Sunshine: Robin McKinley

I know I was supposed to be reading Kenyon’s Dream Chaser, but there are no hard and fast rules. If there were, they’d be mine and I can break them whenever I wish.

So, what have I been reading? That would be sly if the title of this post didn’t blatantly tell you what I’ve been reading. And what do I think of Sunshine by Robin McKinley?

Hmmm, let me tell you what Neil Gaiman thinks “Pretty much perfect.” How about Jayne Ann Krentz…“Fabulous.”

These are the blurbs on the front of the book. They caught my eye. So yeah, blurbage is a great marketing tool.

Okay, so we know that some people think it’s great, some paid people even. Me? I’m not paid. Does that make my opinion more believable? Not necessarily, but it sounds good.

Now, Sunshine is not a new book by any means. It was first copyrighted in 2003. The books been around and it’s been somewhat popular on the scene. I didn’t hear about it until I saw it on the “new releases” section at Barnes and Noble. A new cover, maybe? First time in trade paperback size? (You can pay $14 for the big size or $7.99 for pocket size, new.)

Oh, you probably don’t care about all that.

Anyway, after all this time, you’d expect there to be a sequel for this book by now, but according to the writer’s blog there “probably won’t be.”

That’s kind of tragic because I really like this book and I like the characters a lot. I will agree with Krentz and say the book is fabulous. I’m not going to go so far as to say that the book is “pretty much perfect” because it isn’t.

The story moves along very well, there are a lot of twists and turns, some awesome turns of phrases and some philosophical bits that really get your synapses moving. This book, called a romance by some, is highly intelligent, has a great spin on the paranormal world, takes you to places that you never have been before. The destination is wondrous!!!

But the god-damned road is bumpy at times.

There are moments when McKinely is too indulgent in the exposition. You really get a sense that all kinds of information is being crammed into it just in case you never get to come back to the world again. After just having read that McKinley “doesn’t do re-writes” I can understand the tendency. You do need to paint the world for the reader and if you aren’t coming back to it, you’ve got to do it in limited space.

I would rather have a sequel than that though. It seems like Sunshine would be better served as a seven course meal rather than a single dinner feast after having skipped both breakfast and lunch.

Even with the every so often sense of info cram, the book is highly palatable. It’s a sweet adventure, taking the ordinary Sunshine and making her more than what she knows her self to be or capable of.

Who is Sunshine?

She’s a baker. She’s done nothing but most of her life. She has a grueling, boring life that she seems quite happy with. Her parents are divorced, she comes from a famous magic-handling family that disappeared after the War.

We come across her when she’s having a bad day, decides to forgo a weekly movie ritual with friends and family and goes to a lake, where she recalls memories of her Grandmother who taught her some basics in magic-handling.
After that, the vampires come. The story begins. It’s intense, but it’s not. It’s fast, but it’s not. The whole story is full of contradictions from the way the characters move in and out of the story to the pace of the writer’s style. Some will find this difficult to handle because we are used to the writer taking us on a ride full of anticipation that feels like it wants nothing more than to a rip a scream from your throat.

This book doesn’t.

This book would love the scream, but if all you have to give is bleating whimpers, then that’s fine, too. Here you are in charge of what you see, how you read and how fast you want to go. You might even have to re-read it to grasp the complexities of what is delivered. (Through no fault of your own, like I said, some of this shit is crammed down your cerebral throat.)

After all that what do I really want to say? Can I sum up the book in a single phrase, all blurby like?

“A fascinating, intelligent, romp that sends you spinning while you do nothing but stand still.” –Lilia DiOrfeo


© 2008

Upon the Midnight Clear: Sherrilyn Kenyon-Book Thirteen

I’m glad I decided not to skip the Dream-Hunter books. This one is very timely for the Holiday season and made me feel all gooey inside about Christmas. And this one was much better than the last Dream-Hunter novel, though it’s short.

I started and finished this book today, not because I’m a super fast reader though I can be. I finished it because out of the 282 pages of this paperback, 250 of it is the actual Dream-Hunter novel, and the rest of it holiday vignettes. Before I get into those though, let’s talk plot.

In Upon the Midnight Clear we come across Aidan O’Conner, an actor. He’s not a dream-hunter, a god or anything like that. He’s simply a human actor. He’s jaded, been betrayed by most every one he’s loved. (His brother, his nephew, his fiancée and others).

When I say jaded I should probably say he’s a bitter, enraged, recluse who has given up on the idea that humanity has any kindness flowing through its masses. He’s very emo, but he has good reason and, he’s really a nice guy. He’s been too giving, overlooked too much and was basically taken advantage of. Not in a wimpy way though.

So who is our love interest? A goddess. Just a goddess? No, not just a goddess but one of the Oneiroi. She’s been in stasis after fighting Dolor, the personification of pain. And man there is history there. There’s this whole kill your daughter while you beg and watch thing going on. Yeah, I know, not very Christmassy. Trust me, the book gets there.

Anyway, betrayal and vengeance is afoot. They collide and outcomes this Kenyon style Christmas carol. It’s brief, but it’s sweet. It’s not full of super hot sex, but it is full of hope and overcoming. That’s enough right? C’mon you can’t celebrate baby Jesus with tons of sex scenes!! One or two mild, loving ones is tastefully enough. Right?

It’s right for me.

And what about the critique? Hmmm, just remember that this is not a Dark-Hunter novel. You are not going to get the same kind of depth here as you would with them. I’m not sure why because the story doesn’t suck ass. It’s a well-rounded, brief little jewel that outshines the first official Dream-Hunter novel.

Perhaps the weakness of the Dream-Hunter series is the lack of connection with the Oneiroi and Skoti themselves. They are cool, but they seem too otherworldly and we, as mere mortals, can’t comprehend them the same way we can those who once walked amongst us.

They have no emotions or have lived ages without them. The curse is weakening yes, but maybe there aren’t enough of us so devoid of emotion that we can understand it. Or rather, maybe the curse is not enough justification for the lack of emotion. We humans like sound justifications for our assholery, right? I know I do.

This is not to say that the Dream-Hunter series is bad. The series is just different and has a hard time being compared to the Dark-Hunter standard. This is often the case with spin-offs. So, I’m giving the Dream-Hunters and Kenyon a lot of slack.

But like I said, I liked it and I’m looking forward to the next installment where Xypher takes center stage in Dream Chaser. And oh yum, after that is Acheron!!!! I’ve already heard some titillating and even worrisome things about that one. I’m itching to get to it, but I like the torture and the tease of making myself wait. (And you quite frankly.) *grins*

Oh before I head off, maybe I should say something about the vignettes…

There be three of them as we take a stroll through Christmas celebrations. We visit the Peltiers, the Hunters and Acheron’s place. In each the Holidays stir some sadness, some happiness and the stories remind us of the challenges our heroes still face. Aimee, Fang….Fury….Nick…and the grand man himself, Acheron have stories left untold.

Wow, we’re on book 13 and there is still so much to go. Good, because I’m addicted to the darkly sweets. In case I don’t see you, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to you!!!!

© 2008

I'm Made of Win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No, I am not done by a long shot, but I hit my 50,000 words this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I’m going to actually finish the book. I’m just over 50,000 words right now. I think it will need another 40 to 50 to actually finish it off. Then who knows what the re-write will be like?

One thing I’ve learned this year?

Just write and keep on doing it. Apparently my novel style is very much like my article style. Sometimes I just don’t hit my groove until the middle.

I know I’m in the groove with my book now. I know my characters, I have the over all plot and I’ve managed to weave an underground culture in there as well.

Once I plow through this draft, I’ll have to go back and set up the ground work for the realities in the latter half. I’ve skipped some seeds of character development, but I can take care of that easy. And maybe I’ll be able to use some of my deleted scenes. (I actually have about 2500 unused words.)

Okay, that’s all I’m going back to the book. Hopefully, I’ll be published sometimes in the next couple of years…..Wow, what would that be like?

Devil May Cry: Kenyon-Book Twelve

I’ve just finished Devil May Cry!!! It took me forever because I’m in the middle of Wrimo. (As may be obvious by some of my entries.) But I got through it, happily even.

Oh what to say about this one?

In many ways it was very, very good. In others, not so much.

The over all story is great. We meet Sin learn about his past with Artemis and why he’s such the anti-social bitchy dude. He’s certainly doesn’t come across like the fuzzy wuzzy type. But we all know many of our Dark-Hunters are misunderstood, assumptions are made about them regardless of reality, and if by chance those assumptions are remotely true, there is a gods-damned good reason for it.

