Review: 88. Black Heart Loa by Adrian Phoenix...

I had to pick up Black Heart Loa, especially since it so handily showed up on my NOOK...

Title: Black Heart Loa (Hoodoo #2)
Author: Adrian Phoenix
ISBN-13: 9781439167922
eBook
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Purchased

drey's thoughts:
After Black Dust Mambo, I knew I had to pick up Black Heart Loa to find out what happens next.  After all, we left with Kallie finding out a lot of things about herself, her aunt, and her family; and she still has to find out if anyone else was involved in the crud that happened.  And Layne--well, he has a dead man's spirit inhabiting his body.  

Then Kallie goes home, only to find her cousin's gone.  As in taken.  And she's got a real bad feeling about his disappearance...  But before she can go looking for him, Kallie and her aunt figure out that the magic is backfiring.  Something is messing everything up--including the wards protecting southern Louisiana from the storm that's turning into a hurricane heading their way.  Even worse--could that something be her?

There are a lot of characters in this installment.  Kallie & Bell feature prominently, as they go haring off into one adventure after another.  Layne and his visitor as well.  And then there's  a few new bad guys, a whole town of loup-garous, and more family secrets to uncover.  The action never stops, and I wondered more than once how Kallie keeps going.  She does get a bit whiny at times, but Bell's there to smack her upside the head and set her straight.  I love their interactions, they make me laugh.

drey's rating:  Excellent! This installment is more convoluted than the initial,but I'll keep reading to find out what's up next for Kallie and gang...

Blog Tour: 31. Etched in Bone by Adrian Phoenix...

I really liked Adrian Phoenix's Black Dust Mambo, so when Pocket Books offered the opportunity to read Etched in Bone for this blog tour, I jumped! After all, I have to have more Adrian Phoenix while waiting for Black Heart Loa, right?

About the author:
Adrian Phoenix is the critically acclaimed author of The Maker's Song series: A Rush of Wings, In the Blood, and Beneath the Skin. She is also the author of Black Dust Mambo, the first book in a new series featuring a voodooienne from New Orleans. She has published stories in several magazines and anthologies. She currently lives in Oregon, but travels to New Orleans, the city of her heart, whenever possible.

About the book:

SON OF A FALLEN ANGEL. FORGED IN VAMPIRE'S BLOOD. SWORN TO A MORTAL WOMAN. IF DANTE FALLS, THE WORLD FALLS WITH HIM...

THREE LEGACIES ETCHED IN BONE

More beautiful and powerful than any creature the world has ever seen, Dante Baptiste has become the supreme target of the three worlds that spawned him. The mortal agents of the Shadow Branch have tried to control his mind through psychological torture. The vampire elders who guide nightkind society have plotted to use him in their bloodthirsty bid for power. And the Fallen have waited for millennia for Dante to claim his birthright as their Maker. But Dante belongs to no one—except the woman he loves...

ONE PASSION SWORN IN BLOOD

Determined to face the Fallen and the world on his own terms, Dante hopes to piece together his shattered past and claim his future, with FBI agent Heather Wallace at his side. But in Heather's human family awaits an unexpected enemy. One who could rip Heather from Dante's heart and fill the holes with bullets. One who could force Dante to choose his darkest destiny—as the Great Destroyer...

Title: Etched in Bone (Maker's Song #4)
Author: Adrian Phoenix
ISBN-13: 9781439137307
Paperback: 382 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Simon & Schuster

drey's thoughts:
After cracking the pages of Etched in Bone, I realized I really should've read the first three books in the series. Not that this couldn't be read as a stand-alone--it can. But the previous books provide background to all of the events in this fourth book. And I like background...

Character: Fans of the series already know the hero and heroine, Dante and Heather. I, on the other hand, just met them, and was a bit confused as to the nature of their relationship, until about 2/3 of the way through when I got it. Call me slow... Dante is a tortured soul, for sure. And Heather is a stronger woman than I could ever be. The two of them share something strong though, and Adrian Phoenix's writing makes you feel as though you really know them.

Pace & Plot: Etched in Bone is gripping from beginning to end. The first few chapters left me a bit foggy, as it's like one of those TV episodes that start almost-at-the-end, then backtracks to the beginning, and finishes up at the end. With a cliffhanger, of course. Because where would the fun be if it wasn't one? But. Even through the fog and the confusion, I'm totally glad I read this, and I'll be reading books one through three as soon as I can get my hands on 'em!

drey's rating: Excellent: Fans of vampy paranormals with romantic leading characters should definitely pick this up (but start with book 1, A Rush of Wings...

Have you read Etched in Bone? What did you think?

Giveaway!!
Thanks to Pocket Books, I have two copies of Etched in Bone for you, if you live in the US. To enter, comment and tell me you want this. Remember to include your email address, and do it before 6pm CST March 9th. Good luck!!

Review: 8. Black Dust Mambo by Adrian Phoenix...

I'd heard lots of good things about Black Dust Mambo, and finally (!!!) picked up my copy. This was inhaled. Like, INHALED!

Title: Black Dust Mambo (Hoodoo #1)
Author: Adrian Phoenix
ISBN-13: 9781439167878
eBook
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Purchased

drey's thoughts:
Adrian Phoenix's Black Dust Mambo starts out with a dead body and takes off like a jet on rocket fuel. (Ok, I'm no rocket scientist, so if that means the jet explodes, that's so not what I mean!) Kallie Rivière is in New Orleans and finds out that passing out in the bathroom after drinking and doing the horizontal tango, isn't a good idea... Especially when the she wakes up and finds the tango partner dead in her hotel bed. Kinda kills the mood lickety-split, don'tcha think?

Before she can bat an eyelid (or get dressed), people are pounding on her door, and pretty soon a steady parade starts coming through--from the dead guy's clan brother, to the Carnival authorities. Lucky for Kallie, her BFF made it there too, and helps her clear her head so she can start pleading her innocence. After all, that's the first thing you do when you find a dead body in your hotel room, isn't it?

But things are not what they seem. And neither is Black Dust Mambo. Because while you may think that this is an urban fantasy mystery where Kallie sets out to find the perpetrator to prove her innocence, the web Adrian Phoenix weaves reveals that it is much, much, more... Of course, you'll have to read the book to find out what. *grin*

Character: I love the characters that Adrian Phoenix created for us in Black Dust Mambo. Kallie is (wait for it...) sassy and has a problem keeping her opinions (and her fist) to herself. What is it about these female characters that attract me so much? Hmm... Her BFF Belladonna is a hoot, and I love the smack-talk she gives to Kallie--you can tell these two have been through a lot together, even if you're not quite sure what, since there's no back history provided... The guys are cool (and gorgeous, but that doesn't even need saying), and having two people inhabit one body while conscious of each other, is a pretty neat concept brought vividly to life by Phoenix. And the language is what I'd imagine is Cajun through-and-through, but I'm no linguistics expert.

The only beef I have is with the bad guys. I mean, seriously? Big bad evil daddy plots revenge, and can't even get the most important thing right? Like, duh!

Pace & Plot: The pace is lightning quick, and your head will spin as you get to all the action thrown your way. The pace does slow a little bit once all the dead bodies have been exposed to sunlight (ha ha), and a bit of character and plot development take place. See paragraph above for my "beef".

drey's rating: Excellent: Black Dust Mambo is engrossing to the very last word. I cannot wait till Black Heart Loa comes out in July to find out more about Kallie!

2011 Challenge: New Author

Have you read Black Dust Mambo? What did you think?