Review- As Lie the Dead

I think this might be the very first case of a second book being better than first.  As Lie the Dead reads like the second half to a much larger story.  A story that is so well thought out, I'm still reeling from the plot twists and shocking reveals.


Our story starts exactly where we left it. Evy and Wyatt are quickly swept up in a new battle against "their kind" and the surviving Owlkin, who were slaughtered thanks to protecting Evy when she was a wanted criminal.  Evy can't help herself from feeling responsible for their near extinction and vows to protect the remaining few.  But the owlkins aren't merely satisfied with her protection, they're seeking revenge in the form of Rufus' head on a platter.  Of course Evy can't let Rufus be held accountable for something she already feels guilty for, so she vows to uncover the real masterminds behind the Triads' orders; the people really making the decisions of who dies and who lives.


Even though this book feels like the second half of a previous story Meding approaches As Lie the Dead with a fresh set of eyes, focusing on the inner workings of The Triads.  Self-proclaimed enforcers of the "Dregs", The Triads have decided what's right and what's wrong for the past 10 years. Evy really opens up and questions everything she's thought was un-questionable her past 4 years.  There was a whole sub-story taking place that I found really thought provoking.  Why do the Triads get to decide punishment for the Dregs?  Just like some might argue why does one ruling government get to raise arms against another just because they disagree or don't understand a culture or means of policing.  Now, this book is not uber political and this is only a part of the bigger picture, but I really enjoyed the silent messages of un-just nestled within Meding's pages. 


Turning Evy's black & white world into shades of grey is the introduction of Phin.  Phin is a shapeshifter Clan member who's eager for retribution for the needless slaughter of the Owlkin.  I thought he was such an interesting side-kick for her. All of her training pops up and screams for her not to trust a Dreg but Phin's actions continued to open her up to the possibility that Dregs might be just as "human" as humans.   Bring in George Clooney or Matt Damon and you've got your next espionage/spy flick complete with rugged good looks and sincere emotions.


The other part of the book that I just loved is Wyatt's backstory.  Ask and you shall receive.  His story fits flawlessly into the bigger picture and I had to pick my jaw up off the floor a couple times throughout his monologues.  I can't wait for more more more.  


Again, it's hard to go much further into detail without accidentally slipping a detail or two out, so I wont.


Bottom Line: One of best books I've read in 2010.

Giveaway: Signed Copy of The Darkest Edge of Dawn

It's coming up to that time of the month again, no not THAT time of the month. It's time for this month's book club discussion.  This Friday, Oct 1st we'll be discussing Kelly Gay's The Better Part of Darkness. And I'm happy to announce that Kelly will be giving away a signed copy of Charlie Madigan's next adventure The Darkest Edge of Dawn.  All you need to do is stop by and say hi and if you'd like, join in on the discussion here.  


Hope to see you there

Absolute Nonsense

I'd like to think that I stay up on politics and try to know what's happening in my world.  But sometimes it all just becomes too much.  Sometimes I need a little comic relief.  So I remembered this ridiculous video I saw a million years ago, and went in youtube search for it.  I found it.  And I think it's still hilarious.  So here is my Humpday post. 


Disclaimer: I'm not trying to offend anyone and I did not make this video, but I did laugh out loud.

Review- Three Days to Dead

Meding had me at hello.  I've never come across a title so blatant.  I loved how the title just tells it like it is.  And thankfully the story within never swayed from this sharp-as-glass attitude.


Evy wakes up on an autopsy table naked and disoriented, but things only get worse when she looks in the mirror and sees a complete stranger staring back at her.  Come to find out Evy's technically dead.  She's been brought "back" into someone else's body by her handler.  See Evangeline Stone is/was part of a triad team, a secret tactical group of renegades that protect the people from the "other" beings that inhabit the earth. The rest of her team is dead and she looks guilty for the job. Only her handler, Wyatt, believes that she's been framed and that there might be something bigger taking place.  But nothing is ever simple for Evy and Wyatt. Her resurrection wont last forever; she has exactly 3 days to figure out who's got her on the lamb and why.


Just like in the movie Momento, Three Days to Dead captures a unique perspective only acomplished through very skilled story telling and a precise focus on the characters within.  Evy is our point of view, and she's woken up with no memory of her last days on earth.  So we get to discover alongside Evy the bad guy, the course of events and what to do next.  This was maybe my favorite part of the story; the never knowing. 


