Night Myst – Spotlight & Review

Night Myst by Yasmine Galenorn

Paperback: 352 pages

Publisher: Jove (MM) (Jun 29 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0515148148

ISBN-13: 978-0515148145

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Book Description:

“Eons ago, vampires tried to turn the Dark Fae in order to harness their magic, only to create a demonic enemy more powerful than they imagined. Having quietly amassed their strength for centuries, the Vampiric Fae are determined to enslave the world. Now Myst, Queen of the Indigo Court, is rising again-and a long prophesied war is about to begin…

Cicely Waters, a witch who can control the wind, has returned home to New Forest, Washington, after learning that her family is in danger. The Indigo Court holds the city in fear. People are vanishing, and strange deaths plague the town. And when she is swept into an unexpected and passionate reunion with Grieve, the Fae prince who taught her to how to harness the wind, Cicely finds herself with a fierce and territorial lover.

But Grieve has become enslaved by Myst’s court, and now, caught between two evils, the lovers must survive the machinations of the Vampiric Fae queen, even as Cicely untangles the hidden secrets to her own heritage.”

My Thoughts:

Anyone who has been following my blog for a while knows that I am a long time fan of Yasmine Galenorn’s work, and this first novel in the Indigo Court series did not disappoint! I was immediately drawn into Cicely’s world and led on a marvelous ride through it. Galenorn’s characters are always written with depth and richness that makes you believe that they could exist somewhere. The world that she crafts is so filled with atmosphere, it becomes almost like a character of its own.

Filled with characters that you fall in love with,  some that you love to hate, and excellent plotting and pacing equals a page flipping / no sleep night.  This book represents, at least to me, everything that makes an urban fantasy work. It’s also a perfect example of how to start a new series, as you don’t get lost in explanations of world-building. You get pulled right in and carried along for the supernatural ride of a lifetime.

Cicely is a strong lead and Grieve is a mouth-watering alpha who is the perfect match for her. Witches, vampires, fae and vampiric fae make for interesting conflicts and interactions. I am so looking forward to the next book in the series! Night Veil is scheduled to be released June 2011.

       

Buy Night Myst at:

Chapters,  Amazon,  Barnes & Noble or Book Depository

Find out more about Yasmine Galenorn and her books at her website!

Tempest Rising – Spotlight & Review

Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler

Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages

Publisher: Orbit (Nov 1 2009)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0316056588

ISBN-13: 978-0316056588

BUY

Book Description:

“Living in small town Rockabill, Maine, Jane True always knew she didn’t quite fit in with so-called normal society. During her nightly, clandestine swim in the freezing winter ocean, a grisly find leads Jane to startling revelations about her heritage: she is only half-human.

Now, Jane must enter a world filled with supernatural creatures alternatively terrifying, beautiful, and deadly- all of which perfectly describe her new “friend,” Ryu, a gorgeous and powerful vampire.

It is a world where nothing can be taken for granted: a dog can heal with a lick; spirits bag your groceries; and whatever you do, never-ever-rub the genie’s lamp.

If you love Sookie  Stackhouse, then you’ll want to dive into Nicole Peeler’s enchanting debut novel.”

My Thoughts:

Besides the fact that I absolutely LOVE the cover, Tempest Rising is one of the best reads I’ve devoured this year! I’m loving the cover because 1) It’s just gorgeous! 2) It’s different. 3) I’m loving the colors used, and 4) It kind of reminds me of Jasmine Becket-Griffith’s artwork of which I am a huge fan. Sharon Tancredi is the awesome illustrator of the covers for this series. 

Jane True is totally one of the funniest, animated and entertaining characters I’ve had the pleasure to “meet” on paper. I was completely absorbed in the world that Nicole Peeler has created and couldn’t flip the pages fast enough. Ryu, Anyan, Nell, Tracey and Grizelda are rich characters alongside Jane and others. Between several cultural references and Jane’s inner dialogue I was laughing my head off while cheering her on during her madcap caper of a journey.

        

  I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, Tracking The Tempest which is slated as a spring/summer 2010 release from Orbit 

To find out more about the author, go to Nicole Peeler’s Website

To read a great interview with the author, go to Wicked Lil Pixie’s Blog

Buy at Chapters

Buy at Amazon

Book Buying Frenzy

• Mood: happy
• Watching: ok, I’ll admit it, my TV is always on!
• Location: On my way out.

I went a little crazy yesterday and ordered:

     

And then I went to the store and bought:

     

Yes, I went on a book shopping frenzy, lol. Bad, bad me. Can you see me feeling guilty…NOT!   I’m pretty excited to read them, although I still have to wait for the first four to get here.

I had an idea, I’m wondering if some of you might have a question you’d like me to ask author of A Rush Of Wings, Adrian Phoenix? If you have one, then ask away in a comment or you can email me, and I’ll see what I can do to work it into my up-coming interview with her. 

I hope you’re all having a wonderful weekend!

