Book Review: Red-Headed Stepchild

Red-Headed Stepchild

By:  Jaye Wells

Publisher:  Orbit

Publish Date:  April 1, 2010

Format:  Paperback, 325 pgs - pocketbook size

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  1st in Sabina Kane Novels

Recommendation:  Yes!! If you like sassy sarcastic humor and action with mystery and love all rolled into one.

Book Synopsis:
Things To Do:
1)  Infiltrate rival vampire cult and assassinate leader
2) Get rid of demon houseguest
3) Ditch the hot mage stalker
4) Betray family

In a world where being of mixed blood is a major liability, Sabina doesn't really fit in.  And being an assassin - the only profession fit for an outcast - doesn't help matters.  But she's never brought her work home.  Until now.

Her latest mission is uncomfortably complex, and threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races.  As Sabina scrambles to figure out which side she's on, she uncovers a tangled political web, some nasty facts about her family and some unexpected new talents.  Any of these things could be worryingly life-changing, but together, they could be fatal...

First Sentence:
Digging graves is hell on a manicure, but I was taught good vampires clean up after every meal.

My Review and Summary:
Sabina, a half-vampire half-mage assassin is meeting her long time friend and mentor David at the grave of her latest snack.  David doesn't know but he is Sabina's next job.  To eliminate him for the Dominae, as they told her he has turned to a growing and potential dangerous group to the vampire community.  To prevent this community from growing and potentially killing vampires Sabina finds her next mission is to become cast out by the Dominae and be taken in by Clovis, half vampire and half demon leader.  Sabina finds now herself a spy, which she feels she is no good at.  While Sabina is fighting for the vampire community that raised her, she learns many things about herself and the different races that open her eyes to different thoughts.  Will she remove the threat or create a bigger one in its place...

I enjoyed the world created by Jaye Wells here.  Half-vampires, -mage, -demon, or anything is not accepted in this magical world.  Particularly between of these three races.  They all are against each other, but have a truce to not bother each other as well.  But this truce is stretched with the political games played.  There is a separation of the races and cultures here.  You get to see the boundaries of them and what happens if they start to blur.  This story tells the main story at hand and leaves you with questions in the back of your mind yet to be answered on Sabina and a few other small pieces.  This is nicely done as you don't have to read further in the series, but you want to, to see what those pieces will lead to.

Part of what I enjoyed in the book where the characters.  Sabina is a wonderful main vampire character.  Even though you get the feel from her she was not completely accepted by the Vampire community, and more so her grandmother - the leader of the Dominae, she is strong.  She grows up independent and ars kicking strong.  Sabina is one to be put on a path and she sticks to it.  Sabina is sassy and determined.  You know she'll have a sarcastic remark for just about anything and look forward to it.  The dry sarcastic humor made me smile and really gave me a great feel for Sabina's character.  But the secondary characters help complement Sabina as they are very different from her.  And a potential love interest will catch your heart too.

The mystery of the mission is a great journey to go on with Sabina.  I enjoyed this book very much and would suggest to many Urban Fantasy readers to give it a try.  But, you have to love strong, bold, sassy and sarcastic characters.



I won this book from Fantasy Literature, which I had wanted for some time.  So thank you go my friends at Fantasy Literature. :)


This book qualifies for my Speculative Fiction Challenge hosted by Book Chick City.

Looking Forward To... (26)

There are so many amazing books already on the shelves and new ones coming out.

For a list of books yet to be released I'm looking to get, you can also look on my right Sidebar at the ever growing list titled Desired Reads - just scroll down.  Of course there are tones of other new books to come out that are amazing as well, but these ones are part of series I have already started or for one reason or another caught my eye (and haven't seen much on other blogs yet). But I will highlight one here each week.

(mentioned in order of Release Date then Alphabetical if there are more than one book coming out on the same date.)

The Next Book Is..

Law of the Broken Earth

By:  Rachel Neumeier

Due Out:  December 1, 2010

I have read the first two books in this trilogy and enjoyed reading them as they have a classic fantasy feel with a new twist of Griffins.  The first two books could possibly be read individually as they kind of struck me as individual stories fore they where in two different areas of the same world.  So, I am curious to get to the last book in the trilogy.  And since I started the trilogy, I just have to finish it.  And the griffins are determined to not be stopped or mistreated by mankind in any way.  I have to see what happens with the griffins and mankind.  Will the work out an agreement or not...  Will they all survive or destroy each other?

