27, 2013) 
Final Catcall: A Magical Cats Mystery by Sofie Kelly (Oct 1, 2013)
Curtsies & Conspiracies (Finishing School) by Gail Carriger (Nov 5, 2013)
Soulless: The Manga, Vol. 3 (The Parasol Protectorate (Manga)) by Gail Carriger (Nov 19, 2013)
The Spider by Jennifer Estep (Dec 24, 2013)
The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches: A Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley (Jan 14, 2014)

Rex Regis (Imager Portfolio) by L. E. Modesitt (Jan 7, 2014)
The Face in the Mirror: A Molly Murphy Story (Molly Murphy Mysteries) by Rhys Bowen (Feb 5, 2013) 
The Undead Pool by Kim Harrison (Feb 25, 2014)
Night Broken (A Mercy Thompson Novel) by Patricia Briggs (Mar 4, 2014)

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Book waiting list 2012-2013:

The Woman Who Died A Lot: A Thursday Next Novel by Jasper Fforde (Oct 16, 2012)
The General's Mistress by Jo Graham (Oct 23, 2012)
The Twelve Clues of Christmas (A Royal Spyness Mystery) by Rhys Bowen (Hardcover - Nov 6, 2012)
 

Soulless: The Manga, Vol. 2 (The Parasol Protectorate (Manga)) by Gail Carriger (Nov 27,  2012) 

Cold Days: A Novel of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher (Nov 27, 2012)
Crimson Frost (Mythos Academy) by Jennifer Estep (Dec 24, 2012)
 
Shifter's Wolf by Patricia Briggs (Dec 31, 2012)
Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti: A Magical Bakery Mystery by Bailey Cates (Dec 31, 2012)
Ever After by Kim Harrison (Hardcover - Jan 22, 2013)

Imager's Battalion (Imager Portfolio) by L. E. Modesitt Jr. (Jan 22, 2013)
Speaking From Among the Bones: A Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley (Hardcover - Feb 5, 2013)
Etiquette and Espionage (Finishing School) by Gail Carriger (Feb 5, 2013) 
 

Cat Trick: A Magical Cats Mystery by Sofie Kelly (Feb 5, 2013)
House Rules: A Chicagoland Vampires Novel by Chloe Neill (Feb 5, 2013)
Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson) by Patricia Briggs (Mar 5, 2013)

Kitty Rocks the House (Kitty Norville) by Carrie Vaughn ( March 26, 2013)

 Deadly Sting (Elemental Assassin) by Jennifer Estep (Mar 26, 2013)

The Ashford Affair by Lauren Willig (Hardcover - Apr 2, 2013) 
The Good, the Bad and the Witchy: A Wishcraft Mystery by Heather Blake (Apr 2, 2013)
 

The Rising (Darkness Rising) by Kelley Armstrong (Apr 9, 2013) 

Thursday, February 16, 2012

"Shadow Heir'

Finished the “Shadow Heir(Dark Swan, book 4) by Richelle Mead last week. It was an absolute disappointment. Apparently the author got bored with her story and had a change of heart therefore, changed and rewrote the whole story in the last book!

Oh, babies are bad… no they are not! The boy child is the heir… no, he is not… Kiyo is the father… ummm… Eugene wants to go back to mortal world… no, she doesn’t…

What the heck, Ms. Mead?

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Kiss of Frost

I just finished the second novel of Mythos Academy, a Young adult series by Jennifer Estep.

The series start with a little novella in e-book format: First Frost”, where we are introduced to Gwen Frost, a girl with gypsy magic of Touch.

After a family tragedy, Gwen ends up in Mythos Academy, where magic is everyday occurrence and the students are all warriors, descendent from ancient races and heroes.

In “Touch of Frost”, Gwen is getting the hang of her new school, making some friends and enemies and finding a magic sword and all sort of truth about herself, life and her family history.

In Kiss of Frost”, Mythos students go on a sky holiday which for Gwen it means getting attacked over and over again. Yeah, apparently someone wants to kill her. Will it interfere with her new romance? We’ll see!