The other thing that I'm still amazed about it, is how original this story comes off.  Vampires, goblins, trolls, fairies are nothing new, but Meding's versions are.  Each one's introduction is as unqiue as the next.  I particularly loved her version of the fae.  I hope that we get to see much more of them and the city they inhabit.  But all the "others" are a perfect mix of believable and unusual.


I loved the intensity of the story. It starts right away and literally never stops.  While this keeps the action high, and the tension real, it didn't give us a ton of time for backstory.  Meding did a great job of attaching me to our characters, I just hope that the next book has a little bit more insight and history. I am especially yearning for Wyatt's story. Gimme gimme. 


It's hard to talk more about the story without ruining the experience for you, and I wouldn't want to take that away from you.  But, believe me when I tell you that as soon as I finished I wanted to know what my characters were doing next.  


Bottom line: Meding crafts a non-stop story with characters you'll get hooked on. 


4 stars

Winner Winner

The winner has been chosen for Carolyn Crane's Birthday Giveaway!  And the winner is

Alexa (27th comment)

Congratulations Alexa!  I'll email you this morning and get all your info.

I hope that even if you didn't win today you'll still go and read Mind Games so that you can pick up Double Cross that releases tomorrow. YAY! Thanks again to everyone for stopping by.  Have a great week!

Special Thanks

Since Sunday is a day of peace and reflection I thought I'd do some reflecting and dish out some Thanks.  It's been nearly 2 months since I started typing and talking here and there are a few people that have helped make these first couple months actually fun. Melissa from My world... in words and pages and Robyn from The Bookoholic Zone were probably the first 2 people to reach out and say hi.  And I'll never forget it.  They're both so nice and helpful and if you haven't visited their websites you should.  Then I was lucky enough to befriended Julie from Yummy Men and Kick Ass Chicks. I love her site, and she's funny and comes with some great book recs.  Kindness runs her family so much so that her husband made my Spinecracker button on the home page --->  over there. Colette from A Buckeye Girl Reads and Sally from The Qwillery are another couple sites I love and people who I enjoy chatting up on twitter. 


The other thing that trips me out (that I'm totally shocked by) is how approachable authors are.  I've yet to be laughed at by anyone.  Special thanks to Carolyn Crane, Kat Richardson, and Kelly Gay for answering my emails and tweets and being all-around warm. 


I'm from Texas originally, but moved to California 12 years ago for college, and maybe I've become like all the other SoCal people, too busy on your cell phones to smile at the stranger standing in line next to you, because I've been genuinely touched by the hospitality I've received.  It's hard when you've arrived late to party, so thanks to each of you for making me feel welcome.

Review- Dayhunter

Poor Mira, tasked with saving the world yet again. Our story starts a day or two after the end of Nightwalker and Mira and Danaus are in Venice to see the Coven who've summoned her.  They have a couple days until the naturi will atempt to brake open the seals in place against them.  And they hope that the mighty Coven will offer some relief and have some much-needed answers.  
  
Drake does an amazing job of relaying Mira's somber state throughout the book.  Mira is very low, and at times I wanted to close the book in frustration because of all the bull-shit she's up against.  She has lost one of her gardiaun angels, Michael, and has charged herself responsible for now watching over Tristan as a means of redemption. But the interactions aren't the same.  And without either of her friendly guardians present, Mira came off very lonely. Danaus is still her confidant but they're both so stressed out the entire time, that there was no friendly banter much like in the previous book. 


The majority of the middle was all about the coven's politics and about each elder's end-game.  You discover a little bit about their goals for humans, the naturi, and even their master; their Liege.  Unforunately, the Liege still has yet to appear but, I fell safe in saying that once the curtain is pulled back and the wizard is revealed we'll wish for the stories when he was only in the background.  Each elder was a unique addition to the story and to Mira's character background.


The story-line was a bit sluggish, and the whole book felt almost like Act II of the previous book; a second half of the same story if you will.  Granted it's a unique approach to story telling, but it did make me wonder through the slow bits thinking "we sure are going back and forth with the same characters and locations a lot".  Now, it's all very important to the overall series, and by the end of the story I was very happy with all the incites I've made, I just wanted...I don't even know what I wanted.


I'm still thoroughly enjoying Drake's writing style.  She really has a way with scenes and the players involved in them.  Her crafty ways keep even the repetitive locations mysterious and interesting. Venice is painted in splashes of grey and charcoal instead of it's usual blues and oranges.  I thought this new take on a stereotypically serene destination appealing.  I'll never think of Venice quite the same again.  


Bottom Line: Not quite the same magic but, an important part of the Dark Days series 


3.5 stars