I love Murderbot Diaries by this author, so when I saw this in Audible Plus, I checked it out. It's a longer book that most I've listened to. The narrI love Murderbot Diaries by this author, so when I saw this in Audible Plus, I checked it out. It's a longer book that most I've listened to. The narration is very good, world building interesting, characters pretty good. There's a lot of political intrigue and post-apocalyptic violence and callousness, which I don't usually read, but the story was interesting enough to get me through those sections. Overall, I would recommend.
The story is some other world where long ago, some horrible catastrophe involving powerful mages caused the world to mostly dry up. Water is scarce, and there are a lot of natural predators. Mad-Max-esque cannibal pirates roam the desserts between cities, having been forced out by lawlessness caused by poverty. There are old ruins from the before times, and items from those ruins fetch a pretty penny. Kat is an explorer who sells such finds. He is of a different race of people, more suited to the extremes of this dessert climate, and eventually, you learn how his people came to be. He has a partner who's older and like family to him. Kat is given a commission he can't really refuse to assist a top-level magic user (Head Warder) in finding some specific artifacts that were stolen and together, the warder thinks will unlock some long-hidden information. There's a young woman warder who is practically a daughter to the head warder who is also on the quest. Naïve and not that powerful, there's some tension between her and Kat. Shady characters dog their heels, and there's a lot of violence and near death. The mystery of what the monuments in the desert do is eventually revealed, and daring, dangerous heroism closes out the book....more
As far as I can tell, this is the first series by this author. She may have written other things under different names, or ghost written, or publishedAs far as I can tell, this is the first series by this author. She may have written other things under different names, or ghost written, or published short stories, but I don't see any other books on her website or Goodreads, and a quick web search did not show her having pseudonym. So, let's assume this is her first published work. It's urban fantasy with a dash of romance and mystery, and it's very well done. It's not gratuitously violent, either. The world building is interesting and different enough from other books in the genre. The characters are loveable, and the mysteries are interesting. I read all three books and one novella that have been published so far back-to-back, then read the short story on her website. Not all series have that addictive quality, but this one did. It's also free to read on Kindle Unlimited. I'm a fan. Does it use tropes? Yes. Is it a bit formulaic? Sure. But if you like this genre, it's well done - I recommend it.
This one sets up the series. The heroine (a mercenary/bounty hunter) meets the hero and doesn't have anything good to say about him after. I don't honestly remember where this book ends and the next begins, but the romance is extremely slow burn - nothing comes of it at all for at least half the series. ...more
As far as I can tell, this is the first series by this author. She may have written other things under different names, or ghost written, or publishedAs far as I can tell, this is the first series by this author. She may have written other things under different names, or ghost written, or published short stories, but I don't see any other books on her website or Goodreads, and a quick web search did not show her having pseudonym. So, let's assume this is her first published work. It's urban fantasy with a dash of romance and mystery, and it's very well done. It's not gratuitously violent, either. The world building is interesting and different enough from other books in the genre. The characters are loveable, and the mysteries are interesting. I read all three books and one novella that have been published so far back-to-back, then read the short story on her website. Not all series have that addictive quality, but this one did. It's also free to read on Kindle Unlimited. I'm a fan. Does it use tropes? Yes. Is it a bit formulaic? Sure. But if you like this genre, it's well done - I recommend it.
This book is about Kenzie being imprisoned by the big bad government people and her family and mate setting working to rescue her. It's also about Lucas growing as a person. It has a bit of a corniness with Curtis calling up Lucas every once in a while with congratulations for "unlocking a key" like in a video game, but I forgive that. ...more
As far as I can tell, this is the first series by this author. She may have written other things under different names, or ghost written, or publishedAs far as I can tell, this is the first series by this author. She may have written other things under different names, or ghost written, or published short stories, but I don't see any other books on her website or Goodreads, and a quick web search did not show her having pseudonym. So, let's assume this is her first published work. It's urban fantasy with a dash of romance and mystery, and it's very well done. It's not gratuitously violent, either. The world building is interesting and different enough from other books in the genre. The characters are loveable, and the mysteries are interesting. I read all three books and one novella that have been published so far back-to-back, then read the short story on her website. Not all series have that addictive quality, but this one did. It's also free to read on Kindle Unlimited. I'm a fan. Does it use tropes? Yes. Is it a bit formulaic? Sure. But if you like this genre, it's well done - I recommend it.
