DIK Challenge Review - The Vampire Shrink by Lynda Hilburn

My DIK reading challenge book for July is The Vampire Shrink by Lynda Hilburn. This was a pick of Lea's. Now I guess it had to happen sooner or later but I really didn't get on with this book. Sorry Lea. I feel bad because I know you must like it else you wouldn't have it as one of your picks. But my thoughts are below.

The Vampire Shrink tells the tale of Denver pyschologist Kismet Knight. Kismet doesn't believe in the paranormal, preferring to believe that everything has a rational explanation but when a new client introduces her to the vampire subculture pretty soon she's in over her head. In the midst of a murder investigation Kismet realizes she has feelings not only for vampire Deveraux, but also for an FBI profiler. However, she's also the target of a killer, so her schedule is pretty full up.

What I liked:-

Beautiful cover. Would definitely make me want to pick it up in a bookstore and read the blurb.

I also think the premise was a good one.

However, the major problem I had with the book was that I didn't like Kismet. Always a stumbling point for a first person novel if you can't get on with the protagonist.

Why didn't I like her. The character is constantly telling us what's happening, she's overly aware. Every time I started to sink into the story she'd say or think something that would knock me out of it. She's also pretty up herself.

"Having such fair skin was a blessing most of the time, because I always appeared younger than I was..."

Hmmm. Who looks in a mirror and thinks that about themselves? So unfortunately she comes across as fake - more like an actress playing the character of Kismet rather than Kismet herself.

Also and this isn't a fault of the book as such. But Kismet is always noticing when her nipples get hard. Now I challenge anyone to read The Unfeasibly Tall Greek Billionaire - by Tumperkin, Carrie Lofty, Carolyn Jean, Ann Aguirre, Kate Rothwell and Lisabea. And then take any character who is constantly noticing when her nipples get hard, seriously. I don't think it's possible.

Then once I'd got TUTGB in my head I couldn't get it out. So lines like

"His lap was filled with a large erection."

Struck me as funny when I'm not sure they were meant to. Or if they were meant to I didn't get that they were meant to. And within the first 50 pages she's already got three guys after her. Basically she got on my wick.

Kismet also contradicts herself, says things she couldn't possibly know - commenting on a woman she's only just met she says - she always seemed on the verge of laughing out loud. You've only just met her, how can you possibly know that she 'always' seems on the verge of laughing out loud.

So this one isn't for me. But if everyone liked the same books the world would be a very boring place. The Amazon reviews seem pretty divided as well, so I think this is one you'll either love or hate and I fall into the latter category.

Mark of the Demon by Diana Rowland

Kara Gillian is a cop and a demon summoner. When a routine summoning goes wrong and she somehow summons a creature called Rhyzkahl, little does she realize how that one event has changed her life. Kara had been hoping to use her occult skills to catch a serial killer known as the Symbol Man. Unknown to her the Symbol Man has his own occult agenda and she may not have enough time to stop it.

It's been a while since I've been so conflicted about a book and because of this I'm going to write this as an ungraded review. This is one that I really wanted to like and parts of it were incredibly brilliant, unfortunately one aspect was so annoying that at one point I put the book down as I thought it was DNF.

So the brilliant stuff first. :)

In Mark of the Demon Diana Rowland has created an original and powerful demon hierarchy. Although they are consumed with the need to gain power, they live by a system based on debt and honour. As Kara explains you cannot judge demons by a human based value system.

Whilst most demons are animal-like in form, Rhyzkahl has human form and is almost indescribably beautiful. This plays in contrast to his ability to balance his honour debts in the most ruthless way possible. He does not appreciate being summoned, even by accident. Rhyzkahl was a fascinating character and the thing I loved about him was that his surface appearance does not make him any less threatening or terrifying. Sometimes you read characters who are meant to be demons and actually they feel like nothing more than souped up vampires. That is not the case here.

The plot was well thought out and the author manages to keep her hands on all of the threads. For instance it would have been easy to say that Kara managed to summon Rhyzkahl 'just because'. But we find out towards the end of the story that there is an actual reason as to why she pulled him through a portal rather than the demon she was trying to summon.

Diana Rowland also manages to drop in the most intriguing hints about characters, leaving you wanting to know how everything is going to work out. I get the feeling that nothing (plotwise) has been written accidentally. That there is a solid backstory there to explain everything, even though we aren't aware of it at the moment.

Onto the problem I had with the book, which can be summed up in two words:-

Kara Gillian.

Possibly the most annoying heroine I've ever read. She behaves like a brat, has temper tantrums and uses the f-word at any given opportunity. It started to feel like this was being used rather than character development to show how tough the character was.

The only time the plot felt weak was when it centred around her. She's a rookie detective but gets assigned as the lead on the Symbol Man case. She's very up her own arse. There's a difference between confidence and arrogance, and she comes across as arrogant. Which is a pity as I think if I could have liked Kara, I know I would have loved this book. However, what intrigues me in the story is not Kara but the male characters around her. And this is a problem as she should be the glue holding the story together, not the character that makes it fall apart.

Made to be Broken by Kelley Armstrong

The second in the Nadia Stafford series, Made to be Broken follows ex-cop Nadia Stafford as she investigates the disappearance of a teenage mother and her baby. With support from her hitman mentor Jack, and Quinn another hitman, she pursues a quest for justice for a girl that no one misses.

If you like your heroes and heroines to be morally superior then this might not be the story for you. But if the morally grey area between right and wrong intrigues you I'd recommend this series.

Whilst the main plot fills in more details about Nadia's past - as her desire to find out what happened to Sammi (the teenage mother) becomes an obsession - it is the interactions between Nadia and Jack that had me compulsively turning the pages. However, Kelley Armstrong makes it clear that Nadia's past is still a huge influence on her current life, her current thought processes and how she deals with the situations she finds herself.

I'm a huge Kelley Armstrong fan. I love the way she can get you into a character's head with just a few lines. And what I love most about the Nadia Stafford series is the relationship between Jack and Nadia. In a way I find them a more interesting couple that Clay and Elena. Maybe because a lot of 'stuff' between the werewolves comes down to instinct. Jack and Nadia don't have that, they have to rely on talking to each other. And as Jack doesn't really...talk.

I'll briefly mention here that there is also a subplot about Nadia's continuing relationship with Quinn. But back to the good stuff. :)

Jack and Nadia. Their conversations in some ways remind me of those e-mail meme's - what people say and what they mean. Nadia is very visual and logical in her responses to Jack, she has a tendency to take what he says literally and doesn't read between the lines. Jack then cues his responses from Nadia's response to him.

"You don't need to be sarcastic."
"And you don't need to be stupid."

It would be frustrating if you didn't know that somewhere subconsciously Nadia knows what her feelings for Jack are. And I think part of the reason she responds the way she does is because the strength of her feelings is almost overwhelming. So she represses them.

As a reader you see different things to the characters. You have the luxury of being objective. Jack offers to get Nadia a corner gun and I'm put in mind of the courtship rituals of birds. "Look at what I can get you...Look at what I can provide." But obviously he doesn't say that. And Nadia chooses to assume that he's only getting her the gun so she can test it out and then teach him how to use it. (Which okay, I could be reading too much between the lines here, but it almost seems like it's screaming out.)That's not to say he doesn't respect her skills as a hitman.

"...Were you going to shout after me, 'Oh, by the way, this could be a trap'?"
"Nah. Hate shouting."

At the moment it seems to be unclear whether there will be any more books in the series and I think it would be a damn shame if there weren't. Jack and Nadia are one of my favourite couples. They are unconventional, have sexual chemistry that virtually scorches the page even though they haven't even kissed and I WANT to know what's going to happen to them next.

Stay the Night by Lynn Viehl

The seventh and final book in the Darkyn series, I feel like I have been waiting for this one forever. Mainly, because for some bizarre reason the UK release date kept being put back! Or was that only happening to me?

