Awakened
P.C. Cast
St. Martin’s Griffin, Jan 4 2011, $17.99
ISBN: 9780312650247
Everything is coming together for Neferet as she expected after her bargain with the spidery shadow. First the Vampyre High Council exonerated her as their foolish spies failed them; their clearing her of charges, allows her to return to her position as High Priestess of Tulsa’s House of Night. Second she has her consort Kalona back under her control. Finally her nemesis Zoey Redbird is dead after she entered the Otherworld.
However, Neferet learns her third assertion proves false as somehow Zoey is back, but not in Oklahoma. Her friends are glad to see her, but she takes refugee on the Isle of Skye where Queen Sgiach welcomes her and names her heir to the throne. Raging Neferet wants her dead, but needs to get Zoey back in the Sooner State; her lure is Kalona who she controls.
This is an engaging entry in the House of Night young adult fantasy series although the story line feels like “déjà vu all over again” (Yogi). In many ways the subplot relationship between Stevie Rae and Rephaim the Raven Mocker is more fascinating as he must choose between his heritage and love. Still Awakened is fast-paced and filled with action as fans will wonder how Neferet will lure Zoey back to Oklahoma when the latter has so much going as a queen in training.
Harriet Klausner
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Pale Rose of England-Sandra Worth
Pale Rose of England
Sandra Worth
Berkley, Feb 1 2011, $15.00
ISBN: 9780425238776
In a political marriage, Scottish Catherine Gordon and Lord Richard of Gloucester Perkin Warbeck marry. Catherine and Richard fall in love as she supports her spouse’s claim to the throne of England. Shockingly instead of her marriage leading to universal support of her husband being king as the offspring of the former late ruler Edward, in 1497 it leads to a civil war when the House of Tudor declares Richard a fraud and imposter.
Richard loses the war that keeps his rival Henry Tudor on the throne and Catherine as a royal prisoner is forced to serve in the demoralizing role of lady-in-waiting to the queen instead of being the king’s wife as she expected. Henry VII is attracted to her and acts on his desire though Catherine rejects his attempts. She only cares for her husband trying to keep him alive even if it means selling her soul to the devil sitting on the throne.
Although the War of the Roses has been the focus of much literature (Philippa Gregory’s The Cousins’ War- The red Queen, and The White Queen), Sandra Worth provides a fresh perspective by showcasing the story line though the eyes of the loser’s wife. Lady Catherine makes the tale as she and Richard marry out of political expedience but their marriage of convenience becomes a love match. Readers who relish royal historical England will appreciate this engaging energetic look at the rise of the Plantagenet line to the throne from the side of those who lost.
Harriet Klausner
Sandra Worth
Berkley, Feb 1 2011, $15.00
ISBN: 9780425238776
In a political marriage, Scottish Catherine Gordon and Lord Richard of Gloucester Perkin Warbeck marry. Catherine and Richard fall in love as she supports her spouse’s claim to the throne of England. Shockingly instead of her marriage leading to universal support of her husband being king as the offspring of the former late ruler Edward, in 1497 it leads to a civil war when the House of Tudor declares Richard a fraud and imposter.
Richard loses the war that keeps his rival Henry Tudor on the throne and Catherine as a royal prisoner is forced to serve in the demoralizing role of lady-in-waiting to the queen instead of being the king’s wife as she expected. Henry VII is attracted to her and acts on his desire though Catherine rejects his attempts. She only cares for her husband trying to keep him alive even if it means selling her soul to the devil sitting on the throne.
Although the War of the Roses has been the focus of much literature (Philippa Gregory’s The Cousins’ War- The red Queen, and The White Queen), Sandra Worth provides a fresh perspective by showcasing the story line though the eyes of the loser’s wife. Lady Catherine makes the tale as she and Richard marry out of political expedience but their marriage of convenience becomes a love match. Readers who relish royal historical England will appreciate this engaging energetic look at the rise of the Plantagenet line to the throne from the side of those who lost.
