Iron Crowned by Richelle Mead

Goodreads
Richelle Mead's site
Series: Dark Swan #3
Publisher: Zebra (US) Bantam (UK)
Release date: 22nd Feb (US) / 31st March (UK)
Rating: 2.5/5
Spoiler Warning! Spoilers for previous books ahead!! (And spoilers for IC, but they're whited out below with another warning before them).

Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham is the best at banishing entities trespassing in the mortal realm. But as the Thorn Land's queen, she's fast running out of ways to end the brutal war devastating her kingdom. Her only hope: the Iron Crown, a legendary object even the most powerful gentry fear...

Who Eugenie can trust is the hardest part. Fairy king Dorian has his own agenda for aiding her search. And Kiyo, her shape-shifter ex-boyfriend, has every reason to betray her along the way. To control the Crown's ever-consuming powers, Eugenie will have to confront an unimaginable temptation - one that will put her soul and the fate of two worlds in mortal peril...

I've been a big fan of all of Richelle's series, and I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in the Dark Swan series and I was really excited for Iron Crowned. Sadly, it did not live up to expectation for me. Before I read a couple of my friends who'd gotten their hands on it faster told me it was awesome, one of Richelle's best books, but it just didn't work for me. I can't say too much without giving away spoilers, so for once I will split this review in two, spoiler free, and then a spoiler section underneath which you'll need to highlight if you want to read it. I'd advise you don't unless you really don't care about major spoilers, or you've already read the book!

Eugenie is spending more and more time in the Otherworld, having to take care of her kingdom in the war but she's still a very reluctant monarch and is hoping to end the war without further bloodshed. There are so many twists and turns through Iron Crowned as Eugenie tries to find an end for the war and figure out her personal life, it should have felt fast and intense. Instead, I repeatedly found myself getting irritated with Eugenie, Dorian and Kiyo. Several of the side characters came as a breath of fresh air when they appeared, including Jasmine who's always seriously irritated me in the past. I actually felt for her more than any other character in Iron Crowned.

There were a couple big surprises to me in Iron Crowned, and they worked fairly well. The ending certainly leaves a lot of questions for what will come next, and I am curious to see where it all goes. It did have some good moments as well, it wasn't all bad, and I think Iron Crowned will work very well for a lot of people. Certainly one to make your own mind up about, if you've enjoyed the previous two books. Some of the character development is good, but a lot of it felt like a backwards step, or just a role reversal repeat of events that have already happened. Previously I'd enjoyed the Dorian/Eugenie/Kiyo love triangle (a rarity for me), but here it did nothing but irritate me. Mostly, I've just no idea what Eugenie was thinking a lot of the time. Her decisions about everything (be it about her kingdom, her divided loyalties, her men) so often being a case of act first, regret and ask questions later, got tired fast. I also felt there was a lot more sex in the book than either of the two previous ones, and I think virtually all of it was completely unneeded to advance the plot, which is something that tends to annoy me in UF. In PNR it's fine, but not something I expect (or want) from the Dark Swan series.

Overall Iron Crowned isn't a bad book, it has it's moments and it held my attention reasonably well. But it wasn't a book I enjoyed. Too much just irritated me rather then being an enjoyment. I'm pretty sad about that really because normally I love Richelle's work, she's one of my favourite authors. Can't always work for everyone though and I'm sure plenty will love Iron Crowned for the reasons that didn't work for me!

Now, MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!! Highlight them to read them, read at your own risk. Specifics on why IC really didn't work for me:

Enough with the freaking back and forth between Kiyo and Dorian already!! Kiyo betrayed her, so she dates Dorian. Dorian betrays her, so she dates Kiyo again, his past betrayal forgotten. Kiyo betrays her again so she's begging Dorian for help and likely will take it in the next book, despite knowing he's got ulterior motives still.

Dorian. His betrayal wasn't actually that bad. Don't get me know, I understand why Eugenie was furious and all, and felt seriously betrayed. But he has always, always had ulterior motives and was going to show his true colors sooner rather than later. So what he did came as no surprise at all to me. I don't like him too much right now, but as a character he is fascinating.

Kiyo. Well I've thought he was a jerk and haven't liked him since about mid way through Storm Born. He did nothing to warrant Eugenie going back to him, and then he just got worse showing his true loyalties towards the end. How he reacted to Eugenie's news and decision was shocking and I still find it really hard to believe that he reacted so badly, to be willing to kill her. I may have never liked him, but I did think he loved her. Apparently not the case.

Eugenie. The back/forth with her was irritating enough, how she switched between guys based on who'd pissed her off that day. But I also found her continued apathy towards really stepping in to her role as queen really irritating. Her unwillingness to learn more about things was something I thought had been done with in Thorn Queen. I understood her indecision about what to do about her pregnancy, and I'm glad she's going the way she is. It's about the one thing about her that didn't annoy me at one point or another. Her taking over another land is something I'm not happy about either. So much for her not wanting power. And she's barely interested in the Thorn Land, so having another? Her divided loyalty between the human world and the otherworld is really starting to annoy me. I understand it, but I think she kind of needs to suck it up. If she won't give her kingdoms up (which she won't) then she needs to stop moaning about them, and how she wishes things could be simpler again and such, and deal with what she has. I thought she was doing that in Thorn Queen, but no, it continues.

Finally, I thought the hunt for the Iron Crown would be a big deal, but honestly, it wasn't really. Lots of action involved, but it was over and found quickly, then it was just Eugenie refusing to use it. Until she did. Which I wish she hadn't. The ideas behind the crown though, and how the fey fear it was actually an idea I really liked. It just fell flat for me.

...okay, that little rant makes me feel a little better. Would love to hear your comments, agree or disagree etc, be warned for those who don't want to read spoilers, that they may end up in the comments!!

River Marked by Patricia Briggs

Goodreads
Patricia Briggs' site
Series: Mercy Thompson #6
Copy obtained: bought, hb
Publisher: Ace (US), Orbit (UK)
Released: March 1st (US), March 3rd (UK)
Rating: 4.5/5

Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shape shifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. She's never known any other of her kind. Until now.


An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River - one that her father's people may know something about. And to have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will need their help...

I love the Mercy Thompson series, it is easily one of my all time favourites. It's got very well developed characters, engaging storylines and each book brings something new to her world. And Mercy herself is one of my top favourite characters. So it goes without saying I was very excited to get my hands on River Marked, and it did not disappoint at all!

River Marked sees us, and Mercy, learning a lot about her Native American background and what her being a coyote shifter means. It also sees Adam and Mercy mostly on their own, away from the pack, dealing with a river monster, a creature huge and deadly, that some how connects with what Mercy is learning about her heritage. While in some ways I missed seeing more of the rest of the pack and the other excellent side characters, I really enjoyed seeing Adam and Mercy more on their own for once and getting to meet some very interesting new characters. I thought before hand that I'd like getting in to Mercy's heritage and learning it alongside her, but I actually loved it! I really enjoyed the direction the book took and how the plots twisted together.

Mercy has changed a lot over the course of the series, and it really shows in River Marked. I love how she's changed, through her relationships with Adam, the pack and her other friends like Stefan, and also by the events she's been through. River Marked shows us a more emotional side of her than we've really seen before, and also shows the strength of her relationship with Adam. And while we don't see too much of the rest of the beloved side characters, they still have some little developments going on in the back ground. I'd be very surprised if Stefan doesn't end up playing a more central role in the next book with some of the snippets we have here.

Overall, River Marked has to be my joint favourite of the series alongside Iron Kissed. It's much softer than IK in some ways, but it's still got a lot going on, plenty of tension and an ending I thoroughly loved! I found River Marked very difficult to put down and easily read it in a day. I'm now just very sad it's going to be roughly a 2 year wait for the next one! Though I'm certain it'll be worth it, I shall have to cope with it by lots of rereading. Slipping back in to Mercy's world is like putting on that favourite comfy hoodie, or pair of jeans, or whatever, and catching up with old friends and learning their latest adventures. Fantastic, gripping storytelling and a wonderful new edition to Mercy's series!

Green-Eyed Demon by Jaye Wells

Goodreads
Jaye Wells' site
Series: Sabina Kane #3
Copy obtained: e-ARC from NetGalley
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: Feb 3rd 2011 (UK) Feb 22nd (US)
Rating: 4.5/5

Spoiler Warning: contains Major spoilers from previous books!!

The clock is ticking for Sabina Kane. She has to save her sister from her mysterious captors. And in order to do that, she has to broker a deal between the mages and the vampires before all hell breaks loose.

