Notes on a Challenge...

So, I've finally finished my self-imposed book challenge, and umm yeah I've decided I'm not a fan. For one, it didn't stop me from buying books this month. I still purchased several including, A Sweet Scent of Blood by Suzanne McLeod, Grave Witch by Kalayna Price, and Night Shift by Lilith Saintcrow. But yet I couldn't read a single one of them.  I've book-blocked myself!  But, more importantly, it made me realize that I am definitely one of those people who is driven by their impulses.  I am a fan of the shiny and new.  And I'm secure enough to admit, that I quite like walking around in my fantasy bookshop every week.  I leisure through the isles and find a section to look through hoping to find some new book that's going to blow my mind.   So although I am really happy that I've read all the books I've set out to read this month, and not a minute too soon I might add, I'm glad to be through with it.  

In the words of Queen... "I want to break free"

Review- Pleasure Unbound

My favorite thing about Larissa Ione's Pleasure Unbound was watching the social action and interaction.  It was interesting to imagine a world where demons exist such as we do, and struggle with some of the same elements of life, such as family feuds, career goals, unrequited love and social politics, just like we might. Ione's world-building was original and well planned, and other than tripping up on some of the many new terms introduced I found it interesting and easy to imagine. 


One of the hardest things for me to get past, was the love story. Believe it or not, the romantic connection just didn't work for me.  I never felt that spark between Eidolon and Tayla, and I never understood what they saw in each other, other than looks.  I know I'm in the minority for saying that, but their passions didn't feel true to me.  


While Pleasure Unbound is truly a romance novel at heart, and the romance and I didn't mix, I was surprised by how engrossed I became with the plot. I was often surprised with where the story flowed, and along the way I realized that I had become rather attached to some of the secondary characters. I'll be interested to see who's story is next.


Bottom Line: Main characters and I didn't become best friends, but the ground-work that's been laid has me anxious to know what's happening next.


2.5 stars

Review- Dead, Undead, or Somewhere In Between

Like I've mentioned before, I read on my ipad a lot; instant gratification ya know.  Anyway, I pulled up Dead Undead, looking for some of the quotes I highlighted, and my list was looong.  I highlighted descriptive text, I noted pithy dialog and rules to live by.  I'm pretty sure I've never highlighted so much in one book.  

Saare's writing style was the first of many surprises in Dead, Undead, or Somewhere In Between, and it took hold of me right away. She's that little voice inside your head that says all the thoughts you think are too rude/honest to ever let out.  Her voice is razor sharp and expressive is really too weak a word.  

"Stripping is not a fair or unbiased career field.  Your body and looks are your livelihood.  Once those two things go, it's only a matter of time before you punch your last T&A ticket. And Erica's stub was wilting faster than a golden wrapped candy bar that would gain her admittance into the chocolate factory."

Rhiannon might have just claimed the #1 spot of my favorite heroine.  I know it has a lot to do with the voice that Saare provides, but Rhiannon's character never stopped surprising me.  She's bold and her convictions are true. I love that she never waivers from who she is, but that she allows herself to grow into a better version of herself by the end of the story.  And her "laws" are are now posted all over my computer.

"Rhiannon's Law #16: If it looks like a rabbit, and it hops like a rabbit, run the other way and fast.  That shit is laible to tear your arm off Monty Python and the Holy Grail style."

"Rhiannon's Law #37: Don't get so high and mighty.  God will only reward that arrogance with a huge bitch slap back to reality."

"Rhiannon's Law #27: When you're working in a gentlemen's club and one of your dancers takes off those heels, alert the big guns, an ass kicking is on the menu."

Well the last one doesn't really pertain to my life per-say, but good advice non-the-less. She's a smart-aleck

"And what is it you do, ..."

Bartender? No. Pool player? No. Ghost hunter? No. Full-time smart ass? No. I was running out of ideas and she was waiting.

Yet, she never stops surprising you.  Out of the blue she'll make a statement so heartfelt, you take notice. You just know what she's feeling while you're reading it aloud.

