Night Broken (Mercy Thompson #8) Giveaway Winner Selected!
You guys have waited long enough! Please forgive me. It’s been a really busy week and I knew I wouldn’t be sending it out to the post office anytime soon. But now I’m ready! I got to see a screening for Divergent on Tuesday and then another one for Captain America on Thursday. I’ll be posting my reviews of both of those soon. In short, Divergent was okay, but Captain America was AMAZING!! Can’t wait to let it all out soon! But I won’t keep you waiting any longer! I was actually very surprised to see such a mixed amount of responses when it came to everyone’s preferred format. I thought hardcover would really win out, but it seems like everybody is adjusting to ebooks! To be honest, I’m the same way now. Unless I’m getting a book signed (and that usually involves Kim Harrison), then I don’t really have a use for paper books myself. Oh how the world has changed!
I received a pretty big number of entries! 542 is one of my largest giveaways yet! Based on the announcement post for those of you who entered the Rafflecopter giveaway, I used the trusty random number generator and it chose:
Sarah Courtney
Your preferred format was the ebook! Please keep an eye out in your email. Congrats! And thanks again to all of you for entering and supporting the blog. It means a lot! I won’t keep you hanging too long for the next one either. As I said before. I am catching up on the Dresden books (FINALLY) and with how things are going, a Skin Game giveaway might just have to happen. Just sayin’! Have a nice weekend everyone!
Night Broken – Review + Giveaway! Baby Mama Drama Rama!
When a book is quotable, I’m gonna quote!
“Adam snorted as he pulled on a faded green t-shirt that said “I Heart Coyotes.” Yet another sign that folding my clean clothes wasn’t too big a price to pay to make him happy. He didn’t have any “I Heart Christy ” shirts-or I would have burned them already.”
“I thought we should apply that kind of thinking to the matter of Cristy’s stalker.” He gave me a skeptical look. “No, really,” I said. “Now that we know that Flores is really this nasty, fiery, superpowerful nothing-can-kill-me demon from hell, maybe we should consider just giving Christy to him?” He laughed.
“I’m serious,” I said.“Seriously? Do you know how many guilty people are in jail? None.” Gary’s voice rose to imitate a woman’s voice. “Honest. I didn’t kill him. He fell on my knife. Fourteen times.”
You would think that our favorite coyote, Mercy, would have enough to deal with in her life when it comes to adversaries of the supernatural and furry variety. But she may have to confront her biggest challenge yet in the form of the former Mrs. Adam Hauptman. That’s right, the ex is in trouble and on the run from her psycho boyfriend. And Adam wouldn’t be the Adam that Mercy knows and loves if it wasn’t in his nature to help others, especially the mother of his child.
The ex, Christy, is only safest in Adam’s house and with his pack even though several things aren’t quite adding up. But one thing is as clear as day, Christy wants Adam back and isn’t afraid to play dirty to get him. Mercy isn’t going to take this lying down, but Christy’s peculiar psycho boyfriend may have more going on than some crazy stalker tendencies and as more bodies pile up, it’s up to Mercy to put a stop to it.
Night Broken is certainly one of the more memorable entries in the world of Mercy Thompson. She’s got bad guys…and girls all around and it’s hard to know who she can truly trust! Christy’s character is the one you love to hate. We’d been lucky for a while with her out of the picture, but since the character never died we knew she’d have to crop up sooner or later. And even death isn’t always a guarantee that we’ll be done with a character in the paranormal world, so it’s always in our best interests to just wait and see. I did thoroughly enjoy this part of the book, even if Christy made me want to
Mercy’s snark was of the highest order this time around and I found it refreshing. I loved this that novel tested the depth of Mercy and Adam’s feelings for one another as well. They define what it is to be a unit. I think Adam fans in general will find him pretty swoon-worthy.
The villain was pretty interesting. I wasn’t always sure what direction Briggs was going to take with his character so that helped keep the read very engaging. I did find myself annoyed more than once with Adam’s pack though. It really disappointed me how they treated Mercy despite her dedication to them and the fact that she sticks her neck out there for their sakes time and time again. I really wish they would get over themselves. One saving grace is the fact that if they can’t do it at once, they might be able to do it one by one. I thought the developments with Honey were well done and are a closer step in the direction of where things need to go.
