A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Loved it! Seriously, I finished this book last week and I'm still thinking about the characters.

The story revolves around Diana, a witch who is trying to live without magic, and her discovery of a bewitched alchemical manuscript.  Something weird, even for a witch, happens when she touches the manuscript.  After she send it back to the stacks all heck breaks loose.  Witches, vampires and daemons start coming out of the woodwork and following Diana trying to get their hands on the manuscript. Oh, and then there is Matthew.  Yeah, still thinking about him.  That is a paltry summary and doesn't even really cover a 1/4 of the book but I can't tell you about it because it gives away way too much.

I love the pace of the book - its variable speed. You're cruising along enjoying the story and bam! hyper speed. Then its slows down and lingers.  I love the way the characters are drawn and evolve.  I love the mystery.  Many curve balls a thrown and every one is fun and takes the story in a different direction. I love the science/ alchemical talk.  It's makes me smile and tickles my brain.  Oh, and the houses! I'd like them all.  Well, at least three of them. Mostly the one that magically expands and contracts to meet the occupants needs and is full of family ghosts.  I was the perfect read for me right now. 

But one thing I hate - it's the first book of a trilogy and I want book 2 now!!!

book suggestions

My fabulous stylist is always recommending books. Last week she recommended The Hunger Games and since then, three other people have suggested it. I'm not sure that it's paranormal in any way, but it is set in a sort of post-apocalyptic world and it sounds fascinating.

I love Charlaine Harris and I will occasionally go to her blog to see what she's reading (and she reads an amazing amount of books!). If your well of inspiration is running dry, check out her blog!

Harper Connelly Series

This is another series by Charlaine Harris. I loved the Sookie books so much that I pretty much started "author stalking" her and I've downloaded almost all of her stuff to my Kindle already. I'll write more on the others as I get to them, but for right now- let me tell you a little about Harper Connelly.

She's a very different character from Sookie but she's equally lovable in her own way. She has a unique gift that I don't want to dive into here b/c I feel like it's a bit of a spoiler since the books revolve around that. There are no vamps or witches in this one, but her gift is supernatural in nature. I'm very much enjoying these books and I think you guys would too.

They are easy to read. The mysteries aren't blatantly transparent. The characters are very enjoyable and easy to relate to. Check these out!!

I GOT ONE!!!

I finally have a Kindle!!! My sweet husband brought it to my work and surprised me with it today!! Let the books suggestions roll in! I'm a downloading JUNKIE!! C'mon Tiff, Lauren... why didn't you guys tell me I needed this sooner?!?! (I'm SO j/k....hehehe)

Sweep

Ok, so I've been reading the Sweep series by Cate Tiernan.  I'm six books in and I have to admit I like it.  It is the story of Morgan Rowlands, a sixteen year old high school girl, who finds out she's a witch.  The books follow her journey into her witch heritage, growing as a witch, and the trials of just being a teenager. 

It's fun and entertaining and you actually pick up bits of knowledge about Wicca, Gaelic folklore, runes, etc.  I like it.  For the first three books I had a problems with one of the characters because I knew I was supposed to like them wholeheartedly but I just couldn't.  I know that's evil to say but I thank Tiernan for not making all the characters straightforward and boring.  The people change and grow and its wonderful to watch.  That's resolved and now I'm on a desperate hunt to find Volume 3 of the series.

Oh, the list of books if you are interested:
Book of Shadows
The Coven
Bloodwitch
Dark Magic
Awakening
Spellbound

Found Another Series

I know you're going to love me, Tiffany.

So, another series to check out - the Maker's Song sequence by Adrian Phoenix.  Sounds very interesting. It's got music, hot vampires, and all the stuff that makes me love reading.

Southern Witch Series - Would Be Witch

Tina recently heard about a new series, The Southern Witch Series. It sounds a lot like Sookie (The Southern Vampire Series)...pretty girl, small southern town, special powers...

So yeah, I flocked to it.

Finished the first book last night and I liked it. I never like books. I either LOVE books or I HATE them. Frost does a good job of describing her characters. I could see all of them. Relate to them. But the action and setting...not so much detail. There were times where I couldn't even remember if it was night or day in the scene. Some authors update you on details on an annoying level, but I think I would prefer that to a lack of information.

The action scenes were very cut and dry. No drawn out suspense, no amazing details. I never realized how much those suspenseful scenes meant to me and my reading satisfaction. I know sometimes I feel like I want the author to put me out of my misery....but apparently I don't. I want to be held in suspense.

So, I'm kindof in this bad place. I'm connected to the characters and disappointed in the writing. Do I keep reading? Maybe I need a break? I think that if the book was $6, I would already be reading it, because it's a quick read and who cares, right? But it's the most expensive Kindle book I have bought to-date: $11.99! Are you serious? I bought the first 8 Sookie Stackhouse books for Kindle for $24...and I loved them! I can't bring myself to pay the same price for 2 less riveting books. And my library doesn't have them.

I guess I'm on to something else for the time being...but I'll eventually read book 2 and let you know if Frost redeems herself.

House of Night- Marked (update)

So I went ahead and finished Marked while I waited on Shadowfever (which I have now and am oh so excited about!!!) and I am pretty glad I did. It was fun, light hearted, not very deep at all, and a very easy read. I have my suspicions that this may go the way of Harry Potter and get a little more Dark as the series goes on. Plot wise, it reminds me a little of HP. House of Night is a school for young Vamps, Zoey (the main character) is a somewhat misunderstood teen w/a less than satisfactory family life who goes to this school after receiving The Mark with hopes of finding her place in life where she fits in. She develops a close-knit circle of friends that will somewhat make you think of Ron and Hermoine in the fact that they will stick with Zoey through all of the mishaps "no matter what".

I'd suggest this one. I don't see myself having the love affair with this like I do with Harry Potter, but like I said, it's fun.

March Reading Madness Challenge!

Stolen from M who stole it from Tumblr...

March Reading Madness Challenge

The canaries have hatched a plot. You will like this plot. For the month of March, we challenge you to read a book. And not just any book.

1. Send an Ask with two or three titles or authors you’ve enjoyed in the past, or a genre you’d like to try.
2. We will reply with a recommended read.
3. Your challenge will be to use the month of March to read and jot down a review (ie, your thoughts) of the book.
4. Submit the review! (To us, of course. Whom else?)
5. Rinse and repeat. Chirp.

Who’s game?

Hello BOOK FRIENDS!

I run my own blog over on Tumblr, which is a mish-mash of personal blogging and book reviews. I am prone to spoiling and talking about spoilers in obsessive amounts of detail, so consider this your last warning before you click over!

I promised T Lo not to spoil here, so instead of a book review, here is book gossip:

If you haven't already seen it, Sookie #11 is now on Amazon!!

"With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. Sookie suspects otherwise, but her attention is divided when she realizes that her lover Eric Northman and his "child" Pam are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, Sookie is drawn into the plot-which is much more complicated than she knows.."