Review: Don of the Dead

Don of the Dead by Casey Daniels

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Kind of sloppy and inexperient but also good enough for a 1st instalment. Pepper was...difficult to like. I always have a problem with women who jump feet first and think later like her. Not charmed by the whole damsel in distress act much less that of a former white rich girl. I prefer a much deadlier kind of act and seeing Pepper fumble around with the mob just plain gave me the weebie jeebies. Also kind of a big project for a 1st instalment. Made it all seem not only extremely unlikely but also unrealistic as hell. No way should've that ended so well (well being a relative term of course). So...I didn't relate with her, not even when she was getting shot at. The whole thing with both Dan and Quinton didn't help either. Just so...theatrical. The writing is compelling though and the single reason why this even rates a three star rating in my book.



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Review: Autumn Bones

Autumn Bones by Jacqueline Carey

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Didn't I say screwing Cody was gonna bite her in the *ss? No? Well I thought it. Its a dead end she keeps trying to keep it open and it's annoying as hell. Not saying she should just go with Stefan 'cause he's not exactly a safe choice either and she should definitely think it over before doing anything but..I can't help thinking he'd be a better choice anyway. Maybe I'm wrong tho and it would be a bad thing. Hey, at least this one actually has a chance. Cody not so much and his complacency towards the matter even tho he claims good intentions is even worse. Kinda makes me want to hurl something at his head. Something heavy. Anyway...the whole debacle with Sinclair's family. I would've sent him packing right after his sister first showed up. Trouble just for the sake of trouble. Like I said regarding the first novel, Daisy needs to come into her powers as a Hel agent. I get depressed just thinking about her ignorance and vulnerability. Seriously. There was some growth but nothing much and it's already causing casualties. I sincerely hope this gets addressed soon because it takes quite a good deal of contentment out of the series.




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Review: Dark Currents

Dark Currents by Jacqueline Carey

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



It was...nice. Maybe not perfect (Daisy was dumb sometimes and her vulnerability annoyed me a little) maybe not always exciting or even compelling but I ended up liking it anyway. Daisy, which is a crappy name for a hell-spawn, was kind of simple and a little incompetent too. I didn't expect her to be some bad-ass woman with amazing survival skills being a file-clerk for the Police Department but I did expect better from an agent of Hel. There is no reasonable excuse for it either considering she's been doing the job for a couple years too. The whole kidnapping thing was a clusterf*ck of epic proportions. Her damsel in distress act really bothered me to no end. I still can't believe she needed such rescue and her little stunt with the emotions of the ghouls didn't make it right either. Just kinda glossed it over. I really hope she pulls her act together sooner or later. She needs to learn to defend herself instead of only relying in her position as Hel's agent. Grow some b*lls or something. The rest of the characters? I liked the diversity and I really liked the world-building. It was different and well done. I saw myself cheering for the monsters and as well as the humans and that is good writing right there. I specially liked Stephan and Lu. Cody, not so much. The whole pack thing always pisses me off even tho I understand it. Good HEA.



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Review: The Djinn's Dilemma

The Djinn's Dilemma by Mina Khan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



It's not one of the best books in existence but the writing flows very well, the characters were entertaining if not perfect and the world-building was interesting enough to keep me compelled to finish. Only one sex scene and one big fight. Overall? Nice but I probably won't remember this after a few days. Could've been better with a little more work.

Rating: 2.5 ★



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Review: Dead Girls Are Easy

Dead Girls Are Easy by Terri Garey

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Honestly? I was expecting more Supernatural and less Ghost Whisperer. Kinda disappointed in that regard to tell the truth. Not a single vampire, werewolf or zombie. Not even an angel or demon. Where's the fun in that? Nowhere. Only thing that saved the whole book for me was the couple and even then...I was not completely sold. Nicki talks a good talk (which I love) but doesn't do the walk. She's kinda wimpy and blue. Evan was nice? I don't know. Not much basically. I did like Joe, even tho I had my doubts at first and he ended up surprising me. Good choir boy with a little wild streak. But that's all. Granny Julep was not a kind person and Nicki's weakness towards the old lady really pissed me off. The plot wasn't that interesting. Unreasonably convoluted and boring. Almost 400 pages to tell something that could've been told in less than 200 which, in turn, made everything look flat and diluted. Shame.



