Tag Archives: Huntress

Sin Slayer by Jenna Maclaine

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview

Title: Sin Slayer
Author: Jenna Maclaine
Series: Cin Craven #3.5
In: Huntress (Christine Warren, Marjorie M. Liu, Caitlin Kittredge & Jenna Maclaine)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Strong women, Vampires
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2009

Thoughts

I liked this different take on the Jack the Ripper story. I mean, it wasn’t necessarily introducing a whole new lore into the world, but it was still a fun and unique take on a very well known serial killer. It also helped to further place Cin and her cohort into the “reality” of the world. I also just love that they made such a truly horrible and terrifying man into a demon… I mean, it’s a great way to justify the horribleness of his deeds.

This novella does round out the Cin Craven series. But since I haven’t read any of the standalones and am not quite sure what happens in them, it also works wonderfully as a standalone. Which is wonderful, because with all of the different books on my TBR, it may take me a little while to truly get into this series…

Cin is wonderfully independent and powerful. Something about her outfit and strength has seriously stuck in my head. I’m always a huge fan of any story which features a strong and independent woman. But one that is in Victorian England, dressed in leather and lace? Yeah, that is right up my alley…

I love that although this is the last novella in the series – it also finishes on a note of hope and potential for the future. I love stories that make you think of the wonderful characters all happily riding off into the sunset together, to have more adventures. More life. After all, life continues after the happily ever after.

<- Down in the Ground Where the Dead Men GoHuntress ->

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Huntress by Christine Warren, Marjorie M. Liu, Caitlin Kittredge & Jenna Maclaine

Book Review, , , , , , , , ,
Overview

Title: Huntress
Author: Christine Warren, Marjorie M. Liu, Caitlin Kittredge & Jenna Maclaine
In: Huntress (Christine Warren, Marjorie M. Liu, Caitlin Kittredge & Jenna Maclaine)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Short story collections, Strong women, Urban fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology, eBook
Year: 2009

Thoughts

This is an absolutely fantastic collection. I loved all of the stories, loved the theme. And just all in all had a great time reading this. To be fair, I’ve actually read all four of the authors featured in this anthology at some point in the past. So it was going to be a pretty good bet that I would enjoy this… a lot.

The common thread of strong women hunting and being just all around kickass was another moment that just cemented my enjoyment of this collection. I’m always a fan of women who kick butt and take names. When that is placed within an urban fantasy setting, I tend to dive into it with even more aplomb. It’s nice to depart reality for a while as a strong woman takes charge…

Each of these novellas is part of a bigger, enjoyable series. I might not have all of them on my shelves… but I probably will soon. They give you a taste of these wonderfully crafted worlds without giving too much away. Plus, they are completely readable as standalone stories, if you feel like you don’t necessarily want to start yet another series.

A fantastic anthology, one I will read again and again. A good way to spend a few hours drifting off from reality.

<- Sin SlayerDevil’s Bargain ->

Image source: Amazon

Down in the Ground Where the Dead Men Go by Caitlin Kittredge

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Down in the Dark Where the Dead Men Go
Author: Caitlin Kittredge
Series: Black London #1.5
In: Huntress (Christine Warren, Marjorie M. Liu, Caitlin Kittredge & Jenna Maclaine)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2009

Thoughts

Although this is a novella length tale, it’s kind of structured like a short story. I mean, there is one chapter and it’s definitely slightly shorter than the other novellas in the Huntress collection. It was, a lot of fun to read. A good, slightly dark and fun story.

I must admit, Jack is an absolute idiot. I mean, he knows that the woman coming onto him is no good. And yet, he still decides to mess around with her. Which just leads to his entrapment. I mean, honestly mate. It was more than a little ridiculous and see-through of her motivations. Serious fool.

There are two potential romantic interests in this story. And I’m really annoyed that the one who was actually kind and good ended up being consumed. I think it was consumed, I’m not even 100% on that to be honest. Then, the manipulative, horrible woman gets to ride off, happily into the sunset. Not quite the ending that I wanted.

I really enjoyed this, as I’ve enjoyed all of the stories by Kittredge. Fun and dark. Just how I sometimes like my tales of magic and mayhem.

<- The Robber BrideSin Slayer ->

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Robber Bride by Marjorie M. Liu

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Robber Bride
Author: Marjorie M. Liu
In: Huntress (Christine Warren, Marjorie M. Liu, Caitlin Kittredge & Jenna Maclaine)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dystopia, Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology, eBook, Novella
Year: 2009

Thoughts

This novella wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but also seriously good. However, there was definitely more of an ick factor than I was anticipating… the lead was definitely more of a grey hero than anything. She had good motivations, but she also didn’t necessarily have innocence on her side. Plus, at the beginning I thought that Irdu would be the romantic interest – they had the set up for it. But, nothing, and I repeat nothing turned out as I anticipated.

Although I don’t necessarily agree with all of the choices made throughout this story, I do love that the lead will do pretty much anything to chase down someone she cares about. I mean, there are constant moments throughout this where she is questioning her decisions, but she is still driven by her loyalty. Honestly, if I end up in a post-apocalyptic world, I would want someone like The Fixer on my side.

I really loved the Crow shapeshifter in this novella. There was a bit of a driving off into the sunset feeling with him, but nothing overt. He is also obviously loyal, although I’m still vague on the motivations if I’m being honest. He was a great alternative romantic entanglement that worked a lot better for my happiness.

This was a fantastic novella. One that I seriously enjoyed, but also couldn’t quite understand all of. I feel like I could reread this multiple times, and not quite get all of the nuances throughout…

<- Devil’s BargainDown in the Ground Where the Dead Men Go ->

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Devil’s Bargain by Christine Warren

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Devil’s Bargain
Author: Christine Warren
In: Huntress (Christine Warren, Marjorie M. Liu, Caitlin Kittredge & Jenna Maclaine)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Demons, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2009

Thoughts

This novella might not have been an epic, can’t put down page turner. But it was still a good page turner. It was a fun story that was easy to enjoy and get sucked into. You know from the beginning that this is a tale that is going to get a happily ever after. But, it was still a fun journey getting there. Which is all I want in a novella sometimes.

I love that Lilli and Aaron kind of have the insta-love thing going. But their relationship still starts off with the two of them beating the absolute crap out of each other. I always solve a good fight scene, and this one was kind of brilliantly written. It was very easy to imagine each movement and just how out of their depth both the characters are. Plus, what better way to meet your future partner?

Finally, this is all about prophecies and the apocalypse. It’s fun trying to figure out just where the prophecy is going to take you. And how a multitude of meanings can come from a single prophecy. A reminder that even if we believe that fate and the future is set in stone, there are always surprises on the horizon.

<- HuntressThe Robber Bride ->

Image source: Amazon