Review: 157. Magic on the Storm by Devon Monk...

It's been a while since I picked up an Allie Beckstrom book... Figured it was time!

Title: Magic on the Storm (Allie Beckstrom #4)
Author: Devon Monk
ISBN-13: 9780451463272
Paperback: 344 pages
Publisher: Penguin, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
I hate to say this, but this installment of Devon Monk's Allie Beckstrom series didn't get me all excited or enthused or even heart-pitter-pattery... What the heck?? Did I wait too long between Magic in the Shadows and this? *sigh*

Anyway. Never mind me. Allie has trouble looming. Like, T-R-O-U-B-L-E trouble. Dad-in-her-head trouble. Apocalyptic-storm-heading-towards-Portland trouble. Zayvion-plus-Allie-equals-Soul-Complements-equals-go-nuts trouble. The-Authority-is-not-all-hunky-dory-kumbaya-singing trouble. Bad-guy-Greyson-escapes trouble. Which is totally the worst because he's gunning for Allie. Or, more specifically, her dad (or, even more specifically, the sliver of her dad that's in her head). Phew. But, luckily, she has help. My favorite amongst her cadre? Stone, "her" gargoyle. He's adorable!

The action kept me reading, even when I'm going "huh?" at parts and "oh crap, it's ----- and -----'s gonna -----" at others. You know, like when you're at a horror movie and you want to yell out "no!! don't go there"? Yeah. Action notwithstanding, I thought there wasn't too much in the character-development arena, and no, I'm not counting Allie's ass-kicking (& getting ass-kicked) training. The romance? Eh. Working with the Authority? Eh. Too many "eh"s for me to be happy with this one. BUT the ending is wickedly awesome, and I will read Magic at the Gate to see how she handles that doozy.

Have you read this? What did you think?


drey's rating: 2.5/5 Better than OK

Challenges: 100+, Pub, Support Your Local Library

Review: 156. Weight of Stone by Laura Anne Gilman...

I read Laura Anne Gilman's Flesh and Fire last year, and was intrigued by the combination of magic and wine. Weight of Stone is the sequel.

Title: Weight of Stone (Vineart War #2)
Author: Laura Anne Gilman
ISBN-13: 9781439101452
Hardcover: 374 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Weight of Stone picks up where Flesh and Fire left off... Jerzy's in trouble, and is on the lam with Ao--a trader, and Mahault--a noblewoman. Taking on the seas isn't one of his better ideas, but he's trying to find the source of the taint, because he believes that is what his master would want him to do. Too bad he can't ask, but the Washers are looking for him after the events at Aleppan.

Unfortunately, fate intervenes, and the trio acquires a fourth--Kainam, princeling from an island nation hidden from the world. His mission is to find out who has been interfering with Atakus--from his sister's murder to the firespouts that burned ships from the nearby nation of Caul. Something's not quite right, and he intends to find it before Atakus is devoured by the chaos and fear.

There is a lot of meandering back and forth in Weight of Stone. Jerzy does return to Master Malech, only to have to set off again. The Washers are still looking for him. The source of the taint is still tauntingly out of reach. And the foursome split up, then re-converge. I'm a bit confused at all the new bits and pieces introduced into this puzzle in this installment. Guess I'll have to read The Shattered Vine (coming October 2011) to find out how it all fits.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub, Support Your Local Library

Review: 155. The Goddess of Fried Okra by Jean Brashear...

I'd asked for a review copy of The Goddess of Fried Okra because I loved the title and the cover... I guess sometimes you just go with what you see... :)

Title: The Goddess of Fried Okra
Author: Jean Brashear
ISBN-13: 9780984125890
ARC
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Bell Bridge Books

drey's thoughts:
In this heartwarming tale of hope, Eudora "Pea" O'Brien is buried under her grief and guilt at her sister's death, and takes off on a road trip to find the reincarnation of her sister. She doesn't go very far when she rescues a young pregnant teenager from an abusive boyfriend, finds herself a kitten, and runs over a con artist... And then her car dies. Guess life has a way of interrupting plans, huh?

Jean Brashear's The Goddess of Fried Okra is one of those books that pulls you in and doesn't let go until you're done. The story is eclectic--mentions of Conan the Barbarian sit alongside Isis and Odin's wolves. And the characters are endearing. You find yourself rooting for Pea to look up and realize that she's found something better than what she was searching for--she's found a home.

