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NotYourAverageJenn
History buff, news junkie, art, art-journals, poetry, music lover, eye for color, witty impaired, ambiguous poet, adores commas and English roses, shutter bug, chief cook and dog walker...
Currently reading
The Cabinet of Curiosities
Full Dark, No Stars
The Truth-Teller's Lie
Tropic of Cancer
Micah (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 13)
Very quick read. You learn a little about Micah while he helps her control her powers and work on a zombie raising case for the FBI. I could have learned a little more about Micah... he still doesn't have as much "character" to him as Richard or even Jason and Nathaniel. I like him, it's just that sometimes he seems a little...flat. (though not in the bedroom!) And finally Anita gets to raise a zombie again, though with her new powers, you know it will be a challenge.
Incubus Dreams (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 12)
Finally, Anita gets back to work as a preternatural expert in a vampire serial killer case, all while dealing with new powers, love triangles, and consequences of her alliances...Better than Narcissus in Chains but still a 4 star.
Cerulean Sins (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 11)
Vampire politics, Richard is a jerk, Asher in danger... and Anita and Jean-Claude must join forces to conquer them all. I like evil vampires, they bring out the fierceness in Anita. Just when you think Anita has lost her edginess, Hamilton cooks up a good vampire politics plot and Anita becomes witty, cutting and bloodthirsty again.
Narcissus in Chains (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 10)
Since the reviews for the later books in the Anita Blake series are pretty much "love it/leave it", I'll have to say I'm in the love it group.While I miss the bad-ass-impulse-driven-monster-hating Anita, I can appreciate that she needs to mature. She has gained insight, and restraint as well as a better understanding that not everyone is the same, but that doesn't make them monsters. She has gained powers from her alliance with Jean-Claude and Richard that force her to become more compassionate to others struggling with their own demons.
A good read if you like your fantasy/sci-fi a little sexy.
The Vanishing of Katharina Linden: A Novel
I won an advanced copy of this book from Goodreads. Having previously read "Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" and Peter Abrams- Echo Falls series, where both protagonists are pre-teen, capricious, girl sleuths, I have to say... Peter Abrams did the best job.
Helen Grants character Pia, comes from a dysfunctional family similar to the other two but Pia's family fighting differs in that you wonder how her parents ever fell in love to begin with. Flavia's family dysfunction has motive and was humorous, Ingrid's just doesn't have time for her and again- were funny, Pia's became annoying.
All three authors have a good mystery involved with nice reveal. I did figure out pretty early "who done it" in "The Vanishing..." but there was a good deal of suspense.
The thing that most bothered me about "The Vanishing..." was similar to what bothered me about "Sweetness...", the gratuitous use of German vocabulary. I found it distracting to read more than just a few basic words...(words most readers would be familiar with) I wanted to stop reading and look up the meaning, so that instead of adding to the flavor, it disrupted the flow. I wish that after referring to a local custom, the author would have put in a line explaining the event. Halfway through the book, I realized there was a glossary in the back. (I don't usually read the end first, but I was so glad to finally find it and I went back and read some of the longer phrases that I had passed up.)
Maybe it's just me, the story is a pretty good one, I did give it 3 stars and if you like Echo Falls or Flavia de Luce, I think you'll like this one too.
Dead And Gone (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood, Book 9)
A little glimpse into what makes Sookie so darned attractive to the vampires when she meets a distant relative... also, the vamps are under a new leadership... and some more Eric! Yum!
From Dead to Worse (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 8)
This one tied up some loose ends... and brought Eric to the forefront of Sookie's life again. (Fine with me!) Though I think in the final book, Sookie will end up with ... Sam.
All Together Dead - Book Club Edition
Oh, this one dragged a bit... It seemed to take forever for Sookie to get to the convention and then the convention itself was slow at times... Barry the Bellboy livened things up a bit, but Quinn... eh... There were a few mysteries, and a catastrophic ending... but I wasn't overly excited about it. The best part of the whole book was Sookie's involvement with Eric. (who's character I love)... so on to the next book... #8
Obsidian Butterfly (An Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 9)
Anita finally learns a little more about Edward in this book. He's come to her aid several times and backed her up while battling monsters before, but now she's on his turf. Terrible murders, unusual clues, a variety of suspects... pushy cops, serial killer friends and to top all that, Anita comes to realize that sealing herself off from Jean Claude and Richard has weakened her powers, leaving her open to just the kind of monster they're fighting. A very long book compared to the others.
Blue Moon (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 8)
Well, I knew eventually Anita would end up with Richard, but still love Jean Claude. I loved how she received some information about their triumvirate from an unsuspected source. This sheds new light on her powers and what she could become. She begins to understand her link/responsibilities with the other "were" tribe. This book also begins to lean towards what I know will eventually happen to Anita (because, I unintentionally read a little of Harlequin.)ie... there's a lot of sexual tension...to put it mildly.
Definitely Dead (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood, Book 6)
Ha! The truth comes out about Bill's involvement with Sookie. Yes, I know he will eventually redeem himself, but I feel justified in thinking Bill isn't right for her. Eric makes an appearance and Sookie's new love interest Quinn. The Queen of Louisiana meets with Sookie, and of course, Sookie saves her undead behind!Good story.
Rebel Angels (The Gemma Doyle Trilogy Book #2)
I enjoyed the progression of the characters. They stayed true to their nature, but their back story evolved more. While I thought some would turn out bad, they don't and some could be good and they're not. Gemma faces a new set of challenges this time. She and her friends have left the school for Christmas holiday, so the setting changes, which is nice. Basically, what I'm saying is... I enjoyed the first book and the characters haven't lost anything in continuing the story through the second book. (which happens so often in teen lit-fantasy) I'm curious to see how Simon plays out in the final book. Will he stay or be replaced? Kartik, I know won't last... though he would be my choice.
Great book 2!
Dead as a Doornail (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood, Book 5)
Sookie has a run of really bad luck in this story. And, even though she's always felt like an outsider, her friends demonstrate their care for her over and over in this story. An interesting development is how my opinion changed of Alcide. Not to mention all the "men" interested in Sookie...I'll just keep holding out hope she realizes Sam is right for her...
Dead To The World (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood, Book 4)
I haven't been a huge fan of Bill lately, so when Sookie took in Eric (with amnesia) I was okay with that. Eric is witty, cocky, and brings out the bad in Sookie. They usually have a few witty exchanges, and even though Eric wasn't himself in this book, I enjoyed his kinder gentler side. I enjoyed this story, and even the Jason story line added interest to his character...All in all a good read...
Burnt Offerings (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 7)
Another 4 1/2 star book in the Anita Blake series! There's a fire bug loose in town, or is there? Strange happenings, lots of plot lines and again, neatly tied up in the end... The story between Anita, Richard and Jean-Claude becomes even more complicated as Anita begins to experiment with her powers, powers that bind her to many more who need her protection and friendship. No Zombies in this one though...I need another book store coupon so I can keep reading!
The Killing Dance (Anita Blake Vampire Hunter, #6)
If there were 1/2 stars, this book would get a 4 1/2! I couldn't put it down! Tensions in the (wolf)pack are echoed in the relationships between Richard, Jean-Claude and Anita. You know there's going to be trouble but it was a very interesting ending!!Thank goodness for store coupons, they keep me in Anita Blake's world! I hope they're all this good!
 - Laurell K. Hamilton)