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Uprising by Scott G Mariani

July 18th, 2010 Lisa
Uprising (Vampire Federation)

Blurb

For centuries, vampires walked the earth undetected, feasting on humans in keeping with their ancient traditions, but now 21st century technology has left them open to detection . . .

To establish order, the Vampire Federation is born, policed by special agents like vampire Alexandra Bishop, authorised to hunt down those who violate the new code.

But rebel vampire Gabriel Stone doesn’t play by the rules and declares war against the Federation, throwing Alex and her team into turmoil.

Oblivious to the chaos in the vampire world, human Detective Inspector Joel Solomon is drawn into an unlikely alliance with Alex when he investigates a series gruesome corpses drained of their blood.

Together they are plunged into a war of good versus evil, taking them from the streets of London to the mountains of Transylvania in a battle that threatens to destroy them all. ..

I have to point out before reviewing this book that I have a huge love of vampires, the vampire mythology and most (but not all) vampire films/books.  I also love the urban fantasy genre, where I find most books seem to be written by women, which seems to lead to a big focus on the romance side of things in the main part.

Uprising by Scott Mariani upon first reading the blurb sounds like it’s going to be the atypical urban fantasy novel but from the first page it becomes obvious it’s not.  With Scott’s novel, vampires have rediscovered their bite.  They’re not dwelling in forlorn despair over a lost love or a passion that shouldn’t be.  They are dangerous, deadly and vicious.

Scott has developed an intricate tale, bringing vampires into the 21st century without removing their fangs in the process.  Humans are viewed as a foodsource, not as something to be lusted after and the two groups of vampires we are introduced to hold this in common even though they have developed two completely separate ways of continuing their existence.

This story is not a book that lovers of Twilight and vampires that sparkle will enjoy as it makes no bones about the fact that beneath the veneer vampires are not human and do not see things in the same way, although Scott does add an element of romance, but even that comes with an added twist.

If you enjoy a book with bite (excuse the pun) then settle yourself in for an excellent read with characters that jump off the pages and a social system that has been well-developed and thought out with a lot of interesting twists.

Not only has Scott given bite back to the vampire genre, he’s also made an interesting twist on the case of a cross being deadly to vampires.  I’m not going to ruin the story by going into detail, but I will say it’s very well done and definitely worth picking up a copy of Uprising to read.

I’m looking forward to reading the second book in the series!


Book Details:-

  • Paperback: 480 pages
  • Publisher: Avon (10 Jun 2010)
  • ISBN-10: 1847562124
  • ISBN-13: 978-1847562128
  • Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 12.6 x 4 cm

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Urban Fantasy Authors

June 15th, 2010 Lisa

Urban Fantasy is a subgenre of Fantasy, where the stories are based in contemporary real-world urban settings instead of traditional fantasy settings of mythical cities/worlds/lands. Below is a list of authors who are popular in this genre.

Cat Adams

C.T. Adams

Ilona Andrews

Jennifer Armintrout

Kelley Armstrong

Keri Arthur

Jenna Black

Francesca Lia Block

Patricia Briggs

Emma Bull

Jim Butcher

Rachel Caine

Jonathan Carroll

Mike Carey

Karen Chance

Cathy Clamp

Cassandra Clare

Shirley Damsgaard

Sylvia J. Day

Carole Nelson Douglas

Jeaniene Frost

Neil Gaiman

Laura Anne Gilman

Simon R. Green

Justin Gustainis

Laurell K. Hamilton

Charlaine Harris

Kim Harrison

J.C. Hutchins

Chris Lester

Charles de Lint

Sergey Lukyanenko

China Mieville

  • No Official website

C.E. Murphy

Tim Powers

Tim Pratt

Kat Richardson

Rick Riordan

Matt Ruff

Jeanne C. Stein

Rachel Vincent

Terri Windling

This list is by no means complete so if I have missed off any you feel should be included, please let me know.


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Authors who use Twitter

May 31st, 2010 Lisa

I have found over the last few months that there are quite a few authors who use Twitter, both to just make random tweets (like the rest of us mere mortals) and also to keep their fans up to date with their goings on.  So I thought I’d share the twitter names of the ones I’ve discovered so far.  If you know of any others that aren’t listed, please let me know via the comments and I’ll add them to this list.  I hope all you book lovers out there find this useful!