"...but forgetting your mistakes made you prone to repeat them..." 

Rhiannon and Disco's pairing is one of my favorite.  Rhiannon is crass while Disco's voice is smooth and luxurious.  The contrast between the two gives depth to their partnership. Nothing is rushed, which can ruin a perfectly good story for me, and I enjoyed their repartee.

"That's a nasty habit, you know." I wrinkled my nose distastefully and pointed at the cigarette.

"I'll make you a deal. I'll put down the smokes if you stop speaking so crudely."

"Fuck that."

And even though the story takes place over the course of a week or so, the connection that is made is meaningful and compassionate, and you don't doubt that these characters are kindred souls always meant for each other. 

You'll notice that I've yet to touch on the story-line...I'm aware. I don't want to slip and give anything away. I will say, that the story got better and better as it went and never stopped surprising me.  And I think I might use the word "shock" to describe where it took me.


Bottom Line: There's a waiting period of 2 months, or my name would already be Rhiannon...too blunt?


4.5 stars

Inside Information: Shadowfever

This morning I was having a lovely conversation with one of my favorite bloggers @bellie7, who runs Hanging with Bells and she mentioned in passing something about the book blurb on the inside jacket of Shadowfever and I was shocked.  There was a bit of information out there that I didn't know.  LOL.  So, rather than just assuming that you knew it too, I thought I'd post the blurb. Enjoy.  Have a great Monday.

Inside Jacket of Shadowfever: (provided on KMM website)


MacKayla Lane was just a child when she and her sister, Alina, were given up for adoption and banished from Ireland forever.


Twenty years later, Alina is dead and Mac has returned to the country that expelled them to hunt her sister's murderer.  But after discovering that she descends from a bloodline both gifted and cursed, Mac is plunged into a secret history: and ancient conflict between humans and immortals who have lived concealed among us for thousands of years.


What follows is a shocking chain of events with devastating consequences, and now Mac struggles to cope with grief, while continuing her mission to acquire and control the Sinsar Dubh- a book of dark, forbidden magic scribed by the mythical Unseelie King, containing the power to create and destroy worlds.


In an epic battle between humans and Fae, the hunter becomes the hunted when the Sinsar Dubh turns on Mac, and begins mowing a deadly path through those she loves.


Who can she turn to? Who can she trust? Who is the woman that haunts her dreams? More important, who is Mac and what is the destiny she glimpses in the black and crimson designs of an ancient tarot card?


From the luxury of the Lord Master's penthouse to the sordid depths of an Unseelie nightclub, from the erotic bed of her lover, to the terrifying bed of the Unseelie King, Mac's journey will force her to face the truth of her exile, and to make a choice that will either save the world... or destroy it.

Review- Clockwork Angel

I was/am a fan of Cassandra Clare's 'Mortal instruments' series, so when I noticed that she was beginning an entirely new series I had to check it out. It's been a while since I've read anything of the YA persuasion, and to be honest I'd forgotten how fun [for lack of a better word] one can be. 


One of the things I enjoy most about Clare's stories are the character developments. The interactions between characters are complex and each individual is a bit of a mystery.  So, not only are you following along with an adventurous plot, but you're simultaneously watching out for well placed clues scattered throughout the pages in hopes of unraveling their secrets.  It creates an engaging momentum. 


I instantly enjoyed Tessa, our heroine; she's like no other.  She is smart and kind-hearted but has a snappy wit.  She's also very innocent in a lot of ways. From the obvious: she's never been kissed nor handled a weapon, to the understated: she assumes/expects everyone to be naturally as kind as she is. So often in fantasy, our heroines start out tough both inside and out, and it was interesting to watch someone have to become strong.  And I love the following quote... she's wiser than her years.

"Only the very weak-minded refuse to be influenced by literature and poetry..."

All the characters stirred such strong emotions out of me.  Love, disgust, sorrow, anger; all basic emotions, but the most powerful.  I became so invested in their well-being that at the end of the book I quite literally let out a big breath I didn't realize I was holding.  Gripping, is really not word enough.   