Harriet Klausner
Halfway Hexed -Kimberly Frost
Halfway Hexed
Kimberly Frost
Berkley, Feb 1 2011, $14.00
ISBN: 9780425238769
Though a relatively new witch twenty something Tammy Jo Trask is a veteran of war having battled an assortment of predatory paranormal and insane humans (see Barely Bewitched and Would-Be Witched), but this battle is different. The Duval, Texas townsfolk led by Bryn Lyons’ former girlfriend want to sweep away all the witches.
Tammy Jo is caught in the middle as she must decide what to do about Bryn. She knows what he wants to know. Tammy Jo has concealed what happened to his mother ages ago. However, Tammy Jo hesitates revealing what she knows to her beloved as she considers her family warning her to have nothing to do with Bryn. If each risks trusting the other’s love, their combined magical power turns stratospheric.
The latest Southern Witch Texas fantasy is faster than the speed of light and loaded with an incredible amount of action that the audience has no chance to breathe and read at the same. The story line moves forward on the romantic subplot while a Texas two step witch hunt is done in earnest.
Harriet Klausner
Kimberly Frost
Berkley, Feb 1 2011, $14.00
ISBN: 9780425238769
Though a relatively new witch twenty something Tammy Jo Trask is a veteran of war having battled an assortment of predatory paranormal and insane humans (see Barely Bewitched and Would-Be Witched), but this battle is different. The Duval, Texas townsfolk led by Bryn Lyons’ former girlfriend want to sweep away all the witches.
Tammy Jo is caught in the middle as she must decide what to do about Bryn. She knows what he wants to know. Tammy Jo has concealed what happened to his mother ages ago. However, Tammy Jo hesitates revealing what she knows to her beloved as she considers her family warning her to have nothing to do with Bryn. If each risks trusting the other’s love, their combined magical power turns stratospheric.
The latest Southern Witch Texas fantasy is faster than the speed of light and loaded with an incredible amount of action that the audience has no chance to breathe and read at the same. The story line moves forward on the romantic subplot while a Texas two step witch hunt is done in earnest.
Harriet Klausner
Evenfall-Liz Michalski
Evenfall
Liz Michalski
Berkley, Feb 1 2011, $15.00
ISBN: 9780425238721
In Hartman, Connecticut, when her Uncle Frank Wildermuth died, Andie Murphy returns to Evenfall to help her Aunt Gert cope with her loss and handle the estate. Andie has a personal reason for coming to the farm that she enjoyed visiting as a child; to escape as her last relationship recently ended poorly.
Gert and her niece are fleeing memories of the men in their lives as they struggle to adapt to their different loss. Gert always loved Frank but he married her late sister Clara instead. Though the farm contains whispers, neither women realizes the source. Filled with remorse almost his entire life when he chose the wrong sibling as a teen, Frank’s ghost refuses to move on until he helps his sister-in-law and niece move on with their lives.
Albeit a story about a ghost who understands the maxim never to give up, Evenfall is much more a profound character study that looks deep into the souls of three people. The story line rotates lead as each protagonist and the farm come across as genuine and unique. Readers will answer affirmative when asked do you believe in ghosts upon reading Liz Michalski’s warm relationship drama.
Harriet Klausner
Liz Michalski
Berkley, Feb 1 2011, $15.00
ISBN: 9780425238721
In Hartman, Connecticut, when her Uncle Frank Wildermuth died, Andie Murphy returns to Evenfall to help her Aunt Gert cope with her loss and handle the estate. Andie has a personal reason for coming to the farm that she enjoyed visiting as a child; to escape as her last relationship recently ended poorly.
Gert and her niece are fleeing memories of the men in their lives as they struggle to adapt to their different loss. Gert always loved Frank but he married her late sister Clara instead. Though the farm contains whispers, neither women realizes the source. Filled with remorse almost his entire life when he chose the wrong sibling as a teen, Frank’s ghost refuses to move on until he helps his sister-in-law and niece move on with their lives.
