strange and random happenstance

The Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore and Bar by Seana Kelly
Published by: NYLA
Publication Date: October 13th, 2020
Format: Kindle, 296 Pages
Rating: ★★★
To Buy (different edition than one reviewed)

Despite her past Sam Quinn has made a pretty decent life for herself. She owns and operates The Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore and Bar in San Francisco, because everyone needs a good book and a stiff drink. Her establishment welcomes all, vampires, wicches, demons, selkies, dwarves, fae, what have you. But Sam is the only werewolf allowed. No exceptions. See traumatic past. Situated magically beneath Land's End nestled into the cliff face at the waterline the killer views of the bay, both above and below the waterline during high tide, are about to get even deadlier as a body slams into the glass. Female, naked, torn up. The body is slashed. That could have easily happened because of the rocks in the bay. Who knows how long she was in the water. But the scars match Sam's own. What's more, the victim was a werewolf. Which means Sam needs to call her Uncle Marcus. Someone she does not want to talk to. See traumatic past. She is literally feels she is a lone wolf and has no one to turn to. But someone has to know who this woman was. Which becomes a secondary concern once Sam's very survival is at risk. After closing she's attacked. She barely escapes with her life. And she can't even catch a break in her subconscious which is the next stop on Sam's Repressed Horrors Roundup. And then her brain turns against her while awake with a deadly vision. Seven years of hiding and learning has led her to this moment and she's rescued by a vampire. Clive. She was a sitting duck but thankfully he sensed her danger. He used his blood to save her from the waking nightmare. Now if only he can save her from whatever she's gotten into, seeing as he's appointed himself her personal bodyguard. But Sam is used to danger. She spent her life with her mother moving from place to place, looking over their shoulders. She never understood their situation until her mother died and the unthinkable happened. All Sam has left of her mother is a necklace that was broken in the recent attack. As the visions keep ensnaring her she doesn't know where the threat is coming from; be it the past or the present, she is in danger from someone. In fact, given her luck, it's probably more than one person gunning for her. Luckily she surprisingly has a bunch of friends and a sexy vampire at her side. Here's hoping it's enough.

The Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore and Bar is a solid start to Seana Kelly's Sam Quinn series that is wonderfully more inclusive than most urban fantasy series. As in we've got gorgons, we've got demons, we've got selkies, it's not just werewolves, vampires, and witches. Though don't worry, they all make an appearance as well. The problem I had was why does every poor female shifter have to have a tragic backstory? After her mother's death when Sam went to visit her Uncle Marcus, whom she didn't know was a werewolf, she'd been attacked, tortured, raped, and turned. Thankfully not by her Uncle, but given the backstory of most urban fantasy heroines, that was a strong possibility. I just have an unease with this connection between trauma and change. Can't you be a supernatural badass without the baggage? Is sexual assault a prerequisite to be the protagonist of an urban fantasy series? I mean Sookie Stackhouse and Mercy Thompson are probably the biggest survivors out there, but they are not alone. And yes, the statistics bear that so so many women are victims of sexual assault, it's just so uncommonly high within the supernatural community that I feel like we need to stage an intervention. If you're an author thinking of writing an urban fantasy book how much does your book need a traumatized protagonist? Because, if you said it totally has to, well, I'd think again. At least there's redemption in that Sam saves herself, but, did she have to battle her own demons as well as the actual ones? It seems like overkill. But that's just one trope in The Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore and Bar. The other is a very particular pet peeve of mine. So, you know when a book or a show or a movie has a bookish character they just love books. All books. They are indiscriminate about their love of books. Well. I'm bookish and that's just not how we role. It's not realistic. The worst example of this trope is Rory Gilmore. Rory loves books. She loves all books. Sure, I agree, books are great. But for all bookish people in the world can I say that the only authors in the world aren't Jane Austen and J.R.R. Tolkien. Rory is endemic of bookish characters. She is not discerning. She loves books. Books, books, books. Here's a thing, I love books too. And yes, I love Austen and Tolkien, but I also have specific authors and subgenres I love. Historical fantasy? That's catnip to me. I don't think Rory or Sam know about subgenres. It's not their fault. It's the role that they play. They are there to be the nerdy girl with her head buried in a good book. The problem is, it's rarely been thought out beyond that. Yes, Rory shows some interest in Russian literature and Sam knows I Am Legend. But whether it's the Richard Matheson book or the movie is up for debate. I just want my bookish buds to embrace all the books out there and find their joy. And have the answer be more than "I like books."

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: An Urban Development, Bookish, Bookstore, Clive Fitzwilliam, Female Trauma, Inclusive, Rape, Rory Gilmore, Sam Quinn, San Francisco, Seana Kelly, The Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore and Bar, Tropes, Urban Fantasy, Vampire, Werewolf

If you're an urban fantasy fan like me you tend to pick up a lot of random books from daily Kindle deals. These aren't the big names, these aren't Briggs or Butcher or Harrison or Harris, not that they aren't as good as these authors. They're just authors that don't get much exposure and are rarely picked up by the average urban fantasy fan. But if they are picked up and loved, well, they develop just as big a following as the big names in the genre. It's just that it's a niche group, usually on Facebook, who get exclusive newsletters and content. Personally I think these authors deserve more props for toiling away for their devoted fanbases instead of garnering critical acclaim. Not saying it won't happen. Just saying it hasn't happened yet. For some of them. So I have randomly picked a handful of authors whose work I have bought over the years but haven't gotten around to reading yet to see if they could be my next favorite Urban Fantasy author. Are their series worth reading? We shall find out.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Alexis Hall, An Urban Development, Charlaine Harris, Chris Tullbane, Diana Pharaoh Francis, Jasmine Kuliasha, Jayne Faith, Jim Butcher, Jo-Ann Carson, Joss Walker, Patricia Briggs, Seana Kelly, T. Thorn Coyle, Urban Fantasy