Good Reads Synopsis:
In Feierabiand, in the wide green Delta, far from the burning heat of the griffin's desert, Mienthe's peaceful life has been shaken. Tan - clever, cynical, and an experienced spy - has brought a deadly secret out of the neighboring country of Linularinum.

Now, as three countries and two species rush toward destruction, Mienthe fears that even her powerful cousin Bertaud may be neither able nor even willing to find a safe path between the secret Linularinum would kill to preserve and the desperate ferocity of the griffins. But can Mienthe?

And, in the end, will Tan help her . . . or do everything in his power to stand in her way? 

Book Blog Chat (5)...Stop 1

Time to start the discussion!  For a Book that is...

Hell Fire by Ann Aguirre

This is our first stop for the book.  And the schedule for you so you can join us on the future stops as well:
  Oct. 28, 2010 Stop 1 - pg 104 through end of Chapter: Secrets Dark and Deep
  Nov.  4, 2010 Stop 2 - pg 217 through end of Chapter: Bar None
  Nov. 11, 2010 Stop 3 - end

Now, to the fun part!  Chatting!

We have some questions to get us started in the first section, but this is just barely scratching the surface.  There is so much happening here to talk about.

These First 104 pages may not be much in the way of SPOILERS, but it could be too.  So, please enter at your own risk.

Robyn's Questions:
1. Who do you think is after Corine? Is it someone we met already? Or has word gotten around town that she is back?

2. I had the question in the back of my mind that maybe her mom and the mystery of the town is involved. We seem to have that answer in the last few pages of the reading. Do you think those people are going to be after Corine for a certain reason? Do you think her mom played a certain part or was it just because she lived in the town?

3. And the one question. Are you team Chance? Maybe you're team Jesse?

Melissa's Questions:
1.  Lets chat on this strange little unheard of town. What is going on here? What or who is the mystery that is affecting all the people, animals, and area in general?

2.  How does Jesse sense Corine from so far away?

3.  What clues do you think Corine and Chance will find in the file they took?

Teaser Tuesday (47)

Teaser Tuesday

is a weekly event

Sponsored by MizB of Should be Reading

Here's how it works:

Grab the book you are currently reading (anything at all)

Open the book to any random page.

Share 2 teaser sentences from anywhere on the page

Please Make Sure They Are Not Spoilers!

(Don't Give Too Much Away)

Just enough to pique our interests

This Week:

Protective, he has drawn me away from the uproar in the ritual room over Ida's collapse, and into a narrow, carpeted back hall.  His handsome face is a field of conflicting fear, grief, and terrible need, and all I want is to bring my mouth to his.

In Dreams begin

By Skyler White

pg 110-111

Monday's Beginnings (61)

How are you faring in reading at the beginning of this week?  Are you starting a new book or finishing one up?

I kind of feel like I'm getting somewhere this week.  I finished up Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells last week for our final chat, HERE if you would like to join in.  And I finished up Double Cross by Carolyn Crane last night, for our chat HERE if you would like to join in.  I'm hoping to work on the reviews this week and weekend coming and have them posted.  I am currently working on reading In Dream's Begin by Skyler White.  I am hoping to be done with the book here in the next day or two, and be working on that review this coming weekend as well.  I am still working on The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, but I have a few books for review to get done as well.

I am hoping for big things this week.  We shall see where the week goes from here.  I'm hoping to try to get to more blogs for commenting too.  This is the last week of football for my son.  His team will be fighting for 1st place on Sunday.  I will have to let you all know next Monday how they did.

My WANT list... I have added 4 books to the list.  Oh, this list is unreal. :)  But I am loving it!

Books Received Last Week:

Purchased:
Many of you know I have been loving this trilogy, so I had to pick up the conclusion of the trilogy. 