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Review: 153. The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell...

Alden Bell's The Reapers are the Angels has been waiting patiently for me to read it, and now I have. Add this to your winter reading if you're looking for something a little post-apocalyptic starring zombies... Or if you're just looking for something to read.

Title: The Reapers are the Angels
Author: Alden Bell
ISBN-13: 9780805092431
ARC: 225 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

drey's thoughts:
The world has gone to heck in a handbasket, and fifteen-year-old Temple has to leave her pretty little lighthouse because it's not going to be safe for much longer, especially since the meatskins--that's what the zombies are called in this offering from Alden Bell--have managed to get to it. So she takes off to see what else is out there. Other than meatskins, that is...

Then she finds a group of people holed up in a city. A group trying to take things back from the meatskins, and keep civilization (as they know it) going. But when one of the men in that group attempts an assault, Temple kills him in self-defense and earns the enmity of his brother Moses, and has to leave the safety that the group represents.

Temple is an intriguing character. At times almost sweet, she's usually brusque and has no trouble saying what she means. She's got a good sense of self-preservation, and yet shows compassion. She wields her gurkha knife like she means business (which she does, because it literally can be the difference between life and death--or meatskin state) and keeps her gun as a backup because bullets are hard to come by. And as she drives north, then west, you want her to find whatever peace she is looking for, because this life is so devastatingly depressing. Yet, she has this pragmatic outlook on things, and is even at times hopeful, and you cannot help but wonder at it.

I loved Temple. Read this. Before I send meatskins after you. *grin*

drey's rating: Outstanding

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Review: 151. The Heir by Grace Burrowes...

Grace Burrowes' debut novel The Heir is one of the more romantic (ironic, I know!) books I've read this year.

Title: The Heir
Author: Grace Burrowes
ISBN-13: 9781402244346
ARC: 450 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Sourcebooks

drey's thoughts:
If you're in the mood for a romantic read, pick up Grace Burrowes' The Heir to curl up with on a cold night. The Earl of Westhaven, Gayle Windham, is doing anything he can to avoid his father's attempts to get him married off. Then he meets his new housekeeper, and wonders at his feelings for her. After all, heirs to dukedoms aren't supposed to fall in love with the help, are they? But then, the help aren't usually literate, graceful, and opinionated... Hmm...

Anna isn't only the help, though. She's hiding from nefarious deeds, and hoping that this assignment will help her stay hidden until she can figure out what to do. Falling in love with the boss really wasn't in the plan, and actually complicates things when she thinks she has to run again. So. He's hiding his feelings from her, she's hiding her past from him, how on earth are these two going to end up together? I'm not telling--you'll have to read it and find out for yourself. *wink*

Have you read it? What did you think?

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Review: 150. Thieves Like Us by Starr Ambrose...

Today's review is for Starr Ambrose's follow-up to Lie to Me, which I now need to get my hands on!

Title: Thieves Like Us
Author: Starr Ambrose
ISBN-13: 9781439181294
Paperback: 342 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Simon and Schuster

drey's thoughts:
Well, the weather outside is (getting) frightful... So curl up with Thieves Like Us and be prepared for a very enjoyable romp with Janet and Rocky...

I like Janet. Now that's she's marriage-free from the loathsome Banner Westfield, she's getting rid of everything. Including her diamond ring and that hideous necklace he gave her. How could he ever have thought she'd like that??? So off she goes to sell the jewelry. And gets caught up in a whirlwind of cops, jewel thieves, and Columbian gangsters. Good thing there's that yummilicious Rocky around. Not that she likes him, seeing how he's an ex-con and all, and she's sworn off anything remotely connected with lies and deceit...

But Rocky's not your typical gorgeous ex-con. He's a reformed ex-con. One who's very interested in keeping Janet out of the clutches of the bad guys. Not that she cooperates with that. Oh, no, that Janet has a mind of her own, and she's stubborn to boot.

Thieves Like Us is fun, fun, fun! You'll inhale it in no time, and laugh out loud while you do. I shall be looking for more Starr Ambrose!

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Review: 147. The Crowded Shadows by Celine Kiernan...

I'd picked up the first book in this trilogy, The Poison Throne and liked it enough to want to keep reading, so my next visit to the library netted me this sequel...

