Review: Never Shines the Sun

Never Shines the Sun by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Not even going to lie -- I spent the last day of my time off between jobs running around and found myself at Barnes & Noble exploring books and board games for purchase. I was glancing through the SF/F shelves and it hit me -- this short story was only available in the physical copy of the book, and I purchased the Kindle version... So I grabbed it off the shelf, made myself comfortable, and tore through this little nugget of awesome.

Loved it. It has one of my top favorite characters in it, and gives a little backstory into October's Choice. And, it makes VERY clear (if it wasn't already from the main books in the series) that the Luidaeg and Faerie have some big plans in store for Toby.

I can't wait to know more. This is far and away one of my top favorite series. :D

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Review: The Girl on the Train

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow! What a book! So hard to put down... great plot twists... I suspected the killer a little, but couldn't quite put my finger on why until it was laid out for me...

I liked that we got the perspectives of three different characters, and it should definitely make an interesting movie.

I can see why it got a lot of hype. It was a great thriller.

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Review: Magic Binds

Magic Binds by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So many other reviewers have done a much better job reviewing this one than I could. Check those out, and read this series ASAP if you haven't.

Sad that there is only one left, and it's a year away. *thank goodness for rereads*

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Review: Archangel's Kiss

Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An interesting sophomore installment in the Guild Hunter series. There were some things I liked (great secondary cast, interesting villains), and some things I really didn't like (too much detail on lady juices, some repetitive things)... but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I really want some wings of my own. :) And I want to hug some of these broken secondary characters.

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Review: The Obsidian Chamber

The Obsidian Chamber by Douglas Preston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First, thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for a review!

This book was one plot twist after another... and it seriously relied on the reader having partaken in most of the prior 15 books. Unlike many of the others in the series, which can be read on their own without much series spoilage or backstory needed, this one really brought back a LOT of elements of so many of the prior books and tied up a bunch of stories. Of course, it also left a lot hanging, but that's the fun of a series book -- until the author states the end is nigh, you know more is coming.

Other than making sure that other readers know that this one is definitely a "read-the-others-first" entry in the series, I can't say much about the story because, well, saying more would seriously spoil multiple books worth of twists, cliffhangers, and mysteries.

I absolutely love this series, and Obsidian Chamber was no exception to that love.

Pick up this series. You've got a lot of great books to catch up on if you do. :)


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Review: The Purloined Poodle

The Purloined Poodle by Kevin Hearne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So Iron Druid hasn't entirely been my top favorite UF series. The first two entries were totally amazeballs, but after that, they've teetered close into the "meh" category. I feel like Kevin Hearne's split focus and working on his epic fantasy kinda left Iron Druid out in the cold on putting quality time into it.

All that being said, this little nugget was highly entertaining... mostly because, well, Oberon is the bee's knees. Seriously, he's probably the best part about the entire series.
Let's examine a few quotes as proof:

"But the boxer was kind of like Tybalt, this Prince of Cats Atticus was telling me about" (WHO DOESN'T LOVE OCTOBER DAYE REFERENCES???)

"I mean, it's a bona fide, certified fact that I am hashtag-blessed in the fighting department"

"He seems like the type to have a basement with lots of plastic sheeting on the walls and floors, you know what I mean?"

"Okay. Is this linear time or a big ball of wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff?" (WHO DOESN'T LOVE DOCTOR WHO REFERENCES???)

All in all, thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this three-point-five-star-rounded-up-to-four-star read. :)

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Review: Angels' Blood

Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Highly enjoyable and a very original take on Angel/Vampire interactions. There were some "omg these two are annoying" sections, but by the end of it, I was entertained and invested enough to continue. :)

Yet another enjoyable BBB UF Crew read. :)

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Review: Three Slices

Three Slices by Kevin Hearne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Iron Druid short story: A Prelude to War
3 Stars
I'm not sure what happened to Iron Druid, but I loved it at the beginning, and the farther along it's gotten and the more time passes in between, I just don't love it anymore. I still like it. It's still entertaining. I really love Oberon and Granuaile and the deities and even Atticus, though.

