Review: DRESDEN FILES: DOWN TOWN by Jim Butcher & Mark Powers

Release Date: October 13th, 2015

Type: Series, Magic, Graphic Novel, Comic Book, Wizards, Between the Novels, Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction, Talking Skulls and Such

About the Book: Chicago wizard-for-hire Harry Dresden and his new apprentice, Molly Carpenter, intend to end the havoc caused by a mad sorcerer - one whose ambitions would have the Windy City streets carved out as his own private kingdom. But when the magical upstart enters into an alliance with the notorious mob boss "Gentleman Johnnie" Marcone, will the fast-and-loose Dresden and his young charge survive unscathed? This graphic novel collects the critically acclaimed, six-issue series in one volume, and features a bonus section with Jim Butcher's original story outline, sketchbook artwork from Carlos Gomez, cover gallery with roughs from Stjepan Sejic, and more! [Description from Netgalley.com]

My Review: I like these "between the novels" stories because it lets me get a taste of Dresden's world for a short time. I really enjoy this series, in fact, I consider it a modern day classic in the field of Urban Fantasy. Dresden is a fascinating character, and his friends even more so. All the wacky members of his family (be they blood related or no), add so much to the series, and make it something special - and this graphic novel is no different. In fact, I think Mouse, Molly, and the ever interesting Marcone make this graphic novel more interesting than it would have been if it was just Dresden fighting the bad guy.

There was nothing wrong with this story. I didn't find any major faults. My only comment is that it wasn't so deeply fascinating and magical that I couldn't put it down. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't great. Maybe because this story is so short, it doesn't have the magic of the actual Dresden novels. But this was good enough to hold me over until Dresden gets his next book.

Cover Lovin': Looks good, and fits with the other Dresden Files graphic novels I have seen.

Recommendation: At least some familiarity with Dresden is recommended prior to reading this. Background information is included for those that might not be caught up, but there's a lot of little stuff that will leave the reader confused or unsure if they're not familiar with the series.

Final Rating: THREE POINT FIVE out of FIVE stars (3.5/5).

Check out some of the other Dresden Files Graphic Novels!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Disclaimer: I received a free, advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

REVIEW: "Give to the Heart, Volume 2" by Wann

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Release Date: January 27, 2015

Type: Graphic Novel, Manga, Series, Mythology, Book 2, Magic, Every guy's shirt has some sort of malfunction?!

About the Book: Earth suffers a cataclysm. Three godlike beings emerge to rule over survivors. Lord Ganok controls all waters. He nourishes nations with rain or blights them with drought.Yet, despite his terrifying abilities, the Water King can't win the heart of the woman Sooyi because the human heart contains more intense storms than even he can create. Furthermore, Sooyi seeks to fulfill a vendetta...and the power to slay the Water King. [Description provided by Netgalley.com]

My Review: Yes, I gave the first volume a higher rating, but that doesn't mean I liked this second book less. Actually, in some respects I liked volume 2 more. Then why the lower rating? Because I wasn't as immediately sucked in to the story in this volume as I was in the first volume. Well, that is only mostly accurate. I was sucked in quickly, then lost the desperation to continue the story in the middle, then picked it back up again near the end. The story dipped a little for me in the middle, but it picked right back up, and ended on a strong note. So for that, it gets one less star than the first book - but it was still a great read for me.

In book two, we get less of the Water King, and more of Sooyi and her travels with her companion, who has a mysterious story of his own. I cannot wait to find out what is going on with him. We get a teaser at the end of volume 2, but it is not enough! I must find out what is going on.

Side note: I feel so bad for the poor guys in this story. There is a plague of shirt malfunctions throughout the story. But I guess this is payback for all the gratuitous panty shots that show up in other mangas?

Cover Lovin': Eye catching, check. Good representation of the art, check. Gives an idea of what is actually going to happen in this volume? Nope.

Recommendation: For fans of the first volume, definitely. And for those than like the author's other works.

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE stars (4/5). Good, in some respects I liked it better than volume 1, but I wasn't as immediately sucked in like I was with the previous book.

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda at Novel Addiction ~!~

REVIEW: "Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland" by Eric Shanower

Disclaimer: I received a free, advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thanks Netgalley!

Release Date: May 26, 2015

Type: Graphic Novel, Comic books, Fantasy, All-Ages, Oh my - it's my childhood calling!

