Winter's Tale by Emma Holly

Half-faerie, half-elf Hans Winter broke the heart of the wrong princess. Cursed to live as a statue at a school for human girls, only true love—and true bravery—can free him.

December Worth never met a rule she didn’t want to break, as the numerous institutions that have expelled her can attest. Bravery she can handle. Love she’s less sure about, especially if it involves believing in fairytales.

A kiss seems like the last thing these lonely souls would share, until one night in the cemetery where Hans stands trapped, Fate brings stone and flesh together . . . 
~~

If you go into this expecting a little bit of crazy then I think it definitely lives up to being a wonderful fairytale for adults. I'm sure someone out there is going to roll their eyes at kissing a statue (let alone, ahem, other things) but I really think Holly makes it work. 

Eighteen-year-old December is a woman of means who doesn't seem to fit in anywhere and when she ends up at Rackham’s School for Young Ladies she's not interested in doing anything else than what she's always done. This includes a little insubordination, some breaking and entering, and a surprising willingness to believe in the unbelievable.

There's not a ton of emotional build-up between December and Hans - they don't have a lot of time to talk in this short story - but I do think it works. The sexy times are frequent but not boring and Holly lends her usual flair to each encounter. When the final confrontation arrives between the couple and the evil being who cursed him we're treated to a small amount of action (I'm not complaining) and finally a HEA that brings back some of the characters from Move Me. I really enjoy Emma Holly's Hidden Series and I think this is a great addition - highly recommended!

Overall Feeling - B+

Series - 1) Hidden Talents 2) Hidden Crimes 3) Hidden Depths 4) "Date Night" 5) Move Me 6) The Faerie's Honeymoon 7) Winter's Tale

Motor City Fae by Cindy Spencer Pape

Detroit artist Meagan Kelly has had a strong sixth sense all her life, but that doesn't mean the gorgeous stranger's crazy story—that she's a half-elf, half human heiress—is true. But Meagan can't deny the evidence of her own eyes—he's Fae. A tall, blond, handsome, pointy-eared elf—and a man she just can't get enough of.

Ric Thornhill's assignment just got a lot more complicated. The more time he spends with Meagan, the harder it is to see her as a political tool to prevent an all-out war between humans and Fae.

Now Meagan's in a race to master her newly released powers in time to prevent the conflict, convince a jealous Queen not to strip Ric of his powers, and find out if she can build a life that straddles two worlds.

*I requested a copy of this title to review through netGalley*

I enjoyed this ebook quite a bit. The Fae have been a more and more popular a topic for paranormal/fanasy romance lately, but Pape does a good job at having her story stick out of the crowd. It's a familiar plot in good hands I'd say, and the result is a great read.

Meagan is nice and feisty, as all good heroines should be, and Ric has the necessary sex appeal combined with honor that make him a believable hero. The dialogue is on point, and while the bad guys are mostly obviously placed, they also all end up getting the perfect comeuppance for their traitorous actions.

The last thing I'd like to point out for this ebook is that it is an erotica and has some nicely well written love scenes. Whether Meagan is fed up and jumping Ric's bones or he's putting his 'seduce' on, the two of them together are spicy! But spicy with emotion, which is what I crave when reading any kind of erotica/romance/whatever.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up! I was a little worried going into it, but Pape has a fun & sexy romance between Meagan and Ric with just enough Fae intrigue and betrayal to keep me interested.

Series - 1) Motor City Fae

Night Myst by Yasmine Galenorn

Eons ago, vampires tried to turn the Dark Fae in order to harness their power. Instead, they created a demonic enemy more powerful than they dared to dream. Bent on enslaving the world, the Vampiric Fae have been quietly massing their strength for centuries. Now, Myst, queen of the Indigo Court, is rising again...and a long-prophesied war is brewing...

