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Archive for 'Fantasy'

Sorcery and the Single Girl

Sorcery and the Single Girl (2007-2015) Mindy Klasky Jane is slowly learning how to use her powers–but it turns out she doesn’t have much time, because the local coven is going to test her, and if she fails, they take all her books, tools, and even her familiar Neko. Jane was even more aggravating in […]

Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft

Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft (2006/2015) Mindy Klasky (Jane Madison) Jane Madison is a research librarian at a private library, which has been struggling to make ends meet (by such ventures as selling expensive fancy coffees), but things seem to have gotten worse when her boss tells her that her salary is being cut by 25%–but […]

High Stakes Trial

High Stakes Trial (2019) Mindy Klasky Sarah has been indicted for the murder of the judge for whom she worked, and her boss has disappeared off the face of the earth, leaving her with a temporary security head who uses dog breeds as curses. Sarah has been seeing Chris, the head of the local sphinxes […]

Law and Murder

Law and Murder (2017) Mindy Klasky The second book finds Sarah preparing for the trial of the vampire who attempted to kill her–but it seems that her status in the supernatural world still isn’t set, and that may well affect the trail–and Sarah’s life. “Legend says Sekhmet’s retainers invented beer to keep her calm. For […]

Fright Court

Fright Court (2011) Mindy Klasky (Magical Washington) Sarah Anderson has been bouncing from job to job for years now, while her best friend is settled down with a rewarding job and what seems to be a perfect family. But Sarah’s first night on the job she discovers that nothing on the Night Court is as […]

Hell & High Water

Hell & High Water (2014/2018) Charlie Cochet Dexter Daley’s career in the human police force is over–he just doesn’t know it yet. After testifying that his partner shot a unarmed teenager Therian in the back, he’s put on leave, and then beat up by his fellow officers. Eventually, he’s sent to THIRDS, the human-therian unit […]

Ravensong

Ravensong (2018) TJ Klune That’s it. I’m out. Gordo Livingstone was made the witch of the Bennett pack when he was a child. Then, his pack abandoned him and he was left completely alone–even by the boy he thought he loved. This book happens before, during, and after the events of Wolfsong, giving us Gordo’s […]

The Darkling Thrush

The Darkling Thrush (2012) Josh Lanyon I’ve read a lot of Josh Lanyon books in the past year, and I adored most of them. This is a fantasy M/M romance and… I didn’t much care for it. Colin Bliss is in London for an exchange program to get work experience as a librivenator. But all […]

The Haunted Heart: Winter

The Haunted Heart: Winter (2013) Josh Lanyon This isn’t really supernatural; it’s a ghost story. But I didn’t have a better category for it. Flynn Ambrose is living in the house he inherited from his uncle on Pitch Pine Lane while he sorts through the antiques and other items collected over a lifetime. I said, […]

Wolfsong

Wolfsong (2016) TJ Klune (Green Creek) Ox was twelve when his daddy told him that Ox wasn’t worth anything and people would never understand him. Ox was sixteen when he met the boy on the road. Joe talked and talked and talked, but Ox found out later the boy hadn’t spoken in almost two years. […]

Inspector Hobbes and the Gold Diggers

Inspector Hobbes and the Gold Diggers (2014) Wilkie Martin The third Inspector Hobbes / Unhuman book. Andy Caplet is still living with Hobbes, and slowly (slowly) becoming a better human. Hobbes might not be human, but he’s good at being human. We finally discover things about Hobbes! ‘I expect,’ said Sid, with a glance at […]

The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal

The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal (2013) K.J. Charles Set in England between 1894 and 1914. The Caldwell Ghost Butterflies Remember, Remember Silver Cakes and Ale Devils on Horseback An Eye for an Eye The Writing on the Wall Turn of the Century The End Simon Feximal helps the dead to rest. He doesn’t exorcise […]

Half-Resurrection Blues, Audio Edition

Half-Resurrection Blues, Audio Edition (2015) Daniel José Older narrated by Daniel José Older After re-listening to Salsa Nocturna, I figured that Half-Resurrection Blues should be up next. (A)nother little guy is definitely Indian/ Pakistani or maybe Puerto Rican. Or half-black. Whatever he is, he gets randomly searched every time he’s within twenty feet of an […]