Anyway, as always we have a multi-stranded plot here, the three main plots are the Kyn Lord Robin of Locksley's romance with Chris Renshaw, a fiendish plot to assassinate the high lords of the Darkyn and the culmination of Michael and Alex's story. As always the story is packed with plot and nothing is superfluous. One thing I've learnt from reading Lynn Viehl's stories is that even things which might not seem important at the time may come to have greater relevance later. I'd never dismiss anything as irrelevant.

Now for anyone who hasn't yet read the book or read any reviews, there may be slight spoilers below.

I admit before I started reading I was curious as to how Lynn Viehl was going to wrap up the Darkyn series in this book. There was one plot point in particular I was really interested in seeing developed. The answer (for me) was that she didn't wrap up the series (as such). What she did was bring Michael and Alex's story to a satisfying conclusion. I think you can tell here, that I found Robin's story slightly overshadowed. As for the plot point I wanted, it was only hinted at. My hope is that the story of the shadow prince will continue in the new Kyndred series. As well as the ongoing war with the Brethren, and perhaps some more information on the jardin wars.

Unlike many authors whose stories I'm often able to anticipate, Lynn Viehl always seem to take the story in a direction I wouldn't have thought of. Here it's through the continuation of Luisa's storyline. Finally we're getting a clearer idea of how she fits into the Darkyn world. But such a brief glimpse. :sigh:

Just in case I've made it sound like Chris and Robin were more of a subplot. I did enjoy the development of their relationship. Robin's Kyn power is the ability to charm any human he touches, unfortunately it's a talent that Chris is immune to. Which leades to some incredibly snappy, sarcastic banter between the two of them. Robin has to learn to rely on his natural charisma to get what he wants, rather than his supernatural ability.

Do you bring all your women here?
Only you. I keep my other women in the harem on the third floor.

I love how Rob is bewildered by the fact that Chris isn't in awe of him and doesn't worship at the altar of his masculinity. He can't help but respond to her pricks and snipes, and because of this it makes it so easy for Chris to manipulate him.

If he left this room without throttling her, Robin thought, it would be a miracle.

A little more on my thoughts about the conclusion to Michael and Alex's story. We've followed this relationship over the course of seven books. But this is where Alex finally acknowledges and accepts her place among the Darkyn.

The Darkyn were her people now, and she had to start taking care of them.

Alex finally reveals to Richard how the American Darkyn have been able to turn humans into Darkyn after centuries of the Kyn being unable to - and so the Kyndred story begins.

One other thing I must mention is how we find out more about Phillipe in this book. And Lynn Viehl shows how to weave a m/m subplot into a story. It doesn't have to be a big production and drama, it can just be what it is.

This story was very much like catching up with a large dysfunctional family you are particularly fond of. It doesn't seem to matter which Lynn Viehl story I read I am always left wanting more. And I look forward to the new series with great anticipation.

The Lily Brand by Sandra Schwab

I'm a couple of days late with this one, so this is my TBR book for May, published in July 2005.

Troy Sacheverell is captured in France - a prisoner of war - he is sold to an evil woman to be a toy for her stepdaughter. Lillian wishes to escape her stepmother's clutches but it will not be so easy to get away from the twisted woman. Lillian ends up in England and through a twist of fate ends up married to Troy but their relationship is far from smooth and Camille - Lillian's stepmother - isn't finished with either of them.

Hmmm. I picked this up a while ago after reading a couple of favourable reviews. I've said it before, but will say it again, I'm not a big historicals fan and this one really didn't work for me.

At the beginning of the story, Troy is terribly abused by Lillian's stepmother and by association (for him) Lillian herself. I found the abuse disturbing - which I guess is the point.

Lillian takes refuge in stock phrases during times of stress - "What do you want of me?", "He's my responsibility". She is emotionally distant, in contrast Troy is full of anger that he vents in her direction. This doesn't seem to make him feel any better and he punches things a lot. Hence one of my problems with the story - it is very melodramatic.

My other problem - I know in an historical you have to allow for the traditions and etiquette of the time, but if at any point Lilly and Troy had just talked to each other...I guess it would have been a much shorter story. It's only towards the end when Troy and Lilly finally talk to one another that Troy is able to acknowledge Lilly was as much a victim as he was.

I think this is one of the shortest reviews I've written, but there isn't really much more I want to say, other than to mention the part of the book I enjoyed. I've ungraded this review because the book hasn't really convinced me to start reading historicals again.

I did however like the introduction of Drake and Justin, Troy's friends who are in a relationship. Troy tries to protect them and gives them a haven at his home where they can be together without fear of discovery. The two of them add a much needed humanizing touch to the story and it's Lilly's discovery of them in an embrace that is my favourite scene in the book. She finally realizes there is such a thing as love.

Raphael by D.B.Reynolds

So I'm kind of biased on this one, I was lucky enough to read an early version of it and loved it then. :)

Raphael is the first in the Vampires in America trilogy (series?). It introduces us to Cynthia Leighton a private investigator, former cop and kick-ass chick. When a female vampire is kidnapped, the Vampire Lord Raphael charges Cynthia with the task of finding out what happened.

Why I like Cynthia.

When she gets that feeling that something bad is going to happen she changes out of her four inch heels and puts boots on.(I'd like to interrupt this review to say YES! I don't care how much practice you've had, you cannot possibly chase a vampire/werewolf/whatever, down in four inch heels over uneven ground. Whenever this happens in a book it's a definite wallbanging moment.)She's a likeable no-nonsense heroine. She hears that little voice in her head that tells her something is wrong and listens to it! Her response to one of Raphael's guards who wants to confirm that she'll be coming back to the Vampire Lord's lair.

..."You'll be coming back?"
"Of course." Eventually. Someday

Why I like Raphael.

Look up the word arrogant in the dictionary and you'll find a picture of the Vampire Lord Raphael there.

"...No one takes what is mine and lives."

He is ruthless, takes what he wants and rules with an iron hand. In other words you believe that he is a vampire, that he is something other than human. He is a creature who sees things in black and white and he doesn't tolerate fools or sloppiness. His opinion of humans is low, so it's fascinating to watch Cyn get under his skin. I think he sees in her something he doesn't expect to see in a human - a loyalty, a belief, an idealism.

This is not a modern day vampire. Raphael could be a feudal lord from the medieval era. The vampires under his rule are his to command and they obey him without question. One of the things that makes the story for me is the contrast between them, Cyn is an independent woman drawn to Raphael almost despite herself. Raphael has little time for humans but finds Cynthia fascinating. It's a classic irresistible force and immovable object scenario. :)

The other character worth mentioning is Duncan - Raphael's leuitenant(:sigh: I cannot spell). Who I hear with an english accent despite the fact he's from the southern US. Maybe because he's so pissy and sounds like he's got a stick up his ass.

At the beginning of the story their lives are separate, so you get to see the moment their paths intersect and how it changes things for both of them. It's interesting to see their lives before and at the end of the story see how things have developed. I should add here that Raphael is an urban fantasy, not a romance. Raphael follows the development of their relationship, but at the end of the book the story is far from over. It will continue in Jabril the second book in the series - to be released in July.

And if ever I get my finger out I'll be doing my first interview on the blog with D.B.Reynolds.

Ghostland by Jory Strong

Ghostland tells the story of shamaness Aisling McConaughey. Taken from her home, she saves the life of a wealthy man's mistress, but this will just be the beginning of her troubles. Forced to call on the Djinn prince Zurael for help, the two of them will be pulled deeper into a complex situation that was set in motion long before either of them met.

I've kept this as an ungraded review mainly because of my strong views on the amount of sex in the book. Aside from that I think this book is well worth checking out, so please bear that in mind when reading the review.