About the Book: An all-new, all-ages series full of magic and whimsy from award-winning creators Eric Shanower (Adventures in Oz) and Gabriel Rodriguez (Locke & Key)! Spinning out of Winsor McKay's brilliant early 20th Century strip, Return to Slumberland sees King Morpheus' daughter, in the Royal Palace of Slumberland, selecting her next-playmate — Nemo! Only Nemo has no interest in being anyone's playmate, dream or no dream! [Description provided by Netgalley.com]

My Review: I'll admit it, I love the Little Nemo movie. It wasn't until I was adult that I even knew it had been a comic. This new graphic novel, "Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland" is a continuation of the old stories. The original Little Nemo has moved on, now the Princess needs a new playmate - and who better than someone with the middle name Nemo! I loved seeing some of the original characters back in action, and to see how a new young boy would deal with the weirdness and magic of Slumberland.

This is one of those graphic novels that will appeal to people of many ages. Little kids would enjoy reading this just as much as the adults who are familiar with the older versions. This graphic novel provides enough of a back story and explanation of Slumberland that new readers can jump right in, but it's not so overloaded that people already familiar with the story would feel bored. A great, fun read, I am already eager for more!

And the art is dead on. It just felt perfect.

Cover Lovin': Love it! Very reminiscent of the stories and movie.

Recommendation: For old fans of the original stories, and new lovers of fantasy.

Final Rating: FOUR POINT FIVE out of FIVE stars (4.5/5). Great art, great story, I want more!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda at Novel Addiction ~!~

REVIEW: "Give to the Heart, Volume 1" by Wann

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thanks Netgalley!

Release Date: October 14, 2014

Type: Graphic Novel, Manga, Comic Book, Mythology-esque, Magic, Series, Let's give this a shot!

About the Book: In the far-off distant future, the Earth suffers a cataclysm that destroys modern civilization. Over centuries, human survivors regroup and organize into primitive cities. Three godlike beings arise and oversee the well-being of the world. Lord Ganok rules all waters. Nations prosper - or starve - on his whim. He nourishes farmlands with rainfall or blights entire realms with drought. He can unleash violent storms that level entire cities. Yet, despite all his awe-inspiring abilities, the Water King can't win the heart of a simple human woman named Sooyi. Lord Ganok quickly learns that the human heart contains more intense storms than he could ever hope to create. Furthermore, Sooyi seeks out a power of her own in order to fulfill an old vendetta...the power to slay the Water King once and for all! [Description provided by Goodreads.com]

My Review: I loved this. This is exactly the type of thing I obsess over. I love mythology mixed into my fantasy stories - so of course the whole demons controlling certain aspects of the earth got my attention. I would even say this story seems to be futuristic, though a future where civilization moved backwards - which makes tons more sense when you actually see it, I assume.

The art was very appealing, and there were plenty of shirtless male shots to appease the female readers (and hey, some males too, I don't judge). I like the relationship between the Water King and Sooyi, and I can't wait to see how this develops in further volumes - or not, considering the end. Need more now, please!

Cover Lovin': This cover will certainly appeal to shojo manga fans! It definitely got my attention, so overall: good cover.

Recommendation: For fans of things like Fushigi Yugi, From Far Away. It's not too similar, but I thought the vibe was there.

Final Rating: FIVE out of FIVE stars. Right up my alley. Loved it, and I can't wait to read on!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda at Novel Addiction ~!~

REVIEW: Birthright, Volume 1: Homecoming by Andrei Bressan and Joshua Williamson

Disclaimer: I received a free, advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thanks Netgalley!

Release Date: March 17, 2015

Type: Graphic Novel, Comic Book, Magic, Time Travel (sorta?), Fantasy, Parallel Worlds, Kids grow up so fast...

About the Book: For the Rhodes family, losing their son was the most devastating thing that could have occurred...but it couldn't prepare them for what happened when he returned. Skybound's newest hit turns fantasy into reality in this all-new series from the creator of Nailbiter and Ghosted. Pick up this introductory-priced collection and see what everyone's talking about! Collects Birthright #1-5 [Summary provided by Netgalley.com]

My Review: This was a fun volume to read, and definitely entertaining enough that I had to read it all in one sitting. But ultimately, I don't feel like I have to keep going. I don't think I connected to everyone as much as I wanted to - but this is only volume one of what will be an epic series. This happens. I can't fall into insta-love with every comic book series. If I was given the second volume, I would gladly read it, but this is not a story I will desperately be hunting in stores.

Would it be odd if I said this felt almost like an adult version of Chronicles of Narnia? There are a lot of similarities - kid gets sucked into a different world, fulfills his destiny (or does he?) and comes back to his original world, only to find not as much time has passed. There are some huge differences, obviously - he comes back as a fully grown adult, and a year has passed, not mere seconds. This connection to a childhood series might turn some people off, but it's what drew me to Birthright to begin with. I love reading about people from our ordinary mundane world getting thrown into a fantasy world they never knew existed.

