Bite Me If You Can by Lynsay Sands

Title: Bite Me If You Can
Author: Lynsay Sands

Publisher: Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-077412-7
Pages: 356
Series: Argeneau/Rogue Hunter #6
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Leigh Gerard is walking home from work in the early hours when she is suddenly attacked by a vampire. Turns out it was a rogue vampire marked for termination but that doesn't help Leigh because she's already becoming a vampire. Lucian Argeneau is over two thousand years old and the only pleasure remaining in his life is hunting down rogues, but when he ends up forced to care for Leigh through her transition and welcome her into her new life he finds himself torn between the hunt and his heart.

This is the sixth book in the awesome Argeneau/Rogue Hunter series (after A Quick Bite, Love Bites, Single White Vampire, Tall, Dark and Hungry and A Bite to Remember) and features the grumpy Uncle Lucian. He's always been very brusque and bad-tempered in the previous books, but occasionally he has shown glimmers of being a nice guy underneath it all so it was interesting to find out more about him.

The plot is as densely plotted as usual with a good mix of tension and humour that kept me glued to the page. Whenever I pick up a Lynsay Sands book I know I'm in for a fun action-packed read and this is no exception. This follows in the slightly darker tone of the previous book and shows the reader for the first time what it's like to hunt rogue vampires. Lucian and Leigh's romance is also distinct from the previous ones, building on each of their lives.

Rogue vampires have been mentioned a few times, particularly in the most recent installments but there hasn't been a huge focus on why vampires go rogue or what happens after they do. This book changes that. It manages to show the reasons why some vampires go rogue while others don't and it gives insight into how and why they are hunted. Having someone like Lucian who has been hunting rogues for a long time to guide the reader through means info-dumping doesn't occur at all.

Lucian is the oldest character featured so far and at over two thousand years he definitely shows his age at times. He also hasn't eaten in decades so it is hilarious to see him trying various types of food. It's great to see why he's been such a jerk in the past (a certain scene with Greg in A Quick Bite comes to mind) and get to understand him better. Leigh is a brilliant match for Lucian. She's mature enough to be confident her relationship with Lucian, but young enough to make him realise that life can be really fun. Leigh very much has her own life that she's worked hard to build so becoming a vampire is a massive adjustment for her as it means losing a lot.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm looking forward to The Accidental Vampire.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 49/50

A Bite to Remember by Lynsay Sands

Title: A Bite to Remember
Author: Lynsay Sands

Publisher: Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-077407-3
Pages: 362
Series: Argeneau/Rogue Hunter #5
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Vincent Argeneau is in trouble. His production company has been struggling with plays closing down due to freak accidents, random bad luck and at the latest - contagious anaemia. Before people start pointing the finger at his fanged self he asks his family for help and gets PI Jackie Morrisey on his doorstep. Jackie is determined to track down the culprit but she is uncomfortable near Vincent having sworn off vampires years ago. This culprit will need her full attention though as the attacks are about to become much more personal...and deadly.

This is the fifth book in the outstanding Argeneau/Rogue Hunter series (after A Quick Bite, Love Bites, Single White Vampire and Tall, Dark and Hungry) and is a little darker than those before it. The added darkness is a welcome change as it keeps the series fresh, and it also works better with the characters than a lighter tone would have. That said there are still some laugh out loud moments here.

The storyline is cleverly written with a gradual build of tension throughout as the events escalate. There are twists and turns galore as the storyline progresses and I found it hard to predict what would happen next, let alone try and figure out who was behind the attacks. It was also interesting to see more about what happens behind the scenes when people put plays on and it adds another dimension to the storyline.

Vincent was featured in the previous book and I found him fascinating then so it was great to see this book continuing his story on by picking up the plot threads from his introduction. He has worked incredibly hard to build his company so to have someone sabotage is deeply upsetting to him. Add that to the fact he feels isolated from other vampires as he is incapable of drinking from blood bags and you have a character who I rooted for from page one.

Jackie is very determined and headstrong but still carries scars from an abusive relationship with a vampire when she was still a teenager. This makes her biased against Vincent so it is hilarious to watch them fight their feelings for one another. Naturally Marguerite finds a reason to visit L.A. and "help" Vincent out with his romance. On the whole the romance is sweet and well written, but a little less head over heels than in previous installments which is a refreshing change.

Jackie's partner Tiny is a total scene stealer. He helps with the case and cooks up a storm, leading to some delicious descriptions of the various types of food he creates to tempt Vincent with. He is sweet and supportive and almost like a big brother to Jackie so their dynamic is fun to read.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm really looking forward to Bite Me If You Can.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 100
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 49/50

Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey Cates

Title: Brownies and Broomsticks
Author: Bailey Cates

Publisher: Obsidian
ISBN: 978-0-451-23663-0
Pages: 319
Series: Magical Bakery Mysteries #1
Type: Adult Cozy Mystery
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Katie Lightfoot has just left a less than satisfying life in Ohio and moved down to Savannah to open the Honeybee Bakery with her aunt Lucy and uncle Ben. As she and Lucy begin working on recipes for the bakery, Katie notices her aunt's habit of adding herbs to the mixtures and muttering and soon discovers these additions aren't just tasty...they're magical! But when a rude customer is found murdered out front and Ben becomes the prime suspect, Katie will draw on her magical heritage and, with the help of a handsome journalist and charming firefighter, try to solve the case herself!