If there's two things that get my geeky blood pumping it's London and urban fantasy. I read a lot of books that fall into either one category or the other but rarely both. But last year when the third Checquy book by Daniel O'Malley was released and I was deep into reading the Lockwood and Co. series by Jonathan Stroud I started to think, hang on, these are both urban fantasy with a paranormal bent all set in London, there's something here, I am living my dream. And of course I take any chance I can to read more books of a similar bent once I find something I love and I picked up the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch and the Kate Kane series by Alexis Hall on the recommendation of a friend, and I was like, this isn't just a theme month, this is an epic summer-long journey! This is going to be legendary. I hope you'll join me. Though it is mandatory to sing The Clash on a loop in your head... So get ready for London Calling! And get ready for that song to be stuck in your head for months and months..."London calling to the faraway towns. Now war is declared and battle come down. London calling to the underworld. Come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls...."

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Alexis Hall, Ben Aaronovitch, Daniel O'Malley, Jonathan Stroud, Kate Kane, Lockwood & Co., London, London Calling, Paranormal, Rivers of London, Supernatural, The Checquy, The Clash, Theme Month, Urban Fantasy

A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians by H.G. Parry
Published by: Redhook
Publication Date: June 23rd, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 544 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A sweeping tale of revolution and wonder in a world not quite like our own, A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians is a genre-defying story of magic, war, and the struggle for freedom in the early modern world.

It is the Age of Enlightenment - of new and magical political movements, from the necromancer Robespierre calling for revolution in France, to the weather mage Toussaint L'Ouverture leading the slaves of Haiti in their fight for freedom, to the bold new Prime Minister William Pitt weighing the legalization of magic amongst commoners in Britain and abolition throughout its colonies overseas.

But amidst all of the upheaval of the early modern world, there is an unknown force inciting all of human civilization into violent conflict. And it will require the combined efforts of revolutionaries, magicians, and abolitionists to unmask this hidden enemy before the whole world falls to darkness and chaos."

Oh so close to being REGENCY MAGIC!!!

The Angel of the Crows by Katherine Addison
Published by: Tor Books
Publication Date: June 23rd, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 448 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Katherine Addison, author of The Goblin Emperor, returns with The Angel of the Crows, a fantasy novel of alternate 1880s London, where killers stalk the night and the ultimate power is naming.

This is not the story you think it is. These are not the characters you think they are. This is not the book you are expecting.

In an alternate 1880s London, angels inhabit every public building, and vampires and werewolves walk the streets with human beings in a well-regulated truce. A fantastic utopia, except for a few things: Angels can Fall, and that Fall is like a nuclear bomb in both the physical and metaphysical worlds. And human beings remain human, with all their kindness and greed and passions and murderous intent.

Jack the Ripper stalks the streets of this London too. But this London has an Angel. The Angel of the Crows."

Alternate history geek in me is excited, but so is the Ripperologist in me!

The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho
Published by: Tor.com
Publication Date: June 23rd, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 160 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Zen Cho returns with The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water, a found family wuxia fantasy that combines the vibrancy of old school martial arts movies with characters drawn from the margins of history.

A bandit walks into a coffeehouse, and it all goes downhill from there. Guet Imm, a young votary of the Order of the Pure Moon, joins up with an eclectic group of thieves (whether they like it or not) in order to protect a sacred object, and finds herself in a far more complicated situation than she could have ever imagined."

I am so excited for this book I have literally had it preordered since before there was cover art!

Hunted by the Sky by Tanaz Bhathena
Published by: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication Date: June 23rd, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Exploring identity, class struggles, and high-stakes romance, Tanaz Bhathena's Hunted by the Sky is a gripping adventure set in a world inspired by medieval India.

Gul has spent her life running. She has a star-shaped birthmark on her arm, and in the kingdom of Ambar, girls with such birthmarks have been disappearing for years. Gul’s mark is what caused her parents’ murder at the hand of King Lohar’s ruthless soldiers and forced her into hiding to protect her own life. So when a group of rebel women called the Sisters of the Golden Lotus rescue her, take her in, and train her in warrior magic, Gul wants only one thing: revenge.

Cavas lives in the tenements, and he’s just about ready to sign his life over to the king’s army. His father is terminally ill, and Cavas will do anything to save him. But sparks fly when he meets a mysterious girl - Gul - in the capital’s bazaar, and as the chemistry between them undeniably grows, he becomes entangled in a mission of vengeance - and discovers a magic he never expected to find.

Dangerous circumstances have brought Gul and Cavas together at the king’s domain in Ambar Fort...a world with secrets deadlier than their own."

I have always loved stories in India, no matter the time period or fantastical bent.

What's Left of Me is Yours by Stephanie Scott
Published by: Doubleday
Publication Date: June 23rd, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A gripping debut set in modern-day Tokyo and inspired by a true crime, for readers of Everything I Never Told You and The Perfect Nanny, What's Left of Me Is Yours charts a young woman's search for the truth about her mother's life - and her murder.