We find much the same here.

It’s hard to tell you too much about what happens in this book, though. Some of it is obvious like Kat’s heritage for instance. You knew, kind of. It was never said out right, but come on!!!!!! There were truck sized hints and a little part of you has been saying, yeah I think she’s…

Well, you’re right and for those of you who were too caught up in the sights of sounds of all the delectables, Kenyon spells it out for you, point blank.

And we are so totally revving up for Acheron! Devil May Cry is a great lead in to it. Unfortunately, if you’re going to read things in exact sequence, we have two Dream-Hunter novels to go before we slip back onto the Dark-Hunter track. If you skip the Skoti crowd though, you can march to the bookshelf or your closest shop and pick up Acheron.

Oh, you might want some kind of plot description. Okay, here goes:

The end of the world is coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You’re not really surprised and maybe even thinking you’d like some tea and biscuits with that, I agree, but get it iced because this book is rockin’.

Sin our Dark-Hunter du’jours is on the table. He’s hot. His angry. He’s an outsider. He wants Artie dead and I mean Artie in the Artemis sense. Artie is thinkin’ it’s going down this time because Sin has been causing trouble and has obtained a device to help him do it. So Artemis sends her fave koris member Kat to stomp Sin out since Ash will not do it.

Ash always has good reasons for not tossing folks into the tomb. Is Kat able to figure out why?

Oh boogers, you gotta know and I think it’s okay to tell you that yes she does. Too bad knowing that doesn’t make it easy. The crapper is truly on overload this time and we need more than a Home Despot Golden Plunger to save the day.

We need and army and now!!!!!

Too bad that’s too tall an order for the time frame.

Wow is that enough info? No, not really but this book is so jammed pack full of goodies that I’m having a hard time plating them for you. Let me say this.

READ THE DAMN BOOK!!!!!!!!

It’s fun. It’s sexy. It’s intelligent. You meet some really great characters like Daimon casino managers and sarcastic immortal humans . Simi’s in this one too, BBQ sauce and all. But there’s more than just Diamonique sparkling here.

You get some hardcore goods on Ash. We all want it and we get to see it. Truly we are ramping up for the big guy’s own story. All that said why is this book not as good as some of the others? It’s truly hard to eff this one up and really, Kenyon didn’t. But…

There’s too much fantastical and a lot of info to suck down in 358 pages. There are moments of depth that just don’t go deep enough and this installment lacked the tear ripping it should have had. For all intents and purposes, I should have been balling at least once.

I didn’t, but maybe you will. Maybe you’ll connect with that something that is Sin and you’ll find yourself longing for his redemption. Me? I had no doubt about it. I had way too much confidence in him, romance formulas aside.

But the worst part of the book is the ending. Normally, the end of a Kenyon book sucks just because the ride is over. This one wasn’t as great because she revved the energy so fucking high that when we got to the conclusion, it drooped. Basically, we got teased too long and the wad was shot before we could blink.

I’m okay with that though because she drove it in hard enough that the rest of it is fine and well worth the read. You’ll get your tingle and you’ll still be hungry for more.

What’s up next?

Once Upon a Midnight Clear followed by the Dream Chaser. These are two Dream-Hunter novels and in truth many don’t like these as much as the Dark-Hunter series. I’ve been thinking of hopping the line and going straight for Acheron, but you know I think he can wait for me to get my grubby little hands on him. I’m going to draw it out, get some Skoti time in and wait for the Fate God. Besides, I don’t let others form my opinions for me. You shouldn’t either. Read ‘em then tell me if you thought they sucked. I’ll certainly be telling you what I think.

Until then read hard and remember just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

© 2008

Wrimo: Week Two

Can you believe it? I haven't started Devil May Cry, yet. I think I turned to page one and got interrupted a million times and then NaNo WriMo hit. I didn't start it for two days then blam, I was at a few thousand words. I didn't write all weekend either and was stuck around nine thousand something.

However, my new number is 20,093. It's a about 1500 short of the goal, but it's better than nothing. The best part? My story is actually starting to take shape!! I actually like it!!!

At first I was thinking this is crap, no one is going to want to read this. Super romance hero, my ass!!! But I've let go of perfection once again and am only worried about getting it all down. Wow, I think I'm actually taking my own advice!!!

Well, I've got to head out. I just wanted to let you know that I'm still reading, just not as fast and sooner or later you'll have a review and sooner or later I will have a finished first draft!!!!

AWESOME!!! Even WICKED AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michael Crichton: 1942-2008

In Memoriam:


Michael Crichton, writer, physician
(1942 to 2008)


“If you don’t know [your family’s] history, then you don’t know anything. You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree.”

“We all live everyday in virtual environments, defined by our ideas.”

“They are focused on whether than can do something. They never think whether they should do something.”

“Books aren’t written-they’re rewritten. Including your own. It is one of the hardest things to accept, especially after the rewrite hasn’t quite done it.”


Articles:

Yahoo
CNN
BBC

Fan Sites:

My Space

The Dream-Hunter: Sherrilyn Kenyon-Book Eleven

Okay before I get into the nitty gritty of The Dream-Hunter I have some ‘splainin’ to do.

The Dream-Hunter though part of the Dark-Hunter world is not technically a Dark-Hunter novel. We have a smattering of known characters coming into play, Katra aka Kat, Artemis’s servant play a rather large role in the story. We see M’Adoc and D’Alerian, two Oneiroi that have been briefly mentioned or played a role in the growth of a Dark-Hunter. We also see a smattering of Trieg, a Dark-Hunter, and Acheron, but not enough to move the story, only enough to connect this book to Dark-Hunter goings on. So while this is book eleven on your Dark-Hunter reading list, it can also be seen as book one for the Dream-Hunters.

Too wordy? Not needed?

Maybe.

Essentially, I’m telling you that you don’t need to read this book to understand the Dark-Hunters series. This is a stand alone and only a tie in, not an integral piece of the puzzle. There is a mention of Acheron being a god of fate. Not that this is news, but I don’t think it’s ever been clearly stated as such. And like I said, it’s not integral to the story, just a neat tid bit for Dark-Hunter fans.

So now that that’s done what of The Dream-Hunter?

I would love to tell you that the book was great through and through. I would love to tell you that Kenyon delivered another masterpiece of love overcoming the overwhelming. I would truly love to, but I can’t. In all honesty, I really didn’t like this book until I headed into the later chapters. Chapter 15 is where it starts getting good. Before that, the story was so full of holes that I started craving Swiss cheese.

Here is the premise: Arikos, a once Oneiroi dream god, turned renegade Skoti dream god makes a bargain with Hades to turn human so he can experience emotions and be with the human, Megeara who has enthralled him via the dreams he’s been siphoning her emotions from.

Said bargain involves turning either losing his soul or that of Megeara to Hades once the two week stint is over. Arikos thinks he can follow through even though that wasn’t exactly the bargain he had hoped for because once turned back to a Skoti, he will lose his human only emotions and have no issue condemning Megeara to the hands of Hades. Essentially, he’s going to do her then kill her. Kind of sweet huh?

This all surrounds a hunt for Atlantis, a hunt Megeara scorned all of her life. But since she made a promise to her Father as he lay dying, things have changed a tad.

Basically the plot is okay. It’s not the best plot Kenyon has tossed out to us, but it’s doable. What wasn’t doable for me was the fact that a Harvard educated woman of science bought so easily into the many holes of why Arikos suddenly appeared, his cover-ups for his strange behaviour and well every oddity we have to muck through to get to the part of the book that starts getting good.

Maybe if Megeara was a light-hearted, carefree, somewhat gullible artist entranced by a hot bod and sexy smirk I could handle it, but not from an anthropologist, not from said Harvard Doctor.

But this book is readable if you bypass the logic stuff and take away our modern cynicism and ignore the initially stalker like characteristics of our hero. Some of us can do this easily beacause Arikos is hot.

You know, we do get to see Arikos learn what it is to be human and he does suffer from it and realizes his selfish motives, something he couldn’t understand in his god state. You see, the Oneiroi were cursed by Zeus to have no emotions and Skoti, by nature are incredibly selfish.

That’s all fine and dandy, but I just don’t feel the pull here. I don’t feel the love or the enormity of Arikos’ transformation or Megeara’s draw to Arikos himself. This is not a grand love story. It’s a mediocre one at best.