This is the first book in the new Magical Bakery Mysteries and one that I shamelessly picked up based on the gorgeous cover. I ended up really enjoying the story and it has been a long time since I've read a cozy mystery with this many twists and turns. I couldn't figure out the murderer's identity but when it was revealed it all made perfect sense which is the best kind of cozy, at least in my opinion.

The book is set in Savannah and there are a few descriptions of the town through the eyes of it's newest resident Katie. The pacing is great, balancing revelations and world building with dramatic twists. The writing is gorgeous and this is packed with mouthwatering descriptions of food and various bakery treats. This is a world I'd be happy to live in! I loved how realistic the witchcraft was, as well as the delicate way it was introduced to the storyline. There's also a variety of practices described so it'll be interesting to see how these play out later in the series.

I really liked Katie. At first I thought she seemed a little stereotypical - starting a new business, just out of a messy long-term relationship, but she soon blossoms on the page. The only thing that bothered me about her was how little she slept, although I have the feeling this may be important in future installments.

Katie works hard to build her business and to clear her Uncle's name, while somehow balancing two potential love interests in Steve and Declan. Steve really irritated me by constantly calling her "Katie-girl" and honestly they seem to have very little in common. It's almost as though he has been put there as the 'doesn't care you're a witch' option, although Declan is incredible. The romance doesn't detract from the storyline though - it just enhances it.

At the end recipes for Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies and Cheddar-Sage Scones (both featured in the book) are included. These sound really yummy and I can't wait to try them out!

All in all this was a great read and I'm looking forward to Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 8/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 47/50

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

Title: Shadow Kiss
Author: Richelle Mead

Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 978-0-141-32855-3
Pages: 443
Series: Vampire Academy #3
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Rose Hathaway knows the romance between her and her tutor is forbidden, and worse that it places her best friend Lissa at risk. As Rose enters the final stage of her guardian training she is surprised to find it more challenging than expected, and more surprised to realise moroi students seem to be appearing bruised and battered with no explanation. But forces beyond Rose's control are building at could put everyone she loves at risk.

This is the third book in the Vampire Academy series (after Vampire Academy and Frostbite) which follows the moroi (vampire) and dhampir (half-vampire) students at St. Vladimir's academy. I recommend reading in order as each builds on the books before. The storyline was interesting and well-paced and builds to a dramatic no-holds barred showdown that is action-packed and full of brilliantly choreographed fight sequences.

Rose's shadow-kissed nature takes a larger role in this installment as she begins seeing ghosts and for the first time I found myself feeling sympathetic towards her. I was disappointed because I was able to figure a lot of the shadow-kissed storyline out in advance and had that been the only plotline my rating would have been much lower. Rose's relationship with Dimitri also adds more pressure to her situation.

Vampire politics continues to feature heavily in the books as the characters visit the Court and meet with the Queen. Manipulations start to occur and Lissa grows as a character when she manages to avoid being manipulated while expressing her own opinions in a very astute way. It seems that she's really growing into her role as the last Dragomir and her self-confidence gradually grows as she realises that.

Despite the visit to Court, the majority of the action takes place at St. Vladimir's where Rose stumbles a selection of bruised students who all "fell" and Adrian has taken up residence to work with Lissa on their spirit magic. The dhampir guardian students are finally taking their field experience, each guarding a moroi from staged attacks by the instructors. The guardian training has always been one of my favourite parts of the story so it's great to see it take a greater role.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm looking forward to Blood Promise.

Plot: 8/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 45/50

Montana Sky by Nora Roberts

Title: Montana Sky
Author: Nora Roberts

Publisher: Piatkus
ISBN: 0-7499-3765-3
Pages: 467
Series: N/A
Type: Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Borrowed from library
Goodreads


When Jack Mercy died, he left a twenty million dollar ranch to his daughters on a single condition - they must all live on the ranch for one year. For Willa who was raised on the ranch this is an invasion of her home, while Lily sees it as a safe haven from her abusive ex-husband and L.A. girl Tess just wants to collect her cash and get back to the city. The sisters have never met before, let alone lived together but they must put their differences aside when it becomes clear that a brutal enemy is out to destroy Mercy Ranch and the women who live there.

This was my first ever Nora Roberts book and I picked it up after watching the TV movie. I'd enjoyed the film so much I wanted to know what the actual book was like. The book is a richer, more detailed storyline than the movie, althouth the movie did keep the main plotlines. Although I generally prefer to read the book before watching the movie, in this case I'm glad I saw the movie first as otherwise I would have missed certain scenes from the book (like when the sisters go to a spa) that were not included.

The book focuses on the three Mercy sisters - independent cowgirl Willa, fiesty screenwriter Tess and shy reserved Lily. Each is given their own backstory and plotlines with their own romantic interest. I loved how each woman was distinct and came to life on the page, and it was great to see how different each romance was. Willa has a love/hate attitude to neighbouring rancher Ben McKinnon, Tess wants a no-strings affair with lawyer Nate and Lily falls for Adam and ends up healing the scars of her past. Even the supporting characters are well written and developed, showing a great depth of character which makes them interesting to read.

