WAIT FOR DUSK by Jocelynn Drake

The Fifth Dark Days Novel

EOS Books

978-0-06-185181-0

July 27^th, 2010

Urban Fantasy

Mass Market Paperback

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Publisher

Mira is now an elder after the Coven calls her to take her place among them. But Mira has more then just vampire politics on her mind for the feared naturi now roam the world and humans and vampires alike are not safe from them. Betrayal also looms for Mira as her trust is shattered by one person she never thought would do this to her and the vampires and humans she protects.

WAITING FOR DUSK is one fast paced wild ride from start to finish. When we open the first page of this fifth Dark Days book, we find Mira being beaten by her biological father, the devil, and powerless. Add that with Mira being told it is time to take her place as a vampire elder and to fight the feared naturi, well let’s just say things go from bad to worse that only get worse when her ally, the one she trusts completely betrays her in a way that shatters Mira. All I got to say is WOW! This book is one story that readers will fall in love with. I do have to recommend reading the series in order as each story capitalizes on the past book(s). All the reader can do once you get involved in this series is take a seat and hang on as it is about to get a bit turbulent for Mira. Ms. Drake is an eloquent storyteller who knows how to hook her reader from the first page and deliver a story that leaves them breathless.

Ms. Drake’s characters in the Dark Days novels are very well written, complex and are equally feared yet enthralling. It doesn’t matter if you love them or hate them, Ms. Drake gives you characters you can’t help but love to hate no matter what. The secondary characters also help keep the story moving at a nice even pace. Mira though is the star of the series as a master of fire as well as being a vampire though it pains her to know that other vampires fear her for her power is one that can really hurt a vampire. I just love Mira. She is a strong heroine who knows how to get things done, regardless of how she feels about it. She comes across as a tough yet vulnerable person who knows how to be hard for her job and soft when she is with her love, Danaus or with friends.

WAIT FOR DUSK is one wild ride from start to finish and I urge you to hang on to your hats as you follow Mira’s adventures in trying to stay alive and in one peace as she battles the naturi as well as the vampires who want her dead. Ms. Drake is one talented author and I can not wait to see what is in store in the final books of the series.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

CHEAT THE GRAVE by Vicki Pettersson

The Fifth Sign of the Zodiac Series

EOS

May 25^th, 2010

978-0-06-145677-0

Urban Fantasy/Paranormal

Mass Market Paperback

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Publisher

 

For Joanna Archer, giving up her powers to save a child and a city was a no brainer. It altered her destiny and now her former friends are now her enemies and the bad guys are not afraid of her anymore. But Joanna’s part in a prophecy is still in play and something deadly is stalking her in the plane where nightmares exist, where the line of good and evil blur. For if Joanna doesn’t get her former friends and allies behind her, she will lose much more than her life this time around.

In the Signs of the Zodiac series, we met Joanna Archer, a socialite by day and an agent of the light by night. With special powers, she battles the evil darkness along side her other fellow agents. In the beginning of the series, she was a bitter, tough, cynical woman but through the course of the series, we have seen Joanna grow as a character, soften her hard edges and let people come close to her. But in this fifth installment, we find Joanna beaten down, vulnerable and afraid. This is a story of more than good vs. evil, light vs. the dark but of a woman who finds herself at a crossroads. When the fourth book ended, I was shocked and dismayed. The author’s surprising twist had me reeling and in this fifth book, we find Joanna still dealing with everything that has happened to her, to her city, Las Vegas. The author does a wonderful job in creating flawed characters and Joanna is a perfect example of it. She is unsure of her place in the world and as she tries to figure things out, the author delivers a few twists and turns that leave you speechless until the very end. The part where Joanna wallows in self-pity, doing the whole ‘poor me’ routine made me wish the storyline went a little faster as it dragged on at times. But once the author got past that, the story rocked. It was fast paced, kept me glued to the edge of my seat and I was eager to see what would happen next.