Title: The Crowded Shadows (Moorehawke #2)
Author: Celine Kiernan
ISBN-13: 9780316077088
Trade Paperback: 474 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown, and Company, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Wynter Moorehawke has left to find Alberon and find out if the rumors she's hearing are true. Rumors that he's mounting a rebellion against his father's throne. Rumors that he's gathering the Kingdom's enemies to strike a blow.

The story meanders a bit in this second installment, but is worth it for the characters that are introduced. Bandits, rebel sympathizers, gypsies, and the King's own soldiers, all gather in the forests where the Rebel Prince is thought to be hiding. And loyalties are formed and strained as the ties that bind one may not be the same ties that bind another.

I will be picking up The Rebel Prince to see how this story ends.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub, Support Your Local Library

Review: 146. Cold Magic by Kate Elliott...

Noticed this one because I thought the cover was cool... Finally got my hands on a copy, and inhaled it!

Title: Cold Magic (Spiritwalker #1)
Author: Kate Elliott
ISBN-13: 9780316080859
Paperback: 502 pages
Publisher: Orbit, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library (inter-library loan)

drey's thoughts:
In this tale set in an alternate universe where Rome hasn't quite disappeared with the gladiators yet, the Industrial Revolution is threatening to unravel the control that the mages and princes have wrought on the people. Catherine Hassi Barahal and her cousin Beatrice are young women studying at the university when Catherine is summarily dispatched with her new husband to one of the mage houses, where everything she knows about herself is challenged and found wanting.

With a death sentence on her head, she runs away to try and warn her cousin Bee, even as she wonders if Bee has always known that her father, really wasn't. What follows is a classic fantasy adventure story, with new characters popping up every so often, danger threatening at every turn, twists and turns to make you dizzy, and a love interest who isn't showing much love or interest...

There was quite a bit in the book that I didn't think really contributed to the story--these were the pages my brain skimmed over--but overall, Kate Elliot has woven a story that I liked enough to want to read more of. Especially to find out what, exactly, Cat is.


drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Support your Local Library

TLC Book Tours: 145. And the Pursuit of Happiness by Maira Kalman...

Today's TLC Book Tour stop is for And the Pursuit of Happiness by Maira Kalman...

About the author:
Maira Kalman is an illustrator, author, and designer. She is the author of The Principles of Uncertainty and she illustrated the bestselling edition of Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style. Ms. Kalman’s twelve children’s books include Max Makes a Million, Stay Up Late, Swami on Rye, and What Pete Ate. She also has designed fabric for Isaac Mizrahi, accessories for Kate Spade, sets for the Mark Morris Dance Company, and, with her late husband Tibor Kalman under the M&Co. label, clocks, umbrellas, and other accessories for the Museum of Modern Art. Ms. Kalman’s work is shown at the Julie Saul Gallery in Manhattan.

Find out more about Ms. Kalman’s work at her website, http://www.mairakalman.com/, and be sure to check out her blog in the New York Times.

Title: And the Pursuit of Happiness
Author: Maira Kalman
ISBN-13: 9781594202674
Hardcover: 471 pages
Publisher: Penguin, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: TLC Book Tours

drey's thoughts:
I really enjoyed paging through Maira Kalman's whimsically-illustrated And the Pursuit of Happiness. This is like history with a dash of serious and a whole lot of fun. A whole lot of fun. And I'm not quite sure how to review it.

Abraham Lincoln makes an appearance. So does his stepmother. Thomas Jefferson. Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Benjamin Franklin. Regular folks too. Along with scenery, furniture, shoes, flowers, hats, books...

It is exuberant. It is at times completely irreverent and snappy (as in "oh, snap!" snappy). But most of all, it is filled with excitement and hope for this democracy that is the US of A. And that is why I really like this book.

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Tour: 144. Songs of Love and Death: All-Original Tales of Star-Crossed Love, edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois...

Today, I'm participating in the blog tour for a new anthology of seventeen stories from your favorite authors. If you're a fan of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, you'll be wondering what on earth he's doing with other projects when we're impatiently waiting for A Dance with Dragons... That is, until you pick this one up and realize that hey, maybe the guy should get a break now and then. As long as he does finish the ASoiF series, of course.

About George R.R. Martin: (One of my favorite authors. S'all you need to know. *grin* Just kidding!)
George R.R. Martin has been called "the American Tolkien," and his books, including the volumes in his landmark A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series, have been on bestseller lists around the world.