In Japan, a covert industry has grown up around the "wakaresaseya" (literally "breaker-upper"), a person hired by one spouse to seduce the other in order to gain the advantage in divorce proceedings. When Satō hires Kaitarō, a wakaresaseya agent, to have an affair with his wife, Rina, he assumes it will be an easy case. But Satō has never truly understood Rina or her desires and Kaitarō's job is to do exactly that--until he does it too well. While Rina remains ignorant of the circumstances that brought them together, she and Kaitarō fall in a desperate, singular love, setting in motion a series of violent acts that will forever haunt her daughter's life.

Told from alternating points of view and across the breathtaking landscapes of Japan, Stephanie Scott exquisitely renders the affair and its intricate repercussions. As Rina's daughter, Sumiko, fills in the gaps of her mother's story and her own memory, Scott probes the thorny psychological and moral grounds of the actions we take in the name of love, asking where we draw the line between passion and possession."

True crime? I'm listening!

The Kingdom of Liars by Nick Martell
Published by: Gallery/Saga Press
Publication Date: June 23rd, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 608 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this brilliant debut fantasy, a story of secrets, rebellion, and murder are shattering the Hollows, where magic costs memory to use, and only the son of the kingdom’s despised traitor holds the truth.

Michael is branded a traitor as a child because of the murder of the king’s nine-year-old son, by his father David Kingman. Ten years later on Michael lives a hardscrabble life, with his sister Gwen, performing crimes with his friends against minor royals in a weak attempt at striking back at the world that rejects him and his family.

In a world where memory is the coin that pays for magic, Michael knows something is there in the hot white emptiness of his mind. So when the opportunity arrives to get folded back into court, via the most politically dangerous member of the kingdom’s royal council, Michael takes it, desperate to find a way back to his past. He discovers a royal family that is spiraling into a self-serving dictatorship as gun-wielding rebels clash against magically trained militia.

What the truth holds is a set of shocking revelations that will completely change the Hollows, if Michael and his friends and family can survive long enough to see it."

Memory for magic is a memorable and fascinating conceit! 

Elemental: Shadows of the Otherside by Whitney Hill
Published by: Benu Media
Publication Date: June 23rd, 2020
Format: Paperback, 308 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Enter an urban fantasy world where elves, vampires, weres, djinn, and others maintain a precarious balance of power in North Carolina. Welcome to Otherside.

Private investigator and sylph Arden Finch is determined to come out of the shadows and practice her forbidden magic. There's just one problem: the elves have a bounty on elementals like her.

When an elf hires Arden without realizing what she is, she seizes the chance to gain leverage in the dangerous world of Otherside - even if it means risking exposure. But as the case grows more perilous, Arden draws the attention of the region's deadliest power players.

Fans of Kim Harrison, Faith Hunter, and the early Anita Blake series will find a kick-ass heroine to love in Arden.

Content warnings: swearing, light consensual sex, physical violence, death, slurs (not toward any real racial or ethnic group/identity), threat of sexual violence."

All about the urban fantasy!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: H.G. Parry, India, Katherine Addison, Nick Martell, Regency Magic, Ripperologist, Stephanie Scott, Tanaz Bhathena, The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water, True Crime, Urban Fantasy, Whitney Hill, Zen Cho

Shadowplay by Joseph O'Connor
Published by: Europa Editions
Publication Date: June 16th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Shadowplay by New York Times best-selling author, Joseph O'Connor, is set during the golden age of West End theater in a London shaken by the crimes of Jack the Ripper.

Henry Irving is Victorian London's most celebrated actor and theater impresario. He has introduced groundbreaking ideas to the theater, bringing to the stage performances that are spectacular, shocking, and always entertaining. When Irving decides to open his own London theater with the goal of making it the greatest playhouse on earth, he hires a young Dublin clerk harboring literary ambitions by the name of Bram Stoker to manage it. As Irving's theater grows in reputation and financial solvency, he lures to his company of mummers the century's most beloved actress, the dazzlingly talented leading lady Ellen Terry, who nightly casts a spell not only on her audiences but also on Stoker and Irving both.

Bram Stoker's extraordinary experiences at the Lyceum Theatre, his early morning walks on the streets of a London terrorized by a serial killer, his long, tempestuous relationship with Irving, and the closeness he finds with Ellen Terry, inspire him to write Dracula, the most iconic and best-selling supernatural tale ever published.

A magnificent portrait both of lamp-lit London and of lives and loves enacted on the stage, Shadowplay's rich prose, incomparable storytelling, and vivid characters will linger in readers' hearts and minds for many years."

Ripperologist here who happened to work in the theatre! 

The Woman in the Green Dress by Tea Cooper
Published by: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: June 16th, 2020
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A cursed opal, a gnarled family tree, and a sinister woman in a green dress emerge in the aftermath of World War I.

After a whirlwind romance, London teashop waitress Fleur Richards can't wait for her new husband, Hugh, to return from the Great War. But when word of his death arrives on Armistice Day, Fleur learns he has left her a sizable family fortune. Refusing to accept the inheritance, she heads to his beloved home country of Australia in search of the relatives who deserve it more.

In spite of her reluctance, she soon finds herself the sole owner of a remote farm and a dilapidated curio shop full of long-forgotten artifacts, remarkable preserved creatures, and a mystery that began more than sixty-five years ago. With the help of Kip, a repatriated soldier dealing with the sobering aftereffects of war, Fleur finds herself unable to resist pulling on the threads of the past. What she finds is a shocking story surrounding an opal and a woman in a green dress...a story that, nevertheless, offers hope and healing for the future.

This romantic mystery from award-winning Australian novelist Tea Cooper will keep readers guessing until the astonishing conclusion."

