Reviews of books in a series, with a focus on urban fantasy.
Other genres include mystery, paranormal romance, and crime thrillers.
Reviews of books in a series, with a focus on urban fantasy.
Other genres include mystery, paranormal romance, and crime thrillers.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Partial Review: Side Jobs: Stories from the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
Labels:
a Jim Butcher,
g Urban Fantasy,
s Dresden Files
There are no spoilers in this post about the book being reviewed. However, if you are not caught up with the Dresden series prior to Side Jobs, then you probably don't want to continue reading. If you've read to the end of Changes though, then you're fine.
I've been looking forward to the release of Side Jobs since I finished Changes. We were told that Aftermath, a story within the Side Jobs anthology, would begin a few hours after the conclusion of Changes.
And that was correct. Aftermath does indeed begin a few hours after the events at the end of Changes. Unfortunately, it gives us no clues about what happens to Dresden next.
I loved the story though - hearing things from Karrin Murphy's point of view was a nice change.
I'll do a complete review of Side Jobs when I've read the rest of the book. I really enjoyed Aftermath, but I'm disappointed that we'll have to wait until April when Ghost Story is released to find out what happens to Harry Dresden. We know that Jim Butcher has planned for somewhere around 20 books, so I have to believe that Harry will find a way to survive. Or be brought back to life. Mab owns him now, she's not going to let him die.
Or that's what I keep telling myself.
.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Cover: Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh
Labels:
* Covers,
a Nalini Singh,
s Psy-Changelings
Nalini Singh has posted the cover for Kiss of Snow, which will be Hawk's book. Finally.
Next up is Play of Passion, due out November 2nd. And then we finally get to see Hawk happy in July when Kiss of Snow is released.
Nalini Singh has put up Chapter 1 of Play of Passion, which will be Indigo and Drew's story.
If you aren't familiar with Nalini Singh's Psy/Changelings series then you should know that I give the series a 10 of 10, and that I love the world-building. The Changelings may be similar to other shapeshifters, but there is nothing else I've read that is similar to the Psy. The series is technically Paranormal Romance instead of Urban Fantasy. Each book is a HEA for a different couple. But the story arcs that lead from book to book could challenge any Urban Fantasy series for depth of worldbuilding.
Here are the books in the Psy/Changelings series:
- Slave to Sensation
- Visions of Heat
- Caressed By Ice
- Mine to Possess
- Hostage to Pleasure
- Branded by Fire
- Blaze of Memory
- Bonds of Justice
- Play of Passion (11/2/10)
- Kiss of Snow (July 2011)
Sunday, October 17, 2010
* Anxiously Awaiting as of late October 2010
Labels:
* Anxiously Awaiting
I've marked the new finds in red, in case you're just looking for the new stuff. I've also put an (e) next to the books that have an excerpt out, clicking the (e) will take you to my listing of excerpts.
I want to be excited about Blood Rock, but I still don't see it up on Amazon and it's been five months since the author's blog has been updated. We were told a while back that Blood Rock would be out in the fall, but now that it's the fall there is still no firm date. That doesn't bode well. I loved Frost Moon and I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next.
10/26/10 Side Jobs (Anthology of Dresden short stories) by Jim Butcher
11/02/10 Magic at the Gate (Allie Beckstrom Book 5) by Devon Monk (e)
Fall/2010 Blood Rock (Dakota Frost / Skindancer series book two) by Anthony Francis (e)
11/30/10 Vicious Grace (Black Sun's Daughter Book 3) by M.L.N. Hanover
11/30/10 Silver Zombie (Delilah Street #4) by Carole Nelson Douglas
11/30/10 Counterfeit Magic (Women of the Otherworld Novella) by Kelley Armstrong
11/30/10 Killing the Cobra-Chinatown Trollop (Felix Gomez-Comic), Mario Acevedo, Alberto Dose
