Genre: Urban Fantasy
Subgenre: mediums, ghosts, elves
Age Appropriate: Older Teen
Recommended for my sister: Absolutely
"My advice is to run." - Thorn Fae
Alex Craft is a PI and a witch with an affinity for the grave. Her specific use of her powers is to raise shades from bodies to have questions asked and answered. The start of her story really begins with the drama that comes with her powers making her an expert witness for an organized crime case. Her job will be to raise the shade of a controversial murder victim and simply ask her what happened. When Alexis is shot at, it's believed that this is the reason. There is more going on, though, when she realizes a favor for her sister may have a bigger effect on her situation. There are some serious things afoot when she gets a mysterious call from her estranged sister, and her situation becomes much more complicated than anyone thought.
The Alexis Craft series is a bit of a bumbling hero story. She's powerful and willful and has no sense of self-preservation. Helping her along the way are her powerful-women girlfriends, a mysterious homicide detective and her old time, close friend, Death. Unlike the Anita series, he literally IS Death. At least, a soul collector that Alexis first met as a young girl with budding powers. Her relationships with these people all help her in her times of need, and often goad her into doing stupid things out of stubbornness. As Alexis finds out more secrets about herself, she'll need all the support she can get!
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You know, for the second time round, I wan't sure I was going to be able to get into these books as much as I did the first time. It was true, to a certain extent, but probably not more so than many other series I've read multiple times. I wasn't sure if I was going to put an awesome review down for this. I know I enjoyed it, but I was surprised by the end result.
I don't always like Alex Craft. I'm a bit used to protagonists in this genre being determined to a fault. In a way, the attitude is similar to Harry Potter's inability to just leave things alone. At the same time, in the end Alex also ends up saving the day (on a much smaller scale, of course). That's as far as similarities go. There is no direct, or indirect, correlation to Harry and any Urban Fantasy I've read. Anyway, I digress. I frequently get annoyed with her, and her complete disregard for her friends. She has a line of loyalty that often gets her in and out of trouble, but sometimes it seems like some of that trouble wouldn't have started without her actions in the first place.
The kicker? I adore most of the people in her life. There are only three books, and I frequently feel sympathy for them in many situations (except potential boyfriend #2. Ugh). At the end of book three, I felt like crying. It's unfair! I didn't notice it happening, but despite my original misgivings, I ended up complete entrapped by the underlying love story and the injustice of it all. I don't know what's worse, unrequited love, or seriously people-could-die love. Breaks my heart. So, yeah, go ahead and read it. It's no great American novel, mind you, but it's pretty good nonetheless.
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How 'bout some wolves: Riley Jenson series
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Monday, February 17, 2014
Anime Milwaukee
I lied! Grave Witch will have to be next week. I spent the whole weekend at Anime Milwaukee. It was a wonderful birthday present from my husband! I did write a review of my time there on my anime blog:
http://anime-mini-geek.blogspot.com/2014/02/anime-milwaukee-amke.html
Anyway, look for the Grave Witch review next week. Promise!
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Promise!: Grave Witch series
http://anime-mini-geek.blogspot.com/2014/02/anime-milwaukee-amke.html
Anyway, look for the Grave Witch review next week. Promise!
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Promise!: Grave Witch series
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Elemental Assasin series - Jennifer Estep
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Subgenre: a little bit of magic and a little bit of murder
Age Appropriate: Adult, kinda. I mean, there's plenty of romance-y stuff.
Recommended for my sister: Started out pretty good...
"It never hurts to double check." - Fletcher
Gin Blanco grew up with an interesting family dynamic. After losing her family to a terrible, evil tragedy, Gin is found by Fletcher Lane - a.k.a. Tin Man. As Gin gets older, she (and her foster brother, Finn) start learning the "family business." Tin Man is an assassin for hire. The story focuses on Gin and her career as The Spider, the most notorious assassin in Ashland. No one really knows who she is, only that they don't want her coming after them.
