Sunday, August 29, 2010

P.C. Cast-- books. 1-7 (House of Night series)

synopsis:
House of Night is a thrillingly engaging book series that follows 16-year-old Zoey Redbird, who gets “Marked” by a vampyre tracker and begins to undergo the “Change” into an actual vampyre. She has to leave her family in Tulsa and move into the House of Night, a boarding school for other fledglings like her.

It’s within the school’s walls that the heart of the action takes place as Zoey meets new friends, finds love, comes to terms with how her life will be different now and begins to realize her awesome new powers.

Here’s the deal though: Yes, Zoey’s a vampyre now. But she’s still a teenager – with all the humor, angst and confusing feelings any other teenager has....

***** (5 stars)
1. Marked
2. Betrayed
3. Chosen
4. Untamed
5. Hunted
6. Tempted
7. Burned

I picked up the first book "Marked" back in January. And i really like it so i started getting all the other books in the series. They sat quietly on my desk for several months until I sat down one Sunday and started the second book. I couldn't stop. I was very glad I had already gotten the rest of the series, because i was completely hooked! YES, it is the vampyre version of Harry Potter. YES, its full of teen angst. YES, the language is at times silly. YES, there is lots of teenage bickering and banter (which I find hilarious!) What I love about this series is that it never slows down. It's never boring to me. I love all the characters and find myself hoping for their happy ending. But nothing ever goes easily in Zoey's world and there is lots of pain and drama and even death. If you are looking for a series to read that will entertain your inner teenager for a while, give it a chance. I am glad I did! Now I'll be waiting for the post office to bring me the next book i have already placed on pre-order.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Gena Showalter-- "The Darkest Lie" (Lords of the Underworld)

synopsis:
Forced to his knees in agony whenever he speaks the truth, Gideon can recognize any lie---until he captures Scarlet, a demon-possessed immortal who claims to be his long-lost wife. He doesn't remember the beautiful female, much less wedding--or bedding--her. But he wants to...almost as much as he wants her.

But Scarlet is keeper of Nightmares, too dangerous to roam free. A future with her might mean ultimate ruin. Especially as Gideon's enemies draw closer--and the truth threatens to destroy all he's come to love...

***(3.5 stars)
It took me 2 weeks to get thru this book. I can usually finish a book in 3 days. But translating "Gideon speak" (lies) slowed the book for me and had me putting it down again and again. Even though i struggled with the "lies" translation, this was just as great a story as the others. I love the Lords of the Underworld series, so I pushed thru. Gideon and Scarlet are great characters and i would have appreciated them more without having to translate every conversation, and their story was a little confusing. Were they married and his memories were erased? Or were her memories planted? Amun, William, and Aeron head to HELL to get Legion back and what a journey that was! (But i won't spoil it) We find out a lot of info about Cronus and Rhea's war and Strider finds another demon. The battle at the end of the book with Scarlet was great and funny at the same time. Can't wait until the next one, will it be Strider or Amun's story?

Monday, August 9, 2010

Gena Showalter-- "The Darkest Prison" (Lords of the Underworld)

synopsis:
For weeks, the immortal warrior Aeron has sensed an invisible female presence. An angel--demon assassin--has been sent to kill him. Or has she? Olivia claims she fell from the heavens, giving up immortality because she couldn't bear to harm him. But trusting--and falling for--Olivia will endanger them all. So how has this "mortal" with the huge blue eyes already unleashed Aeron's darkest passion?

Now, with an enemy hot on his trail and his faithful demon companion determined to remove Olivia from his life, Aeron is trapped between duty and consuming desire. Worse still, a new executioner has been sent to do the job Olivia wouldn't.....


**** (4 stars)
Long book, at over 430 pages you might think that you would never get to the end. There are alot more stories going on besides Aeron and Olivia. I still find Showalter's characters fascinating and likable (the good guys anyway). But at times this book seemed to drag for me, occasionally the book was bogged down by the dialogue in Olivia or Aeron's head, and Legion's tantrums. And I was not really satisfied by the ending. Even though i was not 'head over heels' about this installment, by no means am i dropping this series. My issues with this particular book do not sway me from the series as a whole. I still love all the Lords of the Underworld and Olivia is a charming character. And I'm glad Legion got what was coming to her for trying to trap Aeron. We get some glimpses at some new characters and some old ones pop back up (Baden) and I can't wait to see what will happen next.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Tess Gerritsen-- "Ice Cold" (Rizzoli & Isles Novel)

synopsis:
In Wyoming for a medical conference, Boston medical examiner Maura Isles joins a group of friends on a spur-of-the-moment ski trip. But when their SUV stalls on a snow-choked mountain road, they're stranded with no help in sight.

As night falls, the group seeks refuge from the blizzard in the remote village of Kingdom Come, where twelve eerily identical houses stand dark and abandoned. Something terrible has happened in Kingdom Come: Meals sit untouched on tables, cars are still parked in garages. The town's previous residents seem to have vanished into thin air, but footprints in the snow betray the presence of someone who still lurks in the cold darkness--someone who is watching Maura and her friends.


***** (5 stars)
Excellent! Gerritsen does it again! Maura goes on an impulsive trip to try and straighten out her head and her love life. But everything goes wrong, stranded and lost with strangers,they manage to find a village in the middle of nowhere. 41 people have vanished into thin air and left behind a village with nothing but ghosts and questions. After an accident with one of her group, she tries to hike out to safety to get help. Only to find herself in a much dire situation. Fleeing for her life with her captor turned hero. She manages to survive in the wilderness and find the answers to the missing village and the 30 year history of lies and deceit that claimed to many victims. Loved it! Can't wait to see what happens to Rat, will his story continue with Sansone?