01/03/11 Tempest's Legacy (Jane True Book 3) by Nicole Peeler
01/04/11 Home for a Spell (Bewitching Mystery, Book 7) by Madelyn Alt
01/25/11 Archangel's Consort (Guild Hunter Book 3) Nalini Singh
01/25/11 Archangel's Consort (Guild Hunter Book 3) Nalini Singh
01/25/11 River Marked (Mercy Thompson, Book 6) by Patricia Briggs
02/01/11 Invincible (Chronicles of Nick Volume 2) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
02/01/11 The Sookie Stackhouse Companion: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel by Charlaine Harris
02/15/11 Dreams of a Dark Warrior (Immortals After Dark Series) by Kresley Cole
02/22/11 This Side of the Grave (Cat and Bones #5, Night Huntress series) by Jeaniene Frost
02/22/11 Pale Demon (The Hollows Rachel Morgan, Book 9) by Kim Harrison
03/01/11 Blackout (Cal Leandros, Book 6) by Rob Thurman
03/01/11 Moon Cursed (Nightcreature Novels, Book 10) by Lori Handeland
03/01/11 Late Eclipses (October Daye, Book 4) by Seanan McGuire
03/15/11 Steel by Carrie Vaughn
03/??/11 Demons at the Gates (Phoenix Chronicles, Book 5) by Lori Handeland
Spring/11 Magic Slays (Kate Daniels, Book 5) by Ilona Andrews (e)
04/05/11 Ghost Story (Dresden Files, Book 13) by Jim Butcher
04/05/11 Magic on the Hunt (Allie Beckstrom Book 5) by Devon Monk
05/??/11 Dead Reckoning or Dead Letters (Sookie Stackhouse Bk 11) by Charlaine Harris
Smmr/11 Spell Bound (Savannah) (Women/Otherworld Bk 12) Kelley Armstrong
Smmr/11 Eye of the Tempest (Jane True Book 4) by Nicole Peeler
Smmr/11 Unnamed (Stephanie Plum #17) by Janet Evanovich
06/09/11 Hit List (Anita Blake book 20) by Laurell K. Hamilton 06/11/11 Kitty's Big Trouble (Kitty Norville Book Nine) by Carrie Vaughn
07/01/11 Kiss of Snow (Psy/Changeling #10, Hawke's book) by Nalini Singh07/??/11 Crave the Moon (Nightcreature Novels, Book 11) by Lori Handeland
07/??/11 Eye Spy (Abby Cooper #9) by Victoria Laurie
08/??/11 Redemption (Dark Hunters #20) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
FALL/11 Alpha and Omega series, Book 3 Patricia Briggs
Late/11 Vampire Queen's Return (Vampire Queen Book 8) by Joey W. Hill
Late/11 Unnamed (Justine Jones Disillusionist Book 3) by Carolyn Crane
09/11/11 The Brightest Fell (October Daye, Book 5) by Seanan McGuire
10/01/11 Alpha (Dark Hunters, Daria's story) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
10/??/11 Unnamed Elemental Assassin, Book 5 by Jennifer Estep
??/??/11 Liquid Fire (Dakota Frost / Skindancer series book3 ) by Anthony Francis (e)
??/??/?? Darkness Rising (Dark Angel series - new Risa book #2) by Keri Arthur
??/??/12 Unnamed Jaime story (Women/Otherworld Bk 13) Kelley Armstrong
09/01/12 Daemon's Angel (Dark Hunters) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
??/??/?? Virtual Virgin (Delilah Street #5) by Carole Nelson Douglas
??/??/11 Supernaturals on Vacation (Anthology)
Not all of the series I keep up with have another book listed as coming out. The authors have stated there will be more, but to my knowledge they haven't said when, or given a title name. I've listed those series below.
* Meredith Gentry series by Laurell K Hamilton (taking a year off)
* Diesel/Unmentionables series by Janet Evanovich
* Master of None series by Sonya Bateman
Below are series I follow, but it is unclear whether there will be more books in the series:
* Bronwyn the Witch series by Candace Havens
* Nadia Stafford series by Kelley Armstrong
* Nature of Desire series by Joey W. Hill
* Daughters of Arianne series by Joey W. Hill
* Felix Gomez series Mario Acevedo
* Spellman series by Lisa Lutz
* Nadia Stafford series by Kelley Armstrong
* Nature of Desire series by Joey W. Hill
* Daughters of Arianne series by Joey W. Hill
* Felix Gomez series Mario Acevedo
* Spellman series by Lisa Lutz
* Anya Kalinczyk / Embers series by Laura Bickle
* Dexter series by Jeff Lindsay
* Caruthers Sisters series by Candace Havens
* Nikki Heat series by Richard Castle
* The Edge series by Ilona Andrews
You can read an excerpt of many of these books, to see my list of excerpts please go here.
