Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima

Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm always a bit hesitant to read a spinoff series in case it somehow lessens the original. I enjoyed this one thoroughly, though. It moves to the next generation after the The Demon King series, and I was sad to see the turmoil and grief that haunted the kingdoms, but I also felt like it was a totally new story.

This series is written a little differently, as companion novels with a single, overarching story. I found it really helpful to know in advance that there are different main characters in the first three books. As I was reading, I also found that the story sometimes backtracks to cover the same period of time with a different character.

So just know that the story is told in a more parallel than linear fashion, and be prepared to be introduced to new characters when you're dying to know what's going to happen to the old ones. Some of the main characters do make appearances in books where they're not the focus, and the final book does pick back up with all of them so you're not left hanging. And like I said, I enjoyed the whole thing.

Faro's Daughter - Georgette Heyer

Faro's Daughter by Georgette Heyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was beginning to think I had already read all the best Heyer romances. This was a nice surprise. It had me laughing several times, too.

Maulever Hall - Jane Aiken Hodge

Maulever Hall by Jane Aiken Hodge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I mostly enjoyed this old-school gothic romance. It has so many classic elements - old house, the moors, hostile servants, sinister woods in the fog, mysterious murder attempts, and questions of identity and intent.

If only there hadn't been so much plot driven by lack of communication! Even though I realize that this happens in real life, I usually just want to scream at characters to talk to each other.

Still, I think it's actually my favorite Hodge so far. She actually gives more to the romance than stating a happily ever after in this one.

This is lighter gothic fare, and I wouldn't go into it expecting anything unfamiliar or earth-shattering. Although I do enjoy the familiarity of a classic gothic atmosphere, myself. There's something cozy about it.

Breakaway - Michelle Diener

Breakaway by Michelle Diener
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Note: This book is not the first in the series, even though it's technically #1. You need to start with the prequel novellas, Interference / Insurgency, since they take care of a lot of world-building. Plus they're really good for novellas.

I'm really enjoying this series so far. It's a combination of Sci Fi lite and Romance lite that works for me. I previously really liked Diener's Class 5 series, but wasn't too thrilled with Sky Raiders because it lacked the multi-cultural space opera intrigue and felt more dystopian to me (I only read the first one).

Now with the Verdant String, I feel like Diener has returned to form. It's been a while since I was tempted to binge read a series, but I seem to be doing so with this one!

Lord of the Fire Lands - Dave Duncan

Lord of the Fire Lands by Dave Duncan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The way this book began didn't do it any favors. It promised a different book, one in a similar vein to the first, where the King comes and claims a Blade, and then that Blade serves through danger and adventure, etc. This is not that story.

It wasn't long before events veered off, but once that familiar beginning built my expectations, it felt to me like the story was going off-course. For a long time, I couldn't figure out what the point of this long flashback was, and I was anxious to get back to the real story in the present.

It wasn't until about half way through that I accepted that this detour was the real story. Then I began to enjoy it, and now I think it's a better story than the one I expected. I'm glad I stuck it out and I'm looking forward to seeing the fallout for the series as a whole.

Update: It had been several years since I read The Gilded Chain, but several reviews compare the two endings, so I had to go back and remind myself how that one ended. Let's just say Duncan has no problems rewriting his own history! Now I'm even more curious about where he'll take it next.

Dissolution - C.J. Sansom

Dissolution by C.J. Sansom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've found that an essential part of mysteries for me is the characters. Can I care about them, like them, see them as having potential for growth? The mystery itself needs to be intriguing, of course, but a clever mystery feels empty to me without depth of character, especially of the main character.

So, how does Shardlake stack up? What we have here is one of the grumpier investigators I've read about. He loses his temper, snaps at people, becomes tired and overwhelmed, and makes errors of judgment. He's not a perfect man, but he's also idealistic and compassionate underneath that gruff exterior.

He has a core of insecurity because of a disability that he believes makes him less than worthy. He also has a wealth of spiritual and political turmoil to grapple with. As the representative of Oliver Cromwell during the dissolution of the monasteries, he has to wrestle with his sense of faith in a time of religious upheaval.

There's lots of room for Shardlake to grow in this series. I think it's worth continuing with the series to see if he finds his way. Oh, and the mystery held my attention too.

Shades of Milk & Honey - Mary Robinette Kowal

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

More for the historical romance fan than the fantasy lover, the magic here largely took the place of art. The main focus is country neighborhood drama with a definite Austen feel to it.