But as much as Sabina is focused on surviving the present, the past won't be ignored. Before she can save those she cares about, she's got to save herself from the ghosts of her past. Because the past is haunting her. Literally.

I liked the first book of this series, Red-Headed Stepchild, a lot. The second book, The Mage in Black, was also good but I didn't enjoy it as much. There was a heck of a cliff hanger in it though, which left me very much wanting to know what happened. Green-Eyed Demon did not disappoint and is easily the best of the series to date! I loved this book.

Green-Eyed Demon picks up a few days after the events of The Mage in Black with Sabina, Adam and Giguhl searching for Sabina's sister Maisie. There is plenty of action right from the start and it rarely lets up. It's a book full of twists, some seriously kick-ass fights, and a few awesome new characters. I loved the extension to the world building with more of a mages' power being explained and shown, along with some other aspects to various races we hadn't yet learnt about. Things always seemed so close to boiling point, ready to spill over and it created a tension that made the book very hard to put down!

But what I loved most about this book, was the development of Sabina. She's always been a loner. Working as an assassin it was something that worked for her. But now she has to learn to play with others and it's not been something she's been particularly good at. Here in Green-Eyed Demon though she takes a real step forward. I loved seeing her insecurities and how her relationships with both Adam and Gighul (who, by the way, is still as funny as ever, but so much more awesome in this book!!) develop as they work to find out where Maisie is being held and if they can possibly rescue her. It's heart breaking at times, but it's brilliantly played. I couldn't get enough of it!

The ending is seriously intense! It had me in tears (a couple of times, I confess) and wow! It packs the biggest punch. I had some issues with both the first two books, different issues and while they didn't ruin the books for me, they did stop me loving them as much as I could have. I had very few issues with this one and pretty much just loved it outright! It's fast and actioned packed, with a emotional background that kept tugging at me. It answers several questions and ties up a few plots while still leaving plenty to keep you guessing and wondering! Fantastic work! I can't wait for book 4, Silver-Tongued Devil (out in 2012 I believe) to find out what's going to happen now after the big events of Green-Eyed Demon!

Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning

Goodreads
Karen Marie Moning's site
Series: Fever #5
Copy obtained: bought it
Publisher: Delacorte Press (Jan 18th)
Rating: 4.5/5
Spoiler Warning!! Contains spoilers for previous books!

"Evil is a completely different creature, Mac. Evil is bad that believes it's good."

MacKayla Lane was just a child when she and her sister, Alina, were given up for adoption and banished from Ireland forever. Twenty years later, Alina is dead and Mac has returned to the country that expelled them to hunt her sister's murderer. But after discovering that she descends from a bloodline both gifted and cursed, Mac is plunged into a secret history: an ancient conflict between humans and immortals who have lived concealed among us for thousands of years.

What follows is a shocking chain of events with devastating consequences, and now Mac struggles to cope with grief while continuing her mission to acquire and control the Sinsar Dubh- a book of dark, forbidden magic scribed by the mythical Unseelie King, containing the power to create and destroy worlds. In an epic battle between humans and Fae, the hunter becomes the hunted when the Sinsar Dubh turns on Mac and begins mowing a deadly path through those she loves. Who can she turn to? Who can she trust? Who is the woman haunting her dreams? More important, who is Mac herself and what is the destiny she glimpses in the black and crimson designs of an ancient tarot card?

From the luxury of the Lord Master's penthouse to the sordid depths of an Unseelie nightclub, from the erotic bed of her lover to the terrifying bed of the Unseelie King, Mac's journey will force her to face the truth of her exile, and to make a choice that will either save the world . . . or destroy it.

Shadowfever picks up right where Dreamfever left off, and for me there was no surprise at all to the discovery of the identity of the beast. From there we have a very different Mac to anything we've seen from her yet. And she has already changed a huge amount of the course of the series. Watching Mac grow up and develop from this very superficial 'barbie-girl' into someone who can kick ass, take the pain thrown her way and make the tough decisions she has to has been a fantastic journey. Likewise the world building has been some of my favourite. It's a dark, complex world with so many layers and so easy to get lost in. That hasn't changed for this final book.

Shadowfever is long, much longer than all the books before it. And while I never really felt like it was dragging as such, I do think it could have done with being a bit shorter. I think certain aspects were drawn out too far so that when they finally happened/were revealed, there was much less impact than there could have been. I was also a little surprised to find myself disappointed by the very last twist. Just something that got very suddenly tied up all neat and nice. It wasn't the biggest plot or anything, but it was just there then over and glossed over some at that. For the first time since Darkfever, where Mac's sunshiny, shallow personality grated on me, she irritated me again. It's late on in the book after one of many reveals and I just got very annoyed with her reaction and partly wanted her back to the Mac she'd been earlier in the book and also wishing the story would move on so I didn't need to put up with that Mac anymore. There were a couple other things I found myself a little bit disappointed with, but talking about them would be spoiler territory so I won't.

Really though, none of those little bits ruined the book for me. There is certainly a lot going on in Shadowfever and there are some real stand out moments which I loved. A few of the many twists were just fantastic and left me gaping, even when a couple had decidedly less impact. I read Shadowfever over a few days through a haze of flu, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it and while I didn't find it as impossible to put down as books 1-4, it was still a very compelling read!

Final books are so tricky. They so easily fall in to the disaster category and taint those before it, and rarely it seems can they outdo what came before (or possibly I'm reading the wrong books!!). I know there are those who would possibly consider Shadowfever one of those disasters, and I'm not denying it's flawless. It's not my favourite of the series (that lies with Faefever and Dreamfever), but I do think it's a very strong ending. I have my little issues with it, but overall I'm very satisfied with the outcome. Most of the big questions are answered and those left unanswered, I can live with. I really enjoy this final adventure in to Mac's world and I'm happy to say this is still one of my favourite series ever! KMM would have been very hard pressed to please all her many fans with this book, but I for one am very happy. Great read, and a worthy final for a spectacular series!!

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Reviews for previous books (in order): Darkfever, Bloodfever, Faefever & Dreamfever (joint review)

Secrets of the Demon by Diana Rowland

Goodreads
Diana Rowland's site
Series: Kara Gillian #3
Review for books 1 and 2
Copy obtained: bought
Release date: 4th Jan 2011 (US)
Publisher: DAW
Rating: 4.5/5

My name is Kara Gillian and I'm a homicide detective . . .

But that's not all. I sense the "arcane" in our world, and there's quite a bit of it, even in Beaulac, Louisiana. I'm also a summoner of demons, which comes in handy now that I work on a task force that deals with supernatural or paranormal crimes. My partners, Ryan and Zack, are attractive and smart FBI agents, but they're not summoners, which sometimes makes it tough for them to understand what I'm dealing with.

To complicate things even more, I managed to get myself into a "situation" with one of the most powerful of demons - Demon Lord Rhyzkahl - who, in exchange for saving Ryan's life, struck a bargain with me that definitely works better for him. It doesn't help that this beautiful demon lord finds me attractive - something Ryan doesn't appreciate. And I know Rhyzkahl has something on Ryan, but so far I can't find out what.

Meanwhile, I'm trying to solve a string of murders that are somehow tied together by money, sex, rock music and...mud. But how can I concentrate on the case when I'm not even sure who - or what - my partners are?

I loved the first two books of this Kara Gillian series so of course I was super excited for Secrets of the Demon to be out. I love the blend of crime procedural with the paranormal side of demons and summoning. I also find Kara very refreshing with her down to earth, slightly jaded nature, her sense of humor and hidden vulnerability also help make her very likable and easy to relate to. All of that greatness is carried on and developed in this third book.

Secrets of the Demon gets off to a strong start with Kara, Ryan and Zach tasked with protecting a young new star singer after she received death threats which had a demonic theme. All fairly simple, straight forward, in theory. Except, Kara has never seen or heard of the creature that attacks the girl. And things only get stranger and more twisted after a body is found.

What I love is that while these books don't always have the fastest pace, they're flipping hard to put down. It builds form a steady, but not slow start, twisting and turning always gaining intensity before reaching a high at the end. You think you've got it worked out, or parts of it at least, and then SMACK! Something completely unexpected happens/is revealed and you're left gaping and trying to fit it all together again. Also, Diana has a way of dropping these little teasing sentences in just so, no preamble, no explanation, but they make me do a double take and wish like hell I could flip through pages to find out exactly what those statements are about. It's frustrating, brilliant and I can't seem to get enough of it. I am such a glutton for punishment...