Wynter Moorehawke has braved bandits and Loup-Garous to find her way to Alberon-the exiled, rebel prince. But now that she's there, she will learn firsthand that politics is a deadly mistress. With the king and his heir on the edge of war and alliances made with deadly enemies, the Kingdom is torn not just by civil war - but strife between the various factions as well. Wynter knows that no one has the answer to the problems that plague the Kingdom - and she knows that their differences will not just tear apart her friends - but the Kingdom as well.

This book I had to pick up after finishing the discussion chats on the first in the series.  I will be looking forward to when we get to this one.

Sabina Kane doesn't have the best track record when it comes to family. After all, her own grandmother, leader of the vampire race, wants her dead. So when she arrives in New York to meet her mage relatives, the reunion puts the fun in dysfunctional. Not only is mage culture completely bizarre, but everyone seems to think she's some kind of 'Chosen' who'll unite the dark races. Sabina doesn't care who chose her, she's not into destiny. But the mages aren't Sabina's only problem. In New York's Black Light District, she has run-ins with fighting demons, hostile werewolves and an opportunistic old flame. Sabina thought she'd take a bite out of the Big Apple - but it looks like it wants to bite back.

This book I picked up as I read the first one a while ago and wanted to move on to the next one.

"They might be doomed, damned, and buggered for all eternity, but that didn't mean they couldn't sparkle like a diamond in the sun and grin like a skull in the moonlight on their way to oblivion."



Musket and cannon, bow and arrow, and magic and diplomacy vie for supremacy once again in this second epic fantasy adventure from acclaimed author Chris Evans. As the human-dominated Calahrian Empire struggles to maintain its hold on power in the face of armed rebellion from within, the Iron Elves' perilous quest to defeat the power-hungry elf witch, the Shadow Monarch, takes on greater urgency.


The Iron Elves, shunned by their own people for bearing the mark of the Shadow Monarch, and desperately wanting to forever erase this shame, became legendary for their prowess on the battlefield as the Calahrian Imperial Army's elite shock troops. But when their commanding officer, Konowa Swift Dragon, murdered the Viceroy of Elfkyna, he was exiled, and these brave elves were banished to a remote desert outpost, doomed and leaderless, their honor in tatters.

Recalled to duty to reform his regiment from the dregs of the Imperial Army, Konowa thwarted the plans of the Shadow Monarch at the Battle of Luuguth Jor -- ensuring that the fabled Red Star, a source of great natural energy, did not fall into Her hands. Now Konowa must cross storm-tossed seas to seek out the lost elves and the prophesied return of another Star somewhere in a desert wasteland roiling with mysterious power, infernos of swirling magic, and legends brought back to life in new and terrible ways. And the fate of every living creature will come to depend on a small band of ragged and desperate soldiers, whose very loyalty to the Empire they have sworn to serve is no longer certain. When death is but a temporary condition, a terrifying question arises: who is the true ally -- and fearsome enemy -- in a growing conflict that threatens all?

Free Swag from author:

I will be in the tour for the second book of this series in February.  But I have received some swag and bookmarks from the author.  So, if you would like a few please send me an email with your address and I will gladly send you a few in the mail. :)




So, how are you faring this week?  Does it look like a good reading week?

Here's to you having a great week in words and pages.

Blog Book Chat (4): Final Stop!

We are at our final stop for Double Cross by Carolyn Crane.

I know there are many out there who have read the book already, and NEED to talk about it.  So this is the spot to do so.  Join in with us.  I know I am gnawing at the bit to talk about this one and what I'm looking forward to.  What about you?

No hold bar here!  Let us have it!  There is so much to talk about and hope for. 

Just remember if you haven't read the book yet, there WILL be SPOILERS in the comments.

We do have some questions to start us in the discussion as well.  Here they are...

Robyn's Questions:
1.  Do you think there is any good in Otto at all?
2.  Will Packard fight for Justine in the third book?
3.  Will Justine figure out the truth about Otto and Avery?  Maybe it will be on her own or will get help from her friends.
4.  If Justine does figure out the truth, do you think Otto will do anything to keep her from leaving?
5.  Will the wedding take place?  Maybe Packard will go all Dustin Hoffman and do the ending of the Graduate, lol.