Let's get the niggles out of the way. This story (for me) has far too much sex, too much swelling, hardening and engorging. As mentioned in the short review the hero seems to have a permanent erection, to the point it's a wonder he can get anything accomplished. Despite the incredible amount of sex they have I didn't really get a good connection between the two of them - Zurael and Aisling. This is one of the problems of urban fantasy romance over urban fantasy. In UF there would be time to build a relationship between the characters where in UFR there is an expectation that the relationship will be nicely resolved by the end of the story.

Also there's an anal sex scene which seems completely unnecessary. Aisling's apparently submissive nature is glibly pronounced by another character but this feels forced rather than organic. I would have loved to read a lot less of that and a lot more of the interaction between Aisling and other supernatural characters, and more details on the plot.

Having said that there are little moments between the two of them that shine. When they get into trouble at a nightclub, Aisling feels terrible guilt because of what happened to other people who were there. Zurael responds

"You were the only human in the club worth saving..."

Yes! Just that one line and it says so much more about where their relationship is going than five sex scenes. Hopefully there will be more of that sort of thing in the books to come.

Complaints aside, there is much to recommend here. Following on from my short review. This story has some of the most interesting worldbuilding I have read in a while. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where supernaturals no longer hide and different groups hold control of different areas, Aisling and Zurael have to walk a tightrope through religious, political and supernatural factions.

I love how every little thing that happens is woven into the story. Jory Strong never loses the thread of her plot and things which didn't seem important at the beginning are revealed to have greater significance later.

For me the last third of the book is the strongest, we get into the meat of the story, the plot threads are brought together and you are left wanting to know what's going to happen next.

Aisling is an appealing heroine, maybe a little too trusting but that seems to be inherent in her nature and will probably be something that is worn from her by the life she has to lead. Especially if the quote from another character in regard to her is anything to go by.

Death drapes you like a billowing cloak...It writhes at your feet and twines around you like a nest of serpents, so your touch becomes its harbinger.

Perhaps my favourite part of the book was when she travelled to vampire controlled San Francisco and assisted in the turning of a new vampire. I hope that the vampires will be making an appearance in a future book as I would love to learn more about them. (There were also a couple of other plot threads - the child witch, the fate of the Ifrit - that whilst not left dangling are definitely a possibility to be explored further in upcoming stories.)

I loved how Aisling's compassion is apparent in everything she does. For a character whose power means dealing with death and the bereaved it would have been easy to make her cold and distant. Instead it's her warmth and understanding which gets her through and you can see why Zurael is drawn to her vulnerability.

All of the species featured have their own societies and etiquette - Djinn, vampire, shaman, witch, all incredibly well-realized. I also very much liked the protrayal of angels, there was an otherness about them which I thought worked well. There are also rules to this world.

An answer given freely was lost forever.

Rules serve to give a solid framework to the world in which the characters live. There have to be consequences for actions especially in a rigid society such as the one in which Aisling lives.

It took me the whole book to decide whether or not I would follow this series, I changed my mind several times whilst reading. But I am at least going to pick up the second book in the series because I want to know where this story is going.

Guardian of Honor by Robin D. Owens

The TBR book for March should be a historical but as I haven't read an historical all year. I'm going with a fantasy (actually April's TBR category) and will try and squeeze an historical in later in the year.

Guardian of Honor was published in February 2005 and although it hasn't been on my TBR pile quite that long, it has been on there for a year or so. It was recommended on one of the yahoo groups and I thought I'd pick it up. I finally got round to reading it when it was chosen as the February book for Kelley Armstrong's book club.

I haven't graded this review, because although I loved the majority of the book there were a couple of things that didn't work for me.

So onto the story.

Alexa Fitzwalter is pulled from our world to Lladrana. Once there she is expected to help the Marshalls defend the land from an invasion of horrific creatures bent on the destruction of the Lladranan people. She can barely understand the language, let alone the politics of the place. Added to that they expect her to take a lover to cement her bond to the land and pretty soon she is feeling over her head. Almost despite herself she comes to care for this land and its people, but when the chance comes for her to return to Earth, will she take it?

First off the niggles.

Alexa for me, was too perfect. She always seemed to be in the right, and everyone else in the wrong. Every other character had a flaw which made them much more well-rounded and interesting. She didn't seem to be able to do any wrong, and although not all the other characters loved her, as the story is written in her point of view, there's the feeling that it's the other characters fault that they don't 'get' her, rather than anything in her own character.

The other thing I struggled with was the talking furry animal / shapechanger - Sinafin. Talking animals are something I shy away from. I think they are hard to do well and the cuter they are, the more off-putting I find them - this is a personal thing, like the ghosts. (Exceptions being Anne Bishop's Kindred and Meljean Brook's hellhound. In both these cases the authors gave the animals their own animal identities.)

Still with me? Apart from those two things. I thought this was incredibly well written. With some genuinely shocking and disturbing imagery. The frinks, a truly digusting animal - maggot-like creatures that come down in the rain and infect the weak-minded - are going to stay with me for a long time.

The characters that people Lladrana are well-written and interesting. The Marshalls - some of the most manipulative characters I've read about in a while - even when they agree to stop manipulating, they carry on, they can't seem to help themselves. Bastien and Luthan the sons of Reynardus were well drawn, they had the closeness of brothers but very different outlooks on life. The society was multi-layered and complex, and I think it would take more than one book to get everything sorted out - the sorcerers, for example, are only briefly introduced here, though it's made clear they will have a larger role to play in the next books.

I particularly like how we come to understand the character of Reynardus just at the end of the story. All the way through he had seemed like a two-dimensional ego-maniac, at the end in his conversation with Bastien we come to understand the choices he's made and why he is the way he is.

I liked that it wasn't immediately obvious who Alexa was going to end up with - Bastien or Luthan. Though it's probably more obvious to Alexa. And when she does finally make a choice it doesn't go smoothly, as he puts it:

"...I handled it badly. The afterward I handled badly. I was my usual superb self in bed."

LOL - my absolutely favourite quote from the book.

I can see why people love the series so much. And I think if the next book in the series was easier to get hold of (they are now out of print and seem to be quite highly priced on Amazon) then I might give it a go. But I'm not sure I could face reading another cute furry animal giving its opinion on everything.

Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs

Cry Wolf continues the story of Charles and Anna begun in the short story Alpha and Omega (from the On the Prowl Anthology). Following the incident in OTP Anna is moving to Montana to live with Charles, and take her place in the Marrok's pack. However, when you live as long as werewolves do you can make a lot of enemies. Before they have time to resolve the issues between them Charles and Anna are on the hunt for a rogue werewolf and a whole lot of history is about to smack them in the face.

I love Patricia Briggs. So this is going to be an ungraded review as I am not completely objective. :) I think Cry Wolf works best if you've read Alpha and Omega first, there is a little bit of a catch up at the beginning of Cry Wolf but I think you'd get more out of the story if you read about Charles and Anna's first meeting and how Anna became a werewolf. You only really get the bare bones in Cry Wolf. This book also slots into the Mercy Thompson Universe following up some events that happened after Mercedes returned to the Tri-Cities.

One slight niggle before the gushing, because if I gush first (LOL) I may forget to niggle later. Cry Wolf was a little slow in the middle for me, but I think that's more to do with the fact that I wanted more of the werewolf interaction stuff. I shouldn't be greedy.

I love Patricia Brigg's heroines. They're not superwomen, they're doing the best they can in difficult situations.And she has these one line quotes that can almost sum up a heroine at a particular time.

She wondered that hope was so much harder than despair.

(In Iron Kissed, Mercy's was - it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission.) Her characters have little quirks - Anna has a fondness for quoting phrases in Latin. Which I love and it made me want to get a t-shirt with Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum europe vincendarum on. I hesitate to think what that says about me. :)

Anna is an Omega wolf. She's previously been told she's a submissive, the lowest of the low, but that just isn't the case. What we experience in Cry Wolf is Anna starting to learn exactly what it means to be an Omega. Charles and Bran will only help her so far, part of being in a werewolf pack means she has to find her own place.

