Book Review: The Darkest Whisper, by Gena Showalter

The Darkest Whisper (Lords of the Underworld)
Gena Showalter

Okay, #4 in the series reveals the torment of Sabin, Keeper of the demon Doubt. I wasn't sure about this one coming into the book, because Sabin wasn't really a big player in the previous books, and I was all like, Sabin who? I 'doubted' (yuck, yuck, yuck) whether I could get into this character.

Here's the thing: my favorite book of the series so far (maybe that's a little lie...I really dug the first one, too). Ms. Showalter whips up an another immortal character, Gwen, to tame this demon. I loved Gwen! I loved Gwen's sisters! These characters are nearly as fun as Anya.

I could go on and on about Ms. Showalter's brilliant writing prowess, but I've said it all before (like, 3 times already) and I'm going to start boring *myself* if I keep ranting on that level. So just let it be known that this book doesn't fail in that area. It's as good as it gets.

What makes this book so *fun* is the rocking twists. I love twists. Twists make me beg for more, more, more! I also love seeing how Ms. Showalter comes up with these ladies who have the power to tame these demons. Since each demon is unique to his demon, and lady-love must be uniquely tailored to enhance that demon. I have to keep reading the series just to see who she comes up with next!

Another solid read in the sexy, steamy, paranormal genre.

Book Review: Wisdom, by Amanda Hocking

Wisdom (My Blood Approves)
Amanda Hocking

Wisdom is the 4th, and last, installment in the series, My Blood Approves.  For me, the book started out very, very slow. No one is happy, there's a lot of tension and stress between most of the characters, and the feeling you get from reading the book is heavy and lethargic. I'm sure that's the feeling Ms. Hocking was trying to convey, but boy, it was really a Debbie Downer!

I understood what motivated Alice, but I didn't understand her constant lying. It's not like the members of her 'family' aren't empathetic or are bullies who keep her locked up or that she couldn't talk people into just about anything, like she's done in the past; yet she was under the constant notion that she had to lie in order to be able to do what she wanted to do. Alice, quite frankly, was not like-able in this one.

Despite that, I thought the series ended how it should end. There is a surprise or two in store for the reader at the end. Is it a happy ending for everyone? No, it's not. But that's what makes the wrap-up read true. Life isn't always fair, and not everyone gets what they want in life.

None of the books that followed the first book, My Blood Approves, quite reached the magic of that first book, but overall, I liked the series.

Book Review: The Iron Queen, by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Queen
Julie Kagawa

This is the 3rd installment of the Iron Fey Series, and I think it's been my favorite of the series so far. Meghan is set to live her life banished from Faery. That's ok, because she has a human family that she can go back to. Ash is with her, banished as well, and it looks like they're ready to settle as outcasts, together.

But things change. Fast. Meghan and Ash and Puck are all drawn back into the thick of things. Meghan's choices are clear. She's learning how to handle the fey. She knows what she wants. And she, finally, figures out how to get it.

Meghan is the strongest in this book by far. She's no longer going along for the ride. She takes charge, takes control. She is strong, she stands up for herself. She learns to fight. And she does. She also learns to sacrifice. And she does.

The writing, as usual, is superb. Plot flows well, starts right in where the story left off in book #2, and doesn't lag in setting things back up. There's some slow stuff about a third of the way through, but it's easily forgivable. The characters are larger than life, and Ash is typically dark, mysterious and handsome. Puck is his usual puckish self, a character in his own right. Off to book number four for me!

Book Review: Sweet Light, by Jen Wylie

Sweet Light
Jen Wylie

Shara is a healer in the midst of a war. She's been conscripted by King Darren to be a court healer, but then finds herself in the middle of battle. When she saves a young, mute soldier, she doesn't know that her bond with him will cause shock waves throughout not only the kingdom, but through the healer community as well.

The story started solid. The characters are rich, and there is much descriptive detail so that the reader is immersed in the world that Jen built. Shara is a strong character who sheds the obscurity of an over-shadowing lover by striking out on her own to become a master healer. There are hints that she is destined to be a strong, powerful healer.

The story itself is quite good, however, it's one of those stories that I'd call a 'slice of life'. I would call this character driven, and I do prefer plot driven books. She's not on a quest, she's not trying to beat the clock to accomplish some far-reaching goal. She's just going on with her day-to-day life, and we the readers are watching. There's nothing wrong with that kind of story, but there's no sense of urgency or tension or suspense either. The story is mellow and smooth, and doesn't carry a dramatic climax.

Towards the end, the writing started to unravel a bit, with a number of grammatical errors.

This a good read if you like character driven fantasy stories that follow the life and times of your favorite character.

Friday Funnies

A little billboard humor to start your weekend!

Interviewed

Hop a blog and check out my interview with Kate Aaron!

http://onlytruemagic.blogspot.com/2012/06/author-interview-dale-ibitz-free-book.html?showComment=1339804995307#c1957525746979322677

I Wish I Could...

Do you ever find yourself wishing you could do something? As we grow up, adults always tell you you can be anything you want when you grow up. But there are some talents that are just out of reach for the average knuckle-head, like me. There is one thing in particular I have always wished I could do, ever since my younger days.

I've always had a little bit of flare with the pen...not brilliant, but good. I loved to write, and growing up I was always writing short stories and poems. My second home was the library. But one day when I was in the 5th grade, I was over at a friend's house and it opened my eyes to a world I'd never seen. While our house was dominated by books, her house was dominated by art.

Her mother was an artist, and she had the most wonderfully eclectic home. The accents were deep, rich, natural wood, and it was a jumbled maze of rooms that had been carved in and out of the original structure over the years. Cluttered with art supplies, easels, pictures, drawings, paintings...you couldn't move without bumping into something artsy.

I suddenly wanted to become an artist.

One problem. I can't draw. At all. Not even a little. Believe me, I tried and tried and tried. It was ridiculous.

I've see people sitting at the park, drawing, and I'd be jealous. I've see people at writing conferences, drawing, and I'd be jealous. I've see some amazing book covers and yes, I'm jealous. My husband is very artistic, though not professionally...yup, jealous.

When my son was about 2 years old, he asked me to draw pictures. A dog. A cat. A horse. A pig. So he'd demand, and I'd draw. When my husband came home from work, he studied the drawings and said, "Oh, was Wayne drawing today?"

As you've gathered, my talent runs on par with a 2 year old. I *told* you I can't draw. At all. Not even a little.

But what a wonderful talent to have! I have to give props to artists, especially when designing a book cover. There is so much information and emotion that has to be conveyed, the cover is an integral part of the book. Most people pass judgement on the cover before they even pick it up to read the jacket. We have to love our artists.

I also have a couple of friends who are artists. Am I jealous?

Hmmm...(yes!)