Melissa's Questions:
1.  What ever happened to the missing kids?  Will we ever know?
2.  Will Justine ever remember?  Do you think her subconscious is working to remember the truth?  With the headaches and worries of Otto reaching into his inside pocket...
3.  Why do you think Otto did what he did?  To trap Packard?  To get the girl?  Or something more?

Looking Forward To... (25)

There are so many amazing books already on the shelves and new ones coming out.

For a list of books yet to be released I'm looking to get, you can also look on my right Sidebar at the ever growing list titled Desired Reads - just scroll down.  Of course there are tones of other new books to come out that are amazing as well, but these ones are part of series I have already started or for one reason or another caught my eye (and haven't seen much on other blogs yet). But I will highlight one here each week.

(mentioned in order of Release Date then Alphabetical if there are more than one book coming out on the same date.)

The Next Book Is..

Songs of Love & Death

Edited by:  George R.R. Martin & Gardner R. Dozois

Due Out:  November 16, 2010

I have a thing for anthologies anymore.  I love the short stories.  Whether they are short stories relating to a series already out or something new completely, I've found they give me a nice glimpse of what the authors are like.  And of course I purchase anthologies for authors I already enjoy too, and of course this one has some of those great authors in it.  And I like that I can sneak the short stories in between reads.  Of course I've been a little lax about reading my anthologies here lately with the rush of other books, but this is one to add to my collection.

Good Reads Synopsis:

A groundbreaking anthology of fantasy and romance from bestselling authors in both genres, edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois. 

-Jim Butcher, “Love Hurts” (a Harry Dresden story) 
-Jo Beverly, “The Marrying Maid” 
-Carrie Vaughn, “Rooftops” 
-M.L.N. Hanover, “Hurt Me” 
-Cecelia Holland, “Demon Lover” 
-Melinda M. Snodgrass, “The Wayfarer’s Advice” (an Imperials story) 
-Robin Hobb, “Blue Boots” 
-Neil Gaiman, “The Thing About Cassandra” 
-Marjorie M. Liu, “After the Blood” 
-Jacqueline Carey, “You and You Alone” (a Kushiel story) 
-Lisa Tuttle, “His Wolf” 
-Linnea Sinclair, “Courting Trouble” 
-Mary Jo Putney, “The Demon Dancer” 
-Tanith Lee, “Under/Above the Water” 
-Peter S. Beagle, “Kashkia” 
-Yasmine Galenorn, “Man in the Mirror” 
-Diana Gabaldon, “A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows” (an OUTLANDER spinoff)

Next Blog Book Read... (5)

So, we have started three series here with at the Urban Fantasy Blog Book Read.  And followed up with a second book on one of the series.  For our next book we are going to read we are going to follow up with a second book to one of the series.  Would you like to know which one?

Here it is!

Hell Fire
Corine Solomon #2
By:  Ann Aguirre

As a handler, Corine Solomon can touch any object and know its history. It's too bad she can't seem to forget her own. With her ex-boyfriend Chance in tow-lending his own supernatural brand of luck-Corine journeys back home to Kilmer, Georgia, in order to discover the truth behind her mother's death and the origins of "gift". 

But while trying to uncover the secrets in her past, Corine and Chance find that something is rotten in the state of Georgia. Inside Kilmer's borders there are signs of a dark curse affecting the town and all its residents-and it can only be satisfied with death...

The Schedule...
We are going to break the book into 3 sections:
   Oct. 28, 2010   Stop 1 - pg 104 through end of Chapter: Secrets Dark and Deep
   Nov. 4, 2010    Stop 2 - pg 217 through end of Chapter: Bar None
   Nov. 11, 2010  Stop 3 - end

Book Blog Chat (3)...Final Stop!

This is our last and final stop for Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells.

We are finished with the book!  CLICK HERE to go to the Chat.

Now, I know there are many of you out there who has read the book in the past.  And waiting for this moment to join in with us, as you didn't want to spoil anything for us. ;)

Now, now holds bar here!  Join us in chatting about the book; did you like it, not, favorite character, least favorite, favorite scene, where we might go with the next book, what you would like to see come up...  So many great things to chat on and we have questions up too!

Just a note, If you have NOT read the book - there Will be SPOILERS in the comments and possibly in the questions.  So beware on your visit.