Charles and Anna's relationship as humans is much more wary than their relationship as wolves. Their wolves have already decided they are mates, however their human halves have not. Kind of a unique situation in werewolf society as it usually happens the other way round, with the wolf being more wary.

This is what I liked most about Cry Wolf, how Patricia Briggs fleshed out the relationships between the various members of the Montana pack, not only Charles and Anna, but how they work together as a unit, as a dysfunctional family. It's interesting that Anna thinks of the pack as a bunch of psychotics, in a way the Montana pack is a pack for werewolves who can't fit in anywhere else - they're too damaged, too set in their ways, too broken, but very interesting to read about. The stand out characters for me (not including C&A) are Bran the Marrok (of course :) ), Asil and Sage. And I really like how we finally get an insight into the relationship between Bran and Leah. Patricia Briggs pulls off the tricky thing of getting me to dislike Leah but also feel kind of bad about the situation she's in.

Because Cry Wolf is written in third person rather than first. It also gives us the opportunity to see situations from more than one point of view. So it's nice to be able to see what both Charles and Anna are thinking, and also being given the opportunity to see the way Bran thinks and to learn more of his history. So there are more complex relationships being explored here rather than just that between Charles and Anna. We also have Bran & the pack, Asil & Bran, Asil & Sage. Each one unique and revealing something different.

With only book being released for this series a year, I'm certainly learning about patience. :( And if anyone out there knows anything about the next book please feel free to share. :)

Giveaway Closed

Mine to Possess by Nalini Singh

MINOR SPOILERS MINOR SPOILERS

As I'm a Nalini Singh fangirl, this will be an ungraded review. :)

Mine to Possess is book 4 in the Changeling/Psy series. For the best reading of this book you really do need to have read the first three books in the series. As well as Clay and Talin's story which I think it's perfectly possible to enjoy as a standalone, there is also a major arc being played out over the course of the series, which you really need to have read from the beginning.

Clay Bennett is the half human/half Changeling sentinel of the DarkRiver leopard clan. Growing up he had to repress his animal nature, but one day it erupted in an act of violence which ended with him in jail and his best friend Talin deciding it would be better off if he thought she were dead. The years go by and now Talin is in trouble, and needs Clays help. But he's still walking the fine edge of violence, so as well as making a future together, they also have to resolve the troubles of their past.

I'm not sure why this has sat on my TBR pile for so long. I love the Psy/Changeling series and now I've read it, I love Mine to Possess. Maybe I just needed the break.

Let's deal with Talin and Clay first. The thing that's different between this book and the others in the series is that Talin and Clay already have a relationship. What they are doing here is forgiving the mistakes of the past and learning to move on. But because of this the relationship at the beginning is somewhat combative. Clay pushes and Talin stands her ground, and they have a lot that they need to resolve.

"What happened to you, Tally?"
..."I broke."

Clay is a very solitary and brooding character and he knows it's possible he could turn rogue if he gives in to the violence inside of him. Faith (from Visions of Heat) is particularly protective of him, and is more than a little questioning of Talin's motives. Talin in turn can't help but feel jealous of Faith and the perceived place she has in Clay's life.

To begin with there are quite a few misunderstandings between our hero and heroine, and usually I'd be tempted to say they just need to talk. But in this case they both have so much baggage from the past and a major crisis to deal with in the present that it takes a lot for them to make it over that first barrier. But it makes it all the more worth it when they do. :)

We learn more about Changeling society. This is one of the best things about the series, the fact that Nalini Singh makes it clear that neither the Changeling, Psy or human way is perfect. For example the rats of Down Below are given the stark choice of either allying with Dark River or being made to leave the city. Each species has it's flaws and talents, which makes Sascha's conclusions at the end of the story very interesting. We also find out about more Changeling species, and some very intriguing hints are dropped about the snakes.

The major arc of the story continues. The Psy are forging ahead with their plan to create a hive mind and are coming scarily close to achieving their goal. Luckily the unknown saboteur The Ghost is continuing to be a thorn in their side. New characters I want to know more about - Devraj Santos and the rat leader Teijan. And must just mention we get a brief glimpse of a shirtless Kaleb. LOL

There are multiple points of view, but they are skillfully woven into the fabric of the story, so they neither feel intrusive or surplus to the plot. Everything here serves to push the story forward, and we have plenty of time with Talin and Clay to appreciate how their relationship develops. We also have a nice catch-up with the other Dark River couples mainly through Talin's interactions with Faith, Tamsyn and Sascha, this is beautifully organic to the plot. Highly recommend series.

One good thing about waiting so long before reading this book, is that the wait for the next one is that much shorter. :) Hostage to Pleasure is out in September.

(Giveaway Closed)

Twilight Fall by Lynn Viehl

FANGIRL ALERT FANGIRL ALERT FANGIRL ALERT

Phew! Haven't done one of those in a while. For anyone new to my blog, that's just a little warning that I'm not quite as objective as usual.

Twilight Fall is the sixth and penultimate book in the Darkyn series. For anyone looking to get into the Darkyn books I can't recommend that you start here, you really need to go back to the beginning with If Angels Burn.

Twilight Fall is Valentin Jaus's story. He has popped up a couple of times, but his first major appearance was in Bk 2 Private Demon, when he lost the woman he loved and had his arm chopped off. TF finds him in a kind of holding pattern, but all of that is about to change as he meets Liling Harper a woman with extraordinary talents of her own. Unbeknownst to the two of them, their enemies are closing in and are determined to see them dead.

As always in the Darkyn books this is a multi-plotline story. Michael and Alex's story continues, Val and Lilings relationship blooms, John Keller's story reaches breaking point (HAH! to all those readers who thought he was insignificant and wished him out of the storyline).We find out more about what the Brethren have been up to and none of it's pretty. We also catch up with Jayr & Byrne (from Evermore), Luisa, the woman who was horrifically scarred at the beginning of the series, and we're starting to learn how fire is a significant thing for both the Brethren and the Darkyn. I think when all seven books are available it will be well worth reading back over the series and finding out how all the clues fit together.

We also have the introduction of a new 'species' for want of a better word. I think of them as elementals as they have power over fire or water. Initially I did have a problem with this and wondered if it was getting a little fantastical for me. But at the end of the story I think it works. Some people may question how much coincidence plays in the plotline, but here I'm not sure how far the influence of the Brethren extends, it's not clear how much they know. So it may be less coincidence and more good planning, LOL - or it could be coincidence.

As you can tell from the above there is a lot packed into this book. Most of it leading back to previous books and starting to bring plot threads together.

Like Evermore this book has a much more sexual feel to it. Valentin is dominant which I think is something he repressed during his time with Jema. However it is this dominant side of him that attracts Liling. There are no whips or chains, its very much played out mentally rather than physically. And all these Darkyn men are so like Michael.

"You are my sygkenis. You belong to me now, Liling..."

Liling has a quiet strentgh, and even though she chooses to submit to Valentin sexually. Everyone else would do well to treat her with caution. She may appear fragile, but at her core she's steel.

One of the best things about this series (for me) is Michael and Alex, they have been the major arc holding the series together.

"I could tie you to the bed, you know."
"No, you can't. It's round and you don't have any rope."

And they prove that a love story written after the first happy ending is just as enthralling as the initial get together. They are one of my favourite UF couples and have some brilliant scenes here. It's also interesting to read about Alex's relationship with her brother - when is she going to look at him and truly see him?

John Keller's storyline as I mentioned before takes a huge leap forward. I think once all seven books are out and I re-read the entire series, his will be one of the most interesting arcs to rediscover. And I couldn't end this review without mentioning Rain and Farlae. Over at her Paperback Writer blog, Lynn Viehl has said she's been e-mailed by fans hoping for a short story featuring them, and I definitely add myself to that number. They have two short scenes in Twilight Fall and steal the show in both of them.