The only issue I had was that I kept comparing this book to those from her previous series.  Now don't bite my head off just yet, this did turn out very different than any from the MI books, but I did compare back and forth between characters way more than I think should ever happen.  (this is really a backhanded compliment. The fact that Clare's previous characters are still lodged in my brain so well after 2 years of absence should say all you need to know about the power of her people)


Bottom Line: Clare has, once again, created a top notch set of characters and laid the foundations for a captivating series


4 stars

Behind The Pen: with Kat Richardson

I love interviews.  But I find the artists behind the stories equaling intriguing, and I think they deserve as much limelight as their characters. So here instead of a list of questions about the story, the plot, and the characters I ask authors the same 11 questions about themselves and hopefully get a glimpse behind the pen...

If you've been visiting this blog for a little while, you're aware that I have recently discovered and become utterly entranced by the Greywalker series by Kat Richardson.  I've come to include the series, the characters, and the author among my all-time favorites. The latest release, Labyrinth, is the 5th in the series and is available anywhere awesome books might be sold.  If this series is new to you, I implore you to give it a shot.  For my review on Greywalker go here and for Poltergeist go here. Or for more information please visit her website... because it would be embarrassing to gush any further. 
Without further ado, I give you Kat Richardson.

Q1: What is the last book you read?

WAKING NIGHTMARES by Christopher Golden. It was a pre-publication manuscript so I was reading to give a blurb. It was wicked good: terrifying and disgusting and horrible and utterly compelling and I loved it! But if you mean a published book, that would be CHANGELESS by Gail Carriger, which I didn’t like as much as the first one in her Parasol Protectorate series. It’s not bad, but it’s definitely the “bridge” book of a trilogy or more.

Q2: If you were stuck on a desert island, what book would you like to have with you?

THE COMPLETE ANNOTATED SHAKESPEARE. If you can’t find enough intrique, comedy, horror, mystery, romance, and general good storytelling in there, you’re doomed anyway.

Q3: What is your favorite swear word?

Fuck. It’s the world’s most versatile word.

Q4: What is your biggest pet-peeve?

Bicyclists. Well, no, really it’s thoughtless, self-entitled, rude, fucking idiots in general.

Q5: What quality do you most like in a man?

Humane intelligence and...

Q6: What quality do you most like in a woman?

... Joyful generousity of spirit.

Q7: What profession, other than your own, would you like to attempt?

Oo, I don’t know if I’d rather be a theoretical physicist or a magician’s assistant.... Maybe I could be a train-robber at Knott’s Berry Farm....

Q8: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I don’t know: I haven’t been everywhere. Yet. But I’m going to work on it and I’ll get back to you when I’ve got a better sample....

Q9: What inspires you?

Deadlines. And crazy bits of history, news articles, silly conversations, reading, walking, and going interesting places with fun people. Or even uninteresting places with fun people.

Q10: If you could be one person (dead or alive) for a day who would you be?

Hmm.... Depends on the day. I mean, I don’t want to be Marie Antoinette the day they carted her off to the Marias or something like that. Sometimes I think it would be fun to be Johnny Depp....

Q11: Mac or PC?

So far, Mac or Linux. Currently I use a Mac laptop but the previous computer was an Ubuntu Linux machine, and before that an Amiga, and before that a pre-windows PC after my beloved Commodore 64 died a sad death.

Review- Blood Law

Blood Law is set in a slightly familiar world but is filled with a fresh set of characters and has a heart thumping plot.  Vampires have walked among us for 40 or so years, and "racism" still runs rampant, and there's synthetic blood, and a serial killer is terrorizing a small-ish southern American town.  Like i said, slightly familiar.  But hold on, our heroine, Alexandra Sabian, is a kick-ass vampire federal agent who's smart, head strong, and for being a vampire, is somehow very relatable.  She has a human liaison police officer side-kick who's secretly frightened of vamps, a bad-boy brother who runs the only "blood bar" in town, and an ex-fiance who she hasn't seen in 6 years come back to push all her buttons...not so similar.   


