April Readings

Still behind on the reviews but here's the list of April readings

If you haven't read Nalini Singh, you have got to read her!!!! Kresley Cole and Alexandra Ivy were pretty good too!!

89. Cast in Secret (Chronicles of Elantra #1) by Michelle Sagara B
88. Watchers in the Night (Guardians of the Night #1) by Jenna Black C
87. When Darkness Comes (Guardians of Eternity #1) by Alexandra Ivy B+
86. Embrace The Darkness(Guardians of Eternity #2) by Alexandra Ivy B+
85. Darkness Everlasting (Guardians of Eternity #3) by Alexandra Ivy B+
84. Darkness Revealed(Guardians of Eternity #4) by Alexandra Ivy B+
83. Angel's Blood (Guild Hinter #1 ) by Nalini Singh A
    Angel's Pawn by Nalini Singh
82. A Hunger Like No Other (Valkyrie #2) by Kresley Cole A
81. No Rest for the Wicked (Valkyrie #3) by Kresley Cole B+
80. The Warlord Wants Forever (Valkyrie #1) by Kresley Cole B
79. Slave to Sensation (Psy-changeling #1) by Nalini Singh A
78. Visions of Heat (Psy-changeling #2) by Nalini Singh A
77. Carressed by Ice (Psy-changeling #3) by Nalini Singh A

Angels' Blood (Guild Hunter#1) by Nalini Singh

Angels' Blood
Book One of the Guild Hunter Series

"Nalini Singh introduces readers to a world of beauty and bloodlust, where angels hold sway over vampires.

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux is hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael. But this time, it's not a wayward vamp she has to track. It's an archangel gone bad.

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other - and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn't destroy her, succumbing to Raphael's seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break."

A world where angels are the ones that make vampires and in order to become a vampire your back background is thoroughly checked and if you sign a contract then you agree to serve that angel for 100 years. But be warned, angels are not all "angelic" as portrayed in all the books you've read. Angels are different and powerful beings that are beyond human moralities. Like the gods of old, they can be petty, vain and vindictive as well as just and honorable (by their standards). When these vampires try to run away from their contract, vampire hunters are hired to trap and bring them back to their masters.
The best of the best, Elena is hired by the archangel of New York, Michael to track down an archangel turned rogue. Because not much
is known about angels, everything is on a need to know basis and she can't tell anyone about it, or else you suffer a horrible horrible faith. But comes the attraction, being attracted to the very being that strikes incredible terror in your heart is not a wise thing to act on, all the while finding a rogue archangel.

This is actually the first book that I read for this author and I have to say I'm loving her.  I've been hearing a lot of good things of the author and I love Elena and Michael and I love the supporting characters as well. And the ending was pretty cool for me. There are a lot of hints of further story development in the novel and I can't wait for the next one to come out. one long year of waiting ;]

Rating: A

Watchers in the Night (Guardians of the Night #1) by Jenna Black

“Vampires.
They hunt in every major city, hidden by the crowds, shielded by disbelief. They are Killers, and their prey is human.
Not all vampires are Killers. The Guardians of the Night sacrifice the superior physical and psychic strength that comes with feeding on humans to protect them. But the Guardians walk a thin line, for even a single kill could leave them helplessly addicted to murder.
When detective-turned-P.I. Carolyn Mathers was left at the altar, she never once thought her fiance had been turned into a vampire. Two years later, Gray reappears, bringing murder, mystery, and an unbelievable tale of Guardians, blood-thirsty Killers, and his own transformation with him.
And he's been accused of murder.
A first-rate P.I., Carolyn is determined to help. Gray won't allow what he is now to taint her -- but Carolyn vows to never let him go again.
But will helping Gray mean becoming a creature of the night?”

I read the frist book in Black’s new Morgan Kingsley urban fantasy series and in all honesty, the heroine annoyed me so much. She was so childish and bitter and judgemental that I really didn’t relate to her. The ending of the first book kind of redeemed it for me and I thought that I would be willing to read the next book in the series just to see.

