This was a fun little novella that focused on Pia and Dragos. After reading most of the books in the Elder Races series, I must admit that Pia and DraThis was a fun little novella that focused on Pia and Dragos. After reading most of the books in the Elder Races series, I must admit that Pia and Dragos are my favorite couple. They are an unlikely match - Dragos is a big, overbearing, powerful dragon and Pia is a calming influence with a rare Wyr nature. In this installment, Pia is sent to Hollywood to spend a week with the Light Fae Queen per a diplomatic agreement.
There's a lot going on in this short novella (180 pages or thereabouts): 1. We get to see more of Pia and Dragos' happily ever after - they are very much in love and can't keep their hands off each other. Oftentimes when you read a series there is only a brief mention of previous couples. Not here.
2. We learn a bit more about the rivalry between the Elder Races, namely between the Fae.
3. There is a threat to all of the Elder Races and those with magical powers.
This is a must read for Elder Races fans. While the Elder Races series is best read in order, this short novella can be read as a stand alone, just to get a taste of the author's writing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a review copy of this book....more
Dragos Goes to Washington is definitely for people who just can't get enough of Dragos About 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
Oh, Dragos, you sexy thing....
Dragos Goes to Washington is definitely for people who just can't get enough of Dragos and Pia. It's hot and steamy with lots of pow (you need to read the book for that one). Dragos is the Ultimate Alpha Male, especially when he is in a mating frenzy. Of course there is that pesky trip to Washington, where the Elder Races are supposed to do a little face time with the humans.
One of the nice things about this book is that we get to see Liam for a short time. I also loved Pia and Dragos together. While Dragos is a little too possessive for my tastes, I can see the appeal.
There are 3 short novellas planned for the next few months. They are Dragos Goes to Washington, Pia Does Hollywood, and Liam Takes Manhattan. I felt that this book could be read on its own just to get a taste for the author's writing style. Of course, the series is best enjoyed when read in order.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book....more
Hmmm. This one is a hard one for me to review. I do love this series, but this book just dragged on and on. Perhaps it's just that time of year when eHmmm. This one is a hard one for me to review. I do love this series, but this book just dragged on and on. Perhaps it's just that time of year when everything needs to get done and there's no extra time, but no, I found myself skimming and trying to finish this book.
So why 3 stars and not less? I'm still invested in this series. I love the main characters , the world, the interaction between the Elder Races. It's just that as a lead couple, Bel and Graydon did not hold my interest.
Anyhow, if you haven't started this series and are looking for something in paranormal romance, start with Dragon Bound. The books can be read as standalone books, but are best enjoyed when read in order.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for a review copy of this book.
4.0 - 4.5 stars. This is my first Nicole Peeler book and it certainly won't be the last. I now can't wait to try her other series.
Jinn & Juice is the 4.0 - 4.5 stars. This is my first Nicole Peeler book and it certainly won't be the last. I now can't wait to try her other series.
Jinn & Juice is the story of Lyla, a half-human, half jinn who is almost at the finish line of a thousand year curse. That is, if she is not bound to a magi at the end of the curse. She gets bound to the Magi Oz, who is definitely not your regular Master. Oz needs Lyla's help in order to find a girl who was taken from the refugee camps. Lyla has no choice but to agree to help but she does so on her terms.
There is so much to like about this book. First of all, I loved the cast of characters. What a diverse bunch. We had a jinni, an oracle, a psychic, a troll, a will o' wisp, a siren, and so many other interesting characters not usually seen in urban fantasy books. Lyla was so easy to like - she has a nice sense of empathy considering that she was jinn. And Oz...definitely book boyfriend material. It was like he was very uncomfortable in his role as a Master. The supporting cast was a lot of fun and the villain was just deliciously evil.
The setting was very different. How many books take place in Pittsburgh? Like, would you even think of Pittsburgh as a hub of supernatural activity? I enjoyed how the author explained how Pittsburgh with all of its steel mills kept most of the pure magic supernaturals away. Only the Immunda were able to live there in relative safety.
I enjoyed learning about Lyla's background way back when she was made into a jinn. Fascinating.