I can really see the potential in this series. And really, Volume 1: Homecoming is a great start. Just, as stated, I wasn't immediately desperate for more.

Cover Lovin': I like this cover. It doesn't do much to give the reader a good idea of what to expect, but it certainly is attention grabbing.

Recommendation: For fans of destiny! And this almost has a Chronicles of Narnia vibe, with the being transported to a magic world. Mind you, it's a heck of a lot darker than that.

Final Rating: THREE POINT FIVE out of FIVE stars (3.5/5). There was a lot about this I liked. But ultimately, I didn't feel like I absolutely had to read more.

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda at Novel Addiction ~!~

REVIEW: "Hedgewitch Book of Days" by Mandy Mitchell

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Type: Nonfiction, Spell book, Book of Days, Hedgewitch, A whole years worth of reading

About the Book: Down to earth and humorous, Mandy Mitchell is a modern Hedgewitch whose passion is finding magic in simple everyday tasks and turning them into rituals and spells along with cooking wholesome, hearty, and tasty food based on the seasons of the year. Her book echoes these passions and serves as a tapestry of real-life stories and time-honored folklore laced with a hint of magic! It is aimed at the practicing or would-be witch whose life is more jeans, chaos and the never-ending question of what's for dinner than it is black robes, cauldrons, and incantations.

"Hedgewitch Book of Days" features recipes and wisdom as it reveals the hidden properties behind the things we use all the time. The author shows how to turn the simplest tasks into meaningful rituals, opening our eyes to the extra special world behind the mundane and how to celebrate it! A new broader approach to old beliefs, there is something for everyone to take away--whatever path you are on.

Journey through the wheel of the year with one eye on the kettle and the other on the magical! [Description from Goodreads.com]
My Review: I will say right now, I wouldn't have picked this up on my own. So I didn't really know what to expect. That said, I really enjoyed this. I haven't read every single word - I'm saving some stuff for when the actual featured month happens. But that's what makes this book great - it's the book that keeps on giving!

Included in each month: Information about traditions in that month (pagan festivals, etc), rituals the reader can do to relax, recipes, ways to celebrate the month, spells, and folklore. I'm a picky eater, but these recipes have me drooling!

This book isn't for everyone. I'm sure there are plenty of people that would find offense, but if you keep an open mind, this is a really fun read with fascinating information, and plenty of useful facts. Be sure to check this out in the near future!

Cover Lovin': Good cover. I'm not sure it entirely conveys what all is included in this book, but it is calming and nice looking.

Recommendation: Sure there are spells and rituals included in this book, so you should be into that, but there are a lot of recipes and plenty of good advice that anyone would find useful!

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE stars (4/5). This was a fun read, and has tons of helpful and useful tips!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda at Novel Addiction ~!~

REVIEW: "Luminae" by Bengal

Disclaimer: I received a free, advanced e-copy of this graphic novel in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Type: Graphic Novel, Comic Book, Series, Book One, Magic, Demons, Dragons, Light vs. Dark, Fantasy, Thong Armor is Totally Impractical

About the Book: Six young warriors are tasked with protecting the mysterious Luminae, a holy creature of Light in exile from those forces of Darkness that would decimate humanity. When one of the warriors disappears, the others know it is the sign of a superior evil soon to arrive. A stylish dark fantasy by the celebrated artist of Naja and Meka. [Summary from Goodreads.com]

My Review: Nope. Just nope. I wish I could saw I enjoyed this, because it sounded really cool. But readers are thrown right into the middle of a story, with no explanation as to what is going on or why some of these people are important. While the several small story-lines are clearly all part of some over arching dangerous plot, there is no transition from one story-line to the next. So you go from girls searching for their sister to a king talking to his adviser, then suddenly to a kid in a village, with no apparent rhyme or reason.

This had a lot of potential, really. I think the story itself could have used more editing, especially when it came to transitions. Also, I was not a fan of the art. I liked the colors, though several of the characters ended up looking very similar due to their coloring. But what really made me roll my eyes, groan, and grumble were the outfits. Seriously? Why would this warrior girls be wearing thongs and a shirt? Not logical, in the slightest. And even when one character activated her special power, which created some seriously awesome looking armor - her thong was still clearly visible, which means her hips and thighs were very vulnerable. To the writer and artist - trust me, you can make women look sexy in armor without skimpy underwear.