My biggest gripe for the book would be the length. The latest Mercy books have felt too short to me. I mean, 350 pages might seem like enough but I feel like I whiz through it so fast. I could use another meaty 50-75 pages per entry. Additional pages would perhaps allow for more inclusion of side characters whose presence I found myself missing, namely Stefan. I know it’s probably not very easy to figure out how to incorporate him now that Mercy’s married to Adam, but I really like his character and his devotion to Mercy. Though he plays an important role, he is featured so little here and that makes me miss the old times. I am not that invested in the vampires as a whole, just him. I could use a Stefan spin-off!
But all in all it’s a good read and I think the fans will enjoy it immensely. The series still has a lot to offer and I look forward to what’s next.
*ARC Provided by the Publisher
Also feel free to like my review on Goodreads and vote it helpful on Amazon!
Giveaway
So now that you’ve read my review are you looking forward to having a copy of your own? Well one lucky winner of my blog will receive and ebook or hardcover version of the novel!
How to Enter (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY): My giveaways are only open to followers of Your Urban Fantasy who are 18 years of age or older. In order to enter YOU MUST COMMENT ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT POST AND INDICATE YOU HAVE DONE SO ON THE RAFFLECOPTER WIDGET! If you’re a new member, sign up on the right panel to follow my blog via email. (Make sure to check your email to confirm your subscription. You should receive a notification immediately, so check your spam folder if you don’t see it right away). Current followers can just say so in their post. The next three opportunities are for bonus entries. Overall, there are up to 4 chances to enter:
- Follow this blog via email (THIS IS REQUIRED)
- Follow me on Twitter (bonus entry)
- Tweet about the giveaway (bonus entry - you can do this daily for more entries)
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The more entries the better your chance to win! Good luck! And don’t forget to tell me what you’re most looking forward to in this book!
The giveaway will run from 3/6/14 - 3/16/14. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The Sharpest Blade (Shadow Reader, #3) by Sandy Williams
Synopsis: McKenzie Lewis’s ability to read the shadows has put her—and …those she loves—in harm’s way again and again. The violence must end, but will the cost of peace be more devastating than anyone ever imagined? After ten years of turmoil, the life McKenzie has always longed for may finally be within her grasp. No one is swinging a sword at her head or asking her to track the fae, and she finally has a regular—albeit boring—job. But when a ruthless enemy strikes against her friends, McKenzie abandons her attempt at normalcy and rushes back to the Realm.
With the fae she loves and the fae she’s tied to pulling her in different directions, McKenzie must uncover the truth behind the war and accept the painful sacrifices that must be made to end it. Armed with dangerous secrets and with powerful allies at her side, her actions will either rip the Realm apart—or save it
Review: I read the first Shadow Reader novel a couple of years ago, but due to the supposed cliffhanger nature of the second book I decided to hold off on continuing the series until it was completed. After a back-to-back read I don’t feel either novel was as strong as the original.
I do appreciate the world that Sandy Williams creates and how it intertwines and conflicts with the human world. The fae culture is very developed and unique in this series. I definitely wouldn’t say it’s a boring read because things are constantly happening, but I honestly didn’t feel as if I was on the edge of my seat waiting for what would happen either. I kind of figured out where things would go, it was just a matter of how the story would get there.
Most of the time I actually felt these books could be better suited to the young adult genre than the adult genre. Part of that could be due to how immature McKenzie is sometimes along with the usual interrupted opportunities. I am a big fan of good characterization (most of the time that keeps me engaged better than a plot will) and I felt like there was more to be desired when it comes to personality from these characters. I liked all of them more in the first book, but in the sequels there was more self-centered drama that I could have done without.
I felt like the love triangle was already settled in the first book, so I was annoyed with the perpetual reminders about why she chooses who she chooses. The life bond situation served to annoy me more than entertain because it unnecessarily reinforced that idea. That and its place in the story still didn’t make sense to me. She felt how she felt about that person before the bond, so why would she doubt her feelings now just because the feelings between both of them are connected? “Oh boo hoo, I’m connected to someone who loves me more than anything. Whatever shall I do?” Ultimately, I just really didn’t like the dynamics of the trio.
Though I have my gripes, I do think it’s a fairly solid trilogy overall.
*ARC Provided by the publisher.
Magic Breaks (Kate Daniels #7) Cover Reveal! Ilona Andrews is Breaking into Hardcover Territory!
