Mar 13 2013
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Book Review: Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs

a1Title: Cry Wolf

Author: Patricia Briggs

Series: Alpha and Omega #1

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The Overview: 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’s learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. Then Charles Cornick, the enforcer—and son—of the leader of the North American werewolves, came into her life. Charles insists that not only is Anna his mate, but she is also a rare and valued Omega wolf. And it is Anna’s inner strength and calming presence that will prove invaluable as she and Charles go on the hunt in search of a rogue werewolf—a creature bound in magic so dark that it could threaten all the pack…

The Review:

As the first full-length novel of Anna and Charles, I thought this was an great companion story to the Mercy Thompson series. Briggs is one of my favorite authors, and I haven’t met anyone yet who hasn’t liked her works. As spinoff novels, the Alpha and Omega series expand the story of Mercy’s adopted werewolf relatives. While these books have relatively little to do with Mercy, they still makes the world she lives in more rich and vibrant, and gives us behind the scenes look at werewolf pack politics – which I think is going to be relevant in upcoming novels.

I enjoyed Cry Wolf but not as much as I thought I would. It reads more like paranormal romance than an urban fantasy, which means we got great character development and inner dialog, but not a whole lot of action. While I like Anna and Charles, and enjoy reading about their developing relationship, I missed that fast-paced event-driven writing that made the Mercy books so fun. Not that stuff didn’t happen, it just wasn’t the focus. This is not a failing on the author’s part, either. I remember reading somewhere that she had intended this book to be more in the romance genre than fantasy, and I think it’s great she was able to exhibit both types of storytelling so well. For that matter, her pure fantasy books (Masques and Dragon Bones) were also great books within their genre. 

Overall, I’m glad I read this one, and will definitely be continuing on with Hunting Ground and Fair Game. For those of you who haven’t read this series yet, I’d recommend you start with the novella Alpha and Omega found in the anthology On the Prowl or sold separately as a digital copy. 

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like:

  • Stray by Rachel Vincent
  • Blue Moon by Lori Handeland
  • How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper
  • Dark Lover by J.R. Ward (Which I didn’t care for, but it’s considered the uber-paranormal romance and everyone else seems to friggin love it)
  • Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead

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Mar 12 2013
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Top Ten Tuesday! (3/12/2013)

a111Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish book blog. Since I love lists and talking about my favorite books, I decided to join in the fun. This week’s topic:

Top Ten Books At The TOP Of My Spring 2013 TBR list!

(drumroll please)

#1 Pure: I came across this book by accident while researching upcoming releases (I found the second one, Fuse, and was intrigued). Now I can’t wait to read it, and am hoping it’s as good as it sounds.

#2 Frost Burned: for as long as I’ve been blogging about the release date for this one, I should dang well be reading it soon. I just have to finish Fair Game first….

#3 Fragments: Partials was one of my favorite reads last year, and I am stoked to pick up the next one. I have no excuse why I haven’t read it yet.

#4 Eve & Adam: K.A. Applegate is the reason why I am so passionate about books. I was so enthralled with her Animorphs series as a kid that its sparked the obsession that I’ve built a career off of. Grant is her husband and the author of the popular Gone series, so I’m sure it’s going to be an amazing book (I hope).

#5 Dragon Keeper: The ending of Fool’s Fate was so profound that I needed a few months to let it sink in. Now that I’m done reeling, I’m finally ready to begin Hobb’s latest series. This is going to be so, so good!

#6 The Way of Kings: No matter what circle I’m in of book lovers, they all seem to agree that this is by far Sanderson’s best novel. Having read everything else he’s got (and loving it all) I am super eager to see for myself what all the hype is about. I have been recommending this to people without having actually read it – that is a mark of my confidence in my peers’ reviews. 

#7 Kushiel’s Scion: Kushiel 1-3 knocked my socks off, and this second trilogy following Imriel is going to be just as good – I can feel it! I tend to pick these up only when I need that guaranteed good read fix (this is why I am so far behind).

#8 Beyonders: I admit I tried this one already and put it down. Although Fablehaven is my favorite young adult series (besides HP), I just couldn’t get past a hippopotamus’s mouth as a magical portal. I’ve resigned to overlooking that the second time around.

#9 Spirit War: I loved the first three books in this series, and remember every detail vividly over a year later. These characters, this magic system, and this author are amazing!

