Elemental Assassin series by Jennifer Estep

I have currently been reading the Elemental Assassin series by Jennifer Estep. Gin Blanco, is an assassin known as the "Spider" with magic for both Stone and Ice. She is a very guarded character. The storyline is darker than I normally read but it was different as well. That's what I liked about it. I'm not too connected to any of the characters, really, but the fact that it was a change of pace keeps be coming back. The plot is spot on to keep you turning the pages all night long.

Blood Lines series by Maria Lima

This is an interesting series not written in your currently typical urban fantasy. I really like the main characters back story. She's doesn't truly feel like she fits in to any society but has turned out to be very prominent among all societies in this story line. They're kind of slow in the beginning. I actually had to come back to it because I tried earlier and I was too scattered to focus on the storyline. Once I got into it though I was good. The characters are good and strong. Some are even flawed in a realistic sort of way. I would recommend this. My advice though is to start "Matters of the Blood" when you have no distractions.

Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison (The Hollows, book 10)

Awesome! Is all I can say. I wait every year for a new book. I never get tired of them. Kim Harrison is an amazing author. I think my only disappointments in this book were 1) Al wasn't a star in the book 2) I read it too fast and it was over too soon! Anyhow, read them all and then read them again! I love Rachel Morgan and her trials. I've cried my eyes out at some of her experiences but laughed at a lot of them too!

Cassie Palmer Novels by Karen Chance

I'm re-reading these but since I read them long before I started the blog I'll tell you a little bit about them. Cassie Palmer is a clairvoyant possibly the new Pythia (all powerful Guardian of Time). She has been raised by vampires. The mages that are supposed to be her devout followers are trying to hunt her down but so is a faction of the vampires.

It's pretty interesting. Lots of action. Cassie is strong and smart even though many treat her like a dumb blond. Back in June Chance released the 5th book in the series.

1. Touch of Dark
2. Claimed by Shadow
3. Embrace the Night
4. Curse the Dawn
5. Hunt the Moon

Definitely recommend them.

Catch up time! Several books/series to review

So, I have a few additions to series and new series that I've read over the last month (almost 2).

Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur
I really love this series. It's a urban fantasy with a touch of romance. I really like all the characters and Arthur's writing style. This book is picking up where Bound By Shadows left off after Riley's coma. She is working through her issues, returning to work, deciding what her next move might be when she's kidnapped and her memories of who and what she is is wiped from her. She remains the strong character even in a state of limbo. I highly recommend this series. It's very well written.

Allie Beckstrom novels by Devon Monk

As far as I can tell Monk is a part time author and this is her only series but I really liked it. I would classify this as an Urban Fantasy and not the type I tend to read. I picked it up based on the cover art (I do this from time to time and usually I'm spot on). The world is fueled by magic. Everyone uses it for personal and business uses. It's also used in parts of crimes where Hounds (a person with stronger magic instincts) tracks what type of magic was used and who cast it. Allie Beckstrom is a Hound and the estranged daughter to Portland's most powerful, financially and magically, business man. There are lots of twists and turns in the storyline and characters that you wonder the whole way through whether they are friend or foe. I recommend this series.

Magic in the Bone
Magic in the Blood
Magic in the Shadows
Magic on the Storm
a new installment due in November.

Tales of an Urban Werewolf series by Karen MacInerney
Howling at the Moon
On the Prowl
Leader of the Pack

This is a light reading series. It's got some touches of mystery to it but it's got a lot of humor. I liked it and was kinda disappointed when I finished Leader in The Pack. I'm on the lookout for another installment to this series.

So I have some Catching up to do...

I read The Others series by Christine Warren. I liked them ok. I think I would have liked them better if the books were being told by the same character throughout the series but for a series that changed POV I liked it quite a bit. I recommend it.

I also just finished the newest installment in The Hollows series by Kim Harrison, "Black Magic Sanction". I really don't know how she does it! She has a way with mixing action, emotion and wit to make a GREAT storyline. Still, my fav character is Al. He keeps me laughing throughout the series and so far I still think I'm right about him. I can't tell you exactly what I think because for those that haven't read the series it would ruin his character and Harrison's delivery of him for you. I also have to add that I really hate Nick! New favorite "Al line" 'Sweet mother of chaos!' Hope you'll check out these books because they are AWESOME. Each book has a substantial amount of storyline to keep you so entertained you won't want to put them down.