Jinn & Juice - magical, captivating, enthralling. Can't wait for the next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for a review copy of this book....more
Another strong installment in the Elder Races series. Midnight's Kiss focuses on Julian, the King of Nightkind and his love interest Melisandre, heir Another strong installment in the Elder Races series. Midnight's Kiss focuses on Julian, the King of Nightkind and his love interest Melisandre, heir to the Light Fae. The book picks up right where Night's Honor left off, so it is essential to read these books in order. This book is more character driven than the others. A great majority of the book stars Julian and Melisandre alone and the two must work together in order to survive. My one criticism of this book would be that it contained a scene of "sex on the run" or "sex while escaping from bad guys," which kind of makes me laugh. Considering the psycho character they were escaping from, it would be a bad idea to get caught with your pants down. Anyhow, epic battle scenes, hot and steamy love scenes, a happily ever after for our couple, and the promise of another book in the series made me a happy reader.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group/Berkeley for a review copy of this book....more
Initial Thoughts: Wow. Once again I am awed by the awesomeness of this series. If you have not yet had a chance to start the Kate Daniels series, whatInitial Thoughts: Wow. Once again I am awed by the awesomeness of this series. If you have not yet had a chance to start the Kate Daniels series, what are you waiting for? Amazing battles with supernatural creatures, cool magic, intricately detailed world, fantastic dialogue, sexy lead couple - and a fantastic story. Full review to come...
Update 8/6/15 The ladies at Badass Book Reviews discuss our thoughts about Magic Shiftson the blog. Check out what we thought about the book. (Hint - we loved it!)
Initial Thoughts: I absolutely love this series. Who knew a gargoyle could be so big and sexy and lusty? This is a fun book to read and the hero and hInitial Thoughts: I absolutely love this series. Who knew a gargoyle could be so big and sexy and lusty? This is a fun book to read and the hero and heroine are very hot together.
The Review: I love this series. I love the mix of Egyptian mythology with all sorts of paranormal creatures.
If you have not yet had the opportunity to start this series, the first book is called Forbidden. You could theoretically read this book first; the author recaps well and there is a handy glossary at the beginning of the book which explains a bit of this world. For optimum reading enjoyment, I would highly recommend starting with the first book. That way, you could enjoy all the details and nuances of this fascinating world. Each book focuses on a lead couple and while the couple works through their attraction, the crazy villain is usually up to no good. In this particular installment, a very injured and lusty gargoyle meets a woman who just happens to be his perfect match.
In Forged, our lead couple is a gargoyle named Ahnvil and his love interest Kat. Upon escaping the Templar lair, Ahnvil finds himself injured and just outside Kat’s remote cabin in Washington State. Ahnvil is close to turning to stone and Kat manages to rescue him and nurse him back to health. An interesting fact about these gargoyles: they are a lusty lot and that, combined with his Scottish brogue made Ahnvil almost irresistible.
Kat is well suited to live in the world of the Nightwalkers. She is unable to be out in the sun due to a rare skin condition. His world seems to draw her in, especially once she discovers the amulet stolen by Ahnvil. The amulet has an affinity for Kat and she is unable to remove it.
In another plot thread, Druid Bella is compelled to visit Stoney Gorge, Washington (Kat’s home). She and her demon husband Jacob arrive in town and Kat can only see a ghostly image of Bella. Ahnvil is unable to see or hear her.
The chemistry between Kat and Ahnvil was incredible. He was so hot and sexy and of course, huge. (ha!) I loved the sexual tension between these two, especially when Ahnvil was recuperating from his injuries and was all lusty and gropy. Holy hot sexy scenes, too. These two were smoking hot!
One of the things that draws me to this series is the sheer diversity of all of the paranormal creatures. There are gargoyles, night angels, djynn, and more. I especially enjoyed the villain of this series, who has now taken on a very pregnant female form. Just his inner dialogue made this book worth the read.
Forged is an excellent addition to the World of the Nightwalkers series. I can’t wait to read more of this series. In the meantime, I guess I can go back and read the original Nightwalkers series.
Initial Thoughts: About a 3.5-4.0 star read for me. Another nice installment in the Elder Races series. I wasn't too wild about this one - the main coInitial Thoughts: About a 3.5-4.0 star read for me. Another nice installment in the Elder Races series. I wasn't too wild about this one - the main couple were just OK for me. I did like that there was no insta-love between Xavier and Tess and that there was a nice build up to their relationship. There is a little bit of a cliffhanger to the next book.