#10 Stardoc: I find the idea of intergalactic medical care oddly fascinating, and I’ve been trying to get this one picked for my monthly Your Pick for Nik! feature. Alas, it hasn’t received a single vote, and I’m pretty sure I’ve nominated it the most times (figures). Come on, people! It promises so much world-building awesomeness how can you resist?

Of course, making this list I remembered half a dozen other books I really want to read… oh, the hardship. What about all of you out there? What are your top TBR books?

Mar 11 2013
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Your Pick for Nik! (Book Club) – Hounded Update!

Book #1

Book #1

Now that we’re a couple of weeks into March, I thought I’d take time to give some early feedback on this month’s book. In case you missed it, our selection was Hounded by Kevin Hearn, an urban fantasy about a Druid hiding out from ancient enemies in Tempe, Arizona. 

I’m not very far along yet, maybe 75 pages or so, but it’s shaping up to be an excellent read! Don’t believe me? Just skim through the first page or two, and you’ll have a good inkling as to why I’m enjoying it so much. Hearne has a cheeky voice, but doesn’t overdo it to the point where the writing sounds cheesy. Right now it is definitely exceeding my expectations!

Positives:

  • World-building: Hearne brings in a lot of celtic lore, but does so in a way that’s fun to read. The magic system also intrigues me… I think it might be my favorite element of the story so far.
  • Characters: I know who I’m rooting for and against right away, and there’s a good sidekick to boot!
  • Originality: a Druid as a main character for an urban fantasy isn’t very common…
  • Voice: I like the tone he sets early – it makes the main character incredibly likable.
  • Pacing: Good, but it’s still too early to tell.

Negatives:

  • Writing: at this point, I am enjoying the voice but there was one incredibly blatant info dump which could’ve been  incorporated a little more smoothly with some drop-in back history.
  • Romance: I realize it’s a bit early to tell for sure, but right now it looks like there’s going to be an abundance of sex (non-graphic), and little in the romance department. I realize there’s a time and a place for everything, but I think a love interest would add to the suspense of the entire novel (if done in a subtle way); raising the stakes, and all. Personal preference.

Anybody else started it yet? Thoughts?

There are going to be 9 Iron Druid novels total, and here’s a look at what’s available so far:

For tidbits about the series, check out Hearne’s website (www.kevinhearne.com). It’s pretty interesting.

For those of you new to the book club, Your Pick for Nik! is a monthly feature where I turn over control of my reading list to you!

Here’s how it works: I nominate titles from my TBR list and YOU choose which one gets featured. It can be one you’ve already read and want to discuss, one you want to read but wish to see my feedback on first, or – and this is my favorite part – you can read it along with me! A review and discussion for Hounded will take place March 29th, so there’s still plenty of time to pick it up if you want to join in!

Mar 10 2013

Book Review: The Bane by Keary Taylor

a2232Title: The Bane

Author: Keary Taylor

Series: The Eden Trilogy #1

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: Before the Evolution there was TorBane: technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter. It had the ability to grow new organs and limbs, to heal the world. Until it evolved out of control and spread like the common cold. The machine took over, the soul vanished, and the Bane were born. The Bane won’t stop until every last person has been infected. With less than two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction.

Eve knows the stories of the Evolution, the time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. But she doesn’t need memories to know this world is her reality. This is a world that is quickly losing its humanity, one Bane at a time.

Fighting to keep one of the last remaining human colonies alive, Eve finds herself torn between her dedication to the colony, and the discovery of love. There is Avian and West – one a soldier, one a keeper of secrets. And in the end, Eve will make a choice that will change the future of mankind.

The Review: 

I got this book initially as an ARC, and I promised myself that I wouldn’t force myself to read it just because I got it before everyone else (as I’ve done a few times before). I liked the premise for the story, and by the first few chapters in, I was convinced this was something I would enjoy. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you’re probably aware that I have a fondness for dystopian novels. Although the storyline of this particular one wasn’t incredibly original, there are some things about it that I really liked. For example, the very first scene of the book let me know right away what the stakes are in this world, who I’m supposed to be cheering for, and elements of mystery that made me want to keep reading. An excellent start that developed into a dang good book. 

