The Host by Stephenie Meyer

The Host tells the story of Wanderer and Melanie, following the invasion of Earth by a race of parasitic aliens - think Invasion of the Body Snatchers, or the Goa'uld from Stargate SG1. Melanie is one of the few remaining free humans not taken over by a parasite. But the story opens with Wanderer being inserted into the back of her head. Yep - this story is told from the perspective of the parasitic alien. What follows is a coming to terms story. As Wanderer has to evaluate what her brothers and sisters have done in taking over the world. Unusually Melanie hasn't 'gone away' and Wanderer has to contend not only with the memories of her host but also the consciousness of her host itself. Compelled by Melanie, Wanderer sets out to find Jamie (Melanie's brother), putting both herself and Melanie in grave danger.

Without doubt this is my favourite book of the year so far. It makes you cry, makes you laugh and makes you think. And I don't think there's too much more you can ask from a book. I think it takes great skill to take a reader from sad, to happy, and back to sad and make it all feel real at the same time.

Very well written you understand both Melanie's perspective of violation and being taken away from her family too soon. But you also understand Wanderer's point of view and how the Souls must see us (humans) as disparate populations unable to get along with one another without violence, waste or misery. And I also found it pretty easy to follow who was talking and when..

Melanie was thinking sulfurous thoughts about the kind old man.

He was being nice. He's sincerely concerned about my welfare, I reminded her.

You're all very creepy, she told me acidly. Didn't anyone ever tell you not to talk to strangers?

This is largely being regarded as Stephenie Meyer's first adult book. Personally I'm not sure I see that, I always thought the end of the world would involve more swearing and more sex, and this book has none of either. So I think I regard that as more of a marketing ploy. I've also been reading some comparison between Twilight and The Host as first books in a series. I have read Twilight, and other than the fact it's about a vampire called Edward and a girl called Bella, couldn't tell you much else. The Host on the other hand is sticking in my brain. (Of course I'm going to read Twilight again after reading this :)).

Onto the characters, I don't think there is one character that isn't well written. Wanderer is a fascinating, and considering the aliens have taken over the world, she remains remarkably true to her pacifist nature.

Melanie on the other hand is much more kick ass if a little naive. When she and Wanderer manage to join some free humans, she is somewhat shocked at their attitude to her. Of course they don't realize Melanie is there, they only see the silver in her eyes - indicative of possession by an alien.

Wanderer after a lot of hard work, manages to forge a place for herself among the humans, and become friends with Melanie. But even as she does so, she comes to question what she and her entire race have done. And comes to realize that she has some difficult sacrifices to make.

If I'm being picky at one point Wanderer says the cryotanks were built of no element that existed on this planet. I'm not sure about that - at a certain point on the periodic table elements become unstable and I'd stick my neck out and say that's probably true on any planet.

At the very end of the book we meet Burns Living Flowers, and I so want to know his story. I hope that The Host is the first in a new series, and I'll definitely be getting book 2 whether it's marketed as Adult, Young Adult or anything else. Highly recommended.

Personal Demons by Stacia Kane

So following on from The Devil Inside and Personal Demon (no 's' and written by Kelley Armstrong) we have another of 2008's demon books - Personal Demons by Stacia Kane.

Megan Chase has just started work at her new radio phone-in show, where she offers to slay her listeners personal demons. Unbeknownst to her, however, personal demons actually exist (everyone in the world has one except Megan for some reason) and they take her vow to eradicate them slightly personally (excuse the pun).

This one was on my wishlist for a while until I read a review that repiqued my interest in it - on Scoopers blog? I think it's the first urban fantasy I've read which is written in third (allbeit a very tight third) person. It was a book of two parts for me. I found the beginning quite slow, a lot of build up whilst you're waiting for something to happen. It's one of those books where you just have to bear with the beginning whilst it settles into itself. (A rollercoaster (slow build up followed by an exhilarating ride) rather than a roman candle (a brilliant explosion of light but at the end all you've got is a damp squib)).