The ranch setting was really interesting and differs from the film in that it goes a lot deeper into the workings of a ranch. While the movie made a ranch seem like an attractive place to live, this shows off the hard work involved with birthing calves and moving livestock. This feels like a more realistic take and the book also shows Ben and Nate's ranches and the differences in how they are managed.

The plot is well paced and there is tension threaded throughout by the threat of the killer and Lily's ex-husband. Those scenes are tense, creepy and at times very disturbing to read. Nora Roberts has done an outstanding job of getting inside the mind of an abusive partner and the ways he justifies his actions to himself are unsettling to say the least. The storyline is divided into seasons which shows the required year on the ranch well whilst giving some gorgeous descriptions of Montana.

All in all this was a great read and I'll definitely be reading more by Nora Roberts.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 47/50

White Cat by Holly Black

Title: White Cat
Author: Holly Black

Publisher: Gollancz
ISBN: 978-0-575-09672-1
Pages: 310
Series: Curse Workers #1
Type: Young Adult Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Cassel is cursed. He comes from a family of magic workers and lives in a world where magic was banned decades ago, but Cassel can't work magic. His family hate him for being the only non-worker...and because they helped cover up a murder he committed as a child. But when Cassel finds himself being haunted by a white cat, and his dreams are leading him to sleepwalk to increasingly bizarre places, he is forced to turn to his family to discover the secrets hidden in his past.

This is the first book in the Curse Workers series and the first book by Holly Black I've read and it blew me away. Finding young adult urban fantasy can be near impossible, but this is an incredible example of just how good it can be. Holly Black has reshaped our world by pushing curse workers out of the closet in 1929 and now in the present day their existence is banned so they are forced to hide their identities. One thing I love is that in this world, magic comes at a cost, so whatever you do will rebound on you in a somewhat karmic way.

The plot is brilliantly written and packed with twists and turns. There is an incredible depth of storyline and the world of the curse workers is fully fleshed out. Workers are divided into different groups (death workers that can kill with a touch, memory workers who can rewrite your life) and exist as an underground society since the ban, with most working as con artists or for organized gangs. There are even worker equality groups in the non-worker community. The idea of a con is woven throughout the storyline as it is a skill Cassel learnt at his mother's knee.

Cassel is a great lead character. As the normal guy in a family of workers, he is able to introduce us to their world without info-dumping and also plays the black sheep incredibly well which helps him in his quest to find out why he's being haunted by the white cat. His roommate Sam ends up as his best friend almost by accident and I loved how their friendship grew over the course of the book. Daneca the pro-worker supporter adds some comic relief to the book with her determintion to win Cassel to her side.

Cassel's family on the other hand was a different story. I didn't really like either of his brothers or his jailbird mother, but I adored his death worker grandfather Desi. He brought a new dimension to the story and quickly became a favourite character.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm looking forward to Red Glove.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 49/50

Archangel's Storm by Nalini Singh

Title: Archangel's Storm
Author: Nalini Singh

Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-24658-0
Pages: 337
Series: Guild Hunter #5
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


When the archangel Neha's consort is murdered in the jewel-studded palace that was his prison her rage threatens to destroy the world. Raphael lends her his spymaster Jason, but to earn Neha's trust he is forced to swear a blood oath with her niece Mahiya. Mahiya hides secrets so dangerous she doesn't trust anyone and is loathe to find herself tied to an enemy spymaster. But Eris's murderer isn't done yet and Mahiya and Jason must work together to prevent Neha's court becoming a bloodbath.

This is the fifth book in the Guild Hunter series (after Angels' Blood, Archangel's Kiss, Archangel's Consort and Archangel's Blade) and the narration switches to Jason, Raphael's midnight-winged spymaster, while the setting moves to Neha's court in India which gives a host of new characters to get to know.

The storyline is densely plotted with several big twists and turns that I didn't see coming. The writing is as descriptively lush as always, made more prominent by the gorgeous jewel studded palace. I was worried I'd struggle with the change of location but descriptions were delicately interwoven with the storyline to create a three dimensional world. The mystery of the killer soon leads Mahiya and Jason into the twisted political machinations of an Archangel's court and I was glued to the page throughout.

Jason has always been featured as dark and secretive, barely showing any expressions and playing his cards close to his chest so to see him thrust together with Mahiya who has secrets of her own was an interesting mix. Each has their backstories interwoven with the main mystery and I soon came to like Mahiya for managing to survive a brutual childhood and not become tainted by it. Their romance develops while honouring each character's background and it is interesting to see how they relate to each other.

There is a background story showing Honor and Dmitri's marriage and progressing relationship. As Jason's story is quite dark overall, these sections work as moments of lightness showing their love and dedication to one another clearly. Venom also plays a role when he comes to pay his respects to his creator Neha. I really like him as a character and I'm hoping he gets to narrate a story in the future.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm looking forward to the next book.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 49/50

Archangel's Blade by Nalini Singh

Title: Archangel's Blade
Author: Nalini Singh

Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-24391-6
Pages: 310
Series: Guild Hunter #4
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


When the tattooed severed head of a nascent vampire is discovered, the case should have been passed directly to the Guild but Dmitri has an ominious sense of familiarity. In his long life as a vampire, Dmitri has seen many things and his search for the truth of the killing leads him to work alongside Guild Hunter Honor. But while Honor is a competent Hunter, she has just survived a brutual imprisonment by vampires and the last thing she wants is to be forced to work with one...especially one as powerful as Dmitri.

