Meredith Gentry series by Laurell K. Hamilton

I know we've got quite a few Sookie and Fever fans here, and these books have plenty of fey action to go around. So far I've read the first two books, A Kiss of Shadows and A Caress of Twilight, and I'm just starting the third, Seduced by Moonlight. You would think that means I'm genuinely addicted... but actually, I still don't know quite how to feel about the series. I do like it and I want to see where it's going, but it's very different from the other supernatural fiction I've read.

The books are very sexy - Meredith (Merry) is very frank and open with her sexuality, and she's always getting hers. However, since Merry is often in some kind of danger, she does some untoward things in exchange for protection. I don't want to spoil anything by going into detail, but you'll see what I mean if you choose to read. So far, creatures we've encountered are Seelie and Unseelie fey, goblins, demi-fey, and ghosts - no vampires and werewolves.

Also, while I'm sure love will eventually turn up, so far there is no Bill vs. Eric or Barrons vs. Vlaine sort of deal - it's kind of a free for all right now. So if you need a focused romance novel, these aren't quite it, yet. There are people to root for, but there's no way to tell which way things are headed. Maybe it's because there are several more books in the series!

Merry is an important person, and her adventure is an interesting one (I really want to know how it turns out), so I'm sticking with it. They're quick reads and have lots of sexytimes, but so far they haven't quite gripped me as much as Fever did. Then again, comparing anything to Fever might be a mistake!

A Few Tidbits for Your Consideration:

Ok, I've been slacking on sharing what I've been reading and I'll try and make up for it.

First is The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan.  It's volume one of the Kane Chronicles, a new series that's about Egyptian mythology.  Riordan is also responsible for the Percy Jackson series of books that focus on Greek myths.  I have to put it out there that I love love love mythology. Give it to me any day.

The Red Pyramid follows Carter & Sadie Kane on their adventures to find their dad after he disappeared in an explosion at the British Museum on Christmas Day.  Oh, and they destroy the Rosetta Stone.  Yeah, that's in the first few chapters.  The story keeps going from there and we pick up some great supporting characters that I'm excited to get back to in the next installment (The Throne of Fire, and yes, it might be sitting on a table in my house waiting for me to pick it up.) I like reading is books - they're easy, entertaining and you might pick up a few tidbits of knowledge.  He's also great at creating pictures with his words and I love that.  It's on my 'You should read this list' and possibly a guilty pleasure for me. Oh, I actually didn't read this book. I listened to it on audio book and it was fabulous. I loved the two performers who did Carter and Sadie's voices.  I kinda wish I had the second one to listen to instead of read.

Up next is another Rick Riordan novel - The Lost Hero.  It's a new series but it also ties in with the Percy Jackson series.  Percy is missing and Annabeth is on the warpath to find him.  She stumbles across three half-bloods trying to get themselves killed at the Grand Canyon.  Jason, Piper and Leo finally make alive to Camp Half Blood in New York only to leave shortly after they get there on a quest to rescue Hera because she's been imprisoned by an unknown force. You know the drill if you've ever read another Riordan book. He takes us to locations all over North America and we meet several mystical being and minor deities. I'd also classify this one in the just fun to read pile.  You know you want to.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher is an interesting book.  I really don't know how to describe or place it.  It's Young Adult but it's not fluffy and uber romantic like Twilight etc.  I guess you could describe it at dystopian.  It follows Finn who is locked in Incareron, an ideal prison and closed system to reform it's 'residents' and Claudia who is the daughter of the Warden of Incareron and set to marry the heir in a power play by her father. Claudia's world is shaped by the Protocol, an edict by a previous ruler to eliminate social strife and create an ideal world.  Can you guess how well both experiments are going so far? Their stories intertwine and it makes for a great ride.  I'm now plotting on how to get my hands on Sapphique, the second book.

Up next, Cemetery Dance.  This is evidently one in a sort of series and not the first.  Ugh, I hate picking up in the middle of something.  I picked it up because I like the blurb.  It mixed murder, mystery, and anthropology. Oh, and zombiis and a little bit of hoodoo. It's fast paced, had eccentric characters, and is not lacking in the excitement category.  This is not a book I recommend reading on a dark and stormy night, but I would recommend it.  I think I'm going to have to find some of the previous books to fill in some gaps in my comprehension.  Sorry if I'm misleading - Cemetery Dance really is a stand alone book but part of a series and I think reading the series would enhance my enjoyment of this one.  Oh crap! I should tell you what the book is about.  Bill & Nora are attacked on the evening of their first wedding anniversary and Bill is killed. The attacker is easily identified as their neighbor, Colin Fearing, but the only snafu is that he's been dead two weeks.