Gin's whole journey begins with the murder of her family by Mab Monroe. The foremost mobster in Ashland's underground. While Gin goes through a variety of situations as The Spider, the underlying plot is her need for vengeance against Mab, and how she'll be able to survive the encounter. In the world of Gin Blanco, there is elemental magic everywhere. Many people have some level of ability. Gin's primary magic is Stone magic. She can harden her skin to stone, and hear vibrations through any stone she touches. Mab's magic is Fire magic. She's a very strong magic user who used her magic to kill Gin's family. Gin's obstacle comes in knowing that her Stone magic likely isn't as strong as Mab's Fire. Despite the people in her life, and the changes and growth Gin goes through, will she be able to seek the revenge she wants, and destroying the head of the Ashland underground?
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I actually genuinely enjoy this series, mostly. I don't know if I really care about the characters now that I'm further in the series, but it's not awful. I like some books better than others. I don't particularly mind when there is a big gap in new releases. I suppose that says something about them.
I definltey have some sympathy for the romantic situations Gin finds herself in. I think I would've like a little more development with her assassin skills.
The books are a good read, especially when looking to wind down from something more intense. I suppose I would say that they're a good beach read, assuming you're not really into sappy romance novels. I don't need to swallow them whole, though. I say that they started out good because there was a really immediate purpose for Gin, and the following parts were good but don't seem to give her the same motivations. After a few books, I don't think it's an easy feat for an author. I'm hoping that the next one is as entraining as the first few.
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Let's keep going: Grave Witch series
Subgenre: a little bit of magic and a little bit of murder
Age Appropriate: Adult, kinda. I mean, there's plenty of romance-y stuff.
Recommended for my sister: Started out pretty good...
"It never hurts to double check." - Fletcher
Gin Blanco grew up with an interesting family dynamic. After losing her family to a terrible, evil tragedy, Gin is found by Fletcher Lane - a.k.a. Tin Man. As Gin gets older, she (and her foster brother, Finn) start learning the "family business." Tin Man is an assassin for hire. The story focuses on Gin and her career as The Spider, the most notorious assassin in Ashland. No one really knows who she is, only that they don't want her coming after them.
Gin's whole journey begins with the murder of her family by Mab Monroe. The foremost mobster in Ashland's underground. While Gin goes through a variety of situations as The Spider, the underlying plot is her need for vengeance against Mab, and how she'll be able to survive the encounter. In the world of Gin Blanco, there is elemental magic everywhere. Many people have some level of ability. Gin's primary magic is Stone magic. She can harden her skin to stone, and hear vibrations through any stone she touches. Mab's magic is Fire magic. She's a very strong magic user who used her magic to kill Gin's family. Gin's obstacle comes in knowing that her Stone magic likely isn't as strong as Mab's Fire. Despite the people in her life, and the changes and growth Gin goes through, will she be able to seek the revenge she wants, and destroying the head of the Ashland underground?
-----
I actually genuinely enjoy this series, mostly. I don't know if I really care about the characters now that I'm further in the series, but it's not awful. I like some books better than others. I don't particularly mind when there is a big gap in new releases. I suppose that says something about them.
I definltey have some sympathy for the romantic situations Gin finds herself in. I think I would've like a little more development with her assassin skills.
The books are a good read, especially when looking to wind down from something more intense. I suppose I would say that they're a good beach read, assuming you're not really into sappy romance novels. I don't need to swallow them whole, though. I say that they started out good because there was a really immediate purpose for Gin, and the following parts were good but don't seem to give her the same motivations. After a few books, I don't think it's an easy feat for an author. I'm hoping that the next one is as entraining as the first few.
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Let's keep going: Grave Witch series
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Green Rider - Kristen Britain
Genre: Fantasy
Subgenre: riders, messengers, kings, intrigue
Age Appropriate: Young Adult
Recommended for my sister: Absolutely
"I am not a Green Rider!" - Karigan
One fateful day, Karigan G'ladheon is expelled from her school, Selium. It is an academy which is widely renowned. After a little swordplay with a spoiled aristocrat, Karigan finds herself running off in a bit of a tantrum at the injustice of it all. In her haste through slightly unknown forests, Karigan stumbles on a dying man is a green uniform, with two arrows in her back. This messenger pries a solemn deathbed promise out of Karigan to complete his mission in getting his messages back to the King. She takes his messages, a spare uniform, and his uniquely intelligent horse and trots off on her new mission.