Women of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong

This series was a lot of fun! The only thing I was disappointed was that some books are told by one character and some of the others are told by others.I'm not a big fan of books that change POV it usually turns me off a series. The books told by Elena Michaels are AWESOME. I really like her as a character. I'm not really sure what it is about her that I like so much because all the characters are strong women. Armstrong is very good at highlighting the strengths of some of the "weaker" characters. For instance Elena is a werewolf, the only female, and she is strong both in mind and body. She is very well educated and knows how to command attention. On another hand, Jaime is a necromancer and other than being able to talk to and see the dead she has no other power. She's not physically strong but she is of strong mind (rare for a necromancer according to Armstrong). None of these books need to be read in order. There are few references to the other books but Armstrong does a pretty good job of summarizing whatever she references. This also gets my recommendation. The only ones I don't HIGHLY recommend are Haunted (it was Eh), Personal Demon and Living with the Dead (I didn't care for Hope Adams)

Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs

Moon Called
Blood Bound
Iron Kissed
Bone Crossed

This is another keeper on my bookshelf. Mercedes "Mercy" Thompson is a shape-shifter who lives in a world that could be the real world if it had werewolves, fae and vampires in it.She is an auto mechanic that was raised by werewolves. It's definitely an Urban Fantasy. There are some suspenseful type parts through the series that really draw you in. Patricia Briggs is another author that doesn't give too much detail. If possible I think that she could give a little more details in some areas. They are all quick reads. There aren't a lot of dramatic parts. I think the biggest dramatic aspect is the love triangle that starts in Moon Called and isn't really settled until Bone Crossed but then picks up another triangle towards the end. I recommend this series. The next book in the series "Silver Borne" is to be released February 2010.

I'm waiting to read the Alpha and Omega series by Briggs until there are a few more books in the series.

The Hollows by Kim Harrison

Dead Witch Walking
The Good, the Bad and the Undead
Every Which Way but Dead
A Fistful of Charms
For a Few Demons More
The Outlaw Demon Wails
White Witch, Black Curse

This series was recommended to me by a friend. I really like it. It's a little slow in the beginning but I have decided most series (Night Huntress excluded) take me a couple of books to really get hooked. I say the first few chapters of Dead Witch Walking were slow and kinda like "ok where are we going" but it clears up and the story starts to play out. I have to say my fav book in the series was Every Witch Way but Dead (3rd in the series). Though most of the books in the series dont leave you hanging in a climax (only one, White Witch, Black Curse does) it's best you read them in order so you know the history. My fav character in the series is, by far, Al. Rachel is also a pretty well put together character. She has a ironic and sarcastic sens of humor which I find hilarious. I think the only character that I don't really care too much for is Ivy. Jenks is a riot! You'll laugh and cry (and cry laughing) through this series. The next in the series Black Magic Sanction is due to be released in March 2010 for HC and April 2010 for PB. This is another book I can't wait to read!

On another note. Kim Harrison's suggestions have made me read a lot of the books I have and all of which she recommended I have liked as well.

Author's website:
http://www.kimharrison.net

Some of my favs

Night Huntress Novels by Jeaniene Frost
Halfway to the Grave
One Foot in the Grave
At Grave's End
Destined for an Early Grave

I gotta say that this is a series I ABSOLUTELY adore. It includes all the makings of a well put together series. It has a good plot in EVERY book, there is no wait and make you see what happens a year from now. It has GREAT characters. Cat is a strong, independent woman who ,though occasionally she needs saving, she doesn't sit back whining about how no one is saving her. I tend to like strong heroines in my stories, someone I can admire. "Bones" or Crispin is swoon worthy and again a very well put together character. I HIGHLY recommend this series. I picked Halfway to the Grave up at Border's one day and bought it based on the cover art. So who ever said dont judge a book by it's cover? I also have to make a comment about Frost's writing style. She has a way of not over-doing it. She adds enough detail to where you could easily picture the scene playing out in your head without drowning you in detail. She also doesn't add anything that isn't pertinent to the storyline. If it's in there it's need to know. I have read this series over and over again and I never tire of it. I still laugh at the innuendos and the little jokes and I REALLY cant wait until her next book is released just because I love it that much. Also, in Feb 2010 she has a spin off series being released I recommend you reading this one first just so you can get to know all the characters.

Author's website:
http://www.jeanienefrost.com