This one focuses on Brooke being manipulated by a mind-mage and Kenzie being hired for a protection job by Lucan at a swanky series of events. ...more
I liked this middle grade fiction book, even though I'm an adult. It was a slightly tense story of the last human on earth and her three robot friendsI liked this middle grade fiction book, even though I'm an adult. It was a slightly tense story of the last human on earth and her three robot friends. It's a post-apocalyptical world where robots rose up and killed all the humans because the humans were destroying the planet. Now there are only robots, continuing their society using solar power and letting the earth heal. Only there was a bunker of humans underground, but they got sick and all but a 12 year old died, so she came out. Now she has to get to a place on a map her dad gave her before he died to safety, and she befriends some robots to help her....more
This is a young adult series using Cinderella as a very abstract starting point. This Cinder is a cyborg with about 1/3 of her body made of machine paThis is a young adult series using Cinderella as a very abstract starting point. This Cinder is a cyborg with about 1/3 of her body made of machine parts. She was adopted by a man who then immediately died, leaving her with an unwilling stepmom and two stepsisters. She's a mechanic and the only one earning any money for the family. Sounds pretty true to the original story so far, but then it veers. There's a plague and since cyborgs are despised and treated like property, they are drafted into testing antidotes to the plague, which is a death sentence. Cinder's younger sister gets the plague and her stepmom sells her off to be a guinea pig. And there's a price who's dad the emperor is sick with the plague as well, and Cinder was asked by the prince to fix his android. And there's a lunar colony that's become very large and has magic mind-control powers. The queen of the moon is a vicious monster who wants to conquer the earth.
I liked it enough, but it was a bit tense to listen to....more
This is a spin-off story of a slow romance of one of the princesses - the one who is a mage.
I read these back to back and not longer remember the detaThis is a spin-off story of a slow romance of one of the princesses - the one who is a mage.
I read these back to back and not longer remember the details of each book. This was a light, entertaining cozy series that involved a runaway princess who want to be tea master and the family-of-choice she collects around her in her new home. Eventually, there's adventure in the magical border zone, the discovery of a new species, traitors, and reunion with her princess sisters, as well as some very slow, off-camera romances for the four princesses. There are various kinds of magic and international power struggles. Somehow, the heroine's power of making connections and understanding what people need is magical. I like how this series emphasizes relating to other people effectively. ...more
I read these back to back and not longer remember the details of each book. This was a light, entertaining cozy series that involved a runaway princesI read these back to back and not longer remember the details of each book. This was a light, entertaining cozy series that involved a runaway princess who want to be tea master and the family-of-choice she collects around her in her new home. Eventually, there's adventure in the magical border zone, the discovery of a new species, traitors, and reunion with her princess sisters, as well as some very slow, off-camera romances for the four princesses. There are various kinds of magic and international power struggles. Somehow, the heroine's power of making connections and understanding what people need is magical. I like how this series emphasizes relating to other people effectively. ...more
I read these back to back and not longer remember the details of each book. This was a light, entertaining cozy series that involved a runaway princesI read these back to back and not longer remember the details of each book. This was a light, entertaining cozy series that involved a runaway princess who want to be tea master and the family-of-choice she collects around her in her new home. Eventually, there's adventure in the magical border zone, the discovery of a new species, traitors, and reunion with her princess sisters, as well as some very slow, off-camera romances for the four princesses. There are various kinds of magic and international power struggles. Somehow, the heroine's power of making connections and understanding what people need is magical. I like how this series emphasizes relating to other people effectively. ...more
If you like urban fantasy and paranormal romance, I have a hard time imagining you don't already read Ilona Andrews. They are urban fantasy royalty, fIf you like urban fantasy and paranormal romance, I have a hard time imagining you don't already read Ilona Andrews. They are urban fantasy royalty, from my perspective. Really top notch storytelling - absolutely engrossing - imaginative with great world building, great plot development, characters you want to get to know more and more because they are just that interesting. There is nothing at all they could do better, because they are already amazing. (They in this case is the plural - they are a husband and wife writing team.)
This is rather far into the Kate Daniels series - book 10-ish. They've given up leadership of Atlanta in pursuit of a quiet life to raise their son in Wilmington. Only they are BORED. And maybe losing their edge? More than one person is trying to get them to step back up to leadership. So when the opportunity to maybe start over and do things better comes up for the low low price of getting rid of an ancient re-awakened magically baddy, they take it. And in the end, there's a fabulous scene with baby rhinos. Loved that! ...more
This was a light, entertaining cozy series that involved a runaway princess who want to be tea master and the family-of-choice she collects around herThis was a light, entertaining cozy series that involved a runaway princess who want to be tea master and the family-of-choice she collects around her in her new home. Eventually, there's adventure in the magical border zone, the discovery of a new species, traitors, and reunion with her princess sisters, as well as a very slow, off-camera romance or two. There are various kinds of magic and international power struggles. Somehow, the heroine's power of making connections and understanding what people need is magical. I like how this series emphasizes relating to other people effectively. ...more
In this post-apocalyptic supernatural novel, Maggie Hoskie is Dinétah (aka Navajo) and possesses special tribal powers that make her a killing machineIn this post-apocalyptic supernatural novel, Maggie Hoskie is Dinétah (aka Navajo) and possesses special tribal powers that make her a killing machine. The apocalypse happened maybe a decade ago. Global warming caused sudden, massive floods, killing billions and wiping out most of the North American continent. Then there were related wars and catastrophes, while meanwhile, the Diéntah had built a great wall around their nation immediately before the flood, protecting themselves from the outside. This is the dawn of the Sixth World, a time of returning gods and monsters and awakened tribal power.