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Review: Bad Mouth

Bad Mouth by Angela McCallister

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Surprisingly good and sweet. It's very hard for me to like PNR's with vampires. Authors either portray them as mild and sparkling or arrogant dip-shits. In fact it's quite difficult to achieve balance and therefore I'm usually turned off by said novels but this one was really good in that. Kade was clearly all male and alpha but he had an honour and sweetness about him that completely captivated me even when he lied through his teeth. Well done. And although Val was completely in love with him she was no shrinking violet either. She had no problem standing up to him and his overbearing attitude. Quite delightful to watch. Great match. Really entertaining and fun.



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Review: I'll Be Damned

I'll Be Damned by Casey Keen

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



And now you lost me. 20% into the book and I couldn't take it anymore. Anna is an idiot and managed to annoy me to no end in just 89 pages. How? By not doing anything at all in 89 pages that's how. By taking more than a paragraph to describe her makeup and a full two pages to describe whatever she was doing which was nothing like I already mentioned. I was bored to hell. Anna was boring. Janie was...you guessed it, BORING. Martello, her gay friend, talked like this: "Girl, what is you doing? You looks like a damn fool". No. You look like a damn fool for talking like THAT. Her family was...wow. How can I say this properly? Depressing and BORING.

Maybe it gets better. Maybe it's good for someone else. Personally, I am done. Good luck.

Rating: 1.5 ★



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Review: Here Be Sexist Vampires

Here Be Sexist Vampires by Suzanne Wright

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This? This was surprisingly good. When I read the summary talking about Jared being a sexist pig and the MC falling for him anyway I seriously thought it was going to be painful. But it also mentioned how kick-ass Sam was so I just plodded along waiting my doom. I never got there. It was insanely cool. I don't think this can be properly named UF as GR shelved it, more of a PNR, but it's still full of action and just plain fun. Sam is a homicidal bitch and Jared really is a misogynist pig. Both incredibly arrogant (him more than her) but they worked so well together...of course it took them ages to go along with it but still, great story. I really liked them both and their sexual tension was hot. Jared still pissed me off more than not but then Sam would just kick his ass and I'd be happy again so it was all in good fun. Had a awesome time reading it. Recommended for some light entertainment.



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Review: After the Fire

After the Fire by J.L. Murray

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



It's good. A very well done first instalment. Not as good as Murray's Niki Slobodian series but I'm sure it'll get there in time. I was a little disappointed by the end though. I expected a little better of Eleni and the other gods. All that tension and it ended so quickly. Seemed like they all failed spectacularly easy. But, I will definitely be reading anything else she puts out. Murray is a great writer and I really love her voice. She tells wonderful stories and I am anxious to get my hands on the next book. Good work.



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Review: Craved

Craved by Stephanie Nelson

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



You know...it wasn't perfect. There were numerous attempts at brilliancy that completely fell flat for me but then you go and kill Gwen's best friend and then have her agree to some half-assed request so the bad guy can bring her friend back from the dead? I was never particularly fond of Gwen before but this totally ruined the story for me. Gwen went from a thoroughly boring character to an exhaustingly stupid one. Maybe it would've been better if the support characters were well written too but they weren't either. They all seemed to only exist near Gwen and even then barely so. The world-building sucks. There is no other word for it. It's confusing and irritating. Nelson seems to devise new rules every paragraph just to have them ignored in the next. Gwen goes most of her life with a simple set of powers and suddenly she's incredibly rare and everyone wants her. Reasons? None. Who cares, right? Who the hell needs sense in this book? Just me apparently. The plot just seems incredibly implausible and I guess her stupidity facing her friend's death just made me give up on the whole thing for good. Not impressed and I want my time back.





