Reviews
Review: Changes by Jim Butcher
Title: Changes
Author: Jim Butcher
Release: April 6, 2010
Purchase this book: Amazon | Book Depository | No Kindle Version
Goodreads Entry: here
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Rating: 5 Stars
Now Arianna Ortega, Duchess of the Red Court, has discovered a secret Susan has long kept, and she plans to use it-against Harry. To prevail this time, he may have no choice but to embrace the raging fury of his own untapped dark power. Because Harry’s not fighting to save the world…
He’s fighting to save his child.
Let’s get down to business *rubbing hands together*. First note… if you have not read The Dresden Files series yet…. do not read past this first paragraph of this review. In fact, get your bum off the computer and go read book 1, Storm Front. Urban Fantasy lovers have no excuse to not read this series and you should be ashamed of yourself. Harry Dresden is a professional wizard…. a smart ass, witty, smirking, sexy as hell professional wizard. And he has a staff. I’m just saying. Changes is book 12 in the series and may be the best one yet. I have no idea how Jim Butcher has managed to keep such a long running series so freaking fantastic, but I am beginning to suspect magic or a deal with a demon. I am going to need Butcher to send me copies of all works in progress so I can work out how he is doing it, k, thanks.
Now, all you Dresden virgins move along…. tho you can read the quotes below if you want. Those are probably safe. Dresden fans, have no fear, I think I have kept it relatively spoiler free.
To say that this book has been anticipated is like saying I like twitter… gross understatement. When the blurb first came out I stuttered and was left speechless for almost an entire minute. Harry has a secret baby?? Susan is coming back and there is a child?? Whaaaa???? My speechlessness was immediately followed by cursing and vile names being thrown at Susan, who I just don’t like (if you say I’m jealous – you could be right, but be warned I will glare at you).
Changes starts out with a life changing phone call between Harry and former lover, current half vampire *cough*bitch*cough* Susan. Turns out that super hot kitchen sex scene almost 10 years ago did more than just make me pant, Susan and Harry have a daughter. As if that isn’t shocking enough for poor Harry, his daughter Maggie has been abducted by the Red Court Vampires. Harry has to call in all the friends he can find and make new ones in order to save the life of a little girl he has never met, a little girl who has been raised without knowing he exists.
Butcher brings back the familiar gang of do-gooders for Changes. Molly is still apprenticing under Harry and is showing signs of growth and maturity in her character. Murphy is Murphy, she is there for Harry no matter what – even if it means all she has worked for and cares about will be turned upside down. Thomas, Sanya, Mac, Bob, and Butters all make appearances and contribute to the cause and the story with their quips and sayings. Mouse reveals himself to be the coolest pet ever. Some of my favorite quotes (I couldn’t choose just one!):
“Your weapons, grasshopper,” I said in my Yoda voice. “You will not need them.”
She [Molly] frowned at me in annoyance and said, “You know, I believe it is possible to reference something other than Star Wars, boss.”
I narrowed my eyes in Muppetly wisdom. “That is why you fail.”
I let out a short bark of geniune laughter. “I thought I was supposed to be the one with one thing on his mind.”
“Oh, when we were younger certainly,” she replied. “Now, though, our roles have reversed.”
“Meaning you want it fast and hard, too?”
“Are you kidding?” Thomas said. “I’m obviously Legolas. You’re . . .” He squinted thoughtfully at Sanya and then at Martin. “Well. He’s Boromir and you’re clearly Aragorn.”
“Martin is so dour, he is more like Gimli.” Sanya pointed at Susan. “Her sword is much more like Aragorn’s.”
“Aragorn wishes he looked that good,” countered Thomas.
“What about Karrin?” Sanya asked.
“What–for Gimli?” Thomas mused. “She is fairly –”
“Finish that sentence, Raith, and we throw down,” said Murphy in a calm, level voice.
But Changes also gives us a much darker Harry Dresden. He is still witty and quick with the self-depreciating moments … but he is also angry and on the edge. His daughter is out there, alone, waiting for someone to save her. Harry has to chose between one painful choice after another. He is tested to his limits and pushed to re-evaluate his moral core over and over again. How far will he go to save her and what will it cost him? Every move he makes, every battle he fights in this book is of dire importance and emotionally exhausting. Finishing this book left me in utter shock, looking for a support group and chatting up people at all hours of the the night.
