So long...

Look who is back! Can you believe it? I haven’t posted for more than a month although I’ve been busy reading lots of new books! Why? I have no idea!

Anyhow, let’s start with some not-so-exciting reads:

“Angelology” by Danielle Trussoni is a supernatural thriller. Have you read that verses in bible (Genesis 6) about Giants and Nephilims? Well, in this story we learn that they are real.

Sister Evangeline is a nun in a NYC coven. She is contacted by an academic about their archives, specifically the letters between mother superior and Mrs. Rockefeller during WWII. There starts the story about a strange, powerful and secretive race and humans who study and hunt them.

The book reads more like a serious text book than a novel. It even has footnotes. The finale is bittersweet, keeping you wanting more. All I can say is that this is very different than the usual urban fantasy I read.

“Steamed” by Katie MacAlister is a steampunk romance. Now this is a subgenre I recently got acquaintance with. So I cannot judge the steampunk-goodness of it.

The story is very simplistic. Jack a scientist and his sister Hally are in accident in so high-tech lab and find themselves in a steam powered parallel universe. Octavia Pye a zeppelin pilot finds and helps them. Of course Jack and Octavia fell in love and live happily-ever-after!

“Discord’s Apple” by Carrie Vaughn is an apocalyptic fantasy. Evie Walker returns home to take care of his father. The father has cancer and not much time to live. There are many strangers coming asking for help, looking for certain magical items which slowly shows Evie the secrets her family has guarded through time. When a powerful and devious woman is trying to cause more mayhem in the world, Evie with the help of a new friend has to do what’s best for her family and humanity in general.

There are many loose ends in this story and the plot is weak. I love Ms. Vaughn Kitty Norvill series but so far her individual stories (this one and “Voices of Dragons”) have proven not up to her werewolves’ series standard.

“Curse the Dawn” (Cassandra Palmer, Book 4) by Karen Chance was very much like a manga. All those escapes and chases and this new concept of surfing the laylines… sheesh! There wasn’t even a solid story line, too many things going on! This series is losing its plot and seriousness faster than a wicker basket loosing water.

“Trust your Vibes” Secret Tools for Six-Sensory Living by Sonia Choquette was one of those cheesy New Age-y books that tell you Mr. X did this and was successful; Ms. Y didn’t and was unhappy! Such a waste of time!

“Secrets of Powerful Women” Leading Change for a New Generation by Andrea Wong and Rosario Dawson is a collection of essays by… who else? Powerful women! Top executives, house representatives, governors, mayors… All telling you how they became successful and how they achieved their goals. Very empowering! My favorite quote from the book: “If you are demanding, you are a bitch. If you are suggesting, you are a mom. You just have to be firm and demanding but do it with more smile!"

“Wedding Girl” by Madeleine Wickham is a story of growth and learning from past mistakes and forgiveness and being true to yourself and… honestly, the book had so many life lessons in it, you couldn’t find the main plot! Such a bore!

Milly and Simon are planning their big perfect society wedding. But when Milly meets the photographer she starts to remember another wedding she has completely forgotten about: her first one! And she is still married!

“Karma Girl” Bigtime series, book 1 by Jennifer Estep. This is an urban fantasy, well, more like a superhero fantasy! A scorned journalist is trying to unmask superheroes and villains. Yeah, yeah, she falls in love, and yes; she learns a lesson!

“Almost to die for” A Vampire Princess Novel (Vampire Princess of St. Paul, Book 1) by Tate Hallaway. A teenager has to decide between her witch and vampire father. Which one to fallow, which one to live with. If we take out all the supernatural words (like witch and vampire, blood, magic, spell) this story reads like a simple uncomplicated YA, the life story of a spoiled teenager! Boys, homework, misunderstood poor girl, mean girlfriends, demanding parents… all the usual teen-y drama!

I don’t know why Ms. Hallaway tries to have supernatural characters when all of them live like normal people! Just like her Garnet Lacey series, this story has a simple story disguised as paranormal!

Ok, the worst part is done! The next few posts are about the good stuff. Keep tuned!