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Dark Prince by Christine Feehan

May 31st, 2010 Lisa
Dark Prince ('Dark' Carpathian Series)

Blurb

Raven Whitney is a psychic who has used her gift to help the police track down a serial killer. Now she is determined to escape the glare of recent publicity for the peace and quiet of the Carpathian Mountains. Despite her own emotional fatigue, Raven finds herself connecting psychically to another wounded individual somewhere close by. Prince Mikhail Dubrinsky is the leader of his people but, as his ancient Carpathian race grows ever closer to extinction, he is close to giving in to the heavy weight of loneliness and despair. Then a female voice enters his mind and tries to console him. Intrigued, Mikhail becomes obsessed with finding this unusual human female. From the moment their minds touch, Raven and Mikhail form a connection. But there are those who incorrectly view all Carpathians as vampires, and are determined to give their extinction a helping hand.

The concept of this particular series of stories, from what I could gather from this book, is that the male “Carpathians” (or vampires to the rest of us – they drink blood, are immortal, etc, which to me constitutes vampiric behaviour) need to find their life-mate or consign themselves to becoming some kind of monster – I think losing any kind of emotional feeling and, by all accounts, only seeing in black and white.

When I first started to read this book, I was sure it was set in the 19th century, and it was only when a computer was mentioned in passing that I realised this wasn’t the case.  The novel has a very old-world feel, making me think of Bram Stoker”s Dracula (not so much in the fact that this is going to be a classic novel, but the style of writing).  While Christine Feehan is, obviously, a very good writer – she has an excellent way of wording things so that you can actually visualise what she’s describing – I found this story to be quite boring.  At times I paused to wonder what exactly the point in the novel was, but since I felt the same about Sherrilyn Kenyon”s first Dark Hunter book and am now a huge fan of the novels, I persevered.  This isn”t the best book out there and is, in a lot of places, extremely boring to the point of making me want to cast it aside.  The characters didn’t really grab me and suck me in to their world.  And the whole relationship between Raven and Mikhail was too quick and accepted to be believable.

I do have the rest of the books in my To Read and Review pile and I”m hoping that, like the Dark Hunter series, they become better the more she writes.

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Urban Fantasy Authors

May 30th, 2010 Lisa

Urban Fantasy is a subgenre of Fantasy, where the stories are based in contemporary real-world urban settings instead of traditional fantasy settings of mythical cities/worlds/lands. Below is a list of authors who are popular in this genre.

Cat Adams

C.T. Adams

Ilona Andrews

Jennifer Armintrout

Kelley Armstrong

Keri Arthur

Jenna Black

Francesca Lia Block

Patricia Briggs

Emma Bull

Jim Butcher

Rachel Caine

Jonathan Carroll

Mike Carey

Karen Chance

Cathy Clamp

Cassandra Clare

Shirley Damsgaard

Sylvia J. Day

Carole Nelson Douglas

Jeaniene Frost

Neil Gaiman

Laura Anne Gilman

Simon R. Green

Justin Gustainis

Laurell K. Hamilton

Charlaine Harris

Kim Harrison

J.C. Hutchins

Chris Lester

Charles de Lint

Sergey Lukyanenko

China Mieville

  • No Official website

C.E. Murphy

Tim Powers

Tim Pratt

Kat Richardson

Rick Riordan

Matt Ruff

Jeanne C. Stein

Rachel Vincent

Terri Windling

This list is by no means complete so if I have missed off any you feel should be included, please let me know.

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Turn Coat by Jim Butcher

May 30th, 2010 Lisa
Turn Coat (Dresden Files 11)

Blurb

What wouldn’t you wish on your worst enemy?  It seems that Harry Dresden is about to find out. . .

Harry Dresden, PI and practitioner of magic, has done his best to keep his nose clean where the White Council of Wizards is concerned.  Even so, his past misdeeds haven’t looked good to the Council’s Wardens – and they take their responsibility to enforce the Laws of Magic very seriously.  but this has placed him in a bit of a predicament.  Morgan, formerly his chief persecutor among the Wardens has been wrongly accused of treason.  There”s only one punishment for that crime so he’s on the run, wants his name cleared, and needs someone with a knack for backing the underdog.  Someone like Harry Dresden.

Dresden faces a daunting task.  He must clear the less-than-agreeable Morgan’s name while simultaneously hiding him from the Wardens and the supernatural bounty hunters sent to find him, discover the identity of the true turncoat and, of course, avoid accusations of treachery of his own.  A single mistake may mean that heads – quite literally – could roll.

And one of them might be his.

Turn Coat is book 11 in the Dresden Files series and usually, by this point, a series this long has a tendency to lose its steam somewhat and sometimes begin to flounder.  Thankfully, this series isn’t one of them!  While it’s possible to pick up this book without having read any of the previous ones, to really appreciate the richness of the plot you have to understand what has gone on before, to understand the dynamics of the various relationships between Harry and the other characters.