Cursed gems!?! YAS!

Nightingale House by Steve Frech
Published by: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication Date: June 16th, 2020
Format: Kindle, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"For fans of Stephen King, Mark Edwards, and The Haunting of Hill House comes a dark tale of a mysterious house haunted by tragedy.

The Nightingale House is a new beginning for widower Daniel Price and his young daughter Caitlyn. After months of grief, this will be the place where they start their life as a family of two.

But something is wrong - Daniel can’t settle. There’s an odd, cold feeling in the master bedroom, and a mysterious dripping noise that seems to move from room to room. Whispers of I can’t sleep echo through the corridors, long into the night.

And then Daniel uncovers the chilling story of the family who lived in the house years before, of betrayal, tragedy, and murder. Could the Nightingale House be not the home Daniel dreamed of for his daughter - but a place that will bring their worst nightmares to life?"

Everyone should have a good haunted house story to read in the summer months.

Vera Kelly is Not a Mystery by Rosalie Knecht
Published by: Tin House Books
Publication Date: June 16th, 2020
Format: Paperback
To Buy

The official patter:
"The “splendid genre-pushing” (People) Vera Kelly series returns in full force as our recently out-of-the-spy-game heroine finds herself traveling from Brooklyn to a sprawling countryside estate in the Caribbean in her first case as a private investigator.

When ex-CIA agent Vera Kelly loses her job and her girlfriend in a single day, she reluctantly goes into business as a private detective. Heartbroken and cash-strapped, she takes a case that dredges up dark memories and attracts dangerous characters from across the Cold War landscape. Before it’s over, she’ll chase a lost child through foster care and follow a trail of Dominican exiles to the Caribbean. Forever looking over her shoulder, she nearly misses what’s right in front of her: her own desire for home, connection, and a new romance at the local bar.

In this exciting second installment of the Vera Kelly series, Rosalie Knecht challenges and deepens the Vera we love: a woman of sparkling wit, deep moral fiber, and martini-dry humor who knows how to follow a case even as she struggles to follow her heart."

If you're missing Killing Eve, this book is for you.

American Demon by Kim Harrison
Published by: Ace
Publication Date: June 16th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 496 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"RACHEL MORGAN IS BACK - AND THE HOLLOWS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.

What happens after you've saved the world? Well, if you're Rachel Mariana Morgan, witch-born demon, you quickly discover that something might have gone just a little bit wrong. That the very same acts you and your friends took to forge new powers may have released something bound by the old. With a rash of zombies, some strange new murders, and an exceedingly mysterious new demon in town, it will take everything Rachel has to counter this new threat to the world--and it may demand the sacrifice of what she holds most dear."

I know I'm not the only one who thinks that summer should be all about new Urban Fantasy reads!

Glow: Book I, Potency by Aubrey Hadley
Published by: Ruby and Topaz Publishing
Publication Date: June 16th, 2020
Format: Paperback, 420 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The Sleeping Syndrome has returned after a six-month hiatus. This time, it's popped up in New York, and it's wiped out an entire homeless shelter. The same night of the outbreak - thousands of miles away - Harper, a seventeen-year-old girl, finds herself face-to-face with a glowing figure in the desert outskirts of her neighborhood. As the world goes on high-alert from the Syndrome, Harper is kidnapped and taken to the Base of Ki, a massive dome with a sheening white city and fantastic technology...built by beings from another solar system. There, she must form cross-species alliances to save her friends, family, and the human race before she loses all chance of returning to Earth."

It's finally out!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Aubrey Hadley, Glow, Joseph O'Connor, Killing Eve, Kim Harrison, Rachel Morgan, Ripperologist, Rosalie Knecht, Stephen King, Steve Frech, Tea Cooper, The Haunting of Hill House, Tuesday Tomorrow, Urban Fantasy, WWI

Smoke Bitten by Patricia Briggs
Published by: Ace
Publication Date: March 17th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
Rating: ★★★★★ 
To Buy

Things have been rough since the witches, but that's nothing new. Things are always rough for Mercy. Yet Adam has always been there to share the load. Now he's remote and has shut down their mating bond. Mercy needs to find out why but at the same time she's scared as to what this could mean. Perhaps he doesn't want her anymore as his mate what with trouble always showing up on her doorstep. The newest trouble being their neighbors. They have died of an apparent murder-suicide. Only Mercy knows this couldn't be the case, especially once she sees a bite on the husband's arm. A bite that looks like it could be from a jackrabbit. When Mercy and Adam go out in search of this jackrabbit they come across two additional unsettling discoveries; there are unknown werewolves in their territory and the vampire Wulfe has taken to stalking Mercy as his new hobby. Though Wulfe turns out to be the least of their concerns, which in itself is concerning, because he saves Mercy from the effects of the jackrabbit's bite. She has no doubt that Wulfe's quick actions combined with her weird reactions to magic are the only things that saved her. And her survival has pissed off her attacker. So the pack congregate and formulate a plan. A plan that is having to constantly be reformulated and intensified as the threats and the imminent danger get closer and closer. If only Mercy was sure everything would be all right with Adam at the end of the day this fight would be so much easier; but Mercy's life isn't easy.   