This is an author who is a master at world building and storytelling. The world building alone for this series rocked and the storylines were delightful as each book capitalized on the last one and the characters grew with each book. Ms. Pettersson delivers another hit in her fifth book of the zodiac series and I look forward to seeing where Joanna goes from here. If you are looking for enjoyable characters and great world building along with the grittiness of an urban fantasy, then try the Signs of the Zodiac series and be prepared to fall in love with this series and with the author.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

 

NIGHTWALKER by Jocelynn Drake

4Dark Days book 1
Publisher: Eos
Date published: July 2008
ISBN: 9780061542770
Paranormal romance
Paperback
Reviewed by Valerie
Obtained via publisher


Mira, a nightwalker is a guardian and has the unusual power of being able to command fire. She has been a nightwalker for a long time and is very strong. She makes sure that the other nightwalkers stay within the rules and has no qualms to take anyone out who disobeys. But now another enemy is stalking her. Danaus is a vampire hunter. When they meet, it seems that Mira has the upper hand, but Danaus, as it turns out, is not out to kill her. No, he needs her help, for a foe far greater than the both of them is coming back to destroy humans and vampires. Even though they would rather kill each other, Mira and Danaus have to work together and keep each other alive in order to face the danger that stalks them. Mira also discovers that Danaus is much more than he appears to be.

This is one wicked exciting story that had me up until the wee hours of the morning, devouring every page. Ms Drake writes a very tight story with multi-dimensional characters. She has created a world where vampires live among us but hidden. They try to keep their existence a secret so are not really a danger to humans. Danaus knows that vampires are evil and has made it his mission in life to kill them. When he has to work with Mira, he discovers that his views may not be right after all. I loved how these two were together. Mira is really sassy, Danaus is totally mysterious and I was totally intrigued with him. Throughout the whole book I was wondering if they would develop feelings for each other and by the end I still wasn’t one hundred percent sure. But, there is a little build up of tension between them. The plot is really exciting. The Naturi are the enemy here, a very dark and nasty type of elf. There is lots of action, blood and gore. Oh, yes, this book was very much my cup of tea and I hope to catch up with the rest of the series as soon as possible.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

SPIRAL HUNT by Margaret Ronald

Publisher: EOS/Harper Collins
Date published: February 2009
ISBN: 978-0-06-166241-6
Fantasy/Urban Fantasy
Paperback
Obtained by self-purchase
Reviewed by Dawn



Genevieve Scelan has the unique ability to track a scent, basically anything connected to it-you name it, she can find it. Evie has kept her head down and knows how to stay far away from the underground that runs beneath Boston. But one night, an old friend calls and Evie’s life is turned upside down. No idea who to trust and determined to solve this last debt between her and Frank, she will unearth a history that will shake her foundation to the core. For once she has the scent, the hunt begins.

SPIRAL HUNT was an intriguing book to read. It is thetwists and turns that will leave you gasping and an ending that had me wondering what would come next. I have never read this author’s books before and found the writing to be tight, the storyline action packed and full of characters that intrigued me to know more of. The pacing was nice and even; the build up to the ending was very well played and kept me flipping the pages to see what would happen next. With the right amount of mystery, magic and secrecy, the author keeps you highly entertained till the very end.

Meet Evie Scelan, a woman with the unique ability to be able to find anything just from scent alone. Called the “Hound”, once she has her scent, the hunt begins. Settled in her life, she never imagines a late night call from an old friend/lover will turn it upside down and secrets will be unearthed that will rock Evie’s world. Evie is a wonderful breath of fresh air to me. She is multi-faceted and not afraid to show she is afraid to the outside world even as she continues along knowing she may get hurt in the process. Add in some characters who you keep wondering if they are the good guys or the bad guys, magic that will knock you for a loop and a mystery that will leave you wanting more and you have SPIRAL HUNT.