The book does have some saving graces. Mageara’s saving of Arikos is well done and there are bits of this story that show the true mastery of romance that Kenyon has. Plus, the sex parts are tasty reads. Is that enough to buy the book and read on?

For me it is. I’ll read through the next few books and make myself wait for Acheron and the just released One Silent Night. (Already on my shelf!!) The book didn’t entirely suck and there was an introduction to a rather intriguing character, Solin and if you’re anything like me you’ll want to know what little Dark-Hunter treasures are hiding in the Dream-Hunter books. I’m sure the hard core Kenyon fans will eat up everything Kenyon delivers. So, if you want to be in the know, read the books. Up next? Devil May Cry…


Go here for Dream-Hunter information.


© 2008

Take, Run, Follow

Somewhere in here I mentioned that I was heading toward the final book in the Dark-Hunter series. The Minions out there know that statement is incorrect. I know it now, too.

This year, dubbed The Year of Acheron, by Miss Kenyon herself gave us the long awaited book, Acheron. I thought that was the end of it because he’s the driving character behind the creation of the Dark-Hunters.

In a way, I’m right.

The Kenyon website states that we are heading into “Phase Two” of the series. Acheron is the first installment of the second phase. So from a point of view, there was an end in sight. Lucky for us fans though, it’s not exactly the end, but a new beginning.

Next up in the series is One Silent Night. There is a ticker on the website that says it’ll be here in nine days. I clicked it for details, but got an invite to sign up for the newsletter instead. I did sign up, but I have no other info on that book.

Looking at the rest of the site, I came across two future installments, Dream Warrior and Bad Moon Rising. Both are slated for 2009.

So where does that leave me? It kind of leaves me caught up with the rest of the paranormal romance world. I’ll have to sit and wait like the rest of you.

That kind of sucks.

So what will I do while waiting?

I’ve been asking myself that for a while now. I’ve mentioned that I am going to start a novel on November 1st. I feel the need to ride the Wrimo buzz all the way through to the end of the month and beyond. (There’s no way I’m going to send a query out on a first draft piece. I’m arrogant, but not stupid.)

And speaking of queries, am I really going to do it? I think I am this time. Or rather, I am this time.

I’ve spent many years writing. My first journals are from grade school. I’ve been praised for the ability all of my life. I was told I was going to be a star when I was seventeen years old.

So what happened? Here I am at 36 and I’m unpublished and the height of my “career” is in a high school that no longer exists.

Life happened. Poor choices and wayward paths happened and maybe just a tad of insecurity. I stopped pursuing my dream because I didn’t think I was good enough. I held myself to such a high standard that anything but a perfect first draft was unacceptable and I did the worst thing a writer can do, in my opinion anyway.

I wrote for my audience.

Sure, it’s good to give the people what they want. I want more Dark-Hunter books. I don’t want Kenyon to stop producing them. But you know, you can put too much into the wants of the crowd; It can destroy creativity. It can make a writer question themselves.

I did and the words wouldn’t flow. They’d come out jumpy and unsure of themselves. And it read that way.

Four years ago I stopped doing that. I got back to writing for me, writing the things that came to mind. I even stopped caring about what I was actually saying. My goal was to get it on paper, get it out, no worries about depth or being seen as good.

After awhile, my brain was trained to pick out the good from the shit I was spewing on paper. I grew confident in my word choices and understood that nothing is written in stone. Second drafts are a possibility! And I have this button on my keyboard that says “delete”.

Deleting can be a wonderful thing. So is backspacing.

So here I am producing relatively coherent stuff and there are people who actually like what I do. Imagine that? And I am writing for me, writing for my sanity, not them or thiers.

But after a while, my writing started to include the readers. Not because I catered to them, but because they started coming along for the ride.

Nah, I can’t please everybody and I don’t expect to. I am expecting to keep at it though. I’m going to keep going, even if my words never get past a few lone pages on the internet.

A couple of weeks ago I did something that I never did before. I answered an ad for our local News and Review. It felt good to do it, even though I know the Editor won’t give me the time of day. Who am I, but an unknown writer with absolutely no experience?

It doesn’t matter if I don’t even get a Thanks-but-no-thanks letter. I applied. I applied to prove that I was actually doing something with myself.

This Saturday, Wrimo starts. It’s nothing but another day to most, but to me it’s a start of a new perspective on my writing life. I aim to get published or at least turned down by every publisher in the country: twice.

So I’m feeling good on this Halloween Eve. I’m riding high and have much joy to share. Take it, run with it, follow your dreams!

© 2008

Dark Side of the Moon: Sherrilyn Kenyon-Book Ten

I think I’m still a little giddy from this read. I have to tell you that it was one of the better ones and our hero Ravyn ranks as one of my fave Dark-Hunters. For those of you who don’t recall, he’s the Were-Hunter turned Dark-Hunter. This oddity gives him some special powers, and I likes ’em.

Here in Dark Side of the Moon we see a meeting of two souls – well, as much soul as a Dark-Hunter can manage – who have lost everything dear to them. We see in Ravyn the kind of integrity and predatory strength we like to see in our heroes, and Susan ain’t too bad either.

I actually like Susan a lot. She’s tough in that not-so-overbearing way. She’s likable, gutsy, classy, and all those things our DH crew likes in a mate.

So what’s going down in this installment anyway?

Looks like the Daimons may have retained some human allies. Those allies may be bad asses in their own right. They might be, you’ll have to judge that for yourselves. But what really matters in this plot is that Susan and Ravyn are wanted for the murder of her dear friends. They are being hunted day and night, and the only place for them to run is for the Sanctuary, the Serengeti. Sounds good until we find out that’s where Ravyn’s family is, the ones who basically want him dead.

So what happens to two would-be outlaws whose lives are being torn apart, whose normal safe houses are now deemed unsafe, and whose very city is under siege?

They do their best to survive.

But not everybody does. We see death in this novel. We see three lives being changed for the better and for the worse. Ravyn’s and Susan’s lives aren’t the only ones transforming. Nick, Cael, Belle and others’ lives are going to be changed or ended in these pages. In fact, maybe the whole Dark Hunter world is changing as we read. Little by little Stryker and his crew are wreaking havoc, and as the pages pass by I can see an ultimate challenge brewing.

But then I could be wrong. Please read along and tell me what you think.

And where is our wayward Acheron, our cavalry of this here world? He’s busy with the bitch goddess herself. Her games are never-ending, and Ash is constantly torn between deals made and duties sworn.

He’d better keep his eyes open because betrayal is afoot, and it’s coming from the most unlikely places.

Trust me when I say read this book. It’s one of those pivotal ones and it’s a lead into something huge, I can feel it!!!!

Okay boys and girls and girls and boys. I’m off! I’ve got to read the next book!!!!

© 2008

Unleash the Night-Sherrilyn Kenyon-Book Nine

Whew. I’m in one of my low spins, reading instead of writing. For those of you paying attention to this blog that’s a good thing, I hope, but since you are silent in the ’Verse I can only imagine.

So where are we now? Book #9, Unleash the Night. Wow, I don’t have too many more to go before I’m at the end of the Dark Hunter world. Will it be DH fan fic after that or something of my own creation?

Ah, but you want me to get on with it, so I will.

Unleash the Night takes us on the Were-Hunters’ side of things. This would be our second jaunt into the Katagaria/Arcadian world. I doubt it will be our last, and truly I hope it isn’t. As much as I love our Dark Hunters I like the Weres just as much. I have to give Kenyon credit, her world certainly runs vivid. Great characters abound and delight.

Loping into the scenery this time is Wren, Wren Tigarian. For those of you not in the know, he is a busboy at the ever famous Sanctuary. He doesn’t talk much and looks pretty scruffy in that please-don’t-kill-me kind of way. Of course, our Miss Hero is seduced by him.

Ugh.

Before I go on, let me scream something out to the wonders of the land. When a guy is super creepy let it be!!!!!!!! He is most likely dangerous. Hmmm, am I bit jaded here? Or perhaps the book is too rosy for our reality?

You know, we don’t read these books for a dose of reality. Reality is all over the front pages, flashing at you on your Yahoo home page and being buzzed down your throat before you fully wake.

And I really didn’t want to wake from this one.

At first the plot is a little much. Senator’s daughter meets busboy. We’ve seen that, done that. The story even has a Romeo and Juliet kind of feel, but this is no comedy of errors. (Romeo and Juliet wasn’t a comedy, but strip the drama and look at the mechanics and you will find farce.) This story is actually fast paced and pulls you into the pain and longing of the characters.