Cover Lovin': This is a very eye catching cover. The art and color lines were what originally attracted me to this graphic novel.

Recommendation: For readers of graphic novels, and people who enjoy weird things with little explanation? In general: Not really recommended.

Final Rating: TWO out of FIVE stars. I saw some potential there, but this fell so flat. You can't have a huge fantasy world like this and then give it so little description, build up, or.. I don't know, explanation. 

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda at Novel Addiction ~!~

REVIEW: "Jim Butcher's Dresden Files: War Cry" by Jim Butcher

Disclaimer: I received a free, advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Release Date: November 11, 2014

Type: Graphic Novel, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Wizards, Wardens, Vampires, Series, Harry Dresden Mostly Knows What He's Doing (Or Not)

About This Book: A war is raging between the vampire forces of the Red Court and the White Council - a war that the wizards are losing. So desperate are the Council that they've dragooned the experienced and the outcast to reinforce their thinning ranks of Wardens. One of these draftees is one Harry Dresden, Chicago's only wizard-for-hire and a guy who's long been looked upon with suspicion by the supernatural authorities. Now, he's one of them, and his first big mission as a Warden is a doozy: take a small team of greenhorns to a frigid town in the middle of nowhere to rescue a handful of mortals who've been targeted by the Red Court. The question is, why exactly are these particular mortals so crucial to the outcome of the war? The answer will come only if Harry can keep them, and his team, alive for one very long night. This graphic novel collects the critically acclaimed, five-issue series in one volume, and features a bonus section with Jim Butcher's original story outline, sketchbook artwork from Carlos Gomez, cover gallery with roughs from Stjepan Sejic, and more!

My Review: I'm a busy person. I have a full time job, volunteer opportunities, plus plenty to take care of in my home life... so I don't always get the chance to re-read old favorites, and revisit old worlds. So I'm grateful that these graphic novels exist. War Cry is the perfect way to visit Dresden's world, to experience his life for a little longer, without having to commit to re-reading one of the books (which is something that should be savored, and can therefore take some time).

War Cry is a fantastic story, and I'm giving major kudos to the authors for managing to fit everything that happens into a book that is, what, a little over 100 pages? And they do it well - at no point did the story feel rushed, or get jumbled because too much was happening at once. My eyes were glued to the page, desperate to see how Harry would manage to get himself out of yet another bad situation (poor guy).

In short, this is a great read for fans of the series. It is not recommended for newbies to Dresden's world, since it requires some previous knowledge of the Wardens, the vampires, etc. I will say, for readers that have not caught up on Dresden's story, that this graphic novel does an excellent job of explaining what is going on now, why they are doing what they are doing, and where it fits in. So enjoy!

Cover Lovin': This is a great one. We see the team of four Wardens ready to do battle - with Harry front and center. The artist even manages to get each character's personality traits to shine in their expressions.

Recommendation: For fans of the series! The great story and wonderful artwork would make this a great read for anyone, but I doubt anyone but fans of the Dresden Files would get much out of this, as they don't have the extensive back story.

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE stars (4/5).

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda at Novel Addiction ~!~

REVIEW: "The Unwritten: Tommy Taylor and the Ship That Sank Twice" by Mike Carey

Disclaimer: I received an e-galley of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Release Date: September 18, 2013

Type: Graphic Novel, Series, Origin Story, Meta, Writing, Magic, Babies, Oh my!

About the Book: This exciting, original graphic novel explores the world of the Tommy Taylor novels in a visceral and direct way and is a great entry point for new readers.

Twenty-five years ago Tom’s father, Wilson Taylor, devised his subversive literary masterpiece. Now the blueprint of how a father gave his son vast power in order to accomplish a greater scheme is revealed. Partly told through Wilson’s own journal entries, juxtaposed with Tommy’s swashbuckling deep sea adventures with his trusty companions Peter and Sue, the story is at once a prequel and a parallel story to the ongoing series. [From Goodreads.com]

My Review: This book made me have faith in the Unwritten series again. I loved the first couple volumes, then it seemed to fall in my esteem.. but the previous volume and this one really made me excited about the series. Stuff is happening again! And in this volume specifically, we get to know more about Tommy Taylor's beginnings - both the character and the man. And while Tommy Taylor (the man)'s beginnings were quite fascinating, the font style chosen was difficult to read, especially on an electronic copy, at least in my opinion. Also, I found Tommy Taylor (the character)'s origins to be much more enjoyable to read. And only part of that was because the font was a better choice.

