Much beloved. Kicks off immediately after Scout's Progress ends and fills in a lot of the blanks for those of us who love the series to bits. Definitely not a book to start the series on - the epic romance of Aelliana and Daav.
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- Try Me by Parker Blue. LibraryThing Early Reviewers. YA urban supernatural paranormal romance fantasy. Val is one eighth incubus; super fast, super strong, has a telepathic part hellhound terrier and refers to her demonic side in the third person (Lola). She works for the Special Crimes Unit who aren’t keen when they find out she’s part demon, rides a funky motorbike and has a cool nurse flatmate who can cook. She’s also called ‘Slayer’ by a fair chunk of the local vampire population due to a bad habit of stabbing them with wooden stakes when they are bad. This is a sequel so maybe if you've read book one you have more sympathy for the characters. There was some dense exposition at the beginning that helped bridge the gap but I never quite got over the writing style. Lots of telling but not showing, and a bit heavy on the dialogue. On the plus, chock full of ideas including some interesting demon mythos. I probably wouldn’t have finished it if it hadn’t been an Early Reviewers book.
- Smart Women Finish Rich: 7 Steps to Achieving Financial Security and Funding Your Dreams by David Bach. Not bad, had to translate form American but sensible and accessible.
- The Snow Cow by Martin Kochanski. LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Ghost stories for skiers - wot it says on the tin. I found some of the stories inaccessible - I was stopping, and paging back to see if I'd missed something when I got to the 'punchline' which I am blaming on the writing because it happened more than once. I enjoyed reading about skier mythology and seeing other, familiar tales recast in ski lodges and would have appreciated better female characters.
- Fledgling by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Re-reading for love.
- Saltation by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Advance copy because I'm hooked on Theo. Read in a single sitting, will probably re-read and am looking forward to the next book.
- The Little Known by Janice Daugharty. LibraryThing Early Reviewers Book. Coming of age story set in a poor, segregated town in South Georgia. African American 12 year old boy Knot ends up with a bag of money when a bank robbery near him goes wrong. I love the way Knot is paralysed by the money, he has thousands of dollars but each note is too big for him to spend so he becomes a cautious Santa and of course no recipient spends the money on what he thinks they should. His pathway to adulthood is woven around his attempts to fix the various significant issues in his life.
- Ill wind, No Love Lost, Heat Stroke, Oasis, Chill Factor, Midnight at Mart's and Windfall by Rachel Caine. Supernatural romance-ish in which hotrod loving Joanne and her weather working powers end up in the middle of a war between the Wardens, the Djinn and the Earth herself. Not startlingly good but hypnotic in that way attractive emotional writing can be.
- The Alleluia Files by Sharon Shinn. Shallow self-centered Jared the angel falls for Tamar, rebel with a cause. I think I’ve overdosed on books where the dramatic tension is about a culture that simply *cannot* get over being sexist/racist. Maybe it’s just that all the books in this series end in a resolution that makes you think the culture is going to improve and then every new book tells you it got worse instead. It’s a bit like that awful epilogue to Harry Potter – I wanted them to have learned from their mistakes.
- Marianne, the Madame, and the Momentary Gods by Sheri Tepper. Sequel. Marianne reset her life in book one and Marianne2.0 doesn’t understand everyone else doesn’t remember how the day will go, but gradually as she grows up she has more unexpected experiences and learns to cope. Sadly, her enemies haven’t forgotten her and she gets mindwiped and sucked into an alternate reality. Has an interesting take on what it would be like to grow up twice with your adult personality sitting there in the background nudging you at critical times – when both of them ‘own’ the body, whose needs are more important?
- Fledgling by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Coming of age story in the Liaden universe; can stand alone. Theo, a young woman growing up on a ‘safe’ world run by scholars struggles with her incompatibility with said world culture and blossoms when her mother takes her off planet on a mission of her own. I enjoyed this!
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Conflict of Honours, Agent of Change, Carpe Diem, Plan B, Local Custom, Scout's Progress & I Dare by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller.
Re-reading except for Scout's Progress which, by some freak sequence of events I hadn't read yet. Yay for comfort-space opera.
Re-reading except for Scout's Progress which, by some freak sequence of events I hadn't read yet. Yay for comfort-space opera.
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, Issue 11 and 12 by Joss Whedon. New bad guys, Buffy's love life in chaos, dating Xander style and vampires who melt into fog. Still happy.
Carpe Diem by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Space Opera. Light hearted and dramatic with action, adventure and angst all wrapped up in some of the most enjoyable characters I've hit for a long time. Miri and Val Con are in hiding, Shan and Priscilla are rightfully worried and trying to track them down - as are Val con's ex-employers, the intergalactic mafia and some giant turtles.