This chat week is hosted by Robyn @ The Bookoholic Zone.  TAKE THIS LINK and chat with us.  We really would enjoy hearing what you thought.

Teaser Tuesday (46)

Teaser Tuesday

is a weekly event

Sponsored by MizB of Should be Reading

Here's how it works:

Grab the book you are currently reading (anything at all)

Open the book to any random page.

Share 2 teaser sentences from anywhere on the page

Please Make Sure They Are Not Spoilers!

(Don't Give Too Much Away)

Just enough to pique our interests

This Week:

He starts to roll the cart sideways.  I clampdownhard on my side, stopping it, shocked that he's talk so dirty in an office superstore.  Then I realize that he hasn't said anything dirty at all.

pg 107

Double Cross

By Carolyn Crane

Monday's Beginnings (60)

How are you faring in reading at the beginning of this week?  Are you starting a new book or finishing one up?

Well, it's been another slow week for me on the reading front.  I wonder if I have hit a funk.  Of course not on the book front, just the reading front.  I am loving all the books I am currently reading, which is a growing list. :)  We just posted the third stop discussion post today for Double Cross by Carolyn Crane, we will be doing the last discussion next Monday the 25th.  And we are getting ready to do the last discussion chat on Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells on Thursday the 21st of this week.  I am still working on my guilty fantasy pleasure, The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson.  And I just started reading In Dreams Begin by Skyler White for review.

To tell you the truth I don't know why I'm not getting as much reading done as I usually do.  I know having so many books going at once doesn't help, but they are all so good.  Then Saturday I was planning to get loads of reading done and my loving husband decided to go get a puppy.  So we spent the day driving around looking at puppies and came home with TWO! Yes, two!  What is wrong with us, right!?!  But they are adorable.  They are 8 1/2 week old German Shepard's.  But, I hope to have this up coming weekend to read, hoping they are settled in more.

I did finally get my review of The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay up Friday night.  If you haven't seen it please stop by, HERE'S THE LINK. 

My WANT list... I have added two books.  But I added four books that I received that were not on the list. :) 

Books Received Last Week:

Winnings:

I won this book from over at Jackie's blog; Literary Escapism.  I have been wanting to get into this series since it came out.  So now I get my chance.  The lovely thing with this winning is, it is signed from the author.  I love getting signed copies of books. :)

Synopsis from Good Reads:
The Kingdom of Rolencia sleeps as rumours of new Affinity Seeps, places where the untamed power wells up. By royal decree all those afflicted with Affinity must serve the Abbey or face death. Sent to the Ab­bey, the King’s youngest son, Fyn, trains to become a warrior monk. Elsewhere others are tainted with Affinity and must fight to survive. Political intrigue and magic combine in this explosive first book in an exciting new fantasy trilogy.

I won this lovely book from Jessica at The Spinecracker.  We had a wonderful and in depth discussion about the first book The Better Part of Darkness.  We really came up with some great speculation and I look forward to reading this second book.  And once again, a signed book!  I love this!  You should stop by for her next chat, link on my left sidebar.

Synopsis from Good Reads:
It takes a strong woman to keep the peace in a city of endless night. . . .



Deep beneath Underground, a cunning bid for power and revenge has begun—one that threatens to make Atlanta the new battleground in the ultimate confrontation between good and evil. The powers of hellish Charbydon have the upper hand after plunging the city into primordial night. And under the cover of darkness, a serial killer targets the most powerful Elysians in the city, the angelic Adonai. For Detective Charlie Madigan and her siren partner Hank, tracking deadly predators is all in a day’s work . . . but this case will test the limits of their strength and friendship as it draws them into a deadly world of power plays, ancient myths, explosive secrets, and a race against time that risks all that Charlie holds dear.

Received:

I have reviewed this book in anticipation of the release.  I have been loving this series the whole way through.  But since I am a book lover I have to have the physical books on my shelf, especially when I love the series.  Thank you to Michael for writing this series and signing one for me.

Synopsis from Good Reads:
The New Empire intends to celebrate its victory over the Nationalists with a day that will never be forgotten. On the high holiday of Wintertide the empress will be married and Degan Gaunt and the Witch of Melengar will be publically executed. Then the empress will suffer a fatal accident leaving the empire in the hands of the new emperor. It will be a perfect day. There is only one problem--Royce and Hadrian have finally found the lost heir.