SPIRAL HUNT is a wonderful start to a new and fresh series that will keep you highly entertained and eager to read more once the last page is done. Ms. Ronald is a gifted storyteller and one I will be looking for in the bookstores more often. I look forward to reading the next adventure for Evie in Wild Hunt soon. If you enjoy a new twist on Urban Fantasy, then grab SPIRAL HUNT. You won’t be disappointed.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

DAWNBREAKER *Book 3 in Dark Days series* by Jocelynn Drake

Publisher: Eos Books/Harper Collins
Date published: September 2009
ISBN: 9780061542886
Urban Fantasy
Mass Market Paperback
Obtained via: Publisher
Reviewed by Tammy


The third book in Jocelynn Drake’s Dark Days series, DAWNBREAKER, is the battle between the Nightwalkers and Naturi that fans of this series have been waiting for.

In this third Dark Days novel, DAWNBREAKER, we find 600 year-old nightwalker (vampire) Mira in the middle of a war between the Nightwalkers and Naturi, a race of beings bent on ridding Earth of all humans. The Naturi are on the verge of breaking free of the seal that keeps them in their world. Mira and her band of allies are the only thing standing in their way.

DAWNBREAKER takes place a few months after the conclusion of DAYHUNTER in Mira’s hometown of Savannah. Like the first two books, the action is a constant whirlwind of fighting and strategizing while the clock is quickly ticking down to the final showdown in Peru where the Naturi hope to free their Queen and her army of destruction on the human race. The pace is breakneck and the storyline complex. The characters are multi-dimensional. Mira is a deadly and near unbeatable vampire that luckily has an interest in keeping humans walking the Earth. Danaus, a vampire hunter and yet her strongest ally is fighting a constant battle with himself over aiding Mira, yet in the end he realizes he must. There are delicious undercurrents of attraction between these two lead characters that soften both of their hard edges and bring out their compassionate side. As with the other two books, questions are answered and more are raised. While this book is part of a series, it does stand alone just fine as Ms. Drake does a wonderful job of filling in the background as the story unfolds.

Jocelynn Drake’s Dark Days series and DAWNBREAKER in particular, is a really engrossing action-packed urban fantasy that fans of dark suspense are sure to enjoy. This book has earned a strong buy recommendation.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

THE SHARING KNIFE: VOLUME THREE-PASSAGE by Lois McMaster Bujold

Publisher: Eos Imprint Harper Collins
Date published: April 2008
ISBN: 978-0-06-137533-0
Fantasy Romance
Hardcover

Reviewed by Pam



PASSAGE is a follow on to LEGACY, where Fawn a farm girl and Dag a soldier-sorcerer who has become a Lakewalker, marry then try to find a new life.
After visiting Fawn’s home at the Bluefield family farm they seek passage on a riverboat, with Fawn’s brother, Whit, two Lakewalker apprentices and a farm boy, Dag unknowingly has beguiled and a hunter. They learn the boat’s captain is also seeking her fiancé and her father, as they have disappeared.
Dag’s mage power has begun to grow and he has no idea what else he will learn about himself. Fawn becomes more able to go with what fate brings, while trying not to wish her life away.
There are many people they all meet along the way, grumpy farmers and those who need healing. To the younger members of the group it becomes an interesting adventure, that none of them know when or if it will ever end and what is in store for them.

There are many characters in this fantasy, some dangerous others helpful while others were not. For anyone who has read the previous two books in the series, it will answer some of the threads left unwoven in the story. Dag and Fawn come from totally different backgrounds, but their characters bloom and grow together as the adventure unfolds. Whit grows up and falls in love as the journey takes them ever closer to the sea. Journeys of the mind and heart are at the centre of this tale, as the reader is drawn into their world. You will follow them as they face protagonists and front up to their beliefs, while trying to help others.
PASSAGE is an interesting mix of relationships and how we bind to or fend off, the people we meet during our lifetime. The romantic side is delicately done as magic is blended into everyday life, along with other people’s expectations, of what the character must be.