I found Wren to be classically misunderstood and Marguerite to be trapped by her social standing. They are thrown together through an unfortunate circumstance and the misfortune escalates to the point where The Peltiers have turned against Wren. The only hope he has comes in the form of Vane and his cronies as a blood hunt is called out for Wren’s life and because of his feelings for Marguerite, her life is in danger too.

Once again Kenyon starts the book at a slower pace. This time it works for the story and gets you inside the characters as they open up and develop right before your eyes. By the end of the book you are ecstatic at their triumph as they seamlessly come into their own.

I have to say this is one of Kenyon’s better installments in the series. Are Wren and Miss M added to my favorite characters list? Not exactly, but they are wonderful enough that I don’t mind missing the likes of Kyrian, Valerius and Vane.

Ah, but you care little about plot and character development. Are the sex scenes worth the genre? Yeah, they are. Though, there aren’t as many packed in here as our previous ride on the dark side.

This is not a bad thing.

Kenyon’s last effort relied a little too much on titillation. This effort has it speckled just right, just enough spice to set off a hum. If you want more action, buy porn.

The final word? Buy it, read it, keep it close to your...

I gotta laugh, some things shouldn’t be shared – like what kind of porn would you actually buy?


© 2008

Sins of the Night-Sherrilyn Kenyon-Book Eight

Hello one and all, I’m back with my latest review. Yep it’s another Kenyon, but hey, there are like two thousand two hundred and thirty two installments. Sins of the Night is No. 8 in this sometimes seemingly infinite series and it’s pretty good.

No, I’m not foot stomping around for this one. The story line is cool enough, the heroes are likable, nobody sucks in this one except maybe the bad guys. However, the book doesn’t create the fever pitch that so many others in this series has, but you now you can’t bat 1000 through and through and really, an A- isn’t so bad.

So, now that you know that the book is good, but not fiery, do you still want me to go on?

Don’t bother answering. I’ve put too much time into those pages not to tell you how much I know about them. And for the record, even though I’m not, what did I say, foot stomping over this book, I did read it in a single day. That means something, right?

Anyway, most of the Kenyon books focus on a male Dark Hunter, this one doesn’t. Here we meet – get ready for this – Danger. She’s French, so the name’s okay. Besides, it’s short for Dangereuse.

Riiiight. Sometimes these authors go a bit over the top with the name thing, but hey these are romances. And like I said, anyway…

Danger is bad ass in her own right and it’s nice to take a spin on the double X side. Of course we have to have a dude come along. (I’m not knocking gaiety, but the books do have a pattern.) And who is dude?

This is actually pretty cool, but I’m only going to tell you a part of it.

He is Acheron’s right hand man.

WTF?

Yeah, I know!!! Acheron does have a right hand man and he’s here to pass judgment on the Dark Hunters.

Judgment , you ask? You are so full of questions.

It seems some of the DH crowd has decided that good ol’ Ash is a Daimon who’s been using them as pawns. The idea came to them in a dream. No, how about a walking nightmare called Stryker. Yep current bad dude # 1 is back.

Basically we have a Daimon telling Dark Hunters that Acheron is a Daimon out to get them. And that right there is what makes this plot a little weak.

Kenyon delivers hot sex and characters with compelling pasts that make you feel for them. You get to learn more about the DH world as well. You even get a few more tidbits on the ever secretive big guy, Ash. However, all of these vibrant gems are milling around, soggy in their milk. Of course, I ate up and licked the bowl clean. I just wished the dish had a little more crunch.

I’m not saying skip it. I’m not even saying you won’t enjoy it. I’m just saying it’s not going to be as exciting as the rest and the plot isn’t going to be as sound as so many of the previous have been.

I will say that the resolution has a different spin, meaning… well, meaning you’ve got to read it. It’s not going to end like you think it is, not exactly anyway. And for those of you haven’t read, “In the Beginning,” the little piece explaining the birth of the Dark Hunters off the website, it’s in the back of the book. Per the author’s note, it’s a should read before delving into this story.

And that’s all, kids. I’m off to read book nine. You know it’s a wonderful thing to find a great series, but it’s kind of sad when it’s all over. Let’s hope Ms. Kenyon never tires of the series. I think I can read on forever…



© 2008

NANO WRIMO 2008

It occurred to me this morning to mention NanoWrimo. Writer’s and non-writer’s alike know all about National Novel Writing Month. It occurs every year and starts on November 1st, 2008.

I’ve participated for the last couple of years, but never really signed up and used the tools available. This year though, my on-line social network has a lot of people enthused about Wrimo. So, I signed up and am going to keep track of my word count this year.

Word count?

Oh yeah, stinking premises would help for those not in the know, huh?

The name explains the basic idea. Participants devote November to writing a novel. The goal is 50,000 words of a story that you haven’t written before. You can do research and prepare all you want, but you can’t haul out that half finished story from three years ago and pass it off. It has to be brand spanking new, not new ideas, but new words.

I’ve been planning on doing Wrimo for a few months now. Hence all of the research I’ve been doing. I’m going to write a paranormal romance which if I wanted to use hence again I’d say, hence the focus on paranormal romance in these here pages.

(I guess I just did.)

Anyway, I’ve been researching for the past couple of months and setting up what’s supposed to be a light piece. I can tell you right now though, that the story isn’t shaping up to be a traditional paranormal romance.

Traditional paranormal romance?

Tacking on traditional can be arguable since to some, the genre is fairly recent.

But I’m shifting from the whole point of this post and I’m sure there is a point if I just let myself find it.

Well, I’m a writer by nature. I write all of the time out of sheer need to get some of the top surface off my mind. I blog here, I blog there, I blog everywhere. The one thing I haven’t managed to do though is write a complete novel.

I have a lot of almost finished pieces. I have an erotica piece that I think is very good. Will it be a classic? I don’t know if I don’t ever finish it. I have my previous Wrimo adventure. That one stalled because I didn’t do ANY research and realized that though the story was good and the characters were interesting, the environment was flat. The story was like looking at a beautiful face surrounded by blank white canvas. It seemed to float there unattached.

So this year I decided that I would do the research. I even attempted an outline. I’ve fought the idea of an outline for years because I managed to write some really good pieces without one, but you know a vignette is easy, a whole novel is something else.

This time I’ve put in my time. I’ve created a world. I’ve created characters with history and texture. I’ve done this before on a grander scale, but I’m going simple on this one.
I think simple is the key here as well.

I’ve done my time, like I’ve said above, but in the past I did it with all kinds of grandeur. I have created a world with so many layers and so much texture that it’s actually beyond my current capabilities to write it. So, I committed myself to Wrimo, with a less complicated web of a world, with straight forward characters, and a story line that will be fun, but not too complicated.

This is the first time I’m actually fully prepared for my 30 days of creation and I’m revving to go. Though, I have a few things to do before hand. Like find out a little about Montana and New York. I need some weapons knowledge and maybe a little bit on tactical warfare. Just a tad. I don’t need to be an expert on the subjects. I just need enough knowledge that those in the know aren’t going to scream “Bullshit!”. I want to know enough for them to just whisper it, you know?

I’m hoping that those of you who come across this who have the writing bug, whether you want to be published or not, take a few days of your life and participate in some mutual creativity. I think you’ll like the energy of support that Wrimo can give.

And you don’t have to show it to anyone. You can write for you and only you. I find the very act of expressing myself frees me in a way very little else can do. So, come along, play with me. It’ll be sooo much fun!

You can sign up at




© 2008

Seize the Night: Sherrilyn Kenyon-Book Seven

Who is the worst person to fall in love with? I think many of us can answer that on some level, but what if your answer was the enemy of your twin sister? And technically the enemy of just about everyone you have to deal with?
Well, as we have discovered through the pages of this series, Tabitha Devereaux doesn’t do anything easily. This brash, in-your-face twin does come across the love of her life in a dark alley on a night out of hunting the bad guys. Unfortunately for the love of her life, he gets stabbed…by her.

Yeah, that’s basically how the couple meets. Classic right?

Seize the Night finally sheds some light on the hated Valerius, grandson of the man who killed Kyrian and brother of the now god, Zarek, both of whom would like to see him dead. (Among others, poor guy.)
When I started reading this book I did what I’ve been doing at every start of every book in this series: I sat there thinking it’s not going to be as good. I’m not going to like the next guy as much. I’m certainly not going to like the stick-up-the-ass General, Valerius.

Come on, we all think Valerius is an asshole.

Well everyone except Tabitha.