If someone wants to send me an ARC of one of the books on my Anxiously Awaiting list, I will read it within a day or two of it arriving (assuming I'm home and I'm not sick or anything), and will get a blog post up of it as soon as I've finished reading it. You may send me a digital version at chained lightning at g mail dot com, or to send a hard copy you may contact me at that email address to ask for a shipping address. If you have an ARC you would like to send that is not on my Anxiously Awaiting list I will attempt to read and review it in a timely manner but it may not be placed topmost in my TBR pile. Feel free to email me to see if I'd be interested in reading something, as well. I've found a few authors this way that I may not have read had I not received a review copy from the publisher. And now I'm hooked on a few of those series, just waiting for the next book.
Friday, October 15, 2010
* Excerpts, First Chapters, and Sneak Peeks
Labels:
* Excerpts
Some of the books on my Anxiously Awaiting list have excerpts available at the author's or publisher's websites.
I would love to have an ARC for any of the books on this list, or on my Anxiously Awaiting list. See my Review Policy for more information about sending books for review.
Simon and Schuster have a page up for Vicious Grace (Black Sun's Daughter Book 3) by M.L.N. Hanover, but so far just a blurb. 11/30
McMillan has a page up for Killing Rocks (Bloodhound Files Bk 3) by DD Barant, but so far just a blurb. 12/28
Nicole Peeler has a page up for Tempest's Legacy (Jane True Book 3), but so far just a blurb. 12/29
Nalini Singh has a page up for Archangel's Consort (Guild Hunter Book 3), for now just the back cover blurb - 01/25/11
Sherrilyn Kenyon has a page up for Invincible (Chronicles of Nick Volume 2), with a note that an excerpt will be up in the middle of 2010. (release date 02/01/11)
Jeaniene Frost has a page up for This Side of the Grave (Cat and Bones #5, Night Huntress series) with the beautiful cover and a blurb. 02/22/11
Kresley Cole has a page up for Dreams of a Dark Warrior (Immortals After Dark Series) with a blurb - 02/15/11
Seanan McGuire has a page up for Late Eclipses (October Daye, Book 4) with a blurb - 03/01/11
Rob Thurman has a page up with cover art and blurb for Blackout, the sixth Cal Leandros Book 3/1/11
Sherrilyn Kenyon has a page up for Redemption (Dark Hunters #20), with an blurb but no excerpt yet. August/2011
In case you haven't read them yet, there are also some excerpts up for books released in 2009, and so far in 2010:
I would love to have an ARC for any of the books on this list, or on my Anxiously Awaiting list. See my Review Policy for more information about sending books for review.
- Chapter 1 of Play of Passion (Psy/Changeling #9, Indigo & Drew) by Nalini Singh 11/2
- Chapter 1 of Marked By The Moon (Nightcreatures #9) by Lori Handeland 11/02
- Excerpt and excerpt of Magic at the Gate (Allie Beckstrom Book 5) by Devon Monk 11/2
- Excerpt and Snippet of Blood Rock (Dakota Frost Bk 2) by Anthony Francis (Fall 2010)
- Snippet, Snippet, Snippet, Snippet, and Cover art, and back cover blurb from My Fair Succubi (Succubus Diaries #3) by Jill Myles 12/28
- Snippet, Snippet, Cat Tats 1, Cat Tats 2, Cat Tats 3, Cat Tats 4, Cat Tats 5, Cat Tats 6, and Cat Tats 7 from Mercy Blade (Jane Yellowrock, Book 3) by Faith Hunter 1/4/11
- Chapter One of Tangled Threads (Elemental Assassin, Book 4) by Jennifer Estep 04/26/11
- Excerpt of Shadow Fall (Shadowchaser book 3) by Seressia Glass 05/2011
- Chapters 1 & 2 synopsis, Snippet synopsis, opening snippet, snippet, snippet, snippet, snippet, snippet, snippet, snippet, snippet , snippet, snippet, snippet and snippet of Magic Slays (Kate Daniels Book 5) by Ilona Andrews (Spring 2011)
- Snippet, snippet, and blurb from Darkness Unbound (Dark Angel series - new Risa books) by Keri Arthur (06/2011)
- Excerpt and Excerpt of The Renfield Syndrom (Rhiannon's Law series book 2) by J.A. Saare. Smmr/11
- Excerpt of Vampire Instinct (Vampire Queen Book 7) by Joey W. Hill 07/2011
- Chapter 1 of Liquid Fire (Dakota Frost / Skindancer series book3 ) by Anthony Francis (2011)