I can’t wait for the third book, “Dark Frost”.

Monday, January 2, 2012

The 2012 Waiting List:

Find:
Darkest Powers Bonus Pack by Kelley Armstrong (Kindle Edition - Nov 14, 2011) - Kindle eBook
Werewolf in Greenwich Village: A Wild About You Novevlla (An eSpecial from New American Library by Vicki Lewis Thompson (Sep 6, 2011) - Kindle eBook
Charmfall (Dark Elite, Book 3) by Chloe Neill (Jan 3, 2012)
 Thread of Death by Jennifer Estep (Kindle Edition - Jan 31, 2012) - Kindle eBook
Hunting Kat by Kelley Armstrong (Kindle Edition - Mar 6, 2012) - Kindle eBook
The Calling (Darkness Rising, book 2) by Kelley Armstrong (Hardcover - Apr 10, 2012)
Blood Work: An Original Hollows Graphic Novel by Kim Harrison, Pedro Maia and Gemma Magno (Hardcover - Jul 12, 2011)
Two L by Lauren Willig (Aug 28, 2011)
Blood Crime (Graphic Novel) by Kim Harrison and Gemma Magno (Hardcover - Oct 30, 2012) 
Perfectly Matched: A Lucy Valentine Novel (Volume 4) by Heather Webber (May 15, 2012)


Have finished:
The Master of Heathcrest Hall by Galen Beckett (Mar 27, 2012)

Waiting for:
Widow's Web by Jennifer Estep (Mass Market Paperback - Aug 21, 2012)
A Witch Before Dying: A Wishcraft Mystery by Heather Blake (Mass Market Paperback - Aug 7, 2012)
Werewolf in Denver: A Wild About You Novel by Vicki Lewis Thompson (Oct 2, 2012)
Into the Woods: Tales from the Hollows and Beyond by Kim Harrison (Hardcover - Oct 9, 2012)
The Woman Who Died A Lot: A Thursday Next Novel by Jasper Fforde (Oct 16, 2012)
The General's Mistress by Jo Graham (Oct 23, 2012)
The Twelve Clues of Christmas (A Royal Spyness Mystery) by Rhys Bowen (Hardcover - Nov 6, 2012)
Soulless: The Manga, Vol. 2 (The Parasol Protectorate (Manga)) by Gail Carriger (Nov 27, 
 2012)
Shifter's Wolf by Patricia Briggs (Dec 31, 2012)
Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti: A Magical Bakery Mystery by Bailey Cates (Dec 31, 2012)
Ever After by Kim Harrison (Hardcover - Jan 22, 2013)
Speaking From Among the Bones: A Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley (Hardcover - Feb 5, 2013)
Etiquette and Espionage (Finishing School) by Gail Carriger (Feb 5, 2013)  
House Rules: A Chicagoland Vampires Novel by Chloe Neill (Feb 5, 2013)
Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson) by Patricia Briggs (Mar 5, 2013)
The Ashford Affair by Lauren Willig (Hardcover - Apr 2, 2013) 
The Good, the Bad and the Witchy: A Wishcraft Mystery by Heather Blake (Apr 2, 2013)

Saturday, December 31, 2011

2011 new titles

I’ve been waiting for a miracle and some free time to sit down and write reviews on all the books I read in 2011. That however didn’t happen! So here is a quick list (for the sake of record keeping) and a quicker grading system and commentary. In no particular order, I give you:

-“Inheritance” (Inheritance Cycle, Book 4) by Christopher Paolini. Grade: 2/5, weaker than the first couple of books of the series.

-Blue Bloods series, by Melissa de la Cruz including: 1-“Blue Bloods”, 2-“Masquerade”, 3-“Revelations”, 4-“The Van Alen Legacy” , 5-“Misguided Angel” , 6-“Lost In Time” and the two complementary books: “Bloody Valentine and “Keys to the Repository . Grade: 2.5/5, Gossip Girl gone vampire, totally mushy teenage love!