Rivers of London Volume 7: Action at a Distance

Rivers of London Vol. 7: Action at a Distance (2018) Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, Brian Williamson Set in 2016. When these comics first started, I think that Ben Aaronovitch had a lot of extra material he couldn’t fit in the books. I think that he’s probably used up that material, because these last several comics […]

All the World’s an Undead Stage

All the World’s an Undead Stage (2018) Angel Martinez The conclusion to the Offbeat Crimes series (or at least the story arc of who has been targeting Precinct 77) concludes with us going back to Carrington and Erasmus, who are happy enough together, although neither has said the “L” word yet. “Did you skip lunch […]

Jackalopes and Woofen-Poofs

Jackalopes and Woofen-Poofs (2017) Angel Martinez Alex and the rest of the 77th are dealing with the fall out from the last book, when Kash destroyed the magical working that was creating the attack dust bunnies. Jason’s work is fine, but his family remains a big problem. Paul took five uncomfortable seconds to pounce. “You […]

Feral Dust Bunnies

Feral Dust Bunnies (2017) Angel Martinez I’m glad I purchased this book with the previous, because otherwise I might have ended the series there and that would have been a shame, because this story was great. Alex Wolf is an officer in Precinct #77. Like the others, he’s strange. Weird. When he was little, he […]

Skim Blood and Savage Verse

Skim Blood and Savage Verse (2017) Angel Martinez I’m glad the series didn’t start here, because I wouldn’t have read any of the other books. Carrington Loveless is the senior member of the 77th precinct–part of a group of paranormal police officers seen as broken by the “regular” paranormal law enforcement. And their office is […]

Salsa Nocturna: Stories, Audio Edition

Salsa Nocturna: Stories, Audio Edition (2012/2014) Daniel José Older, narrated by Daniel José Older This is a collection of stories set in his Bone Street Rumba world. “Tenderfoot” published in The Innsmouth Free Press (2011) “Salsa Nocturna” published in Strange Horizons (2010) “Skin Like Porcelain Death” “The Collector” published in The ShadowCast Audio Anthology (2010) […]

Stiletto, Audio Edition

Stiletto, Audio Edition (2016) Daniel O’Malley narrated by Moira Quirk Since I re-listened to The Rook, I had to follow up with Stiletto. I keep checking to see if Daniel O’Malley has written anything else, and I am terribly disappointed every time I see that, no, there is nothing else. Why do I love these […]

Circle of the Moon

Circle of the Moon (2019) Faith Hunter This book is set after the last Jane Yellowrock book, Dark Queen, but I’m not 100% clear on the time-line, which was problematic. As best I can tell, this is far enough after the big events that Jane has gone to ground to heal, which is why neither […]

The Pill Bugs of Time

The Pill Bugs of Time (2016) Angel Martinez This is the second half of Kyle and Vikash’s story, told from Vikash’s POV. Why are these two characters fun? Because they are ridiculously geeky–and proud of it. “Should get an Odo bucket,” Vikash murmured. “A what?” Kyle chuckled into his coffee. “Seriously, Carr? You never watched […]

Lime Gelatin and Other Monsters

Lime Gelatin and Other Monsters (2016) Angel Martinez Kyle Monroe has been a cop at the 77th precinct for several months, when he is assigned a new partner: the extremely stoic and handsome Vikash Soren. He wants to dislike Vikash, but instead falls for him–which is a terrible idea, since they’re partners. This is a […]

DNF: The Curse of Lord Stanstead

The Curse of Lord Stanstead (2015) Mia Marlowe Set in London in 1819. With his pretenatural ability to influence the thoughts of others, Garrett Sterling is sent to gather Cassandra for the Order of the M.U.SE. He’s entirely unprepared for his immediate attraction to the comely little firestarter. But it’s an attraction that he must […]