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Review: Black Wings

Black Wings by Christina Henry

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Am I the only disgusted by the amount of entitlement all these men have in this book? I mean it is very disturbing to see this kind of thinking, specially in today's society. Who in their right minds think it's sexy or wanted? Am I alone in this? 'Cause just the thought of some *sshole I don't know forcing me to marry some boot-licking pretentious f*ck completely turns my stomach. I mean, I liked Maddy. For someone who had no idea what she was doing I think she adjusted remarkably well. She was kick-ass but not infuriatingly so. The "romance" between her and Gabriel was expected but it was not overly done so I'm not pissed but Azazel, Nathaniel and Lucifer? They pissed me off to no end. Even more than the bad guys and I think that is something very surreal. Everyone seems to be thrilled to have found her but not for her but because of what she can do for them. I, for one, am not thrilled by this development. I don't even like Lucifer and I almost always like Lucifer, even when he's a bad guy. I should be happy everything worked out, right? I'm not. I have this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I am disgusted by these supposed superior beings. I am not impressed whatsoever and can only manage mild contempt for them.

At this moment I am not sure I will keep reading this series. I am not a happy camper. I do give props for the writing though. It was incredibly compelling and well done.



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Review: Satan Loves You

Satan Loves You by Grady Hendrix

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



Honestly? I think I'm mostly pissed at myself for wasting my time with this book, yet, I'm still giving this a good rating 'cause it was ridiculously entertaining and idiotic. There was greed, pride, violence..I don't know. The whole seven deadly sins. All present and accounted for. Obnoxiously done with a side of despair. A mockery towards today's society. I'm guessing in a couple of decades it'll be somewhat praised for this but right now it's mostly hateful and unpleasant. I ended it with a feeling of hopelessness and...I don't think I'll ever touch it again.



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Review: Sympathy for the Devil

Sympathy for the Devil by Holly Lisle

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Meh. I'm between being pissed at Dayne for being clueless for so long and being glad everything worked out. Mostly, I'm just disappointed though. This was a fun read and I liked it somewhat but I expected better. And I most definitely wanted to like Adam which I didn't. Much. He seemed pretty lackluster for a second in command. He gave up all too fast and willingly. No fight at all. I wonder how he got to be second with such a mild personality. Anyway, Dayne being a Mary-Sue for instance was much less disappointing because it was expected due to her relationship with God. I don't know. I guess it was okay for just some mindless fun...probably depends on your mood.

Rating: 2.8 ★



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Review: Just Right

Just Right by Bronwyn Green

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



Okay I tried. But you can't begin a book, even a short story, without a little background. Something to situate the reader. This started with me reading about the woman's wet folds in the first paragraphs of chapter one. How she's having erotic dreams with the guy sitting next to her. How he's an *ss but she still wants to f*ck him and can think of nothing else. Seriously?



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Review: Alchemystic

Alchemystic by Anton Strout

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I saw that ending from miles away. Maybe halfway through? Yeah, sounds like it. But I was pleasantly surprised by all the rest. Alexandra was no perfect character. Too goody-two-shoes for my liking. Always bending to her parents will. Always apologizing. Kinda turned a little creepy when alchemy came into the picture too. Her friends tho, they made my day. Specially her best friend, Rory. She was awesome. Kick ass and witty. Definitely balanced out Lexi's naiveté and constant blundering. Marshall was incredibly geeky cute. Is that a real term? Anyway, Stanis was fascinating. His parentage did not surprise me at all though. Another thing I could see miles away. I did expect to see more of him and I don't mean physically. I kinda wished for more of his human moments. I liked him more every-time he recovered further memories. I also found I liked his weird and nonsensical sense of humor. His voice too. In fact, the characters actually made the book for me. The plot was kind of ridiculous and weak. Alexandra's parents were non-important and Devon? Well I never liked him anyway so his betrayal was kind of expected by everyone but Alexandra. Background was spotty at best. The world-building kind of dragged in some places and I had some difficulty concentrating but it was fast-paced enough for me not to linger much in said problems. Basically I will read more just in hopes of learning more about Stanis.



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Review: Greywalker

Greywalker by Kat Richardson

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I'm not sure what to tell exactly about this book. I didn't much like Harper. She was an idiot. A slightly competent idiot but one nonetheless. I couldn't condone with her choice of ignoring the Grey throughout most of the book, in fact, I thought it would bite her in the bum and surprise, it did. In a very spectacular way when Gy*** (whatever his name was) forced her into the Grey, opened her chest and put a piece of some bad sh*t inside her. Would've the same happened if she'd been a good investigator and had investigated the sh*t out of something she didn't understand? Maybe. Maybe not. She was stupid. She had three choices: Accept blindly. Accept or not but only after finding out everything about well everything. Or try as hell to pretend nothing happened. Of course she had to choose the dumbest path. Wouldn't be proper to act rationally. Quite hard to find people like that nowadays.

