Finished Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews a few days back.  

As I was reading it, I was ready to slam this book.  It was disjointed, the lead character – a female mercenary with understated/underplayed magical abilities – felt like a two-dimensional stereotype, and there was little passion between her and any of the male leads (or sidelines) in the story.  In fact, I was cranky that I was spending time reading it at all given that I’d had the book in my “read me” pile for over a year and only cracked into it because I misplaced my newer, more highly desired reads somehow.

Then, somewhere around the 200 page mark, I finally got into the book.  

The lead character, Kate Daniels, is a woman whose guardian was killed by who knows what. Something magical, something somewhat shiftery-slash-undead. Corpulent entrails and other corpseriffic carnage ensues.  Supported (in theory, anyway) by a secret society of Guardians, she investigates the death and what the real story is – the one which her now-deceased guardian was investigating at the time of his violent ending.

In her quest for answers, she encounters a morgue doctor named Crest as well as important vampire political players and of course Curran, the Lord of the Beasts (a shifter).  

I had a hard time getting invested in any of these characters.  The story wasn’t dull to the point where I gave up on the book altogether, and it definitely wasn’t vapid, but it also wasn’t as well written as I would have expected from a book that actually not only made it to publication but also garnered enough support to spawn two more installments in the series.

Digging further into this book, I came across a note on one of the online bookseller sites which explained a lot of the stiltedness – at least up to page 200 or so.  Turns out that “Ilona Andrews” is actually a pseudonym for a husband and wife writing team.  My guess: they were working out the kinks of their writing partnership with this book.

If you feel compelled to own it for yourself, you can pick up Magic Bites on Amazon.ca.  

Personally – I’d borrow it from the library or a friend instead.

My Rating: @@@

Apologies. Really should have written my wrap-up review as soon as I finished reading Kitty Raises Hell, if not Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand.  So this may be a little thinner than usual …

Here is what I can tell you. Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand and Kitty Raises Hell are pretty much parts 1 and 2 of a story. I suspect this is why they were released so close together (February then March 2009). Both are quick and easy reads.

Carrie Vaughn’s “Kitty” series books are not deep, but they’re nowhere near the vapid fluff-level silliness of that Succubus in the City story I reviewed a few posts back. I’d call them more of an escapist light adventure for people with brains. She introduces a few new characters set against the backdrop of the surrealist Las Vegas strip. Throw in an attempted wedding, a gun show, a really old vampire and some politics and you have the storyline of these two books together.

I definitely did enjoy them. Will I remember the detail enough to be able to tell you what happened a year from now? Probably not.

But on a positive note, at least I’ll be able to read them again if I’m so inclined!

Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand by Carrie Vaughn

Kitty and Ben hit Vegas for their honeymoon.  Kitty does a live TV show from there, and the couple are staying in the same hotel as a gun convention with many werewolf hunters in attendance.  I’m about a third of the way through and so far so good.  I’ll let you know how it goes.

Second Skin by Caitlin Kittredge

My rating: @@@

Finished  Second Skin over the weekend.  Finally. 

I’m now invested in this series, so I was into it and relished the path.  That being said, though, I’m noticing that in these kinds of genre series it’s difficult to maintain the romantic/sexual tension of a relationship past the first or second book.  Spoiler (highlight to read): Luna and Dmitri break up. 

It’s kind of like The Jewel of the Nile [Blu-ray], sequel to the hit movie Romancing the Stone [Blu-ray].  Episode one (Romancing the Stone): female and male meet under adventurous circumstances.  She can save herself, but he is good to have around for backup … and other things.  Episode two (Jewel of the Nile): what happens after happily ever after?  Those qualities which were so great in a danger situation can become problematic when these same people are dealing with the day to day mundanalities of life. 

Luna and Dmitri are like that in this book.  I suspect that the author couldn’t take the angsty will-they-won’t-they storyline any further and opted to cut her creative losses and move in another direction.

Luna’s stubborn refusal to let other people in also felt like it went to a new level in this book but not in a good way.  Think Anita Blake after about book 5 or 6 in the series.  Still a likeable character with flaws, but her behaviour was extreme in a way sometimes that made her harder to relate to than in the previous books.

But I still enjoyed the book.  And will buy the next one as soon as it comes out if I can.  If you enjoyed the first two books in this series, I would recommend this one for your collection as well.

Buy Second Skin on Amazon.ca

White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison

My rating: @@@

White Witch, Black Curse is the latest release out in the Rachel Morgan series by Kim Harrison.  I just finished it over the weekend. 

If you’re already into the series, you’ll want to read it – like me – to see what happens next to some of your favourite characters.  Let me save you some of the suspense.  Rachel’s actions get her into further trouble. 

Best: Kisten’s murderer is revealed and that part of Rachel’s history is wrapped up.  It’s an emotional moment.  Worst: Rachel continues to do things which isolate her from the community around her and get her involved in things she probably shouldn’t get involved with.