And now, everyone but me. I really, really ended up liking Valerius a lot. I learned to feel for him and I have to admit I cried more than once for the General.

Kenyon, through Valerius and Tabitha, gives us a Dark-Hunter installment for those of us who never quite fit in, for those of us who have had to live on the fringes for one reason or another.
Maybe we were associated with something bad, maybe the way we walk the path is just a little different. For whatever reason though, we’ve never been accepted in the way we’d like to be.
Here you get to experience the journey of two people finding the missing part of themselves in opposites while trying to battle the perception of one of them. (Yeah, the step-brother wants to kill my boyfriend thing is kind of an issue.) All this, while going after the big bad.

So, read this one, I think you’ll really love it. Oh yeah, there some juicy bits about Acheron and some pretty harrowing things going on outside of the star couple of this book. Tragedy strikes and, for some of our faithful Dark-Hunter crew, life is going to change; I can’t say for the better. I can only say they have my condolences and Kenyon fucking delivers again.

© 2008

Night Play: Sherrilyn Kenyon-Book Six

I just finished Night Play by Sherrilyn Kenyon, and though I have liked all of the books in the series so far, I’ve only adored a couple of them.

This one falls into that category.

Night Play brings back Vane Kattalakis, the wolf that risked clan punishment for protecting Sunshine, Talon’s great love. Well, he didn’t just risk the fury of the pack, he got it, he and his brother both.

The story is, of course, about Vane finding his love. The Fates have mated him to a human and he has three weeks to prove himself to her and hope to the gods she can accept him. But really, what kind of life can her give her? He’s hunted and he lives his life looking over his shoulder.

And who is this woman he has to protect from himself? Do you remember the hot chick he watched walk away from him? The human he found so enticing? Well, she’s back and living large.

Bride, though, isn’t your typical romance heroine. She’s got some weight issues. She’s spent most of her life being the “smart” one and quite frankly thought of as the fat one.

I have to say that this installment made me laugh and smile a lot. There is no intense oh-my-god-I-hope-that-doesn’t-happen moment, but this story doesn’t need the high intensity of super suspense. It rides smoothly, with just enough uncertainty and spice to keep you reading on.

Will Vane’s brother, Fang, be all right? Will pack mate Fury betray them? Will Bride’s choice to mate with Vane be a good idea?

And what is Ash’s role in all of this?

Oh and you finally get to know the Peltiers better. I think you’ll like them and feel safer in Sanctuary than you ever did before. I know I did.

I really, really enjoyed Night Play. It made me feel good all over and what more can you ask from a group of Weres and Vampires?

Next up on the plate? Seize the Night. It’s time to enter into Valerius’ tidy world. Just how arrogant is this Dark-Hunter of noble blood? Is he really a good guy or is Kyrian right and the man should be put down? I guess we’ll find out, but read Night Play first if you haven’t already.

Hmmm, suddenly I’m itching for BBQ. Damn Simi.

© 2008

Suggested Reading (Non-Romance)

Hey there, I’m busily not reading book six in the Sherrilyn Kenyon series. That doesn’t meant the book is bad. It just means I have a life. We’ll have to wait and see if the book actually sucks.

Anyway, I was thinking on the fact that most of the focus here is on paranormal romance. It is because that’s what I’m about to write and my attention is there. I was thinking however of some paranormal classics. Anne Rice came to mind as did a few others, but I want to focus on something edging on horror and something intellectually savvy despite it being a coming of age story.

Well, let’s talk about my favorite Stephen King book, The Stand. It’s a pretty large book and I suggest you don’t read it during flu season or anytime you plan on going on a large road trip. Trust me, you’re imagination won’t have the additional yardage on the playground if you avoid doing those two things.

Of course the book is a classic horror, post-apocalyptic journey into severe creepiness. It’s got disease, the end of the world, survival, love, betrayal, a journey, some mysticism some evil, some good and some bad that’s kind of in the middle. And it’s pretty spine tingling.

Anyone who says they like horror has to read it. Anyone who says they love paranormal can skip it, but man it will add to your world in a way that’s uh…worth the unease.

Suggesting The Stand is a pretty easy pick. It’s King, it’s a classic. The next book on my suggested reading list is quite different from The Stand, in fact I wouldn’t even put them in the same aisle in the bookstore.

The Society of S by Susan Hubbard was a real surprise to me. I admit I bought it because it sounded potentially kinky. It’s not, but damn it’s a great book.

The story is about a 13 year old, Ariella. She’s of mixed heritage and the book is essentially her coming of age story. It sounds simple, but the causal paranormal twist, the intelligent dialogue and the calm, easy, manner of Hubbard makes this a must read.

Skip it though if you’re expecting a wild paranormal romp or to be scared to the nines. This book won’t deliver that. It will deliver, soft smiles, a linguistic playground, meandering intrigue all dressed up in a unique, enticingly languid style.

So, these are my non-paranormal romance suggestions of the month. I’ll try to include some in my reviews as I plow through the seedy, underground of smutty paranormals. It’ll be hard to keep my hands clean, but like I said, I’ll try.

Kiss of the Night: Sherrilyn Kenyon-Book Five

I finished book five in the wee hours of the …afternoon. Well it seemed wee like as I sat on a stone bench plowing through the last thirty pages or so. But maybe they weren’t wee, maybe they were really big giant minutes squished into the impatience of waiting for my ride.

Ah, but was it good?

Yes.

I guess that’s all I need for the review right?

Okay, I will elaborate, elucidate and just plain tell you why I thought it was good.

First let me tell you that I didn’t think the book was going to get a “must read” attitude from me at all. Unlike the previous jaunts into the Dark Hunter world, Kiss of the Night didn’t get good until page 100 or so.

The first 100 pages go on and on and really make the heroine, Cassandra, seem like a spoiled kid and Wulf, our Dark Hunter of the hour, an overprotective oaf. Ms. Kenyon’s love of the word “predator” just doesn’t initially fly here.

This book in some respects is very playful. Wulf’s squire, Chris, is actually his great, great, great (add as many greats as you can sputter off for a 1000 something year old vamp-like dude), grandson and the only human who can remember Wulf after meeting him.

You see, Wulf is cursed. Humans can’t remember him five minutes after they leave his presence. So the dude has a lonely life. There are some of the supernaturals that can recall him, but of course we all know by now that Dark Hunters drain each other’s powers when they spend too much time together and, well, everyone else is mostly evil or somewhat intolerant of hanging with Dark Hunters.

But that’s not even the interesting part of the story. It’s poignant, but not the meat and potatoes of the goings-on in this volume. The fact that Cassandra is an Apollite is.

What does that mean to Wulf? It means he really shouldn’t be with her, in love with her, or even friends with her. He kills her people when they go Daimon. So what we have here is some interracial dating. How’s that for modern genetic diversity?

The rest of the story is gravy, like the sex, like the big bad coming after Cassandra for being not just an Apollite, but one that holds the fate of the world in her hands. In her hands? How ’bout with the threads of her very soul?

We also meet some new characters, like Stryker and Urian, two bad ass Spathis. Their tales are quite the curious ones and maybe even a surprise and who is this Kat? She’s got some duality going on. We have to wonder if that’s a good thing or not.

All in all Kiss of the Night eventually delivers in Kenyon’s grand DH style. You’ll have to crawl through the initial “dream sex” sequences and the boring university crap, but oh well. (You know she could have played on Chris’s attraction to the woman Wulf eventually gets, but oh well. How many pages can you actually burn on this stuff?) But it’s all worth it.
It becomes an exciting adventure with sex, mayhem and the best part of it? Kenyon actually creates a little uncertainty. There are few things that you want to happen, but will it? Can it be possible and if it is, should it be possible? What does Ash sometimes say?

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

That was Ash, wasn’t it?

Have fun, creatures of the night. I will, I’m off for some Night Play!!!!!

© 2008

Research Bites

Research bites.

Right now I’m researching for my very first paranormal romance. That fact is basically why this blog has been focusing so much on that area of the paranormal. I won’t focus on the romance forever though because my super project is nothing of the sort, but since I’ve yet to finish a novel, I thought I would create a smaller world with less political intrigue and one that while it technically spans the ages, I don’t have to weave it too much into our history.

I have written some vignettes of my characters. I’ve found doing so lets me discover the person behind the concept and it leads me to cultural characteristics like slang, style of dress, and general world outlook.

I suppose it is possible to skip the vignettes and just work my way through these things as I write the story, but I don’t seem to work that way. I need a foundation before I start. Otherwise, I get caught up in the nuance and ignore the story line or vice versa.

