Sabina just wants to work on her own, but a trick of birth and politics means she’s stuck with an opinionated macho man. Could he be her ticket out and something more? Or is he just a dunce?
I bought the first book in this series ages ago. With no
idea what it was going to be about and what it would be like. It just had a
cool name and was on sale. Which meant that reading this short story certainly
made me think that I made the right decision. Now I just have to exercise some self-control
and not open it again straight away.
For such a short story, there are two themes explored
incredibly well within this tale. For starters there’s the one about prejudice
and “othering”. Then there’s also the issue of trust. Not only are they great methods
to keep me involved in the story, they also set up the beginning of the series
perfectly. Which makes sense, since this is the prequel…
I’ve always had some trust issues. I think that many people
do, so it’s always a little too easy to relate to these in a story. Add to that
the fact that Sabina is an assassin, and you can see how these trust issues are
going to lead to a very messed up and complex heroine. After all, this is just
the beginning of her problems. I’m sure there are about to be much more.
Remy always seems to get the more difficult cases, those that involve the supernatural. But when him and his loyal companion must attend doggy obedience school, he discovers that sometimes it’s not all bad.
I have two beautiful, annoying, slightly crazy and
incredibly loyal dogs. Which means that any story that features “man’s best
friend” is going to make me happy. Especially when the main character is able
to communicate with his loyal hound. If only I could have the same slightly
ridiculous, incredibly fun conversations with my two furry companions…
Although I really loved the storyline of this tale, what I
loved most was the interactions between Remy and his hound. I frequently talk
to my dogs, but, sadly, they never respond. However, if they did, I can imagine
that they would talk much like they do in this story. Slightly stupid, slightly
witty and incredibly amusing. His horror and disappointment at being a “bad
dog” made me think of the look on my Staffy’s face whenever he’s in trouble. Equal
parts devotion and devastation.
In a collection of urban fantasy stories about school and
teaching, a puppy school has got to be my favourite kind. I love being
surrounded by dogs and reading about a scene in which this is happening left me
in my happy place. Even if the badness was caused by the tales of one such hound…
She’s a half demon who keeps striking out in love. But when she goes to a vampire bar and runs across a far stronger mystery, and maybe even a way to get out of her paranormal romance blues.
One of the things that has always disappointed me about the Women of the Otherworld series is the fact that there isn’t a novel dedicated entirely to Aaron and Cassandra. I like this version of vampires and I think that it would be much fun. But, a short story in which they make an appearance leaves me quite happy.
There has never been one inkling in my desires to go to a
vampire bar. Although I love paranormal fantasy tales, I find the very idea of such
a themed bar to be kind of tawdry. Which the lead in this also seems to feel
the same. She not only makes fun of the hired actors for the boring simplicity
of their act. It’s the kind of smart-ass response I would personally have if
someone dragged me to such a place. Although, it ends up working out quite well…
I enjoyed the twist in this story. The man that was thought
to be the “bad guy” wasn’t, and the one who seemed kind of innocent, was kind
of, well, evil. The juxtaposition between perceptions and reality was great,
and I loved how there was a sense of hope and wonder when the last page was
turned.
Title: Any Given Doomsday Author: Lori Handeland Series: Phoenix Chronicles #1 Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Angels, Demons, Fae, Paranormal fantasy Dates read: 11th – 19th July 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Lori Handeland Year: 2008 5th sentence, 74th page: I ran toward the approaching vehicle.
From the author who brought you The Nightcreature Novels comes the first installment in an original urban fantasy series.
Psychic ex-cop Elizabeth Phoenix finds herself thrust into saving the world, one demon at a time. Unaware of the supernatural battle that has been raging since the beginning, Liz becomes the untaught leader of the Federation, a collection of seers and demon killers. She’s soon pointing out monsters of Biblical proportion to her ex-boyfriend Jimmy, a half-vampire battling an army of Nephilim intent on bringing about doomsday.
Unable to control her new powers, Liz travels from Wisconsin to New Mexico where she meets with Sawyer, a powerful Navajo shape-shifter whose secrets frighten her and whose sexuality tempts her.
Caught between two worlds and two men, Liz must juggle it all in a spiral toward Armageddon. She will need all her powers, and those of her friends and lovers, to battle an enemy that could be indestructible.