Born a witch, Cicely Waters can control the wind. When her Elemental warns her that her aunt and cousin are in danger, she packs her Pontiac GTO and returns home for the first time in twenty years. But the magical town of New Forest, Washington has changed. The Indigo Court holds the city in fear; people are vanishing, and strange deaths plague the town. Swept into an unexpected and passionate reunion with her trusted childhood friend Grieve, the Fae prince who taught her how to harness the wind, Cicely finds herself with a fierce and territorial lover. But Grieve has become enslaved by Myst's court, and now both lovers must walk a fine line to survive the machinations of the Vampiric Fae Queen. Caught between two evils, both vying for supremacy, Cicely must fight for her family and her future. As she discovers the hidden secrets to her own heritage, will she lose her soul in the process?

I had a lot of hopes for this book because the description was interesting and the heroine started out so kick ass. Unfortunately, this book didn't seem to hold on to that feeling and instead turned into a case of 'woulda shoulda coulda'.

The entire book I was left with the feeling that Cicely was just not living up to her potential. Raised on the streets, cool magic with the wind, tattoos and magic - what's not to like? Well I didn't like the fact that she didn't seem able to really accomplish everything. Cicely seemed to spend the entire book as a pawn to everyone around her. Not able to keep herself out of anything, not able to protect herself, her family, or her friends it turned into one big sucks-fest.

I understand a heroine that's not perfect - that should be able to go through the bad and the good and come out the other end stronger, but I just did not see that here. Instead I felt frustrated the entire time. I didn't understand how Galenorn had started with a character who had such promise to affect at least some kind of positive change and ended with a woman who couldn't seem to actually do anything.

****Slight Spoiler Alert****

And then that whole scene with the vampire Lannanne (spelling's questionable there)? That really creeped me out. I couldn't understand the use of sexual language in what is essentially to me a rape scene. I don't care how she might have responded to what he was doing, Cicely says no repeatedly, is humiliated right from the beginning (along with throughout), and at the end feels degraded and violated as a person. Then when Galenorn has him respond to Cicely's questions with the 'I'm a predator, this is what I do, I don't understand why you're confused at my actions' line it just killed me even more. I was disgusted and at that point continued to finish the book more to know what happened than any real enjoyment.

****Spoiler Over****

Maybe I'm just disappointed because this is the start to a new series and not what I'm used to as an addition to her Otherworld series. Either way I don't see myself buying any future releases, and I would recommend that interested readers try finding a copy at the library first before putting down any money.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs down. I tried so hard to like this book, Cicely had great potential to be another kick ass heroine for the paranormal genre, but in the end it just fizzled out in disappointment.

Series - 1) Night Myst

A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire

After spending fourteen years lost to both the fae and mortal worlds, only to be dragged back into Faerie by the murder of someone close to her, October "Toby" Daye really just wants to spend a little time getting her footing. She's putting her life back together. Unfortunately, this means going back to work for Duke Sylvester Torquill of Shadowed Hills, doing her duty as a knight errant. That isn't the sort of thing that exactly lends itself to a quiet existence, and before she knows it, Toby's back on the road, heading for the County of Tamed Lightning in Fremont, California to check on Sylvester's niece, January.

Things in Tamed Lightning turn out to be a lot stranger than they seemed at first glance, and Toby's talent for finding trouble isn't doing her any favors. With Quentin—a young foster from Sylvester's Court—in tow, and the stakes getting higher all the time, it's up to Toby to solve the mystery of Tamed Lightning, or face a failure whose cost will be too high for anyone to pay.

I enjoyed the first book in this series, Rosemary and Rue, but it took me a little longer to pick up the second book because I couldn't decide if this was going to be a series I wanted to own. There was nothing wrong with the first book per se, but I read so many things that I have to be discerning somewhere, right? I liked the premise for the books but something about them didn't scream 'buy me! buy me!'