The art was very well done in this volume - and you could definitely see a difference between the world of Tommy Taylor within the book series and Tommy Taylor in the real world. The book world was almost comforting, and the real world felt a bit more harsh - which I found to be an excellent choice and well played. Over all, I can't wait to continue with this series. I'm sad that I have caught up now, because that means I'll actually have to wait between volumes. Sigh.

Cover Lovin': I really liked this cover, and I think it fits in incredibly well with the rest of the series. It also has a Harry Potter-like feel, which definitely makes sense considering the subject matter and history of the series.

Recommendation: For fans of graphic novels. If you love graphic novels, meta fiction, and Harry Potter, you will definitely want to check out the Unwritten Series. Fantastical beasts and wonderous stories await you, if you're up to the challenge.

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE stars (4/5). Definitely worth a read, but only if you are already very familiar with the Unwritten series. As I mentioned above, this volume has done much to restore my faith in the Unwritten comics, and I cannot wait for the next volume to see what they come up with next!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

Review will be cross-posted to Goodreads.com and Netgalley.com.

REVIEW: "The House of Many Ways" by Diana Wynne Jones

Why this book?: I read book one in this series, "Howl's Moving Castle" and just HAD to get more of Howl and Sophie.

Type: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Witches/Wizards, Series, Demons

About the book: When Charmain Baker agreed to look after her great-uncle's house, she thought she was getting blissful, parent-free time to read. She didn't realize that the house bent space and time, and she did not expect to become responsible for an extremely magical stray dog and a muddled young apprentice wizard. Now, somehow, she's been targeted by a terrifying creature called a lubbock, too, and become central to the king's urgent search for the fabled Elfgift that will save the country. The king is so desperate to find the Elfgift, he's called in an intimidating sorceress named Sophie to help. And where Sophie is, the great Wizard Howl and fire demon Calcifer won't be far behind. How did respectable Charmain end up in such a mess, and how will she get herself out of it?
Review: Immediately after finishing "Howl's Moving Castle" I looked to see if there were sequels. I *needed* sequels. Lucky for me, there were two! One is still on my To Be Read list, and "The House of Many Ways" was checked in at work, and waiting for me.. so it got to go first.

I will say I didn't like this as much as the first book. I loved "Howl's Moving Castle" so much.. but I still really enjoyed this book - mostly Waif (the dog).. as well as Howl and Sophie's role in the story. Charmain was a tough character to like, at least for me. I felt some relation to her, since we are both clearly obsessed with books, but her Attitude (with a capital A) is tough to get past.

Howl shows up in this novel as Twinkle, a 7-or-so year old boy. Howl's reasoning is that he wants to investigate and go unnoticed... as well as to relive his childhood. His lisp is just one small part of the overall hilarity, and I certainly don't envy Sophie having to take care of him. I know Charmain was the main character... but I loved the side characters way more, and therefore paid more attention to them than the main character.

The mystery and adventure in this novel is well done, though it seems a lot happens in the end, all at once, while there is plenty of time in the middle where little happens. Pacing could have been better, but this book was still excellent and entertaining, just not as much as its predecessor. So if you want an excellent book, read "Howl's Moving Castle".. and read this one if you need more magic and Howl.

Cover Lovin': Works well with the story. Definitely a good cover choice for this book.

Recommendation: For young adults and adults alike that enjoy a really good fantasy story. Something to suggest to younger teens. Definitely recommended to read book one, "Howl's Moving Castle," first!

Final Rating:  FOUR out of FIVE (4/5). Good, definitely not as good as the first, but it was still an engaging read.

Have you read "The House of Many Ways" by Diana Wynne Jones? Share your thoughts in the comments! Want a copy? Get it from Amazon.com!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

Invasion of the body snatchers! REVIEW of "Skin Thief" by Sonnet O'Dell

Why this book?: Author asked for a review, and I really enjoyed the previous book in this series, "Lost Innocents" (click the title to find my review). This is the third book in the Cassandra Fairbanks series. You can purchase this "Skin Thief" here.

Disclaimer: The author sent me a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Type: Series, Paranormal Investigator, Witches, Police Investigation, Paranormal Mystery, Urban Fantasy

Book Description: Deciding to put her recently discovered magical powers to use, Cassandra Farbanks has started her own Paranormal Investigation business, and now she’s handling her first official case.



A prison inmate has used a magic amulet to escape his incarceration and seek a bloody revenge on his enemies. But what is his true purpose, and what’s the connection between the victims? It's up to Cassandra to find out. Cassandra is desperate to track and stop him whilst trying to juggle a deteriorating relationship with her boyfriend, the half elf Magnus, and her bond to the vampire Aram.