This is the fourth book in Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series (after Angels' Blood, Archangel's Kiss and Archangel's Consort) and is the first to move away from Elena and Raphael as lead characters. Instead the book focuses on Dmitri who has been a supporting character from the start and introduces a new Guild Hunter named Honor. Elena, Raphael and all the other characters I've come to love are still featured despite the narration change.

The book is tightly plotted with dual storylines running together. The investigation into the severed head leads us into Dmitri's past while a concurrent investigation tracks down the vampires who abducted Honor. There is a fair amount of tension and some scenes manage to be deeply creepy which makes for compelling reading. The romance takes a backseat to the character's healing from their pasts, which works well both for the storyline and overall development of the characters.

Dmitri has been a favourite character of mine since the beginning of the series. He's always been portrayed as arrogant and controlling so it was fascinating to see why he is that way. He has lived a long existence but never recovered from the events surrounding his turning, leading him to become darker and more deadly. However, when he meets Honor he begins to change and it is fascinating to see how he develops.

I found Honor to be incredibly well written and the way in which she gradually deals with the horrors of her past feels believable. She is very different to Elena as while Elena is physically very strong and confident from the first page, Honor is broken and delicate yet holds herself together with an extreme level of self-control.

Holly (a survivor of Uram's rampage in the first book) and Venom both stand out as supporting characters with Holly's recovery being aided by Honor and Venom showing a slightly softer side. Interestingly the book steps back from the global changes in the previous installment to tell a tighter, more character focused story and this was a refreshing change.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm looking forward to Archangel's Storm.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 48/50

Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh

Title: Archangel's Consort
Author: Nalini Singh

Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-24013-7
Pages: 324
Series: Guild Hunter #3
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


When a vampire attacks a girls' school in a fit of viscious madness, it is only the first in a string of violent events. Vampire after vampire is consumed by rampant bloodlust and Raphael is struggling to control them when he himself begins to show signs of uncontrollable rage. But when a massive storm threatens the New York the pattern behind the events becomes clear. An ancient is awakening and she seeks to reclaim her son. Caliane has returned...

This is the third book in the Guild Hunter series (after Angels' Blood and Archangel's Kiss) and is probably my favourite in the series so far. The storyline is densely plotted and packed with twists and turns, and the threat of an Ancient awakening is threaded through the book adding a vein of tension that enhances the plot. The suspense woven into the storylines is one of the things that I love most about this series, and this installment takes it to the next level.

After watching Elena's growth after the past few books, I was looking forward to seeing what was next for her and this takes things back to her family. It allows us to understand more about how her family functions and what role she was in. There is also a few surprises hidden in Elena's past and the flashbacks give her character even more depth. Her romance with Raphael is still going strong although at times I felt it drew attention away from the action.

The presence of Raphael's mother Caliane also means that flashbacks are again used to help develop their relationship by giving a window into their past. The flashbacks are always in italics and fit well within the story. Raphael is also dealing with the echoes of Lijuan's ascension and the changes that has made to the balance of power between the Cadre of ruling Archangels.

Once again the supporting characters shine through, particularly Dmitri who has been running things in New York while Elena recovered from her transformation. His book is up next and I'm eager to find out more about him. Bluebell also returns and there are some truly heartwrenching scenes with him that really made me feel for him.

All in all this was a great read and I'm really looking forward to Archangel's Blade.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 49/50

Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh

Title: Archangel's Kiss
Author: Nalini Singh

Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-23336-8
Pages: 323
Series: Guild Hunter #2
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Elena Devereaux has spent the last year in a coma, her body healing after the fight that nearly took her life and transformed her into an angel. She awakens changed, but weakened and with much to learn. Elena is forced to learn quickly though as an invitation arrives to a ball at the ancient and deadly archangel Lijuan's home. But even as Elena and Raphael prepare, someone is determined to remove Raphael from power and strikes at the heart of the angelic sanctuary they are calling home.

This is the second book in the Guild Hunter series (after Angels' Blood) and picks up a year after Elena's transformation. I would recommend that new readers start at the beginning, and also don't read further as this review is likely to contain spoilers for the first book.

This book has a slightly slower pace than the last installment as a large amount of time is spent with Elena learning how to be an angel. She needs to learn the history of the angelic race and even simple things, like being able to walk with her wings folded, are a struggle. That said there is a layer of tension as someone is targeting Raphael and attacking people at the sanctuary, and there is the lingering threat of Lijuan's ball.

Elena develops a lot in this book as she is trying to find a balance between her new existence as an angel and her old life as a hunter. Her hunter born skills haven't deserted her and if anything are beginning to develop into something more complex, meaning Elena is able to gain some independence from her relationship with Raphael. Slightly more of Elena's past with the rogue vampire Slater Patalis is revealed, alongside the revelation that Elena herself doesn't fully remember the incident. The story is not complete though so I'm assuming it will continue on in the next book.

It isn't just Elena's past that is revealed though as Raphael begins to reveal more about his past and the nature of angels. Raphael is determined to protect Elena, and this means that Dmitri and Illium play key roles along with the newly introduced Jason and Galen. This book also reveals more about Raphael's Seven and their roles.

