A Red Heart of Memories (1999) Nina Kiriki Hoffman

I really like Nina Kiriki Hoffman’s writing. She reminds me a bit of Charles de Lint, probably because the both write about magic just under the surface of our world. Things are such that if we just looked a tiny bit harder, we’d see the magic too. [...]

Blood Pact (1993) Tanya Huff

Surprisingly, I like Blood Pact a lot more than Blood Lines, the last book, although it was quite different than the previous four. In this book they battle not magic, but science: a group of researchers are reanimating the dead.
I say surprisingly because the researchers were creating zombies. Vicki, Mike, [...]

Blood Lines (1993) Tanya Huff

In the third book in the Victory Nelson Private Investigator series, an ancient mummy is released from his bindings and takes up where he left off–gathering power and souls for his God. Several strange deaths draw Mike Celluci, and then Vicki Nelson and Henry Fitzroy onto the case.
I did not like [...]

Blood Trail (1992) Tanya Huff

Okay, I did have a very strong drink to celebrate the end of the semester, so that may have been part of the reason why I laughed out loud several times last night while reading this book. Or, it could be that the book was actually amusing. Your call.
Vicki receives a [...]

Runaways Vol 3: The Good Die Young (2004) Brian K. Vaughan

And finally, the conclusion of the story arc started in Pride and Joy.
We finally learn why the Pride formed, and what they were trying to do. And the teens finally resolve the problem. We also learn who the mole was, and why the mole acted [...]

Runaways Vol 2: Teenage Wasteland (2003) Brian K. Vaughan
Now that they’ve escaped from their parents, the runaways are trying to figure out what to do with themselves. To amend for their parent’s actions, some of them believe that they should fight evil themselves, but they’re broke and hungry and still scared and shaken up, so [...]

Runaways Vol 1: Pride & Joy (2003) Brian K. Vaughan

The series Runaways came up as a recommendation for me several times, and it looked interesting. However, I am wary books with of teenage characters, because if they’re not well done, I find them intolerably annoying. Luckily, the characters in Runaways may be teenagers, but they [...]

Blood Price (1991) Tanya Huff

I’m embarrassed to admit how long I’ve had this book without reading it. In fact, it’s been so long that I’m not even certain precisely how long it has been, but I’m thinking I picked it up in ‘94 or ‘95, along with its two companion volumes. (The price was $3.99, [...]

Sunshine (2003) Robin McKinley

I picked this book up for two reasons. First, because I liked the cover, and second, because of the quote by Neil Gaiman. Yes, I know lots of people who love Robin McKinley’s writing, and yes the blurb looked interesting, but the cover and the blurb were enough to keep me from [...]

Snow White Blood Red (1993) Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling

I often have a hard time putting down interesting books. Which means that if I’m reading a book I real like before bed, I end up staying up past my bed time instead of falling asleep. One solution is to read non-fiction before bed. The other [...]

Ex Machina Vol 3: Fact v Fiction (2006) Brian K. Vaughan
Ex Machina Vol 3: Fact v Fiction
Now that I’m all caught up on Ex Machina, I suppose I have a six month wait or so before the next collection comes out. Luckily, I have one or two other things around here to read.
Fact v Fiction [...]

Ex Machina Vol 2: Tag (2005) Brian K. Vaughan

Tag continues the story of Mitchell Hundred, also known as The Great Machine, and current mayor of NYC.
Like the first volume, the story jumps back and forth in time. This time the past focuses upon his campaign for mayor of NYC, and how he became involved with [...]

Dead As A Doornail (2005) Charlaine Harris

Dead As A Doornail is the fifth book in Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampire series, and full of complications and murder and danger. Someone is killing the double-natured, and since Sookie’s brother Jason was bitten, he’s in the same danger as the rest.
I really liked several different things about [...]

Raven’s Strike (2005) Patricia Briggs

The sequel to Raven’s Shadow, Raven’s Strike picks up where Raven’s Shadow left off. Tier and Seraph, and their children Lier and Jes are headed back from Taela. They are still traveling with the clan of Rongier the Librarian, and Hennea, who was separated from her clan when she was kidnapped [...]

Under Camelot’s Banner (2006) Sarah Zettel

Under Camelot’s Banner is the third book in Sarah Zettel’s Camelot series. There isn’t a specific name for this series, but all the books have Camelot in the title, so that’s obvious enough.
Books published by Luna typically have a romantic or erotic element, however, they also tend to have [...]

More on books I’ve started to read, and just couldn’t get into. Typically, if I abandon a book, it’s within the first fifty or so pages.
Again, feel free to tell me if I should continue on, because the book gets better. There are several books that I’ve had a hard time getting into, but [...]

Mystic and Rider (2005) Sharon Shinn

I really liked this book. It’s a good, solid, and lovely fantasy.
Senneth is a mystic, leading a group through the country of Gillengarin upon the orders of King Baryn. In her group are two King’s Riders, sent along, but unsure of Senneth and where her loyalties lie.
First and foremost, [...]

I came across a comment in passing that gave me pause to consider what I’ve been writing here. Specifically, I don’t review a lot of books I don’t like.
There’s a very good reason for this–I usally don’t read books I don’t like.
When I pick up a book I don’t care for I tend [...]

Swords of Haven (1999) Simon R. Green
Omnibus edition of: Hawk & Fisher, Winner Takes All, The God Killer

Swords of Haven, the omnibus edition containing the three Hawk and Fisher books, Hawk & Fisher, Winner Takes All, The God Killer, is a very odd book.
The stories are set in a world of magic, where swords [...]

Ex Machina: The First Hundred Days (2005) Brian K. Vaughan

I picked this up several months ago (before Christmas), but like other books, was putting off reading it until I had time only for something short to read.
Then I forgot I had it.
It was the name of the series, which first caught my eye, for several [...]

Raven’s Shadow (2004) Patricia Briggs

Yes, I am gouging myself on new books. I’d been very good, about not bought myself any books for several months, so I figure I’m entitled to a small binge–especially when I can find books on sale.
Seraph, a Traveler, a mage, and the last of her clan, is saved by Tier, [...]

Fables Vol 6: Homelands (2005) Bill Willingham

I broke one of my cardinal rules with Fables, which is don’t get involved in an ongoing series. Of course, I didn’t realize I was breaking my rules at the time, but I could have stopped earlier in the series, and waited. But I didn’t. Because the story is [...]