With A Local Habitation though McGuire has stepped her game up and it's definitely starting to become something I'm looking forward to. In this installment we get to know Toby more and for me becomes more of an independent character that I'm routing for, and not just one more half-blood in the world of urban fantasies. I think readers who like a significant mystery element to their fantasy will particular enjoy A Local Habitation because it's got that old school feel where there are a lot of suspects, a lot of information, and a lot of unknowns (both known and unknown) that you keep the reader on their toes as they try to figure out what's going on.

What drove me crazy though is that I found myself yelling at Toby and Quentin through most of the book. I don't want to put in any spoilers, but the author was dropping some heavy hints about the nature of one of the suspects and no-one seems to pick up anything!! I mean, if you're recovering after a big piece of evil magic left you a fish for almost 14 years, wouldn't you be slightly more suspicious of the people around you? And about your feelings toward those people? UGH!!! I was seriously tempted to bang my head against the wall or throw the book across the room. I don't need my heroines to be infallible, but I need them to use their brains!!!

Deep breath.

It works out in the end, people stop being dumb, and the back and forth between Toby and the Kind of Cats is pretty nifty. I'd recommend that you pick up the first two books from the library, see what you think for yourself, and then decide if this is a buy or not. McGuire's writing style isn't for everyone, isn't quite as mainstream popular as some of the other urban fantasy choices out there, so each person should choose for themselves if this is worth the money or not.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. The series is getting better with time, and the foreshadowing of a future showdown with crazy faeries has got me hooked.

Series - 1) Rosemary and Rue 2) A Local Habitation 3) An Artificial Night (September 2010)

Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison

Rachel Morgan has fought and hunted vampires, werewolves, banshees, demons, and other supernatural dangers as both witch and bounty hunter—and lived to tell the tale. But she's never faced off against her own kind . . . until now. Denounced and shunned for dealing with demons and black magic, her best hope is life imprisonment—at worst, a forced lobotomy and genetic slavery. Only her enemies are strong enough to help her win her freedom, but trust comes hard when it hinges on the unscrupulous tycoon Trent Kalamack, the demon Algaliarept, and an ex-boyfriend turned thief.

It takes a witch to catch a witch, but survival bears a heavy price.

I've been with Rachel Morgan since the beginning and Harrison has done a great job at creating an enjoyable and compelling character. Having a heroine balancing on the knife's edge of good and evil makes for a more interesting ride I think. Who want's a character who has no faults, no doubts that what she does it right? Instead Rachel jumps between her demon teacher Al and her somewhat ghostly former love Pierce, trying to decide what's best for her. Throw in a not-quite-dead vampire and a pixy friend and you've got the kind of urban fantasy that stays with you. This latest book was dense - very dense. Don't plan on it making any kinds of sense if you haven't read the others first. There is just too much character back story for that to work. Once you get past that, I found myself dealing with a whirlwind; Rachel is working as hard as she can to not dig herself any deeper into a hole only sort-of of her making. This book is not really about romance, it's about her finding herself and making decisions independently about what is good or evil for her - not what is good or evil by everyone else's definition.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. A lot of fun, Black Magic Sanction has enough action for anyone and enough plot to confuse the hardiest of fans. Stay the course and pay attention and you end up making your way through a grand ole time.

Series - 1) Dead Witch Walking 2) The Good, the Bad, and the Undead 3) Every Which Way But Dead 4) A Fistful of Charms 5) For A Few Demons More 6) The Outlaw Demon Wails 7) White Witch, Black Curse 8) Black Magic Sanction

Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire

October "Toby" Daye, a changeling who is half human and half fae, has been an outsider from birth. After getting burned by both sides of her heritage, Toby has denied the Faerie world, retreating to a "normal" life. Unfortunately for her, the Faerie world has other ideas...

The murder of Countess Evening Winterrose pulls Toby back into the fae world. Unable to resist Evening's dying curse, which binds her to investigate, Toby must resume her former position as knight errant and renew old alliances. As she steps back into fae society, dealing with a cast of characters not entirely good or evil, she realizes that more than her own life will be forfeited if she cannot find Evening's killer.