I was a bit shocked to see the hardcover ready and raring to go this early (it’s not due out until August 5th of 2014), but you’ll hear no complaints from me! I’m super excited to see a cover, but I’m even MORE excited that the series is now in hardcover! What a wonderful achievement for the Ilona Andrews team! I’m getting much more used to this new model now.
Magic Rises (Kate Daniels #6) by Ilona Andrews - This series rises!
Synopsis: Mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate, Curran, the Beast Lord, are struggling to solve a heartbreaking crisis. Unable to control their beasts, many of the Pack’s shapeshifting children fail to survive to adulthood. While there is a medicine that can help, the secret to its making is closely guarded by the European packs, and there’s little available in Atlanta.
Kate can’t bear to watch innocents suffer, but the solution she and Curran have found threatens to be even more painful. The European shapeshifters who once outmaneuvered the Beast Lord have asked him to arbitrate a dispute—and they’ll pay him in medicine. With the young people’s survival and the Pack’s future at stake, Kate and Curran know they must accept the offer—but they have little doubt that they’re heading straight into a trap…
Review: Oh boy, what a ride! While this book wasn’t as quotable with the usual hilarious quips that make me love this series so much, it is definitely one of my favorite books of the series, if not my favorite. I usually love books when the characters go on road trips or end up out of their usual element. It usually gives a series a fresh perspective, revealing new aspects about my favorite characters and ultimately showing what they are made of when the going gets tough. Ilona Andrews really brought their A-game from start to finish. Kate and Curran, how can you not love them? As solid as they are, or at least as solid as we assume they are, their relationship and feelings for one another are put to the ultimate test.
I must say that bringing just about every essential character along for the quest set off my alarm bells early that nothing was going to be the same from here on out. I feared that not everybody would make it back or make it back in one piece. And they do take a hell of a beating in that department I’m sad to say. But I believe everything that happened happened for the sake of pushing the story forward to the best conclusion possible.
There were definitely frustrating moments making me feel for both characters as individuals as well. I will always be a Kate and Curran girl, but I thought they handled the chemistry between Kate and Hugh D’Ambry (her father’s right hand) surprisingly well. I was genuinely looking forward to their scenes together and the outcomes weren’t always predictable. I was really engrossed in the back story involving Kate’s heritage and felt satisfied with what was revealed. It felt integral to the story and to what we can expect of the series here on out. So often I run into series where the overarching plot is merely peppered throughout the book instead of being the meat of it, making it very obvious that the author plans to drag the story out as much as possible. I am so happy that wasn’t the case here, though I honestly haven’t read a disappointing Kate Daniels book.
If we thought things were complicated before, this book proved to me that we haven’t seen anything yet. I heard the series was going to end at 7, but then they decided to extend it to 10. At this point I think 10 books is definitely the sweet spot.
If you want a true page turner, this is one of the best you are going to find this year, guaranteed.
Poll: Release Day! Magic Rises (Kate Daniels #6) Are you reading it?
Hi everyone! In case you didn’t know, the new Kate Daniels novel is out! I can’t believe it’s been almost two years since the last one, though I thoroughly enjoyed Gunmetal Magic. Unfortunately I can’t crack it open right away like I want to. I have a couple more titles that I’ve agreed to read and review first, but the book is firmly #3 in my TBR pile. Hopefully I will be able to read it by next week! Though I’m not reading it yet, what about you guys? Have you started it?
Loading ...Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson #7) - Absence made my heart grow fonder
Mercy’s adjusting to lot of changes theses days; she’s now Mrs. Hauptman, wife and mate to alpha werewolf, Adam, and stepmom to his daughter, Jesse. This level of normalcy is refreshing compared to the usual whirlwind of her life. But of course things can’t remain peaceful forever. While taking advantage of Black Friday, Mercy and Jesse are in a car accident and find that they can’t reach Adam or anyone else in the pack. And it’s not a coincidence.
The pack has been abducted and may be in serious danger. It’s a delicate time for the werewolf race as they work to gain public acceptance. Without her pack to turn to, Mercy will reach out to every ally possible to save them, including some new and unexpected faces.
This was a really great read! I breezed through it in no time. I really missed Mercy and the gang. Maybe that’s a sign that this series is inching its way into my favorites group. And that’s a pretty exclusive club! But after this book it’s earned it. Adam is a true badass here, even tied to a chair! I don’t quote Paris Hilton often, but that “that’s hott.” Seriously, he’s to die for here, especially since we get TWO chapters from his point of view!