At this point it's getting hard to write reviews about Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series because I feel like there's nothing more to say about how much I love them without repeating myself. This series is hands down the best female driven urban fantasy series out there. Period. Every March I can't wait to get my hands on the newest book in Briggs' universe always wondering what creature will be the big band this time around. Because Briggs does tend to concentrate on a specific threat, Vampire, Fae, Werewolf, Witch, they rotate as the ultimate evil with occasional surprises thrown in. What makes Smoke Bitten so different is that instead of addressing just one big bad Mercy is addressing them all, showing not just the depth and range of Briggs' storytelling abilities to juggle many plot points but also underlining how complicated Mercy's life has become as protector of her plot of land. This makes Smoke Bitten feel not just a more ambitious book, but a more fully rounded book. You can't just pick and choose one crisis to deal with at a time, life isn't that accommodating. Therefore it feels like Mercy has grown up, she's able to handle it all, and in the end she saves the day as she always does, but never without sacrifice and never without her friends by her side. Friends, from Bran to Zee to Wulfe, who be they enemy or throne in the side, feel like my family.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Adam, Big Bad, Bran, Evolution, Fae, Magic, Mercy Thompson, Patricia Briggs, Smoke Bitten, Urban Fantasy, Vampire, Werewolf, Witch, Wulfe, Zee

Bookstore: Barnes and Noble Oakbrook Center

Location: Oak Brook, Illinois

Why I Love Them: The Barnes and Noble at the Oakbrook Center is a pretty typical Barnes and Noble for it's kind. Meaning for a Barnes and Noble attached to a shopping mall and having an outdoor entrance leading to the parking lot and an indoor entrance leading to the mall. It's pretty cookie cutter; two stories, rather narrow, and could be a Barnes and Noble basically anywhere. In fact it really looks like the one outside Milwaukee. Not that there's anything wrong with that! Sometimes it's nice to go to a foreign town and be surrounded by the familiar. Why do you think that when you're traveling so many of the restaurants you see along the road are ones you could find in your own backyard? To some it's depressing, to others it's comforting. For me, it is how it is and it's nice to know that I can at least count on the layout and the signing protocols to be the same. Because let's face it, there's only a few reasons I stop at a Barnes and Noble while traveling, I'm there for a signing, there's something particular I'm picking up, or I'm going from point A to point B and I know I can be assured a restroom and a Starbucks. So thank you Barnes and Noble for your events and for a safe space to pee. What is so nice about this particular Barnes and Noble is that right around the mall is a restaurant, Mon Ami Gabi. The restaurant is basically your mall version of a French Bistro, but somehow, unlike Barnes and Noble, it doesn't feel like a chain. There's lovely crunchy warm bread with jam to spread on it! Scallops that are to die for. And just so much food that I want to order that I wish there was one in Wisconsin! Perhaps one day...  

Best Buy: As for why I trekked south to a Barnes and Noble in Illinois? Well that's all due to my best buy, Patricia Briggs's Frost Burned. Patricia Briggs rarely comes to the Midwest. In fact, since I've been a fan of hers I think this is the ONLY time she has set foot within a few states radius of me, and believe me this is something I pay attention to. For years I had relied on Murder by the Book with a few outlier bookstores, Mysterious Galaxy, and The Bookworm, for signed editions, but I finally had a chance to get one signed in person! Patricia Briggs might just be my favorite Urban Fantasy author out there... or at least a solid tie with Charlaine Harris, because I really love Charlaine and her books were my gateway drug into this genre. I think I'd have to meet Patricia a second time, because I've meet Charlaine twice, so she does have a competitive edge... But what I loved so much about seeing Patricia Briggs is that she really knows her readers. She knows they are shy introverts for the most part and when you get up to see her in the signing line she asks you what color pen you'd like your book signed in. She told me it's a way to get the ball rolling, because color choice is a very personal decision, notice my pink? After that the conversation flowed more easily and I got to tell her about my all time favorite creature in the Mercyverse, the Otterkin, who appear in River Marked. She then told me the inspiration for those evil water dwellers and how it oddly tied into the Chicago area. This just made me love those evil Otterkin even more, if becoming even more wary of Otters! 

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Barnes and Noble, Charlaine Harris, French, Frost Burned, Illinois, Mercy Thompson, Mercyverse, Midwest, Mon Ami Gabi, Otterkin, Otters, Patricia Briggs, River Marked, Support Your Brick and Mortar, Urban Fantasy

City of Jasmine by Deanna Raybourn
Published by: Harlequin MIRA
Publication Date: February 25th, 2014
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Set against the lush, exotic European colonial outposts of the 1920s, New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn delivers the captivating tale of one woman who embarks upon a journey to see the world—and ends up finding intrigue, danger and a love beyond all reason.

Famed aviatrix Evangeline Starke never expected to see her husband, adventurer Gabriel Starke, ever again. They had been a golden couple, enjoying a whirlwind courtship amid the backdrop of a glittering social set in prewar London until his sudden death with the sinking of the Lusitania. Five years later, beginning to embrace life again, Evie embarks upon a flight around the world, collecting fame and admirers along the way. In the midst of her triumphant tour, she is shocked to receive a mysterious—and recent—photograph of Gabriel, which brings her ambitious stunt to a screeching halt.

With her eccentric aunt Dove in tow, Evie tracks the source of the photo to the ancient City of Jasmine, Damascus. There she discovers that nothing is as it seems. Danger lurks at every turn, and at stake is a priceless relic, an artifact once lost to time and so valuable that criminals will stop at nothing to acquire it—even murder. Leaving the jewelled city behind, Evie sets off across the punishing sands of the desert to unearth the truth of Gabriel's disappearance and retrieve a relic straight from the pages of history.

Along the way, Evie must come to terms with the deception that parted her from Gabriel and the passion that will change her destiny forever…."