I just finished Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison yesterday.  This one is another one is her Hallows series about Rachel Morgan who has a talent for getting into trouble.  It picks up where White Witch, Black Curse left off and just keeps going. Rachel is shunned from the witch community because of her ability of kindle demon magic.  She's offered basically two options. Either be neutered or become a slave of Trent Kalamack.  Rachel chooses option three which is leave me alone and let me live my life.  I enjoyed this one the most of any of the Hollows I've read recently and now I have to find the next book, Pale Demon.


Now I have to decide if I want to read The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan or The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

Sookie!

I haven't seen any posts/ updates about the newest Sookie book.  What did everyone think about Dead Reckoning?

If you haven't finished or read it at all, you might want to avoid the comments for possible spoilers.

book swap goodies...

The library at work has a giant yearly book swap. So far, I've stayed away, but this year I got sucked in...by vampire books. No pun intended. I have no idea if they are any good, but if you've read any of them, I'd love to hear your perspective...and I'll surely post if/once I finish them.

apparently this one is the 3rd in a series...boo...


aaaand this is the 5th in the series...



this is book 3 in a different series...boo AGAIN!






hooray! this is the FIRST in a series!

The Outlaw Demon Wails

I got sucked back into the Hollows. The series in question is by Kim Harrison.  I found the next book I needed while we were in Birmingham for $6 and couldn't say no.  Now I'm on the next one because I had to go pick up another hold I placed for Husband at the library and might have know that they had the next book. Yes, I'm sneaky like that.

Outlaw Demon is about how Rachel Morgan deals with a rouge demon who is out to kill her and anyone she cares for. I know it's a really short and vague summary but there is so much background that it would kill the previous books for you if I told you about it. I like the series.  It's fun escape and the supes aren't all pretty and perfect. The main character has a weakness for leather and dressing slutty. Yeah, It's a very nice escape.

Oh, and I'm calling out Christy right now! I need to know what you think of Cinderella Ate My Daughter. It's on my to read list and I'm going to request it as soon as I remember to log in and do so.

Paranormalcy

This one was suggested to me by my Young Adult Librarian friends, and since they know all the good stuff, I always take their suggestions seriously. I JUST started the book, so I can't vouch for how good it is yet, but so far, so good. I doubt there will be super sexy stuff (there will definitely be romance of some sort), but so far it's got vampire, werewolves, faeries, and mermaids (!) and some mysterious unidentified creature. I know it can't top Fever, but it's got a Fever/Sookie/Buffy vibe. Anyway, I thought maybe you guys might read along with me! And yes, it's a trilogy.

Click here for the Amazon link!

The 158-Pound Marriage -- off genre

I post book reviews/thoughts on my blog and I just finished The 158-Pound Marriage by John Irving. Tiffany suggested I post it here too. I'd be fabulously excited if one of you has read it and can/will comment extensively.

I FLEW through this book. First, because it's short. And second, because I got really wrapped up in the characters. There are 4 main characters and I liked some more than others but they were all very interesting and had deep personalities/motives/emotions. They seemed very real to me.

This is the first John Irving book I've read and I liked it so much, I'll have to read another. (He wrote Cider House Rules and I know it's a movie, but I didn't see it and couldn't tell you anything about it except it was nominated for some Academy Awards.)

The briefest synopsis I can give you is 2 couples begin a casual affair where they swap wives. (The book calls it a foursome, but never in the book are all four parties in bed together) I'm pretty sure anyone who has ever been in a stable serious relationship is like, "What? This will not end well." And not to spoil anything(the back of the book will tell you) it doesn't.

It's told from the perspective of one of the husbands and he seems to be a very reliable narrator. btw, the book was published in 1974, so give you a little historic perspective.

This is the kind of book that after it was over I wanted to talk about it. A LOT. This is the kind of story, that if it was a movie I watched with Husband, we'd still be talking about it.

I can't imagine a situation where I would ever think it was a good idea that Husband and I find another couple and intermingle socially and sexually with them. So, that part of the story was hard for me to relate to, but I definitely believed it was a possible scenario. Plus, I enjoyed reading how each of the four dealt with the affair.

I recommend it.