About Gardner Dozois:
Gardner Dozois is the author or editor of more than a hundred books. He was the editor of the leading science fiction magazine, Asimov's Science Fiction, for eighteen years, and is also the editor of the annual anthology series The Year's Best Science Fiction, now in its 27th annual collection.

About the book:
Title: Songs of Love and Death: All-Original Tales of Star-Crossed Love (Anthology)
Edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois
ISBN-13: 9781439150146
Hardcover: 468 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Simon & Schuster

In this star-studded cross-genre anthology, seventeen of the greatest modern authors of fantasy, science fiction, and romance explore the borderlands of their genres with brand-new tales of ill-fated love. From zombie-infested woods in a postapocalyptic America to faery-haunted rural fields in eighteenth- century England, from the kingdoms of high fantasy to the alien world of a galaxy-spanning empire, these are stories of lovers who must struggle against the forces of magic and fate.

Award-winning, bestselling author Neil Gaiman demonstrates why he's one of the hottest stars in literature today with "The Thing About Cassandra," a subtle but chilling story of a man who meets an old girlfriend he had never expected to see.

International blockbuster bestselling author Diana Gabaldon sends a World War II RAF pilot through a stone circle to the time of her Outlander series in "A Leaf on the Winds of All Hallows." Torn from all he knows, Jerry MacKenzie determinedly survives hardship and danger, intent on his goal of returning home to his wife and baby—no matter the cost.

New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher presents "Love Hurts," in which Harry Dresden takes on one of his deadliest adversaries and in the process is forced to confront the secret desires of his own heart.

Just the smallest sampling promises unearthly delights, but look also for stories by New York Times bestselling romance authors Jo Beverley and Mary Jo Putney, and by such legends of the fantasy genre as Peter S. Beagle and Tanith Lee, as well as many other popular and beloved writers, including Marjorie M. Liu, Jacqueline Carey, Carrie Vaughn, and Robin Hobb. This exquisite anthology, crafted by the peerless editing team of George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, is sure to leave you under its spell.

drey's thoughts:
Ever wanted to know "what if"? Like, what if Harry Dresden and Murphy ever got together? Then you'll want to read Love Hurts. Ever wondered about Anafiel Delaunay? You, and You Alone shares his dying thoughts. Believed in true love? Destiny calls in The Marrying Maid and Blue Boots. Spent hours doodling and daydreaming away? Imagination meets Twilight Zone in The Thing About Cassandra...

I meant to read this one story at a time, to savor them individually. But each was so well-written it whetted the appetite for the next, and the next, and the next after... (No, we shall not talk about my self-control where it regards books!) Looking for a gift for the bookworm who loves fantasy or science-fiction? Pick this up. Seventeen satisfying stories from your favorite authors. Need I say more?

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Review: 141. The Insane Train by Sheldon Russell...

Sheldon Russell's The Insane train is on tour, and I was lucky enough to receive a copy for review as part of that tour. After all, who wouldn't want to read about a train full of asylum inmates?

Title: The Insane Train
Author: Sheldon Russell
ISBN-13: 9780312566715
ARC: 312 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Omnimystery

drey's thoughts:
Hook Runyon just can't catch a break. He might lose his job. He picks up a stray mutt. And now he has to figure out how to move a train load of inmates from the Baldwin Insane Asylum in Barstow, California to Oklahoma. Along an old track. With an old train...

And then people start dying. Actually, they started that before he got pulled into doing the insane train thing. But that wasn't on his watch, like these new ones are... But to find out what's going on, Hook has to start at the beginning.

The cast of characters in The Insane Train are pretty neat, especially the motley crew he finds and hires to help out on the train. The language is what I'd imagine for the time. And the ending, while not completely surprising (there are only so many characters, after all), is still satisfying. A good read from Sheldon Russell!

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Review: 140. The Taming of the Wolf by Lydia Dare...

The Taming of the Wolf is my first Lydia Dare... What took me so long?

Title: The Taming of the Wolf
Author: Lydia Dare
ISBN-13: 9781402244377
ARC: 373 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Sourcebooks

drey's thoughts:
A note to Dashiel Thorpe, Earl of Brimsworth:

Dear Sir -

It might be a good idea to not be such a controlling, scowling, boor, especially when you're around the lady you're trying to convince to marry you. Forgive my impertinence, but that's a surefire way to drive her far far away, as fast as she can go...