Kim Harrison always spins a good tale.  I wasn’t bored.  But neither was I compelled to pick up the book and read it through in one sitting.  Maybe it was the book and maybe it was my headspace last week, but I suspect it was the book more than anything else.  IMO, Ms. Harrison is starting to lose the energy of the story line – something that often happens after the third or fourth book in a series.  Ivy is less compelling.  Jenks is dealing with the worsening health of his partner Matalina.  Rachel faces some mild sibling disapproval issues and the reality of her mother finally moving on – both emotionally and physically – after many years of mourning.  Al pops up and is entertaining.  There’s a banshee sub-plot that creates some tension.  And once again, Rachel makes some weird and vague emotional decisions when it comes to her love life – such as it is.

I’m really not sure where Harrison can or will go from here with these characters.  As far as I can tell, the next book will involve Rachel getting involved with a former ghost/witch/runner (sigh) and Jenks will probably have to lay the mother of his offspring to rest.  Ivy will do what Ivy does.  Maybe there will be more fun with Trent who was relatively absent from this book.  

I’m glad I read it because I’m already invested in these characters.  And it was well written.  It just didn’t grab me the way the earlier books in this series did.  Jenks’ insights rang a little hollow, and the consistent evidence of Rachel’s bad choices when it comes to her non-business relationships just kept being reinforced in a far too obvious way.

Sure, I’ll pick up the next book.  But maybe I’ll wait a bit longer after it comes out to get it … and maybe, just maybe, I’ll wait for the paperback edition.

* * * *

Night Life by Caitlin Kittredge

My rating: @ @ @ @

Melancholy. Loner. The struggle to define self. Duality of nature – particularly highlighted when you’re dealing with a werewolf, a female, and an “insole” (packless) were at that … who is also a police detective.

Luna Wilder is a strong-minded female heroine (what can I say, my favourite kind!) whose strength lies in both her character and in her physique. She can think on her feet AND take care of herself. Most of the time. Although she does tend to get herself into trouble (managing the whole act first and think later trait can be a bit of a challenge for her), Luna is fortunate enough to pull other strong people into her life who can help.

One of these people is Redback pack were leader Dmitri Sandovski. Yep, there is chemistry. Bad boy. But – of course – good for her. Sure, it’s a cliché but hey, when it’s as well-written as this, it’s a cliché to enjoy … again and again.

Luna is far from perfect. But it is those imperfections and underlying vulnerabilities – however much she tries not to show it – that make her that much more interesting as a main character.

The plot: mystery with a dash of the dark-and-dangerous (but of course not to you) male. Magic, blood and mayhem ensue.

It’s a fairly graphic murder mystery, so if you’re looking for swashbuckling fluff with polka dots and unicorns, this isn’t the book for you.

But if you’re looking for a book to get lost in for a few hundred pages, or a new urban fantasy heroine (and/or author) to follow, I highly recommend this book.

I’ve read it twice now, and I’m sure I’ll pick it up again.

Which doesn’t mean that I don’t have a shopping list.  I do.  I’m not sure when I’ll get to pick them up, but I will.  And hey, if you get to them before me, please drop back here and let me know what you think!

Books In Stores Now:

Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand by Carrie Vaughn
Next book in the Vaughan’s series about Kitty the werewolf.  There is another one coming out in a couple of months, so I might just wait to pick them both up at the same time.

Outcast Season Book One Undone by Rachel Caine
This is the same author that contributed the Weather Warden series to my collection.  I don’t love all of her series – example: Morganville Vampires (the kind of heroine you want to shake) – but I’m willing to try this one out and see how I like it.  Especially since I don’t see another Weather Warden installment on the horizon any time soon.

Living with the Dead by Kelley Armstrong
One of my favourite authors.  Bitten is still one of my top 10 books on the I’m-out-of-new-books-what-can-I-read-now? list.  Because of that, I want it.  Will I get it in hardcover or wait until the paperback comes out?  That I can’t say – depends how desperate I get for something to read once I’m done with everything else.  But whether it’s the hardcover version (available now) or the paperback version (probably out in about a year), I’m sure I’ll get it.

Men of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong
I’m torn about this one.  She is a great author.  But much of this material was previously published online as a novella (although it’s not up there anymore), and I read it back then.  I might buy it anyway to support her, but … maybe not right away.  Sorry Kelley.

Books Out Soon:

White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison (due out February 13, 2009 on Indigo.ca and February 24, 2009 on Amazon.ca)
Well here is a surprise.  I want the next book out in my favourite series, and I’m willing to buy it in hardcover to avoid having to wait.  And it’s being released at the end of the week — woo hoo!!