The Review: I've been a fan of Thea Harrison's Elder Races series for a while now. I was very excited to meet a new couple, this time on the West Coast. Night's Honor focuses on human Tess Graham and her Vampyre love interest Xavier del Torro. (Love that name - it sounds so sexy!)
I enjoyed watching Tess and Xavier develop their relationship. It's definitely not an insta-love thing between the two, but Tess grabbed Xavier's attention right away. Tess is quite skittish and justifiably so, considering Xavier could kill her. Tess also carries some baggage - she is on the run from a powerful djinn who does not like to be double-crossed. In the meantime, Xavier is busy with some Vampyre and Light Fae politics. We are introduced to Julian the leader of all the Vampyres, Justine a vampyre with some aspirations of her own, and the lovely Melisande a Light Fae. Some very intriguing and deadly power struggles ensue.
This books ends on a pretty brutal cliffhanger. It really leaves you wanting more.
Recommended for fans of paranormal romance and Elder Race fans, too.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Berkely NAL for a review copy of this book....more
Initial Thoughts: In this third book of the World of the Nightwalkers the focus is on human Leo Alvarez and his Night Angel love Faith. Leo is at the Initial Thoughts: In this third book of the World of the Nightwalkers the focus is on human Leo Alvarez and his Night Angel love Faith. Leo is at the compound in New Mexico when all hell breaks loose and his friend Jackson is attacked by the villainous imp Apep. I loved Leo and Faith as a couple. Leo had a lot of issues to work through and at times, I wanted to smack him upside the head. Faith was perfect for Leo and I loved how she stood up to him.
The Review: There's something to be said when you finish a book and immediately want the next book in the series. Jacquelyn Frank's The World of the Nightwalkers books is just that kind of series. The Nightwalkers are a breed of supernatural beings that dwell in the night. Each book focuses on one specific couple. The lead couple in Forsaken is the human mercenary Leo Alvarez and his Night Angel love interest Faith.
The story picks up immediately after the events of the previous book where Leo was introduced to the world of the Nightwalkers in a rather nasty and painful way. Leo is scarred, both mentally and physically. He is recovering at the Nightwalkers' Arizona compound surrounded by his "family" Docia (Tameri) and Jackson (Menes).
In this book Leo and Faith seek out the assistance of a powerful Djynn after an attack on the compound leaves Jackson mortally wounded. I think I enjoyed this part the most - Gray the Mavid was a very impressive character. I loved how Leo and Faith had to bargain with the djynn who wanted them to go on an impossible task in order to secure his help.
Leo and Faith were wonderful together. The attraction is strong and Leo fights it constantly. At some points, I thought that Leo was being an ass. Their love does win out and the sex is hot and steamy. The ending brought tears to my eyes, it was so nicely done.
Apep the villain just gets more and more evil as the series progresses. He is also so very full of himself, too. Apep took on the form of a woman and he ponders the limitations of this form:
"This form is so limiting," Apep observed, once again inspecting himself in the mirror. "I can't sense things as well as I should. It's seriously curtailing my omniscience. However as time goes on it should improve. I am, after all, me."
I think that one of the things that I love about this series is that it is based upon Egyptian mythology. Each Nightwalker carries the soul of an Egyptian god and is hosted within a human body. The human blends with the Egyptian soul and benefits from that soul's power and knowledge. I also like the variety of paranormal creatures in this series. There's gargoyles, flying horses, djynn, angels and more.
Forsaken is a strong addition to The World of the Nightwalkers series. I'm so glad that Forged is coming out in April.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for a review copy of this book.
First, let me direct you to the cover of this book. Nice view, am I right?
Forbidden by Jacqueline Frank was an enjoyable read for me. I have not readFirst, let me direct you to the cover of this book. Nice view, am I right?
Forbidden by Jacqueline Frank was an enjoyable read for me. I have not read any of her earlier books in the Nightwalkers series, but I did not feel the least bit lost. In fact, I may pick up a few of them to read at my leisure.
Forbidden is the story of Docia Waverly and begins as she meets her untimely demise when she is pushed off a bridge. While she is in the Ether, the in between world between life and death, she is given an offer she can’t refuse. Docia is not yet ready to die, so she chooses life.