Elena's relationship with Raphael develops more, although this is much to the disappointment of jealous Michaela and Dmitri who thinks Elena is a threat to Raphael's safety. The romance itself is well developed as Elena and Raphael gradually let down their guards and begin to reveal their pasts whilst learning to deal with the fact that Elena craves independence as Raphael needs her presence.

All in all this was another great read and I'm looking forward to Archangel's Consort.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 47/50

Possess by Gretchen McNeil

Title: Possess
Author: Gretchen McNeil

Publisher: Balzer + Bray
ISBN: 978-0-06-206071-6
Pages: 379
Series: N/A
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Bridget Liu just wants to be left alone, by her mother, by the cute sergeant's son Matt and by the strange voices she can suddenly hear in her head. Unfortunately for Bridget those voices are demons and she must enlist the aid of Monsignor Renault to understand this new skill. Yet as he coaches Bridget through exorcisms, one of her oldest friends is killed and Bridget soon realises that the demons have an even more deadly plan and she may be the only one capable of stopping them.

Possess is one of those books that sat on my shelf for ages before I picked it up, and then when I did I couldn't understand why I'd waited so long. The writing kept me glued to the page throughout and it is riddled with suspense and unpredictable twists and turns. The tension builds gradually to the knuckle clenching finale. Gretchen McNeil has a really unique take on demons and she throws you right into the deep end of the action with Possess.

This isn't horror of the conventional jump out of your seat variety, but it is deliciously creepy throughout with some incredibly disturbing scenes. One that still creeps me out even after finishing the entire book is where a demon possesses a shop of porcelain dolls. Thinking about it now still makes me shudder which in my mind makes this the ideal Halloween read.

Bridget is a great lead character. She's still struggling with her father's death a year previously, but is determined to be as strong and self-reliant as possible. Bridget has to rely on oddball Monsignor Renault to help her deal with her emerging demonic banishment gifts which she finds disturbing and when Father Santos arrives she finds herself torn between the two priests and their approaches to exorcism.

Bridget's love interest is Matt, a childhood friend who is desperate to step in and protect her but their romance is hampered by interference from Matt's ex-girlfriend and Bridget's best friend Peter whose crush soon grows to obsessive levels. The romantic storyline is cute and well written, and manages not to detract from the overall creepiness of the book.

There is rumoured to be a sequel in the works, but it hasn't been scheduled by the publisher yet. However one of the best things about Possess is that it reads like a stand alone so you can enjoy it by itself.

All in all, this was a great read and I'd definitely read more by Gretchen McNeil in the future.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 49/50

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Publisher: Scholastic
ISBN: 978-1-407134-61-1
Pages: 454
Series: Raven Cycle #1
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Even if Blue hadn't been told that her true love would die if she kissed him, she would still stay away from the boys from Aglionby school. Known as the Raven Boys, the students there are generally privileged and trouble. But this year things will change for Blue as she is drawn into the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys. This is the year she discovers magic truly exists. And this is the year she will find her true love.

This is the first book in the new Raven Cycle series and one I was eager to start as Maggie Stiefvater is one of my all time favourite authors. I love the beautiful lyrical nature of her writing style and so I knew I would enjoy this book when I picked it up. The writing here has a deliciously gothic feel and the reader is thrown right in at the deep end as Blue spends St. Mark's Eve in a graveyard collecting the names of those who are to die in the coming year.

It did take me a while to get into the storyline as a large cast of characters are introduced fairly quickly. Blue's family consists of her mother Maura and aunt Neeve as well as Orla, Calla and Persephone, while the Raven Boys consist of Gansey, Adam, Ronan and Noah. That said the concept of the book pulled me through and once I was hooked I stayed glued to the page throughout. This is the first in a series so setting up the cast is to be expected.

The basic premise of the story is that Blue will kill her true love if she kisses him, but The Raven Boys soon shows there is a lot more happening in the small town of Henrietta. Gansey is on a quest to find a lost king and soon we are drawn into a world of ley lines and magic. The storyline is brilliantly crafted with tension that builds gradually throughout leading to some shocking twists and turns. Being told from different perspectives, including that of a past seeker really adds depth to the storyline.

Blue is a great lead character, although it took me a while to get used to her name. She is the only normal one in her family and she prides her self on her independence and self-reliance. The last thing she wants is to get involved with a Raven Boy and the last thing the Raven Boys want is to get involved with a family as strange as hers. Gansey is desperately seeking the lost Glendower and each of the Raven Boys accompany him for different reasons, but it is Adam's desperate quest to escape his family and stand alone that really caught my attention.

The romance has an interesting twist to it as Blue first falls for Adam, although it quickly becomes clear that Gansey is the true love she is destined to kiss and kill. This isn't a love triangle though as Blue likes Adam and is horrified by the possibility that Gansey is in her future.

All in all this was a great read and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 48/50

Biting Cold by Chloe Neill

Title: Biting Cold
Author: Chloe Neill

Publisher: Gollancz
ISBN: 978-0-575-11342-8
Pages: 337
Series: Chicagoland Vampires #6
Type: Adult Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Turned into a vampire against her will, Merit has found her way into the inner circle of Chicago's supernaturals and the secrets she has learnt are not meant for sharing. Now Merit is on the hunt racing across the midwest to stop a rogue supernatural from getting their hands on an artifact that could release a catastrophic evil on the world. But Merit herself is being hunted by an old foe who will stop at nothing to claim the artifact for himself. Will Merit survive the chase?

