Review: Elijah by Jacquelyn Frank

Elijah (Nightwalkers #3)

by Jacquelyn Frank

Paranormal Romance

Find it on Goodreads!

Elijah a Wind Demon, the Warrior Captain of the Demon armies he defends his race and his King against all enemies and up till the last decade he has spent last couple of centuries protecting Demons from the attacks of the insane Lycanthrope King. The new Queen, Siena, is determined not to give into their mutual need for one another. Although Siena is the one who ended the mad war with the Demons, how can she allow the man her people call the Demon Butcher be their King?

Much like with Gideon, the previous book in this series I wanted to like this more then I actually did. I have liked Elijah's character in the last two books he seems the more modern minded of all the demons he has a great sense of humour and strong ties of loyalties to his King and his people. So, when I saw that Elijah's book was next I was looking forward to it, paired with the fact that he was going to be getting jiggy with Siena a character I liked from Gideon I thought it was bound to be good. And it was, sort of.

So here is a list of what I liked and disliked, let's get the negative out the way first!

Disliked

- SIENA: Damn but that woman drove me mad in this book! I understood that she was shocked and disturbed by the Imprinting, she didn't want Elijah to become King of her people as she was worried that he could turn out like her insane father, but she acted like a child! As a Queen you would have thought she would have been looking for a sensible solution rather then doing her Ostrich impression (burying her head in the sand!) what Gideon eventually suggests I thought was rather obvious and I wondered why she didn't think of it sooner. And when eventually she does comes around to it, it happened so fast I had whiplash!

- SEX SCENES: Anyone who knows me, KNOWS that I love a good sex scene the kinkier the better! But, the scenes in this go on for too long and I don't really like the way they are written, there are too many eupemisms, can't she just say cock or pussy, rather then his red hot arousal and her wet heat, seriously!?! And there is such a thing as being too poetic, every touch is soul deep and every movement from the heart! I swear these Demons don't know how to have a quickie or some down and dirty shagging, every touch was to lyrical to be anything other then love making, which is nice but sometimes you just want them to get on with it!

Liked

- STORY: Again I liked the story development and how the plot has progressed further in this book. We see Ruth become even more twisted in her bid to try and destroy the people she feels have wronged her. It also brought up a few things I had been thinking were a flaw in the books but which I now think will be become part of the story, for example, why are all human magic users evil? Surely if they are born with the ability to do magic it is just how the apply it that makes them evil, not that the magic is innately evil in itself. I am hoping this will be explored further in the next couple of books.

- PAST HEA's: Another great thing about this series is that the characters from previous books, Bella and Jacob, Gideon and Legna, Noah, Damien etc are still a main part of the story, the last two couples haven't just disappeared now that they have paired up. I love checking up on a HEA so I love that you carry on seeing their relationships develop

Another good installment in the series although this series has still failed to wow me. I don't think this series is ever going to become a favourite but I am enjoying it.

Review: Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

Boneshaker (The Clockwork Century #1)

By Cherie Priest

Steampunk

Find it on Goodreads!!

It's 1880 in Seattle and things have gone a little differently then history proposed, the Boneshaker happened. Leviticus Blue invented the Boneshaker a huge drill that was supposed to dig down and find gold, but all it found was the Blight, a greenish gas that turns the people who inhale it into Rotters, the walking dead. Sixteen years later, Leviticus Blue's widow Briar Blue now Wilkes and her son Zeke are living in the Outskirts the are outside the walled in Seattle the evidence of her husbands catastrophe on their doorstep. Zeke determined that his father wasn't responsible for the Blight goes behind the wall and tries to find the Boneshaker machine, Briar soon follows knowing that he will not find the answer he is looking for.
I have had this on my bookshelf for ages, so long I actually forgot I had it. Big mistake. This book was just what I was in the mood for, it was a big steampunk adventure story with a great some mystery and zombies thrown in.

The first impression I got of this book was it's fabulous cover, it just screams steampunk and it is one of my favourite covers on my bookshelf. Then you open the page and instead of having black and white it is sepia, the writing is brown, like aged ink and although it is only a small detail I though it was a brilliant idea.

You see this book through Zeke and Briar's point of view and each POV and what was great is that you can tell who's POV it is when you reading, each character has a distinct narrative voice. Although it took me about 50 pages or so to get into this it is well worth the effort once both Zeke and Briar aer inside the wall the action really get interesting and intriguing as you see a motley cast of characters, from the Lucy the woman with one mechanical arm, Captain Cly the 7 and half foot tall air ship captain and the most mysterious character of all Dr Minnericht who seems eerily familiar to Briar...

Although this was a little predictable, it still had me turning the pages to try and find out how it ends and if the main characters aren't perhaps the most original ones I have read they are still likable and I was behind them all the way. This was a good solid book, entertaining, fun and a little sinister it had me eating up the pages.

Review: Darkling by Yasmine Galenorn

Darkling

(Sisters of the Moon # 3)

by Yasmine Galenorn

Urban Fantasy

It's been a while since I read book 2 in the series, and with every book I always wonder if I might continue reading or if I should just stop. But I have OCD and have to know what happens next. So here I am.

I thought I would actually like Menolly's book, and I have to say I'm a bit disappointed. A lot of dark things came out in this book. It was a good story, but just a bit too rough and too dark for my taste. There was also a lot going on, as usual in this series, I find that there's a lot of descriptions and details and at times that can get boring.

This book brings out Menolly's past as the vampire who made her (against her will, and raped her, and tortured her) comes back! We get to relive some of what happened to her at his hands, which I will warn you was a bit disturbing. Because of that I understand more why she is so f*cked up! But, there was just a little healing in this book, she still has a long way to go in my opinion.