Made to Be Brokenby Kelley Armstrong (due out February 24, 2009)
Finally!  The next installment in the Exit Strategy series.  I’m thinking I might need to re-read the first book in this as well in preparation.  Always feel like I’m missing out on something when there is a lag of about a year between author releases.  This series diverges from her Otherworld series, but I like it.

Kitty Raises Hell by Carrie Vaughn (due out March 1, 2009)
Clearly, there is a list of pre-orders in my immediate future.  Follows on the last Kitty the werewolf book, above.  This girl just doesn’t catch a break … but it does make for interesting reading!

Second Skin by Caitlin Kittredge (due out March 3, 2009)
The next book in the Luna Wilder, police detective/werewolf mystery series.  Can’t wait.  I think I’ll re-read the entire series in preparation for this next installment.

Dead And Gone
Charlaine Harris (due out May 5, 2009)
I’m almost afraid to include this on my list.  The last few books in this series have been hit and miss.  Plus I’m still cranky about the tv series True Blood.  Does that mean I won’t buy this latest book in the Sookie Stackhouse series?  Probably not.  Might I wait until it’s out in paperback?  I might well do that.

Speak of the Devil by Jenna Black (due out July 28, 2009)
Argh!  I have to wait until the summer for the next installment in this series!  No fair.  Also no plotline spoilers out for it yet.  Sigh.  Patience patience …

This year I discovered two new authors and series which I highly recommend and plan to continue following as new books come out: Jenna Black’s “Devil” series (The Devil Inside, The Devil You Know, The Devil’s Due), and Caitlin Kittredge’s werewolf series (Night Life, Pure Blood).

I should have known better. With a title like “Succubus in the City”, and a fluffy description on the back, the female demographic was clearly the target market assigned to this book.

I had just finished the latest Charlaine Harris mystery in the “cold grave” series and was looking for something a little lighter. It was clear from the start that this was chick-lit. But still … come on, not all females are morons!

The concept is this. A succubus named Lily, living in New York City and surrounded by three of her closest gal pals with input from her beloved boss Satan (who of course goes by the more casual name “Martha” to her friends), is really just looking for love and a deeper meaning to her male-female relationships than the one night stands she engages in. Sure, she loves her work – ridding the world of idiot, loser males who would only cause other women emotional pain and be selfish lovers is a cause she can get behind. But then she meets Nathan and she starts to question it all. Could there be more to relationships? Could this be the guy who triggers her escape clause with Satan and allows her to give it all up, accepting her for who she is?

Throw in a shadowy group of fervent believers who are trying to destroy her and her friends, a sub-plot between one of her close demon friends and a cute demon doorman, and you’ve pretty much got the plot right there.

It’s not badly written. It’s not entirely inane. But if you’re looking for a meaty story that makes you think in any way beyond looking for fashion in a city on designer steroids and hot spots, or maybe the pleasures of expensive haute cuisine which can be ingested without added pounds and therefore guilt, this is not the book for you.

The ending was clichéd. In case you’re actually still interested in reading it, I won’t spoil it for you but whatever you suspect it would be in the most unimaginative of plot lines … well, it’s probably that. No resolution to the plot, and a transparent attempt to get you to buy the next book in what will likely be a series to find out what happens. If you really care.

It’s clear that this book was sparked by the success of Candace Bushnell’s Sex in the City. But instead of covering new ground, instead it rehashes the same old tired concepts – don’t threaten a guy’s ego, always play games, and if you ever think of NOT playing games you’ll probably be sorry.

If you’re really bored, by all means pick up this book from the library or borrow it from a friend. You’re welcome to my copy of you like. Just let me know.

Still interested? It’s available through Amazon.ca and if you really really want it, feel free to order it online here. Shameless plug: I’m experimenting with the concept of being an Amazon.ca reseller, so I’ll make a few cents to put towards buying new books if you click through from here.

But don’t feel like you have to.

My Rating: @@

This past weekend’s episode (#8?) was annoying. The spraying blood and the subsequent slaying of Longshadow was ok. But what’s up with this Jason-Joy-Nerdy/Gay Vampire storyline? And the gooey Oh-Jason-I’m-So-In-Love-With-You business? I mean, sure, in the books Jason has a way with the female portion of the population but come ON! And kidnapping a vampire? Having sex in front of him while he moaned in agony? Give me a freakin’ break.

Tell me Charlaine Harris isn’t cringing as she watches. Her writing does not go down such cliched, groan-worthy paths. It’s a lot more subtle with a healthy dose of irony. I really miss her light touch in this series.

Sure, I’m happy that one of my favourite series is being brought to life (or unlife – LOL) every week. And I hope its popularity helps Ms. Harris out financially — she deserves it IMO.

But I prefer the books. You know — the place where Sookie isn’t a saucy whiner, where Eric’s quips make you laugh, and where Jason is a highly-sexed idiot … but not THIS much of an idiot.

Ok. ‘Nuff said, for now.

And now it’s time to start watching the US election results come in …