This is the sixth book in the Chicagoland Vampires series (after Some Girls Bite, Friday Night Bites, Twice Bitten, Hard Bitten and Drink Deep) and at this point I'd really recommend new readers go back and begin at the start. There are likely to be spoilers in this review for all previous books.

I was disappointed in the previous installment as I felt it was very predictable in some respects. This storyline, however, is anything but with lots of twists and turns packed in. There are also some massive revelations, including finding out what Tate really is. The book jumps straight into the action and manages to keep a fast pace throughout as it works to bring together different storylines. I loved the introduction of gnomes and the return of some of the humour and snark from previous installments.

Merit is dealing with a lot. She's been betrayed and broken and has found, lost and found love again so it isn't surprising she has matured a lot since the beginning of the series. There's a lot of healing needed in her life, but Merit doesn't have time for introspection. I was expecting more impact from Ethan's return but he takes a long time to deal with how his existence has altered. This means that his romance with Merit is firmly on the backburner, although the introspection does lead to some added depth for his character.

The ending is interesting as it concludes the story while leading on to a new era for Cadogan House. I'm really interested to see where Chloe Neill takes things from here and I can't wait for the next book.

All in all this was a great read and I'm looking forward to House Rules.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 46/50

Hard Bitten by Chloe Neill

Title: Hard Bitten
Author: Chloe Neill

Publisher: Gollancz
ISBN: 978-0-575-10018-3
Pages: 350
Series: Chicagoland Vampires #4
Type: Adult Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Chicago's vampires are having a hard time. Previously seen as celebrities after their revelation the tide is now turning. Merit and Ethan are called to a clandestine meeting with Mayor Tate after a violent vampire rave left three women missing and potentially dead. With Tate threatening to jail Ethan for the crime, Merit investigates only to discover that things aren't quite what they seem and that a deadly new drug is being used by the vampire community.

This is the fourth book in the Chicagoland Vampires series (after Some Girls Bite, Friday Night Bites and Twice Bitten) which is one of my favourite urban fantasy series. At this point a new reader could jump in, but they'd be missing a lot of backstory. The storyline is great with tight pacing that builds the tension right up to the shocking heartbreaking end. There are a lot of twists and turns and the mystery is packed with red herrings.

Merit teams up with Red Guard member and Grey house Guard Captain Jonah to investigate how and why the vampire raves (essentially parties where vampires openly drink from willing humans) are becoming deadly. Their investigation soon leads to a drug called V and gives insight into a drug underworld. The storyline also has a political aspect as Mayor Tate flexes his power as well as the presence of a GP member reviewing Cadogan House.

Merit is growing more confident in her new life, although she is still struggling with the possibility of joining the Red Guard. The romance aspect of the story between Ethan and Merit has hit a crisis as Ethan has managed to shatter Merit's trust in him. Although he spends the majority of the book trying to make it up to her, the wounds he caused her mean she is holding back.

The usual supporting characters all return, with Mallory busy with her Sorcery apprenticeship while Merit's grandfather, Jeff and Catcher all assisting Merit from the law enforcement side.

All in all this was a great read and I'm looking forward to Drink Deep.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 48/50

The Prophet by Ethan Cross

Title: The Prophet
Author: Ethan Cross

Publisher: The Story Plant
ISBN: 978-161188045-8
Pages: 414
Series: Shepherd Thriller #2
Type: Adult Thriller
Source: Received for Review
Goodreads


Francis Ackerman Jr, one of America's most prolific serial killers has gone to ground. Special Agent Marcus Williams was assigned to his case and has just moved on to the case of the Anarchist, a killer who drugs and kidnaps women before burning them alive. But while Marcus is desperately tracking the Anarchist in hopes of catching him before he strikes again, he is unaware that another figure is hiding behind the scenes. The Anarchist may be the killer, but he isn't the mastermind...the Prophet is out there and his ultimate plans are beyond imagination.

This is the second book in the Shepherd Thriller series (after The Shepherd), but there is plenty here for a new reader to enjoy. I haven't read the first in the series but there was enough backstory to help me understand what happened without info dumping or detracting from the current storyline which is densley plotted and packed with twists and turns. I didn't expect to be as glued to the page as I was, from the action packed start to the unexpected ending.

The writing style kept me sucked into the story and the book has a matter of fact way of addressing details (references to specific gun models e.g. ".40 caliber Glock 22") which add realism to the story but at times went over my head as they moved outside of my knowledge base. Each character has a distinct voice despite the relatively large cast and all the characters were really well written and fully formed. They came to life on the page and seemed incredibly vivid, and I found it easy to follow the action despite the changing viewpoints. In fact the killers' viewpoints all kept me reading and added a creep factor which I really liked.

One aspect I wasn't expecting and loved was the psychological angle which really explored the motivations and thought processes of the serial killers in the book. I'm a big fan of Criminal Minds so to see their mindsets explored was fascinating. The author also did a great job with the satanic angle managing to create a heap of tension with a creepy cult but without becoming overwrought or unrealistic. It's clear the author has done his research and his knowledge shines through the book enhancing the storyline.