Secrets of the Demon builds on books 1 and 2 very nicely as well as being a great book in it's own right. Crime plot wise, it stands alone, character wise it doesn't. Well, it probably could be read as a standalone as the important parts are refreshed, but I'd recommend reading them all in order. There is some great character development through out the book, particularly with Kara's relationships with, well, actually with pretty much everyone around her. All very different and all equally as important as the next and I love seeing where some of these friendships and otherwise are heading. There have been a few little things throughout books 1 and 2 which have left questions and there are a few answers here in Secrets. But hell if there aren't more questions in the end! And it's a hell of an ending. It's one of those EVIL cliff hangers that I seem to love and loathe equally. Because it's perfectly done, it's not over built, it's just there. Another big smack in the face. My copy of the book was very lucky not to get thrown at the wall! Suffice to say, bring on book 4! Adored Secrets of the Demon, halfway consider the author evil, but I want more so it can't be a bad thing right? ;) Love this series, it is unquestioningly one of my favourite adult series around, and one of the best written I think as well. If you've not tried them yet, go do so, starting with book 1, Mark of the Demon.

Mini Review: Circle of Fire by Keri Arthur

Goodreads
Keri Arthur's site
Series: Damask Circle trilogy #1
Copy obtained: gift
Rating: 4/5

Sixteen teenagers are taken from their homes. Eleven bodies recovered, each completely drained of blood. Some believe vampires are responsible, Jon Barnett knows it's something far worse and, while trying to stop the killers, he soon becomes enmeshed in a web of black magic and realises he needs help. But fate gives him only one choice.

Recluse Madeline Smith is afraid of the abilities she cannot control. But when she is brought a warning of danger and her nephew goes missing, Maddie must learn to overcome this fear - and place her trust in Jon. But as the search for the teenagers becomes a race against time, the greatest danger to them both could be the feelings they refuse to acknowledge.

I've read and enjoyed Keri's Riley Jenson series so I thought I'd give this one a go as well as it sounded interesting. And I really enjoyed it!! It's very different from her Riley books, not nearly as sassy and far, far less sex (which personally, I find a bonus cause there was too much sex in the early Riley books for my tastes). It's got a grimmer feel to it and a constant foreboding that had me hooked from the start. I loved the two main characters, Jon and Maddie, their differences and the chemistry between them. The book is written in third person, from both of their points of view, meaning we get a chance to really get to know both better which I enjoyed.

Plot wise it's very good as well. It's not the fastest plot, but it's certainly engaging and hard to put down. I really liked the world building, with the different paranormal aspects and how they fit in to the story. I liked the growth of the story, how it unfolded as it went on. At the start things happened quite suddenly and I had a couple minor WTH?! moments. But it quickly smoothed out and became a really great read. To be honest, this is, in many ways, more to my tastes than the Riley Jenson series, which I do love as well. I loved the ending. Very intense and while it answered a lot of questions, it didn't wrap things up too neatly leaving nothing to the imagination. It was a very satisfying ending. I know the other two books in the trilogy focus on different people, so I'm curious to see what they're like. But I certainly think the writing and story here are excellent so hopefully they'll be just as good!!

Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning

'"I used to be your average, everyday girl, but all that changed one night in Dublin when I saw my first Fae and got dragged into a world of deadly immortals and ancient secrets...."

In her fight to stay alive, MacKayla must find the Sinsar Dubh - a million-year-old book of the blackest magic imaginable, which holds the key to power over the worlds of both the Fae and Man.  Pursued by assassins, surrounded by mysterious figures she knows she can't trust, Mac finds herself torn between two deadly and powerful men: V'lane, the immortal Fae Prince, and Jericho Barrons, a man as irresistible as he is dangerous.

For centuries the shadowy realm of the Fae has coexisted with that of humans. Now the walls between the two are coming down, and Mac is the only thing that stands between them.'

I (for the most part) really liked book one of the Fever series, Darkfever [review]. But it was more for it's addictive feel and potential for greatness in the rest of the series that held me firmly in its grasp. Bloodfever sees the start of that potential realised. Mac is changing, growing from that kind of spoiled, shallow Southern girl in to someone who can keep herself alive in a world where Fae are constantly trying to kill her. Or, at least try and keep herself alive. She's still got a long way to go.

I found Mac much easier to like in Bloodfever than I did Darkfever. Her continual growth impresses me as much as it makes me like her more. She can be selfish at times, but she doesn't pretend to be otherwise. She knows it and admits it. She screws up, she doesn't trust people when maybe she should, she assumes a lot of things when sometimes she shouldn't. But she doesn't pretend to be someone she's not. I find her oddly refreshing and thoroughly entertaining. I completely adore the growing chemistry between Mac and Barrons. The way they play off each other is exquisite at times, in a very brash, in your face kind of way. I kept finding myself wishing for more of them together on the page because most of the very best moments of the book are the two of them together, whether they're agreeing about something, fighting with each other, fighting other things, doesn't matter. The two of them together are just fantastic reading!

Bloodfever is a great continuation of the story started in Darkfever. There is further exploration of the world Mac's found herself in, more and more questions popping up that I desperately want answered. And yet, the lack of true information is something I'm loving. I can't for the life of me figure out where this series is really heading (aside from a war between the Fae and humans). Specifics are constantly twisting and turning offering many different possibilities. Nothing is what it seems. And Barrons! Dammit, I want to know who and what he is as badly as Mac does! I thoroughly enjoy the way he always calls her 'Ms. Lane' so formal and distant and...I don't know, but I love his character and my curiosity about him is growing with each page he features on. The Fae creatures continue to make me shiver in fear and V'lane...well, V'lane scares me more than the rest because he comes across as a 'good' guy and I can't begin to believe that that's true.


Really great read! So addictive and engaging. It's better than Darkfever and still promises that there is a lot more to come from this series. The ending was very dark and intense and left me begging for more! If you've not started this series, do because it's already a new favourite for me and with two books still to go, I'm already anxious for the final book, Shadowfever, which releases January 18th 2011.


Rating: 9/10

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

"MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane–an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women–closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book–because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands…."

This is the first book in the Fever series, and it's been sat on my shelf for months. I originally bought it on recommendation from the fabulous @evilqueen21, aka Nikki, who has seriously awesome taste in books. But while I liked the sound of it, I liked the sound of others more and then more new books, and more, and months have gone by before I actually pick it up. Well that was a mistake wasn't it?!

MacKayla 'Mac' Lane is a blond, pink loving 22 year old who loves her small town, her parents, her sister and she's a little on the spoiled side. Then her world is destroyed and turned inside out with the news her sister, who was studying in Ireland, was brutally murdered. Grief stricken and hungry for vengeance she flies to Ireland determined to get the police to reopen the case and discover the truth. Instead, the truth finds her and she suddenly faces the fact that she is not what she believed. That the world is not as she thought. And she is in every bit as much danger as her sister was.

It took very little time for me to get sucked in and get to a point where I couldn't put Darkfever down. I just wanted to keep reading and reading. Mac's voice, the style of writing and the world building hooked me. Mac's voice struck a cord, but at the same time I found her so frustrating at times. Shallow, spoiled and bratty. But the writing kept me hooked even when she was being a bit of an idiot. Mac's shock and grief though, felt very real, very understandable. I think that more than anything gave her the substance she needed to not make me want to give up on her early on.

The world building is fantastic. There are great twists and turns, plenty of action, and plenty of gritty, dark scenes with the fae. It's so hard to figure out who can and can't be trusted, what matters and what doesn't. I felt like I was fumbling through the world right along side Mac. I thoroughly enjoyed her development over the course of the book, along with some of her sassiest moments. She may be seen by most as weak and helpless (and yes, she really is at times) but she's not about to get pushed around any more than she can help. Sometimes that bratty, spoiled nature was a very good thing. Something else I really enjoyed, and found surprising, is the complete lack of romance. There is a little casual flirting, but that's the extent of it. This is pretty strictly, for now at least, a story of a girl looking for revenge. It makes a nice change actually, for a young, pretty protagonist to not suddenly fall in love and focus on this amazing guy rather than what she's meant to be. I enjoyed the change of pace a lot.

If I'm being honest though, it takes a while for things to really start happening, despite there never being anything dull going on, and while I really liked most of the book (Mac's spoiled, over girly moments aside) I didn't love much about it. And yet I barely put it down. Darkfever has a very addictive feel to it, like it's just the warm up act for something special. I hear from Nikki and several others lately that the series does just keep getting better. That, along with the potential in this book and how it left me wanting much more, had me convinced that I wouldn't be making a mistake buying the rest of the series that's currently out (books 2-4) all together. Its the way Darkfever is written, the mystery and some of the character interactions that made this un-put-down-able for me I think, and I can't wait to read the rest! May just be on to a new favourite here!