I'm going to make this review a little on the quicker side, just because I'm still recovering from not-so-fun illness. McGuire does a good job of creating a different faerie world here, especially since she concentrates on changelings. The life of a mixed blood fae isn't always at the forefront of urban fantasy novels, maybe because as a half-blood, sometimes limitless power is too limited to make an interesting read. I would disagree with this assessment though, because having a character that's forced to be inventive due to lack of magical power usually ends up resulting in a more well rounded character. I do think that the series ended up slightly darker than I expected, with things happening to Toby and her friends that I just didn't seem coming, but in the end the story demanded that darkness. There was no way it could be too frivolous or light and maintain respect for what was going on. In the end I'd have to say that I have urban fantasies that I like more than this one, but it's a series I'm definitely going to watch.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs Up. Darker than I originally expected, this book left me interested and wanting more.

Series - 1) Rosemary and Rue 2) A Local Habitation

Divine Misdemeanors by Laurell K Hamilton

You may know me best as Meredith Nic Essus, princess of faerie. Or perhaps as Merry Gentry, Los Angeles private eye. In the fey and mortal realms alike, my life is the stuff of royal intrigue and celebrity drama. Among my own, I have confronted horrendous enemies, endured my noble kin’s treachery and malevolence, and honored my duty to conceive a royal heir—all for the right to claim the throne. But I turned my back on court and crown, choosing exile in the human world—and in the arms of my beloved Frost and Darkness.

While I may have rejected the monarchy, I cannot abandon my people. Someone is killing the fey, which has left the LAPD baffled and my guardsmen and me deeply disturbed. My kind are not easily captured or killed. At least not by mortals. I must get to the bottom of these horrendous murders, even if that means going up against Gilda, the Fairy Godmother, my rival for fey loyalties in Los Angeles.

But even stranger things are happening. Mortals I once healed with magic are suddenly performing miracles, a shocking phenomenon wreaking havoc on human/faerie relations. Though I am innocent, dark suspicions of banned magical activities swirl around me.

I thought I’d left the blood and politics behind in my own turbulent realm. I had dreamed of an idyllic life in sunny L.A. with my beloved ones beside me. But it becomes time to wake up and realize that evil knows no borders, and that nobody lives forever—even if they’re magical.


So anyone who talked to me after LKH's last Merry Gentry book was released knows that I thought that should have been her last. I felt like it ended really well, the story had seen a complete arc and completion, and the characters had pretty much received the happy ending that LKH says these books will have. Well alas, it was not to be, more books are coming and this one is just the latest. I finished this book in just a few hours, which tells you my first opinion - it is a fun, and engaging, read. The action is cut throat and the plot is slightly winding, both elements combining in a story you don't want to put down. Now on the negatives - first, this book didn't really do much. No particular character's story was furthered in a really meaningful way and while one bad guy/faerie/whatever got their comeuppance, I just didn't quite feel fulfilled by the whole thing. Also - I love LKH's characters, but I feel like I've hit character overload. I'm starting to forget who all the supporting people are, their stories: everything that makes them unique. I'm hoping that later on in the series more of the people who are supporting characters at this point will take on more front man roles. We'll just have to see. And......and wow do I hesitate to say this....I almost feel like the sex was completely extraneous in this book. There wasn't a total abundance of it everywhere, but I did feel like a good half of the partnerships that happen were unnecessary and maybe took away from pages that could have been used for something else. But who knows, this series has been intricately entwined with sexual and emotional relationships from the beginning, and I never had a problem up until this point. Maybe I was just in a mood. Eh - who knows.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up, definitely. A fast paced, exciting, and just plain fun read. It doesn't detract from the rest of the series.