Along the way Karigan meets various obstacles, both big and small, all in her effort to reach the King with the messages. Each time she's met with an obstacle, or even a new character, Karigan consistently insists that she is not a Green Rider, simply finishing his mission as promised. Things begin to prove differently throughout her journey, but she adamantly denies all of the signs. While stumbling some crazy situation, she realizes that her horse really is unusually smart, and that she's developed some sort of magical gift. There are evil forces infiltrating the kingdom and now she's found herself in the middle of a growing, tainted conflict. In each books of the series, Karigan fights against herself while fighting against the evil spreading through the land. With all of the battles on each front, she manages to add a different aspect when a little bit of romance rears it's head.
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The Green Rider series is pretty fun for me. It's like a younger version of The Deed of Paksenarrion. There are some elves running around, though not much more of the other races often found in similar stories. One of my favorite aspects is how much Karigan rails against her new powers and responsibilities. It's not because I want to see her struggle, but more that heroes (or heroines) often think of how awesome they are, or how cool they could be, and Karigan wants nothing more than to abandon her new life and return to her old one - except that she has an incredible sense of duty hiding behind some of that angst.
I'm keeping this at Young Adult because, although there is a brief encounter that might be considered more on the adult side of things, I don't feel that two pages in the fourth book takes it above the rating. The one big disappointment of the series is that Kristen Britain takes about two years to release a book. I'm glad because they're usually pretty well done, but sad because I'm a bit impatient. There are a few things that don't really sit well with me, but I've enjoyed the series nonetheless. I'd definitely recommend it. It's close to light reading, but still pretty entertaining. Now, the question is...what is going to happen with those romantic entanglements!? (I'm such a girl.)
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Yes, you are!: Elemental Assassin series - Jennifer Estep
Subgenre: riders, messengers, kings, intrigue
Age Appropriate: Young Adult
Recommended for my sister: Absolutely
"I am not a Green Rider!" - Karigan
One fateful day, Karigan G'ladheon is expelled from her school, Selium. It is an academy which is widely renowned. After a little swordplay with a spoiled aristocrat, Karigan finds herself running off in a bit of a tantrum at the injustice of it all. In her haste through slightly unknown forests, Karigan stumbles on a dying man is a green uniform, with two arrows in her back. This messenger pries a solemn deathbed promise out of Karigan to complete his mission in getting his messages back to the King. She takes his messages, a spare uniform, and his uniquely intelligent horse and trots off on her new mission.
Along the way Karigan meets various obstacles, both big and small, all in her effort to reach the King with the messages. Each time she's met with an obstacle, or even a new character, Karigan consistently insists that she is not a Green Rider, simply finishing his mission as promised. Things begin to prove differently throughout her journey, but she adamantly denies all of the signs. While stumbling some crazy situation, she realizes that her horse really is unusually smart, and that she's developed some sort of magical gift. There are evil forces infiltrating the kingdom and now she's found herself in the middle of a growing, tainted conflict. In each books of the series, Karigan fights against herself while fighting against the evil spreading through the land. With all of the battles on each front, she manages to add a different aspect when a little bit of romance rears it's head.
-----
The Green Rider series is pretty fun for me. It's like a younger version of The Deed of Paksenarrion. There are some elves running around, though not much more of the other races often found in similar stories. One of my favorite aspects is how much Karigan rails against her new powers and responsibilities. It's not because I want to see her struggle, but more that heroes (or heroines) often think of how awesome they are, or how cool they could be, and Karigan wants nothing more than to abandon her new life and return to her old one - except that she has an incredible sense of duty hiding behind some of that angst.
I'm keeping this at Young Adult because, although there is a brief encounter that might be considered more on the adult side of things, I don't feel that two pages in the fourth book takes it above the rating. The one big disappointment of the series is that Kristen Britain takes about two years to release a book. I'm glad because they're usually pretty well done, but sad because I'm a bit impatient. There are a few things that don't really sit well with me, but I've enjoyed the series nonetheless. I'd definitely recommend it. It's close to light reading, but still pretty entertaining. Now, the question is...what is going to happen with those romantic entanglements!? (I'm such a girl.)
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Yes, you are!: Elemental Assassin series - Jennifer Estep
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