Then again, maybe expecting the Earl to be anything but what he is, when his own perception of himself is so skewed, is too lofty a goal. At least, until Caitrin Macleod comes into the picture.

This one's got all the right portions of chemistry, dialogue, and plot. If you like werewolves with your romances, then add this to your fall/winter reading pile.

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Tour: 136. Stronger Than Sin by Caridad Piñeiro...

Today, I am one of the tour stops for Caridad Piñeiro's Stronger Than Sin!

About the author:
Caridad Piñeiro is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who wrote her first novel in the fifth grade when her teacher assigned a project: write a book for a class lending library. Her love of writing continued through high school, college, and law school. Shortly after the birth of her daughter, her passion for the written word led to a determination to publish and share the stories she loved with others. In 1999, Caridad's first novel was released and a decade later, she is the author of more than twenty novels and novellas. Find Caridad online at her website www.caridad.com, on facebook and on twitter.

About the book:
Title: Stronger Than Sin
Author: Caridad Piñeiro
ISBN-13: 9780446543842
ARC: 317 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2010
Source: Hachette Book Group

It's been six months since Liliana Carrera helped her brother rescue Caterina Shaw from Wardwell Laboratories, a group of fringe scientists experimenting on human beings. Now, Liliana--with funding from the FBI--has set up a new facility to continue testing the inhibitor complex, a cure for the patients of Wardwell. What's even better is the FBI has managed to recover another of the patients, Jesse Bradford.

When Jesse arrives at Liliana's facility, he has been drugged and displays violent erratic behavior. As Liliana helps him detox, Jesse demonstrates strange powers--superhuman strength and the ability to heal quickly.

Despite their growing attraction, Jesse is secretive and Liliana remains fearful of him. Eventually he admits that Wardwell scientists threatening his sister's life in order to maintain control over him and his powers. As they try to locate her, they begin to suspect that the scientists may have corrupted the FBI. Unless they can discover Wardwell's master plan soon, Jesse's sister, the other patients, and an unknown number of innocent people, will pay the price.

drey's thoughts:
Caridad Piñeiro sure knows how to mix up interesting characters, great back-stories, and fast action. Stronger Than Sin continues with the devious plot first brought to us in Sins of the Flesh, with Wardwell scientists still experimenting on human beings. Only this time, they're also trying to get theirs hands on Liliana's inhibitor compound, so that their genetically-modified humans don't die away so quickly... After all, if she found a way to save Catarina's life, why not the others'?

When the FBI brings Jesse Bradford to Liliana, she finds a guy who's slowly being calcified to death. And as she tries to find out how to stop the process, she realizes that people are not always who you think they are, and has to decide whether Jesse is worth going all-in for, even if that means she might not survive the experience.

Stronger Than Sin offers an interesting plot to go with the romance. Pick it up if that's how you like 'em!

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Check out Stronger Than Sin:

Giveaway!
Like what you see? Then enter this giveaway! 5 lucky ducks will get their very own copy of Stronger Than Sin, US and Canada only (no PO Boxes please!). To enter, comment with why you're interested in this book. Remember to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. Do it before 6pm CST November 21st.

Extra entries:
+1 for tweeting (comment with the link to your tweet)
+1 for linking on your blog sidebar (comment with the link to your blog)

Can't wait? Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Review: 135. Unholy Magic by Stacia Kane...

I really enjoy the world that Stacia Kane created in her Downside Ghosts series, especially the language. I'd love to have her swing by one of these days and tell us more about how this world evolved.

Title: Unholy Magic (Downside Ghosts #2)
Author: Stacia Kane
ISBN-13: 9780345515582
eBook
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Purchased

drey's thoughts:
Oh, Chess. I so wish you'd get some help with that addiction of yours,  because right now your life just seems to be based on a series of choices--when you get to choose, that is--that you make based on whether or when you can get more... You need to get more rest, take better care of yourself, move out of the Downside...

I do understand that if you did, though, you would probably be a different Chess than the one I know and want to read more of. Who knows, maybe making better decisions means that you're not entangled in situations that just seem to pop up out of the blue, with all four loyalties digging their talons into you and pulling you in different directions... Which four, you ask? Well, there's the Church you work for, asking you to look into the supposed haunting of a famous actor's home (shhhhh, keep this on the down low!). Then there's Bump, the drug lord in Downside, who seems to think you're his personal Church-witch, because he has the drugs you want. Or maybe it's Lex, whom you get more than just drugs from (you can do better, you know...). And, of course, there's your personal little helper, those little pills that help you make it through each and every day... When Bump and Lex approach about dead prostitutes, you wonder if you're getting in the middle of a gang war. But they'd tell you if you were, right?