Life as a host to a Nightwalker has plenty of advantages: long life, rapid healing, strength, closets full of designer clothes, and a very handsome protector named Ram. Sounds wonderful, huh?
Docia seems to accept her fate. It really isn’t too hard when Ram is there to protect her. He tells Docia that she is the reincarnation of Hatshepsut, the queen and lover of Menes his king. Docia is a little taken aback that she will be the queen of the Nightwalkers, but she seems to take it in stride. It’s kind of funny when she figures out that the people around her are reincarnations of various ancient Egyptian royals going by Anglicized names. There is a rather humorous exchange between Docia and Ram when she realizes that he is Ramses and she asks him about the ten plagues. He refuses to answer her questions, almost embarrassed by the event.
With regards to the romance, I enjoyed the connection between Ram and Docia. Poor Ram, so loyal to his king and so conflicted about his attraction to Docia.
”Beautiful, sweet-smelling, unsettling Docia. You are the wild card here. You are the source of my troubles.”
If I had to choose a favorite character in this book, it would be a tossup between Jackson Waverly, Docia’s police officer brother and SingSing, a djynn. Jackson was absolutely relentless in his search for Docia. He could not stomach losing her a second time. Singsing, the djynn was so hilarious. Her lack of brain filter made some of her quips hysterical:
” I suppose I ought to have made cocoa, with it being so cold and all. But I do so love cold chocolate milk, don't you? It's sweet and refreshing at the same time. Isn't that great? And yet it looks like liquid poo. Go figure.”
I liked how the author used ancient Egyptian lore and mythology to create her story and transposed the characters to modern times. I also liked her explanation as to why the characters kept reincarnating. Fascinating.
Forbidden was the first Jacqueline Frank book that I’ve read. It won’t be my last. I’m looking forward to reading Forever next spring. It’s Jackson’s book.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Ballantine Books for a review copy of this book.
What an awesome book to listen to on a very long car trip! The narrator was incredible. He was able to change up voices and input just the right amounWhat an awesome book to listen to on a very long car trip! The narrator was incredible. He was able to change up voices and input just the right amount of pomposity into Bartimeus' character to make him both believable and humorous. For those looking for a book in a similar vein to the Harry Potter series, this story of a young apprentice magician is a must read. I would recommend the audio version to children ages 9+. The parents in the car enjoyed the story, too.
This audio book was downloaded from audiobooksync.com as part of their Summer 2012 free audio book promotion.
See what other audio books made our Road Trip playlist and what we thought of them on Badass Book Reviews....more
Once again, I am thankful that this is a different kind of vampire book. No sparkly vampires here. Instead the reader is treated to all sorts of paranOnce again, I am thankful that this is a different kind of vampire book. No sparkly vampires here. Instead the reader is treated to all sorts of paranormal creatures: vampires, werewolves, demons, and jinn.
I stumbled across this series last month when I read the 5th book in the Shadow Keepers series When Darkness Hungers. What struck me was the level of detail in this world and the organization of the preternatural creatures. I loved the small things, for example how our main characters travel from place to place – wormhole! The other little things like how hematite was the vampire kryptonite. Neat little details that made the story come alive.
In When Temptation Burns, a group of vigilante humans called The Dark Warriors threaten the peace between humans and the Shadow Keepers. The Dark Warriors are organized and have political backing as well as some paramilitary types training new recruits. They are out to kill all the vampires, werewolves, etc., no matter what collateral damage ensues.
When Temptation Burns focuses on Ryan Doyle. I was intrigued by Doyle’s character in the previous book so I was very happy that he would be featured in this book. Ryan Doyle is a percipient parademon. His talent was very useful for homicide investigations because he was able to see the last moments that a victim felt or saw. We also learn more about Ryan’s background and his horrible childhood. Ryan was a child of rape and his father was a demon. His mother tried to beat the demon out of Ryan.
Ryan and his partner Tucker investigate a sick serial killer. Their investigation leads them to the incarcerated Kyle Creevey who has a connection to the killer. When they arrive at the prison to interview Creevey, he is being interviewed by Andy (Andrea) Tarrant, a reporter. Tucker and Doyle cut her interview short. It is interesting to note that Ryan is quite taken with the lovely Andy and her eyes remind him of his lost love, Kathryn.