One of my favorite things about this book is that the POV changed hands constantly, and the story is told through numerous sets of eyes. This was a first time experience for me, and I enjoyed the depth it created. The continual bouncing around did a great job of setting a fast paced story, but it did distract things...just a little.  One of the most interesting things about this approach is that we even get to see things through the killer's eyes.  And I must admit that even though it was slightly creepy, it was kinda cool. I found myself even saying at one point, "Oh no, you're going to get caught!  What are you going to do?!" Don't worry, you don't like the killer, but it made the drama very real for me.  


Another aspect I found unique was the layout of the story.  Throughout the book you become aware, that there are actually a few mini-plots attached to a delicately crafted central plot. It felt like I was watching one of those movies where you're not really sure why everything is happening, and then something changes and it all comes together... I love those kinds of movies.  Sure there's a serial killer on a rampage, but that's only one part of what's really going on. Each side-story was interesting, and kept me wondering how this can effect the ending and in-turn everyone else. In the same breath though, since there is a lot happening with (and to) our characters we don't get to really see them ease into daily routines, or interact with one another outside of a heightened situation. I hope that next time around they have a little "time off".


The last 80 pages were a complete adrenaline rush.  Much like how a director uses a heavy amount of cuts in an action scene to help the action come alive, Holmes cuts to different POVs often; keeping the story tight and the intensity high. Surprisingly though, Holmes created a rather jaw-dropping reveal (from left field I might add) and she kind of buried it.  It got like 2-3 pages in the book.  There wasn't any foreshadowing created for it, nor was it really picked up on again and elaborated on.  It had me scratching my head a little, because it was a total shocker and could have really made the story.  


Bottom Line: A good first book in a new series that is non-stop, from beginning to end.


3.5 stars

3 star the new Blackball?

Since when did a 3 star rating (out of 5) spell "Run away" "Piece of crap" "Waste of time" ? I've always been under the assumption that a rating systems should rank (from 1 to 5)


Hated it
It's ok
Good 
Great
Perfect


Every blog and review site I visit follows relatively the same rating systems, yet from what I observe, a three star rating is the new messenger of death; equipped with a sickle and black cloak. Is it that readers are becoming more discerning? And therefore is "good" is no longer acceptable? Is it that the fantasy (urban, romance, or sci-fi) genre has become so popular that readers only search out the very best?


So, I ask you... If when you find a book "out there" and the ratings are in 3 star land, will the book still find a home in your TBR pile?

Kim Harrison news, 2 awesome giveaways, & Sesame Street

What do they all have in common?  They're all part of this weeks "In the Blogs".




Check it out HERE

Review- The Iron Duke

When Meljean Brook used the word "fisticuffs" on page 2, I knew I was going to enjoy The Iron Duke. Enter a world of pirates, steampunk, zombies, and prejudice.  Sound like an intersting mix of themes? Just wait until you meet all the characters.  I loved so many things about this book, I'm not really sure where to begin.





To start, Brook's writing is beautiful. It's lush and rich without feeling heavy.  I settled in and became cozy with each line, not wanting to rush a single verse. Her descriptive style agreed with me. It was easy to visualize every scene, every setting.  

"Below, the Medway ran like a sparkling ribbon through the yellow fields. The sun dazzled her eyes, but she looked up and out, amazed by the blueness of the sky.  Even the clouds were a surprise, a faint wisp across the heavens and so incredible white. She'd never seen anything so white, not even bone."

I'm still amazed with how the author transported me to an entirely new place in time so completely. 


Mina & Rhys are two of my favorite hero/heroines.  Mina is intelligent, sharp, and vulnerable while still being ballsy.  She's got a sharp-tongue a strong will. 

"Of course I wear armor. I am sitting with a pirate, a mercenary, an adventurer, and a bounder.  If a shot is not fired tonight, I daresay that your reputations are nothing but lies."