Anyway, I apologize for going on a tangent with Harper there. It wasn't all her fault. I didn't much like the others characters either apart from Mara and Ben. I would say Brian too but he was only a babe and didn't show up much. The whole stunt masqueraded as plot...not convincing and I kinda need that even in a fantasy novel. Sorry.

The whole vampire/beast/grey whatever just kinda of grossed me out. I couldn't connect with a single soul and didn't care if anyone died. Clearly not for me.



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Review: Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic

Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic by Meghan Ciana Doidge

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I hate people who blatantly lie but, most of all, I hate people who know they're being lied to and do nothing to get to the truth. Those two things are my biggest pet peeves with this book. The MC wilfully let her mother and grandmother control her life through half-truths. She never questioned anything they ever said, no matter how ridiculous it sounded, and then she gets pissed when her sister and Kett threw that in her face. She also blatantly ignored her sister's evilness. Were you fooled? 'Cause I wasn't. Not from the first time she showed up. When Jade actually caught Rusty's magic in the zombie...I immediately thoughtSienna! How Jade managed to be hurt and shocked is beyond me. How the whole werewolf/vampire thing ended? No surprise there 'cause that's just how high-handed both her mom and gran are. Sure as hell won't stop trying to control her life now only 'cause she found their lies. Stupid girl. I really liked the premise but Jade annoys me a lot. She's incredibly ignorant of her own life and power and that always pisses me off. Not sure about further reading.



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Review: Frost Moon

Frost Moon by Anthony Francis

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I liked it well enough but I'm not sure if it'll be enough to get me to read the next installment. I don't even know if you can actually call this book UF. I think I read someone say alternative. Personally, I'm not sure about anything regarding this book. I liked Dakota in general but not really if you know what I mean. I can't exactly pinpoint what I actually dislike about her but there is something definitely there. BDSM? Not my thing. Lesbianism? Not against but not my cup of tea either. Street smarts while good also can't cover everything and honestly that's all there is to this arrogant tattooist who claims to be the best but clearly isn't when she simply doesn't know what her "product" can fully do. She apparently spent nine years (!) doing magical tattoos but doesn't know what they do? WTH? Are you serious? Of course you are. Then she involves herself in a murder investigation and gets beaten within an inch of her life. Repeatedly. Does she do the sensible thing and protects herself? Nope. She continues to simply streak around town waiting for another attack. Her final showdown with the bad guy? Simple luck. She was lucky Wulf somehow recognized her in wolf form and didn't eat her. She was lucky Transmonia (or whatever his name was) was being controlled by Valentine and changed sides. She was lucky she wasn't raped and killed. Simple damn luck.

Do I really want to read about an arrogant punk who knows nothing about anything, not even herself and her art? Someone who sometimes gets lucky? I really don't know.

I liked the flow. I liked the plot well enough too and I liked the support characters. I specially liked Wulf. He intrigued the hell out of me and I wanted to know more. Instead he got killed off and now I stand here with only the support characters to entertain me. I don't think they'll be enough to distract me from Dakota's blunders.



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Review: Queen of Shadows

Queen of Shadows by Dianne Sylvan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Okay so Mira wasn't a complete idiot and her actions actually ended up saving her life. Well done. I liked it. Miranda was a very refreshing character. She started weak and finished this book with an incredible inner strength. Amazing character growth. And I loved David. Good balance between the good and bad traits of an alpha. Protective without bordering on stalker and creepy. Strong but not invulnerable. I honestly didn't think we'd get to see so much about his past and present. Most authors prefer to rely on the "mystery vampire" instead but this was definitely a pleasant surprise. And I absolutely loved him as her romantic interest. He was truly amazing and suited for her.

Was this perfect? Not really. Some of her thoughts were really depressing and frustrated me to no end. The world-building was good but the romance took way too much space. I didn't like Sophie's death. Mira and David's time apart was way too angsty for me too but ultimately? I think this actually surpassed my expectations.