This short story was decent. Not great. Felt kinda rushed. And the whole cheese-o-mancy was a little, well, cheesy.

**I skipped the Blud short story for now, as I've not read that series yet. But it's on my to-read, so maybe one day?**

Miriam Black short story: Interlude: The Swallow
4.5 stars
I love Miriam Black. I just do. She's got a cool power, she's strong and flawed and on some levels relatable, and she f*cking curses like a drunken horny sailor. Seriously, potty potty potty mouth!

This quick tale also felt a little rushed, but had a good story and some characters that were pretty neat. So I enjoyed it, of course. Did I mention her hilarious potty mouth?

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Review: Dead Souls: A Novel

Dead Souls: A Novel by J. Lincoln Fenn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Now THAT was one HELL OF A BOOK.

Thank you, Netgalley, for allowing me to read this nightmare-producer in exchange for an honest review. I just hope I didn't accidentally somehow sell my soul to the devil.

Just like that, Fiona finds herself indebted to the Devil, all because of a casual drunken exchange at a bar after seeing her boyfriend get into a cab with a cute woman in pink. At least she can turn invisible at will now, right? She got SOMETHING out of it, right?

As you slowly learn more and more about our flawed, damaged, and still root-for-able (so not a word!!!) protagonist, we watch her life careen towards the day when her favor will be called in...

This book has some rough material, but was well-written, well-plotted, and extra creepy. Highly recommended to horror and fantasy thriller readers.

Just be careful when talking to random strangers... the devil always calls in his favors...

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Review: In Little Stars

In Little Stars by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Very interesting to see some history of the Mists, and to see things from a character so far removed from Toby. ;)

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Review: Stage of Fools

Stage of Fools by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

<3 Tybalt... need I say more?

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Review: Dreams and Slumbers

Dreams and Slumbers by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's always a lot of fun when UF writers give us short stories from the points of view of a secondary character. Arden's quest to awaken her brother Nolan from his elf-shot slumber takes an interesting turn, and we get some time with Walther and Cassandra too.

Just makes me MORE excited for the next Toby book!!!

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Review: Once Broken Faith

Once Broken Faith by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Yet another Toby book has come to an end, and I'm still stunned at how McGuire manages to keep the series fresh and entertaining. It's probably because her cast of characters is SO GOOD.

Anyways, this was another strong entry in the series, dealing with the fallout and repercussions of Toby's trip to the north from the previous book. It left me with quite a few more questions about the overall story arc, ones I'm excited and terrified to see play out.

Why do we have to wait another year for more? *sigh*

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Review: Shadow Heir

Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

With the Winter Enchantment and the travelling and intrigue, this one had the potential to be my favorite of the series. Unfortunately, the last 15% or so killed it for me. I now understand why everyone was disappointed with the ending.

This book lost two and a half stars strictly because, well, Eugenie is a hypocritical bitch. Completely unlikeable, chock full of double standard bullshit, and ugh... I just can't even.

I could understand some parts of the end, but Eugenie's choice regarding a very important truth was just too far. Her decisions in prior books have been cringeworthy, especially when it came to breaking up with one of her two men "in her head"... but this just takes the cake.

Such a shame, because by the end, I liked all the supporting cast (outside of Kiyo/Maiwenn), especially Jasmine and Dorian.

Blah. Two and a half stars, rounded up ONLY because of characters like Jasmine and Dorian.

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Review: Chasing Embers

Chasing Embers by James Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dragons? Check. Egyptian mythology? Check. Urban Fantasy setting? Check.

At first glance, this book seems to have been written with me in mind. You've got a dude that turns into a dragon (rawr!), witches and gods and fairies (oh my!), and all sorts of fun locales.

Honestly, this book was a wild ride. My only gripe is that there were a few "infodumps"... granted, they were worked into flashbacks or portrayed as a history lesson at a museum gala, but still... infodumps. Other than that, it was a solid story that entertained.

Looking forward to seeing the fallout from the events of this book in the sequel.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review!

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