And I love that Brook made her a police inspector.  When I think of Victorian London I envision women having little rank in society.  Here the women of status are referred to as "sir" and hold positions such as ship Captain and Superintendent. Rhys is everything you want/need from a hero.  He is headstrong and opinionated, but his determination and tenacity have you rooting for him. 

"When we return, I want the name of every man in Parliament. I want to know what he believes, why he believes it. The newsmen, too." 

"You'll have it." Scarsdale paused as the clank of the platform docking sounded through the night air.  "It might take all of your life."

That didn't matter. He didn't have much of one without her.

The ongoing story is constant and always changing.  And Brook never stops introducing us to new characters along the way.  A lot of the times, this can slow down the story or drag your attention away, but that was not the case here.  Each character was crafted as though they each have a story that should be written...and I hope they do. 


I will admit that I was a little nervous about reading a steampunk; this was my very first.  But Brook did a great job of making it a big enough part of the story to create an air of fantasy, but not too much that I felt confused about relevancy.  This also comes back to her talent in expression, never once was I not able to imagine the many gadgets and machines. Often, I'd wonder if I could actually construct one for myself....just wait for the butterfly. ;)


Bottom line: The world that Brook has created will never let you go, and the passion is electrifying.  A must read.


4.5 star

Review: Wicked Enchantment

I'm just going to say that this is a hard review to write.  And I can't put my finger on why. I thoroughly enjoyed the world of the battling Seelie and Unseelie.  I enjoyed our main characters immensely.  And after a small case of info-dumping in the beginning, the story hits it's stride. So what gives? I have no idea. So I'm simply going to share with you some of what I enjoyed and some of what i didn't.


The world Bast has created in Wicked Enchantment is carefully crafted and well thought-out.  And has to be appreciated.  I got the impression that in this case the world came before the characters. Every piece fits.  And she brings new ideas to the table; which are always a treat for me.  The idea of the "wild hunt" has to be my favorite.  
"All of them had been handpicked by unknown forces to be his posse, the Furious Host.  Every night they formed the Wild Hunt, the group that tales had been told of in almost every culture of almost every land since time had begun. Every night they met here and did their sacred duty. Every night, they rode."  The host is responsible for ushering souls to the every-after, and even though it's a rather dark subject matter I found it riveting.


Our main characters Aislinn and Gabriel are great leads.  They're imperfect and each have a past that must be dealt with.  They're strong minded but warmhearted. And the chemistry between them is arousing. One of their first encounters sums of each of them nicely.
"...What movie about me have you made in your head, sweet Aislinn? And without even knowing me."
"That you're a dangerous, arrogant, superficial man with piles of discarded, heartbroken female bodies on each side of the path you tread."
He studied her with hard, glittering, dark blue eyes. "Your honesty is very refreshing. Im sorry that's your first impression of me.  Perhaps I can change it."
"Maybe you can."
"A little too honest that's my first impression of you."...
Can you feel the steam rising? ...and that was in the first chapter.


Having a tiny little sub-story pop up every 75 pages or so is one of my least favorite methods of creating a climax.  It's hard for me to ever really connect with the characters involved, even if they're only meant to be the bad guys.  As the story went on each time this came along it felt more like an annoyance rather than an important part of the plot.  Almost as though I wanted to just skip over those few pages and get back to the "real" story. 


Typically in a series with a pack of interesting secondary characters, the author has plans for a long running series where each new volume covers a different characters. Throughout Wicked Enchantment we get to know Bella and Ronan, and I truly enjoyed them.  That was the problem.  Their story was already complete.  And even though we're given the gist of it I felt robbed of a great adventure.  I even went back to make sure that this was in fact the first of the series.  It is. 


Like I mentioned before, the author has a small case of info-dumping.  I understand that this is a first book in a brand new world, but there was something about the way it's all delivered that didn't connect with me.  It all came off feeling like a history lesson more than it should have. The world is interesting to be clear, but at times I wanted to say "enough, there's too much going on."  In my opinion, a PNR is suppose to be about the romance, and that didn't feel like the author's focus here.  