In essence the pieces come out flat, without any texture.

Anyway, I’ve decided on werewolves and vampires. Yes, it’s been done a hundred times by now, but I have my own spin on it. It will have gods and lots of cool characters. I even have a freaking plot!!

It’s funny. I am a good writer in terms of quick stints, vignettes, and flushing out characters and dialogue. That part of it comes very naturally to me. But novels are different.

In a novel a writer has to captivate the reader page after page. You have to control the ebb and flow of the story. You can’t pile too much adventure into a story at once. You have to give the reader a break, before you continue pummeling him/her with excitement.

And you can’t be too boring either.

And you have to have reasonable motivation.

I read a book, a werewolf one in the recent past. Hmmm, when I say “read” that implies I finished the book doesn’t it?

I didn’t. I didn’t get past the first chapter and I sold it then next week. It was the worst book I’d ever read and I was offended that publishers dared to put that on the shelves and try to pass it off as literature.

Even paranormal romance has to be smart.

I think you can do whatever you want in a book. I can have pig men that get their strength from eating the toenails clippings of blonde females while they battle the Greek pantheon in order to save the world from demonic muskrats as long as I work within the parameters of my own created law and the characters never betray who they are.

I can do this story as long as it’s balanced between the fantastic and the logical, as long as it is balanced between adventure and the mundane. Essentially, you have to be able to identify with my pig men and demon muskrats. Otherwise, the whole damn thing is just silly.

And crap to boot.

So, I know all of this. I understand all of this, but knowing and doing are not the same thing.

I told my friend the other day that I was going to write a paranormal romance. She scoffed. “That’s junk.” She told me. Well yes, paranormal romance will never stand next to greats like Emily Dickinson and Mark Twain, but the genre isn’t aiming for that. The genre has a specific target and quite frankly in this day and age, no market is full of dumbasses.

Readers of horror, science fiction, mystery, romance, and of every genre and subgenre are intelligent and expect a level of competency from the author, even if the basic story line is cliché.

So, even my “junk” has to be intelligent junk. It has to be balanced, have believable characters, logical motivation, a good story line and over all it has to be fun.

Fun.

That’s why we bother isn’t it? That’s why we’re not chomping at the bit to read Tolstoy at our lunch breaks. Don’t get me wrong. I read Shakespeare. I’ve read the Odyssey and the Iliad. I’ve read Dante’s Inferno and Little Women. I’ve done my time in the “real” literary world and I will go back again, but sometimes I want a hunk of man saving some soft piece of ….

Well, I want some fun. I’m hoping I can get it all together and write some of it, too. I’ve been doing a lot of research in the midst of reading the genre. I’m going to spend the rest of the month in that mode and I’m going to do NanoWrimo this year. I’ll be ready like I’ve never been ready before and hopefully I won’t stop at 30,000 words. Hopefully, I’ll stop when the story is ready too, not when I am. ~Lilia

Fantasy Lover:Sherrilyn Kenyon-Book One

Since I posted a review on the first three official Dark Hunter books and am calling them books two to three, I thought I should post a review on the unofficial book one, Fantasy Lover.

Fantasy Lover is connected to the Dark Hunter series, but isn’t a Dark Hunter novel.

Huh?

Okay, from what I understand Ms. Kenyon wrote the book to test the waters. She didn’t think her vampy thing would fly so she tossed out Fantasy Lover, a book about a half god stuck in a book who is has been cursed for eternity to be a pleasure slave for women.

Sounds blah doesn’t it?

When I picked up the book thinking it was book one in the Dark Hunter series I was expecting something quite different from what I got. Grace and Julian were um, not what I expected, but I have to say the book was enjoyable. I spent the whole time wanting something else, but that’s not the books fault. I was tossing it back expecting cherry cola and getting peach iced tea. The iced tea didn’t suck I was just expecting something entirely different.

So, here’s the thing. Read the book only if you want to. It’s not a requirement to the series. Having said that though, I suggest you read the book.

For one, Julian is the next main character’s best friend. Kyrian and Julian go way back. The tie in to Fantasy Lover in Night Embrace is sweet, creates a feeling of connection in the reader and makes you understand Kyrian better since in Fantasy Lover, Julian reflected on him quite a bit.

Plus, the duo are mentioned here and there in the next installments I’ve read.

I also have a notion that they may show up when we see Valerius again. (I’m assuming his story is coming up because he’s Zarek’s brother and the son of the man who killed Kyrian in his human life. Didn’t I tell you you’d need a score card?)

Basically, Fantasy Lover is a good, quick read, with the paranormal laced in, but not on the vampy, Dark Hunter level. Expect a more traditional romance story with some really nice sex scenes and some awesome flashbacks. Kenyon does a nice job giving you a sense of Julian’s past and I will guarantee you will like him, even if he’s not the “one” for you.


© 2008

Dance With the Devil: Sherrilyn Kenyon-Book Four

Oh crimenies

I think I dared to compare Zsadist to Zarek in one of my recent posts. I dared mock the Z thing, the slave thing and the whole vampy fang thing.

I was wrong.

Mister Zarek is nothing like our vamp man Zsadist and his story doesn’t compare beyond the shallow.

In Dance with the Devil we get to tame the beast, be the one that melts the ice away from an angry, joyless heart and we get to do it as a nymph.

Our heroine this time around is Astrid. Don’t worry the name is old fashioned, but it works well with the plot. Albeit it lets our Zarek speak poetically.

I can’t tell you what I liked so much about this one. I liked it better than Night Embrace, not that Night Embrace was bad, but perhaps Zarek’s emo, trodden on life speaks more to me.

And of course, one often likes romance books better if they can relate to the chick and I could this time, though I don’t have to deal with her emotional or rather unemotional issues.

This book is also more self contained. The new characters are not crammed down you’re throat, but placed seamlessly into the story which takes place mostly in Alaska. Believe me though, this book is anything but cold. It sizzles, it makes you want to cry and man does it make you want to be smile, too.

Of course while Zarek is being judged for possible execution, we learn about more about Acheron. Acheron is the thread that ties all these books together. I have to say I like that.

In many of these books, you learn to love a character then he’s just a memory. Maybe he makes a call to the current focus character, but otherwise he’s practically forgotten. Stringing Acheron through these books has maintained a level of familiarity that I really like. Not to mention, he’s hot.

Again I leave you with buy it, read it. Trust me you will read happy with this one.

© 2008

Stray:Rachel Vincent-Book One

Here’s the story rundown. Faythe is a werecat gone to college to seek out a normal life. Her pride however, has been watching her. This is a good thing because when she’s attacked by a stray, things get a little hairy.

Wow, doesn’t that sound like a TV blurb? Or maybe a movie preview? I should’ve started out with

“In a world…”

But I don’t have the large booming voice to pull that off.

All kidding aside, Stray is Rachel Vincent’s first time out and it’s a good introduction. For those of you who like the spunk of Anita Blake you’ll like Faythe, the ever strong, miss independent. But unlike Anita, Faythe doesn’t carry her chip on her shoulder. She knows when to let down her hair and cast the tough act aside. Certainly this is a good thing right? We never like it when a man doesn’t just chill.

The book is a good read, a little sharper on the action and is reminiscent of Kim Harrison and Kelley Armstrong who both put appearances on the front and back covers. The book is one of those “tween” styles. It’s not quite romance, but it’s not exactly not romance either. I would call it a good story with teeth. It’s fun, fast past and the characters are interesting.

You’ll find a nice diversion from your typical paranormal romance and again, I wouldn’t exactly call this a paranormal romance.

In any case, I’d read it again and am planning to buy Vincent’s new book Rogue and the upcoming Pride.

Here’s her blog/website: http://rachelvincent.com/

The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series: J.R. Ward

I read the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series very recently. This was my first jaunt into actual paranormal romance. I have to admit I was very hesitant. You see, I was one of those horror snobs that needed a little more than a hot vamp running around town saving some supercharged damsel in distress. After all, I am a Anne Rice fan.

At this point I’d been reading Kelly Armstrong and Kim Harrison. I found Kim first and loved her. Then I found Ms. Armstrong and liked her more. I was in love with the paranormal once again and for some reason this new wave was more fun than Anne and not as bubblegum as Laurel K. Hamilton.

I was elated to find books of worth in my beloved genre.

But I couldn’t find them, find them. I had no idea that there was even a paranormal romance genre until I picked up a copy of Writer’s Digest.