Even as she finds her way to closing her first real case, Cassandra’s troubles aren't over. As she discovers, the magic of an amulet is too tempting for some—and it could ruin everything for Cassandra.
My Review: As with the previous novel in this series, I was reading along, mildly interested, and then suddenly the author hooks me, and the ending shocks me with its cleverness. There is a lot of interesting character interaction, and each character is given their own little quirks - things that make them seem genuine and real. The way characters act and are described while together is part of the fun of a novel, and you get that in "Skin Thief." For example, while eating dinner together, Cassandra and Magnus play with each other, and make faces at one again - cute little things that just add to the story.

I will say that there are a lot of side characters to keep track of, and if you're new to the series, it's difficult to keep up with all the names. However, this issue is easily solved by reading the series in order, starting with book one. There are some series that allow readers to pop in and out whenever, but for the full effect of Cassandra, her powers, and her posse - be sure to read the whole thing. You won't regret it.

I find "Skin Thief" to be an interesting case - a mobster that gets ahold of a magical amulet, and uses it to pass from body to body. This makes the killer that much more elusive and harder to find, and the mystery that much deeper. This book also contained some great quotes and possibly one of my favorite descriptions of relationships and the people involved to date. I'm including it because I enjoyed it so much (and no worries, no spoilers!).
"Magnus was like earth, wholesome and natural - it came from the elf blood in his veins. It was dark elf blood, so sometimes I worried about him being more like oil, and with me being fire I was more often afraid I would burn him up. I had set him on fire once, but it hadn't been my plan to do so; sometimes when things get a little hot between us, they literally get a little hot.
Aram, on the other hand, was like air, which was bad and good in equal amounts. If I were only a small flame, like a candle on a birthday cake, a simple breath would be enough to put me out. If I was a smoldering flame, he could feed me, help me grow stronger, become more than I am. But he too ran the rick of the inferno, of being consumed by me." (pg 67)

As mentioned earlier, the ending caught me by surprise. I expected the case ending to be the end of the story, but Cassandra's journey certainly wasn't over, and the final climax of the book was emotionally painful and artfully done. I eagerly anticipate another book to see how Cassandra deals with the turmoil that happened between her and another character - you'll just have to read it yourself and find out what happens.
Recommendation: Fans of the early Anita Blake novels will really enjoy the Cassandra Fairbanks series. Really good urban fantasy that will keep you guessing. I strongly recommend reading the previous novels first.

Final Rating: FOUR POINT FIVE out of FIVE (4.5/5). Good urban fantasy with an ending I didn't expect.

Have you read "Skin Thief" or another novel by Sonnet O'Dell? Share your thoughts in the comments! Would you like to pick up a copy? Get it from the link at the top of the review, or at Amazon.com (available in print and ebook, I believe)!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

Review of "Bedeviled Angel" by Annette Blair

What's that? Another book with an angel? Yes.. yes it is. Shush it, I am not changing the blog name to "Glow's Angel Addiction." We talked about this. That would be weird. Now hush, we have a review to do.
Disclaimer: This is a book borrowed from my local library. I was not given it or any monetary incentive for a positive review.

Type: Paranormal Romance, Angels!, Guardians, Kids, Agoraphobia, Yellow Brick Road, I want a house like this, Awww puppies

From the back of the book: "   When Queisha Saint-Denis agreed to be a surrogate mother for a jet-setting - but childless - couple, she never dreamed she'd see a return on her gift. Literally. But now she's looking at two adorable orphans, who come with a lot of baggaged: there's a battle brewing over who "inherits" them and their huge fortune, plus an unwanted (and alarmingly attractive) guardian, who she's sure has been hired by the dueling family members to keep and eye on her more than the children. Chance Godricson is keeping an eye on Queisha. In fact, he's her guardian angel. Ever since he gave his life to save hers, Chance has felt an undeniable connection to Queisha. And now that he's back on Earth, in her house, surrounded by two scene-stealing moppets and a woman he finds irresistible, Chance is about to discover that helping Queisha and still staying angelic is not going to be easy... "

Sometimes I feel a little weird when young children are secondary characters. I don't know if it's because they don't seem real, or maybe because they don't act like I expect children that age to act. These children, Lace and Skye, came pretty close, but there was still a few moments where I wasn't sure if they felt too young for their age, or maybe too old. Of course, I'm not a parent, I'm not really around kids this age very much, so maybe they're spot on. I'll admit it, after a while, I started to ignore the kids' part in the story, except when it came to the inevitable fight for custody. Then stuff started to get interesting.