Bottom Line: Aislinn and Gabriel are great together, and this new series warrants another look.  


3 stars

Review- Venom

I pre-ordered Venom, the 3rd installment in the Elemental series, as soon as I completed reading Web of Lies a long time ago. I waited in anticipation like all other fans.  And I am a fan. I miss Gin during the waiting periods between books, and I often wonder what her and the rest of her crew are getting into.  She's a great character to watch.  Somehow you fall in love with her morals, even though most of her life she's been a hired assassin, taking justice into her own hands.  You admire the strong bond she has with her team/family. And I truly enjoy the dynamic she has with each of them.


Venom's story-line is an easy next step in the series.  The villain is very villainous, and Gin becomes one step closer to her true target, Mab Monroe, in the process of dealing with him.  The story has some high points and some low points, but by the end of the book I'm happy with the progress that's been made. The book definitely left me wanting more.


Some of the issues I have with the author's writing style are still present.  I still find the repetitive narrative a little tiresome.  And it irks me that Gin is hinted at being one of the strongest elementals ever known (especially in this book) and yet minus using her ice power to pick a lock once, she doesn't use her abilities in this story. It became slightly frustrating during the fighting scenes, and drew my attention away from the action a little.   


I loved the addition of two new characters in Venom.  Bria Coolidge and Owen Grayson.  Both signal changes for Gin's character, and I'm all for it.  I loved waiting to see if anything would develop with Owen. And I'm so happy to be rid of that Donovan Caine [narrows eyes viscously at the mere mention], and if she'll stop comparing him to Owen all the time, these two might really have a chance.  Gin is opening up to him like she wouldn't in the past, and I for one was excited with this change from her.  Bria brings with her a lot of information about their past, and I'm really excited to see what's next for her and Gin.  We don't get a ton of face time with her, but she has a few very honorable mentions in the story that make you anxious for more. 


Like I said, by the end of the story I think Gin is finally somewhere I've wanted her to be for a while now.  She's stronger somehow, even though she's much more open and therefore more vulnerable. I'm excited for what lies ahead.


Bottom Line: Fans of the series will be happy with the developments in Venom, but, and I feel like a judge on Project Runway, I want more from you Gin. 
      
3.5 stars

Happens to the best of people.... and me too

Apologies for falling down on the job.  I'm reading a ton (already 4 books in to my 10 book challenge) but not able to write at the moment.  My Double Cross non-review must have zapped whatever little creativity I had.  Just waiting for something interesting to come out of my brain again.  


Luckily, it seems red wine is a cure.  I'll be valiantly pursuing this form of medication over the weekend....the sacrifices I make for this blog.


Hope you have a great weekend.

Next Virtual Book Club & Giveaway

I'll admit it. I'm a steampunk virgin.  I've oohed & ahhed at the amazing art on the covers, and I've imagine what might be in store for me within, but I've yet to actually crack one open.  That stops here.


This month I've selected Boneshaker by Cherie Priest.  We'll be discussing the book in an open forum Friday, November 5th.  I hope you'll read and come discuss with me.


Also, Cherie will be giving away a signed copy of her latest novel, Dreadnought, to one lucky commenter who stops by Nov 5th.  (US & CA)


COME JOIN THE DISCUSSION HERE

In the early days of the Civil War, rumors of gold in the frozen Klondike brought hordes of newcomers to the Pacific Northwest. Anxious to compete, Russian prospectors commissioned inventor Leviticus Blue to create a great machine that could mine through Alaska’s ice. Thus was Dr. Blue’s Incredible Bone-Shaking Drill Engine born.

But on its first test run the Boneshaker went terribly awry, destroying several blocks of downtown Seattle and unearthing a subterranean vein of blight gas that turned anyone who breathed it into the living dead.

Now it is sixteen years later, and a wall has been built to enclose the devastated and toxic city. Just beyond it lives Blue’s widow, Briar Wilkes. Life is hard with a ruined reputation and a teenaged boy to support, but she and Ezekiel are managing. Until Ezekiel undertakes a secret crusade to rewrite history.