If you enjoy fantasy of manners, you should enjoy this. I thought the magic added a nice touch to the romance.

Murder at the Brightwell - Ashley Weaver

Murder at the Brightwell by Ashley Weaver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found this a wonderful historical mystery that surprised me several times. I love it when I don't guess the murderer, not from lack of clues but from not seeing how they all fit together until the end. It lets my mind stay busy with suspecting everyone, and I don't feel cheated when I'm surprised by the pieces of the puzzle clicking together.

I also very much enjoyed the drama of Amory's marriage troubles, which gave it more emotional depth than is often present in these types of mysteries. Those who prefer their mysteries without any romantic distractions may not enjoy it so much, but I tend to prefer mine with a good dose of character development outside of the mystery itself.

Another positive for me is that although there was romance, it was not about people just meeting and falling in love. Instead it dealt with the much more complex issues of an established relationship on shaky ground. I found Amory's state of mind to be realistic in the circumstances and was completely engrossed in her struggles to find the truth of her own heart. I want to know what happens to her next, and that's what will drive me to pick up the next book.

A Useful Woman - Darcie Wilde

A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Useful Woman had a bit of a ponderous start and was in serious danger of getting bogged down in too many details of propriety and drawing room niceties. The Regency era is one of my comfort settings, but something needs to happen within that setting for me to stay interested, and that needs to happen pretty quickly. Here, it did set the stage for the tightrope that Rosalind is walking, but I wish the touch had been a bit lighter and the action had started sooner.

Thankfully, a murder did change all that. Once Rosalind focused on plumbing the depths of the currents around her, watching her try to hold together her own social position as well as that of her friends and charges was much more interesting. Who knew what could be hiding under that veneer of respectability? I found the answer satisfyingly shocking in the end.

I loved the premise of Rosalind as an unprotected woman trying to stay acceptable to the ton after her father's financial disaster years ago. I loved her cleverness at eking out a living from them, and her strength under that intense pressure. I definitely want to see more of the characters who appreciate her intelligence instead of using her while forcing her to hide it. One in particular was very intriguing...

I do have one more minor quibble. I was irritated a couple times when Rosalind realized something about the mystery and it was not shared with the reader. She suddenly knew what had happened, but I had to stay in the dark until the end. I appreciate the suspense that kept me in, but I would rather have followed her thought process more. That's one reason I like to read mysteries, so I can be working it out in my own mind. If I don't have all the same information the sleuth has, I can't do that.

Still, I felt this was a strong start to a new historical mystery series, especially as it's the first mystery by this author. I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment. I just hope we don't dwell on the correct order of paying compliments for too long before the next murder breaks.

Royal Airs - Sharon Shinn

Royal Airs by Sharon Shinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A lot of reviewers were disappointed in this sequel to Troubled Waters, and about half way through I realized why. It was missing the magic, the elemental magic. Neither of the main characters had any, so we only saw it peripherally. This made it much less of a fantasy and more of a historical romance with some political intrigue thrown in during the second half.

As a historical romance, I enjoyed it. I liked Josetta, and I liked Rafe. I also liked how their stories ended up. I did wish there was more magic, but I think having lowered expectations rescued this book for me.

Between Two Thorns - Emma Newman

Between Two Thorns by Emma Newman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was not at all what I was expecting, and I was surprised that I ended up liking it. First of all, I thought it was going to be a historical fantasy set in Regency-era Bath. Instead, what I got was a modern urban-ish fantasy with a portal world called the Nether that's stuck in the past as far as social expectations go. So it's a Regency-like setting, but one that's aware of the modern world, and sticks its nose up at it for being mundane.

The clash of modern and 19th C values intrigued me, especially as it doesn't idealize the good old days as most Austen-esque stories do. Instead, it highlights the absolute lack of rights of women in that time. I'm curious to see if future installments bring about some modernization in the society of the Nether - I'm sure some kind of upheaval is set to take place and am looking forward to it.

I was also intrigued by the glimpses of other parts of society in the different worlds, and various types of magic, and then there's the greater mystery embarked upon by the the arbiter and gargoyle that has barely been touched. Again I'm eager to discover what changes will take place in the future to these aspects of society.

One of the main characters, Cathy, was a bit over the top in her inability to conform to her society's expectations or even to be civil. She doesn't even know how to pretend just a little bit, which I thought was unwise - and also irritating. But at the same time, I have a feeling it's going to be instrumental in some of this upheaval I'm looking forward to.

