Owl and the Japanese Circus - Kristi Charish

Owl and the Japanese Circus by Kristi Charish
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It was refreshing to read an Urban Fantasy that wasn't a mystery, but rather an archeological adventure. Even more refreshing was a heroine who, although not inclined to think before acting or speaking, does learn from mistakes and begins listening when her friends ask her not to rush in without a plan. There's also a vampire-hunting cat that offers some comic relief, and a bit of romance where the two involved actually speak to each other like mature adults when they're upset... so all around refreshing.

Hunter's Trail - Melissa F. Olson

Hunter's Trail by Melissa F. Olson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This series grew on me. It started out fine, but nothing special. Just one of those that I liked but didn't love. Mainly that's because of the whole love triangle thing. I'm happy with how that went, and that it didn't consume the entire book/series, although it had moments. It wasn't how I thought it was going to go either, so bonus points for that.

The Old World happenings were interesting, too. I do like the world and the concept of nulls, and I ended up really liking this last book. It may have convinced me to give the new spin-off series a try.

Dirty Magic - Jaye Wells

Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this! It's Urban Fantasy, with more emphasis on the 'Urban.' Kate is a cop in a run-down city that has a drug problem (I mean magic potion problem). People are addicted to illegal potions that eventually alter you from the inside out - or kill you - and a new killer potion has hit the streets. Kate has insider knowledge from her past to help the FBI (I mean MEA) find out who put it there.

For much of the book, this is very much a police procedural. Kate is a cop who is constrained by procedures, and actually follows orders even when she doesn't want to. Well, mostly. I thought that was refreshing. Often you get these tough heroines who flaunt the rules because rules don't apply to them. I immediately respected Kate because she tried really hard to work within constraints. I liked her and her sense of honor, even though she's so blind and stubborn about magic. She is carrying around a boat load of guilt from her dirty potion-cooking days, and she has to deal with that mess during the investigation. I can't wait to see how she changes in the next book. There's definitely room for growth.

I also liked several of the supporting characters - this wasn't a one-person show. I'm looking forward to getting to know them all more. And hoping to see more potion cooking! Aside from the opening scene, magic only really makes an appearance in the last third of the book, which is the exact point at which I could no longer put it down. With some twists I didn't see coming and some nail-biting scenes, I was completely satisfied with the mystery-suspense aspect of this. Especially as solving the mystery revealed more complexity that only makes me hope the sequel lives up to my expectations.

Urban Shaman - C.E. Murphy

Urban Shaman by C.E. Murphy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Urban Shaman is the first in an urban fantasy series that may not stack up too well against ‘the greats’ of UF, but is entertaining none-the-less. And the series is finished, which is a plus. One thing it is not is Paranormal Romance. There is the slightest inkling of the beginning of interest between two characters, but that’s it. So if you’re looking for a UF series sort of in the middling range of quality that is not exclusively romance, this could be for you. (Although I can't speak for the rest of the series yet.)

The world has an interesting blend of Celtic and Native American mythology - again a refreshing change. I’m not sure this combination is completely pulled off, but it was definitely an interesting one.

Joanne is - sort of - a cop. She thinks more like a mechanic, and is a skeptic who is forced in a bloody way to come to grips with a world of myths and Shamanic powers. There is a very mystical feeling to the whole thing, with dream walking, near death experiences, healings, and spirit guides. At times the shifts between worlds were disorienting, and I had no clue what was going on in the beginning. Neither did Joanne, though, so I figured it out while she did.

Although Joanne is a cop, as the murders pile up, they are not solved in a true detective fashion, but through trips to the spirit world. I was a little disappointed because I was hoping for a good mystery with actual investigations.

I liked some of the supporting characters and hope they stick around in future installments. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything with a senior-aged ex-football player cabbie for a side-kick before. It actually created another dimension that I really enjoyed and added some humor to the mix.

I enjoyed reading this well enough to be wishing I could get back to it while I was at work. It definitely has some unique aspects to it, whether they work well or not. I’m looking forward to seeing if things come together more smoothly in the sequel, and for once I’m actually looking forward to seeing how the romance develops because it’s so subtle - just enough to pique my interest.

Review: Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Wow, this ended up being actually different. It started out with a girl walking to school being harassed by a beautiful boy she broke up with earlier, and I thought, oh no, here we go. But then it went off and became something entirely its own. It didn't stay at school for long, thank goodness, and the romance situation was not what you might expect with that beginning.