Albeit a story about a ghost who understands the maxim never to give up, Evenfall is much more a profound character study that looks deep into the souls of three people. The story line rotates lead as each protagonist and the farm come across as genuine and unique. Readers will answer affirmative when asked do you believe in ghosts upon reading Liz Michalski’s warm relationship drama.
Harriet Klausner
Archangel’s Consort-Nalini Singh
Archangel’s Consort
Nalini Singh
Berkley, Jan 25 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780425240137
Following the harrowing battle with the ancient Archangel of China Lijuan, miraculously newly made Angel Elena Deveraux the Guild Hunter and the Archangel of New York Raphael are recovering from their devastating confrontation with the Archangel of China, Lijuan (see Archangel’s Kiss). However, though they sort of won the battle, Lijuan remains dangerous as she has evolved into something beyond the ken of the archangels.
Elena continues her training as an angel, but refuses to hand in her Guild Hunter membership. At the same time vampires are caught up in unheard of blood lust frenzies and too frequently natural disasters are everywhere. Raphael fears the rise of a long dormant insane ancient archangel he knows personally.
The third Archangel Guild Hunter fantasy (see Angel’s Blood) is a terrific entry as the lead couple continues to grow separately and as a loving team. The story line is fast-paced with a strong mystery and a great twist to what is the cause of the vampire enigma. The support cast is very strong with distinct personalities as this series remains one of the best with the current entry affirming that for delighted fans of Nalini Singh.
Harriet Klausner
Nalini Singh
Berkley, Jan 25 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780425240137
Following the harrowing battle with the ancient Archangel of China Lijuan, miraculously newly made Angel Elena Deveraux the Guild Hunter and the Archangel of New York Raphael are recovering from their devastating confrontation with the Archangel of China, Lijuan (see Archangel’s Kiss). However, though they sort of won the battle, Lijuan remains dangerous as she has evolved into something beyond the ken of the archangels.
Elena continues her training as an angel, but refuses to hand in her Guild Hunter membership. At the same time vampires are caught up in unheard of blood lust frenzies and too frequently natural disasters are everywhere. Raphael fears the rise of a long dormant insane ancient archangel he knows personally.
The third Archangel Guild Hunter fantasy (see Angel’s Blood) is a terrific entry as the lead couple continues to grow separately and as a loving team. The story line is fast-paced with a strong mystery and a great twist to what is the cause of the vampire enigma. The support cast is very strong with distinct personalities as this series remains one of the best with the current entry affirming that for delighted fans of Nalini Singh.
Harriet Klausner
Blood Wyne-Yasmine Galenorn
Blood Wyne
Yasmine Galenorn
Berkley, Feb 1 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780425239742
Like her two half-fae Sisters of the Moon sisters (Camille the witch – see Bone Magic; and Delilah the werecat/werepanther – see Harvest Hunting) Menolly D'Artigo the Vampire has resigned as an Otherworld Intelligence Agency field operative. The trio believes they will have more flexibility and less bureaucracy fighting the Otherworld invaders. Meanwhile she and Nerissa the werepuma are in love.
However, Menolly also cannot sit idly by when she learns a vampiric serial killer is murdering hookers. She fears the backlash by humans to vampires and other paranormals, so she plans to act before the mob mentality sets in. Tracking down the killer should be as all she has to do is follow the blood trail. However, nasty ghosts get involved mucking up her investigation. Menolly asks powerful vampire Roman to help her find the predator. He agrees for a fee; she must acquiesce to being his consort even as his mother ancient Vampire Queen Blood Wyne is returning to gain control of the undead population.
The ninth Sisters of the Moon urban fantasy is a superb thriller that continues to be fresh by the rotation of prime focus between the siblings. This time Menolly the most complicated sister with her extreme mental issues is caught up in her new world of vampirism. This forces her to choose between the lesser of evil at a time in which her species breaking into a bloody civil war seems imminent.