Courtney Crumrin & The Night Things, Courtney Crumrin & The Coven of Mystics and Courtney Crumrin In The Twilight Kingdom written and illustrated by Ted Naifeh. I read these when I shared a house with![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ascetic_hedony and recently got my own copies. Dark, beautiful stories about little Courtney who doesn't get on well with the rich kids from school but does scarily well with the things that go bump in the night. Rating them up with Neil Gaimen's Coraline and some of the creepier Roald Dahls. The illustrations are magical.
The League of Extraordinary Gentleman - Volume Two: 2 by Alan Moore. I read these way before the movie came out and have finally picked up V2 and ordered V1. Much more entertaining than the movie and a lot darker.
Carpe Diem by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Space Opera. Light hearted and dramatic with action, adventure and angst all wrapped up in some of the most enjoyable characters I've hit for a long time. Miri and Val Con are in hiding, Shan and Priscilla are rightfully worried and trying to track them down - as are Val con's ex-employers, the intergalactic mafia and some giant turtles.
Courtney Crumrin & The Night Things, Courtney Crumrin & The Coven of Mystics and Courtney Crumrin In The Twilight Kingdom written and illustrated by Ted Naifeh. I read these when I shared a house with
ascetic_hedony and recently got my own copies. Dark, beautiful stories about little Courtney who doesn't get on well with the rich kids from school but does scarily well with the things that go bump in the night. Rating them up with Neil Gaimen's Coraline and some of the creepier Roald Dahls. The illustrations are magical.The League of Extraordinary Gentleman - Volume Two: 2 by Alan Moore. I read these way before the movie came out and have finally picked up V2 and ordered V1. Much more entertaining than the movie and a lot darker.
Local Custom by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Liaden Universe romance, not one of the standouts but lovable for backstory about Shan’s parents. Star-crossed lovers from completely different cultures fail to communicate… a lot.
Riddlemaster of Hed, Heir of Sea and Fire and Harpist in the Wind by Patricia A. McKillip. I want to love this trilogy more than I do. I like the writer and her mythic style often fills me with joy but I don’t quite connect here. Morgon is a reluctant hero reaching for more than his role as Prince of Hed but unwilling to let go of what that means to him when his destiny points him elsewhere. I think I’m having the same problem that I have with Hamlet.
mr_booboo I've finally started in on the pile of books you lent me:
Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1) by Patricia Briggs. As supernatural romances go this is good fun. Mercy’s a mechanic and her (estranged) foster family is a werewolf pack. When a young werewolf stumbles in, clearly in need of help Mercy just has to get involved.
Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson, Book 2) by Patricia Briggs. Very easy to read. Vampires, sorcerers, cranky werewolf exboyfriends and handy fae with vampire killing kits.
Urban Shaman (The Walker Papers, Book 1) by C.E. Murphy. Hehe. I’m just going to quote the blurb and say I really enjoyed this. Supernatural not quite romance with punch. “Joanne Walker has three days to learn to use her shamanic powers and save the world from the unleashed Wild Hunt. No worries. No pressure. Nevermind the lack of sleep, the perplexing new talent for healing from fatal wounds, or the cryptic, talking coyote who appears in her dreams. And if all that's not bad enough, in the three years Joanne's been a cop, she's never seen a dead body -- but she's just come across her second in three days. It's been a bitch of a week. And it isn't over yet.”
Riddlemaster of Hed, Heir of Sea and Fire and Harpist in the Wind by Patricia A. McKillip. I want to love this trilogy more than I do. I like the writer and her mythic style often fills me with joy but I don’t quite connect here. Morgon is a reluctant hero reaching for more than his role as Prince of Hed but unwilling to let go of what that means to him when his destiny points him elsewhere. I think I’m having the same problem that I have with Hamlet.
mr_booboo I've finally started in on the pile of books you lent me: Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1) by Patricia Briggs. As supernatural romances go this is good fun. Mercy’s a mechanic and her (estranged) foster family is a werewolf pack. When a young werewolf stumbles in, clearly in need of help Mercy just has to get involved.
Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson, Book 2) by Patricia Briggs. Very easy to read. Vampires, sorcerers, cranky werewolf exboyfriends and handy fae with vampire killing kits.
Urban Shaman (The Walker Papers, Book 1) by C.E. Murphy. Hehe. I’m just going to quote the blurb and say I really enjoyed this. Supernatural not quite romance with punch. “Joanne Walker has three days to learn to use her shamanic powers and save the world from the unleashed Wild Hunt. No worries. No pressure. Nevermind the lack of sleep, the perplexing new talent for healing from fatal wounds, or the cryptic, talking coyote who appears in her dreams. And if all that's not bad enough, in the three years Joanne's been a cop, she's never seen a dead body -- but she's just come across her second in three days. It's been a bitch of a week. And it isn't over yet.”