I am hoping to have a great reading week and get a lot more done, hopefully not as bad as last week. 

So, how are you faring this week?  Does it look like a good reading week?

Here's to you having a great week in words and pages.

Book Blog Chat (4): Double Cross - Stop 3

This book just keeps getting better and better.  Justine, Packard, Otto, Simon, Shelby... All the characters and a few new ones. 

Double Cross: we have chat stop #3 through page 256, Chapter 21, is up if you would like to stop by and check it out.  Maybe even say hello (would be nice).

The post is at Robyn's blog: The Bookoholic Zone this week,  HERE'S THE LINK.

Do remember, there will be SPOILERS in the comments.  So, if you don't want to know, don't read the post. :)

Thank you all for stopping by!

Book Review: The Better Part of Darkness

The Better Part of Darkness

By:  Kelly Gay

Publisher:  Pocket Books

Publish Date:  November 2009

Format:  Paperback, 391 pgs - pocket book size

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  1st book in Charlie Madigan Series

Recommendation:  Yes! Takes the world as we know it and mixes in some fantasy.  And a great action packed mystery.

Book Synopsis:
Atlanta: it's the promised city for the off-worlders, foreigners from the alternate dimensions of heaven-like Elysia and hell-like Charbydon.  Some bring good works and miracles.  And some bring unimaginable evil...

Charlie Madigan is a divorced mother of one, and a kick-ass cop trained to take down the toughest human and off-world criminals.  She's recently returned from the dead after a brutal attack, an unexplained revival that has left her plagued by ruthless nightmares and random outbursts of strength that make doing her job for Atlanta P.D.'s Integration Task Force even harder.  Since the Revelation, the criminal element in Underground Atlanta has grown, leaving Charlie and her partner Hank to keep the chaos to a dull roar.  But now an insidious new danger is descending on her city with terrifying speed, threatening innocent lives: a deadly, off-world narcotic known as ash.  Charlie is determined to uncover the source of ash before it targets another victim - but can she protect those she loves from a force more powerful than heaven and hell combined?

First Sentence:
"You told a two-thousand-year-old oracle to prove it."

My Review and Summary:
Thought you had a rough day?  Charlie has just had one, or a few, with just one thing after another coming up.  It all started when she got the call of an unconscious girl on the bathroom floor at her daughters school, fearing she's another victim to ash.  When she goes to investigate the scene she learns the girl is the girl who's babysat her daughter and is like a daughter to her.  Then, her day just goes down hill from there; she gets beaten to a pulp by jinn, and her ex-husband wants to be with her again - after what he did.  On top of all going wrong today the nightmares that started eight months ago, when she died, which have been haunting her every time she closes her eyes have pushed her to the exhausted state and now strange things are happening to her; emotionally and physically.

I enjoyed this book more and more as I read.  I liked the world that Kelly has created here.  She has taken the world we know and added a few extras to it.  We have a sound explanation to where the different beings come from, and the abilities they have.  Through these parallel planes we have mages, sirens, a being I like to call a vampire/elf mixed type but what Charlie calls aliens, and jinn along with a other beings as well.  There was one small piece that threw me off only a few times and that was the sudden appearance of unexpected beings, or item.  In these few moments I felt I might have missed a piece that would lead up to them, but this in no way affected the story happening.

Part of what I enjoyed the most was the storyline direction and mystery.  Charlie was constantly in action and uncovering a piece of the puzzle.  The story was constantly on forward movement, in a fast pacing.  We got the pieces right along with Charlie as she went through the actions and we tried to piece them together, together.

The characters where great.  As Charlie wasn't my favorite character in the story, it was no fault of hers.  It was the secondary characters I enjoyed.  They helped in drawing the character of Charlie.  Her sister is a wonderful addition with her magic skills and friends.  Her partner, Hank, is a nice addition with being a siren.  Charlie's husband, or ex-husband...now he is one to watch as you read.  And then we have Charlie's daughter, nice to see we have a main character who is a single mom and trying to make it work.  And the relationship she has with her daughter is a great one.