Rating: 7/10

Magic at the Gate by Devon Monk

I was lucky enough to win a ARC of Magic at the Gate from Devon on her blog a few weeks back. It's the fifth book in her Allie Beckstrom series and releases next week, November 2nd, in the US.

Warning!! Massive SPOILERS for previous books, Magic on the Storm (book 4) in particular. Do Not read this if you're not up to date with the series or you'll spoil it for yourself. No spoilers for this book though.

Allie Beckstrom has walked in to Death to save her lover Zayvion Jones, who currently lies in a coma. Alongside her is her dead father, who may or may not still have a part of himself inside her head. Death is a dangerous place for Allie to be. Her chances of making it out alive, with Zayvion's soul, and in one piece, is almost zero. But Allie is a fighter, and stubborn as well, so if it can be done, she'll do it. With the gate having been opened though, there is no guarantee things won't be just as bad, or worse, back on the other side.

Magic at the Gate picks up exactly where Magic on the Storm left off, thankfully. It was a heck of a cliff hanger and left so much to be explored and explained. I liked that it just slipped straight back in, a quick reminder of what had just happened, then on with the story without missing a beat. Devon's depiction of death is just as clever and thought out as the living world. It's got it's own rules and magic twists. Not to mention some scary critters that just help give it that darker, creepier edge that it should have.

This is an excellent continuation of the series. It's got all the same greatness about it as the previous ones: great twists, engaging plot, fantastic characters who continue to grow and change, and great extension to the already impressive world building. Allie may have had magic at her fingertips (literally) her whole life, but she's still got a lot to learn. Just when you think there can't be any more big secrets to come from the Authority, there are. And not only are they big, they're Huge, completely eclipsing those that have come before. Magic at the Gate is no exception. There are some major issues finally revealed, giving just a glimpse of what is really going on for the first time. Not that, that makes anything more predictable or straight forward. In fact it makes it almost less so I think. But it is nice to have a few answers at last.

One of my favourite aspects of this series is the Hounds, and how Allie is now trying to take care of them as well. I was glad to see a bit more of them in the second half of the book, and I'm really hoping they'll get to play a bigger role still in the next book (Magic on the Hunt due out April 2011). I particularly love Davy. There is just something about him I really enjoy. His dogged determination to take care of Allie despite all her insistence that she doesn't need a keeper maybe.

My favourite character of the series though is Shame. Well, him and Terric. They're just so fantastic together. The way they play off each other, their issues with each other. I want to hug them both and smack them both and make them see sense. I love them both, but they're both so damaged as well. Their relationship so complicated. And they both have fantastic personalities. I would adore to see them have their own book, or even novella. Every time Shame or Terric was around I was just glued to them. Don't get me wrong, I love the rest of the book, Allie, Zay and everyone else as well, but Shame and Terric tend to steal the show a bit for me. Which I'm very happy for them to do. They've got some huge new obstacles facing them in this book and I really enjoyed watching them deal with them and how they both changed a bit as a result. For me, there wasn't nearly enough of them. I always want more of them.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It's got so many twists it was hard to put down because I needed to know what happened next. The ending was great, with no killer cliff hanger (which I have to say I'm kind of glad of, the previous one was bad enough!) but still with a lot left open. I think the book is a great bridge from the previous one, to the next. It's got that kind of feel to it. Plenty happens here, lots of important things and like I said, a few much needed answers. But towards the end it's also got the feel of a set up for the next big conflict/issue. I think this is probably my favourite of the series so far, but I'm very excited to see what comes next as I think it could be even better.


Rating: 9/10

The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay

"Atlanta: it's the promised city for the off-worlders, foreigners from the alternate dimensions of the heaven-like Elysia and the hell-like Charbydon. Some bring good works and miracles. And some bring unimaginable evil...


Charlie Madigan is a divorced mother of one, and a kick-ass cop trained to take down the toughest human and off-world criminals. She's recently returned from the dead after a brutal attack, an unexplained revival that has left her plagued by ruthless nightmares and random outbursts of strength that make her job for Atlanta PD's Integration Task Force even harder. Since the Revelation, the criminal element in Underground Atlanta ha grown, leaving Charlie and her partner Hank to keep the chaos to a dull roar. But now an insidious new danger is descending on her city with terrifying speed, threatening innocent lives: a deadly, off-world narcotic known as ash. Charlie is determined to uncover the source of ash before it targets another victim - but can she protect those she loves from a force more powerful than heaven and hell combined?"

This is the first book in the Charlie Madigan series. I've had this book on my shelf for a while having heard about it and thought it sounded interesting. But it's only now I've gotten around to reading it and I'm kind of sorry I waited so long. Charlie is a tough cop, a devoted mom, and fairly screwed up by having died a few months previously and having had some very creepy nightmares (and other strange side effect) ever since. When a strange 'off-world' drug, ash, hits too close to home she becomes more determined than ever to find the source and stop it. But the deeper they get in to it, the bigger the mountain they face. They're up against some very powerful opponents and some how Charlie knows it ties back in to her brief death. She's in serious trouble and her skills as a cop are probably not enough to save her, and she's not sure her allies are any more capable. But she'll try anyway.

I really liked this book. Charlie is someone who's dedicated to her job, but also a very loving, devoted mother. It doesn't take long to see that Charlie's world revolves around her daughter, Emma, and that she'd do anything for her. I really like when books show parental type relationships (may just be a child/teen the protagonist finds themselves responsible for) and familial relationships. Sometimes they can really make a book, whether it's a child/teen in an adult book or an adult in a major role in a YA book. It can be a really nice change to read, that level of realness, that extra drive it can give a protagonist that can't come from anything else. For it to work well though, there has to be the right balance, and that does exist here. Emma gets enough page time with her mom and there is enough of Charlie talking/thinking about her as well.

Doesn't stop Charlie from having other issues though. She's got some long buried ones that need dealing with, as well as her recent ones, such as the case she's working on. She's a fairly typical tough cop as well, and I love how she and her partner, Hank, play off each other. They have a clear bond/relationship established and I like getting to see more of it, the deeper in to the book you get. I really liked Hank from the start, although it takes a while to really get to know him.

I liked the world building. The supernaturals being from one of two different worlds/dimensions, both of which have their own tendencies, rules and needs. Not all the information is given at once, but there are some points where some extra back story is needed, and they do drag a little.

There are some good twists and there are a lot of sub plots all tied up together, though you can't see them all to start with. I really felt for Charlie as she had to make some hard decisions and face some hard home truths. But, I didn't like her all the time. I can't put my finger on exactly what it was bothering me, but there were times when I found myself getting pretty annoyed with her. Not often, but it did happen.

Overall I did really enjoy this book. It was easy to get in to, pretty hard to put down and plenty going on. There were some slow moments, and I didn't always like the characters, I felt some of them were a little flat. But on the whole, it was a really good read with some very interesting aspects and plenty to make me want to read more. Book 2, The Darkest Edge of Dawn, just released and I'm looking forward to getting and reading it! 8/10

As Lie The Dead by Kelly Meding

SPOILER WARNING. This is the sequel to 'Three Days To Dead' and contains some spoilers from it, so if you've not yet read book 1, I suggest skipping this.

"Evangeline Stone, a rogue bounty hunter, never asked for a world divided between darkness and light...

...or the power to die and live agian in someone else's borrowed body. After a murder plot meant to take her out leaves an entire race of shapeshifters nearly extinct, Evy is gnawed by guilt. So when one of the few survivors of the slaughter enlists her aid, she feels duty-bound to help - even though protecting a frail, pregnant shifter is the last thing Evy needs, especially with the world going to hell around her.
Amid weres, Halfies, gremlins, vamps - and increasingly outgunned humans - a war for supremacy is brewing. With shifters demanding justice, her superiors desperate to control her, and an assassin on her trail, Evy discovers a horrifying conspiracy. And she may be the only person in the world who can stop it - unless, of course, her own side gets her first."

This second Evy Stone book picks up exactly where the first one left off. Evy, Wyatt, the surviving hunters and their handlers are clearing up the mess from the battle that kept a rift between worlds from being opened. But it cost 6 hunters, and Wyatt briefly, their lives. The events that led to the battle, the Triad's betrayal, means that Evy knows there is still a lot to sort out. She'd rather just go home and sleep for a week or two, try and work out her feelings for her handler Wyatt. And figure out how do deal with being in a different body, sharing Chalice's emotional memories.