Instead, we get a world full of intriguing mythology, dark magic, an endless, hateful war between angels and chimaera, and a romance of a completely different sort. By the halfway mark, I didn't feel like I was reading YA at all, but like I was in a different universe.

The narrative is a bit disjointed at one point, like two stories were stitched together. When Karou finally discovers who she is and what it's all about, the story takes a huge detour, showing it all at once. It's not an info dump, but it's a completely different story line right in the middle of everything.

This is the point where the book gets really good, but it took me a while to adjust to it. Everything I thought I knew gets turned on its head, and this is where I came to care about what was happening to the entire world, both sides of the conflict, and all of the characters I met at the beginning. This is where things started to matter, and it really grabbed me.

Then how it ended - heartbreaking! I'm glad the next book is already out so I can find out what happens after that cliffhanger. I feel as if it's only just begun.



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Review: Magic Bites

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This book got me out of a reading slump! It was a refreshing read, and I'm tempted to pick up the next book right away - but I won't because I'm going to pace myself on this series.

I liked the take on magic and tech in Modern-day Atlanta. Kate is a seriously tough heroine, even tough enough to admit when she screws up. There's more gore than I anticipated, but that's fine. There's also very little romance, which is great. Urban Fantasy that sticks to the point and doesn't get all steamy! This was a great start to a series. I can't wait to get to know these characters better.



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Review: Fool Moon

Fool Moon by Jim Butcher

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I enjoyed Fool Moon much more than the first book in the series, probably because I knew I'd have to be in the mood to read something full of constant catastrophes before I picked it up. I think you have to be prepared not to breathe much when reading a Dresden book. Once again it's nonstop action, and Harry always seems to be a step behind. I can't believe he's still alive at the end with all the injuries he accrues, let alone able to fight (or have an intimate moment mixed in with everything!).

I was annoyed with him at the beginning because of his 'chivalric' attitude towards Murphy, which he is bullheadedly proud of even when it causes huge problems. No sooner does he promise Murphy that he will tell her everything and not try to protect her than he ignores his promise twice without even thinking twice about it. And he's surprised when she stops trusting him. Where's the chivalry in breaking a promise like that?

What made me feel better about it as he's repeatedly bashed around over the next couple of days is that he's actually starting to realize what an idiot he can be. His moments of self-reflection helped me to relate to him better. I think there might be hope for him.





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Review: Enchanted Ever After

Enchanted Ever After by Robin D. Owens

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Enchanted Ever After is the third in the Mystic Circle series, a Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy centered in Denver. The first book in the series was heavier on the Fantasy with romance on the side (a mix I prefer), but the second book disappointed me with the narrow focus on Paranormal Romance. I was happy to find this book returning to the larger concerns of the Urban Fantasy world that I enjoyed so much in the first book.

I really love the blend of magic and modern worlds in this series. There are the Lightfolk, who are magical beings with power based on the elements (earth, fire, air, water), politics involving the powerful Eight Lightfolk royals, Jenni Weavers as a significant supporting character, and continued danger from the Darkfolk (a situation that was only referenced in the background during book two). This magical world is blended with modern technology and gaming, career concerns, and suburban cul-de-sac living with coffee shops and block parties. It's an interesting meld.

The downside was the romance. Disappointingly, it was insta-love based on a mysterious physical attraction. I usually prefer to see how a couple falls in love or else I just don't believe it or feel it. Luckily for me, the romance was not the main focus in this one.

It seems to me that there's plenty of room left for more stories in this world. Nothing was tied up as far as the larger conflicts are concerned, but I can't tell whether Owens is planning another book or not. I would definitely enjoy more of this magical world, and hope there will be more in the Urban Fantasy focus rather than the PR focus.

**Received free arc for review.

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Review: The Amulet of Samarkand

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



The Amulet of Samarkand is set in a modern-day London that is ruled by Magicians. It is written from the perspective of a djinni (demon) and an undervalued magician's apprentice. The plot is clever, and the dual POV take on magical power struggles is unique. The problem is, I didn't like any of the characters. The djinni came the closest because he's an interesting character with a sense of humor, but the boy... I didn't like him at all, and he's the most sympathetic human character we meet (I don't feel I can count the female caretakers since they are so removed from the reader).

Aside from not liking the characters, I also struggled to connect with them at all. The narration was very focused on what happened from an external vantage-point. Even the djinni's adventures, told in first-person, were still very remote. It felt very like a Middle-grade novel that a young boy might enjoy without missing the character development or the internal dialogue. That said, I think the themes make this more YA, so it should have offered a little more sophistication.