I also thought she would get with the head of the Vampires in the city, but he actually didn't play into Menolly's romantic interests in this book. We actually got some f/f sex because Menolly went for a puma shifter girl, and there was also some attraction with Jareth, whom she meets in her search for Dredge.

All the D'Artigo sisters make an appearance, I still can't stand Camille, Delilah is cute but she's still not 100% comfortable in her relationship with Chase, of course Camille has a few to choose from, Morio I actually like and he's a big help to them.

There's a lot happening with the fey. Their father and aunt are in hiding. There is a lot of action and things that happen in this book. But will I continue reading the series? Maybe after another long break, and when I'm in the mood for something a bit darker. 

Covers to Covet

Lucy Marinn, a glass artist who lives on San Juan Island, has just been dumped by her boyfriend Kevin. Needing some privacy and time to think, she goes to a nearby beach and meets a dark-haired stranger . . . 

Calling all Kleypas fans!!!! The US cover for Rainshadow Road has been released! This is the second book in her Friday Harbor series! There is no official blurb out yet, but Kleypas has posted an excerpt to this book on her website. You can find that here.


This is my favourite part of the whole excerpt:
"This is going to sting," he said as he began to clean the cut with gentle strokes.
The breath hissed between her teeth as the antiseptic burned.

Lucy waited quietly, wondering why a stranger would go to this amount of trouble for her. As his head bent over her hand, she stared at the thick locks of his hair, a shade of brown so rich and dark that it appeared almost black.

"You're not in bad shape, considering," she heard him murmur.

"Are you talking about my hand or my breakup?"

"Breakup. Most women would be crying right now."

"I'm still in shock. The next stage is crying and sending angry text messages to everyone I know. After that is the stage when I'll want to rehash the relationship until all my friends start avoiding me." Lucy knew she was chattering, but she couldn't seem to stop herself. "In the final stage, I'll get a short haircut that doesn't flatter me, and buy a lot of expensive shoes I'll never wear."

"It's a lot simpler for guys," Sam said. "We just drink a lot of beer, go a few days without shaving, and buy an appliance."

"You mean . . . like a toaster?"

"No, something that makes noise. Like a leaf-blower or chainsaw. It's very healing."

That drew a brief, reluctant smile from her.


The excerpt is perfectly Kleypas. Witty, sweet and smart, she really does it all in this little tease of a chapter! I cannot wait until this book comes out. The first book, Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor was much too short. And I feel like Sam Nolan's book will be better than the first!


Rainshadow Road releases February 28, 2012

Purchase links: Rainshadow Road

Review: Gideon by Jacquelyn Frank

Gideon (Nightwalkers #2)

by Jacquelyn Frank

Paranormal Romance

Find it on Goodreads!

I was so ready for Gideon's book after reading Jacob's, Gideon is the eldest of all Demons, but of course still mega hot so don't fear there are no saggy man bums and wrinkly...other things! As the eldest, an Ancient, he is the most powerful Demon, but he has been living a solitary life as a self infliced punishment for the wrongs he committed in his long past. That is until Legna, the Demon King Noah's empath sister comes along and totally rocks his world.

I wanted to like this much more then I actually did I preferred Jacob's book, mainly as I didn't warm up to Gideon. He was at intially too distant, cold and arrogant (but not in a sexy way!) and although he did warm up and let his emotions out eventually I was stuck firmly in the meh camp complete with big cheery fire and toasted marshmallows. Another thing as well which kinda bugged me, the one of the big reasons he felt he didn't deserve Legna was because he encouraged and helped commit an atrocity and he feels intense guilt and regret about it and I was thinking YES! You should feel guilt and regret you committed geonicide, granted it was 900 years ago but still the Druids are no less dead. I mean he was forgiven but it niggled me.

I did like Legna though, probably more then Gideon, she was a good character and I liked that she wasn't scared to tell off all the strong alpha males surrounding her.

What I liked most about this book and what earnt it most of the stars was the progression of the main plot regaring the Hunters and Necromancers that hunt not only the Demons but all the other Nightwalker races. An act of betrayal with in the Demon ranks made the Necromancers even more dangerous in this book and although it is obvious who it is, it was still a good twist. We also see a little bit more of the other Nightwalker races when the Lycanthrope Queen Siena and the Vampire Prince Damien show up, we especially learn more about the Lycanthropes and I like that the shifters are a little different in these books.

I did like this book, a few places had my eyes rolling and I have mentioned my Gideon issues, but I will be on to the next book as I do like the series.

Follow Friday - 7/29/11

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee

The question of the week is:

"Let's step away from books for a second and get personal. What T-Shirt slogan best describes you?"

"I play with my prey..."

Covers To Covet

NEW COVER ALERT!!!!!

Yes, there's a new cover revealed for a collection of novels in the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh.  This is the cover for Angel's Flight.

MARCH 2012

And from Nalini's blog....

ANGELS' FLIGHT

In Angel’s Wolf a vampire becomes fascinated with the seductive angel who rules Louisiana. But all is not what it appears to be in her court.

In Angels’ Judgment a hunter must track one of her own gone bad, while surviving the deadly tests placed in her way by the archangels themselves. Unexpected backup comes from a stranger who might just be the most lethal threat of all...

Plus FIRST TIME IN PRINT

In Angels' Pawn a vampire hunter faces off against two rival factions and the angel manipulating them both, and a vampire whose help is not entirely selfless...

And NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED

In Angels’ Dance an angel trapped in the mountain stronghold of the Refuge finds herself under siege by a warrior angel from a martial court.