The Midnight Rose - Lucinda Riley

The Midnight Rose: A Novel by Lucinda Riley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Midnight Rose was completely absorbing. I love these gothic novels with rich atmosphere and dual timelines, although I sometimes have to take more tragedy and bleakness than I would like along with them. I've read one novel by Lucinda Riley before, and loved how her story included exotic locations as well as England. But it was so sad that I couldn't bring myself to read another of her books for several years.

This time I was braced for tragedy at least in the earlier timeline, and ended up cursing myself for still getting attached to the characters. There's no doubt that Riley can suck you in and make you dread what's going to happen to them. The haunting sadness of their story clung to me for several days after I finished reading.

The thing that disappointed me about this one is the modern timeline. I was really hoping it would make up for the tragedy of the past. It did offer a bit of redemption, but it was not nearly as satisfying as it could have been. The romance was underdeveloped, and materialized almost out of nowhere. I didn't have the chance to become invested enough in it. That dissatisfaction also lingered with me for several days, making me waver between 3 and 4 stars on my rating.

Still, the haunting nature of both books I've now read by Riley tells me that I will be back for more in the future. Like a moth to a flame.

A Court of Mist & Fury - Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wasn't really sold on the romance in the first book, but I love the direction that it took in this one. It felt authentic and realistic to me. There are real relationships and issues here, not just fairy tales. And the world grows wider along with the complexity of the plot and characters. I loved it. I'm glad I waited so I can follow up soon with book 3.

My only complaint is how often Feyre was sick for the first half or so - that is not something I enjoy reading about. Hence an alert for the squeamish. I did get past it though.

Flame of Sevenwaters - Juliet Marillier

Flame of Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

No, it's not the same caliber as the original Sevenwaters trilogy, but that's a pretty high standard to live up to. The later three books are more along the lines of YA Fantasy, not as complex or deeply emotional, but still superior to others in their class. I ate all three of them up, and I still hope she'll come back to this world again at some point because it will be like coming home again.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Harry Potter is Harry Potter, but I struggled to like this final book for several reasons. They're the same things that bothered me the first time I read it, but the final confrontation and brilliant revelations and reversals of certain characters wiped them from my memory back then. Now the second time, I find that these reasons linger.

1. So many deaths. Right from the beginning, starting with (view spoiler)[Hedwig (hide spoiler)]. Somehow that really got to me this time!
2. So much speculation about Dumbledore and his true motivations and shortcomings. I do like how this was resolved in the end, but didn't enjoy the maligning of Dumbledore, or Harry's doubts about him.
3. So much time spent with only Harry, Ron and Hermione running around the forest. I miss their interactions with other characters and the wizarding world.
4. No Hogwarts until 75%. This is kind of the same as the previous point except that Hogwarts simply deserves its own line. I've realized that the setting is a huge part of my enjoyment of this series, and I was impatient with the book until the story returned there. I missed all of the extra characters - teachers, ghosts, portrait-dwellers, fellow students - as well as the magic of the castle itself.

I still love the series. There's nothing else like it. It's darker than I would have liked, even knowing where it was going the second time around, but like I said, I just wanted to live at Hogwarts and not watch the whole world being destroyed, along with so many people that Harry could possibly consider family.

The ending is really great. It's one of those endings that is actually epic, and some of the minor characters have great moments in the battle at Hogwarts. But I found this finale bitter enough that I might avoid any future re-reads and stick to the earlier books for the nostalgia of simply hanging out at Hogwarts.

The Gathering Storm (Crown of Stars, #5) - Kate Elliott

The Gathering Storm by Kate Elliott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Gathering Storm seriously cut into my reading stats for the year! At almost 1000 pages, it took me a month to read (I did take a break around the middle). This series has definitely reached sprawling epic category. But if you like this kind of thing and have the patience for it, it's really brilliant. Not enough people know about this series.

There are a lot of characters and timelines to keep track of in this book. I'll admit to being a bit fuzzy on some of them, and on their locations at times. Travel through the crowns means that months and sometimes years pass in days for some characters, and it can be hard to keep track of who is when and where. That didn't really bother me, though, since it is all about moving players into position for the anticipated cataclysm, exploring varying goals for the event.