Honestly, this book should be titled HOLY HELL I AM AN EVIL AUTHOR AND I TURNING YOUR WORLD ON IT’S SIDE. Changes is a high speed freight train of a read and just when you think you can see the light at the end of the tunnel and a smile starts to spread across your face Butcher hits you upside the head with a can of WTF JUST HAPPENED. Jim Butcher has exceeded my expectations with this installment, easily making Changes the best book of the series so far, and what will be without a doubt one of my top 10 books of 2010.
FTC Disclaimer: Book was purchased by me (hardcover even!)
Review: Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs
Title: Silver Borne
Author: Patricia Briggs
Release: March 30, 2010
Purchase this book: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle Version
Goodreads Entry: here
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Rating: 4 Stars
I’ve been sitting on this review for a week or so, just unsure of what to say. Mercy Thompson is one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series, and I was expecting a lot from this one. Silver Borne doesn’t disappoint, for the most part it delivers. I gasped out loud and had to tweet friends at various interludes. Yet, it I still found myself feeling a bit off after setting the book down.
Mercy Thompson is a shapeshifting(coyote) mechanic. She is tough as nails, brave, and fiercely independent. Silver Borne has her still recovering from the traumatic events of previous books and her vulnerability was touching. She finds herself once again mixed up in the world of Fae and some of her most cared about people in danger.
In this installment we make our way through what the mating of Adam and Mercy really means, for the pack and for her. I think this is where the story stumbled for me. There were a lot of pack things explained that I did enjoy, but I often felt that Mercy joining the pack put a damper on some of her personality as well as some of the sexual tension that I love. She apologized too quickly and too easily for her character in my opinion and it nagged me a bit.
What did work for me and was far more interesting was Samuel’s story. I don’t want to spoil anything, but he is a huge part of this book and he is what kept me turning pages in the middle of the night. I loved the resolution of his situation, but do admit it felt a bit rushed or glossed over.
As a whole, the Silver Borne was a good read. Fans of the series do not want to miss this one as it marks a turning point in the series for Adam and Mercy’s relationship. There is a lot of intimacy and tenderness between Adam and Mercy and it felt great to see them happy, yet it left me missing the tension between them. The plot was done well and the cast of characters filled out the story perfectly. There are so many wonderful side characters of this series it is hard to choose a favorite but if I had to make a choice…. Warren the gay werewolf is in the lead.
FTC Disclaimer: Book was purchased by me
Review: Lion’s Heat by Lora Leigh
Title: Lion’s Heat
Author: Lora Leigh
Release: April 6, 2010
Purchase this book: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle Version
Goodreads Entry: here
Genre: Erotica/Paranormal Romance
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Bad boy Jonas Wyatt knows it is fate that Rachel becomes his mate. He can sense it. He can also sense her reluctance. But she has little power over the mating heat of the Breeds. It is Jonas’s destiny to claim her. And nothing will stop him from having his way.
Lion’s Heat is probably one of the most anticipated Breed books from Lora Leigh. Jonas Wyatt has been meddling in the lives of Breeds everywhere for years and everyone wants to see him meet his match one way or another. This latest installment in the series definitely delivers on the “heat” but left me wanting a bit at the end.
Jonas is a Breed, a man ingrained with Lion DNA, created and bred within scientific labs to be the perfect killer. Lora Leigh’s Breed series chronicles the fight for freedom and safety by this race of Breeds, both men and women. Jonas is every bit the prickly, growly, manipulative, alpha male we expected him to be. He is all business and the Breeds safety and survival are most important. What I didn’t expect where the reasons behind his actions. I didn’t expect him to be the manipulator because he cared whether his fellow Breeds were happy. He cares whether they can get past the torture they all endured and find a life they can smile about.
Fans of the series will be happy to know that Jonas is brought to his knees by his mate Rachel. She is every bit as stubborn and stoic as he is. She knows how to say no to him and does it with a smile on her face. I really enjoyed her character, she made me grin and giggle with evil delight.
“I know a volcano hungry for a sacrifice” he muttered behind her. “You’d make the perfect candidate.”
“Hungry volcanoes only accept virgin maidens,” she informed him tartly. “That leaves me out of the running.”
She almost grinned at the disgruntled growl that sounded behind her.
The tension between Jonas and Rachel was off the scales hot. Neither of them are willing to give in to the “mating heat” and I was surprised by just how far Jonas would go to resist his instincts. Every interaction between the two of them was a rolling boil of sarcasm and sexual tension – it kept the story moving and me turning the pages.
Before he could stop himself, and God knew he wished he could have stopped himself, he gripped her shoulders, spun her around and pressed her against the door. Her soft cry was lost as his lips parted and his teeth gripped the side of her neck in sensual warning. The animal knew what was going on with the man. It knew he was fighting a battle he was going to lose, and he couldn’t stop himself.