Hexbreaker

Hexbreaker (2016) Jordan L. Hawk Tom Halloran is a cop hiding a past that would get him thrown in jail–if not executed. Cicero is a familiar without a witch, and his time to remain in that state with the MWP is growing short, which means he may need to accept any witch or find his […]

The Rook, Audio Edition

The Rook, Audio Edition (2012) Daniel O’Malley narrated by Susan Duerden I had no idea what I wanted to listen to, but needed something engaging, so I decided to go back to The Rook. “That’s experience talking,” said Shantay. “In these situations, the glass is always half empty.” “Always?” “Always,” confirmed the Bishop. “Right until […]

Inspector Hobbes and the Curse

Inspector Hobbes and the Curse (2013) Wilkie Martin This is the second Inspector Hobbes book. Weirdly, I still can’t decided how I feel about this series. It’s very silly, but it sometimes feels like it’s trying too hard to achieve that silliness. Wolfifesting is the process whereby a werewolf transforms into wolf form; it’s the […]

Lies Sleeping

Lies Sleeping (2018) Ben Aaronovitch This is the seventh Rivers of London novel. And it’s set in 2014, because the story moved slower than real publishing time. You can read this if you haven’t read the novella or comics, but if you haven’t read the previous books? Forget it. The story opens with the following […]

The Phoenix Illusion

The Phoenix Illusion (2018) Lisa Shearin The 6th SPI Files book finds Mac and and her friends celebrating when a house suddenly appears in an empty lot–and catches on fire. More distressingly, the house that appeared is Rake’s, and it’s from his homeworld (which isn’t Earth). First, Mac remains one of my favorite fictional law […]

The Hanging Tree, Audio Edition

The Hanging Tree, Audio Edition (2017) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith Now I’m all caught up on Peter Grant and ready to read the newest book. One of Lady Ty’s daughters has gotten into trouble, and she has called Peter to ask for his help in solving a problem. “Peter,” said Lady Ty, “Nightingale […]

The Furthest Station, Audio Edition

The Furthest Station, Audio Edition (2017) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith This actually comes after The Hanging Tree, but I ended up reading it prior, and it didn’t matter. This is a novella that features Abigail as much as it does Peter, which I really enjoyed, since I love little bits, like this conversation […]

Inspector Hobbes and the Blood

Inspector Hobbes and the Blood (2013) Wilkie Martin I actually had a great deal off trouble with this book. At the start of the story, the narrator is an idiot AND rather unlikable. Unlikable enough that about a third of the way through I was thinking, “if this guy remains this much of an asshole […]

Rivers of London: Water Weed

Rivers of London Vol. 6: Water Weed (2018) Ben Aaranovitch Andrew Cartmel These are getting more and more frustrating, because they’re become less good with each comic story-line. The problem is that the stories aren’t forwarding the story or the characters at all–they’re just what the characters happen to be working on while he’s writing […]

Etched in Bone

Etched in Bone (2017) Anne Bishop The fifth Others book, and the completion of the story arc started in the first book. The Others have struck back at the humans and the world is once again irrevocably changed. Human communication is no longer instantaneous OR private. Humans are no longer safe to travel the at […]

Marked in Flesh

Marked in Flesh (2016) Anne Bishop The fourth Others book. The HFL (Humans First and Last) group has been striking against the Others, but now they want to start to take over the lands they believe rightfully belong to humans. As far as the Others were concerned, not listening was a big reason why humans, […]

Vision In Silver

Vision In Silver (2015) Anne Bishop Somehow I managed to skip the second book. I realized it about a third of the way through, but decided it didn’t particularly matter. Meg is still in the Lakeside Courtyard, and the others have rescued the other blood prophets from those who sold their visions for a price. […]

Written In Red

Written In Red (2013) Anne Bishop I read this soon after it first came out (a gift, I think, from Natalie (Thanks!). But life got complicated, so I never read any more of the series. I decided to start again, and go further in the series. It’s fantasy but with a world that would in […]

Foxglove Summer, Audio Edition

Foxglove Summer, Audio Edition (2014) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith The fifth Rivers of London book. Lesley is gone. Peter is a mess, but doesn’t realize it. So Nightingale sends him out to the country. If I’d been about four ranks higher up the hierarchy I’d have regarded it as an opportunity to realize […]