Having said that, once something does happen and Malleus, Maleficarum and Spud (the cockney demons) turn up on page 89, suddenly the story takes off with a blast. So if you're reading this and want to give up, don't until page 106, when you'll have read a chapter of M,M&S. And if someone could explain to me what's so funny about Mr.Brown I'd appreciate it - feeling a bit of a dunce here for not getting that.

So first person - no, gutsy female protagonist with a mysterious past - yes, sexy demon with an ulterior motive - check. Until M,M&S turn up, it was Greyson Dante the aforementioned sexy demon that kept me reading.

...Do you want to talk or not?"
He sighed. "No. Well, I did, but now I don't. You lied to me."

And from later in the story.

"This is the surprise? Being shot at for trespassing?"
"That would be fun, but no."

It's almost like Dante said to Stacia Kane, I'll be in your story, but I have to have all the best lines.

Megan is perhaps not the most instantly engaging urban fantasy heroine I've ever read. She's not as interesting a protagonist when Dante or M,M&S aren't there for her to spar with. But by the end of the book she'd grown on me. She does have some psychic ability which allows her to hear peoples thoughts and is how she gives herself an advantage over other therapists. And rather than sitting back and letting Dante protect her she does take some proactive steps including receiving some training in how to focus her powers from a somewhat snarky witch - Tera. Admittedly some of her proactiveness stems from her refusal to believe Dante is a demon, but once she's seen his spinelets she changes her tune. (LOL)

Dante on the other hand is sexy, sneaky and as well as keeping tabs on Megan is manipulating the situation to his advantage. He is an anti-hero. This is one of the big plusses of the book for me. He is a demon and Stacia Kane doesn't try to make him something that he isn't. Whilst we're on the subject of demons, what is it with them and the whipping. To be fair in this book it's used as a punishment rather than as an erotic device, but still. It is an intense and disturbing scene, you can feel the pressure that Megan is under.

Favourite quote of the book -

...We're not sending you off to Mordor just yet."
"You read Lord of the Rings?"
"All demons read Lord of the Rings. It's the perfect example of what not to do..."

Quibbles - in a couple of places I felt like we skipped stuff so we could get to the action and that Megan didn't always listen to what people were trying to tell her. But other than that I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to Book #2 Demon Inside January 2009.

Poison Study - Maria V. Snyder

POISON STUDY by MARIA V. SNYDER published Sept 2006 by Luna

This book was just one of those that never quite made it to the top of the TBR pile. Always dropping further and further down whenever something new came along. Plus (I think) when I got the book about twenty of the centre pages were slightly torn, which I didn't notice straight away and I think it always narked me a little bit.

On with the review. Yelena is about to be executed for murder. With her life on the line she's offered a choice - attend her execution or become a food taster for the Commander of Ixia, a man under constant threat of assassination. She accepts the job offer, aware that whilst it may be merely a delay of her death, it also offers her the opportunity to escape. Despite her circumstances she manages to make a life for herself, but when rebels plot to seize Ixia from the Commander and with her own life under threat the choices she makes not only shape her destiny but also the destiny of those around her.

Yay! Another score for the TBR pile. I really enjoyed this one and am kicking myself for not getting to it sooner - darn those torn pages.

Poison Study is set in a society (Ixia) which is Totalitarian. But it's made clear that in some ways this is better than the monarchist system it replaced. Whilst neither situation is a democracy the people as a whole appear to be better off under the rule of the Commander - everyone has a job, there are no homeless, people are expected to contribute to society. But it's also a rigid system with high standards, there is little flexibility. The use of magic isn't tolerated for example. Creating another problem for Yelena when her magical abilities start to develop. Unfortunately even within this controlled system there is still room for unscrupulous people to manipulate things to their advantage.

The story did start out slow for me. I was hooked on page 81 and at that point basically read until I'd finished the book.

"Tell me why you killed Reyad."
"You're not ready to believe me."

And with those words I wanted to know how this story was going to end.