A quick mention for Melanie and Kyan. Just beause they have some wonderful exchanges.

...He offered her the bottle again, but she turned her head. "You are thirsty. Drink."
"You are an asshole. Fuck off."

I find myself wondering if it's significant that the Methodist preacher uses the same Einstein quote that Melanie was supposedly writing an essay on - "We must learn to see the world anew,"

The Darkyn series is dark, real and intense. Some readers I think, find it too non linear and not neat enough. But I'm going to miss this series. If I could have a wishlist for Book 7 - the final book :sob:. It would be that as well as Robin's story, we'd have some closure for John and Luisa. Their plotlines have been there since the beginning and I can't wait to find out how Lynn Viehl's going to tie it all together.

Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews

Ilona Andrews was one of my breakout authors for 2007 (along with Jeri Smith-Ready and Jennifer Rardin) so this will be an ungraded review, as I'm such a fangirl. :)

Magic Burns picks up three months after Magic Bites. Atlanta is about to experience a flare - a time (every seven years) when magic runs rampant. So things in Kate's life are even crazier than usual. A simple job for the Pack (Atlanta's paramilitary clan of shapeshifters) to retrieve some maps, puts Kate in the path of two Gods fighting a battle of power. The price for stopping this war is going to be high.

Whilst I could just quote and quote from this book, the dialogue is sparky, witty and compelling, I will restrain myself so you can read the best bits for yourself.

Julie stared at me from the crates. "He went poof."
"Yes, he did."
"He likes you. He grabbed your butt."
"Next time I see him, I'll cut his arm off..."

Kate is a spunky, smart-mouthed heroine, who doesn't always think before she opens up her mouth, but is usually able to think fast enough to get herself out of any trouble her mouth gets her into. Though she should really know better than to preface a visit to anyone in Atlanta with the comment "...he's harmless." (That has to vie with "I'll be right back" as the top thing not to say in a dangerous situation.) Although a lot of this book will have a smile on your face, or have you reading faster to keep up with the action. It's intercut with moments of seriousness and sadness - a bit like real life in that way, but without the shapeshifters and the vampires and the impending apocalypse.

Retrieving the maps is not as easy as it sounds. Whenever Kate gets her hands on them, the thief steals them back. Bran is a character you can't help but like. He's such a rascal. :)

'"Hello, dove." He grinned at me. "Look at that: you don't have your pretty knife and I've got your hands. What are you gonna do now?"
I rammed my head into his nose.'

The relationship he has with Kate is both funny and sad, though I think at the end of the book he is her champion.

There are some nice set pieces in this book. At the beginning Kate summarizes the attitudes of the police, the guild and the order to supernatural problems. A great catch-up for anyone who missed the first book. Probably my favourite section is when Kate has to visit the werehyenas, not only for the stuff we find out, but also because the characters of the hyenas are just so hyena-like. I read that bit and I've got the trio from the Lion King in my head.

In some ways this book is more fantastical, and I wonder how much of that can be attributed to the flare. The number and variety of supernatural creatures on display increases - salamanders, stymphalean birds, giant tortoises - as does the strength of magical activity. It gives you an idea of what Atlanta would be like if it ever tipped completely over into the magical world. (Slightly reminded me of Simon R. Greens Nightside).

We get a lot more hints about Kate's secret. Some whacking big clues. I'm pretty sure I know what it is but it doesn't really annoy me that we still don't know for sure. I like that it's slowly unfolding with events.

The chemistry between Kate and Curran increases. Phew!

Quibble - On page 26 when Kate comes across a chasm in the ground she 'estimates' it's size as at least a mile wide, close to a quarter mile deep and stretching forth for a good two miles! And I just don't think you can put quantities on a hole that big. But hey, when that's the only complaint you've got about a book, you really shouldn't be complaining.

Any book that can make you laugh and cry is a keeper. My major gripe is that 2009 is too long to wait for the next book.

Personal Demon by Kelley Armstrong

Hope Adams, a rare Expisco half-demon, has inherited a hunger for chaos from her demon father. When Benicio Cortez asks her to go undercover in a new supernatural gang for the Cortez Cabal, it's an opportunity to feed her addiction to chaos and to pay back the favour she owes the Cabal. But before long things are spiralling out of control and Hope is out of her depth. If she's to get out of this alive, she'll need more than her attraction for chaos. It will be up to Karl Marsten (werewolf) and Lucas Cortez (sorcerer) to help her survive.

I have to admit Hope is not my favourite Kelley Armstrong character. I've got the anthology with her introductory short story in my TBR pile (possibly another book for TBR day). I think I considered her my Paige Winterbourne. So I was kind of going into this thinking I wouldn't like it, or perhaps I would be disappointed. (This is the second book I've read recently where I've been underwhelmed at the prospect of the heroine, and the second time I'm happy to have been proved wrong.) :)

I know I've said this before, so feel free to skip this paragraph, but as a Kelley Armstrong fan, the thing I love about her writing is how quickly she can get you into a character's head. So almost despite myself I'm sucked into the story.

Kelley Armstrong plays a tight line in this book. Too far one way and Hope loses all sympathy with the reader. One thing Hope proves over and over throughout the story is that she's not the best judge of anyone's character. She makes assumptions about Karl's feelings but is quick to accept other people (the gang members) at face value. So I find what I like most about Hope is how her relationship with Karl is explored.

I've liked Karl since his first appearance in Bitten, so love the expanded role he now has in the series. And he and Hope make a great pair, they are two flawed people who ultimately find a home in each other.

"I've never lived with anyone, Karl."
"Neither have I."
"I drool in my sleep."
"I know. It's cute."

Karl is much older than Hope, and it's his experience of having to deal with his werewolf side that allows him to help Hope with her chaos addiction. Hope is an addict, she suffers from an addiction which she can't get away from because it's genetic. In the same way that Karl can never get away from his werewolf.

Lucas Cortez is the second narrator of Personal Demon. This dual protagonist approach allows us to experience two different sides to the story. I'm always glad when we find out more about the Cabals, since reading Industrial Magic (Book 4) it's a part of this world that fascinates me. So one of the major things that lifted this story for me is the further insight into the workings of the Cabal. You can almost feel the tentacles of the Cabal structure pulling Lucas in. And it's also pretty obvious (to me anyway) that he would be a worthy successor to his father.

This dual narration also allows us to 'see' Karl from both Hope and Lucas's point of view. Okay, it's obvious Karl is my favourite character. :)

Although I think you could read this book and enjoy it if you've not read any of the other books in the series as Hope is a relatively new character and Karl has only played a small role in the other books. There is an awful lot here that picks up on events and characters from the previous seven books. There are references back to events in Books 2,3,4 and 7. There's also a very nice (but brief) update on Clay and Elena.

And once again I find myself counting down the days 'til the next Kelley Armstrong release.

Dagger-Star by Elizabeth Vaughan

Tricky when you're starting a new series, when you've really loved the previous books an author has written. Instead of settling down with old friends you're meeting strangers.

Sometimes it works for you as a reader - I love both S.L. Viehl's Stardoc series and the Darkyn series she writes as Lynn Viehl. Sometimes it doesn't. Anne Bishop's Black Jewel books I could re-read over and over, But her other series have never interested me.

So we come to Dagger-Star, Elizabeth Vaughan's first book after the War Plains trilogy. Which I was privileged to receive an ARC for.

Dagger-Star tells the story of Red Gloves - a female mercenary who has come to the land of Palins in search of work. Josiah - a goatherder - knows very little about her, but he knows her dagger-star birthmark indicates she's a Chosen. Part of a prophecy that may set the land of Palins free.

I had some concerns about this story, mainly to do with how it links to the War Plains trilogy. So I'll come to that later and initially deal with the story as if it were a standalone.

Red Gloves is a name, that for me, took a little getting used to and I think it distanced me a little from the story to begin with, though by page 7 I was interested and by page 40 completely hooked. It's more like a label than a name as such - she's a mercenary who wears red gloves. This is in a world where people change their names as their circumstances change.