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Balance of Trade by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Light hearted character driven space opera and totally my Thing. Young Jethri has trouble with his home ship and finds a berth with the wily, untrustworthy Liaden – coming of age story.
Crystal Soldier and Crystal Dragon by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. The Liaden Universe back story which means nothing to those people who haven't read and don't care but means everything to those of us who have learned to love this complex, beautiful world. I think it would also stand alone. Jela and Cantra are enticing characters, his mission to try and save the galaxy combined with her determination to preserve self and ship at all costs makes for a fun story. Besides, Fate of the Galaxy! Wizards! Genetically enhanced super soldiers! Psychic vegetation! Cats! Mathematician death matches!
Crystal Soldier and Crystal Dragon by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. The Liaden Universe back story which means nothing to those people who haven't read and don't care but means everything to those of us who have learned to love this complex, beautiful world. I think it would also stand alone. Jela and Cantra are enticing characters, his mission to try and save the galaxy combined with her determination to preserve self and ship at all costs makes for a fun story. Besides, Fate of the Galaxy! Wizards! Genetically enhanced super soldiers! Psychic vegetation! Cats! Mathematician death matches!
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The problem at the exchange has been fixed and the House of B&D is back online; was a very good week for reading and gardening.
Plan B and I Dare by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller are the conclusion to the Liaden Universe series and have much charm. It's alarmingly like Dragonball Z what with the tendency to power up all the main characters but their charm and the feisty plot makes up for it. Space Opera.
Blood Trail, Blood Lines and Blood Pact by Tanya Huff. Myopic ex-detective with personality issues battles supernatural evil while bouncing back and forth in her threesome with a handsome Italian detective and a 450 year old vampire who just happens to be a prince. I really don't have any taste do I?
Plan B and I Dare by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller are the conclusion to the Liaden Universe series and have much charm. It's alarmingly like Dragonball Z what with the tendency to power up all the main characters but their charm and the feisty plot makes up for it. Space Opera.
Blood Trail, Blood Lines and Blood Pact by Tanya Huff. Myopic ex-detective with personality issues battles supernatural evil while bouncing back and forth in her threesome with a handsome Italian detective and a 450 year old vampire who just happens to be a prince. I really don't have any taste do I?
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Partners in Necessity, Jet Smoke & Dragon Fire, Who Moved My Cheese?, On Death & Dying, Map of Power
Partners in Necessity by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Trilogy. Space opera. Best thing since discovering Lois McMaster Bujold. Not quite in the same league but thoroughly enjoyable. Made me laugh, adored some of the characters and will definitely be chasing down the other books in this series.
Jet Smoke and Dragon Fire by Charles Ashton. Young adult post apocalypse fantasy. I gather it's book one of a trilogy and although I'm not inspired to track down the other books I did enjoy reading this one. Young, innocent village boy saves mysterious old man with an even more mysterious stick and gets three wishes.
Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson. I was given this and I've wanted to read it for years - ever since housemate T. called me a 'cheese mover'. Turns out it's a change management book using a rather large, unwieldy metaphor to talk about how people react to change. Don't buy it, wait for someone to give it to you too. Mmm cheese.
On Death & Dying by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. A good 40 years old now and still relevant. Looks at terminally ill patients and their experiences both of dying and of being cared for while dying. Nothing startlingly new but worth reading if you've noticed you might be mortal and are likely to die one day.
Map of Power by Tess Williams. I want to like this more than I did. Post apocalypse, Australian, World building. Three people from wildly different lives come together except not.
Jet Smoke and Dragon Fire by Charles Ashton. Young adult post apocalypse fantasy. I gather it's book one of a trilogy and although I'm not inspired to track down the other books I did enjoy reading this one. Young, innocent village boy saves mysterious old man with an even more mysterious stick and gets three wishes.
Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson. I was given this and I've wanted to read it for years - ever since housemate T. called me a 'cheese mover'. Turns out it's a change management book using a rather large, unwieldy metaphor to talk about how people react to change. Don't buy it, wait for someone to give it to you too. Mmm cheese.
On Death & Dying by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. A good 40 years old now and still relevant. Looks at terminally ill patients and their experiences both of dying and of being cared for while dying. Nothing startlingly new but worth reading if you've noticed you might be mortal and are likely to die one day.
Map of Power by Tess Williams. I want to like this more than I did. Post apocalypse, Australian, World building. Three people from wildly different lives come together except not.
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