Just as she and Wyatt arrive back at the apartment Chalice and Alex shared though, her troubles pick up again. One of the last surviving Owlkins demands her protection for his people, and the person responsible for the fire that killed the rest of them to be brought to him. Evy knows that finding that person, someone high up the food chain, an invisible person who'd identity is hidden for a reason, will be more than difficult. It'll also mean fighting against the people who were once her allies before turning on her, and within the Triad's, she really doesn't know if she can trust any of them. And things just get more desperate from there. Deeply hidden secrets are unearthed and they're going to change things for Evy for good, if she survives.

I liked the first Evy book, Three Days To Dead, but didn't love it. Too much going on, sometimes flat characters, and Evy was not the most likable character. But it was still a decent read and I was curious to see what would happen next for her. I did like this book a bit more, but it took a while. It's a little start/stop for the first half, and Evy annoyed me enough that I put the book down on more than one occasion for a short break. She's not exactly a bad character, or person, but her continued ignorance and the way she reacts to things (always fists first) annoyed me. I get that she's 22 and had a hard life and a lot has happened to her in a very short, chaotic time, but I just felt like she should have been growing and changing with the new things she faces. She does eventually start to change, around the midway point, but up til then she irritated me more than anything else.

The plot also smoothed out and moved faster from around the midway point until the end. It had some slightly predictable things, but there were some pretty big shocks in there as well. The tension from about the 2/3 mark just rose and stayed there right up to the end. Like Three Days To Dead, Evy is on a strict time frame, but also like it, I didn't often feel the pressure of that time frame coming through to me. The tension towards the end felt the same as any other big build up where you know a huge showdown is coming, time frame or not. I feel that's one of the biggest let downs on these books. The time frame is meant to be a pretty big aspect, the chapters have day/time stamp as their titles, and Evy mentions that she only has so long for certain things numerous times, but it just doesn't come across for me.

But despite the flaws, overall I still enjoyed the book. The second half I almost loved in fact. It's better than the first one, and despite the stop/start earlier on, it felt far better plotted than book one, more together and less scatty. It wraps up nicely although there are some threads left open to be explored in the next book, which I'm looking forward to. I did actually like Evy quite a lot by the end, but I think I liked some of the secondary characters, Phin in particular, more. Not about to become a favourite, but still a good read and worth the time. 7/10

Kara Gillian 1&2 by Diana Rowland

Maybe, slightly, behind on reviews again...apologies for that! Here's a 2-for-1 for you, reviews for Mark of the Demon and Blood of the Demon by Diana Rowland, the first and second in her Kara Gillian series.

Mark of the Demon 

"Cop and conjurer of demons, she's a woman in danger of losing control - to a power that could kill.

Why me? Why now? That's what Beaulac, Louisiana, detective Kara Gillian was asking herself when an angelic creature named Rhyzkahl unexpectedly appeared during a routine summoning. Kara was hoping to use her occult skills to catch a serial killer, but never had she conjured anything like this unearthly beautiful and unspeakably powerful being whose very touch set off exquisite new dimensions of pleasure. But can she enlist his aid in helping her stop a killer who's already claimed the lives - and souls - of thirteen people? And should she? The Symbol Man is a nightmare that the city thought had ended three years ago. Now he's back for an encore and leaving every indication on the flesh of his victims that he, too, is well versed in demonic lore.

Kara may be the only cop on Beaulac's small force able to stop the killer, but it is her first homicide case. Yet with Rhyzkahl haunting her dreams, and a handsome yet disapproving FBI agent dogging her waking footsteps, she may be in way over her head..."

Mark of the Demon is the first in the Kara Gillian series from Diana Rowland. Kara is a small town detective who has just been promoted. She's also a summoner, able to pull demons through from their plane of existence with arcane energy. 3 years ago as a beat cop, she caught sight of traces of the arcane on a victim of the Symbol Man. Ever since she's been curious about it, but the murders stopped shortly after. Now they're starting again and now a detective, Kara can get close to the bodies and see if the arcane is connected to this victim, and possibly all the past ones as well. But it's her first homicide case and she's got a lot of heat on her, from her superiors and from those who don't think she's qualified for the job. FBI agent Ryan Kristoff doesn't make it any easier, constantly on her heels trying to figure out what she knows and how she's figured out so much having never been on the original cases.

But the murders aren't all Kara has to worry about. The same night of the first of the new killings, she some how messed up a summoning. Instead of pulling through a lower level demon to give her advice, she managed to pull through a Demon Lord. Who could kill her with ease. Instead he seduces her, and continues to plague her dreams and thoughts when she needs to focus on the case.

I loved this book. I got hooked very early on and it didn't let go. It's a great mix of police procedural and paranormal. Kara is smart, down to earth, tough, vulnerable, lonely and very likable. She's not described as beautiful, she talks about having to really work to keep herself in shape - and that she doesn't do it enough. She's very real and I love how she tries at once to protect herself, and yet shows her vulnerability as well. Kara's history, a messed up teen who did her share of drugs and got clean, was something I liked as well. She shows she's far from perfect, but she works hard for what she wants now. She knows how to work people, and that things don't always work out as they should.

I couldn't figure out who the bad guy was until the reveal, which I very much enjoyed. It took so many twists, I kept thinking, like Kara (though not always agreeing with her), that I had it figured out when *bang* something else happened and it was all upside down again. It's tightly plotted, tense, very sexy at times, dark, twisted and brilliant. My stomach churned at some of the descriptions of the bodies, not something I normally flinch too much at. The author doesn't pull any punches! I liked the world building, with the small town setting, and how the demon world works. Different levels of demons, different prices to pay for summoning. How honer is everything to them and while they're self serving, they're not really evil.

There is a romantic sub plot running through the book, though you'd be forgiven for thinking it bigger than it actually is with the way things heat up early on, and very fast. But it does remain in the back ground, adding to the book without dominating anything. I loved the balance of that sub plot, the police side, and the way the paranormal blended in as well. They worked very well together to create a story I really struggled to put down. FBI man Kristoff and demon Lord Rhyzkahl were both great secondary characters. Both mysterious and clearly hiding ulterior motives, though obviously very different ones, it was fun and tense watching Kara deal with them both. How she handled them, how they played off her and there was a nice contrast between the two, the human and the very not.

Overall, a really great read! Hard to put down, great characters, particularly Kara who is one of the most down to earth realistic protagonists I think I've read. Tight plot, plenty of surprises, a setting that just added to the overall atmosphere and an intense conclusion all made for a very enjoyable read. Loved it, would highly recommend it and having already read the second book (loved it even more than this), I'm very much looking forward to the third! 9/10

Some minor spoilers for Mark of the Demon ahead in the review for book 2, you have been warned :)

Blood of the Demon

"Between heaven and hell, man and demon, she's about to face the one thing she may not be able to survive.

Welcome to the world of Kara Gillian, a cop with a gift. Not only does she have the power of 'othersight' to see what most people can't even imagine, but she's become the exclusive summoner of a demon lord. Or maybe it's the other way around. The fact is, with two troublesome cases on her docket and a handsome FBI agent under her skin, Kara need the help of sexy, insatiable Lord Rhyzkahl more than he needs her. Because these two victims, linked by suspicious coincidence, haven't just been murdered. Something has eaten their souls.

It's a case with roots in the arcane, but whose evil has flowered among the rich, powerful, and corrupt in Beaulac, Louisiana. And as the killings continue, Kara soon realises how much there's still to learn about demons, men, and things that kill in the night - and how little time she has to learn it."

This second Kara Gillian book picks up about a month after the end of Mark of the Demon. Kara is back at work and back summoning, although she's having a few anxiety issues with the second. But work draws her focus, especially when a cop is found dead, apparent suicide. With his soul torn out of him. Kara is convinced that someone, or something, with access to the arcane is involved, but getting to the bottom of the case is going to be easier said than done. A second murder victim, with ties to the cop, is found soon after. Kara's gut says they're linked in more ways than one, but she's not sure she can prove it.

FBI agent Ryan Kristoff is hanging around again as well, and Kara's not too sure why. For some reason demon's seem to have an odd interest in him, but they won't say why and Ryan denies knowing why. Kara'd like to get to the bottom of it, but she's quickly learning there is a lot more to demons and the other uses of arcane energy out there than she first realised. If that wasn't enough, demon Lord Rhyzkahl wants Kara to agree to be his summoner. And she can't seem to stop dreaming about him either.