Then a friend suggested J.R. Ward. I respect my friend a lot and put it on my reading list. I looked for the book and couldn’t find it. I’m was at Borders searching through the Fantasy/Sci-Fi section. It made sense, that’s where I found Harrison and Armstrong.

I ended up having to ask for help and to my surprise, no it was shock and it was an embarrassing shock that I was led to the romance section.

The romance section?

I don’t get it. I’m looking for vampires and werewolves, not swash buckling pirates and billionaires on an emotional mend.

Well, I picked up book one, Dark Lover. Yeah, not my style. The red cover was cool though and I liked the dagger thingy. And my friend said it was good.

Dilemma.

Buy a romance book where others can see me. Pass on a book that an intelligent, respected friend told me was good.

Yikes, I felt like a 20 something man sent out to buy tampons for his chick. I swallowed, picked it up and bought the book with my head held high. I’m Lilia for god sake, I have no shame.

Ah, but I did and bought the book anyway. I can tell you right now I have no regrets and if there is any one out there who feels shame in buying it, give me the cash and I’ll do the buying.

So, here is my take on the Black Dagger Series. I’ve read all that’s out and am waiting on Ms. Ward to crank out the next few. There has to be a next few. There has to be.

The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series:

In Dark Lover we meet head vamp dude, Wrath. Yeah, it’s actually Wrath. It takes a bit to get used to the name, but you got to or else you won’t make it through this well written series. But hey his chick’s name is Beth so all is good.

I’ll admit, I came across the name and I wanted to dump the book, but I read on and ended up being hooked on the series. There’s passion in these pages, a nice love story and a masterful set up for the rest of the series that I didn’t really appreciate until book three. After a while my brain was trained to pick up on the cues.

I think I was assuming that the book was going to be pure trash. It wasn’t. Ward creates a sexy world that can easily integrate into ours. And the best part is that she sticks to her guns. None of her characters break the rules.

Whatever you want to say about the premise or the genre, you can’t say that it doesn’t follow its own law and really, that’s all a writer has to do to create a viable, believable alternate world and Ward does this with simple genius and won my cynical heart over. Simply put, I’m a fan. So I was revving for book two big time.

Book two, Lover Eternal, stars Rhage our super handsome vamp nick named Hollywood for his well, super good looks. He’s got some issues though, but what romance hero doesn’t have some issues? It’s all good though because the sweet, but apparently bland looking Mary Luce is coming to the rescue. Or is she? Can she save our cursed warrior?

I won’t tell you, but I can tell you this book is for the girl who doesn’t feel as beautiful, whose been through a lot of physical trauma and who doesn’t think she can stand next to a beautiful man and be loved. She can here. She can be a princess standing next to her true love.

And then we can have beauty and the beast.

Lover Awakened focuses on our dark, seemingly untrustworthy Zsadist. Zsadist has been through a lot. He is tormented to the point of true self hate and tries to push that out around him.

Bella though, the beautiful aristocratic vampire is drawn to him, wants him and to tell you the truth I didn’t get why.

Why bother with Zsadist? I don’t want to read about an ex-slave. I don’t want to deal with someone who does the D/s backwards. I want a strong man, not a man filled with bitter angst.

But you know, by the end of the book I cared. I wanted him to make it. I needed him and Bella to be something to each other even though…even though it would break someone’s heart. Speaking of hearts…


Hearts come together in book four. Lover Revealed cements Butch in the vamp clan. But who is Butch? Butch is the human cop from Beth’s past life. He’s found his way into the groove of the vamp war and has a special place in battling the Lessening Society.

Lessening Society?

They are the big bad and you get to know them from book one and you will get to know them, very well.

And we can’t forget love, humans are allowed to fall in love too aren’t they? You’ll have to read on to see if Butch can truly have a future with the vampire Marissa. Should she be with a human? Hasn’t she suffered enough shame?

Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe there is no shame.

But you gotta buy and you gotta read. If I buy the book for you though, there’ll be a cover charge.

This brings us to Vishous and Doc Jane. We’ve already met the domly Vishous. Yeah, I am talking about the kinky stuff. Yum. Yum. God damned Yum. But we meet Jane for the first time, a human doctor.

And of course there be trouble. Is there ever not any trouble?

Lover Unbound has to find a way to get the human Dr. together with Vishous who has this thing with his hand. Oh, but we learn why he has this thing with his hand and, and…I can’t tell you what happens, but it’s good. The story is fun and well, there’s sex.

I think getting laid is a very good thing.

And there are many, many good things about this series. The best parts are the characters. I like them. I care for them. I want to see them happy. And though Phury wasn’t my fav character in the bunch, by the end of book six, Lover Enshrined, he found a very special place in my heart.

Ward does a nice job with exploring addiction in this book. I wasn’t too keen on it at first, but watching Phury go through hell, understanding his life, his past, his problems with his twin, Zsadist, I couldn’t help but be captivated by his story.

I actually cried. I wept for this character and up until now I hadn’t been moved too far by anything in the series. I might have teared up. My heart might have gone out to the other characters, but none of them made me weep like Phury did. Everything else was relatively a fun ride. This book made me think.

This book made me sad. This book made me happy. This book satisfied in a way I hadn’t expected. I can’t wait for Ward to spin her magic again. The series has so far been a hard, fast romp, through a world I’m in love with. By no means have I shown you the true intricacy of the stories.

There are more characters to be had an more than a handful of connections to, that will keep you reading and reading. We still have John and his merry band of friends and what of our sympath? What is a sympath you ask? Sexy, is all you need to know and well I have to thank J. R. Ward for bringing me my first, true paranormal romance and for rocking my world.

You broke my cherry Ms. Ward and I loved every grinding minute of it. And I wanna do it some more.




Here’s the site. http://www.jrward.com/

Night Embrace: Book Three -Sherrilyn Kenyon

Not bad…I mean that in the good way, not the “whatever” kind of way. Night Embrace is about Talon who we me in Night Pleasures. He’s a good kind of guy and all Celtic. Ooooooo, how I love me a Celtic chieftain gone rogue.

Is the book sizzling hot? Did it chase me around the room screaming I want choo mama?

Not exactly.

This definitely reads as a transition book. It feels like you’re being set up for a lot of something else. That’s good because we know there’s more good stuff coming, but it does overload the senses a bit.

In this book we meet Zarek, Valerius, learn about two segments of the Katagaria, get some dish on Acheron, and have a gang load of new main character fodder for upcoming books.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining exactly. I don’t want you to think the book sucks, I just want you to understand some of you might get bogged down and all of you will need a score card to get through the who’s who of this series.

But a score card you will need, maybe a few charts and some colored markers. Hey, I could use a trip to Office Depot.

I loves me some office supplies.

But let’s hop that crack in the concrete for a moment. What else is wrong or right about this book?

Like so many romance novels, you’ll have to deal with the romance formula. I think I might beat that one to death, but it’s true and it’s real. So once again, if you can’t stomach the saccharine love a romance novel delivers go read some Stephen King to get your horror fix.

Better yet, munch on some Kim Harrison for a more general style. You’ll get some of this romancey stuff, but more in a Laurel K. Hamilton groove, but definitely more sophisticated than Hamilton can deliver.

I’m not here to do a Laurel K smackdown, but since I mentioned her let me say this.

“You’re a keen write Ms. Hamilton. I loved the vamp thing, but you lost me when you recycled Anita’s office for your fey chick. I’m not twelve and there is far too much sex for this to be written for teens. So please, don’t insult me by recycling your hash. You could have made her a bartender or something. That would have been more interesting.”

Umm okay…..I guess I have a few issues. I will jot that down for my next office visit.

So we were talking Kenyon and Night Embrace. Let’s cut to the chase.

Buy it.

Read it.

You’ll have to to get to book four, Dance with the Devil. Uh, I won’t mention the next main characters similarities to Wards’ Zsadist, nope, no slavery here, no scars and no bad attitude. Uh, no, no, no resemblance at all. Zarek. Zsadist. Hmmmm….

Okay, there is. I wonder who came first? Not sure it matters though, different worlds, different stories.

Hey didn’t I just yell at Laurel for recycling? Hey aren’t romance formulas recycling?

Yes to both, but you know recycling a genre is one thing, recycling yourself is just tacky.

Ouch.

I’m saying all of this with the notion I’ll never be famous cuz man if I get published and have to shake hands with any of these bitches I’m toast.

Let me say this before I continue to pretend focusing on Night Embrace.