Broken Homes, Audio Version

Broken Homes, Audio Version (2013) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith First, we meet Varvara Sidorovna. “Nochnye Koldunyi,” said Nightingale. “A Night Witch.” “Is that like a person or another thing?” asked Lesley. “Like Peter’s Pale Lady?” “A type of Russian practitioner,” said Nightingale. “Recruited during the war, the training had a very narrow scope. […]

Whispers Under Ground, Audio Edition

Whispers Under Ground, Audio Edition (2012) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith The third book finds Lesley May moved into the Folly, having become the newest apprentice (it’s understood this is allows only because of the damage done to her in the first book). A body is found in the Underground, and as much as […]

Moon Over Soho, Audio Edition

Moon Over Soho, Audio Edition (2011/2012) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith This is a story about jazz vampires. “You can’t die of jazz,” said Dr. Walid. “Can you?” I thought of Fats Navarro, Billie Holiday, and Charlie Parker who, when he died, was mistaken by a coroner for a man twice his real age. […]

Very Important Corpses

Very Important Corpses (2017) Simon R. Green This is the third Ishmael Jones mystery. The Organization is sending Ishmael and Penny to Scotland (to that very famous Loch in fact) to provide security for a gathering where one agent has already been murdered, and it’s probable the House has been infiltrated by one or more […]

Rivers of London (Midnight Riot), Audio Edition

Midnight Riot, Audio Edition (2011/2012) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith I finished all the Nightside books that I own, and instead of buying the next book (none of them are available at my library) I decided to re-listen to the Rivers of London series, since there is a new book. I do love this […]

Midnight Hour

Midnight Hour (2016) C. C. Hunter I really enjoyed most of the Shadow Falls series, but never quite got into Miranda’s short story, so I held off getting the final book in the series (which is Miranda’s) until it went on sale. It was… nowhere near as good as the rest of the series. It […]

Diamond Fire

Diamond Fire (2018) Ilona Andrews This is a Hidden Legacy novella, and covers the wedding of Nevada and Rogan. We also meet Rogan’s mother. “If fortune smiles on us, this will be your only wedding. This will be a formal affair. Your bride will be wearing a breathtaking gown, you will be wearing a tuxedo, […]

Sharper Than A Serpent’s Tooth, Audio Edition

Sharper Than A Serpent’s Tooth, Audio Edition (2006/2008) Simon R. Green narrated by Marc Vietor This is the 6th book of the Nightside series, and closes a major story arc–John Taylor knows who his mother is, and the battle between them has come to Nightside. Now all John has to do is defeat his mother […]

Deadly Assessments

Deadly Assessments (2018) Drew Hayes I thought this might have been the last book in the series, but apparently he’s writing another. That’s cool on multiple accounts. 1) I’m enjoying this series and wouldn’t mind another book and 2) this book ended cleanly and I’ve have been content if there wasn’t another book (AKA, no […]

The Fangs of Freelance

The Fangs of Freelance (2017) Drew Hayes The fourth Fred the Vampire Accountant book. My name is Fredrick Frankford Fletcher, and I am an accountant by trade. Also, I’m a vampire. Yes, I probably should have led with that second bit, but to be honest, the accountant part factors far more frequently into my daily […]

Bloody Acquisitions

Bloody Acquisitions (2016) Drew Hayes This is the third Fred the Vampire Accountant book. This is such a fun and silly series. (I)n life my reaction speed was always somewhere between “abysmal” and “for the love of heaven don’t let Fred hold anything too valuable.” The walk to the inn took around ten minutes, but […]

Dead Men’s Boots, Audio Edition

Dead Men’s Boots, Audio Edition (2007/2009) Mike Carey narrated by Michael Kramer The third Felix Castor book finds Fix attending the funeral of a fellow exorcist–one whose calls Felix ignored. The widow asks Felix for help, which draws him into a mystery that John had been trying to solve–and may have gotten him killed. I’m […]