This second Kara Gillian book was even better than the first. Having got to know the characters some in the first book we now get to know them better. But I'm still wondering just what Ryan is, and what he knows because I'm convinced there is far more too him than we're currently seeing. But trying to figure it out is all part of the fun, even if it gets a little frustrating at times. Kara's struggling in this book, not just with her cases and some of the cops she works with, but with the knowledge she's discovering. And she's struggling on a personal level, with her aunt still unconscious, her essence missing, and no idea how to help her. I really felt for Kara as she attempted to figure out how to help her aunt, and what she faced dealing with some of the issues her aunt being in that state meant.

Like the first book, I couldn't figure the cases out. So many twists and turns and actually had almost too much trouble keeping names straight through it. But I didn't care. It was just too good for me to mind that tiny thing. I knew who they were talking about most the time, and really enjoyed trying to keep up with the way Kara's mind works, fitting things together and figuring out what might have happened. Once again I didn't see the end coming at all, and there were some smaller surprises as well which I really liked. Kara is naturally suspicious and it gets her in trouble more than once, but I couldn't blame her for reacting the way she does. Kara is pretty wound up through this whole book for one reason or another and it gets to her. She's human and she shows it, and I love it. I like seeing her loose her temper when things just go too far, and she may know she should keep her mouth shut but she doesn't. And I love seeing her break down a little dealing with some of the pain she is covered in. She's such a realistic character and I love reading about her, getting to know her better.

I think this book moves a little faster than the first one, with more different threads to tangle together than Mark of the Demon as well. But it works. It's still tightly plotted with plenty of action and paranormal alongside the more standard police work and autopsies. It all comes together in an intense ending that I loved and left me wanting more. It's not a cliff hanger at all, it wraps up the main plots just fine while leaving on going threads open for the next books. But it still left me hungry for more and if book 3 had been out already, I'd have torn straight in to it. As it is, I've got to wait til Jan 4th 2011 for it and it feels like a really long wait. Enjoyed it even more than the first book, which I really did love, and I'm very excited for more in this series. 9/10

Eternal Kiss of Darkness by Jeaniene Frost

"An immortal way has been brewing in the darkness...and now one woman has stumbled into the shadows.

Chicago private investigator Kira Graceling should have just kept walking. But her sense of duty refused to let her ignore the moans of pain coming from inside a warehouse just before dawn. Suddenly she finds herself in a world she's only imagined in her worst nightmares.

At the center is Mencheres, a breathtaking Master vampire who thought he'd seen it all. Then Kira appears - this fearless, beautiful...human who braved death to rescue him. Though he burns for her, keeping Kira in his world means risking her life. Yet sending her away is unthinkable.

But with danger closing in, Mencheres must choose either the woman he craves, or embracing the darkest magic to defeat an enemy bent on his eternal destruction."

This is the second book in Jeaniene's Night Huntress World series, the spin off to her Night Huntress series. Eternal Kiss of Darkness follows Mencheres who has played a significant role in the NH series, but always seemed very aloof, always appeared to have ulterior motives and I never really liked him. But having at least liked all of Jeaniene's other books, and having loved her first NHW book, First Drop of Crimson featuring Spade and Denise, when I didn't think I would, I gave it a chance. Turns out, like FDoC, I loved it. Mencheres is far easier to like and surprisingly easy to get to know when you're getting the story from his point of view. He may not show or share much with the people around him, but he is always thinking, always trying to take care of his line and those he cares about as best he can.

Kira was just as easy to like. She's tough and smart, taking things in her stride. She could easily be overwhelmed by the things she discovers and the things that happen to her in the vampire world, but instead she accepts and deals. Stubborn and unwilling to keep her mouth shut even in front of some of the most powerful vampires there are, she's determined to make the best of her situation and maybe save a life as well if she can.

The Night Huntress World books are told in alternating third person POV, so with this one it's from Mencheres and Kira's POV's. It makes it easy to get to know, and like, both characters easier as well as giving a better all around view being able to see things from different perspectives. A vampire who is several thousands of years old sees things a little differently to a 30 year old woman. The contrast makes things interesting as well.

I have to say that the book was a little predictable. Did figure things out pretty easily and nothing really came as a surprise. But it still kept me interested and I finished it in a couple of days. It's got it's dark and serious side, but there are some fun edges to it as well, not to mention Jeaniene's typically hot smex scenes! It's fast paced and the characters were strong enough to keep me very interested past the plot, enough that I still loved the book. The ending was good though I wish there had been a little more too it. It was another of those cases where there was a lot of build up, and then it was just kind of over which was a little disappointing. Still a good read and although Jeaniene's books don't hit top level favourite for me, they're still very, very good and I'd recommend them. 7/10

Alpha by Rachel Vincent

Review contains no spoilers for Alpha, but does contain them for earlier books! Recommend you skip this if you've yet to pick up the series, and that you should pick up book 1, Stray, right now ;)

"YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE FAYTHE…

The unscrupulous new Council chair has charged Jace, Marc, and me with trespassing, kidnapping, murder, and treason. Yeah, we’ve been busy. But now it’s time to take justice into our own hands. We must avenge my brother’s death and carve out the rot at the heart of the Council.

It’s not going to be easy, and loss seems unavoidable, but I have promised to protect my Pride, no matter what. With a target on my back and Marc at my side, I’m heading for a final showdown that can—that will—change everything forever."

Alpha is the sixth and final book in the Shifters series and I was lucky enough to receive an early copy thanks to NetGalley. I was ridiculously happy to find the link waiting for me in my inbox a week ago and started it straight away. Then stayed up til gone 3am to finish it. I could not stop reading it, I had to know what happened to Faythe and the rest of her Pride. It's an intense, emotional rollorcoaster and heart breaking though it was, I wouldn't have changed a thing nor could I have asked for more.

I was hooked on this series from the first page of book 1, Stray, and since then my love for the series has only grown. It is a firm favourite with me and one I would highly recommend. Book 4, Prey completely blew me away with it's intensity and heartbreak. It changed everything for Faythe and her Pride, and the whole werecat world in general. Shift then continued the changes as Faythe attempted to find her way out of an impossible situation, and carry on protecting her fellow tabbies Kaci and Manx as well.

Alpha picks up just a short while after the end of Shift. Faythe and the rest of the South Central Pride are about to meet Ethan's pregnant girlfriend for the first time. They learnt of her pregnancy immediately after Ethan's death in Prey, but until now they've not met her. They want to be a part of the baby's life, but Angela can't know of their true nature. And hiding it when war is about to break out is not going to be easy.

It's not long before things really heat up as Greg, Faythe, Marc, Jace and members of the other Prides, come together in the mountains again for another council meeting. This one to decide if Greg can remain as head of the Territorial Council, or if Calvin Malone - a cat desperate for power and control, determined to have his sons with all available tabbies, willing or unwilling - will take the head instead. And the battle for Faythe's heart reaches breaking point. She's got to decide for sure who she loves the most, who her other half is. Either Marc, the stray her family took in, who she has loved for years. Or Jace, her late brothers best friend who's suddenly proving himself to be alpha material as well. Doesn't matter who she chooses, someone is going to get hurt and she doesn't want more pain than they're all already facing, but she must choose. War is breaking out and it's not the time for divided loyalties within the Pride. Faythe is going to need everything she's got and then some to win this fight.

The Shifters series is one of my favourites and this book was everything I expected. It's a heart wrenching, awesome, bittersweet ending. I cried through a lot of the book I have to say. Rachel does a fantastic job of capturing emotions, pain and grief in particular and making it very real. It's hard not to sympathise with Faythe as she makes the tough decisions she has to make. Not always a case of right or wrong, and certainly never easy, but what has to be done for the continued existence of her Pride, and their allies as well.

Faythe does choose between Marc and Jace, and as Rachel promised it is her choice. Neither man dies to leave her only one option, nor does an unplanned pregnancy occur. It's Faythe's choice and it's almost as heartbreaking watching her trying to figure out her personal life as the rest of the book. There is a war going on and losses are inevitable in any war. So painful and harsh, but it's the truth and Rachel doesn't pull any punches. One of the reasons this series works so well for me is because I care just as much about the secondary characters as the protagonist. I love the glimpses in to Greg, Karen, Jace, Marc, Kaci and all the others, that we get. It's as hard seeing their reactions, their grief as it is getting Faythe's. Sometimes more so.