It didn’t take the path I was expecting it to, and I actually found that refreshing. It had a good full-circle storyline that left me satisfied, but also left room open for a sequel – which is extremely smart of her if she hadn’t been able to get a deal for more than one book. The writing was solid and evoking, and her character development was strong. The pacing could have been a bit quicker, with a few more setting changes early on, but it didn’t take away from the story too much. She also needed a bit more word variety. There were countless examples of her using a word to describe something then repeating the exact phrasing in the next line down. It happened so often I was beginning to wonder if it was deliberate. Also, the cover doesn’t sell the story to me. I feel like it would market better with a cover that looked more like the new Mila or even Wasserman’s Skinned (see recommends below) something to highlight the technological element of the story [Note: cover updated since original post… I like it better]. 

These are minor notes, and overall I consider the book well worth your time if you’re a fan of the genre. I am excited that it is a trilogy, and I will definitely be reading the next book!

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like:

  • Divergent by Veronica Roth (Read Full Review)
  • Partials by Dan Wells (Read Full Review)
  • Skinned by Robin Wasserman
  • Cinder by Marissa Meyer
  • Mila 2.0  by Debra Driza
  • Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (Read Full Review)

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Mar 9 2013

Coming Soon: The Tyrant’s Law

may 14

Title: The Tyrant’s Law

Author: Daniel Abraham

Series: The Dagger and the Coin #3

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: May 14, 2013

The Overview: The great war cannot be stopped.

The tyrant Geder Palliako had led his nation to war, but every victory has called forth another conflict. Now the greater war spreads out before him, and he is bent on bringing peace. No matter how many people he has to kill to do it.

Cithrin bel Sarcour, rogue banker of the Medean Bank, has returned to the fold. Her apprenticeship has placed her in the path of war, but the greater dangers are the ones in her past and in her soul.

Widowed and disgraced at the heart of the Empire, Clara Kalliam has become a loyal traitor, defending her nation against itself. And in the shadows of the world, Captain Marcus Wester tracks an ancient secret that will change the war in ways not even he can forsee.

Nik’s Notes: I haven’t even read the first two books yet, but I can tell you with certainty that I will be purchasing Tyrant’s Law when it comes out. Having read (and loved) the Long Price Quartet I am convinced that anything this author does is worth my time and money. It was one of those novels that I picked up to skim and ended up cancelling plans to finish (alas, the woes of befriending a book nerd). Writing, characters, world-building – everything was there, and I can’t imagine this series being anything less than awesome!

Mar 8 2013

Book Review: The Pirate King by R.A. Salvatore

a1Title: The Pirate King

Author: R.A. Salvatore

Series: Transitions #2

Genre: Role Playing Fantasy

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: Captain Deudermont has sailed to the pirate city of Luskan on a mission—a mission to once and for all defeat the true power behind the corrupt city: a wicked lich and his cabal of evil wizards from the Host Tower of the Arcane. But the Host Tower has some tricks up its sleeve, as do the pirate captains who would like to see both sides fail.

Captain Deudermont is convinced that he can save this futuristic metropolis, but Drizzt knows better. To save the embattled city and his friend, he returns to Luskan. 

The Review:

These book are fantastic! I consider them must-reads for fantasy buffs and role playing gamers alike! The author never fails to deliver fast-paced, well-rounded books. I love them because they manage to build momentum off of one-another while still maintaining a fully-developed plot within each book. A lot of fun to read, they set the stage for what has erupted into hundreds of Forgotten Realms spinoffs on the market today.

Salvatore has a great talent of taking you to different parts of his world and making each place vibrant and rich. From the frozen tundra of Icewind Dale to the seaside city of Luskan, you will never go without an excellent setting. So far, he’s written a few novels that deal with seafaring and the pirating community, and I argue with myself on whether or not I like them best. They certainly are different than other books in the saga, and I always find them a breath of fresh air (no pun intended).

While there are so many great attributes to this saga, by far my favorite elements are the characters. There are several throughout this series that I have absolutely loved – including the villains. Fair warning, you’d better be ready to read all 25+ novels because half the fun is finding out what happens next!

by Niki Hawkes

If you like this book, you might also like:

  • Sorcery Rising by Jude Fisher
  • Homeland  by R.A. Salvatore (the story that started it all)
  • Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb
  • The Aware by Glenda Larke
  • The Thief’s Gamble by Juliet E. McKenna

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