( Moved over from my original blog )  

2 Comments.

 

 

Posted by Amber:

I ordered ‘Staked’ yesterday! It looks good.

I was lucky enough to win an ARC of Happy Hour of the Damned! I am looking forward to see how you like it.

Howling at the Moon & Night Life rock!

House of Cards was good but not as good as Heart of Stone.

I will have to check the other books out…

Sunday, March 30th 2008 @ 8:47 AM

Posted by Judi:

If you want to see the whole list of books I aquired this month, go to http://sidhevicious.livejournal.com/ I just listed all 54 of them, lol. Crazy, I know! 🙂

Sunday, March 30th 2008 @ 10:23 AM

Books Of The Week – So Far

• Mood:
• Currently Reading: Personal Demons
• Location: chillin in front of the tube

I went and picked up issue #9 of Anita Blake Guilty Pleasures comic. I’m loving the series of comics, and hope they continue to make more comics from the rest of Laurell K. Hamilton’s books.

I also picked up Nalini Singh’s – Caressed By Ice, Rebel Fay – Barb & JC Hendee, Shadows On the Hill – Jackie Cassada, Dusk – Susan Gates, The Black Tatoo – Sam Enthoven, The 30 Minute Writer – Writers Digest Books, Building A Website For Dummies, and my PC Cast & Kristin Cast – Chosen arrived in the mail. A great haul again and it’s only Wednesday!  

As you may have noticed, I have a random showing of books in my library at the top. It’s actually mostly books on my wishlist, and a few that I own, but if you click the “my library” link, you can see the whole list. I apologize for the huge big “header” here on my blog, but I can’t seem to find a way to get html anywhere else on here.

( Moved over from my original blog and edited a bit )  

4 Comments.

 

 

Posted by UFR:

You are in a book buying frenzy. I don’t plan on picking up anymore books until Armstrong’s Personal Demon comes out on the 25th. Woot! Can’t wait!

Friday, March 14th 2008 @ 9:07 AM

Posted by Judi:

Ha ha, I am always in a book buying frenzy! It’s my crack, it all started with those Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden books when I was a wee little nipper…

Friday, March 14th 2008 @ 9:23 PM

Posted by Amber:

I am constantly in a pre-ordering book frenzy. I am trying not to buy any other books because I am involved in book swaps over on Bookobsessed.com and don’t want to end up with lots of doubles!

I got my email saying ‘Personal Demon’ by Kelley Armstrong has already been sent to me…Now I just have to wait for it to arrive!!! Stupid Easter holidays!

Monday, March 24th 2008 @ 7:08 AM

Posted by Judi:

LOL, I hear that! I’m always grumpy about holiday’s that delay my mail (books), ha ha!
Doesn’t it end up costing quite a bit to mail your books all over for the swapping?

Monday, March 24th 2008 @ 11:59 AM

Gah, What A Day!

• Mood: Tired
• Watching: the tv is on?
• Currently Reading: One Bite Stand (still)

I just wrote a post and when I tried to put a smilie in my moods I lost the post!!!  And this after I just spent hours and hours putting up my “homemade” website. It’s plain, but it’s there. I kept it with bravenet because my blog is already here, but I have to admit that the instructions are somewhat confusing. I still didn’t get all the “books I’ve read” put on my site, but there’s a fair amount to look through for now. It’s definitely a work in progress. Any suggestions, advice or help with the site would be much appreciated as I am a total web site newbie.  (I gave up on the website and came here instead)

I also started my personal blog over on livejournal, so after this post, I’ll be sticking to book reviews, discussion about the books, tv shows and movies on here. The livejournal blog will be leaning more towards my everyday happenings, writing efforts, and of course some discussion on books as they are my true addiction! See my sidebar for links to both my website and other blog.

I did pick up Nancy Kilpatrick’s Near Death – Power Of The Blood World today. Yesterday I bought JD Robb – Betrayal In Death, Christopher Golden – Theif Of Hearts, and Charles Stross – The Family Trade. Arriving this week (if Canada Post loves me) is Chosen – PC & Kirsten Cast, Biting The Bullet – Jennifer Rardin, Stake That – Mari Mancusi, Unquiet Dreams – Mark Del Franco and (don’t laugh too hard) Blogging For Dummies.  Also from Writers Digest book club, I should be recieving: Complete Handbook of Novel Writing, 3 AM Epiphany, On Writing Romance, and Pen On Fire.  Hello…My name is Judi and I AM a book-a-holic! LOL

Wishing you all an awesome week, and thanks for stopping by my little corner of the web.

( Moved over from my original blog and edited a bit on May 19/08 )

2 Comments.

 

 

Posted by UFR:

Wow, you picked up a great bunch of books. Looking forward to seeing your reviews of them.