In the end, I enjoyed the book very much and look forward to reading The Darkest Edge of Dawn.  As the story here ends there is lots of room and a few questions to answer to follow through further in the series.  Kelly has a great start to a fresh new series here.  Kelly has done a wonderful job drawing a mystery in a fantasy world with enough similarities to ours, but with many amazing surprises.

Glad to hear that Kelly will be going further in the series than two books.

If you would like to visit Kelly Gay's site, you can do so HERE.



I read this book for my pleasure.
This book qualifies for the Speculative Fiction Challenge, hosted by Book Chick City.

Looking Forward To... (24)

There are so many amazing books already on the shelves and new ones coming out.

For a list of books yet to be released I'm looking to get, you can also look on my right Sidebar at the ever growing list titled Desired Reads - just scroll down.  Of course there are tones of other new books to come out that are amazing as well, but these ones are part of series I have already started or for one reason or another caught my eye (and haven't seen much on other blogs yet). But I will highlight one here each week.

(mentioned in order of Release Date then Alphabetical if there are more than one book coming out on the same date.)

The Next Book Is..

The Broken Kingdom

By:  N.K. Jemisin

Due out:  November 3, 2010

I read the first book, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, which was a great debute novel.  I loved following Yeine around as she learned about the culture he mother left behind.  The gods created here and the story was a wonderful setting.  I am looking forward to reading the second book.  I think it is going to be from a different characters view, but I enjoyed the world created here with the craft gods.

Click this link to read my Review of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In the city of Shadow, beneath the World Tree, alleyways shimmer with magic and godlings live hidden among mortalkind. Oree Shoth, a blind artist, takes in a strange homeless man on an impulse. This act of kindness engulfs Oree in a nightmarish conspiracy. Someone, somehow, is murdering godlings, leaving their desecrated bodies all over the city. And Oree's guest is at the heart of it. . .

Blog Book Chat (3): Red-Headed Stepchild...Stop 3

On ward we go.  To the third section of Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells.

This section ends on page 248.  This is our last section before we finish the book.  So any major predictions and thoughts are welcome here, even the ones you think might be the way gone ones.  Lets hear them.  What do you thinks going to happen?

Here are some questions to get us rolling...

Questions from Jaye Wells:
-What setting in Red-Headed Stepchild would you most like to visit? Are there any you wouldn’t want to visit? Why?


- If you could have Sabina and the gang visit any city in the world in future books what would it be and why?

-In the Sabina Kane series, the Vampires rule the West Coast and the Mages (and faeries to an extent) rule the East coast. If you were making the decisions in this world, would you put the vamps in L.A and the mage in New York? If not, which cities do you think would make good vampire and magic capitals?

Robyn's Questions:
1. Are you sad that Giguhl left Sabrina? Do you think he'll make another appearance before the book ends?


2. There is definitely something being hidden from Sabrina. Did the mages really abandon her when she was a baby?

3. We leave the book with her going to find out a truth. What do you think that truth is? Will it change her feelings towards the vampires?
 
Melissa's Questions:
1.  Is Grandma setting Sabina up?  Do you think Grandma knows Sabina was at the Winery?
 
2.  Why do you think Sabina collapsed like she did with Clovis?
 
3.  Do you think Frank will be a problem in the near future?
 
4.  There was mention of most mages having a familiar, do you think Sabina has one?  Who, or what is it?
 
5.  What truth do you think Sabina has in store for her to learn?

NY Comic Con 2010

So, I was hoping to be sounding and looking better to do a Vlog for Comic Con.  But... Oh well.  I have a few pictures and I did a quick video of the books, signatures, and such I got while there.  Please be warned the video was done with my cell phone so is a little shaky, sorry. :)  Oh, and the cat makes a visit.

But off to Comic Con...

My son and I were on the road here in Irwin, PA at 6:15 am.  Yeap, made for a long day.  But It was fun and worth it.  So, I felt I made good time getting there and found the Convention Center pretty easily.  I was shocked!  We followed a few people dressed up into the building, they were Princess Layla in her outfit for when she was a slave to Jabba the Hut and her boyfriend was PeeWee Herman.   So we walk in then out of the building to find the line to get our passes.  We ended up on the other side of the building and had to go around the building.  In the picture you can see how the line wound around.  It was unreal!  Then the line went in front of the building, inside, up the escalator, and wound around five line until you came to the booths to get scanned and given our passes.  Now, you can go into the Con.