Red is the alpha in this story, and is not exactly the most sensitive person. She's a much more prickly character than Lara(from the War Plains books) not so ready to be the martyr. She's practical to the point of insensitivity, stroppy, knows her own mind. But she's also loyal, brave and determined. This is a woman we believe capable of leading an army.

There is a slight role reversal. Red is very take charge, whilst Josiah is more beta. That doesn't mean he's a wuss or a wimp - think Daniel Jackson from Stargate. There's strength in being able to bend rather than break. I also think it can be harder to write a believable beta hero, than a believable alpha.

The relationship between Red and Josiah starts off on the wrong foot. They're attracted though, almost despite themselves. They rub each other up the wrong way, and this friction creates chemistry. In a way it's a much more romantic tale than the War Plains trilogy - but there's still plenty of fighting, scheming and plotting going on.

Red follows the Way of the Twelve, whilst Josiah follows the religion of the Lord and the Lady. I think this is where Elizabeth Vaughan excels. She creates religions and beliefs that give her world depth. I think her storytelling style appears deceptively simple.

This book has a large 'cast' and is told from multiple points of view, but each character has their own beliefs, quirks, desires and ambitions. Red - the mercenary, Bethral her sword-sister, Ezren - the storyteller, Evelyn - the priestess. I suspect for some people this style won't work, but I do like seeing the same situation through different eyes. There are a couple of wonderfully written parallel scenes where it's clear Red and Josiah are thinking the same thing, but are convinced the other person is thinking something else. They need to talk. :) I think as long as it adds more to the story then it's working. I wish the book had been longer so we could have gone into more depth, but hopefully there will be more books to come.

My main concern whilst I was reading was how this world fits in with that of the War Plains trilogy. The thing I liked about the trilogy was that it was a fantasy which dealt with the cultural conflict between two peoples. There was no magic, no easy solution. Everything had to be strived for.

There are hints that this is the same world - kavage, references to the Tribes of the Plains. I think what concerns me, is how what we find out in Dagger-Star, affects the world of the Plains.

In Dagger-Star we find out there is magic - elves, portals, magical fire. And in a way I wish Dagger-Star had been set in a new world, that the two worlds had been kept separate. If magic is real then maybe the warrior-priests of the plains weren't lying to Lara.

That aside, this was another story I immersed myself into and at the end there are still questions that haven't been answered. Still stories there to be told. I want to know what happens next not only to Red and Josiah, but also to Ezren, Bethral, Evelyn, Dominic, Fael, Helene. And I really want to know how Verice and Warna got together.

Elizabeth Vaughan writes stories about women who change their world. Heroines who may doubt themselves or their gifts but who ultimately triumph. And it's not through use of magic but through self-belief and determination. She's one of my favourite authors and I'm counting the days 'til the next book.

Exit Strategy by Kelley Armstrong

After Nadia Stafford took justice into her own hands, she had to leave the police force. She finally ends up becoming a hitwoman for a small mafia family, whilst at the same time trying to keep her tourist lodge solvent. However, when one of her hits is mistaken for the work of a serial killer, she joins forces with five other assassins to stop the killings before they are all exposed.

As a big fan of Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld series, I approached Exit Strategy with some trepidation. I guess I was slightly concerned I'd miss having the possibility of werewolves. I needn't have worried. :)

Kelley Armstrong writes characters who feel like real people, whether they're an ex-cop hitwoman, or the world's only female werewolf. In Exit Strategy this is made clear from the 'victim vignettes'. Two or three pages we spend with the victims of the serial killer before they're murdered, as they just go about their daily lives. In just a few pages they become real people, not just red shirts. By the time you get to page 287 and read about Gracie and Cliff you'll be biting your fingernails.

Even though Nadia is the protagonist (and ES is written in first person), we don't find out exactly what happened to her when she was younger. We know it's something terrible, but she's not exactly honest with herself, let alone other people. And there's a feeling throughout the book that this incident was a precipitating event, that through other decisions she's made in her life, has brought her to her present position. (Wow - compound sentence there.) We learn part of the story of this triggering event, and we can surmise more as we experience her nightmares and what she shares with Jack. But she doesn't allow herself to think of what happened, though it clearly still troubles her.

So Nadia as a heroine is a bit of an enigma. Even though we're in her head, there are still parts of her that remain a mystery. And I liked this. I liked having to think about her motivations. As a hitwoman she's decisive and professional, but there's something inside her that's not functioning quite properly. I'm hoping we gradually find out more about her in upcoming books. I wonder if she'll ever have to confront all the things she's denied.

Of the other hitmen - Jack, Evelyn, Quinn and Felix - we spend most time with Jack, who is Nadia's mentor, and Evelyn who was Jack's mentor.

...Jack said, "You saw my note, right? It said 'wait'."
"That was a note? I thought it was a haiku."

Jack brings new meaning to the word taciturn. Whilst he uses the minimum number of words to get his point across, and none if he can say what he wants to non-verbally, his presence looms large on the page. He remains a complete professional, focused on the job at hand, and yet there is a chemistry between him and Nadia that is almost tangible - probably moreso because the two of the them don't acknowledge it. Yep, I think I'm gonna be a Jack/Nadia shipper.

"He's an old man," Evelyn said..."Flash him some T and A, and he'll tell us everything we want to know."
"Great," I said. "We'll find you a push up bra and a mini skirt."

Evelyn is one sharp old lady who knows what makes people tick. You underestimate her at your peril. It's clear that she cares for Jack. Whilst she states an interest in mentoring Nadia, I wouldn't put it past her to have other motives.

And, yep, there is loads more dialogue I want to quote, but I'm gonna stop there. :)

One of the most memorable scenes for me in Bitten (Otherworld Bk1) has nothing to do with werewolves. It's the scene where Elena is pursued by a killer through an airport parking lot. You were there with her. And Exit Strategy has a similar feel. Would I recommend this book to everyone - no. If the reason you read Kelley Armstrong's books is for the urban fantasy element, then this one might not be for you. If on the other hand it's for her dialogue, and the way she makes characters come alive on the page, then give it a try.

Evermore by Lynn Viehl

FANGIRL ALERT FANGIRL ALERT FANGIRL ALERT

I was very lucky and appreciative to be sent an ARC of Evermore by Lynn Viehl. A book I have been desperately looking forward to, since I read what had to be the best teaser ever in the back of Night Lost.

Okay, anyone who's read my reviews of the other Darkyn books, knows that I love Lynn Viehl. So you've been warned, I will however, try to keep this as objective as possible and the gushing to a minimum. :) And hopefully spoiler free.

I have never been able to choose a favourite Darkyn book before. To me there was always something unique about each one - Alex's spunky personality, Thierry's torment, Jema's fragility, Valentin's nobility, Lucan's amorality - that left me unable to decide between them. Evermore, I simply loved.

Evermore tells the story of Jayr and Byrne who we first met in Dark Need (Bk 3). Byrne is the suzerain of Knight's Realm - a castle complete with moat, where tourists visit to experience medieval life. Jayr is unique among the Darkyn as she is the only female seneschal. We join them during a winter tournament, when humans are banished from the castle and Kyn from all over the country and from Europe, test themselves against one another in sword fighting, jousting and archery. Byrne has made the decision to step down as suzerain, a fact which he keeps from Jayr. As their relationship strains against the conventions that keep them apart, an unknown enemy will use the tournament to seek revenge.

For anyone unfamiliar with the Kyn series, whilst each book follows one couple, there is also an ongoing arc between Michael and Alexandra (the couple from If Angels Burn Bk1). The Brethren (the Kyn's enemy) and John Keller are only mentioned briefly, but I think significantly. We also have new plot threads, notably the proper introduction of Robin of Locksley as a member of the Kyn. (I'd just like to say - YAY!) We also find out a lot more about the Jardin Wars when Kyn fought against Kyn.