I’ll be heading out today to pick up CE Murphy’s House of Cards to add to my TBR pile. 🙂

Monday, March 3rd 2008 @ 8:46 AM

Posted by Judi:

Thanks! I’m looking forward to reading them.:) My TBR pile is ridiculously huge, but I am always on the hunt for more. I’ll probaby order House of Cards this month as well. I enjoyed the first novel in this series.

Tuesday, March 4th 2008 @ 1:11 AM

 

Unshapely Things – Spotlight & Review

Unshapely Things by Mark Del Franco Published Feb/07 By Ace Fantasy

Format:Mass Market Paperbound

Published:January 22, 2007

Dimensions:320 Pages

Published By:Berkley Publishing Group

The following ISBNs are associated with this title:
ISBN – 10:0441014771
ISBN – 13:9780441014774

(from back cover) “As long as there are desperate people, there will be the Weird, and I will have a reason to get up in the morning. I may not work in the big power leagues these days, but I still pull my weight even if now I’m poor Connor Gray, crippled druid. At least I don’t have to deal with the politics of the Guild anymore. And they do send disability cheques.

In the alleys of the decrepit Boston neighborhood known as the Weird, fairy prostitutes are turning up dead. The crime scenes show signs of residual magic, but the Guild, which polices the fey, has more “important” crimes to investigate and dumps the cases on human law enforcement.

So the Boston police call in Connor Gray, a druid and former hotshot Guild investigator whose magical abilities were crippled after a run-in with a radical environmentalist elf.

There’s no love lost between the Guild and Boston P.D., and as Connor battles red tape and his own short comings, he realizes that the murders are not random, but part of an ancient magic ritual. And if Connor can’t figure out the killer’s MO, the culmination of the spell might just bring about a worldwide cataclysm…”

This is the first book of at least two, and I hope to see more in the future. If you’re a fan of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files, then this book is for you. I enjoyed it enough that I’ve already ordered the second book Unquiet Dreams. Two thumbs up for Mark Del Franco’s Fey, Druids, and the Weird   You can see more about this at his website www.markdelfranco.com

Connor Gray is a great character with all the right kinds of quirks to keep me coming back to find out more. The world building is great and the supporting paranormal characters and creatures were awesome! I give Unshapely Things –

——————————————————————– 

 So far this week, I’ve picked up Christopher Moore – Bloodsucking Fiends, Kinley MacGregor – The Warrior, Marta Acosta – Happy Hour At Casa Dracula, and a few non-fiction books. I think I am officially a “book hunter”, lol. I took some pictures of my keeper and TBR piles and piles of books, and once I photoshop the flash out, I’ll post them on here.

( Moved over from my original blog and edited a bit on May 19/08 )

4 Comments.

 

 

Posted by Amber:

The second book in this series just came out. ‘Unquiet Dreams’ was on pre-order and it arrived yesterday…may take me a while to get to it though. As usual all the new books come out at the end/beginning of the month and I just can’t decide which ones to read first!

Saturday, March 1st 2008 @ 8:02 AM

Posted by Sidhe:

My copy should arrive this week. I’m looking forward to reading it. I hear you on the difficulties of trying to decide what to read next! My TBR pile is ridiculously huge and I’m always adding to it.

Saturday, March 1st 2008 @ 1:24 PM

Posted by Allie:

After reading this book I got a huge crush on Connor Grey. Silly, I know.

Monday, March 3rd 2008 @ 12:04 AM

Posted by Sidhe:

He does sound kinda hot! 😉

Monday, March 3rd 2008 @ 12:36 AM

 

Crazy Week

• Mood:
• Currently Reading: One Bite Stand
• Location: Under my blankets

I’m having a crazy-busy last week and a half. I did, however, aquire alot of good books! =) I do actually buy alot of books new, but I also buy alot of second hand books from the Goodwill store (my little way of supporting a charity while indulging in my book addiction), second-hand bookstores, and my good friend M, (you know who you are & I love ya!), sends me her copies of books after she’s read them. If any authors are reading this, I apologize, because I know you don’t make money on second hand sales, but there’s no way I could afford to buy all new copies of every book I want. I do spend way more every month on books than most, so I do what I can to support writers and my reading habits.

Books I aquired this week include: The Gathering Dark by Christopher Golden, Darkling by Yasmine Galenorn, When Darkness Comes by Alexandra Ivy, Dragon Heat by Allyson James, Charmed I’m Sure by Liz Ireland, The Stone Maiden by Susan King, Heart Mate by Robin D. Owens, Judgement In Death by J.D. Robb, The Twilight Lord by Bertrice Small, Mysteria an Anthology, My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon an Anthology, Midnight Awakening by Lara Adrian, The Moon Stone by Claire Cross, Dream Of Me by Lisa Cach and One Bite Stand by Nina Bangs. 

Woot! What a haul! I think my TBR pile is now actually bigger than my Keeper pile. This makes me ridiculously happy.  I finished reading Unshapely Things and will be posting my review in the next day or two. I’m now reading Nina Bangs’ One Bite Stand.

(Moved over from my original blog)