This book does a good job wrapping things up. It deals with the things left hanging from the previous two books and comes to what felt like a natural end point. There isn't any epilogue, a glimpse of Faythe's life a month or a year after the final chapter and I'm actually pretty glad of it. Faythe has come so, so far from the loud mouth brat she was in Stray. She's grown up, learnt what being a leader means, learnt when to fight and when to keep her mouth shut, learnt how to make the hard decisions. Where Faythe's story ends for us, there is still much more she faces and skipping those things to show us just the outcome would have left me feeling a little cheated I think. Instead, we get the ending the series deserved. It's heartbreaking, bittersweet, but ultimately fantastic and the best book of the series. It's very hard saying goodbye to characters I love, but there is so much room to imagine the future for them and that I love. Best book of the series, most heartbreaking, and yet with a satisfying conclusion that does the series justice and one I'd think most fans will love. 10/10

Wait For Dusk by Jocelynn Drake

Spoiler warning!! Spoilers from the previous book, Pray For Dawn, here. None for Wait For Dusk.

"There is no sanctuary in the night...

Feared even by her own kind for her mastery of fire, the nightwalker Mira is summoned by the coven to take her rightful place as Elder. But with this honor comes grave responsibility - a commitment to the annihilation of the un-leashed naturi. For now the foul creatures walk the earth - and neither vampire nor human will survive their horrific onslaught.

A tide of blood is sweeping relentlessly across the European continent, as Mira is dispatched to Budapest for the most devastating test yet of her astonishing powers - and falls in to a well-laid trap. With the dark secrets that haunt her growing darker by the hour, she must confront the terrible truth of her past and protect her fragile sanity in the face of unanticipated treachery - a betrayal by her trusted ally, her beloved enemy, the vampire slayer Danaus."

This is the 5th book in the Dark Days series and after Danaus' POV for Pray For Dawn (book #4) we're back with Mira. PFD ended on a hell of a cliff hanger and WFD picks up exactly where it left off. Mira is confronted with a new enemy, someone who could prove worse than the now prisoned bori to deal with. He wants something from her and is determined to get it. As he leaves, promising to be watching, Valerio appears on the Coven's orders to tell Mira to return and take her place as an Elder. She knows it can't be avoided, but she refuses to appear alone, taking Danaus with her under the lable of 'consort'.

The other Elders and a few ancients (vampires who've hit the 1000 year mark) make life difficult for Mira, as expected, but it's not until she arrives in Budapest, to rid it of naturi, that the real games begin. She's sure Elder Macaire wants her dead, and at any cost, so she knows being in Budapest at his request will be dangerous. But Danaus betrayal is something she never saw coming. Mira's fighting several different fronts, trying to rid the world of naturi, keep the supernatural world hiden from humans, and now she's doing it not knowing who, if anyone, she can trust.

Got hooked from page one and couldn't put it down. It's fraught with tension and pain as Mira faces new, bigger challenges and Danaus' betrayal. Which I wouldn't have seen coming if not for it being on the blrub. But having it there was a great hook and I think maybe added something because I knew it was coming and I was wondering how he could possibly end up on the opposite side to her with how things were going.

From book one I've been sure Mira is not strictly a nightwalker. I've always thought that she can't have been completely human before she was turned because of her ability to manipulate fire. And it is finally addressed in this book. But the answer surprised me and the repercussions are huge. Not something that can be cleared up all in one book either. I love the developments of Mira and Danaus relationship, including the bad stuff. They just play off each other so well, their differences, the way they've both changed through the series, how they've gotten so close and understand each other so well. With Valerio in Budapest with Mira though, it also gave an interesting glimpse in to her past. The was she used to behave with him when they spent time together a couple of centuries ago. And how she's changed since then, and why. It's almost a darker Mira we're faced with here as she attempts to do the right things, filled with guilt and grief over the loss of Lily, the street kid she and Danaus more or less adopted in the previous book. She's determined now to destroy the naturi by whatever it takes. Nothing is about to stop her. She comes face to face with Rowe again here as well, for the first time since book 3, Dawnbreaker.

As always there were twists and turns I didn't see coming and the tension just build until the ending. It was shocking and sad and made me cry, second Dark Days book running to do so! It was dark, and passionate and fantastic. I love the world building in this series, how the different creatures all work against each other, their own limitations and strengths. It all just comes alive on the page and it's easy to get lost in it. I can not wait for the next book, and while I'm very grateful for getting 2 books within a month of each other, I'm wishing the next one was out with the same time frame! This has become one of my favourite series having only felt so-so about the first, and not much better about the second one. I love Mira and Danaus and both their strengths and weaknesses. But alongside Pray For Dawn this is my favourite of the series so far. Awesome book, awesome series and I'd highly recommend it. 9/10

Waking The Witch by Kelley Armstrong

"Columbus is a small, fading town, untouched by the twenty-first century. But when three young women are found dead - victims of what appear to be ritual murders - things start to get very dark, and very dangerous...

Private investigator Savannah Levine can handle 'dark and dangerous'. As the daughter of a black witch, she has a lot of power running through her veins, and she's not afraid to use it. But her arrival in Columbus has not gone unnoticed. Savannah may think she's tracking down a murderer, but could she be the killer's next target?

Of course, she could always ask her old friend (and half-demon) Adam Vasic for back-up. But Savannah has her own - very personal - reasons for keeping Adam well away from Columbus. And in any case, she can rely on her own powers. Can't she...?"

This is the 11th book in The Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong. Overall I love this series and it's one of my favourites, but I don't love every narrator. This is the first book told by Savannah and I was looking forward to it. She first appeared in book #2, Stolen, as a 12 or 13 year old witch who's mom had just been murdered. Since then she's appeared on and off as a side character, but now at 21 she's getting her first book. She's always been sassy, smart, determined and just a little dangerous, and I've always liked her, even when she was being a brat. So I figured there was a good chance I'd enjoy her story and I was looking forward to getting to know her better. Turns out, I really love her. This is one of the best Otherworld books of the series to date. For me, it's second only to book #1 Bitten, and possible book #10 Frostbitten, both told by my favourite narrator, Elena.

Savannah's story sucked me in right from the start. She's still the sassy, smart girl she's always been, and hungry to prove herself. Now she wants to take on a case solo and with Paige and Lucas (the people who raised her after her mother's death and also her bosses) on vacation and her associate (and long time crush) Adam away at a conference, now seems like the prefect time. In steps Jesse, a young PI who's worked with Lucas before, and is now looking for some help on a triple homicide case with apparent ritualistic aspects of the supernatural variety. Savannah jumps at the chance and heads to small town Columbus to see if she can solve the case. But it doesn't take long before she's making enemies and with a distinct supernatural possibility Savannah soon realises she may be next on the killers hit list.

All those traits that made her a loud mouth some times bratty kid, she uses to great advantage to work the people she needs information from. She can be brutally honest, but she's also happy to spin some pretty big tales when required. Savannah is a girl who hates to be seen as weak or vulnerable, she won't let it happen, but that doesn't mean she doesn't get scared. And it doesn't mean she doesn't have a softer side, something we've rarely seen until now. I loved getting deeper in to her head and figuring out how she works, how she thinks. She has to make some hard decisions and learns some tough lessons through this book which took their toll on her, maybe more so than we get to see here.

It was also fun getting to know Adam a little better through the eyes of someone who wants a lot more than friendship from him. But he's no the only guy who has Savannah's attention here. There is also Dallas Detective Michael Kennedy. He's the older brother of one of the victims and he arrives in Columbus at the same time as Savannah, hoping to solve the case as well. I loved the way they played off each other, particularly as Savannah's quite often shown great disregard for humans.

The story flows really well, mixing a little police procedural with witchcraft, and throws a few big shocks in along the way. I had a really hard time putting it down. Savannah is a great character to get to know, but like previous books, Kelley does a great job of creating secondary characters to love, or loathe, as well. Another plus point to this book is seeing Savannah's thoughts on some incidents that happened several books ago. She's played some big roles in the series before, despite this being the first book from her perspective, and learning how she's felt and dealt with some of those things adds something to it. There were some surprisingly intense and emotional moments in this book as well, and my heart went out to Savannah on more than one occasion. She's someone who uses a lot of her spunk to cover some pretty big issues at times, more so than I'd first have guessed.

This book has a few firsts for the series in it, but one of the most surprising ones is the ending. It was a great build up and left things completely hanging. None of the previous books have had a cliff hanger ending, but this one sure does! It's very well done and I love it as much as I hate it. The shock and surprise was felt and I'm gutted to have to wait til July next year for book #12, Spell Bound, which is also narrated (thankfully!) by Savannah.