Pam@Loveromancesandmore.com

BLOOD BLADE by Marcus Pelegrimas

*Book 1 in Skinners Series*
Publisher: EOS/Harper’s Collins
Date published: February 2009
ISBN: 978-0-06-146305-1
Horror
Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn



All Cole Warnecki wanted was to live out his vacation in one piece. What he gets is more than he ever imagined. For Cole has found himself in the middle of a war between things he only thought were in the movies, video games and books. Can Cole stay alive long enough to find out what the heck he got himself involved in?

BLOOD BLADE is the first book from a fairly new author, Marcus Pelegrimas and the first in his new series called Skinners. It was an interesting take on the normal vampires, werewolves and other bump in the night creatures that I love to read about. In his first foray into the paranormal Horror world, he creates a world where there are creatures we only read about or see in Hollywood movies that inhabit the darkness. Filled with an intriguing mix of characters that keep you entertained from the first page to the last; BLOOD BLADE delves into a world where evil is coming, mixed creatures are coming out of the woodwork and the Skinners are the only police force that the paranormal world has against them. But what they are up against is something they have never experienced before. I was enthralled with the fast pace Mr. Pelegrimas weaved in his storyline and the characters were continually growing on me as I read BLOOD BLADE.

I really enjoyed seeing the way this author made his mark on the paranormal world and he definitely delivers a book that will keep you entertained. I look forward to seeing what Cole goes through as he finds himself drafted into the Skinners. If you enjoy a paranormal horror story that will give you a twist on the genres, then grab this new series from Marcus Pelegrimas and see how a video game programmer has to deal with a world he only thought was a fairy tale. BLOOD BLADE will definitely deliver a pulse pounding ride into a world where vampires, shifters and other bump in the night creatures await you. I look forward to seeing what is next from this pleasurable author.

Skinners Book 1: BLOOD BLADE by Marcus Pelegrimas

Publisher EOS
Date published January 2009
ISBN 978-0-06-146305-1
Horror
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Tammy



The first book in Marcus Pelegrimas’ Skinner series of horror books, BLOOD BLADE, has the human race hanging in the balance as Skinners attempt to fight back the overwhelming number of monsters determined to obliterate humankind.

Video game designer Cole Warnecki finds himself in a creative slump and decides to go on an extreme vacation to find his muse. What he finds are monsters beyond the imagination that tear apart and feed upon just about everyone involved in Cole’s vacation expedition. Luckily for him, he also makes the acquaintance of the Skinners, the humans that fight the good fight against the monsters. Unfortunately, there are very few Skinners left alive and two have just died in front of Cole’s eyes.

Marcus Pelegrimas’ BLOOD BLADE reminded this reader of Christopher Golden’s Howler books. The book is very dark, there is nothing light or romantic about the story. The hero is an everyday guy thrust into a battle to save mankind from monsters. And as with the Howlers books, the monsters are frightening and most people have no idea they truly exist.

Though being marketed as urban romantic fantasy, this reader feels a more appropriate placing would be in the horror genre. There is really nothing romantic about this book. Though a romance is hinted at a few times between Cole and the female Skinner who teaches him about the monsters, there really is no spark between these characters.

The beginning of the book places a lot of emphasis on Cole’s job as a video game designer and his relationship with his boss. Yet, once the monsters attack, that relationship and his job seem to become somewhat irrelevant. Perhaps in the next book, their importance will come in to play.

Though there were a few problems with Pelegrimas’ BLOOD BLADE, all in all it somehow manages to intrigue readers enough to want to give the next book in the series a try. The foundation has been laid, now we will just have to wait and see where Pelegrimas takes the series next.