Harriet Klausner
Yasmine Galenorn
Berkley, Feb 1 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780425239742
Like her two half-fae Sisters of the Moon sisters (Camille the witch – see Bone Magic; and Delilah the werecat/werepanther – see Harvest Hunting) Menolly D'Artigo the Vampire has resigned as an Otherworld Intelligence Agency field operative. The trio believes they will have more flexibility and less bureaucracy fighting the Otherworld invaders. Meanwhile she and Nerissa the werepuma are in love.
However, Menolly also cannot sit idly by when she learns a vampiric serial killer is murdering hookers. She fears the backlash by humans to vampires and other paranormals, so she plans to act before the mob mentality sets in. Tracking down the killer should be as all she has to do is follow the blood trail. However, nasty ghosts get involved mucking up her investigation. Menolly asks powerful vampire Roman to help her find the predator. He agrees for a fee; she must acquiesce to being his consort even as his mother ancient Vampire Queen Blood Wyne is returning to gain control of the undead population.
The ninth Sisters of the Moon urban fantasy is a superb thriller that continues to be fresh by the rotation of prime focus between the siblings. This time Menolly the most complicated sister with her extreme mental issues is caught up in her new world of vampirism. This forces her to choose between the lesser of evil at a time in which her species breaking into a bloody civil war seems imminent.
Harriet Klausner
Blood Wyne-Yasmine Galenorn
Blood Wyne
Yasmine Galenorn
Berkley, Feb 1 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780425239742
Like her two half-fae Sisters of the Moon sisters (Camille the witch – see Bone Magic; and Delilah the werecat/werepanther – see Harvest Hunting) Menolly D'Artigo the Vampire has resigned as an Otherworld Intelligence Agency field operative. The trio believes they will have more flexibility and less bureaucracy fighting the Otherworld invaders. Meanwhile she and Nerissa the werepuma are in love.
However, Menolly also cannot sit idly by when she learns a vampiric serial killer is murdering hookers. She fears the backlash by humans to vampires and other paranormals, so she plans to act before the mob mentality sets in. Tracking down the killer should be as all she has to do is follow the blood trail. However, nasty ghosts get involved mucking up her investigation. Menolly asks powerful vampire Roman to help her find the predator. He agrees for a fee; she must acquiesce to being his consort even as his mother ancient Vampire Queen Blood Wyne is returning to gain control of the undead population.
The ninth Sisters of the Moon urban fantasy is a superb thriller that continues to be fresh by the rotation of prime focus between the siblings. This time Menolly the most complicated sister with her extreme mental issues is caught up in her new world of vampirism. This forces her to choose between the lesser of evil at a time in which her species breaking into a bloody civil war seems imminent.
Harriet Klausner
Yasmine Galenorn
Berkley, Feb 1 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780425239742
Like her two half-fae Sisters of the Moon sisters (Camille the witch – see Bone Magic; and Delilah the werecat/werepanther – see Harvest Hunting) Menolly D'Artigo the Vampire has resigned as an Otherworld Intelligence Agency field operative. The trio believes they will have more flexibility and less bureaucracy fighting the Otherworld invaders. Meanwhile she and Nerissa the werepuma are in love.
However, Menolly also cannot sit idly by when she learns a vampiric serial killer is murdering hookers. She fears the backlash by humans to vampires and other paranormals, so she plans to act before the mob mentality sets in. Tracking down the killer should be as all she has to do is follow the blood trail. However, nasty ghosts get involved mucking up her investigation. Menolly asks powerful vampire Roman to help her find the predator. He agrees for a fee; she must acquiesce to being his consort even as his mother ancient Vampire Queen Blood Wyne is returning to gain control of the undead population.
The ninth Sisters of the Moon urban fantasy is a superb thriller that continues to be fresh by the rotation of prime focus between the siblings. This time Menolly the most complicated sister with her extreme mental issues is caught up in her new world of vampirism. This forces her to choose between the lesser of evil at a time in which her species breaking into a bloody civil war seems imminent.
Harriet Klausner
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