As always, Jim Butcher writes with a black humour that is absolutely wonderful.  Had he been born in the right era, he’d have been applauded as a masterbard (one has to wonder if Jim can sing and play the instruments for that, but no matter, his storytelling is good enough to overlook it if he can’t!).

From the first page, you are pulled in by Harry”

s dry wit as he recounts his latest escapade and you”re right there with him, feeling every emotion and physical attack as he goes up against the skinwalker, while trying to discover who’s really behind the murder that Morgan has been set up for.  Without giving too much away, Harry gets emotionally battered in this book, losing people to the vengeful nasties in this book and the ensuing battle near the end is fantastically written.

I’m yet to be disappointed by a Harry Dresden novel, and I hope that continues as I wait for the next installment with bated breath.  Turn Coat is a superb addition to the series and has left me wanting more (as they always do) as well as leaving me with questions that need answering.

Ten out of ten for a wonderful tale, Jim!

Book Details

  • Paperback: 544 pages
  • Publisher: Orbit (4 Mar 2010)
  • ISBN-10: 1841496898
  • ISBN-13: 978-1841496894
  • Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 10.8 x 3.8 cm

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Men of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong

May 30th, 2010 Lisa
Men of the Otherworld

Blurb

I don”t remember the first time I changed into a wolf. One night I passed out, and awoke to find my body covered in yellow fur. My brain was beyond reacting. It took this in its stride, as it had everything else in my new life. I got to my feet and went in search of food. As a curious and independent six-year-old, Clayton didn”t resist the bite – he asked for it. But as a lone child werewolf his life is under constant threat. So when enigmatic Pack member Jeremy Danvers saves him, Clayton is determined to protect his adoptive father, no matter what the cost. So begins this gripping collection of four tales chronicling the bloody feuds of the American Pack, and the coming of age of Clay Danvers, a very powerful – and very singular – werewolf.

I”d already read three out of the four tales on Kelley”s website prior to her removing them for inclusion into this book.  She decided to release them in book format and is giving all proceeds of the book to the World Literacy of Canada book benefit, so I don’t believe anyone can complain about now having to pay for something that was originally offered for free!

The first story in the book, Infusion (originally available on the website), covers the conception of Jeremy, so the main focus is his father, Malcolm, and how he meets Jeremy’s mother.  It brings readers of the Otherworld series, further insight into why Jeremy’s and Malcom’s relationship is so negative from the start.   The second story, Savage (originally available on the website), brings to life how Jeremy and Clay meet and brings an added depth to the many quirks you discover in Clay throughout the main series of books.  Kelley captures the essence of their relationship and shows it to the readers with her ever-present style and passion.  Ascension, (the third and last story that was originally available on the website) tells us the story of Jeremy’s elevation to Pack Leader and shares with those who have followed the series how and why Clay is the most feared werewolf  around.  The fourth story (and likely the one fans were waiting for) is Kitsunegari and focuses mainly on Jeremy, with a little more detail on his and Jaime’s relationship.

As always, Kelley delivers what she promises.  An entertaining set of stories, answering questions thrown up in other books, while leaving more questions unanswered ready for further books.  For people new to the series, this book would be a good opener in one respect, introducing you to Clay and Jeremy before the story of Bitten starts.  But on the other hand, by reading this first, it will spoil the story to be told in No Humans Involved.

On a whole, a well-rounded book, laying the groundwork for further stories in the future!

Book Details

  • Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Orbit (29 Jan 2009)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1841497436
  • ISBN-13: 978-1841497433
  • Product Dimensions: 17.4 x 10.8 x 2.6 cm

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Mean Streets Anthology by Jim Butcher, Simon R Green, Kat Richardson, Thomas E Sniegoski

May 30th, 2010 Lisa
Mean Streets (Anthology)

Blurb

They walk the streets no one else can walk, take the jobs no one else will take, and if you’ve got a problem – and the cash – they can solve it.

Of course, if your case involves rabid werewolves, cursed objects, the living dead, malevolent beings from another dimension, or other “unusual” circumstances, it  may cost you a bit extra!

Mean Streets is a compilation of four all-new novellas by Jim Butcher, Simon R. Green, Kat Richardson and Thomas E. Sniegoski.  While I”ve read Jim Butcher and two of Kat”s books I hadn”t read anything by Simon and Thomas, so their stories were a foray into new territory for me.

Jim Butcher’s novella is called The Warrior and brings us back into the world of Harry Dresden – an excellent choice to kick off this book.   The main plot is Harry trying to protect his friend Michael and his family from danger and ends up becoming a target himself.  What I liked most about this novella is the ending.