All in all, this was a great read and I'll definitely read more by this author.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 45/50

Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie

Title: Hallowe'en Party
Author: Agatha Christie
Publisher: Harper
ISBN: 978-0-00-712068-0
Pages: 336
Series: Poirot #36
Type: Adult Mystery
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Mystery writer Ariadne Oliver is at a children's Halloween party where rather unpopular girl named Joyce boasts that she once witnessed a murder. When no one believes her she storms out of the party in a temper, but then her body is discovered a few hours later drowned in an apple bobbing tub. Ariadne calls in her dear friend Hercule Poirot who leaps at the chance to investigate the crime that could be a murder, or a double murder.

As a fan of both Halloween and mysteries I grabbed a copy of this last month in hopes of a seasonal read and was not disappointed. Admittedly I didn't read it until after I had watched the recent ITV adaption, which stuck pretty true to the book, but I still found the book really enjoyable. The plot was well thought-out and full of twists and turns. Some of the descriptions of what the teenage boys wear are particularly amusing 'a rose-coloured velvet coat, mauve trousers and a kind of frilled shirting.'

I haven't read many of Christie's books so I was a little thrown by references to past cases (The Labours of Hercules and Mrs McGinty's Dead in particular) but these weren't too prominent nor did they give spoilers. There are two returning characters: Superintendent Spence and Ariadne Oliver. Ariadne is my favourite character from the book. She teases Poirot continually and makes some great sarcastic comments, like "Put that in your moustache and smoke it".

The one thing I didn't really enjoy about the book was the intermittent references to the relaxed nature of the criminal justice system (it was written shortly after the abolishment of capital punishment) and criminals being sent to psychological institutions rather than prisons. It doesn't detract from the book, but it is a recurring theme that most of the characters express an opinion on at some point.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 48/50

Twice Bitten by Chloe Neill

Title: Twice Bitten

Author: Chloe Neill
Publisher: Gollancz
ISBN: 978-0-575-09937-1
Pages: 355
Series: Chicagoland Vampires #3
Type: Adult Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Merit has now completed the transition to vampire twice as the first change wasn't complete. Merit is embracing her vampiric nature and now Ethan has a surprising task for her. Shapeshifters from all over America will be congregating in Chicago to decide whether to follow vampires into the public eye. Ethan has loaned Merit to act as security for the Alpha Gabriel Keene who leads all the shifters. But when someone starts gunning for Gabriel, Merit finds herself in the line of fire.

I was really looking forward to reading this as the previous book (Friday Night Bites) ends with Merit going to a meeting with the mysterious sender of several invitations. It turns out that Merit is being invited to join the Red Guard who function like internal affairs for the vampire houses. This is a new development for this book, and I think it's great how the author is still adding depth to Merit's world. However, it may make the books harder to read for newcomers to the series so I'd recommend starting at the beginning with Some Girls Bite.

Merit has now dealt with her transition and is moving on with her (un)life. The previous books showed Merit's struggle adjusting, whereas this one shows how Merit is learning to embrace her new life. Merit also broke up with Morgan in the last book so now it's just a will they/won't they with Ethan not a love triangle. The only complication left in Merit's life is the tension between her and her friend Mallory, and this means more focus is given to the shifter storyline.

Ethan's character also gets some more development, and revelations about his past and his own change to a vampire explain a lot of his character quirks from the previous books. A lot of why Ethan makes certain choices is explained, and it definitely made him a more likeable character in my eyes.

I loved how well the shifter storyline flowed, and there were several twists that I didn't see coming. The addition of shifters to Merit's world is brilliant. Jeff was introduced in the first book and the Breckenridges were introduced in the second, but this book adds literally a country of shifters with several well developed characters. There are also seeds sown for possible future storylines with Merit and the shifters, and I can't wait to see where these go.

All in all this was an awesome read and I'm looking forward to reading Hard Bitten.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 48/50

Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill

Title: Friday Night Bites

Author: Chloe Neill
Publisher: Gollancz
ISBN: 978-0-575-09405-5
Pages: 357
Series: Chicagoland Vampires #2
Type: Adult Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Merit is beginning to adjust to life as a vampire and is moving into Cadogan House with it's ever present paparazzi. Merit has barely unpacked when her Master Ethan reveals that an old family friend of hers is sniffing around vampire society and threatening to publish a story about the Raves - mass feeding parties where vampires drink themselves silly. Ethan is convinced that Merit's family is their best starting point so Merit is forced back into the society she once ran from, and finds that balancing human/vampire relations is almost as hard as balancing her love life.

I really enjoyed Some Girls Bite so I was looking forward to reading this and I wasn't disappointed. This book is less about Merit's personal journey and takes place more in the world at large. What begins as a simple nosey reporter soon develops into a threat against Cadogan House and Merit really steps up into her role as Sentinel. More is revealed about vampire society, and we also get to learn more about shifters and sorcerors. Again the author avoids info-dumping, and Merit's world is widened and deepened in this book.

As Merit has moved into Cadogan House in this book, there is more of a focus on her vampire friends and so Mallory features far less. Mallory spends a chunk of the book away perfecting her sorcery skills, and I did miss the Merit/Mallory interaction. However Merit and Mallory did have some page time together and I think the way their changing friendship was handled was brilliant.