Seeing as her standalone A Spear of Summer Grass was so awesome I am beyond excited for this new standalone!

Death of a Policeman by M.C. Beaton
Published by: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: February 25th, 2014
Format: Hardcover, 272 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Local police stations all over the Scottish Highlands are being threatened with closure. This presents the perfect opportunity for Detective Chief Inspector Blair, who would love nothing more than to get rid of Sergeant Hamish Macbeth. Blair suggests that Cyril Sessions, a keen young police officer, visit the town of Lochdubh to monitor exactly what Macbeth does every day. Macbeth hears about Blair's plan and is prepared to insure that Cyril returns back to headquarters with a full report. But Cyril is soon found dead and Hamish quickly becomes the prime suspect in his murder."

My mom's favorite series, hands down.

Night Owls by Lauren M. Roy
Published by: Ace
Publication Date: February 25th, 2014
Format: Paperback, 604 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Night Owls bookstore is the one spot on campus open late enough to help out even the most practiced slacker. The employees’ penchant for fighting the evil creatures of the night is just a perk…

Valerie McTeague’s business model is simple: provide the students of Edgewood College with a late-night study haven and stay as far away as possible from the underworld conflicts of her vampire brethren. She’s experienced that life, and the price she paid was far too high for her to ever want to return.

Elly Garrett hasn’t known any life except that of fighting the supernatural beings known as Creeps or Jackals. But she always had her mentor and foster father by her side—until he gave his life protecting a book that the Creeps desperately want to get their hands on.

When the book gets stashed at Night Owls for safekeeping, those Val holds nearest and dearest are put in mortal peril. Now Val and Elly will have to team up, along with a mismatched crew of humans, vampires, and lesbian succubi, to stop the Jackals from getting their claws on the book and unleashing unnamed horrors…."

Looks like a fun new urban fantasy series!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: City of Jasmine, Deanna Raybourn, Death of a Policeman, Hamish Macbeth, Lauren M. Roy, M.C. Beaton, Night Owls, Urban Fantasy

Mark of the Lion by Suzanne Arruda
Published by: NAL
Publication Date: December 5th, 2006
Format: Paperback, 346 Pages
Rating: ★★★★
To Buy

"Here’s a closely guarded secret for you: the odds are that, on most topics and time periods, historical fiction authors tend to draw from a roughly similar pool of sources. (I say “most” because there are some periods for which there are oodles of accessible sources available, which stirs up the pool a bit.) When I read Mark of the Lion, after several months immersed in the history of British East Africa, I was deeply amused to recognize people, places, events and anecdotes. There are times when the past can feel like a very small place…." - Lauren Willig

Jade del Cameron is a plucky girl. Growing up in the American West she knows how to handle herself in just about any situation. Yet she is still haunted by her ambulance work in the great war. The insane laughing of the wounded will never leave her, nor will the memory of David. David wanted to marry Jade and have a happily ever after. Jade wasn't sure but didn't really have the chance to decide when David was shot down and died in her arms pleading with her to find his secret half brother and look into his father's suspicious death in Nairobi at the start of the war. Jade takes dying wishes seriously, and with writing work for the magazine The Traveler as cover, she sets out for British East Africa to find out just what is going on.

David's father did indeed die under strange circumstances. How was he mauled to death in a hotel, on the second floor? Africa though is not what Jade expected and it looks like her duty to David might be harder then she thought. Things happen in Africa. Weird things. Everyone just accepts this. Death by animal is common, even if it was in an uncommon location. Here they believe in witches capable of using animals as their familiars to kill. Yet, what if the witches are real? And what if they have taken against Jade?

As Lauren Willig says, "the past can feel like a very small place." This was indeed what I felt upon first cracking open the pages of Mark of the Lion. Having a little African reading extravaganza means that I am reading these books back to back. I try to insert a little something different between the volumes, but to all intents and purposes, I've been living in British East Africa for awhile now, both in fictional and non-fictional works. So therefore hearing anecdotes directly lifted from other books, in particular The Flame Trees of Thika, which I had just finished, seemed a little redundant. I would say this could have been amusing, seeing the same cast of characters through yet another author's eyes, but coming directly after reading the one, it felt a bit like flogging a dead horse. Thankfully Suzanne Arruda soon went off in her own unique direction that was actually inspired by a true tale from Bror von Blixen, the husband of author Isak Dinesen, and the book soon found it's own legs with a dash of danger and more then a little mysticism.

The mysticism is what really drew me into the story. For those who know me there are two obvious categories my reading tastes lean to, firstly is the historical fiction, secondly is the urban fantasy. By bringing in witches and animals controlled by these dark forces, it's like adding a dash of urban fantasy into Kenya's Happy Valley. While of course it's traditional folklore and not fantasy that is feeding the laibon, aka witch, isn't all urban fantasy rooted in folklore? Therefore this book is like the urban fantasy of the day, if the day was 1919. Even in more biographical books like The Flame Trees of Thika, Elspeth Huxley fully admits that whether you believe or not, that sometimes it's better to be open to other things that can not be understood. I love that Suzanne Arruda was willing to embrace the fact that there are just some things that can't be explained away unless you expand your definitions of what is possible and what is impossible. A world where everything can not be neatly compartmentalized and there is room for magic is a world I want to live in.