I liked how the romance between Ryan and Andy built slowly over the course of the book. At first they work together, but later on they grow to care about each other. Ryan holds back because he is afraid that he will hurt her and Andy doesn’t have a clue that Ryan is not human. Once these two got together, they were smoking.
This is a fascinating world. Vampires, werewolves, demons, and jinn live amongst humans. The paranormal beings patrol their kind under a special branch of Homeland Security called Division Six. The PEC – Preternatural Enforcement Coalition exists to police paranormal beings and is housed in the lower floors of the LA Criminal Justice building. I also loved the various bars for the paranormals – Club Rouge catered to vampires and Orlando’s traded souls.
I found that this book can be read as a standalone book, but for optimal enjoyment, I would urge the reader to read the other books in the series.
And what an ending! Wow.
I’m looking forward to discovering more books by J.K. Beck in the near future.
Favorite Quotes:
“Dammit, Doyle. I don’t want you looking at me like I’m a Happy Meal.”
“I want you,” he said firmly, though he knew that he shouldn’t speak. “I want to rip every stitch of your clothes off and lose myself inside of you. I want to kiss you until your mouth’s raw. I want to forget everything except you, Andy.”
Thank you to Edelweiss and Random House for a review copy of this book.
I love badass heroines. I love the swagger, the snarky attitude, and the way that they hold their gun, sword, or other weapon of choice. One of my favI love badass heroines. I love the swagger, the snarky attitude, and the way that they hold their gun, sword, or other weapon of choice. One of my favorite badass heroines has got to be Darian Charles from Amanda Bonilla’s Shaede Assassin series.
In Blood Before Sunrise the second book of the series, Darian has made herself quite the “to-do” list. Topping her list is her quest to find Raif’s long lost daughter Brakae. There is also the matter of a mysterious green gem, the man from the ring, and Darian is asked to steal something powerful. Darian is also having some strange dreams too.
Darian hasn’t changed much since the first book. She is, however, the only shaede able to remain corporeal day and night. That makes her very special. Darian is still stubborn and sometimes does things that put her safety at risk. This kind of bothered me as she had a whole slew of very strong, muscular men at her disposal. Darian is not the kind to ask for help even when it is clearly warranted.
I loved how Darian and Tyler’s relationship developed in this book. Tyler was both Darian’s lover and her bound jinn which resulted in some sticky possessive situations. At times Tyler was overbearing, an alpha-caveman, but he was completely devoted to Darian and her safety. And wow…the sexy times were steamy hot.
Part of the attraction of this series is the secondary characters. One of my favorites is Levi, the human bartender. Levi has an encyclopedic knowledge of all things preternatural. I hope that we get to learn more about him in future books.
Raif is also an intriguing character. As a shaede, he is quite old. His history and background would be fascinating. And Xander – I’m not sure if I like him yet, but I do enjoy the banter between Xander and Darian.
Honorable mention goes to a really cool nightclub in this book, Seven. Each room in the nightclub was based on the seven deadly sins. Definitely a great place to meet a villain.
The second half of the book was my favorite. There was so much excitement and action! The trip into the fae realms was quite the trip. I loved how things constantly changed in the realms. The inhabitants were also very interesting.
What an ending! I really can’t wait for the next book. March 2013 is so far away. If you enjoy dark urban fantasy add the Shaede Assassin books to your to-read list.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book.
Initial Thoughts:The audio book version was well done. The narrator captured the character's personalities nicely and it was enjoyable to listen to. IInitial Thoughts:The audio book version was well done. The narrator captured the character's personalities nicely and it was enjoyable to listen to. It was fun revisiting Pia and Dragos as they adjust to their relationship as a mated pair. I loved how Pia stood up to the uber-protective Dragos. Full review to come......more
We get yet another peek into Thea Harrison’s Elder Races world in Natural Evil. Natural Evil is a short novella, about 80 pages long. This n3.5 stars.
