Review: Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

Click here for the book description.

Available at Amazon, Book Depository, Penguin.ca

I was hoping by now that I would've had time to go back and read all the books in between Dead Until Dark (book 1) and Dead in the Family (book 10) to get caught up to speed. Well, it still hasn't happened but I wasn't going to let it deter me from reading the latest offering in the Sookie Stackhouse saga, Dead Reckoning. I must admit though, that things are becoming a bit blurry for me between the backstory that has been eluded to in the last two books and what I have watched over the last three seasons of True Blood. I really need to read up and get the skinny on the written version in a much more complete way.

Dead Reckoning started off with a bang, with action in the first chapter.  I was hopeful that this exciting pace would continue throughout the book. Well, it didn't, I'm sad to report. But what intrigues me, as I'm reading about Sookie, is how in my mind I conjure up a scene of sitting on porch, swinging, and drinking lemonade while hearing far out tales that would make any traditional southern woman fan herself rapidly in shock and dismay.

Sookie goes about her life as though it's normal, then has these crazy moments of paranormal mayhem. She even questions the sanity of it all and how/if she can handle anymore. I liked this reflective aspect in the story. That Sookie is made aware of how screwed up her life is, rather than just the reader seeing it and screaming into the book, "Wake up, Sookie!" , is a refreshing quality (yes, the yelling still happens but if fictional characters realized too much about their own lives there would be no story at all).

What I'm getting a bit tired of is all the fence sitting in Sookie and Eric's relationship. Maybe it's because I love the Eric character so much it makes me biased. I just want Sookie to make up her mind, but something always seems to get in the way. And there's no exception here. The story is left wide open for more books, which is good when you love the characters as I do. BUT, when most of the story is told in that languorous, porch swinging way, it starts to get a little drawn out. I haven't yet given up on Sookie, but I would've liked much more action and intrigue than what was delivered.

There were some great scenes, including a funny one with Bill, and another intense one near the end with Bubba. My heart really went out to Pam, and I'd have been feeling murderous too, if I'd had to endure what she went through. All in all, there was some great story building, some partial resolutions, but still lots of story lines that have been working through the last two book (and probably longer, though I haven't read the other books yet) that need resolving and soon! Saying all that, I still look forward to what Charlaine Harris cooks up in future offerings for Sookie and the gang.

Review: First Grave of the Right by Darynda Jones

Click here for the book description.

Available from Amazon, Book Depository

Still relatively new to the audiobook format, I listened to First Grave on the Right as a recommendation from Caroline at Secret HEA Society and Book Lovers Inc. (she's very influential on my listening these days :-) Again, Caroline was dead on the money with this book.

The concept here is quite different, that Charley is a Grim Reaper, and, what in fact the Grim Reaper has the responsibility of. But I really liked the twist. To have Charley with this major responsibility but also as a human private detective, trying to solve the wrongful deaths, is a great blend.

The story is told with lots of humour, which always keeps me engrossed and entertained. There were also times when some seriousness was needed, especially as a subject like human trafficking arose, and it was handled well, I thought. All in all, I liked the way the stories intertwined.

But then there's Reyes. As First Grave in the Right unfolds, this man that has impacted Charley's life so much from when she was a teenager, is slowly uncovered for what or who he really is and THAT promises to become way more interesting in further novels. Darynda Jones portrays this characters as full of mystery and you feel for him, as his initial story comes out. Then, as even more is revealed, there's a wariness I felt about his motives where Charley is concerned. I really want to believe he's on the up and up, I really do...

I really enjoyed all of the elements in First Grave on the Right and found the audio helped to emphasize the humour. I will be trying to get my hands on Second Grave of the Left as soon as it is released. This was a great story with a cozy mystery feel, mixed in with potential for apocalyptic disaster...how can you go wrong?

Review: The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

Click here to read the book description.

Available at Amazon, Book Depository, Chapters, Harlequin

The Iron Daughter is my third foray into Julie Kagawa's version of the Faery world and its interactions with the human world (I am including the short story, Winter's Passage in my calculations :-) As I mentioned in my review of Winter's Passage, I had thought this book would start with the travel to the Winter Court, but it starts smack dab with Meghan in Mab's domain.

We get to really meet Ash's whole family here, and I know they're supposed to be cold and all, but that they'd make great candidates for the Jerry Springer Show was surprising to me. Ash's mother (Mab) is portrayed as a raving lunatic, at times. Granted, she's been around a long, long time and has felt the enmity against the Summer King for just as long,  it stands to reason that a raging war is always just brewing under the surface. I think this is where I really started to feel something for Ash; he's trying so hard to maintain his cool facade around his mother, while battling his growing feelings for Meghan. Poor guy!