Without giving too much away, the ending is not what you’re expecting throughout the whole tale and, as usual, Jim Butcher shows just why he’s such a fabulous author, weaving the story with skill and humour.

Next up is Simon R. Green’s offering – The Difference A Day Makes – taking us into his Nightside series with John Taylor, where  John is hired to find the lost memories of a desperate woman.   I’m in two minds on this one.  While it’s written extremely well, I didn’t particularly enjoy the story.  The whole tale just didn’t gel for me and I couldn’t enjoy the characters.   I think it may be necessary to have “met” the characters before to really get a grip on the dynamics of both the characters and the Nightside.  I was left with the feeling that the story was rushed and wasn’t very well thought out.

The third novella is by Kat Richardson and brings her Greywalker, Harper Blaine, to Mexico during the Day of the Dead, where she becomes enmeshed in a tangle of dark family secrets and revenge from beyond the grave.  I’ve yet to read the two Greywalker novels (although I do own them) but I found the story easy to follow without having any prior knowledge of the main character.  Overall the story was interesting, drawing on some of the beliefs of Mexico to give a very real feel to the whole situation.    This story, for me, ranked as one of the two strongest stories in the compilation – the other being Jim Butcher’s.

The fourth and final offering is from Thomas E. Sniegoski – another author I”ve never read.    In this tale, Remy Chandler - a fall-angel-turned-detective – investigates the death of Noah (yes, THE Noah).   At first I wasn’t too sure I was enjoying this one, but I think it grew on me.    Remy is an interesting character and I do believe I will be picking up some of the novels in this series.  The tale Thomas shares with us relates to the flood and what happened to the animals that didn”t make it on the ark – I found this interesting on many levels and the story was woven well.

Overall, the book isn”t bad, and for any fans of the authors contained well worth picking up for the additional stories to the respective series.

Book Details

  • Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: ROC (5 Mar 2009)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0451462491
  • ISBN-13: 978-0451462497
  • Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.3 x 2 cm

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Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

May 30th, 2010 Lisa
Magic Bites: A Kate Daniels Novel: 1: A Kate Daniels Novel, Book 1

Blurb

Mercenary Kate Daniels cleans up urban problems of a paranormal kind. But her latest prey, a pack of undead warriors, presents her greatest challenge.

This one got off to a slow start and I did keep putting it back down for a while, but after a few stops and starts I finally settled into the book. One criticism is the oblique references to Kate’s own blood and no explanations of why it’s so important, although you will get some suspicions nearer to the end of the novel. The blood issue is something, I’m guessing, the autor is building up to in the next book (or three).

Overall not a bad opening book, if you can stick with it beyond the first couple of chapters. Once it gets going, it’s a good read.

Book Details

  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Gollancz (9 Sep 2010)
  • ISBN-10: 0575093935
  • ISBN-13: 978-0575093935

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Captain’s Fury by Jim Butcher

May 30th, 2010 Lisa
Captain's Fury: The Codex Alera, Book 4

Blurb

Tavi of Calderon, now captain of his own Legion, has been fighting a bitter war for two years. Then he discovers the invading Canim warriors are harbingers of a far greater threat. The Canim are being hunted in their turn by a savage race that forced them from their homeland – and which has pursued them to the Aleran borders. With options fast running out, Tavi proposes an alliance with the Canim. But the Senate”s new military commander wishes only to wipe out the Canim ”scourge”, and would also kill Aleran slaves that have sought freedom with these aggressors. Tavi must reconcile Aleran and Canim, slavemaster and slave, Citizen and Proletarian, if an alliance is to be forced. And he must lead his Legion in defiance of the law, against both friend and enemy – before the greatest army of all launches its assault.

I’d been looking forward to reading Captain”s Fury since finishing Cursor”s Fury and swearing profusely at the cliffhanger ending Jim Butcher left us with! So in anticipation I reread the first three so I could launch straight into Captain”s Fury once I was allowed to get my mitts on it come Christmas Day.  As it happened, I didn”t get to start it until a couple of days after Christmas and from start to end I could not put it down.  Jim has done an outstanding job of tying up all the loose ends in a manner that didn’t feel rushed or haphazard and I found myself torn between desperation to see what happened to Tavi and his friends and not wanting to end the book and say goodbye to the characters.   But all books come to an end, and I finished Captain’s Fury with a smile.

If you haven”t tried Jim Butcher yet, don”t just aim for his Dresden series – which are absolutely brilliant – give his overlooked fantasy series a try. You won”t be disappointed!!

Book Details

  • Paperback: 608 pages
  • Publisher: Orbit; paperback / softback edition (6 Aug 2009)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1841497479
  • ISBN-13: 978-1841497471
  • Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 10.8 x 4 cm

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