I am still enjoying many of the points of view, but there are a few that I find myself wishing would hurry along. Zacharias, the self-proclaimed coward of an apostate monk. Ivar and his band of heretics. Strong Hand, who is just so inhuman that I have a hard time relating to him or caring about his Eika empire consolidation. But I'm sure that'll be important at some point.

I do know some readers don't have the patience for such a character-driven story, but I still find myself savoring it. The world feels so real, and the characters are finely nuanced. The character development is a real strength of this entire series. You never know how fortunes are going to change in the blink of an eye, and how a character will react to their new circumstances. It's just so well done - great writing and insights into human and non-human natures.

One character in particular who I thought was fairly static was transformed throughout this book and their growth ended up being pivotal. And Alain - poor Alain just goes from misery to misery on top of being back in his native time and losing that other life (which I'm thankful gave him a reprieve for at least one book). I hope things start looking up for him now because he's suffered more than enough.

But most importantly, the moment all of this maneuvering is aiming at does finally arrive! The cataclysm occurs, and although I won't tell you whose plot succeeded, I can tell you that destruction on a massive scale was inevitable either way. I can't wait to see what happens In the Ruins because nothing will be the same. Except for human nature with all its resilience, its hope, and its less admirable qualities.

Murder on Bank Street - Victoria Thompson

Murder on Bank Street by Victoria Thompson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In Murder on Bank Street, we finally find out who killed Sarah's husband. These are not the most complex mysteries, but are perfect for a quick weekend read after a hectic and draining week, and do offer some surprises. The familiarity is comforting, and I like to see how the relationships develop, and I like that there are different types of relationships that are explored. Although, this is possibly the slowest developing romance I've ever read, and I'm really impatient for that to finally happen! At least there was just a fraction more between Sarah and Malloy than in the last couple of books or I might have thrown something in frustration. I almost did after the final scene, which was not at all satisfying enough. :)

I like how the side characters are getting more involved, but missed Sarah's strength and involvement in this one. Instead, Maeve becomes a more important character and really takes center stage, and I like the direction it seems to be taking with her. The Pinkerton detectives are another interesting development that I hope the series continues to explore. I've been wondering how this series could stretch on as long as it has, and maybe it has to do with expanding to other characters. I'm still perfectly happy to keep going and find out.

But once Sarah and Malloy get together, it had better be worth the wait - and on the page - or I really will throw something.

The Zig Zag Girl - Elly Griffiths

The Zig Zag Girl by Elly Griffiths
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the setting of this historical mystery. It's set in the British seaside town of Brighton in post World War II, and the main characters are a policeman and his wartime friend, a performing magician. We get a fascinating glimpse of the variety show world in the times when TV was just about to take over entertainment. That's what really helped to set this apart from other historical mysteries.

I did have my suspicions about the murderer quite early on, but there was plenty of doubt to keep me questioning, so the mystery was satisfying enough.

I always find that it's being able to invest in the characters that really makes a mystery for me, and that was definitely the case here. I found myself growing quite attached to the policeman and his magician friend. Ultimately, I cared what was going to happen to them, and that's what will bring me back to the series again in the future.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my second time reading The Goblet of Fire, and I still (mostly) loved it. The Weasleys' house, the Quidditch World Cup, being at Hogwarts, the tournament, and seeing Harry actually struggle to learn charms and curses - these were all so fun. I love this world, and loved seeing new parts of it.

BUT, it's getting dark. I found myself dreading certain parts, knowing what was coming. And with prior knowledge, events seemed even more sinister than before. (view spoiler)[I enjoyed Mad-Eye Moody the first time around, but this time I saw his actions in a completely different light. (hide spoiler)] People are betraying and cursing each other left and right, and even good wizards and witches are just generally being ugly people. Not to mention the killings. This is not a children's adventure story anymore.

Honestly, this is where I begin to miss the wonder and charm of the wizarding world that balanced the dark in the first three books. Now everything starts to become tainted by realistic meanness, adolescent angst, real violence and death. So sad. But of course, there's still so much that's wonderful and new too. I love the story, but hate some of the things that happen in it. I'm so conflicted!

Agnes and the Hitman - Jennifer Crusie

Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was a pleasant surprise. It's a great mix of chick lit and suspense. Full of murders, cooking, mobsters, and wedding prep - a combo that worked, believe it or not, and gave me plenty to chew on, keeping track of it all. It even earned a few chuckles from me - which is not easy, since I hardly ever get things that are supposed to be funny.