His relationship with Mercy really is refreshing. Though they have some drama and angst, they are secure in their relationship and don’t bother with mind games. That’s become an oddity with a number of series, even some of my favorites.
The story combines events that occur in Patricia Brigg’s Alpha & Omega series. It definitely helps if you’ve read the A&O series. I haven’t yet, but I was able to keep up with no trouble. Though at first I wasn’t really planning to read the series, but after Frost Burned I think I’ll go ahead and add A&O to my TBR pile, though I likely won’t get to them until next year, maybe around the time when Mercy 8 will be released. Thankfully that won’t be two years.
This is one of my favorite Mercy novels, but I would have liked more Bran and Stefan (who I think deserves a spin-off of his own). The book wasn’t too short or long, but maybe if it were a little longer they could have had a little more presence. I hope we’ll see a good bit of them next time. This book was definitely a must read for Mercy fans.
COVER REVEAL! Magic Rises (Kate Daniels #6)
It’s okay, but I’m not crazy about it. The cover models are constantly changing so it’s hard for me to get a read on how Kate is supposed to look. This model looks like a teenager. I almost thought this was the cover for some new YA series until i saw the title.
http://www.ilona-andrews.com/news/publishing-news/cover-reveal-magic-rises
Giveaway Winner Announced - Gunmetal Magic
Hi everyone! As usual, I want to thank all of you for participating, but now we have a winner. If you posted in the comment section of the announcement thread, you were entered for a chance (or multiple chances for those following the blog multiple ways) to win. And the winner is:
Crystal Watson-Andresakis
Please check your email, Crystal! Hope you enjoy! Thank you everyone for the continued support and I look forward to the next giveaway, which I plan to announce…TOMORROW! Yes, I’m in a very giving mood. Stay tuned!
Gunmetal Magic (Kate Daniels World #1) - All About Awesome Andrea
No Kate Daniels review of mine is complete without a quote, so let’s kick it off with my favorite:
“We’re engaged to be engaged,” Rebecca said. “We’re waiting until the end of the physical year to officially announce.”
“You mean fiscal year?” Dear God, she was a moron.
“Yes, that’s what I meant.”
The Andrews clan has yet to let me down. I really enjoyed Andrea’s short story, Magic Mourns, in the Must Love Hellhounds anthology. So I was really looking forward to her solo novel. As an added bonus, they even throw in the final version of the Magic Gifts novella. This book was a gift that kept on giving.
Andrea is down and out after being ousted by her old job. To make matters worse she goes through a nasty breakup with Raphael, and just for good measure she’s still being pressured to join the Bouda clan. This threatens her lone hyena status which she likes just fine. She’s trying to keep herself occupied by running her and Kate’s start up investigation firm, Cutting Edge. Keeping her distance to avoid Raphael and his new main squeeze was initially going well, but unfortunately (or is it?) that becomes impossible as a string of murders ties his business into the thick of things. No, he’s not the culprit, but the two must work together to solve the grisly crime. And sparks will fly…
This book offers everything you want in a Kate Daniels read. I laughed quite a bit, I cringed at some of the action and crime scenes, and I even found myself frustrated at times with the complicated relationship of Andrea and Raphael. Their banter is extremely entertaining, but I definitely found myself wanting to smack sense into both of them. So many of their issues could be solved easily through real communication, but hard heads make for soft bottoms.
I liked the addition of Ascanio, though it may have been a little formulaic. He felt like Andrea’s Julie or Derek, but I like how the youth are incorporated and have interesting story lines. I find that I genuinely care about these characters because they are forced to grow up really fast, but they still possess threads of innocence and naivete.
The villains have interesting powers, but I wasn’t quite as enthralled with the characters themselves. I was more interested in the lasting effects their powers could potentially have throughout the rest of the series. This felt more contained, but do hope it carries over to other novels.
Overall I thought it was a necessary novel to explore Andrea’s character and her journey of self-acceptance while she puts her life on the line for the ones she loves. Though frustrating, Andrea is a fantastically layered character which can sometimes be a challenge for writers (which is why the most interesting characters are side characters), but the Andrews handled giving her the spotlight very well.