This book is part of her paranormal romance series so since I got the first book and it’s on my pending list I should give it a go. The book was ok, nothing special. There wasn’t really anything in the story that grabbed me on the characters. I didnt hate the heroine or hero but Jules annoyed me so much. I like Drake though and would like to read more of the series, I guess just not on the top of my priority list.

Someone has been killing women and the Guardians think it’s a Killer vampire. In their world there are two kinds of vampires: those who have developed the taste of killing and those who have chose not to give in to their baser instincts most of which are Guardians.

Gray, a solo vampire is the prime suspect as the Killer and Carolyn, obsessed with finding out the truth about Gray and hsi big change unwittingly becomes a target of the killer as well. And how everyone is much more powerful than Gray make him come across as kind of a wussy vampire. Go Figure

Rating C

April

This month, there is a shift of genre to unban mysteries and paranormal romance. I have to finish all the books my friend has lent me as well as finish the pending list of books that I promised to send in bookmooch. Well, at least I know which books I will be reading :) On with the first review!!

89. Cast in Secret (Chronicles of Elantra #1) by Michelle Sagara
"Seven years ago Kaylin fled the crime-riddled streets of Nightshade, knowing that something was after her. Children were being murdered -- and all had the same odd markings that mysteriously appeared on her own skin.…

Since then, she's learned to read, she's learned to fight and she's become one of the vaunted Hawks who patrol and police the City of Elantra. Alongside the winged Aerians and the immortal Barrani, she's made a place for herself, far from the mean streets of her birth.

But children are once again dying, and a dark and familiar pattern is emerging. Kaylin is ordered back into Nightshade with a partner she knows she can't trust, a Dragon lord for a companion and a device to contain her powers -- powers that no other human has. Her task is simple -- find the killer, stop the murders…and survive the attentions of those who claim to be her allies!!

I've been meaning to read Sagara's Cast series for awhile now and book one starts out as a good beginning of a series too. We're introduced to Kaylin, who is thrust back into her tragic past when events that led to her escape from the slums she grew up in began happening again, and she's stuck in the middle trying to solve the mystery. We're introduced to ehr companions a mysterious dragon and her childhood companion, Severn who she attempts to kill at first sight.
I have to admit that there are some good parts and bad parts to the novel. I found myself getting very engrossed in the book but at some points, the story keeps twisting this way and that way that I sometimes think "Isn't this ending soon?" We find out what really happened in her past around the latter part of the book(After thinking all throughout what Severn could have done to merit her hatred) and yes it was traumatic but I liked that the author doesnt really justify that what happened was right or wrong.
The premise has a lot of promise and the characters are interesting but she has a habit of describing them over and over again, without actually developing the characters more. I liked the characters though and hopefully they could be more developed in the succeeding books. And I would love a more detailed description of the world. The only thing I get is the three towers and one street over is the place where she grew up. I admit I don't really concentrate so much when I'm reading sometimes but I found myself rereading some parts (esp the first time she went in NightShade's place) because I didn't get what just happened.

I did get hooked on the world and the people there though so I will read the parts of the series :)

Rating : B

March Reads

I just realized I never posted my March readings yet. Reviews will come maybe later )

March
105. Witchling (Sisters of the Moon #1) by Yasmine Galenorn B
104. Alpha And Omega (On the Prowl Anthology) by Patricia Briggs B
103. Cry Wolf (Alpha and Omega #1) by Patricia Briggs B+