I said it already, but I will repeat myself. This is one of the best Otherworld books to date. Kelley continues to weave great stories with great characters to keep this series fresh. With a series this long it's like settling down with an old friend for a catch up, but there is plenty of new things to keep it really interesting. If you're a fan of the Otherworld books, this is one not to be skipped! If you've yet to try them, I strongly recommend starting with book 1, Bitten, although it's not strictly needed. There is enough explanation given that you don't miss anything big with each new book, only small things, and it doesn't overload readers who've read all the previous books with repeated info. Just enough of a refresher of the most important aspects. A really great read, and I'm very excited for more books from Savannah's point of view.

Rating: 9/10

Magic on the Storm by Devon Monk

SPOILER warning. This is the 4th book in the Allie Beckstrom series and there are spoilers for earlier books. If you're up to date with the series, you're fine reading this.

"'Magic stirred in me...I closed my eyes, wanting to lose myself to it. Wanting to use magic in every way I could. But that would be bad. I had enough magic inside me; I could burn down a city. And I didn't want to do that...'

Allison Beckstrom knows better than most that when magic's involved, you always pay. Whether the price is migraines, amnesia, or muscle aches, she is committed to her work as a Hound, tracing illegal spells back to their casters. But her job is about to get much more dangerous. There's a storm of apocalyptic force bearing down on Portland, and when it hits, all the magic in the area will turn unstable and destructive. To stop it from taking out the entire city, Allie and her lover, the mysterious Zayvion Jones, must work with the Authority - the enigmatic arbiters of all things magic - and make a stand against a magical wild storm that will obliterate all in it's path."

Set 2 months after the end of Magic in the Shadows, Allie has had a pretty quiet time. She's been learning to fight, control her magic, starting to set things up for the Hounds and her dead father who's possessing her has been pretty quiet too. Allie enjoys the down time but knows it can't last. Sure enough, a wild magic storm is blowing in and it's bigger than most. More members of the Authority are being called in to try and help control it, or at least stop it levelling Portland. They may in theory all play for the same side but tensions are high. Allie has been warned a war is about to erupt within the Authority and she realises this storm may just be the spark it needs.

This is probably my favourite of the Allie Beckstrom series so far. Like the books before it there is a lot going on, with many hidden agendas and you can never be completely sure who to trust or what's going to happen next. I had a really hard time putting the book down, particularly towards the end. There were a few big shocks and the more intense it got, the more difficult it was to put down! I love the magical side to these books, the way it works, the price it costs, and the plots surrounding it and the Authority. It's cleverly crafted making a lot possible, but more impossible. But more than that I love the interplay between Allie, Zay and Shame. This book sees the addition of several new characters and one of them is Terric, who became a new favourite within a couple of pages. He's got a fair bit of history with Zay and Shame, add him to the mix and things got really interesting.

Likewise, I love the growth of the characters, Allie in particular, and the way we gradually learn more about them though the books. Allie has a lot resting on her shoulders already but she's always willing to throw herself deeper in trouble to help her friends, even though she's often terrified and doesn't really know what she's doing. She's capable and learns from her mistakes. I also love how Allie isn't afraid to ask tough questions, particularly of those she loves. She can push too far, but she does it in an attempt to understand them better, to better help and support them, if she can. Allie faces huge new battles in this book, both personal and with the Authority. I like how she handles them, not without fear or worry but with the determination to do the right thing.

Aside from the Authority, there is the continuation of Allie with her Hounds, and the fall out Davy is having to deal with from the blood magic Greyson and Tomi worked on him. And Greyson is someone Allie needs to worry a lot about. The Authority have him contained, but Allie's convinced that doesn't stop him being dangerous. And now that Zayvion and Allie know for sure they're Soul Complements, things between them are a little more complicated than before.

The ending was intense and explosive. It just kept growing with new twists. It answered some questions and left a whole lot more in their wake. Lots of shock, pain and sadness, I felt every bump. It did some nice setting up for the next book, but left with Allie in a place where I was desperate to know what happens next. Another well written, entertaining, intense Allie Beckstrom book and I am really looking forward to the next book, Magic At The Gate, in November. 9/10

Pray For Dawn by Jocelynn Drake

Spoiler warning! This is the 4th book in the Dark Days series and there are a few spoilers for earlier ones in this review. If you've yet to start the series, skip this review and just pick up book 1, Nightwalker ;)

"Pray for salvation...

Pray for daylight...

Murder has pulled Mira out of the shadows and back in to the living world...

As the fire-wielding enforcer of the nightwalker cover wrestles with the mind destroying ghosts of her dark past, the slaying of a senator's daughter in Savannah threatens to expose her kind to the brilliant light of day. The dawn of chaos has come. The naturi have broken free of their eternal prison to feed on the defenseless and unbelieving of an unprepared Earth.

Mira and Danaus - vampire and vampire slayer - must unite to prevent the annihilation of their separate races. But for Danaus the challenge if intensified, for he must also fight the bori who covets his soul. And Mira, the nightwalker he must protect - whose power if the Earth's last hope - is rapidly going insane."

This fourth book in the Dark Days series is very different for one big reason: it's told from Danaus POV instead of Mira's. This is the first time we get a look in to the mind of the hunter since we met him in book one. He's fought Mira, promised to kill her, fought alongside her and saved her on more than one occasion. But he's always been a bit of a mystery, never showing that much of himself. Now, finally, we can find out what he really thinks and feels. Towards Mira and about the world around him. He's lived a very long life, seen a lot of wars, lost a lot of friends, and is continually fighting to keep the human world safe from the dark one it doesn't know.

Pray For Dawn picks up a couple of months after the events of book 3, Dawnbreaker, and Danaus is being summoned back to Savannah, Mira's domain. Once there he quickly discovers not everything is well. A senator's daughter is dead and the family are making a lot of noise in the press. The killing wasn't by a human and it could put pressure on the vampire community, so it needs to be hushed up and quickly. Danaus is ordered by Themis leader Ryan, to protect Mira and help figure out who the killer is and what their aim is. Not an easy task at the best of times, but it's harder still when the bori who owns part of Danaus' soul, is fighting for full control, and he's determined to have it.

I loved this book from the start. It was oddly easy to switch from seeing the world from Mira's eyes, to Danaus'. He sees things differently to Mira and has his own personal demons to fight as well. Danaus thinks a lot, sees things in a lot of detail and doesn't miss much. It was very interesting seeing from his POV how he deals with the people around him, what matters to him, how he can/will work with others be they human, vampire, lycan or other. Getting more of his backstory was eye opening as to why he is how he is, why he's so determined to destroy vampires. His relationship with Mira has always been a bit strange. Hunter and vampire forced to work together but promising to kill each other one day. It's been a relationship that's built slowly and I know I'm not alone with the thinking 'will they, won't they get together'. That is something that's continued through this book, clearer than before, but still not front and center and something that's still not got a clear outcome.

A lot happens in this book between the dead girl, Mira's rapidly failing sanity, the naturi and the bori and it was hard to put down. There are some pretty big shocks along the way and a moment that very nearly caused tears for me. Mira's behaviour is off from her first appearance in PfD, but it's not until near the end where we find out just what is going on with the nightwalker. Mira not quite being herself made for some interesting, painful and tense moments, and particularly interesting was how Danaus responded to them. The vast world created in this series is expanded with further knowledge about the bori, and how their presence effects vampires and others. Also a further look in to the workings of the vampires in Mira's domain, of which one scene in particular made for entertaining reading. There is a lot in the way of personal struggles in this book, with Danaus and Mira, and I'd love to see some of the moments of this book from her POV as well. But Danaus made for a great narrator and I'm really, really pleased with how this book came out. I don't always get on with changes of POV and while I was really looking forward to seeing what Danaus really thought of Mira, I wasn't completely sure I'd love this book like I did book 3. Turned out, I really shouldn't have worried because I loved this one more.

Pray For Dawn is my favourite book of the series so far. It's fast, action packed with a very twisting ride of emotions. Seeing the world through different eyes doesn't just change how I viewed Danaus, but certain other characters as well. The ending was tense and fraught with danger not knowing how it was going to end for certain people. And it's a hell of a cliff hanger!! I got to the end and almost screamed in frustration. It's a cruel point to end the book, but at least it's only a month long wait for book 5, Wait For Dusk, which from the blurb (and the cover, if you've seen it, you'll know what I mean) promises to be even more shocking and awesome. Anything longer may well have killed me because it is a very dramatic ending. I've read a lot of cliff hanger endings, but this is one of the worst. I can't wait to find out what happens next for Mira and Danaus (book 5 is back to Mira's POV, out 27th July). And maybe get a glimpse of Mira's thoughts regarding a few certain moments of this one. A fantastic book, a great series, and one that should be read as soon as possible! 9/10