We meet Maggie on a bounty hunt. She's been alone for too long, abandoned by her love interest and mentor (a war god who walks the earth), but she needs to make a living, so she does this job that no one will take, hunting a monster who stole a girl. It doesn't turn out so well for the girl, and Maggie takes the head of the monster to an old medicine man for identification. Heck if she knows what it is. The medicine man sets her up to partner with his grandson, who has healing powers. They go to a town that has a library to do some research, only the entire town has been killed. Coyote leads them on a path, and before you know it, there are swarms of the monsters around, and it looks like maybe her old mentor is part of the problem.
This book is unique among urban fantasy because this tribal nation is the dominant culture and setting of the action. The author writes as if you should understand the culture already, and eventually, you catch on. It's well done and grew on me the more I read. ...more
I read the first 3 books of this series back to back, and am looking forward to the 4th and final one in a couple weeks. I like how the heroine treatsI read the first 3 books of this series back to back, and am looking forward to the 4th and final one in a couple weeks. I like how the heroine treats others. She's kind and non-judgmental, even though she's a badass knight. She's even a vegetarian. She uses humor to lower tensions, and actively looks at situations from the other's point of view. I like reading that type of behavior in fiction. There's too few examples of how to relate to others well in fiction, so thank you Ms. Chase for providing this character. The love story is VERY slow burn. One kiss in this book and some serious romantic tension.
In this book, the heroine is on the hunt for the 3rd stone - and this one impacts shifters only. ...more
I listened to this as an audiobook on Audible Plus, because that's how the book is debuting. It was fantastic. I LOVE this author. The thing with the I listened to this as an audiobook on Audible Plus, because that's how the book is debuting. It was fantastic. I LOVE this author. The thing with the cats is a little silly, but doesn't bother me. The sci fi, motorcycles, and military threads work well together in this series, and I never would have guessed they could. The narration is great as well. In this one, Shining gets revenge on Harland's killer and claims some tech and allies that will help her in her campaign against Clarice Warhammer....more
I liked the story, but it was novella-length, so the author didn't spend much time on setting the stage. You are dumped into action immediately. This I liked the story, but it was novella-length, so the author didn't spend much time on setting the stage. You are dumped into action immediately. This is solidly sci-fi, not the fantasy that I usually read from this author. The earth has been invaded and invaders repelled, WWIII happened, space flight happened, most of the ozone layer is gone and the earth is seriously baked from the sun. The heroine has super powers born of science gone sideways and is hiding out in a junkyard, stockpiling arms just in case. She's entirely off the grid and declared dead. Then stuff hits the fan. Maybe they've found her. And her cats are awesome. ...more
Ms. Thalassa does an amazing job of making this series addictive. The subject matter makes it gruesome (apocalypses=mass extinction events), but the jMs. Thalassa does an amazing job of making this series addictive. The subject matter makes it gruesome (apocalypses=mass extinction events), but the journey of each of the romances is epic, and the characters loveable. This one is set in Brazil and Famine doesn't just kill crops, he controls all plant life and can call to living creatures. He was captured and tortured for years, the escapes with the assistance of a soft hearted teenage women. His revenge for the torture is sadistic. The teen ends up a prostitute for the next 5 years until Famine comes to her town. She nearly dies, but vows revenge and chases him down. And he doesn't kill her once he understands she's the girl who helped him. Then, like the other two books before, there's a long road trip where the women wins the horseman's heart, though there's TONS of violence along the way. This heroine made me laugh out loud a few times. She's indominable. ...more
This is mostly a romance, and a well-written one at that. It's mid-apocalypse, and there's an extreme amount of death and violence. The four horsemen This is mostly a romance, and a well-written one at that. It's mid-apocalypse, and there's an extreme amount of death and violence. The four horsemen are appearing about one every five years, and each one finds a woman that God gave to him to wed. This one is about a half Jewish, half Muslim woman with a tragic backstory named Mariam and War, who is in the middle east, wiping out entire towns with his prisoner army. It's a rather long book, which allows the characters to have enough time to really transform their attitudes, without rushing things. I'm not usually a fan of apocalyptic fiction, but this one is particularly well done. ...more
This book is depressing. I liked the premise that violent acts cause monsters to coalesce into being. That was very interesting, and the direct cause This book is depressing. I liked the premise that violent acts cause monsters to coalesce into being. That was very interesting, and the direct cause and effect felt cosmically balanced. I didn't like the intrigue, brutality, and violence of the book, so I stopped reading at halfway and skimmed the end. The ending was pretty awful. I'm not interested in reading more of this series....more
I do not like dystopian fiction. Young adult dystopian is even harder for me to get through because the plot lines tend to be over-simplified. In thisI do not like dystopian fiction. Young adult dystopian is even harder for me to get through because the plot lines tend to be over-simplified. In this dystopian setting, an attempted cure for a plague created zombie-like creatures that can infect others, and so the vampires of the planet came out of the closet to protect the surviving humans in cattle-pen cities where blood donation is required monthly by all citizens. Only the disease also affects the vampires, and they are slowly dying out. Lots of bad stuff happens. One girl becomes a vampire with a heart of gold. She'll probably cure everyone by book three. I won't be reading about it when she does. The writing is good enough, so if this is your thing, give the book a shot. ...more
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