If you love Kate Daniels novels, I can’t imagine you’ll want to miss this. Kate and Curran do make cameo appearances here and there as well. It is worth the read.
*Copy provided by publisher
Giveaway Tyme! Gunmetal Magic (Kate Daniels World #1) by Ilona Andrews
Though I’m not quite finished reading it yet, I felt like that shouldn’t delay me from sharing the wealth with you guys! It’s a bloody fantastic book and I’m super excited to be giving this away. Many of you know the drill, but in case you don’t:
I am collecting entries through Saturday, August 18th. I will announce the winners the next day.
How to Enter (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY): My giveaways are only open to followers of Your Urban Fantasy who are 18 years of age or older. In order to enter YOU MUST COMMENT ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT POST! If you’re a new member, sign up on the right panel to follow my blog via email and/or Twitter. (Make sure you check your email to confirm your subscription. You should receive a notification immediately, so check your spam folder if you don’t see it right away). Current followers can just say so in their post and your entry will be added. Overall, there are up to 3 chances to win:
- Follow this blog via email (THIS IS REQUIRED)
- Follow me on Twitter (bonus entry)
- “Like” Your Urban Fantasy on Facebook (bonus entry)
While I do appreciate RSS subscribers, I cannot confirm your status as a follower so your entry will not count (sorry!); however, you are welcome to sign up by email and Twitter or Facebook. Good luck!
Win a Gunmetal Magic ARC by Ilona Andrews
I debated with myself about whether or not I should the word (because the smaller the pool the greater my chances, right?), but I decided to look out for my peeps because you guys rock. So yeah, if you want a chance to win the book then check out the Ilona Andrews Blog:
http://www.ilona-andrews.com/give-away/win-an-advance-review-copy-of-gunmetal-magic/comment-page-7#comment-70880
And if one of you wins, you HAVE to tell me! I’m entered so I’ve got my fingers crossed. Good luck everybody!
Mercy Thompson Graphic Novel: Moon Called Vol. 2 - Eye candy extraordinaire
It took me a little while to get around to reading the second and final volume for the Moon Called graphic novel. What with no bookstores nearby, I wasn’t totally sure if I wanted to pay for a comic that I couldn’t see. The first volume was beautifully illustrated, but I wasn’t sure how much I would enjoy the story. For me the Mercy Thompson series definitely suffers from FBS (first book syndrome), but seeing the story illustrated mitigated the experience immensely.
Volume 2 picks up directly after Volume 1. Adam’s daughter, Jesse, has been kidnapped and Mercy tries to help track her down. She has to enlist help from her vampire friend, Stefan, whose camarilla may have information on where to find her. She has to manage this on top of figuring out whose been experimenting on weres. Facing a lot of danger, Mercy has to work with vampires, werewolves and faeries while she tests her own boundaries to see where she fits into it all.
The comments from my first review remain steady when it comes to the artwork. If anything I think it’s even better than the first volume. The story is the weakest part of this entry, but I can’t say if it’s because I was never really interested when it came to the written novels or if it was because it’s difficult to grasp the whole story when you’re limited to speech bubbles. Sometimes it was hard to follow and I noticed a couple of continuity issues from frame to frame. Even still, the art exceeded my expectations when it comes to this series. I have a new way to imagine the characters. I was really happy to see Stefan this time around and he has a significant presence. I feel like the illustrator probably liked drawing him. He’s quite the looker! I like Mercy and Adam together, but I honestly wouldn’t have minded seeing her with Stefan in the books, and the graphic novel only makes it worse now, haha!
So all in all, I do recommend this if only to admire the beautiful illustrations, but you will definitely need Volume 1 as a companion to know everything that’s happened.
Gunmetal Magic by Illona Andrews - Cover Reveal
http://www.ilona-andrews.com/writing/cover-reveal-gunmetal-magic
I gotta say I really like it! Looks like Andrea is ready to kick butt and take names! I’ve always liked her character so I’m really looking forward to this release. Not that I don’t love Kate and Curran as well of course.
Magic Strikes Hot Tub Scene (Curran’s POV)…and 1 more hour until the Kim Harrison and Patricia Briggs Streaming!
Yeah, so if you didn’t know, now you know (and you SHOULD know that it’ll be R-rated-ish):
http://www.ilona-andrews.com/snippet-writing/magic-strikes-hot-tub-pov
Nice short. I always appreciate reading Curran’s side of things. Above all, I really appreciate that the Andrews team doesn’t allow their series to be brought down by gratuitous sex scenes. The plot really does remain at the forefront.