THE LEGEND OF ASAHIEL BOOK TWO - THE OBSIDIAN KEY by Eldon Thompson

Publisher Eos
Date published March 2007
ISBN 978-0-06-074153-2
Fantasy
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Valerie




Jarom has now become Torin, King of Alson and from the ruins of an empire, he must carve his kingdom. The Crimson Sward of Asahiel, which he so recklessly freed has reopened a dimensional realm and the Illysp have come forth. These are dark, foul spirits that take over men’s bodies and souls. Enemies are approaching on all sides and Torin must go on a dangerous journey to find out the secrets that once overcame the vile creatures. This is the only way he can possibly save his kingdom. While he is fighting for his life, those that stay at home have other problems to deal with. On the way he finds help and hindrances and it almost looks like that even if he does survive, it may be too late.

Although I haven’t read the first book in this series, I could follow this marvellous story perfectly and had no trouble getting to know the characters. Eldon Thompson has written a truly wonderful story with lots of twists and turns that captivates and intrigues. This is high fantasy at its best with a new approach to the epic quest. This talented author gives you characters you take to your heart, a plot that propels you through a wonderful adventure and a rich world of magical swords, demon Queens and dark, evil enemies. This is a book that will have you reading until late into the night. Hard core fantasy fans will truly enjoy this story and now I have to get the first book and I’m looking forward to more.

THE OBSIDIAN KEY: Legend of Asahiel, Book 2 by Eldon Thompson

Publisher EOS
Date published March 2007
ISBN 978-0-06-074153-2
Fantasy
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Valerie



Jarom has now become Torin, King of Alson and from the ruins of an empire, he must carve his kingdom. The Crimson Sward of Asahiel, which he so recklessly freed has reopened a dimensional realm and the Illysp have come forth. These are dark, foul spirits that take over men’s bodies and souls. Enemies are approaching on all sides and Torin must go on a dangerous journey to find out the secrets that once overcame the vile creatures. This is the only way he can possibly save his kingdom. While he is fighting for his life, those that stay at home have other problems to deal with. On the way he finds help and hindrances and it almost looks like that even if he does survive, it may be too late.

Although I haven’t read the first book in this series, I could follow this marvellous story perfectly and had no trouble getting to know the characters. Eldon Thompson has written a truly wonderful story with lots of twists and turns that captivates and intrigues. This is high fantasy at its best with a new approach to the epic quest. This talented author gives you characters you take to your heart, a plot that propels you through a wonderful adventure and a rich world of magical swords, demon Queens and dark, evil enemies. This is a book that will have you reading until late into the night. Hard core fantasy fans will truly enjoy this story and now I have to get the first book and I’m looking forward to more.

THE LAST KNIGHT by Hilari Bell

Publisher EOS
Date published August 28, 2007
ISBN 978-0060825034
Fantasy, Young adult, mystery
Trade paperback
Reviewed by Aryn




When young Fisk gets caught being a crook he is sentenced to be hanged. That is until at his public execution, Sir Michael Sevenson, an eighteen year old knight errant, says that he can repay Fisks debt so that Fisk will not be hanged. In return Fisk has to be Sir Michael’s loyal squire until Michael claims his debt repaid. At first Fisk finds this troubling but through out the novel Fisk will come to grow fonder of Sir Michael, up until the point where Michael unknowingly helps a murderess escape. After that both Fisk and Michael are in trouble with the law. Can they find the murderess and bring her back to justice, or will she kill freely?

This reviewer liked this book a lot once getting past chapter one. One might ask “why not five stars then?” The answer is because in the beginning this reader became very, very confused. Once reading the book the reader will begin to under stand how the chapters work and become almost attached to the characters. This book would have gotten five stars had it not been for the beginning. Other than that, all of the characters fit right together along with the plot. When Sir Michael questions Fisk upon his opinion of whether the murderess is guilty or not, the reader must also ask themselves the same question, more than once. This book is a great read and it does not have too thin of a spine either. This reviewer would definitely recommend this book to teenagers and adult readers everywhere who like a story with an adventure.