Initially the story seems very simple. Yelena is the hero, we're on her side. The people who've imprisoned her are bad. But it's more complicated than that. And as we progress through the story it becomes more complex and layered. Especially as Yelena doesn't know who it's safe to trust. Every time she confides in someone it's a risk and you feel that as you're reading. This becomes even more dangerous as her magic develops. Who does she trust? Who won't betray her? And in sharing her secrets is she endangering the people she's come to care for?

What made this book for me are the relationships between Yelena and the other characters. Not just Valek her mentor and more, but also Ari, Janko and even the characters that she didn't get on with. They're very well drawn and make you feel like this is a story about a real place and real people, even though some of the circumstances are fantastical.

Valek is one of those men who sees everything. He slightly reminded me of Anafiel Delauney from the Kushiel series. And the author doesn't betray his character. At the end when he has the most difficult choice to make. He makes it, but he makes it his own choice. It's the relationship that develops between Valek and Yelena that kept me turning the pages. How it progresses from jailor and prisoner, to mentor and student to more. The way they circle cautiously around one another both constantly testing the other.

LOL - and I learnt a new word. Mucilaginous - of the nature of or resembling mucilage; moist, soft, and viscid. Lovely. :)

If I had any complaints it would be that some of the resolution was a little convenient and wasn't as involving (for me) as I hoped it would be. Slightly too much running from place to place.

But apart from that this is definitely a book I'd recommend. And I've already got Magic Study on my TBR pile ready to go.

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.

Amazon Reviews

Was just over at Rachel Caine's (Weather Wardens) livejournal.

Her post of 28th April Taking up John Scalzi's 1 star Challenge is well worth a read.

Tangled Webs by Anne Bishop

This is the Kelley Armstrong bookclub book for April.

I will admit to being slightly worried about this one after reading a couple of reviews, and it's a hardback. But I like to take part in the book discussion on Kelley's site, so thought I'd risk it.

So this review comes with a caveat. I love the Black Jewels series, I love the world and the mythology. I'm familiar with the trilogy, and the anthology, and I've read the previous standalone novel. The review grade I guess, is for other readers who've done the same. I don't think I could recommend this book to anyone unless they had at least read the trilogy. You need the background, I think, to get the most out of the story. If you haven't read the trilogy and like dark fantasy I heartily recommend it. :)

I think the Dear Reader at the beginning of the book is important, it says what this story is, a tale set after the epic battle has been fought. It's a what happened next. It's a catching up with old friends, who now deal with family problems instead of major catastrophes.

So Tangled Webs follows the Sa Diablo family in the aftermath of the events of the trilogy and takes place after the short story in the Dreams Made Flesh anthology. The story is told from multiple points of view. We catch up with Lucivar and Marian, Daemon and Jaenelle, Saetan, Surreal and Rainier. Jaenelle has decided she's going to 'build' a spooky house to scare the Landen families as they don't understand what being Blood really means. At the same time an author is looking for a new story to tell, and in Jaenelle's spooky house he sees a way to manipulate events to spark his own creative drive.

The beginning of the story is more a series of vignettes about the various family members. How they're coping (or not coping) with normal family life. For me this took a little getting into and the spooky house doesn't really come into play until you're well into the book.

The second half of the book follows Surreal and Rainier as they and several landen children try to escape from the Spooky house trap that has been set for them. As Surreal says :-

"Someone has cast us as the lead characters in a mystery about a house that's trying to kill us. Does that about sum it up?"

At the same time we see what Daemon, Lucivar and Jaenelle are doing to rescue them. Anne Bishop doesn't pull her punches. This is still a world where terrible things can and do happen.

There's some wonderful dialogue and set pieces, plus the characters are so familiar now, you can picture everything that's happening as the story unfolds.

"I had considered making a sign that said 'I have a sharp knife and a large Warlord Prince' and floating it over my head, but I don't want to tell anyone about the knife until after I use it, and anyone dumb enough not to notice you deserves to get knocked into a wall."

I think if you aren't a fan of the books you're going to come away thinking nothing much happened. But I guess it depends on why you're reading. There's something about the Black Jewels books that always leaves me wanting more. Just something about that world that fascinates and I hope there are many more books to come.