I think Evermore is a pretty accessible entry in the series, as a major plotline was concluded in the previous book Night Lost. The plotline of Evermore is perhaps the most linear so far, and even though there are still multiple storylines, they take place in one location - Knight's Realm. However, there is also some fallout from Night Lost, as Alex deals with the consequences of her kidnap by Richard, so familiarity with the previous books is helpful.

There is a wonderful parallel in this book, between the relationships of Michael and Alex, and Jayr and Byrne. Jayr and Alex turned into Kyn under similar circumstances, trapped with a starving male Kyn. But the way Byrne and Michael handled the situation, completely different. Alex becomes Michael's sygkenis, Jayr becomes Byrne's seneschal. And the contrast between the two relationships is just wonderful to read. There is a point early in the story where Michael confesses his guilt over turning Alex to Jayr, and it's eerie, I felt like it could be Byrne speaking.

For me this is the most darkly erotic of the Darkyn books so far. Maybe because the feelings between Jayr and Byrne have to be repressed. The relationship between them is totally suzerain and seneschal, but underneath you are aware of this passionate intensity between the two of them that they deny. Partly I think because they have to work together, partly because of Byrne's guilt, and also because Jayr has not gone through puberty (a condition caused by severe malnutrition, not dissimilar to that of Jema Shaw from Book 2 though hers was caused by drugs). (This matter is resolved, and gives me hope that one day Jamys will have his own book.) This tension builds and builds until it HAS to be consummated. But the Kyn who seeks vengeance won't be denied.

Also worth mentioning again, is Robin of Locksley - whose past has come back to haunt him. Indeed that could be the other theme of this book - as both Robin, Byrne, Alex, Vivianna and Rainer deal with the consequences of their past. Robin's story entwines with that of Jayr and Byrne, this is definitely a book where a re-read helps clarify motivation. Just rereading the ending again whilst I write this review, makes me appreciate anew how well the story is put together. I think Robin Hood fans are going to find lots to sink their teeth into. I have my fingers crossed that there will be a continuation of Robin's story in a future book. As I'm sure there's much more for us to learn.

Jayr and Byrne's story reaches a happy conclusion. However, Evermore ends on a bittersweet note, and leaves me looking forward to finding out, more than ever, where the story goes from here.

Evermore is released on January 2nd. Highly recommended.

Lover Unbound by J.R.Ward

SPOILERS BELOW SPOILERS BELOW SPOILERS BELOW

Lover Unbound is the fifth book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R.Ward. It follows Vishous who ends up in a human hospital following a Lesser attack. Instantly attracted to his surgeon, when the other members of the Brotherhood turn up to rescue him, he kidnaps her even though he knows he's commited to a future without her.

I was in two minds whether or not to review this book. So much has been said more eloquently elsewhere (and sometimes in a much funnier manner), and I'm afraid what follows may turn into an essay.

However, I will give it a bash. These are my thoughts following a couple of weeks musing over the story.

WHAT I LIKED

I loved the introduction to Jane in the prologue, especially the part where she uses the Ouija board. I thought it was a very strong beginning.

The training stuff and everything to do with the pre-trans. The new troika of Blay, Qhuinn and John Matthew. Just fantastic.

JM's transition and the aftermath and following from that - the relationship that is developing between JM and Zsadist. The fact that Zsadist knows about what happened to JM and was able to deal with it in a way that was comfortable for JM.

The fact that we're finding out more about Darius, and the overall history of the Brotherhood.

The relationship between V and the Scribe Virgin. Finally there is someone who has taken her down off that pedestal.

JM and Xhex, so looking forward to seeing where that goes.

I liked the Primale thing, and Phury's fall from grace.

Cormia and the rest of the Chosen. I'm looking forward to seeing them all come out of their shells. And my fingers are crossed that Phury can't just give up the Primale thing. There should be some consequences for accepting the responsibility.

HO HUM (MIDDLE GROUND)

I hate to say this, but when I think back about the story. V and Jane's relationship doesn't pop out at me at all. It's all the other stuff I remember. I also think that if you removed Jane from the story and substituted Butch that the whole thing would still work. This disappointed me, because as a character she had such a strong beginning and somewhere along the way she disappeared. I liked her interactions whilst I was reading them, but they just haven't stuck in my head.(LOL - though I would have been happy to read about V and Butch)

For the most part, the character of V felt off to me. Even the interactions with Butch didn't seem to hit the same note as in previous books.


WHAT I DISLIKED

The ending. For a couple of reasons. I don't like the Casper situation. This is a personal thing, I feel it goes against the natural order. And I also feel like we're retreading a story that's already been told in a much more satisfying way - Lover Eternal. Jane is essentially taken out of the continuum of her fate. We've already been here. And whilst we're on the subject, I didn't find Rhage standing in her amusing.

V's rape confession. Mainly because it seemed gratuitous. And working it out, it means the majority of the men at the camp must have been rape victims. Darius was at the same camp, did he rape anyone? Or did he leave before he was required to do that? This is important because it impacts John Matthew's story. How is he going to feel if his former incarnation was a rapist, when he's a rape victim.

Some of Bella's comments to Phury, especially those said in front of Cormia. Is insensitivity a side effect of vampire pregnancy?

I missed the Lesser POV. This was one of the things that made the books unique, the fact that we understood what motivated the bad guys. The fact that sometimes we knew more about the Lessers than the vampires did. I do think LU would have benefitted from a certain Lesser's point of view.


So I really enjoyed the book (even given the above problems) right up until page 484. Yes, that's after Jane left the stage. At that point the book lost me, I felt like we'd hit a point where there HAD to be a happy ending and V and Jane HAD to be together forever. It's a personal thing for me - I don't like ghosts. I don't believe the living and the dead belong together.

I would have been more interested in seeing V and Jane having to deal with the consequences of her humanity. Or V having to deal with a life that no longer included Jane, after she had opened him up emotionally.

It's interesting that Lover Unbound is the first BDB novel not to have paranormal romance on the spine. But I didn't really feel like we'd crossed over into another genre. I felt like LU didn't know what it was. There wasn't enough of a romantic plot for it to be PNR, and I don't think it went hard enough to be classed as urban fantasy. As someone who reads a lot of UF, I think Jane would have remained human, or dead if there was a big push in that direction, because those are more difficult scenarios to deal with.

I also think if LU signals a shift into urban fantasy proper, then the worldbuilding needs to be tighter. I think romance fans will forgive a lot if the central relationship between the hero and heroine is strong and believable. When that's no longer the focus of the book, the rules that govern the way the world works need to be consistent and strong.

So, what is the BDB? I once read a post from someone who classified it as a Family Saga (wish I could remember where). I think this is the closest description to what the BDB books are. Where they work best is focusing on the relationships between the central family unit, which is the Brotherhood. For me Lover Eternal and Lover Awakened remained the strongest of the series.

Have I given up on the series - NO! There's stil a lot I'm looking forward to - JM's continuing story, the introduction of Payne and seeing more of Xhex. JRW excels at writing a believable male point of view. So I'm hoping these more masculine females will have a bigger presence in the stories. And Lover Unbound is not my least favourite.

I think a lot of people are waiting for Phury's book - not because they're addicted to the BDB, but because it's going to be the make or break book as people make the decision whether or not to follow the series to hardcover. Personally I'm glad that for whatever reason it's been pushed back. I would be happy to wait 12 months in between books if it meant they made me feel like LE and LA. I would be happy if they were 800 pages long (a la Diana Gabaldon) if it meant that the whole story J.R.Ward wanted to tell was in there.

Dark Need by Lynn Viehl

FANGIRL ALERT FANGIRL ALERT FANGIRL ALERT

Have to apologize I thought I'd posted this review of Dark Need ages ago, but was adding series labels to my posts and realized either a) I'd never posted it or b) it had mysteriously disappeared. So here's the review.