————————————————-
And yeah, if anybody will be around in an hour, I hope you can tune into the stream and chat! I’m really looking forward to what we’ll be hearing about Rachel and Mercy.
http://vampirenovelfan.wordpress.com/2012/03/05/the-hollows-rachel-morgan-digest-news-and-spoiler-answers-revealed
Magic Gifts - there’s Naked Curran…’nuff said
So now that I have your attention…
There IS naked Curran, but there’s always more to say when it comes to a Kate Daniels story. I initially didn’t even read the synopsis because Kate gets an insta-click. The cover is really cool, making me wonder if covers for future novels are in for a style change.
This story takes place after Magic Slays (Book 5) and runs simultaneously with Andrea’s upcoming novel, Gunmetal Magic. Kate and Curran just can’t seem to catch a break as their dinner date goes horribly wrong. I swear this is probably the most quotable series. Kate sums it up perfectly:
“Best date ever. Well, until people died and vampires showed up. But before that it was awesome.”
It turns out the source of the trouble is a magical necklace that kills whoever wears it. The first victim was a navigator. The second potential victim is her kid brother. Well, he will be unless Kate and Curran can figure out how to get it off without killing him. This of course segues into a fast-paced, action heavy adventure for our favorite duo.
It’s fun to see Kate and Curran working as a team. They bicker, but you know the love is there. Aside from that, there are plenty of laughs along the way, a couple of sad moments, and one HUGE development! I was expecting all filler, but there is a major spoiler within this story, making me want to read Gunmetal Magic ASAP. While Magic Gifts is a novella, it is very substantive, resulting in a satisfying Kate Daniels fix for me. I’m up for Kate and Curran anytime, but I’m a fan of Andrea too so I’m really looking forward to reading her novel.
This story was a wonderful surprise and holiday treat from the Andrews team, so I’m just another fan expressing my thanks!
The Shadow Reader - I definitely plan to keep up with this one
Sandy Williams creates and nice array of characters in this new series. We’re taken into the world of McKenzie Lewis, a college student trying to live a normal life and finally earn her degree. Unfortunately, that is proving impossible due to her rare gift. While human, she has the ability to see and track fae-otherworldly beings from the Realm. Her gift has made her an asset for 10 years in a civil war between the species, while also alienating her from her family.
Kyol, a fae and sword master to the king, has been a close companion to her, protecting her while she helps them locate enemy rebels. But that all changes when she ends up kidnapped by the enemy…or are they?
A great deal of the book is spent with McKenzie trying to escape from the rebels, however as she learns about their ways it appears that she may not have been playing for the right side.
I quite enjoyed this book for a first installment. We’re introduced to two potential love-interests: Kyol, her companion for the past 10 years, and Aren, leader of the rebels. A lot of time is spent on this subject and normally I don’t enjoy love triangles, but I found myself okay with this one, especially because she does make a decision by the end. Since this is only the first book I don’t think it’s over, but I am hopeful that there won’t be too much back and forth that plagues so many other series. I’d rather have more focus on plot, action, and interesting dialogue than to have her indecisive for a million and one silly reasons.
The book is in first person present which has been a growing trend these days. If you don’t read this style often it may be a bit of an adjustment, but I’ve grown used to it so it no longer bothers me. I almost didn’t even notice.
I think it would have liked a bit more description of the Realm. Some series are fantastic and immersing you in other worlds (Wayfinder, a duology I recently read with a similar style is a good example), but here I felt like it was more character focused.
There’s a good balance of action and downtime which is great for the pace and keeps the story from becoming too boring or too overbearing. I just know I don’t envy McKenzie for all of the things that happen to her.
I definitely recommend this, but since the series is just beginning you may be like me and wish for it to have a few books under its belt first. Ongoing series tend to have cliffhangers and those usually drive me nuts when I get invested enough in a series, but I just couldn’t resist picking this one up since so many seemed to be enjoying it. Maybe you will too.