-Witches of East End” (The Beauchamp Family) by Melissa de la Cruz. Grade: 3/5, new series involving Northern Gods and Valkeries.

-The Soul Mirror” A Novel of the Collegia Magica by Carol Berg. Grade 4/5, a little dark!

-“River Marked” (Mercy Thompson, Book 6) by Patricia Briggs. Grade 10/5, Mercy gets married and learn about her father and his people!

-“Shot Through Velvet” A Crime of Fashion Mystery by Ellen Byerrum. Grade 2/5, this series is dragging on and on and getting more boring.

-“Blackveil” (Green Rider) by Kristen Britain. Grade 6/5, dark and saad and full of heartache with a very uncertain ending. Wish Ms. Britain would hurry and write the next one!

-“Absolutely, Positively” A Lucy Valentine Novel by Heather Webber. Grade 1/5, happy reading and happy ending!

-“Iron Crowned
(Dark Swan, Book 3) by Richelle Mead. Grade 2/5, a hurried story, rushed and illogical!

-“Pale Demon” and “The Hollows Insider: New fiction, facts, maps, murders, and more in the world of Rachel Morgan” by Kim Harrison. Grade 10/5, Rachel Morgan is getting better and better!

-“A Red Herring Without Mustard” and “I Am Half-Sick of Shadows”, the Flavia de Luce Mysteries by Alan Bradley. Grade 10/5, I am still so in love with Flavia!

-“One of Our Thursdays Is Missing” by Jasper Fforde. Grade 4.5/5.

-“Bless the Bride” and "The Amersham Rubies" (Molly Murphy Mysteries) by Rhys Bowen. Grade 5/5. So good, but if it was me, I won’t have married Daniel!

-“Tangled Threads” and “Spider's Revenge (Elemental Assassin, Book 4 and Book 5) by Jennifer Estep. Grade 10/5 for both. I adore Gin, her royalty and her cruelty!

-“ First Frost” and “Touch of Frost” (Mythos Academy) by Jennifer Estep First Frost is a Kindle eBook. Grade 5/5 for both. The start of very promising series.

-“The Gathering” (Darkness Rising, Book 1) by Kelley Armstrong. Grade 5/5, can’t wait for the second book.

-“Dead Reckoning” (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 11) by Charlaine Harris. Grade 3/5, Sookie wasn’t acting like herself. I think the series has started to bore the author!

-“Lord Langley Is Back in Town” by Elizabeth Boyle. Grade 1/5.

-“Kiss of Snow” (Psy/Changeling) by Nalini Singh. Grade 3/5

-“Hunt the Moon” A Cassie Palmer Novel by Karen Chance. Grade 0/5, the series is not worth following anymore!

-“Kitty's Big Trouble” (Kitty Norville, Book 9) and “Kitty's Greatest Hits” (a collection of stories) by Carrie Vaughn. Grade 10/5. Can’t wait for the next one!

-“Hexes and Hemlines” A Witchcraft Mystery by Juliet Blackwell. Grade 1/5. Losing its appeal!

-“Heartless” (The Parasol Protectorate) by Gail Carriger. Grade 10/5, love love love!

-"Marine Biology" by Gail Carriger. Grade 3/5. romance!

-“Ghost Story” (Dresden Files, No. 13) by Jim Butcher. Grade 4.5/5. A little repeatetive, hope next one is better!

- “Waking the Witch” and Spell Bound(Women of the Otherworld, Book 11 and 12) by Kelley Armstrong. Grade 4/5, unfinished ending, aww!

-“The Tale of Castle Cottage(The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter) by Susan Wittig Albert. Grade 5/5, so sad the series ended, I loved the Land between the Lakes!

-“Succubus Revealed”(Georgina Kincaid, Book 6) by Richelle Mead. Grade 2/5, disappointing and rushed!