In Dark Need we catch up with Lucan the Darkyn assassin who we first met in If Angels Burn. Homicide detective Samantha Brown crosses paths with Lucan during the course of her investigation into a bizarre drowning. As the number of killings increases Samantha becomes even more deeply drawn into the world of the Darkyn and their enemies - the Brethren. But she also has enemies of her own.

I've never been able to pick a favourite from the first three books, because it's always been something different in each story that has appealed to me. In Book 1 it was Alex's spunkiness and strength, in Book 2 it was Jaus, and in book 3 I love Lucan's amorality.

Lucan is perhaps the most overtly sexual of the Darkyn we have encountered so far. His relationship with Samantha is complicated, in that as much as he wants her, he tries to push her away with equal intensity. The reason for this becomes clear at the end of the book, but it makes for a strange courtship. I’m aware from reading other reviews that some readers found this unsatisfying, but I think it’s a case of having to look at the reasons for a characters actions, rather than just the actions themselves.

Another relationship worth mentioning is that between Lucan and his tresora Burke. Lucan has a darkly wicked sense of humor and spends much of his time threatening Burke with a variety of dire fates often leaving his tresora non-plussed but persevering to please his master anyway.

One thing I did find confusing was how Alex knew about the bad guy. At the climax of the story she calls out his name but I’m not clear on how she knew who he was.

There is a continuation of plot threads from the two previous books including Michael and Alex, Alex's research and John Keller's quest. Indeed the more John tries to escape from the Darkyn/Brethren conflict the further he seems to entrench himself in it. Having said that I think this is more of an individual story than Private Demon (book 2), though reading the previous books will help you get more out of the story.

There are also new plotlines started in Dark Need - we learn more about Tremayne's condition, the changelings are introduced, and some new characters are mentioned. Notably Locksley (who has been mentioned several times but as yet hasn't made an appearance), and we first meet Jayr and Byrne. (Evermore Book 5).

I would warn that whilst the main story of this book is concluded, there is quite a plot twist at the end. So if you're a fan of the series I'd have book 4 (Night Lost) on hand.

Also available
Book 1 - If Angels Burn
Book 2 - Private Demon
Book 4 - Night Lost
Book 5 - Evermore (current release date January 2008)

Caressed by Ice - Nalini Singh

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SPOILERS POSSIBLE SPOILERS POSSIBLE SPOILERS POSSIBLE

In Caressed by Ice we catch up with characters first introduced in Slave to Sensation - the first book in the Psy/Changeling series. Brenna Kincaid is still feeling the aftershocks of her abduction and fears the full extent of what Enrique Santano's abuse and torture may have done to her. She becomes increasingly drawn to Judd Lauren one of the Psy taking refuge with the Wolves. But he cannot feel emotion and she cannot contain hers. Will they be able to find a way to make a future together.

Okay. That summary sucks. LOL. But it seems the more I enjoy a book the harder I find it to encapsulate it in a paragraph.

This is my favourite book in the series so far. Having looked at a few other reviews I know that while everyone (I've seen) has enjoyed the story, some people prefer the Changeling hero. This is not the case for me. (As could probably have been guessed, when Judd came up as the result in the Psy hero quiz.)

I initially noted I thought this was a more standalone story and could be appreciated without having read the other two books in the series. However, having finished the book I no longer think this is the case. Although CBI takes place away from the leopards, at the Snow Dancer wolf pack. The overall arc of the Psy/Changeling story has some major developments here which I think are best appreciated having read Slave to Sensation and Visions of Heat. Plus both sets of protagonists from those books appear here, so I think it's beneficial to know the backstory.

We learn much more about the Psy in this book. Including some of their history. I thought Zaid the first Martial Arrow sounded like an interesting (if remorseless) character. See I said I had a fascination for the Psy hero. As an aside I also wondered if perhaps a future story might be set during the 18th Century (Changeling) Territorial Wars.

I found Judd fascinating. And thought he gave a much clearer impression of what it means to be Psy. He has so much control, and underneath he's not bubbling like a volcano, he doesn't feel rage, there's just more control. It's mentioned it's significant that the first two Psy to publicly drop out of the Psynet are women, which I think is an interesting point. I always felt that both Sascha and Faith had access to some emotion, whilst with Judd you realize what Silence truly is, from someone who embraces it because they have to.

Brenna is a curious mixture of vulnerability and intense anger. Her relationship with her brothers - I loved. I thought Nalini Singh captured the sibling capacity for annoyance and affection perfectly. When things in the Changeling world start to fall apart and everyone's loyalty comes under question (leopard to wolf, Changeling to Changeling) this family strength almost becomes a double edged sword. And you stand with Brenna questioning exactly what her brothers are capable of.

I loved that Brenna and Judd's mating wasn't as smooth or immediate as in the previous two books. That would have been unrealistic. This was something the two of the them had to puzzle out between themselves. I liked the slow intensity of it. And I look forward to catching up with them in later books.

There was a lot of other stuff happening as well, this book was packed with information. We learn more about the wolf pack structure, and I like that the maternal females can order Hawke to think about what he's doing. The Psy council take their machinations to a higher level of brutality, and new alliances are formed. We get quite a lot of Kaleb, so I was happy, including some tidbits about his past. Nalini Singh has managed to maintain his ambiguity. He could be a good guy, or he could be very bad. I'm hoping he turns up again in Book 4.

Other new characters are hinted at - Ashaya Aleine and Zie Zen. My gut says they'll be playing a bigger part in the series. As will The Ghost I think. :) And we find out a little more about Walker Lauren, Sienna Lauren and Hawke - whose story I'm patiently waiting for, one of his conversations with Brenna is short, beautiful and heartbreaking.

Although the next book Mine to Possess isn't out 'til February. Nate and Tamsyn's story will be available as a short story in the October anthology An Enchanted Season. Which is good 'cause patience isn't really one of my virtues. :)

Private Demon by Lynn Viehl

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LOL - Wasn't sure if I still needed to post the above after the If Angels Burn review.

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Private Demon picks up virtually where If Angels Burn ended, with Thierry Durand on the run from the other Darkyn. He has come to Chicago to pursue Luisa's attackers and it is here that he meets Jema Shaw - an heiress who doesn't yet know the part she will play in the Darkyn world. Unbeknownst to Thierry, Valentin Jaus (the suzerain of Chicago) is also interested in Jema's welfare.

I found Jema to be a fragile heroine, she has an underlying strength, but is more passive than Alex (the heroine from the first book). Without her or them being aware of it, the two male Darkyn - Thierry and Valentin - are competing for her. The relationship between Valentin and Jema is sweet and you can understand why so many readers are on his side. As Alex notes on p157 'Valentin has a way of making you fall in love with him'. Jema's interactions with Thierry on the other hand are brutal, vivid and intense. One subject this book deals with (beautifully) is how we don't always get to choose who we love or whether they will love us back.

I've never read the Darkyn books with any expectation of what may happen. I guess this is why it didn't bother me that Jema ended up with Thierry. Though you can't help but feel bad for Valentin. The scene at the end (and what follows) with the three of them in the ballroom is my favourite part of the book.

I'm not 100% sure about Jema's special ability - it almost felt like it appeared out of nowhere. It wouldn't surprise me to find out that both this book and the next had a significant part cut out. It's almost like part of the story is missing - and the reader has to fill in the gaps.

Unlike some series The Darkyn really needs to be read in order, so I would recommend you read If Angels Burn first. Several plot threads from the first book are picked up in Private Demon - the attack on Luisa, Michael and Alex's relationship (one of the major subplots through the series) and John Keller's quest for meaning. There are also new storylines started here, it's very much a multi-layered series and as such the paranormal romance tag is a bit misleading. This is more of a complex urban fantasy tale, focusing on the relationships between the various characters and their struggle for survival against not only their enemies, but also their own natures.