Now to the nit-picky bit, which little old me can never just skip. Let's talk about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder folks. This is a trap that many modern writers fall prey to. The thing is, while I fully admit that PTSD was around prior to it's official designation in the 1980s; if this were really a book set in 1919, yes Jade would be shell shocked after her work in the war, but there would be the whole "stiff upper lippedness" that had people dealing with it on their own and just carrying on as it were. Sure, you can use the excuse that she's American, so she handles things differently... but I've seen this more and more that any book written by a current writer set after a war the hero or heroine will have textbook PTSD, it's almost rote in mystery books at the moment. It just gets to be a bit much, know what I mean? I like that Arruda used a specific incident in Jade's past to have hyena's trigger her attacks, but still, enough with the PTSD, ok folks?

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 2 comments  

Labels: Ashford April, Bror von Blixen, Elspeth Huxley, Happy Valley, Isak Dinesen, Jade del Cameron, Kenya, Lauren Willig, Mark of the Lion, PTSD, Suzanne Arruda, The Flame Trees of Thika, Urban Fantasy

Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson Book 7) by Patricia Briggs
Published by: Ace
Publication Date: March 5th, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
Rating: ★★★★
To Buy

Of all the horrors that Mercy's faced, she may be coming up against the most dangerous yet... the mall on Black Friday! Her step-daughter Jesse has somehow convinced her that after a great Thanksgiving feast that they should hop in Mercy's Rabbit and go shopping. When they get in a car accident and the Rabbit meets it's true death, Mercy's reservations have been made crystal clear. The mall is not for her. Yet was the jolt of impact the pain she's feeling, or did the pain happen before and perhaps cause the impact? The fact that the two of them cannot get ahold of ANY of the pack does not bode well. It soon becomes apparent that something really bad has happened. The pack has been kidnapped. Finding pack member Ben and then being approached by Bran's friend Asil, means at least Mercy has two "people" on her side. Yet a very dominate wolf like Asil near an injured wolf like Ben isn't the best thing. She's in an explosive situation, and if she can't get her little team to work together, perhaps things could go from bad to worse. The most worrying aspect of all is that obviously someone knows a lot about Adam and Mercy's pack. If they can all survive, can they find out who is pulling the strings and why?

Of all the Urban Fantasy series currently out there, I think that I can easily say that the Mercy Thompson books by Patricia Briggs are my favorite. While I do love my Sookie Stackhouse, Charlaine Harris's series has it's flaws. I'm not saying that Mercy is by any means perfect, hardly, but I love that over time she has really developed and matured as a character. Forward progression can never be underestimated in a long running series. Because of this love I was beyond excited to see that Patricia Briggs was actually going to have an event near me (as in less then four hours in a car and only having to cross one state border). Of all my favorite authors she was the one I had yet to meet, so queue happy music and me driving off in my car to Illinois.

The event was lovely and it was interesting that someone who deals out a lot of death and destruction on their characters could be so giddy and bubbly. Not only did she put on a great presentation, but she took the time to talk to everyone in line (luckily I was in the first row, I can't imagine how long the others had to wait, but waiting in a bookstore is not a bad thing, except perhaps for your wallet). The thing I found very interesting was how into dissecting the cover art the fans are. Personally, I really like the cover art, it's what drew me to the books, but I didn't really sit for hours examining the tattoos and jewelry. Apparently I should have been, because the tattoos reflect which aspect of the supernatural world Mercy will connect with in the book, Fae, Vampire, Wolves... so that means they change! I basically came home from the talk and took out all the books and looked at each cover closely. It was such fun!

Now ever since her last book River Marked, which I know some people weren't too thrilled with, me being the exception, I've had more then a little obsession with the Otterkin. My friend Matt things I'm more then a little crazy on the Otterkin front, but, I got to talk to Patricia Briggs for five minutes all about Otters and Otterkin, so that was beyond awesome. Although, she did traumatize me more then a little with a story about a vicious Otter... so I guess Matt can gloat about that. The only thing that I didn't like about the talk was which section of the book she chose to read. Now, this would be more in the general gripes about that book, but I didn't really care for the sections from Adam's point of view... so when she read the first section from Adam's POV, well, I tuned out a little. I didn't like reading it the first time, so hearing it a second time was redundant.

So, I've dwelled enough on the talk, let's segue to the book itself. The beginning, well, it was a little cringe worthy. Yet another kidnapping. In fact... is there any book in this series that doesn't have a kidnapping? No, I'm not joking, I'm serious. Moon Called, yes, Blood Bound, yes, Iron Kissed, in a way, yes, Bone Crossed, yes, Silver Borne, yes... in fact, every one except River Marked... so I think it's time to lay off the kidnapping all together. I liked that they were able to get themselves out of a tight situation and therefore the kidnapping was quickly resolved. But still. No more kidnapping. Repeating this trope makes it look like lazy writing, and these books are anything but.

As I said earlier, I love that the characters grow and consequences stick. Mainly I like that the plot lines from the other related books, so far the Alpha and Omega series, but fingers crossed about that possible Ben spin off, feed into this book and the complex universe that Briggs has built. The fact that Mercy is living with the repercussions of the Fae basically declaring war on humans in Fair Game, by just vanishing off the face of the earth is interesting. Because the link to Zee is severed... but then again, Zee is a clever and old fae, so, rules that apply to others are more mailable to him, like iron in his hands. Also, the full extent of what exactly Mercy is and capable of is still shrouded. The encounter she has with a ghost brings a new level of scary... I can't wait to see what Briggs does with this further development. Obviously Mercy can do far more then turn into a coyote, and I can't wait to read it. Sigh, another book quickly devoured and at least another year to wait... perhaps it's time for a re-read? That should tide me over for awhile... right?