His quest will take him under the wall and into a city teeming with ravenous undead, air pirates, criminal overlords, and heavily armed refugees. And only Briar can bring him out alive.

NON Review- Double Cross

I've started and re-written this review 7 times already.  There's just no way to come off without looking like a complete fanatic, so I'm giving up. 

[slowly raises from chair and announces] 
My name's Jessica. And I'm a Midcity-holic.  I'm ready to take up a job on the Midcity Eagle, only serve my coffee "brown cow", and curve my mexican cravings at El Burro so that I don't ever have to leave.  


I had this entire review written up where I talk about how happy I am to see Simon's character playing such a big part because he's so diabolical, and does great things for Justine's character.  And how frustrated I am with Justine in general; how at numerous times I screamed at the book "you're such an idiot" and adding, "His face is in shadows and you can't complete the deed. Don't you realize what that means?!?!" I had planned to discuss how Packard's interactions with our heroine are as cryptic as ever, making us readers just as confused as Justine and how brilliantly it's all pulled off.  I prosed about Justine's strong convictions against what she's doing to the "marks" and how much she's changed in this book...while still staying frustratingly the same.  I'd wanted to describe in depth, how I see each of these characters just like you'd want to see a super-hero; constantly battling with their alter-ego only to push their character farther from what you expected. And how quotes like "You're contorting so wildly to pretend you're on the good side, you're like a fucking sideshow act. Reality check, sister. We're the bad guys." have me throwing up my hands and shouting "Yes!"  


But alas, this could not be.  I am a mere mortal and I've fallen victim to a story that had me cupping my hand over my mouth more times than ever should be normal, and therefore my brain has turned to mush.


Bottom Line: This edition, and I say edition b/c when I read Double Cross I'm holding a shiny 7"x 11" graphic novel in which the story unfolds within black rimmed, boxed panels and the dialog comes out of word balloons, has everything you've really always wanted... even if you didn't know that's what you needed. 


5 stars

Winner Winner

Thanks again to everyone who stopped by on Friday for our chat about Kelly Gay's The Better Part of Darkness.  I threw all the comments into a spreadsheet and husband randomly picked a number and the comments was made by:

Melissa from "My world... in words and pages"

Winning comment:

"Jessica - Yeah! The flower was used as warfair to release the souls from the bodies, and this is where they are claiming the Reverants and wraiths to have come from. So...what if it is used to remove the Reverants once again? But leaving the original soul in tack to live out their life. You know that Titus Mott is one amazing scientist, who knows what he, Aaron, and Carreg could come up with..."

Congratulations Melissa!  I'll contact you this morning and get your info. 

Thanks to you all for participating, and I hope that you go and purchase Kelly Gay's next novel The Darkest Edge of Dawn, and then you come back here and tell me what you think.

Virtual Book Club- The Better Part of Darkness

Up until recently, there was nowhere that I could go geek-out with other literati, and I definitely didn't have a book club in the sleepy beach town where I live.  So, I thought that once a month I would host a virtual book club here at The Spinecracker, somewhere we can share thoughts and argue about plots.  So grab a cocktail and join in at your leisure. 


There is also a giveaway happening today as well.  Kelly Gay has been kind enough to give away a signed copy of the next in the Charlie Madigan series, The Darkest Edge of Dawn.  Here are the details:

• Each comment is an entry
• If you're a Spinecracker follower that's also an entry
• US & Canada only
• Contest ends tonight at midnight (pst)
• Winner will be announced Monday, Oct 4th

This month we'll be discussing The Better Part of Darkness.  I've listed a couple questions to get the discussion started, but please jump in and bring up anything you'd like about the book.


*all I ask is that the comments remain respectful to the author and to each other

1. Drugs, Divorced/Single mother, Teenage daughter: Too realistic for fantasy?
2. Carreg: Good Guy? Bad Guy?
3. Hank & Charlie:  Platonic or More?
4. Favorite secondary character