Mercy 2 Finds a Groove
The second installment of the Mercy Thompson series shifts focus from the werewolves to the vampires. This time her vampire friend, Stefan, decides to call in a favor from Mercy. She risks life and limb to thwart an evil sorcerer-turned-vampire (as if vampires weren’t evil enough on their own) causing numerous deaths all around the city. The supernatural cream of the crop are all involved to take this sucker down, from head vampires to head werewolves. And even still, somehow Mercy’s abilities prove useful to help save them all.
While I’m still not totally hooked, it’s definitely a step in the right direction. This book is a lot better in terms of action and the characters are more established, so I could relate to them a bit more. The love triangle (or maybe quadrangle?) is definitely kicked up a notch and confirmed here. Adam seems to be becoming my Were of choice, but there is enough argument for her other suitor(s?) as well, so I will just see how Mrs. Briggs decides to develop that angle. I liked the incorporation of ghosts this time around, and their use is quite intuitive and sensible. The vampire politics are somewhat more interesting than the first book since I didn’t find myself zoning out quite as much.
Stefan, has potential to be an extremely interesting character as the series progresses. It’s hard to tell what motivates him which will only keep everyone guessing. That’s a good sign of complexity considering that vampires are inherently evil in this series.
So all in all, it was certainly better than Moon Called, but I don’t really have the urge to want to inhale it like I’ve had with some of my favorites. Of course, that’s not necessarily a bad thing since I can be a much more productive human being, but this doesn’t necessarily need to be shot up to the top of your TBR list, even though it’s a decent read. I am still interested enough to want to continue and see what unfolds for Mercy and her friends, so that’s a good thing. Onto Book 3!
This series may need to grow on you
Moon Called is the first book to kick off the very successful Mercedes Thompson series. While it follows the urban fantasy formula through incorporating vampires, shapeshifters, fae, and ghosts, it has the opportunity to differentiate itself with high quality world-building.
The main character, Mercy, isn’t the prissy princess nor is she the leather-clad potty mouth badass. She works as a mechanic, getting her hands dirty the blue-collar way. She’s not quite human though. From her Blackfoot Indian heritage she has inherited the ability to shift from human to coyote. The official term is a “walker”, but she likes to keep this knowledge low-key as there are very few of her kind left.
Unable to care for her as a newborn, her mother turns her over to a werewolf family to raise her. While she shares certain similarities with their kind, she isn’t quite as bound by their laws which makes for and interesting slippery slope as she works together with them throughout this series. In this particular book, the Were community runs into significant problems as someone is illegally creating new werewolves and performing experime
nts on them. Mercy calls upon the help of all of her supernatural friends to get to the bottom of it, so we learn a bit more about the vampires, fae, and were alike.
Overall, I started out really interested and then my interest sort of waned and it really began to slow down. Surprisingly enough, I was more engaged with development of the Were community instead of the vampires, though the vampires certainly seem to have their own qualities to stand apart from other series. I hope that I am more interested in the future books.
Even with Mercy’s sort of bland personality, I think there’s definitely potential for greatnes
s. The ingredients are all there, especially a good supporting cast. I can see myself becoming a fan of the local Alpha, Adam Hauptman. Some of my favorites series start off with less than stellar beginnings, so that won’t keep me from giving the next book a read.
This, my friends, is how you do a graphic novel adaptation
I originally read this comic as an ARC and then decided to purchase it immediately before I even finished it. Since I was reading the series via ebooks, I wanted something for Ms. Briggs to sign for when I meet her at San Diego Comic Con this July. I was going to try to get through the ebooks as fast as I could so that I could then also purchase a paper copy of my favorite installment. After seeing this comic, there’s no longer a need. And even better, it fits in with the theme since it’s about the comics at Comic Con (well, it supposed to be anyway). I’m now super excited so I can spaz to Ms. Briggs in person about how wonderful of a job the artist did. I can already tell this is one of the best. Talk about doing a series justice!
No doubt this graphic novel adaptation accomplishes the most important goal of all; it’s very visually very pleasing to look at! That’s the point of a graphic novel at all, right? I actually enjoyed the comic much more than the actual book. The book comes off as somewhat bland in parts (though the series gets better with every book), but seeing the action come to life on the pages gets my adrenaline pumping. The drawing style is fabulous and not over the top. I love the coloring and shading and spent a few panels simply admiring the images. I feel like it truly captures the Mercy Thompson world. Mercy’s gorgeous, Adam’s sexy, and Sam actually looks much better than I assumed he looked in the books. I thought the artist was very good with expressing the characters’ emotions as well. A few of the transformation scenes were a little awkwardly drawn, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment.