We get yet another peek into Thea Harrison’s Elder Races world in Natural Evil. Natural Evil is a short novella, about 80 pages long. This novella focuses on Claudia Hunter and a very large dog named Precious…
Claudia is a difficult heroine to relate to. Ex-military, she is rather understated and seems to be aloof. Claudia does like animals and when she spots a large dog on an abandoned stretch of highway in Nevada, she stops and picks him up and heads for the nearest vet. The dog is heavy, much too large for a woman her size to carry, but Claudia manages with her telekinetic skill.
Claudia and her dog are escorted by the local police to the tiny town of Nirvana, Nevada. Isn’t that a great name for a town? The dog is treated by the local vet and Claudia stays in the trailer behind the vet’s office. Both Claudia and the vet suspect that the dog is a wyr. The wyr is able to communicate with Claudia telepathically and she finds out that he is Luis Alvarez.
Nirvana is not what it seems. Something fishy is going on in this town and it is centered on the Bradshaw family’s Nirvana Silver mine. Luis was investigating some strange goings on in the mine when he was beaten and left for dead at the side of the road.
I’m not sure how I felt about this couple. Claudia and Luis were not your typical love struck pairing. Claudia was older, more jaded, and more independent than your usual female lead. I found her cool and detached at times but she did have a wry sense of humor. Claudia had difficulty with the idea that Luis was a younger man.
Luis was everything you’d expect an alpha male wyr to be. Tall, dark, handsome, muscled, and protective. Luis was smart too, and that attracted Claudia.
I know, this is a novella, but I found the ending a little rushed and unsatisfying. I wanted more and I would have loved to have seen this story extended just a few more pages. Perhaps it’s because I just can’t get enough of Thea Harrison’s Elder Races characters.
Oh, this novel sets up Devil’s Gate rather nicely. A teenage Goth medusa character – Now I’m intrigued.
Shaedes of Gray was an enjoyable read for me. This is an urban fantasy without the requisite vampires and werewolves. Instead, the reader is immersed Shaedes of Gray was an enjoyable read for me. This is an urban fantasy without the requisite vampires and werewolves. Instead, the reader is immersed in a dark world full of shaedes, lythans, and other intriguing creatures.
I found the world created by author Amanda Bonilla fascinating. The shaedes were really neat and their abilities were awesome. Imagine a creature that is corporeal during the day and able to mist in and out and through things as a shadow at night. Ever cool. The Lythans were a formidable enemy. They kind of made me want to run out and buy some Raid. Lythans were the opposite of the Shaedes and in their real form were huge, ugly insect-like beings. Their bite was venomous and they sucked out the insides of their prey. Other supernatural creatures round out this world including a tiny, blind oracle, a jinn, a riddling sylph, and some ravenous gargoyles.
Shaedes of Gray follows assassin Darian and her dependable handler Tyler. I liked Darian – I found her to be kickass, lethal, and I liked her moral values. Darian is a survivor and her back story is sad and painful. Darian is told that she is the only one of her kind, a ruse developed by her “maker” and former lover Azriel. Darien does have her annoying side – she is quick to rebuff Tyler’s romantic advances often.
I can’t say enough about Tyler. I’ll use the author’s words here: “Tyler never disappoints.” So true. I loved him. I loved his devotion to Darian. I want a Tyler. I wish I had a Tyler.
A few other characters stood out for me. Anya, one of the King’s guards, was a leather-clad Bond girl lookalike. Darian’s impressions of Anya were hilarious and I enjoyed reading about her different colored suits. I loved Raif the King’s brother and his guard. Raif was a brave warrior and excellent teacher for Darian.
I’m not sure how I felt about Alexander the King of the Shaedes. I felt that he withheld a lot of information from Darian. I also found that he was just a little creepy for my tastes.
Shaedes of Gray kept me on the edge of my seat. It was action packed and an entertaining read. I can’t wait to read the sequel Blood Before Sunrise.
Favorite quote:
"You...are...nothing," he said. "A creature that lives between the realms. You are made of twilight and shadow and move as the wind through the trees. You are Shaede."
I think that I started reading the Weather Wardens series about 4 years ago. It's taken me some time to get up to Cape Storm, book 8 in the series becI think that I started reading the Weather Wardens series about 4 years ago. It's taken me some time to get up to Cape Storm, book 8 in the series because I tend to savor series rather than gorge upon them. If you have not heard of this series, it's quite unique in the urban fantasy genre. There's a group called the Weather Wardens who control the power of storms with the aid of Djinns. The storms have personality, power, and attitude. They even hold a grudge and chase our heroine around.