Lady of Mercy - Michelle Sagara West

Lady of Mercy is the third book in the Sundered Quadrology. This is the Benbella reissue published in 2006. I think the reason this has been on my TBR pile for a while is that unlike some series, I don't know where or how the story is going to go. So it's not like I can think - I fancy reading some light urban fantasy, or a crime thriller. The plot isn't clearly signposted and in the course of the first two books some awful things happen. So not really a series I'd recommend if you're feeling a little bit down. In Book 3 I have no idea whether the characters will succeed or fail on their quest, only that they will try.

The story picks up virtually straight from the end of Book 2. Erin and Darin have left Stefanos (First of the Dark Sundered) behind. Erin has remembered who she was and wants to free the people that Stefanos has enslaved. She and Darin join forces with a mage - Trethar, and a thief - Robert. They journey to Marantine where they will fight the first battle in the new war between Light and Dark.

Plotwise you could argue not a lot happens here - Erin and Darin join forces with the deposed crown Prince of Marantine, and journey to Marantine with the intention of ridding the Dark Church from the city, and restoring the rightful monarch to the throne.

However, within this story so much else happens. It's a book of what happens between, between finding out the truth and ending the war. Erin remembers who she is, she remembers the fate of Belfas, Kandor and the warriors who came to kill Stefanos so many centuries ago. They are now tied to a dark place, an anchor for her immortality, and as long as she lives they cannot pass over. Erin blood vows to destroy all that Stefanos built up for the Dark. She says she hates him now, but a part of her misses him.

She also discovers the truth about The Lady of Elliath, that her grandmother knew the fate of her mother and father and did nothing to stop it. A very bitter pill for her to swallow.

This is really a story where things start coming together. And unlike the previous two books, it has many light moments. Most of which come from the character of Robert/Renar. Though this optimism and hope, is countered by Erin and Darin's more sombre attitudes.

"Gods, Renar, you stink."
"Really? How kind of you to say so."

Don't become too complacent though, there are still moments in the story that cut like a knife.

There are two more major characters who Erin and Darin meet up with as they flee Mordantari. Trethar an old mage who takes Darin on as his student and teaches him how to call the fire that comes from neither the dark, nor the light. And Robert a foppish thief, who is hiding a secret. Indeed, that's a big thing in this book - characters hiding the truth of themselves, keeping secrets, wearing 'masks', and secrets being found out.

The story starts quite slowly but builds as the quest gains momentum. In particular there are two scenes that stood out for me in the second half of the book. The first a scene between Renar and Erin on the night before they try to take back the city of Marantine. He is fighting this battle to restore Marantine, to give the people back the life they have lost. But she has only ever known war, from the time she was very small until now. She has no concept of a 'life' outside that conflict. They dance together in the training room, and he tries to show her a little of the life they are fighting for.

The second is actually multiple scenes - the battle itself. Told in short bursts from the points of view of many characters. It gives a small idea of the confusion of such a situation. Very well written.

Stefanos only makes a very brief appearance. Also in the first half of the story Erin takes a back seat to what's happening to Darin, Robert and Trethar. But the characters in this story are so well drawn, everything is moving the plot forward.

There is a very important quote that Erin uses to persuade a bereaved father/grandfather to join the fight.

"Do not turn that love inward; it was never meant to be a weapon."

The reason I think this is important is that this is something she is doing, she has turned her love for Stefanos into a weapon. But deep down inside she knows 'it was never meant to be a weapon'.

Just to mention there is a whacking big twist at the end of this story. I almost suspected it, but not quite, so it still had my mouth dropping open. :) It's the sort of twist that makes you want to read the whole book again because you know it's going to alter your perception of events.

One little niggle is that the term Pyrrhic victory is used twice. And this is a fantasy book set in another world, but the term refers to a specific battle which actually took place in 279 B.C.

Finally at the end. Sargoth (the Second) manipulates the First of the Darkness. And soon Erin and Stefanos will meet on the field of battle once more. I almost dread reading Book 4, this hasn't been the sort of series where happy endings are guaranteed. But I so want to know what happens next.