I like that it’s close to the book. I think that made me read it much faster. Unlike the book, it kicks off with action to draw you in. It was a nice technique to keep it engaging. I felt the pacing was just right. There wasn’t a moment where I was bored and yet it stayed true to the plot.
I always have this trepidation of looking at fictional characters outside of the reading medium. 9 times out of 10 it just doesn’t capture the images I’ve conjured up in my mind. I am so pleased that’s not the case here.
We get a bonus section that’s by a completely different artist. It’s a completely different style that doesn’t portray the dark urban fantasy feel, so I didn’t really connect to it as much. Also, some of the proportions and angles were off. I recall at one point a character was drawn cross-eyed.
It ends with short of a narration of the panels to see how the artist conceptualized the panels. It was pretty cool to see their process, but not really necessary. My biggest enjoyment was in the meat of the story. I wish we could have seen Stefan, Warren, and Kyle in this volume though.
Because these look so good and flow so well, I plan to follow the comics for this series in conjunction with the books, as long as Ms. Amelia Woo continues to illustrate. It’s very rare that I can say I prefer any other medium to the original, but in this case I very much prefer the comic to the novel.
(ARC provided by NetGalley)
Consistent quality in the second time around
Bagic Burns (Book 2 of the Kate Daniels Series) by Ilona Andrews
Magic Burns takes off more or less where book 1 left off. Kate’s still working for the Order, she’s still broke, and she’s still alone. She gets a new little friend in this book though.
I gotta say, normally when children are introduced into a series it sort of slows the pace of the book and takes away the swagger. But I can actually say I was more interested in her interactions with Julie than any of her fights with all of the super natural big bads. I really liked seeing Kate so dedicated to helping her, literally risking life and limb to see her reunite with her mother. She had a believable balance of distance with her, but I think it’s a great quirk to Kate’s character that she has an actual reason for wanting to be distant with people. It doesn’t feel contrived at all.
Bran was also a pretty cool character, and interesting frenemy of sorts. His banter and come ons to Kate were almost as entertaining as her interactions with Curran. If you’re a huge fan of Curran, you won’t see him too much in this book, but when he’s there, it’s eventful to say the least. Their interactions and courting etiquette make so much sense, haha. I seriously would have thought Kate would have been clued in on what he was doing since she’s so knowledgeable, but it’s cool. The moment was funny.
Again, I really like the angle chosen for the vampires in this series. It adds so much intrigue because you really want to know who navigates them.
Kate’s a wise-ass with a heart of gold, and wears bows on her panties. What’s not to love?
Kate Daniels - I’ll be back for seconds! (Gordon Andrews dropped by!)
Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, Book 1) by Ilona Andrews
Excellent intro to this series
The Kate Daniels series kicks off strong with Magic Bites! I bumped this series up in my TBR list after all of the raves from my fellow urban fantasy fans, and so far I’m pleased with the decision! Normally I’m not that into darker urban fantasy, but this one works for me. There is certainly enough humor to keep me interested, so a comical dark urban fantasy can be done! It bridges the gap for all fans of this genre, bringing something to the table that everyone can enjoy.
Aside from a few quotes that really had me laughing, I also love the magic and the world building. It has somewhat of an alternate universe apocalyptic feel where horses (or mules) are becoming more of the norm than cars as a mode of transportation. I am certainly a “VampireNovelFan” and typically like it when they’re pretty, but if you’re going to make them ugly, you’d better make it good. This series makes it good. This take on vampires is very fascinating and original. It stands out in a genre where there are so many variations that vampires are reduced to “sparkling” and even lacking fangs altogether in an attempt to differentiate themselves.
The magic is pretty cool and it comes along in waves called “Flares.” Tech-based weapons and devices won’t work during this time, so that adds to the unpredictability of the story. I also liked her weapon, Slayer. It sort of has a mind of its own and I love imagining it in action.
While the pages are short, the read actually feels like it’s just enough. I really respect a series that doesn’t drag out the plot just to increase page count. It keeps the story tight and focused.
Just when I was starting to wonder if there could be anything original in the urban fantasy genre, this book does it. I really look forward to cracking open book 2, and 3, and 4, and 5 when it’s released. This is definitely a must-read if you love urban fantasy.
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