-“ The Magicians and Mrs. Quent” and “The House on Durrow Streetby Galen Beckett. Grade 5/5, new series, a little Victorian and little magic and little space adventure!

- “Heist Society” and “Uncommon Criminals” (Books 1 and 2 of Heist Society series) by Ally Carter. Grade 5/5, fun and exaggerated, total teen fantasy!

-“The Nonesuch”, “False Colours", “My Lord John”, “Powder and Patchby Georgette Heyer. Grades 2.5/5 for all. What can I say, I went through a Heyer phase!

-“ Wicked Appetiteby Janet Evanovich. Grade 1/5.

-“ The Iron Duke” (A Novel of the Iron Seas) by Meljean Brook. Grade 2/5, steampunk!

-“ Lady-Protector”The Eighth Book of the Corean Chronicles by L. E. Modesitt Jr. Grade 4/5, I should read the hwole series!

-“The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoiseby Julia Stuart. Grade 1/5, slow and boring!

-“ Masques” and Wolfsbane”by Patricia Briggs. Grade 5/5 for both. As good as Mercy’s series. Wish Ms. Briggs would continue the series.

-Undead and Unfinished” (Queen Betsy) and “Wolf at the Doorby MaryJanice Davidson. Grade 1/5 for both. I’m not reading anything else from MaryJanice Davidson, seriously, enough is enough!

-“The Astronomer”A Novel of Suspense by Lawrence Goldstone. Grade ?. Honestly I can’t remember!

-“Roast Mortem" (Coffee House Mystery) by Cleo Coyle. Grade 0/5, very cheesy!

-The Bohemian Girl” by Kenneth Cameron. Grade 2.5/5, dark mystery!

-“An Unforgettable Ladyby J. R. Ward. Grade 0.5/5

-“Lunch in Paris” A Love Story, with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard. Grade 1/5, great start, could have been better!

-“Strange Brewby P. N. Elrod. Grade 4/5, anthology, all great stories!

-“I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You”, Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy”,Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover” , “Only the Good Spy Young(Gallagher Girls series) by Ally Carter. Grade 2.5/5 for all, YA fun!

-“Whose Body?”, “Murder Must Advertise”, “Five Red Herrings” , “Strong Poison” and “The Documents in the Case” (Lord Peter Whimsey Mysteries) by Dorothy L. Sayers. Grade 1/5, slow old-fashion mysteries!

-“Lover Unleashed” A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood by J. R. Ward. Grade 0/5, why am I reading this BS?!

-“Death's Excellent Vacation” by Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner. Grade 4/5 average, anthology, some stories are very interesting!

-The Lady Most Likely...”A Novel in Three Parts by Julia Quinn, Eloisa James and Connie Brockway. Grade 4/5, nice romance!

-“Dead in the Water”, “A Mourning Wedding and “Requiem for a Mezzo” (Daisy Dalrymple Mysteries) by Carola Dunn. Grade 1.5/5, old fashion mysteries!

-“ Home Improvement: Undead Editionby Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner. Grade 4/5, mostly. Anthology, many of the stories are great!

-“ Very Classy: Even More Exceptional Advice for the Extremely Modern Lady” by Derek Blasberg. Grade 4/5, worth reading!

-“How to be Lovely: The Audrey Hepburn Way of Lifeby Melissa Hellstern. Grade 5/5, love Audrey!

-“Canyons of Night” and “Midnight Crystalby Jayne Castle. Grade 4/5, I love Harmony!

-“Curiosity Thrilled the Cat” and “Sleight of Paw” Magical Cats Mysteries by Sofie Kelly. Grade 2/5, nice slow mysteries!

-“A Werewolf in Manhattan” and “Werewolf in the North Woods” (A Wild About You Novel ) by Vicki Lewis Thompson. Grade 1/5, fun romance!

Well, these may not be all the new books I read in 2011 but all that I could remember!

In addition to those books that I reviewed in previous posts, I ended the year with a sum total of 134 give or take a few! Not bad for an awfully busy year!