Simon and Schuster have a page up for Vicious Grace (Black Sun's Daughter Book 3) by M.L.N. Hanover, but so far just a blurb. 11/30
McMillan has a page up for Killing Rocks (Bloodhound Files Bk 3) by DD Barant, but so far just a blurb. 12/28
Nicole Peeler has a page up for Tempest's Legacy (Jane True Book 3), but so far just a blurb. 12/29
Nalini Singh has a page up for Archangel's Consort (Guild Hunter Book 3), for now just the back cover blurb - 01/25/11
Sherrilyn Kenyon has a page up for Invincible (Chronicles of Nick Volume 2), with a note that an excerpt will be up in the middle of 2010. (release date 02/01/11)
Jeaniene Frost has a page up for This Side of the Grave (Cat and Bones #5, Night Huntress series) with the beautiful cover and a blurb. 02/22/11
Kresley Cole has a page up for Dreams of a Dark Warrior (Immortals After Dark Series) with a blurb - 02/15/11
Seanan McGuire has a page up for Late Eclipses (October Daye, Book 4) with a blurb - 03/01/11
Rob Thurman has a page up with cover art and blurb for Blackout, the sixth Cal Leandros Book 3/1/11
Sherrilyn Kenyon has a page up for Redemption (Dark Hunters #20), with an blurb but no excerpt yet. August/2011
In case you haven't read them yet, there are also some excerpts up for books released in 2009, and so far in 2010:
- Chapter 1 of At Grave's End (Night Huntress, 3) Jeaniene Frost, 12/30/08
- Excerpt of Kiss of a Demon King (Immortals after Dark, 6) Kresley Cole 1/20
- Excerpt of Kitty & the Dead Man's Hand (Kitty Norville, 5) Carrie Vaughn, 1/27
- 1st chapter of Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson, Bk 4) Patricia Briggs, 2/3
- Excerpt of White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison, 02/24
- Excerpt of Kitty Raises Hell (Kitty Norville, 6) Carrie Vaughn, 2/24
- Excerpt of Jailbait Zombie (Felix Gomez) Mario Acevedo, 2/24
- Excerpt of Angels' Blood (Guild Hunter, Bk 1) Nalini Singh, 03/03
- Excerpt of Deadly Desire (Riley Jensen, 7) Keri Arthur 03/24
- Excerpt of Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels, 3) Ilona Andrews, 03/31
- Five chapters of Turn Coat (Dresden Files, 11) Jim Butcher 04/07
- 2 chapters of Curse the Dawn (Cassandra Palmer, 4) Karen Chance, 4/7
- Excerpt of Doomsday Can Wait (Phoenix Chronicles, Bk 2) Lori Handeland 4/28
- Excerpt of Finger Lickin' Fifteen (Stephanie Plum) Janet Evanovich 6/23
- Excerpt 1 and Excerpt 2 of Branded by Fire (Psy-Changelings), Nalini Singh, 7/7
- First 20% of Destined for an Early Grave (Night Huntress, Bk 4) Jeanine Frost 7/28
- Excerpt of Bad Moon Rising (Dark Hunter Series) Sherrilyn Kenyon, 8/4
- Excerpt of Beloved Vampire (Vampire Queen) Joey W. Hill, 8/4
- First two chapters of Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega, Bk 2) Patricia Briggs, 8/25
- Excerpt, excerpt, & excerpt - Must Love Hellhounds (Anth) Ilona Andrews, Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh 9/1
- First chapter of On the Edge (The Edge bk 1) Ilona Andrews, 9/29
- Excerpt of Bound to Shadows (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 8) Keri Arthur 10/27
- Excerpt of A Deep Kiss of Winter (Anthology) Kresley Cole, Gena Showalter, 10/13
- Excerpt of Blaze of Memory (Psy-Changelings, Dev's book), Nalini Singh 11/3
- Excerpt of Skin Game by Ava Gray, 11/03
- Excerpt of A Mermaid's Ransom (Daughters of Arianne Bk 3) Joey W Hill 12/1
- Chapter 1 (pdf) of Divine Misdemeanors (Meredith Gentry #8) Laurell K. Hamilton 12/8
- Excerpt of Kitty's House of Horrors (Kitty Norville Bk 7) by Carrie Vaughn 1/4/10
- Chapter 1 of Archangel's Kiss (Guild Hunter, Bk 2) Nalini Singh 2/2
- Excerpt of Flirt (Anita Blake novella) by Laurell K Hamilton 02/02
- Excerpt, excerpt, & excerpt of Laced with Desire (Anth) by Jaci Burton, Jasmine Haynes, Joey W. Hill, etc. 02/02
- Snippet and first 20% of First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Bk 1) Jeaniene Frost 2/9
- Excerpt of Branded Sanctuary (Nature of Desire series) by Joey W. Hill 2/12
- Excerpt of Black Magic Sanction (Hollows / Rachel Morgan, Bk 8) by Kim Harrison 2/23
- Excerpt and blurb of The Spellmans Strike Again (Spellman Files, Book 4) by Lisa Lutz. 3/6.
