67. Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels #3) by Ilona Andrews

Magic Strikes(The third book in the Kate Daniels series)
(2008)
A novel by
Ilona Andrews

Drafted into working for the Order of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems than she knows what to do with. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that's saying a lot.But when Kate's werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet.
Dead shapeshifters and Derrick trying to steal from Saiman, gets Kate involved in the underground world of underground fighting in the MIdnight Games, where she discovered that the prize was something to be used as part of a bigger conspiracy.

I adored Magic Strikes!! BUT I found out that the next book doesn't come out until June or end of May 2010 nooo!!! I just read the prologue from IA's site (Be warned though that if you haven't read the third book DO NOT READ the prologue because it would be a spoiler) I am so dying to find out what happened ! I love how Andrea and Raphael put more of an appearance in the story. I found out the the anthology Must Love Hellhounds will be the story between them so can't wait for that one. Although we don't get to see much of Derek. His role was pretty big in a way that he was a big catalyst in a lot of the reasons Kate went for it. We also find out a bit about Kate's background and who she is and why she is who she is. I love the confrontation between Jim and Kate! And the scenes between Curran and Kate were so funny!! (the "he's right behind me isn't he" scene and the telephone conversation about Jim)  and hot!!! (most of the scenes theyre together!). And admittedly the ending unleashed the kick-ass romantic in me ;)  hehe The flying castle so reminded me of Laputa!

Rating: A

68. Magic Burns (Kate Daniels #2) by Ilona Andrews

Magic Burns(The second book in the Kate Daniels series)
(2008)
A novel by
Ilona Andrews
As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone wrong, Kate Daniels knows how waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta's paramilitary clan of shape shifters, she quickly realizes much more is at stake. The stolen maps are only the opening gambit in an epic tug of war between two gods hoping for rebirth, and if Kate can't stop the cataclysmic showdown, the city may not survive.

I bought the first book in the series from Amazon when it first came out and it was a new discovery for me. It was really interesting how how Andrews created a world where magic and technology where at an odds. Since the third one just came out a month ago, I took the time to reread the second one again to refresh myself since I don't really remember what happened. That's the problem with waiting a whole year for a book, you forget the previous one. In the second book, in helping the Pack retrieve the map, Kate comes across evidence of an amateur coven who mistakenly calls upon the wrong God. Protecting one of the children of the coven, and a magic tsunami on it's way, Kate finds out that all things will culminate in the onset of the flare.
I thought the second book is stronger than the first book. Kate kicks ass but her interaction with Julie was handled well in my opinion. We also see a development in the tension between Cullan and Kate, as well as introduction to other very likable characters that fits well into the story.

Rating: B+

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