There were so many people there.  And I have to say, I am so glad the day was a beautiful day.  Or some of those girls would have been REALLY cold.

Okay, so we are inside now.  This is our FIRST Con.  We at first are just dumbfounded.  Staring around, just looking.  I didn't know where to go.  Yes, I had my little map but I didn't know where I was to start on my map.  Then I look up!  Duh, the isles where numbered.  So off I went to find the book section.  It was hard getting through all the people.  But we squeezed and pushed our way along.

I was so excited to meet up with a few amazing Fantasy authors.  As you can see I got a few pictures with them.  I was star-struck too.  They did get a kick out of my poor books though.  I really do use sticky notes (in case anyone didn't believe me).  Joe Abercrombie was shocked and had to take a picture for himself.  Peter Brett just said that book was really loved (which it is).  And Brandon Sanderson raised an eyebrow, and let me know if I would like to, to email him my questions on the book.  This will give him an idea of what I (we as readers) are questioning as we go.  It was amazing to meet these amazing authors.  I kind of felt bad as I spotted Joe and Peter talking and stopped to ask their names.  I had thought they where them, but I didn't want to assume and be wrong.  So I was able to chat with Joe for a few minutes.

These three authors were on a panel on Friday.  I would have loved to seen this panel to hear what they had to say, but I was not around Friday.  But Peter and Joe did tell me Suvudu taped it and will be posting it on there site some time here.  So I will check it out.  If you would like to stop by Suvudu's site, HERE IS THE LINK, as they have many great interviews with these authors and many more up.

I do have a few little goodies in the video that I am looking forward to doing a giveaway here on the blog for. :)  Hope you enjoy them too.  I wish I would have thought sooner to grab doubles to do more giveaways here.  Well, that's what I get with doing something new.  And I wish I would have taken more pictures.  I was just so taken aback.  As you can tell I forgot to get a picture with Peter Brett.  but the other two pictures were taken by my son.  He did a great job. :) 

I do have to say, my son asked me if the one author we met was British.  So, me being curious asked him why he thought so.  He said, when we where saying goodbyes he said Cheers.  I chuckled as it amuses me what the kids pick up on.  It wasn't the accent that caught his attention it was the words he used. :) But I did tell him yes.  My son was very impressed with the authors we met.  He even now wants to be one.... We shall see, he is only 11.

I have to say all the Publishers booths where maned by wonderful, friendly people.  I have made a few great contacts here, and finally got to meet a few people I have chatted with on blogs and Twitter.

(I am sorry I sound humdrum in the video, I'm trying to not talk to loud as it makes my voice crack and I start coughing.)

Books in the Video:

My personal books taken:

The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

Books Received:

Wait for Dusk by Jocelynn Drake - from Eos Booth

Song of Scarabaeus by Sara Creasy - from Eos Booth

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - from Random House Booth

Buyout by Alexander Irvine

Iron Elves Series - A Darkness Forged in Fire by Chris Evans

I also got to meet a few fellow bloggers while I was there.  It is so neat to meet you wonderful people when out.  The bloggers I meet where:  The Qwillery and Larissa.  I am soooo sorry I didn't get a chance to talk to you longer.  We were starting to run out of time and there was so much going on.

But, to end the day we did leave around 5:30pm.  I was hoping to get out of New York before dark as I wasn't sure where I was going.  And I did miss my turn and get slightly off track.  I did call home and had to go to a Dunken Donuts to get there address so my husband could give me directions home.  But, we finally made it home about 12:30am.  I was beat!  I would have been home probably an hour earlier if I hadn't got lost.  Oh well, except for the trip home it was a wonderful day!

My son has already asked to go back next year.  I will have to take another adult or two so I have someone to share the driving with, but I would DEFINITELY go again.

Well, I know I have missed stuff on the post here. So, just start chatting in the comments and I could probably remember more stuff to share. :) Thank you!