However it should be classified, mentally I could appreciate the plot, but something deeper was lacking and I couldn't really get into it myself. Maybe it's just that I don't enjoy these types of books geared more towards boys (I also struggled with The Lightning Thief and the Bobby Pendragon series), but I kept taking a break to read something more satisfying.


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Review: Enchanted No More

Enchanted No More by Robin D. Owens

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Enchanted No More is fairly overflowing with enchantment. It is full of all sorts of magic based on the four elements of fire, earth, air and water. The entire magical world is in danger, and Jenni, a half-breed, is the only one with her special family magic left who can help. Can she overcome her bitterness at losing her entire family the last time the magical community asked for their help to do what needs to be done?

Beyond the fairy politics and magical conflicts, this is a fairly standard paranormal romance with a few adult scenes thrown in for good measure (although they are not extremely explicit). The overall story and magical atmosphere was enough that the romance didn't totally take over, even though it's definitely prominent. An enjoyable weekend read.



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Review: Storm Front

Storm Front by Jim Butcher

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Storm Front is a solid start to a series. There's lots and lots of action - almost more than I could take at some points. Harry Dresden has a few really, really bad days in this book. His life is in danger from many fronts - demons, vampires, magical councils, mysterious unknown powerful wizards, and human cops and gangsters. He's all alone in dealing with it, and he's broke to top it all off. He's injured often, and he barely scrapes by with some sliver of luck that he manages to hang onto by his fingernails.

It's exciting, it's calamitous, and I'm exhausted from reading it. I've heard that the series gets better at about book 4, and I am interested enough to stick with it. I just hope Harry has some downtime in the next one!




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Review: Darkfever

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I picked up Darkfever as a free ebook promotion and had no idea what I was getting into. Before I knew it, I'd purchased and devoured the first four books of the series and was kicking myself for not checking to see if it was complete because I was going to have to wait for the last book to come out. And then re-read them all. (Don't worry, the series is finished now.)

This is not the kind of series that you can just chill out between books. It's intense, it grabs you, and you can't let it go. But you have to have a little faith that the blond, pink-obsessed main character is going to change along the way. It doesn't happen in the first book, but trust me, her world gets turned upside-down and she becomes far less air-headed and annoying.

What really grabs me in the beginning is the old-world feel of Ireland where this takes place. It's the kind of place where you can imagine a fine line between Earth and Faerie. And the kind of place where you find musty old book shops to get lost in. Then we have a mysterious, hostile male, resigned to helping the naive female for unknown personal reasons. Yeah, he definitely makes the series.

There is one big negative for me, and that's the sexually explicit content. The overall story was good enough for me to gloss over it, but I still don't see the necessity. Especially the part where just being in the presence of a Faerie causes mindless stripping and orgasmic experiences. I've just had to block that out, but the cataclysmic action is that good (again, talking the entire series here). It's saying a lot that this series remains a favorite that I'd re-read - although it could have been worth 5 stars if I didn't have to partition my brain to enjoy it.



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Succubus Blues - Richelle Mead

Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was, for the most part, a fun read. The overall plot is interesting, both light and dark at the same time, with some mystery, the beginning of a romance, and imaginative modern-day mythology. After reading the Vampire Academy series, I expected much more, however. I hoped that moving onto an adult series would be a progression in depth. Instead the progression is into sexual explicitness, and there is a definite decline in depth.

What continues to bother me is how the gratuitous sex overshadows the rest of the plot. I understand that the main character is a succubus, and that she is supposed to seduce men, but I don't need to read every detail of it. I dislike it when sex is purely about lust in any story, and here it is not only lust, but is with strangers or enemies whom Georgina despises. When it comes to romance, I'm more interested in love stories and get turned off when people are having sex without any meaningful relationship between them.

That is enough to make me reconsider continuing with the series, even though the rest of the plot was well done. I am disappointed, and thinking maybe I should stick to YA Urban Fantasy, since this is not the first time I've had this experience in this genre.

Review: The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



My 9-yr-old nephew loved this series, and as I was reading it I could understand why. There's plenty of action and adventure, and the pacing jumps from action to action. As an adult, I did find it mildly entertaining, but I also found my mind drifting. For me, action on its own is too shallow. I need character development and relationships that evolve. I need characters who think a little bit. As a child, I enjoyed books that included those aspects as well, though, so I don't believe it's just that I've grown up. I never was a boy, so maybe that's it.

I did try starting the second book, but the action took right off again and I realized that I just wasn't interested enough. It made me tired.



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