Anyway. I really am glad you made it through Unholy Magic in one piece (although you sure had me on tenterhooks for quite a bit there!). I'm sorry that Terrible's not on speaking terms with you anymore though--except when he's on Bump's business, of course. I sure hope you get help--and soon--because I'm not sure how many more of these stories you can keep going through, without causing permanent harm to yourself. And that would not be good.

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Review: 134. The Poison Throne by Celine Kiernan...

I can't remember where I first noticed Celine Kiernan's The Poison Throne... But I was intrigued by the premise of having to choose--and between difficult choices at that--and I was looking to try a new-to-me fantasy series (and author!).

Title: The Poison Throne (Moorehawke #1)

Author: Celine Kiernan

ISBN-13: 9780316077064
Trade Paperback: 475 pages
Publisher: Orbit, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Celine Kiernan's The Poison Throne sets a fifteen-year-old apprentice carpenter on a hard path. When Wynter Moorehawke returns home, she expects it to be just as it was when she left five years ago. Instead, it seems as though the King has gone mad, and things that used to be so much a part of normal daily life--including ghosts and talking cats--are now banned, upon penalty of death.

When Wynter goes to search out her childhood friends--the King's sons Alberon and Razi, she finds that Alberon's gone, and Razi's being pushed to assume Alberon's position as heir. And she has a challenger for Razi's attention in the form of Christopher Garron, Razi's new best friend.

As things at court spiral out of control--some don't like the idea of Razi assuming the throne, some don't like Christopher because he's not one of them, and the King is unpredictable and paranoid--Wynter has to decide between staying with her father, or helping her friends survive this mad King's schemes.

The Poison Throne is part mystery and part coming-of-age, all wrapped in a middle-ages setting. Celine Kiernan's writing keeps you on the edge, waiting and wanting to find out what happens next. I cannot wait to read The Crowded Shadows...

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub, Support Your Local Library

132. Wild Ride by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer...

Title: Wild Ride
Author: Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
ISBN-13: 9780312533779
Hardcover:
Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Wild Ride came from my local library (I love my local library!). I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
I always love a Jennifer Crusie book for a quick fun read, and when I saw this one in the "new books" section at my local library, I just had to bring it home... And when work for my day job drove me completely nuts, I picked this up for some brain relaxation.

And brain relaxation it provided. Mab--Mary Alice Brannigan--is working on restorations at Dreamland (an amusement park) when she gets run over by a clown. Not the kind that scares kids at parties, but one of the metal statues that decorate the grounds. How is that possible? Well, consider that Dreamland was built as a prison for demons, and one got loose...

Ethan Wayne has a bullet in his chest from Afghanistan, and returns home to Dreamland to live out his last days. Then Dreamland throws him a curve and a lifeline, but it takes him a while to appreciate the chance...

Then there are the government agents intent on finding out if there really are demons at Dreamland, and how the demons can be used. Because that's what governments do, right? Add in the Dreamland regulars, Mab's icky uncle, and the demons themselves, and Wild Ride is a quick breezy read with a dash of romance and a tablespoon of action. No brains required. *grin*

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub, Support Your Local Library

131. Poisoned Kisses by Stephanie Draven...

Title: Poisoned Kisses
Author: Stephanie Draven
ISBN-13: 9780373618453
Paperback:
Publisher: Harlequin, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Poisoned Kisses was provided by the publicist for Stephanie Draven's blog tour. I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
Stephanie Draven's Poisoned Kisses takes war and mythology and cooks up a passionate brew of love, lust, betrayal, and sacrifice.

Kyra is the immortal daughter of the Greek god of war, Ares. Rebelling against her father, she vows to destroy the mortals involved in her father's game of war. When she sets her sight on Marco Kaisiris for running arms to Africa, she is unprepared for how much she reacts to the man's raw presence... But Kyra being Kyra, she's not going to let a tiny little thing like lust prevent her from trying to eliminate the man. That is, until she finds out that not everything is black and white, and it's the shades of gray that will make you doubt your convictions.