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Book Signing, Charlaine Harris, Coyote, Frost Burned, Ghost, Illinois, Kidnapping, Mercy Thompson, Otters, Patricia Briggs, River Marked, Sookie Stackhouse, Urban Fantasy, Werewolves

Urban Fantasy by Peter S. Beagle et al
Published by: Tachyon Press
Publication Date: August 16th, 2011
Format: Paperback, 432 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"Star-studded and comprehensive, this imaginative anthology brings a myriad of modern fantasy voices under one roof. Previously difficult for readers to discover in its new modes, urban fantasy is represented here in all three of its distinct styles—playful new mythologies, sexy paranormal romances, and gritty urban noir. Whether they feature tattooed demon-hunters, angst-ridden vampires, supernatural gumshoes, or pixelated pixies, these authors—including Patricia Briggs, Neil Gaiman, and Charles de Lint—mash-up traditional fare with pop culture, creating iconic characters, conflicted moralities, and complex settings. The result is starkly original fiction that has broad-based appeal and is immensely entertaining."

So, nothing really hit me as must buy this week, probably because the front end of August was so heavily weighted with awesome new releases. BUT there's this awesome anthology out, who could say no to Patricia Briggs, Neil Gaiman, Charles De Lint and others? I know I can't.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Charles De Lint, Neil Gaiman, Patricia Briggs, Peter S. Beagle, Urban Fantasy

For 2010 I did a fair amount of reading challenges. This was my first time doing them, and I have to say, it was a lot of fun. Though I didn't read as many in some of the challenges as I'd hoped, I also didn't change my reading habits to try to finish the challenge. I just wanted to see how much a read in some categories versus others. So, despite only having a 67% success rate of last year, I view that as totally acceptable... only now I want to beat it! That's right, I think this time around it's time to throw down the gauntlet and start some serious reading. I've also chosen ones that I have a tendency to read more off... not that I'm trying to stack the deck, I just know that those will be even more fun to do! So without further adieu... here are my reading plans for the following year. I hope you'll join me and then we can have some book fun together. Should be a busy year!

THE RULES:
1. Post about this challenge on your blog stating that you are participating. That post is the link that you will include in the Mr. Linky below. The link should be the post link not just your blog link.

2. Grab the button and display it in the post (use grab code underneath the button) or on your sidebar so others can join in the fun.

3. Challenge goes from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011

4. The challenge is to read 20 books that have a vampire as a main character, either protag or antagonist

5. There will be a post that goes up for January 1 where you add each book as you read them and discuss books read in the comments


THE RULES:
1. Post about this challenge on your blog stating that you are participating. That post is the link that you will include in the Mr. Linky below. The link should be the post link not just your blog link.

2. Grab the button and display it in the post (use grab code underneath the button) or on your sidebar so others can join in the fun.

3. Challenge goes from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011

4. The challenge is to read 20 books that have a SHIFTER as a main character, either protag or antagonist

5. There will be a post that goes up for January 1 where you add each book as you read them and discuss books read in the comments


THE RULES:
1. Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2011

2. Rules: To read TWELVE (12) mystery and suspense novels in 2011 (12 is the minimum but you can read more if you wish!)

3. You don't have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

4. You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

5. At the beginning of Jan 2011, you will find a link to specific month to add your reviews. There will be a monthly prize too courtesy of the lovely Simon and Schuster - you must be signed up to the challenge and add the link to your review to be entered into the monthly prize draw.

THE RULES:
1. Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2011

2.  To read TWENTY FOUR (24) horror and urban fantasy novels in 2011 (24 is the minimum but you can read more if you wish!)

3. You don't have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

4. You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

5. At the beginning of Jan 2011, you will find a link to add your reviews.



THE RULES:
1. Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2011

2. Rules - Read 100 or more books in 2011

3. All books can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

4. Only print books and ebooks count (no audiobooks).

5. You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

6. At the beginning of Jan 2011, I will add a link so you can add your reviews but this is not obligatory.

7. You can also follow each other's progress and chat about the VC books you read on twitter too - just use #100BooksInAYear :)


THE RULES:
1. This challenge will run from 01 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2011. Participants can sign up at any time throughout the year.

2. Read your Victorian literature. Queen Victoria reigned from 1837-1901. If your book wasn't published during those particular years, but is by an author considered 'Victorian' then go for it. We're here for reading, not historical facts! Also, this can include works by authors from other countries, so long as they are from this period. My note, if you read the host's site, Northanger Abbey is NOT VICTORIAN.

3. Literature comes in many forms. There are so many Victorian reads out there, including novels, short stories, and poetry. One poem doesn't count as a 'book': pick up an anthology instead!

4. Choose your books. List your books before you begin, or pick up titles along the way. It's up to you! You can review them if you choose to, but it's not necessary. If you don't have a blog, that's fine! Link to a Facebook, or a page somewhere where you can list what you've been reading. If you can't link up, no problem - feel free to just comment and enjoy.

5. Spread the love. Post the reading challenge on your blog - make your own post(s), or stick the button on the side of your page. The more the merrier, after all. Let's build a big community of Victorian literature lovers!

6. Choose from one of the four levels:

Sense and Sensibility: 1-4 books.
Great Expectations: 5-9 books.
Hard Times: 10-14 books.
Desperate Remedies: 15+ books.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 6 comments  

Labels: 100 Books in a Year, 2011 Reading Challenge, Book Chick City, Horror, Myster and Suspense, Parajunkee, Shifter, Urban Fantasy, Vampires, Victorian Literature