In this installment, Jo and her entourage of Weather Wardens and Djinn commandeer a cruise ship as a massive hurricane approaches. Yup. Who would think that going out to sea on a cruise ship during a hurricane would be a good idea.
Anyhow, rather than spoiling previous books, let's just say that Cape Storm was a pretty good installment in the series. I was a bit surprised by Lewis's actions, but then again when you deal with Djinn on a daily basis, you really need to watch your wording.
Can't wait to read the next book.
Series recommended for urban fantasy lovers. ...more
Wow. I am really enjoying this series. If you have not yet had a chance, Rachel Caine's Weather Wardens series is a unique urban fantasy series to reaWow. I am really enjoying this series. If you have not yet had a chance, Rachel Caine's Weather Wardens series is a unique urban fantasy series to read. The Weather Wardens are an agency that controls and dissipates storm systems and attempts to reduce the damage caused by storms. The Weather Wardens do this with the assistance of powerful djinns.
I think that what I love about this series is that it is so original. The Weather Wardens have a magical ability to see things in the aetheric, so they have a different perception of the power behind storms, etc. It's kind of like having a second sight up in the atmosphere, very cool.
I love the main characters Jo and David. Jo is a Weather Warden and by this book, she has been through a lot. Let's just say that she is special to avoid too many spoilers of earlier books. Jo's best friend and lover is David, a very old and powerful djinn. David is very attractive, well built, and a very attentive and loving boyfriend.
The supporting cast is great. There's Cherise, Jo's human best friend. Cherise is one of those spunky, gorgeous, very efficient kind of friend. If you want anything done, say, like a wedding in under 24 hours, Cherise is your go-to girl. Cherise's boyfriend Kevin is an interesting character. When we meet him earlier in the series he is a horrid teenager who was badly abused by his mom. Now, he is snarky, but I see him growing into a good role as a powerful Weather Warden. I adore Lewis, the head of the Weather Wardens. He's definitely a man you'd want by your side.
I must take a moment and thank the Weather Wardens for getting rid of that awful frontal system that threatened to ruin our holiday weekend this year. Victoria Day or planting weekend would not have been the same had it been rainy and cold ALL weekend.
I usually don't read books in a series back to back. However, after that ending in Firestorm, I just had to continue reading. So I picked up Thin Air.I usually don't read books in a series back to back. However, after that ending in Firestorm, I just had to continue reading. So I picked up Thin Air. Poor Jo! She really gets banged up a lot and in this book, her memories have been taken away. Imagine waking up naked and freezing and having no idea who you are. Lewis and David to the rescue.
This is really a cool series. I especially like it when Jo is in the Aether in Oversight and how the author describes what Jo can see. It's beautiful. I also enjoy the author's sense of humor - she gives Jo just the right amount of snark. And the villains - oh, so nasty - especially Eamon and Ashan. I also loved the musical playlist at the end of the book. That's quite a nice selection of music.
There's some bittersweet moments for Jo as well and my heart broke for her. I'll have to pick up the next book soon. ...more
This really is a unique urban fantasy series by Rachel Caine. Once you've read these books, you'll look at the weather just a tad differently and wondThis really is a unique urban fantasy series by Rachel Caine. Once you've read these books, you'll look at the weather just a tad differently and wonder if that big cloud is carrying a grudge or if that lightning bolt was really after you.
The Weather Wardens is an organization that uses the powers of the djinn to control weather phenomena and attempt to dissipate the violence and energy of storms. In this installment Mother Earth is awakening and she is not too happy with the humans. The djinn have gone a little crazy and can't be trusted to help. Fires threaten large metropolitan areas. Jo must find the Oracles and communicate with the Mother to convince her to stop.
Jo is a really fun character. She's tough as nails, gets banged up a lot, doesn't take no for an answer, and despite the odds, she gets the job done. I love Jo's sense of humor and how she stands up to the bad guys, behaving in completely unexpected ways.
One of my favorite aspects of this story is how the author personifies the weather, making it a background character in the narrative. I also enjoyed the addition of scientific fact into the narrative as well.
The Weather Wardens is a fun little series. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
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