Any Given Doomsday has been sitting on my shelves for about a year now. I bought it when I read the short story Here There Be Demons and then promptly completely forgot about it. Until I read Dead Man Dating in another collection of tales. And then I remembered that I seriously enjoyed Handeland’s writing. I figured I may as well pick this up and see what it was like. And boy am I glad that I did. Now I just have to wait to order and receive the next few books in this series…
Stories of lost loves and tales which are complicated by the
past are always good bait for me. Especially when they are tied into tales of
battle and urban fantasy. What makes this incredibly different is that it also
deals with ideas of God and demons. And the apocalypse. There are many theories
about the fact that we are on the eve of an apocalypse, but surprisingly few
books on my shelves which actually deal with such an idea. The use of seers and
DKs (demon killers) is also just a little bit different, whilst still fitting
into some well-loved tropes. It made me fall head over heels into this world
and feel incredibly disappointed that I have to wait another two weeks before I
can buy more of this series.
Most of the time when a love triangle is building in a
story, I have a clear favourite. From the very beginning. There is something
that always draws me to one character or another. Yet, with this story, I don’t
have a serious favourite. I don’t know who I prefer and which couple I think
will work best. I mostly just know that I want these stories to end with Elizabeth’s
happiness. Whether or not that involves Sawyer or Jimmy, I’m actually not sure.
This is the first time that I’m not even sure the potential love interests are
good matches. But I’m sure that this series will start to sway me one way or
another as it develops.
This is a fantastic novel that starts a fantastic series. It
has all of the entrapments and marvellous snares of a great urban fantasy. With
a beautiful love triangle, a tragic past and a heroine who is destined to lead
the world to a better future. If she can only figure out how to accept her future
and revel in it… I just can’t believe that it took me this long to get my literary
teeth into this, and how much longer it will take me to collect the rest of the
books in this series.
Title: In the Beginning Author: Lori Handeland Series: Phoenix Chronicles #0.5 Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Angels, Demons, Fae, Paranormal fantasy Dates read: 11th July 2019 Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Lori Handeland Year: 2008 5th sentence, 74th page: His broad shoulders obscured any light from the distant street or even the minuscule moon.
Liz Phoenix does her best not to let anyone on the Milwaukee Police Force know that she’s psychic. But her partner, Max Murphy, suspects. She’s had one too many spot-on hunches.
When they’re sent to the scene of a murder, Liz’s latest psychic flash leads to disaster.
In the Beginning reveals how Liz came to be an ex-cop and started on the road to becoming the Leader of the Light.
This is one of those short stories that kind of stands alone.
But doesn’t really. It’s almost like a prologue that gives a little more
history and insight into Liz’s choices and history as a cop than you would
otherwise get. Which is, of course what I loved the most about it. I love every
extra little bit of information and history you can glean from a character’s life
when you are about to sink into the depths of a new series.
A good character always has a bit of tragedy in their past, it’s
a great way to add an extra layer of mystery and characterisation to them. There’s
not many tales in which I actually read about one of these past tragedies.
It actually broke my heart a little. Even though this is an incredibly short
(16 pages) tale and I don’t often bond with characters that quickly, there was
something so tragic about the misfortunes which befall Liz and Max.
As soon as I read this origins story, I delved straight into Any Given Doomsday. The foreshadowing in this tale is absolutely fantastic and it made me want to discover what was likely to happen next. And how her discovery of the demons was going to play out throughout the rest of the tale.
A feline PI has found the victim of a murder. The only catch? He’s still alive, and the woman who is going to help him can’t talk to her feline assistant…
I both liked this short story and felt a bit “meh” about it. Nothing in particular, but I didn’t dive head first into this short story like I did with Snow Job. Maybe because I didn’t find the voice of narration as relatable. Probably because he was a he… and a cat.
One of the things I really enjoyed was the idea of finding a
murder victim… who was still alive. A vampire, the undead who couldn’t quite
explain who had attacked him and started the process of death upon his life. I
also liked that he had seven women in his life who could all have a motive to
save him… or be the cause of his demise. It was kind of cute and sweet how
different each relationship was and how he managed to care for and act a
different part for the different women.
I bought Dancing with Werewolves ages ago after reading Snow Job, after reading this short story, I feel that it could be necessary to pick this up and actually read it. instead of letting it decorate my shelves…
Robin Green is a virgin and a scientist. But, when her newest research subject is an irresistible selkie, she might just be willing to give up anything for the temptation of being near him.
I don’t really know
how I felt about this short story. I liked the idea, but since it was the first
story in a collection of paranormal romance tales, I was expecting something a
little more lustful and a lot less…well, pathetic. I wish I had a better word
for Robin Green, but mostly I just found her pathetic. And kind of irritating.
I’m hoping that I meet her again later in the series so that I can improve my
opinion of her.
The idea of
supernatural beings in a secret government research facility, not being treated
as humans is not in the least bit surprising. After all, history is rife with similar
activities against minority groups. And, even though this is a fantasy, it
still made me incredibly uncomfortable. Which I suppose is the aim of the
story. Or at least, one of the aims. The whole woman running away with a selkie
was probably more so the point…
I still haven’t read any of the novels in the Kitty Norville series, but, yet again, reading a short story set in that world has made me itch to pick up the series and immerse myself in a whole new world.