And occasionally, I wasn't sure which character was talking, or what they were talking about. But obviously I was interested enough to keep reading.. and I suppose I could say it paid off in the end. Along these lines, there were a few powers/abilities that just seemed weird to me. I wasn't sure who all had what powers. And the fact that a certain someone could just make a whole trail of bricks pop up and wind itself around the yard? Who has that power? I mean, who's like "Yes... Yes I must have the power to create brick trails for people. Include that in my list of super useful powers.. like the ability to glue pieces of paper together, and have one over-ly rubbery arm." Do you get the picture I'm painting there? Basically I'm saying it's a random, weird power. Obviously not totally useless, but a little weird.

As for the characters. Queisha was quirky, which is totally good, but there were a few times I just wanted her to hush. Or maybe act.. differently. I wanted her to just shut up about the kids being taken away from her and just enjoy it. She told herself so many times to not think about the fact that the kids will probably get taken away, and to just enjoy the time she had with them. That's wonderful... DO IT. As for Chance... Chance is the type of hero that I love - sarcastic and strong. I'm not saying he didn't have his faults - honest to the point of needing a good shaking - but he was someone I'd want to be around, maybe even hang with on occasion. And I did love how he was slowly losing his feathers.

Up until almost the very end, this book was going to be one of those "good, not great, but okay" kind of books. But there was an otherwise not-that-big-a-deal paragraph in the last chapter or two that made me sniffle, and I even had to show a friend. And because of that (Everlasting puppies were involved!), this book was pushed into a different category. So with that, I give you the rating..

So I'm going to give "Bedeviled Angel" by Annette Blair a FOUR out of FIVE (4/5). I did enjoy it, and for the most part, I loved the two main characters. I don't think I could deal with Queisha's neuroses, but I'd definitely want to cuddle up with Chance. And his backstory was a real winner (I LOVED his backstory.. but no spoilers from me).



Have you read the book? Or are you a fan of Annette Blair? Tell me your thoughts in the comments. Want to check this book, or maybe another book by this author, out? Find it at Amazon.com.

And check out my review for "Naked Dragon" here.

Catch ya on the flipside!
~!~ Morning Glow

Review of "Naked Dragon" by Annette Blair

I'll be honest.. I picked this book up because I saw the next book in the series was called "Bedeviled Angel" and I wanted to see if I would like this author. That... and okay, I couldn't wait. No judging.

Disclaimer: This book is on loan from my local library. I was not given this book, nor any sort of monetary incentive, for a review. I am, however, an Amazon.com Affiliate, and will earn an (extremely) small percentage if you buy this book through my Amazon.com link.

Type: Paranormal Romance, Dragons, Certain types of Prehensile Appendages, Magic, Stubborn People, Literal ThinkersFrom the back of the book: "   McKenna Greylock contacts Vivica in desperate need of a jack-of-all-trades handyman to help repair her Victorian bed-and-breakfast. She has a shoestring budget and ninety days to meet the building inspectors approval - or the house will be repossessed and purchased by a duplicitous developer. To McKenna's surprise, Vivica sends the gorgeous Bastian Dragonelli, who not only possesses the speed, strength, and agility to get the job done, but also sets her soul ablaze with a fiery passion she's never experienced before. And if McKenna can accept Bastian's true nature - as a dragon warrior - she'll find her life heating up in more ways than one... "

On a side note, I like book descriptions that end in elipses. It just.. adds a little something extra. Some mystery, some "add in your own thoughts here!" so to speak. And that cover is rather yum-worthy, wouldn't you say? The tattoo is a nice touch, and is actually featured in the story - so not just a randomly added bit of cover image. And I'll admit, I love a man in a tool belt. Especially shirtless. And I know those viewing that small picture can't see it, but Bastian's other tattoo is shown on the cover as well, so kudos to the art designer on this one!

I mentioned earlier that this is my first novel by this author, so I haven't read any of the previous books, which I believe are all set in this world. So that might account for my confusion at the beginning of this book. It wasn't so bad that I didn't want to keep reading, obviously, but I felt like I should know this stuff already, and the quick entrance was more of a refresher course than an explanation. Though now that I've read this one, I do hope to be able to find more by her in the future. And especially read the next one. Because.. well, you know, it says Angel in the title, of course I'm interested.