Series - 1) A Kiss of Shadows 2) A Caress of Twilight 3) Seduced by Moonlight 4) A Stroke of Midnight 5) Mistral's Kiss 6) A Lick of Frost 7) Swallowing Darkness 8) Divine Misdemeanors

Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs

Mated to werewolf Charles Cornick, the son -and enforcer -of the leader of the North American werewolves, Anna Latham now knows how dangerous being a werewolf is, especially when a werewolf opposes Charles and his father is struck down. Charles's reputation makes him the prime suspect, and the penalty for the crime is execution. Now Anna and Charles must combine their talents to hunt down the real killer -or Charles will take the fall.

One of the best things about this series are the uniqueness of Briggs' characters. Charles might be the quintessential Alpha Male werewolf, but Anna is a much meeker version of the werewolf heroine than is usually depicted. Yet the best thing about Anna is that meekness is only one facet of her personality, and in the defense of Charles or the right, she is just as willing to step and do her part (or more) as anyone else. Also, Anna stands as a great example of overcoming adversity. Her past is filled with emotional and physical abuse and while she has setbacks, she and Charles are also willing do what they must to build a life together. Briggs has again created a sympathetic character that readers are going to be cheering for by the end.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. Briggs has created another fantastic series with main characters that won't be forgotten anytime soon.

Series - Prequel) On the Prowl (Anthology) 1) Cry Wolf 2) Hunting Ground

Thorn Queen by Richelle Mead

Eugenie Markham is a shaman for hire, paid to bind and banish creatures from the Otherworld. But after her last battle, she s also become queen of the Thorn Land. It s hardly an envious life, not with her kingdom in tatters, her love life in chaos, and Eugenie eager to avoid the prophecy about her firstborn destroying mankind. And now young girls are disappearing from the Otherworld, and no one--except Eugenie--seems willing to find out why.

Eugenie has spilled plenty of fey blood in her time, but this enemy is shrewd, subtle, and nursing a very personal grudge. And the men in her life aren t making things any easier. Her boyfriend Kiyo is preoccupied with his pregnant ex, and sexy fey king Dorian always poses a dangerous distraction. With or without their help, Eugenie must venture deep into the Otherworld and trust in an unpredictable power she can barely control. Reluctant queen or not, Eugenie has sworn to do her duty--even if it means facing the darkest--and deadliest--side of her nature...

This was an unexpectedly dark, but good, sequel to Storm Born. Eugenie is now the ruler of the Thorn Land and against her own better judgment is intrinsically linked to the Otherworld. No matter what Kiyo or her father Roland might think, Eugenie reveals herself as a person determined to do the best she can for her people - an important characteristic for a fantasy novel heroine. I think what struck me the most reading this novel is that Eugenie is a power hungry person - though I don't mean that in a bad way. She is intrigued and attracted to the legacy she was gifted by the Storm King and while in the beginning she might have been hesitant to learn more, Eugenie quickly realizes that to adequately protect herself and her people she will have to embrace her dark side. I was impressed with that switch - heroines don't get to usually have blood thirsty tendencies (unless you're in a Laurell K. Hamilton novel). I definitely recommend this series but be warned - this is a dark sequel; bad things happen to good people and (maybe it's a new trend in the urban fantasy genre) the heroine doesn't always make the clear cut 'good person' choices.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. A darker novel but still a lot of fun - and the most important bit is that it definitely makes you want to read more!

Series - 1) Storm Born 2) Thorn Queen

Demon Mistress by Yasmine Galenorn

We're the D'Artigo Sisters: Half-human, half-Faerie, we're savvy--and sexy--operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. But our mixed-blood heritage short-circuits our talents at all the wrong times. My sister Camille is a wicked-good witch whose magic is as unpredictable as the weather. My sister Delilah transforms into a tabby cat at the worst possible times. And me? I'm Menolly, acrobat-extraordinaire-turned-vampire. And if the nerds from hell don't get their act together, I'm going to turn their toga party into a bloodbath...