“Jonas!” Shock and arousal fueled the needy, breathless sound of her voice.
Gripping her hips Jonas held her still as his knees dipped, his hips pressing against her rear as a harsh growl tore from his throat.
Considering the sexual tension outside of the bedroom, I was surprisingly disappointed in the actual “mating” (yes, i mean the actual sexing). The heat that Leigh put into their interactions and the few scenes of physical foreplay before the mating seemed to fizzle a bit when it came down to doing the dirty deed. No doubt Jonas was all alpha power and loss of control, but there was no real build up within the actual scene and for once it seemed to be secondary to the rest of the story. Not to mention the phrase “living mercury” to describe Jonas’ eyes was overused to the point that I rolled my own eyes.
I would talk about the plot of the book and the politics of the Breed world, but really…. is anyone reading this series because of the subplot? And if you are, can you send me a flow chart explaining the timeline of these books because I still get confused and I have read all 21 stories. The action involving the groups opposing the Breeds were just there, background noise to the growth of Jonas and the realization that he doesn’t have to be alone.
Lion’s Heat is a surprisingly quick read for over 300 pages, and a great addition to the Breed series. Next up in the series is Styx, a Scottish wolf breed we first met in Dawn’s Awakening. A scottish alpha wolf? I am tingly already.
FTC Disclaimer: Book was passed on to me for review by a fellow bloger
Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Title: Catching Fire (Hunger Games, book 2)
Author: Suzanne Collins
Release: October 1, 2008
Purchase this book: Amazon
Goodreads Entry: here
Genre: Young Adult
Rating: 5 Stars
SPOILER FREE, I PROMISE! 
You may notice, I left out the blurb above…. I was posting it but then I realized its way too spoilery for those of you who have not read book 1 yet. In fact I am really not sure how to review Catching Fire without spoiling book 1, so I am going to keep this brief.
Just as they did in Hunger Games, the characters in Catching Fire captured my heart and didn’t let go. I sobbed several times and I will even admit there were times I wanted to throw the book. The story and the situation surrounding Katniss feels so desperate, its emotionally exhausting. I kept muttering to myself how things weren’t fair and at times I questioned my sanity for becoming so emotionally connected to this story. But isn’t that what a good story is supposed to do for you? A great book binds you to its world and the people in it, it keeps you reading even when your heart is breaking.
Catching Fire easily earns a 5 star rating from me. Once again Suzanne Collins delivers on the emotion, character depth, and suspenseful plot that keeps this Vixen coming back for more. If you haven’t started this series yet, I ask… what are you waiting for? The final book, Mockingjay, comes out this summer and you won’t want to miss it.
FTC Disclaimer: This book was purchased by me.
Review: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Title: Hunger Games (Book 1)
Author: Suzanne Collins
Release: October 1, 2008
Purchase this book: Amazon | Kindle Version
Goodreads Entry: here
Genre: Young Adult
Rating: 5 Stars
Hunger Games drops you into a future where the United States has been destroyed and all that remains is Panem, a dystopian civilization made up of 12 districts and a Capital city. The Capital controls everything with an iron fist and a previous attempt at rebellion by the 12 districts resulted in the creation of a disturbing event known as the The Hunger Games. Every year each of the 12 districts has to choose one girl and one boy to compete in this televised game of survivor where you either win or you die, and there can only be one winner.
Katniss is a 16 year old girl with far too much responsibility on her shoulders. She protects and provides for her mother and sister with no regard for herself. She is independent, caring, and humble. When her sister’s name gets pulled from the glass bowl as this year’s female tribute to the Hunger Games, there is no question that Katniss will take her place. I loved Katniss from page 1 of this book. She is so strong, and yet still a vulnerable 16 year old when no one is looking. I had tears in my eyes and a sob in my throat before I had even gotten to page 25 because of the lengths she went to for her family. Katniss is a character you will root for and become emotionally attached to.
The beginning of the novel started a bit slow for me, it was all necessary to the story but I was anxious to get to the games and to find out whether Katniss even had a chance at staying alive. Once I got a third of the way through, I simply could not put this book down. The story was action packed, smart, and captivating. My pulse raced and I held my breath along with Katniss every step of the way. I felt her despair and desperation. I felt her joys and her I cheered her on.
If you are looking for a smart, fascinating, unique story with noble and likable characters then Hunger Games will not disappoint you. Don’t let the Young Adult genre designation dissuade you, book lovers of all ages with enjoy this one.
FTC Disclaimer: This book was purchased by me.
A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1) by George R.R. Martin
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