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Review: Shadow Sight

Shadow Sight by E.J. Stevens

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Not sure about this book. It feels too easy. Which can't be really true because it involves faes and other paranormals, so that leaves me with the notion that it's probably just poorly executed. For instance, if I was supposed to be impressed by the MC, sorry but you have failed. I admire nothing in that girl and yes, it is a girl even though this is not YA. Ivy seems to be supposedly pictured as a strong medium or something but comes across as a naive little girl afraid of her own shadow. Her friends? Supposedly supportive but apparently said help comes attached with expectations and prices. Her enemies? Maybe I was supposed to be terribly afraid or something but they only caused me to be frustrated and annoyed. I spent more time waiting around for Ivy to get to the point of the whole book instead of anxiously awaiting the arrival of her enemies which turned incredibly disappointing and lackluster. They didn't even knew of her existence! That's how important she was! It wasn't even her who ended up finding the missing bridle. She didn't fight anyone. She didn't outsmart the bad guys. She did nothing. It was depressing honestly. And then, she finds she's a princess and starts dating the Kelpie King. Seriously? -.-'

To think I was actually excited to read this.


Rating: 2.5 ★



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Review: How the Other Half Lives

How the Other Half Lives by Clare London

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Cute little short story. Definitely worth reading for the carelessly happy feeling of the story and it's characters. Good HEA.



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Review: Secret Unleashed

Secret Unleashed by Sierra Dean

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Is there any book with Secret that I don't love just for the fact she is there? Probably not. She's one of my favourite heroines and having her in a book is a sure way to please me. That said, I don't love all that happens in those books.

*I didn't like the thorough descriptions of her torture.
*I didn't like her very small interaction with Lucas.
*I didn't like Maxime's death.
*I didn't like the government's involvement.
*I specially didn't like how easily the Doctor died.

Maybe she's a better person for not torturing him like he did her. I don't care. I would've given as much as I'd received. Sorry. Maybe that makes me a sociopath like him. Can't say I'm particularly concerned however after all he did.

Notice how everything seems to be headed to a big throw down soon? How Secret is evolving? I did. Personally I think she should have chosen between weres and vamps a long time ago. Being the big boss in both communities is going to blow up in her face and it will be her fault for playing there in the first place. My opinion on which side is better? Neither, but it's the bed she made. Personally I would choose vamps since no other option is forthcoming. I like Sig and I like Holden immensely. From the weres side I only like Desmond and even Des has been lowering in my expectations recently. Weres all seem to lack rationality and I'm a big fan of it. Although I do admit she should choose her side because it is the side she wants and not because of either man. Another thing that'll blow up soon enough.

So basically, I'm reading the next instalment because it's Secret and I like her. I'm also dreading to do so because it's Secret and she's starting to piss me off with her indecision. It feels like this series is stalling and I'm getting frustrated. Not sure if I'll hold for long.



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Review: Electric Storm

Electric Storm by Stacey Brutger

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Okay. I liked it. I liked all the action, even though the MC's ability to ignore her survival instincts really annoyed me. I liked the writing. I liked the plot. But I can't say I'm happy with all the shifter crap all around this book. They're always pushing and probing and annoying the sh*t out of me. Even her supposed pack and family. I can get behind the pushing and pulling when she's being stubborn and suicidal but the rest? They all seem to ignore the fact she was caged most of her life and therefore has problems being pinned down or trusting anyone but herself. Can't say I'm not wholly on her side on this issue either. I would've booted their asses out of my home the first time they tried that alpha thing on me no matter how cute they looked. And that's another issue I have in this book. She seems to find every male within touching distance incredibly cute. Rylan. Taggert. Jackson. Durant. For crying out loud. Get laid. By either of them. Or all. Just stop saying they're hot and you want to climb them like a monkey. Jeezus. And because she's attracted to them she does stupid things for them. Like accepting their idiocies. Like agreeing to do what they want. For one so damn powerful as a alpha herself she sure does seem to bend backwards to do their bidding. It's incredibly frustrating and disappointing. Can't wait to see her jumping again in the so-called shifter conclave. Not. But I am too damn curious to not read it either. Oh well. Let's see.



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