- Chapter 1 of Werewolf Smackdown (Felix Gomez 5) Mario Acevedo 3/9
- Chapter 1 of Voices of Dragons (new YA series) by Carrie Vaughn 3/16
- Excerpt and excerpt of Warriors (Anthology) George RR Martin, Carrie Vaughn, etc. 3/16
- Chapter 1 of Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson, Book 5) by Patricia Briggs. 3/30
- Chapters 1 to 4 of Changes, (Dresden Files book 12), by Jim Butcher. 4/6
- Prologue, Chapter 2, & trailers of Radiant Shadows (Wicked Lovely Bk 4) Melissa Marr 4/20
- Excerpt and blurb of Chaos Bites (Phoenix Chronicles, Bk 4) Lori Handeland 4/27
- PDF of Chapter One from Dead in the Family (Sookie Stackhouse #10) by Charlaine Harris 5/4
- Excerpt of Vampire Mistress (Vampire Queen, Book 5) by Joey W. Hill 5/4
- Prologue, snippet, and teaser of Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels #4) by Ilona Andrews 5/25
- Excerpt of Web of Lies (Elemental Assassin Bk 2) by Jennifer Estep. 5/25
- First Chapter of Bullet (Anita Blake Book 18) by Laurell K. Hamilton. 6/1
- Excerpt of Chapter 16 of Chimera by Rob Thurman. 6/1
- Excerpt of Infinity (Chronicles of Nick Book 1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon 6/8
- Excerpt of Sizzling Sixteen (Stephanie Plum 16) by Janet Evanovich 6/22
- First Chapter and what comes next from Kitty Goes to War (Kitty Norville, #8) Carrie Vaughn 6/29
- Excerpt of Tracking the Tempest (Jane True book 2) by Nicole Peeler 6/29
- Excerpt of Bonds of Justice (Psy/Changeling #8) (Max's Book) by Nalini Singh 7/6
- Chapter 1 of Discord's Apple by Carrie Vaughn. 7/6
- Chapter 1 of Undead and Unfinished (Queen Betsy book 9) by MaryJanice Davidson 7/6
- Snippet, & Excerpt of Dark and Stormy Knights (Anth) by Ilona Andrews, Jim Butcher, Carrie Vaughn, etc. 7/20
- Chapter 1, Snippet 1, Snippet 2, Snippet 3, & Snippet 4, & Snippet 5 of Eternal Kiss of Darkness, (Night Huntress World, #2, Mencheres) Jeaniene Frost. 7/27
- Excerpt from Shadow Chase (Shadowchasers Bk 2) by Seressia Glass 7/27
- First 3 chapters of Waking the Witch (Women/Otherworld Bk 11) Kelley Armstrong 7/27
- Nalina Singh excerpt, and Meljean Brooke excerpt, and Virginia Kantra excerpt from Burning Up (Anth) Nalini Singh, Angela Knight, Virginia Kantra, Meljean Brook 8/3
- Excerpt of Demon from the Dark (Immortals After Dark Bk 10) by Kresley Cole
- Excerpts of Sparks (Anya Kalinczyk / Embers book 2) by Laura Bickle 8/31
- Excerpt of Vampire Trinity (Vampire Queen Book 6) by Joey W. Hill 9/7
- Excerpt of No Mercy (Dark Hunters #19) by Sherrilyn Kenyon. 9/7
- Chapter 1 of Dexter Is Delicious (Book 5 of the Dexter series by Jeff Lindsay) 9/7
- Excerpt of Wicked Appetite (Diesel/Unmentionables book 1) by Janet Evanovich 9/14
- Chapter 1 of Venom (Elemental Assassin Bk 3) by Jennifer Estep. 9/28
- Chapters 1 - 8 of Naked Heat (Nikki Heat Bk 2) by Richard Castle 9/28
- Snippet, Snippet, Snippet, Snippet, Snippet, Cover, Discussion , and snippet of Bayou Moon (The Edge #2), by Ilona Andrews 9/28
- Chapter 1 of Double Cross (Justine Jones Disillusionist Book 2) by Carolyn Crane 09/28
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