There is nothing wrong with making money and if you have to recycle to send the pups to college, then do it. I know if I’m ever handed some 5 or more digit checks, I’d do it. Hell give me ten thousand I will eat whip cream off your dirty underwear.

Ew.

Oh yeah, the book.

Night Embrace also lets us get to know Sunshine from previous books better. Yes, the flighty artist who can’t seem to remember anything. Initially I was almost offended by this stereotype, but Kenyon eased up and Sunshine because a character not an overused sketch of one. (Ha, ha sketch. I have so little to be proud of…)

Talon himself is his own cliché, but a mother fucking hot one. You can cliché me over and over again with this hot stud. Ooooooooh, yeah, a little over to the left baby!

Shoot. I really need to focus.

The best part of this book is the integration of past and present. That’s all I can really say about Kenyon’s spin on this couple. The predicament brings up some real questions that real couple will have. So, despite all the fantasy based super hunter shit going on, it’s got some reality threaded in there. Some.

Yay for reality!!!!! Yay for some!!!!!

All in all, I felt for the characters. I was concerned about them and best of all I liked them. It doesn’t matter if you’ve walked the path before, the scenery is different and man do I really love to look at it. So like I said, buy it, read it. I’m out. Read happy.


© 2008

Night Pleasures: Book Two: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Sherrilyn Kenyon did not disappoint. Night Pleasures was a fun frolic and the Fantasy Lover tie in is actually worth it. Well, for those who need to know. J

The novel, like so many paranormal romances follows the basic romance formula, but it’s not in your face. I didn’t sit through my read going “yada, yada I know, pain, love, betrayal. Okay, get on with it!!!” I actually wanted to know and actually had a few heartfelt “Oh my god I can’t believe…”

Of course I didn’t have to believe anything. I am reading a fictional book after all, but you know I wanted to believe. I sank into the main characters easily, wanted them to be happy, wanted them to persevere and…they did, or didn’t or????? Do all romances end on a happy note?

I don’t know you tell me.

Anyway, so far I'm liking this a tad better than J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, which isn’t bad at all. Ward is an awesome writer and the Black Dagger Brotherhood series is well written and stood by it’s own truth. But…

But, Kenyon’s characters are more believable. (Yeah, because immortal vampires who dance around with the gods is soooooo believable.)

First, the names are not out of this world whacked in the head. I really, really had to struggle to get used to the names Ward tossed out, Vishous, Zsadist, Rhage… I didn’t get over it until book three and Ward herself noted the oddity of it.

Kenyon has some fantastic names, but those that might end up the name of one of your kids or a hippie co-worker. (Or more likely, one of your Ren Faire geek buddies.) Hunter, Talon, Kyrian, Jullian, Tabith, Acheron…some a little over the top, but hey they sound kewl.

Secondly, since I have to have one now that I set it up that way, secondly, the interactions with humans lets the reader fall into the sense that “This could be happening now.” And I really love that in a book. I really love when my imagination can take off and wonder if it’s all real.

And though some might scoff at the over the top romance genre style, at least these writer’s don’t ruin my literary Wa by suddenly making my fav vamp a rock star. (That’s right Anne, I’ll never forgive you for that. Do stick with your Christian books, because honey you really, really know how to ruin a grand story. Thanks for “preternatural” though. It’s a nice word. And grudglingly…you’re books were normally a great ride until the bitter end. And I do mean bitter, but I’ll get over it.)

Anywho ladies and vamps, I’m off to read Night Embrace. Here’s hoping Kenyon continues to deliver because my paranormal loving ass has already bought most of the series.



For the reading order and anyting Dark Hunter visit http://www.dailyinquisitor.com/hunter/intro.htm

The Immortals Series: Ashley,Popp & Nash

These are quickie reviews from my “other journal”. They weren’t written for in-depth analysis, but I’m too far gone from these to give you that now. So please take these little bits and run as wild as you want with them. -Lilia


Immortals: The Calling by Jennifer Ashley

When I first dipped into this series I thought, ‘They covers are way too cliché”. But hey who am I to talk? These covers have won awards.

I went ahead and read this despite myself. I after all had ordered them and they were a part of my book club deal.

Well, I loved the hero in this book. Adrian is the eldest of his immortal clan and I found him sexy, stylish and an all around yummy kind of guy. The book was a good read, full of fun, frolic and just enough danger to wet my appetite. I will admit, the book was a little on the light side of my horror fetish, but I could deal because it hit a few other of my fetishes. *wink, wink*

My only worry is that this currently four book series isn’t written by a single authour. We have Robin T. Popp coming in as second hitter with Joy Nash coming in behind, just short of this four string finish. Ashley comes in to end the current onslaught.

So, it’s hard to say if this series is worth it. So far, so good though.


Immortals: The Darkening by Robin T. Popp

This isn’t so bad says the big worrier.

Popp takes us to New York in a continuation of the demon dilemma. I won’t go too much into the dilemma, but all you need to know is that it isn’t good and our heroes are out to stop it.
Popp is our apparent writer for this one, grabbed the stick and handled it well. Um yeah, no double meanings there. Anyway, the story moves along well. I liked the new Immortal introduced in this one and the heroine isn’t so bad either. My only complaint is that they lack true depth.
Popp isn’t a bad writer and though the characters are not one dimensional, I’m not addicted to them. I enjoyed them, but I don’t yearn to see them again, unlike Adrian and Amber from the first book. I would have like to have cared more.
Is this the fault of the writer or limitations built in by the star author in this series? (Is there an star authour?)
In any case the second book doesn’t have the same depth as the first one, but like I said it’s not a bad ride. All in all, I enjoyed the book.
The story isn’t as tight as I would have liked it. There are some plot movers that could have been better done, but I kept reading. It’s paced well. It’s fun.
Now, I’m off to book three, Immortals: The Awakening. Joy Nash is the author and I have no idea how well she writes or which Immortal we’ll meet. I’m expecting this one will blatantly follow the romance formula like the preceding volumes. I’m cool with that. I’m not looking to read Voltaire at the moment. Though I wonder what kind of romance novel he’d produce?


Immortals: The Awakening by Joy Nash

Joy Nash, a writer with two other books under her belt, The Grail King and Celtic Fire is our driver this ride. I haven’t read her other books, but based on this one, she probably writes classic romance novels.

The third installment in this series was enjoyable, but doesn’t scream through the cities with demon chases and mayhem through out. It has its doses as required by the overall storyline, but the book is mainly a romance novel and nothing more.

I have to say I loved the heroine, Christine, far more than the last one, Lexi. I don’t know, maybe I’m tired of bounty hunters? Christine is an artist and the underlying theme of art and the classic world is a nice change from the modern crunch of the other two books.

And I have to say, if I’m going to read romance I like mine with bloody pending doom in the back ground. Saving the world is more fun than protecting someone’s reputation and hating, but falling in love with your foe any day.

Overall I will give the book a thumbs-up. Even if you don’t like the super romancey feel of the book, I don’t think it’s enough of a deterrent to bypass the whole series. But then again, if you abhor romances, stay away. This installment will grate you nerves and make you a tad sick.

Me, I like the sex scenes and would do this immortal any day. J



Immortals: The Gathering by Jennifer Ashley

Was good. I can’t say it was spectacular. I can’t say that it didn’t have a lot going on. I can say that it could’ve been a little more spine tingling than it was.

But that happens a lot when you create such a big bad.

Was the big bad thwarted?

Of course, he was.

Or was he????

Most romance novels don’t end on a sad note, but this one kind of does. But then again, it’s not really the end of the series.
Next month we have Immortals: The Redeeming followed by Immortals: The Crossing in October then Immortals: The Haunting in November and Immortals: The Reckoning in March 2009.

With three authors it’s easy to spin the books out at this fast pace.

Somehow the conveyor belt feeling of the series bothers me. It’s just me I know. There is nothing wrong with making a quick buck and feeding the romance hungry while you’re at it. It certainly beats waiting and waiting for the next volume to come out,

Anyway, though I’m not ripping my panties off for this series I will read the rest of it. I really do like many of the characters presented and would love to see where this group of writers takes them and how far and most importantly what toils and troubles will we come across?

And almost on a side note. The pagans out there should hunt this one down and read them all with a breath of fresh air. They don’t make the witchy poos look like freaks. They make them look fun, cool and albeit exciting. There will be no need to sage the bedroom when you done with these. J



If you want to keep up on Immortals comings and goings check out http://www.immortals-series.com/