I like Stephanie's use of mythology in Poisoned Kisses. It brings that little something extra to the normal boy-meets-girl-etc table, like the powdered sugar topping on top of a really good waffle. Add this to your stack for a refreshing read this fall!

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

130. Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon...

Title: Infinity (Chronicles of Nick #1)
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
ISBN-13: 9780312599072
Hardcover: 464 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Infinity came from the library where it's cover piqued my interest. I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
Nick Gautier is a fourteen-year-old scholarship kid at a posh private school who's had his fair share of bullies to deal with. And then, things get weird. Like, zombies-attacking-teachers-at-school weird. And zombies-running-wild in the streets weird. But of most concern is the zombies-going-after-Nick weird. And he's wondering how his life got so complicated...

Infinity is a zombie-filled ride that'll have you laughing (Nick is a sass!) and smirking (have I said he's a sass?), and hopefully not snorting whatever you're drinking out your nose. Really, because that's no fun at all. In addition to the zombies, there are demons, weres, and various other non-humans in this world--and I'm not even quite sure exactly what some of them are.

The characters are a motley bunch. There's the good guys, the good bad guys, the confused good guys, the true bad guys, and the poor suckers stuck in between. And then there's Bubba and Mark, who're way out in left field.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to pick up the next installment. I want to know what Kyrian's and Acheron's stories are. And Caleb's. And Nekoda's. So, yeah. I guess book #1 did its job--it hooked me. Now let's find out if the series reels me in, too.

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub, Support Your Local Library

129. Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson...

Title: Warbreaker
Author: Brandon Sanderson
ISBN-13: 9780765360038
eBook
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates Inc., 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Warbreaker was purchased. I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
I picked up Brandon Sanderson's Warbreaker on a whim. Because you know how it goes when you're browsing books... You look at something, you go "hmmmmm," check it out, bring it home... And then you keep your fingers crossed.

Warbreaker is quite the tome, filled with entertaining characters and drama. In this world, some of those who die are reincarnated as gods. They live in a compound, have their own priests, and have all their needs taken care of. And they can live for a very very long time. As long as they the breath to do so, of course. I know, you're thinking "hmm, nice life"... But there's a catch. Isn't there always? The breath that sustains these gods come from the people--it is literally sucked out of them. And while life without breath isn't quite death (for the people at least), it's obviously a sacrifice. Then again, what god doesn't deserve a mere human's sacrifice?

One part of Warbreaker deals with Siri, a 17-year-old Princess whose father has sent her to be wed to a God King whom she cannot speak to, look at, or *gasp* touch; her sister Vivenna, who was supposed to have been the "sacrifice"; the God King whom Siri marries; and the mercenaries that Vivenna finds herself seeking help from. Plot twists pop up all over the place, as the sisters try to find a way to avert and incite war.

The other part features Lightsong, one of the "younger" gods, and his irreverent interactions with his priests, the other gods, and the populace in general. I have to admit, I turned pages hoping for more Lightsong--he made me laugh out loud. The mercenaries made me laugh, too, but Vivenna was so stick-in-the-mud that she bored me to tears.

Warbreaker had a lot of promise that went unfulfilled and a lot of pages that I mostly skimmed over, but it's worth picking up if only to explore the crazy lush world Sanderson created and appreciate the foibles of some of these characters.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

127. Highland Hellcat by Mary Wine...

Title: Highland Hellcat
Author: Mary Wine
ISBN-13: 9781402237386
ARC: 341 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Highland Hellcat was provided by the publisher for this review. I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
Mary Wine's Highland Hellcat is a Highland romance where the heroine--Brina--isn't very inclined to be obedient or subservient. Then again, she wasn't expected to be either--at least, not to any mere man. As the third daughter, she was raised to be a nun, and her father augmented her education by letting her learn to hunt and fish.

Then Brina finds herself kidnapped by her oldest sister's betrothed, and has a hard time coming to terms with wanting him instead of the Church. Personally, I wouldn't have a problem wanting to spend the rest of my life with Connor Lindsey instead of in a nun's robes (please don't smite me down!)... He's gorgeous, honorable, and knows right from wrong. But that little detail of having been a sister's betrothed does kinda put a damper on things...

There's a wee bit of politicking, a wee bit of hysterics, and a lot of drama. But woven through it all is the story of  agirl who falls for the laird and vice-versa. Good fall reading if Highland romances are your thing!

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub