Hello All!
The month of January for 2014 is almost at a close. A few more days remain until February rolls around and starts spewing hearts and flowers forth for St. Valentine's Day. Here is a quick recap of what I have read for the month and my thoughts on each book. I know this is the lazy way of reviewing each book, but hey, at least I'm doing it.
01.
Fair Game - Patricia Briggs:
Patricia Briggs has created a lively urban fantasy world. I've been a fan of her
Alpha and Omega series since I picked up the first volume Cry Wolf. I've even got the first installment of the
Mercy Thompson series that takes place in the same universe lined up to read. Charles and Anna team up with a special task force including the FBI to track down a serial killer who has decided he likes the taste of
other. The Fae, a previously overlooked group, as well as a few witches take the stage in this book - breaking down the iron grip of pack politics in the series. A good solid read, I really enjoy the series!
4 out of 5 Bijouxs
02.
Hunted - Kevin Hearne:
I've been a serious fan of the
Iron Druid Chronicles since I first picked up the first installment of the series,
Hounded. Quick, witty and oozing mythological fun like the wealthy ooze class, this series is unlike anything else I've read. Some have called it the next
Dresden Files, but I personally like
The Iron Druid Chronicles better. The one liners are priceless and Oberon is my favorite in a broad cast of colorful characters. Sometimes the series gallops off on weird tangents but they mostly all come home to pasture by the end of each book. In this installment, Granuaille is now a full fledged Druid and she, Atticus and Oberon must thwart the Olympians!
4.5 out of 5 Bijouxs
03.
Dragon Keeper - Robin Hobb:
I'd fallen in love with Robin Hobb's colorful, vibrant and living Rain Wilds back when I first picked up
Ship of Magic of the first in the
Liveship Traders trilogy many years ago. The
Rain Wilds series is an extension of the
Liveship Traders trilogy and revolves around the lives of the Serpents Tintaglia had found.
Dragon Keeper sets the stage for the series by showing the process serpent goes through in order to become a dragon. Keepers are appointed by the Cassarick Traders Council. The group of youngsters are extremely touched by the Rain Wilds and are considered outcasts by their community. The mission to transport the newly hatched dragons upriver to the fabled Elderling city of Kelsingra is fraught with danger, insidious plots and the behemothic nature of the Rain Wild River. Beautifully done. I especially love how Hobb describes the landscape, flora and fauna and how they change as the group travels upriver - it really breathes life into the series.
5 out of 5 Bijouxs
04.
Dragon Haven - Robin Hobb:
The sequel to
Dragon Keeper -
Dragon Haven continues the keeper party's adventures upriver. The youngsters are beginning to realize that they can grow and become more than what they are alongside the dragons who are growing in mind and body themselves. The dangers of the Rain Wild River are always present and ever changing the farther upriver the team goes. The party of keepers, dragons, the crew of the
Tarman finally arrives at Kelsingra.
5 out of 5 Bijouxs
05.
City of Dragons - Robin Hobb:
Dragons are beginning to change the keepers into Elderlings in earnest. The party stays to help the dragons grow and be able to fly as well as exploring the untouched city of Kelsingra.
Tarman and his crew return to Cassarick with tidings of the newly discovered city and run into some serious trouble.
5 out of 5 Bijouxs
06.
Fury of the Demon - Diana Rowland:
The latest installment of the
Kara Gillian series,
Fury of the Demon is a bit of a roller coaster. I've really enjoyed the series so far as it takes an ENTIRELY different approach to demon summoning that is really neat.
Fury of the Demon is a little bit more hectic than previous books as Rowland adds a whole slew of new characters to the pot. A lot of questions are answered and the end of the book gives a glimpse to the magnitude of a back plot that has been surfacing occasionally throughout the series - mainly - the truth behind the Qaztahl. Dun dun DUUUUUNNNN....I do feel like I'll have to go re-read the entire series before the next book comes out, just to refresh myself as I'm 6 books into the series and am starting to not remember stuff or not quite get plot hints like I should. At this point in the series, it would be really nice if Diana began doing recaps of what happened in the previous book past about a paragraph or two.
4 out of 5 Bijouxs