Life's getting stranger by the minute. First, Iris and I unearth a diary from one of the bartenders at the Wayfarer who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. And when I discover a ghoul in the woods near our home, we know there has to be a necromancer nearby--another sign that something's wrong. But the blood really hits the fang when we discover a secret society bent on winning Shadow Wing's favor. Now it's up to us to stop the chaos they've unleashed on the city, and to prevent the demon they summoned from devouring Delilah's soul...

I was actually a little surprised by how much I liked this book. I think it's almost inevitable for a series that switches between characters to inspire readers to pick a favorite. Menolly, I'm sad to say is not my favorite, but this book made me forget that. Menolly is a compelling, sympathetic character, one whose trials and tribulations keep the reader rooting for her till the end - even though we haven't reached the end yet. And there's always the interesting fact that I can't think of another bisexual half human/half Fae vampire in any other paranormal series. Being that unique definitely separates you from the pack.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. It's a good book in the series, one that keeps me indebted to the storyline and interested in the conclusion.

Series - 1) Witchling 2) Changeling 3) Darkling 4) Dragon Wytch 5) Night Huntress 6) Demon Mistress

Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris

Except for Sookie Stackhouse, folks in Bon Temps, Louisiana, know little about vamps—and nothing about weres.

Until now. The weres and shifters have finally decided to reveal their existence to the ordinary world. At first all goes well. Then the mutilated body of a were-panther is found near the bar where Sookie works—and she feels compelled to discover who, human or otherwise, did it.

But there’s a far greater danger threatening Bon Temps. A race of unhuman beings—older, more powerful, and more secretive than vampires or werewolves—is preparing for war. And Sookie finds herself an all-too human pawn in their battle.

I think it is a testament to Harris' writing ability that while I can't quite figure out all of the feelings this book left me with, I know it was a great book. This latest addition to the Sookie Stackhouse books is just so intricate. There have always been an assorted amount of events and interations going on throughout Harris' books, they've never been simple, but this one just kind of blew my mind a bit with the places it went. Harris puts Sookie in a dark place in this book, and while violence has never been missing in this series, it's never quite been as prominently placed as it is here. There is still romance, there is still the hint that a happy ending (as it's usually defined) is going to appear somewhere, but Sookie's journey is far from over and I'm excited to see where Harris is going to go next.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. Darker, but still entertaining, this series is definitely going places.
Series - 1) Dead Until Dark 2) Living Dead in Dallas 3) Club Dead 4) Dead to the World 5) Dead as a Doornail 6) Definitely Dead 7) All Together Dead 8) From Dead to Worse 9) Dead and Gone

Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

Car mechanic and sometime shapeshifter Mercy Thompson has learned, the hard way, why her race was almost exterminated. When European vampires immigrated to North America, they found Mercy's people had a hidden talent - for vampire slaying. Unfortunately for Mercy, the queen of the local vampire seethe has discovered her true identity. She's also furious when she learns Mercy has crossed her and killed one of her vampires. Mercy may be protected from direct reprisals by the werewolf pack (and her interesting relationship with its Alpha), but that just means Marsilia will come after Mercy some other way. So Mercy had better prepare to watch her back.

Mercy is just one of those characters you can't forget. She's strong and full of conviction, but she's a catalyst for unbelievable change. Things just happen around Mercy almost without her doing anything, and all of Patricia Briggs' books are filled with Mercy reacting to her environment - and of course the people in them. I love shapeshifters. Call them whatever you want, the primal energy that authors can give to characters so intrinsically bound to nature is amazing, and Mercy, her Alpha werewolf buddy Adam, and all the different kinds of Fae that are introduced exemplify this perfectly. But I think part of what makes me so happy to read this series are the emotions of everyone involved. I mean, Briggs writes great mysteries, full of suspense and murder and excitement, but like all good authors, the relationships that she creates for her characters draw me back. The emotional upheavals that Mercy experiences (trying hard for no spoilers here!) are almost excrutiating to read, but I couldn't stop! It's like a compulsion. Unsurprisingly I recommend this book, along with the others that come beforehand.