The lingering threat against Cadogan House is well developed and cleverly handled. There are a few twists that I didn't see coming, and the author managed to create more questions as Merit solved the mystery. Merit also discovered she has several unique qualities not seen in other vampires, and I can't wait to see where the author takes this.

All in all this was a great read, and I'm looking forward to reading Twice Bitten.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 47/50

 

Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill

Title: Some Girls Bite
Author: Chloe Neill
Publisher: Gollancz
ISBN: 978-0-575-09404-8
Pages: 341
Series: Chicagoland Vampires #1
Type: Adult Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Merit has always looked at Chicago's newly revealed vampires with distaste, that is until she is attacked and left for dead in the middle of her gradute school quad. Her life is saved when Ethan Sullivan, head of one of Chicago's vampire Houses, saves her life and turns her into a vampire. Now Merit has lost her chance at a normal life, and must come to terms with being one of the very creatures she hates. But Merit is no ordinary girl, and she isn't going to be an ordinary vampire.

This is one of those series that has a ton of positive reviews, but you never really pick up. The cover doesn't really stand out, and the blurb on the back although interesting is longer than most. I picked up a copy of the second book in the series (Friday Night Bites) thinking it was the first, and then had to find this one so I could begin at the beginning. I must say I'm impressed. I'm a big fan of urban fantasy, but haven't read any in a while. This book epitomises what I love about the genre - it's got action, humour, mystery and a touch of romance.

The plot is well thought out and developed. Vampires have recently 'come out' in Chicago, and Chloe Neill does an incredible job of setting up the vampires and the four Vampire houses, as well as rogue (independant) vampires. Then the author swiftly moves on to flesh out her world by introducing shifters, sorcerors, fairies, nymphs and a few other supernatural races, and then ties each species to it's own internal politics and to human-supernatural politics. I was amazed at how deftly this was done, and there was no info-dumping to be seen.

Merit's journey is believable and I really liked her as a main character. She's snarky and sarcastic, and manages to keep hold of who she is as a person even when thrown neck deep in vampire politics. Merit also deals with her unwanted transformation realistically and without excessive whining, which is rare in this kind of book.

The other characters are also incredible. I liked how Ethan was stuck up and set in his ways because it makes Merit the perfect foil for him. It does appear that a potential love triangle is being set up between Merit, Ethan and another vampire called Morgan, but the romance takes a back seat to the storyline in this book which I'm grateful for. As much as I like a good romance, I don't want it taking over the story in an urban fantasy book. I love Merit's roomate Mallory, who is actually an undiscovered sorceror, and the story between her and Catcher, another sorceror who is training both Merit and Mallory, has real sparks alongside a sweet romance.

All in all this is an awesome read and I'm really looking forward to Friday Night Bites

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 46/50

Outpost by Ann Aguirre

Title: Outpost
Author: Ann Aguirre

Publisher: Frewel and Friends
ISBN: 978-0-312-65009-4
Pages: 317
Series: Razorland #2
Type: Young Adult Dystopian
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Deuce and her friends have found shelter in a remote Outpost called Salvation. But suddenly Deuce is expected to act as a child, doing chores and attending school. After existing as an adult Deuce struggles to adapt while her partner Fade becomes increasingly distant. So when the opportunity to guard the growers while they plant the fields comes up, Deuce leaps at the chance only to find that the threat of Freaks is just as prominent as ever...and that these Freaks are even smarter and deadlier than those she's faced before.

This is the second book in the Razorland trilogy (after Enclave) and a book I was really looking forward to given how much I enjoyed the first. I have to say I wasn't let down. While Deuce's life has changed a lot since the end of the first book, the two months in Salvation haven't changed her. Interestingly the author includes key moments from the last book as dream sequences near the start which may be helpful to new readers, although I would recommend reading the series in order.

The world building continues on the foundations laid before, introducing some different perspectives on the collapse of society and the Freaks (or Muties as they're now also called). There are suggestions about how society fell, and the religious focus of the Salvation residents adds a new dimension to the storytelling.

The pacing is a little different in this book as Salvation is a safer place than the Enclave was and so the book has a slow but steady pace to begin. However around a quarter of the way in this picks up and the pace steadily increases to the end of the book. There are twists and turns galore, and not only is the Freak threat just as prominent Deuce stands out in a town where conformity is encouraged.

Deuce is the same kick-butt heroine as always but she is gradually becoming a girl as well as a warrior. She has been taken in by Momma Oaks and Edmund and is learning how to be treated as younger and worthy of protection. Fade and Tegan have adjusted the best to life in Salvation (with school and chores), relying on their pasts to see them through whilst Stalker and Deuce who grew up fighting for survival struggle to adapt or even see the point. I loved that the main characters got more development, and the Salvation residents who feature in the book are incredibly well developed.

The romance aspect of the book is different to a lot of YA books. Deuce is only interested in one guy romantically, and while two guys are interested in her one is seen only as a friend despite their best efforts to change her perspective. Deuce is very clear that it won't happen though which is a refreshing change. The romance that is featured is sweet and at times tortured, but always fun to read given that Deuce grew up without affection and doesn't really "get" love.

All in all this was another great read and I'm looking forward to the final book Horde.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 48/50