Title: The Book of Daniel Author: Carrie Vaughn Series: Kitty Norville #0.1 In: Kitty’s Greatest Hits (Carrie Vaughn) Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy, Werewolves Dates read: 12th July 2019 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Tor Year: 2011 5th sentence, 74th page: Daniel started from a nightmare, his eyes growing wide all at once, his breathing fast and panicked.
Daniel is the right hand man of the king. But people are jealous, and their jealousy could get him killed. If he didn’t have a secret that will help him survive.
I normally don’t love stories that have a Christian
connotation. Something about going to a Lutheran high school and being exposed
to WAY too much of the faith for my comfort. But this story was the perfect
amount of Christianity and paranormal fantasy. The more I read stories like
this, the more my prejudices seem to be wiped away, or at least lessened.
When I first started getting into paranormal fantasy stories, I thought that werewolves were the paranormal creature that I loved the most (probably has something / a lot to do with the Mercedes Thompson series). But the more I read of this genre, the more obscure and fun creatures I find to fall in love with. And feline shapeshifters are at the top of that list. Which just makes Daniel kind of amazing, as this is his secret power.
The Book of Daniel takes you to a completely different world. One that existed centuries ago, before any of us were born, and even before our grandparents were a glint in their parents’ eyes. I’m not sure how this short story relates into the greater Kitty Norville series, but it certainly adds an extra layer of world building and makes me more than eager to get my nose stuck in this series.
Title: Dead Witch Walking Author: Kim Harrison Series: The Hollows #1 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Paranormal fantasy, Strong women, Urban fantasy Dates read: 15th June – 2nd July 2019 Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Harper Voyager Fiction Year: 2004 5th sentence, 74th page: “Piscary’s.”
All the creatures of the night gather in “the Hollows” of Cincinnati, to hide, to prowl, to party… and to feed.
Vampires rule the darkness in a predator-eat-predator world rife with dangers beyond imagining – and it’s Rachel Morgan’s job to keep that world civlized.
A bounty hunter and witch with serious sex appeal and an attitude, she’ll bring ’em back alive, dead… or undead.
I’ve been hanging to start this book for quite a while. There is just something which draws you in about the idea of The Hollows and Rachel Morgan. Plus, I kind of needed a storyline with a little bit of sass and attitude. I’ve been reading too many cutsey stories lately, and they were starting to grate on me a little. So Rachel’s gumption, sass and independence was exactly what I wanted to read, though tearing myself away from her adventures at night before bed was incredibly difficult.
Kalamack is one of the most hated villains I’ve ever read. Like, I’ve actually never wanted to reach through the pages of a book more and strangle a guy. And that was when I read The Turn. So I was both excited and disappointed to find him appearing again in this story, which takes place over forty years after the original story. I was really, really hoping that Rachel was going to take him out… although the fact that he wasn’t really the villain in this story kind of made it a little exciting as well. He was just another obstacle in the way, and his power-hungry ways are sure to continue messing with the people of The Hollows as the series unfolds.
I’ve read a few of the novellas in this series, and the
prequel novel. And even though I really enjoyed them, they weren’t anything
compared to the actual series featuring Rachel. It was everything that I look
for in an urban fantasy and I can see myself sinking into many of these stories
whenever I need a good paranormal fix. This entire novel is filled with highs
and lows, every time you think you can relax, a new obstacle is thrown in the
way. Which of course makes it almost impossible to put down and one of those
stories that I will enjoy reading again and again.
Harry Dresden investigates how to lift a curse laid by the Fair Folk on the Chicago Cubs.
Baseball isn’t
really my thing. Nor is it something that I’ve ever understood. Probably has
something to do with being Australian and not really having many baseball
players in the vicinity. But I still know that the Cubs are quite famous for
not winning and having a loyal fan base. It seems to come up a lot in American
TV, movies and books…
I love that this
short story takes something that is so large in popular culture and gives it a
beautiful, supernatural spin. It’s a great start to a collection of urban
fantasy stories which I’m sure are going to get darker, grittier and far more
fun as the tales unfold. It certainly started this book off with a great bang.
One that made it kind of hard to put these stories down and get back to working
like a real adult.
I was expecting a story in which Harry swings in and saves the day again. In this case, helps to unravel the curse on the Cubs and help them finally win the finals (or whatever they’re called). It didn’t quite work out like that, and I loved the change from routine that this indicates. The slight change from the typical trope. Which is probably why I love the Dresden series in the first place.
Earth and Skye 