May 30, 2010
Posted by Lisa on May 30, 2010 in Authors, Reviews | 0 comments
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
May 30, 2010
Posted by Lisa on May 30, 2010 in Authors, Reviews | 0 comments
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
May 30, 2010
Posted by Lisa on May 30, 2010 in Authors, Reviews | 0 comments
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
May 30, 2010
Posted by Lisa on May 30, 2010 in Authors, Reviews | 0 comments
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
May 30, 2010
Posted by Lisa on May 30, 2010 in Authors, Reviews | 0 comments
Blurb
For centuries, the people of Alera have relied on the power of the furies to protect them from outside invaders. But the gravest threat might be closer than they think. Tavi has escaped the Calderon Valley and the mysterious attack of the Marat on his homeland. But he is far from safe, as trying to keep up the illusion of being a student while secretly training as one of the First Lord”s spies is a dangerous game. And he has not yet learned to use the furies, making him especially vulnerable. When the attack comes it”s on two fronts. A sudden strike threatens the First Lord”s life and threatens to plunge the land into civil war. While in the Calderon Valley, the threat faced from the Marat is dwarfed by an ancient menace. And Tavi must learn to harness the furies if he has any chance of fighting the greatest threat Alera has ever known …
I”m a big fan of Jim Butcher and am happy to admit to it. I first discovered him (like many others) by picking up his Harry Dresden series. When I discovered he”d also written a classic fantasy novel – Furies of Calderon – I was very excited, since classic fantasy is one of my loves. This, the second book in the series, is where the story really gets moving. Book one is more of a scene setter, introducing the characters etc, but Academ”s Fury just blew me away. The characters have depth and are completely three dimensional, and the story leaves you with the desire to read on and find out what”s happening.
Fantastic work and I can”t wait for the fifth book (at this time of writing) First Lord”s Fury.
Book Details
- Paperback: 640 pages
- Publisher: Orbit (4 Jun 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1841497452
- ISBN-13: 978-1841497457
- Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 11.4 x 4.2 cm