102. Duplicity Dogged the Dachshund (Dixie Hemingway Mysteries #2) by Blaize Clement A

101. The Devil Inside (Morgan Kingsley #1) by Jenna Black C+
100. Hounding the Pavement (Ellie Engleman, Dog Walker Mysteries, #1) by Judi McCoy B+
99.  Murder with Peacocks (Meg Langslow Mysteries #1) by Donna Andrews A
98.  Murder with Puffins (Meg Langslow Mysteries #2) by Donna Andrews B
97. My Favorite Witch by Anette Blair B+
96. Must Love Dragons (Immortally Sexy, Book 3) by Stephanie Rowe B+
95. He Loves Me, He Loves Me Hot (Immortally Sexy, Book 3) by Stephanie Rowe B+
94. Bite (Anthology) B
93. Cupid Inc by Michele Bardsley B
92. Even Cat-sitters get the Blues (Dixie Hemingway Mysteries #2) by Blaize Clement
91. Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingos (Meg Langslow Mysteries #3) by Donna Andrews B+
90. Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon (Meg Langslow Mysteries #4) by Donna Andrews A

Alpha and Omega Series by Patricia Briggs

104. Alpha And Omega (On the Prowl Anthology) by Patricia Briggs B
103. Cry Wolf (Alpha and Omega #1) by Patricia Briggs B+

"Anna never knew werewolves existed until the night she survived a violent attack.and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she'd learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. But Anna is that rarest kind of werewolf: an Omega. And one of the most powerful werewolves in the country will recognize her value as a pack member - and as his mate."  -- fantasticfiction.com

I'll blog about these two together because Alpha and Omega was a short story in the On the Prowl Anthology and is the prologue of Cry Wolf. If you’re starting Cry Wolf, better read the short story first. In Alpha and Omega we learn about Anna and how she has been traumatized in her life as  wolf. She sees a dead body who he recognizes as one killed by her pack and so bravely calls Bran, the Marrock(leader) of all the wolves for help. Bran sends his son and enforcer Charles, who learns that Anna is an Omega as well as his mate. A&O ends with the confrontation with Anna's Pack and Cry Wolf starts immediately after. In Cry Wolf, Anna is moving to Montana to join Brans pack. Before even settling in, Charles is needed to look for a rogue wolf in the mountains and takes Anna with him. Little did they know that there is much more involved, dark magic that has been haunting one of the pack is closing in and only Charles and Anna could prevent disaster from happening.

Having read the previous Mercy books, I am eager to learn more about the world that Briggs has created. With Mercy who is living away from the clan, we have an image of a shifter walking among other magical creatures. With the Alpha and Omega Series, we are smack dab in the middle of the clan and the rules the clans live by. With Anna, who is a newcomer in the Marrok's clan, we get an inside view of the working of the pack and also get a clearer picture of the Marrock and his past. All in all, was a great and fast read for me. Can't wait for the next one.

105. Witchling

105. Witchling (Sisters of the Moon #1) by Yasmine Galenorn B
"Meet the D'Artigo sisters: half-human, half-faerie, they're savvy-and sexy-operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. But their mixed-blood heritage short-circuits their talents at all the wrong times. Delilah shapeshifts into a tabby cat whenever she's stressed. Menolly's a vampire who's still trying to get the hang of being undead. And Camille is a wicked-good witch, except her magic's as unpredictable as the weather, as her enemies are about to find out-the hard way."

First on Yasmin Galenorn's urban fantasy novel introduces us to the D'Artigo sisters. This is told on the point of view of Camille whose magic can be absolutely perfect as well as backfire at any given time. Each book in the series will focus on the point of view of each sister, books 2(Delilah) and 3(Menolly) and back to Camille again on book 4. In the first book, we learn all about the sisters and how they are working for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. When one of the other operatives was killed, the sisters find out that the evil demon leader Shadow King is rallying demons to merge the Otherworld, Earth and Deomworld and wreak havok in all three. Since Otherwold is having it's own crisis and is not equipped to handle this seige, it is up to the three sisters to save the day.

The book was ok for me. I loved Yasmine Galenorn's Chintz China Series but her India Ink series didnt really impress me so much. The thing that I like about Witchling is that I liked the characters, there's even a fox spirit involved, go Kitsune! In a way, the story was very cliche in that they had to find the seals that would bind all three worlds together before Shadow King does (deja vu Supernatural),and it really read like a prologue of the whole story for me. I'ld probably read the next in the series and see after that.

Currently Reading: Bite An Anthology