As for the characters, Bastian was a hoot. English is not his first language (he was a dragon after all), so he takes things extremely literally. And if he doesn't understand a word, his response is "Define [word]." I was amused. And when he finally got a handle on the idea of snark, it was even better. I could generally tell when he was being sarcastic or not, but I did not get the same ease of understanding with McKenna. There were a few times it wasn't until Bastian asked if she was being literal or not that it sunk in that she was being sarcastic. And there were times I was really annoyed with her as a character. I loved that she was strong, and had a goal, and damned if she was going to let a handyman get in the way of her goal... but dang was she stubborn. And there were plenty of times where she would tell herself how much she liked or loved him, and would be biting his head off two seconds later. It was consistant with her type of character, but I think it would have seemed a little more real if her disbelieving comments to him would have softened a little more over time.

And, uh... I think after this book, I'm not sure I will ever look at a "man-lance" the same way again. I won't go into details (because that would be some.. interesting possible spoilers..) but holy cow, it's an interesting read. Seriously people, I suggest picking up this book for the sex scenes alone!! I mean, if you're into that sort of thing.

Well, time for the final verdict! I'm going to rate "Naked Dragon" by Annette Blair a FOUR out of FIVE (4/5). Yes, McKenna drove me nuts to the point of wanting to shake some sense into her, but Bastian more than made up for it. And I liked this author's humor well enough that I do hope to pick up some more books by her in the future.

Have you read "Naked Dragon" or another book by Annette Blair? Tell me your thoughts in the comments. Want to pick up a copy of this book for yourself? Find it at Amazon.com - just follow my link above.

Until next time - Curl up with a good book!
~!~ Morning Glow

Review of "A Breath of Magic" by Tracy Madison

Alright! My second time using the Amazon affiliates thing.. I might actually be getting the hang of it. It's a nice little link. Mostly easy.

Disclaimer: "A Breath of Magic" was sent to me by the publisher, Dorchester Publishing, in exchange for a review. I have not received any incentives, or anything else, for a positive review.

Type: Romance, Magic, Paranormal Romance, Leisure, Series

From the back of the book: " Chloe Nichols is holding her breath. All her life, finding true happiness with a family has seemed as easy as.. well, snagging a bubble off the wind - a bubble that her current boyfriend seems dead set on bursting. Yes, every time Chloe mentions her one true desire, Kyle shoots down her hopes. But he hasn't reckoned with the awesome power of Gypsy magic, or with loyal kith and kin. One way or another, Chloe's going to get her happily-ever-after. One could sometimes be found after you'd convinced a man he loves you, right? All Fate needs is a little puff in the right direction... "

I seriously tossed around the idea of not finishing this book, and declaring it a DNF - Did not finish. I have way better books to spend my time on that something I'm not interested in. But I had some time to kill, and unfortunately this was the only book in my purse at the time. So I did end up reading it all, but I'm really not pleased with it. I know this book is the third in a series, and my issues are with this specific character, so maybe the previous books are fine, I'm not sure. Maybe someday I'll check them out.

My issues are with Chloe. I really didn't like her, and even more than that, I didn't trust her. First off, we meet her when she's asking her friend to use her magic to rid her boyfriend, Kyle, of his fears of commitment, because she wants them to get married. So, and her friend explains this to her, she's willing to practically trick the guy she loves into marrying her. She knows it should be his decision whether or not to proceed, but instead, she decided to give him a magical kick in the right direction. And this isn't the only instance. Several times throughout the book, Chloe uses her magic to get what she wants - use her will (with her magic behind it) to get another guy to agree to a date, to tell her things, to get her best friend and relative to tell her something she wanted to keep to herself.

Not only that, but each and every person she bespells forgives her, and in my opinion, a little too quickly. Kyle, while the only guy mentioned on the back cover, is not the only guy in the book. Ben is the main male character, and he goes out with her originally because she wills him too. And this continues throughout their budding relationship. I believe if I had found out that I went out with someone because of magic, and not my own free will, I would be pretty dang upset, and not sure if I could trust that person ever again, even if I were that close to them.

Yes, things get wrapped up in the end, and Chloe does grow as a character, but I really couldn't get over her actions in the beginning. As said in Spiderman - "With great power comes great responsibility." Yes, Chloe is new at the whole using magic thing, but that did not give her free rein to go do whatever she wants with her quite powerful magic.

Parts of this book just didn't feel real to me, including the ending. And for that, I'm giving "A Breath of Magic" a TWO out of FIVE (2/5). I really didn't care for it, I'm not going to re-read it, and I'm probably not going to be checking out the rest of the series.

Happy Reading, and stay tuned for more reviews, and possibly even a give-away!
~!~ Morning Glow

Currently Reading: "Betrayed, A House of Night Novel" by PC Cast + Kristin Cast.