Nicole Reviews: He's So Not Worth It by Kieran Scott

Ally Ryan, come on down to the Jersey Shore and forget your troubles!

Have you recently been humiliated in front of your friends and family at your former best friend's birthday party? Was your almost boyfriend partly responsible for that humiliation by withholding some vital information about where your estranged father is? Did you come home to find said estranged father sitting on your stoop?

If so, then it sounds like you could use a vacation! The Jersey Shore is the place to be. Your mother may be living with her boyfriend of only a few months, but at least the stunt Shannen pulled has put some of your friends back in your court. Even so, you're still angry and what better way to get over Jake than to blow off some steam with local guy, Cooper? People will hardly recognize your new attitude, but the old one wasn't getting you anywhere, so who cares!

Jake Graydon, an exciting opportunity is waiting for you in the service industry!

Are your grades so low your parents have grounded you for the summer? Did you the girl you really like unceremoniously leave you behind? Would you rather eat dirt than see your friends again? Then a job at the local coffee shop is just the ticket! Surprisingly, Ally's father is the new manager so you get to be reminded of her nearly every day. Maybe it's time to start flirting with your best friend's ex or even taking school a bit more seriously. Especially when you finally see Ally and she's hanging around with some loser and it's couldn't be more clear that she is over you.

Have a great summer!

Available at Amazon, Book Depository

A little while ago, I introduced you to my friend, Nicole (her first review is here). She enjoyed the reading/reviewing part so much I got her to agree to come on board for more! So, as I gently mould her into a book reviewer, lol, I gave her a few things to think about as she read He's So Not Worth It by Kieran Scott. Here's what she had to say:

When I was half finished the book, Jackie told  me that this was the second book in the series.  I don't feel that reading the first book is a necessity, but it may help.  At times, it felt like the author expected me to know the characters history, and how the previous plot twisted and turned. (Jackie interprets this as: First book would be a big asset in understanding this book also)  It may have helped me to connect more with the characters.  With saying that, the author left it VERY open for the third book.  I feel that it is a MUST to read this book before moving onto the third.

Have you ever... (1)

By nature, I'm a pretty curious person. I tend to go off on tangents, especially as I'm reading something that is new to me. This can sometimes cut into my reading time, as I head off to research one thing or another. I thought that maybe a better course of action would be to share my questions with you, my awesome readers, and get some opinions.

My first question came from a few books I've finished recently. Each of the books in question were part of a series that I've been loyal to in the past and continue to buy the books, to keep my "library" complete. But I seem to have lost the love I once felt for the storyline and/or the characters. What's a reader to do?

So, I put the question out here: Have you ever given up on a series?

I have a poll on the right hand side of the blog. I'd love to see what everyone else thinks. And feel free to leave a comment below, if you have anything to add (ie. series that you are loyal to or ones that have lost there lustre, etc.)

Review: Winter's Passage by Julia Kagawa

Meghan Chase used to be an ordinary girl...until she discovered that she is really a faery princess. After escaping from the clutches of the deadly Iron fey, Meghan must follow through on her promise to return to the equally dangerous Winter Court with her forbidden love, Prince Ash. But first, Meghan has one request: that they visit Puck--Meghan's best friend and servant of her father, King Oberon--who was gravely injured defending Meghan from the Iron Fey.

Yet Meghan and Ash's detour does not go unnoticed. They have caught the attention of an ancient, powerful hunter--a foe that even Ash may not be able to defeat....

An eBook exclusive story from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series.

Available at Harlequin, Amazon

Being a short story, I guess it's okay for me to write a short review, right?  Let's see how that works out, as I can, at times, tend to be verbose :-p

Reading this e-book right after The Iron King, I was surprised that it dealt with the voyage to the Winter Court. I thought for sure that would be an integral part of The Iron

Reading List: July 2011

It's been almost two years of blogging for me now and it still feels like a bit of a whirlwind at times. I had originally set out to have a place to keep track what books I was reading and discuss them, which then led to reviewing. Getting knee deep in book reviewing happened fairly quickly and had been (and still is) a learning experience. But I thought it was time I get back to my original thinking...at least the organizing part.

I decided to have a post dedicated to the reads planned for the month ahead. So, here is my reading material for July 2011. It seems ambitious, but I will strive to get through as many as I can! (And this post will also serve as a reminder to me of what needs to be accomplished...and when). Wish me luck!