Book Review: The Blood Gospel

The Blood Gospel

By James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell

Format: paperback, 479 pgs

Genre: Adventure, paranormal

Series: The Order of the Sanguines Series #1

Recommendation: Of course. A wicked fun adventure.

Synopsis: An earthquake in Masada, Israel, kills hundreds and reveals a tomb buried in the heart of the mountain. A trio of investigators—Sergeant Jordan Stone, a military forensic expert; Father Rhun Korza, a Vatican priest; and Dr. Erin Granger, a brilliant but disillusioned archaeologist—are sent to explore the macabre discovery, a subterranean temple holding the crucified body of a mummified girl.

But a brutal attack at the site sets the three on the run, thrusting them into a race to recover what was once preserved in the tomb’s sarcophagus: a book rumored to have been written by Christ’s own hand, a tome that is said to hold the secrets to His divinity. But the enemy who hounds them is like no other, a force of ancient evil directed by a leader of impossible ambitions and incalculable cunning.

From crumbling tombs to splendorous churches, Erin and her two companions must confront a past that traces back thousands of years, to a time when ungodly beasts hunted the dark spaces of the world, to a moment in history when Christ made a miraculous offer, a pact of salvation for those who were damned for eternity.

Here is a novel that is explosive in its revelation of a secret history. Why do Catholic priests wear pectoral crosses? Why are they sworn to celibacy? Why do the monks hide their countenances under hoods? And why does Catholicism insist that the consecration of wine during Mass results in its transformation to Christ’s own blood? The answers to all go back to a secret sect within the Vatican, one whispered as rumor but whose very existence was painted for all to see by Rembrandt himself, a shadowy order known simply as the Sanguines.

In the end, be warned: some books should never be found, never opened—until now.

First Sentence:  The dead continued to sing.

Purchase at:  B&N, Amazon, Book Depository, Indiebound, Powells

My Thoughts and Summary:

So, I am not my mum’s favourite writer.

James Rollins is.

She has all of his books, some of which I’ve purchased for her. She eventually brought me a big stack of them to read. I don’t read fiction as often anymore as it’s difficult, particularly reading within the genres I write, to sit back and enjoy; when I do read fiction now, I like to delve into other genres. The adventure angle and exotic locales of his books did appeal to me.

The Blood Gospel is one part Indiana Jones, one part The Da Vinci Code, with a strong dose of classic Anne Rice but less weeping and brooding. (Now, if you hated The Da Vinci Code, don’t let me scare you off; I hated it too, darlings. But the searching-for-some-religious-artifact-and-secrets thing fits, and this is a book where the research and detail is done right.)

This book leaps right into the action, bringing together several very different characters and putting them toward one goal: to locate The Blood Gospel, a book said to be written by Christ’s own hand. Archaeology, mysterious tombs, hidden Nazi compounds, puzzles and mysteries...

And vampires.

The vampires here run the gamut, by the way: there is a priestly order of them who are ultimately good but can be broody and all-suffering, while there are evil ones who kill everyone and everything in their path. Those who tire of the romance-hero-simply-misunderstood vampires would find enjoyment in this book (yes, there is one broody guy like that, but I didn’t find him irritating; he was badass and fascinating). If you have vampire-fatigue, there is enough other intrigue in the book to hold your interest.

One of the things to keep in mind with the book is the structure of the narrative: within a scene there are often three to four breaks in POV. It’s not headhopping, as the breaks are clearly marked, but for readers used to fewer POV shifts, it might take some getting used to. What it does manage to convey is the feel of a movie; the scenes are swift and brief, following various characters and storylines, not dwelling long enough for the reader to get bored.

That is, I think, the overall feel I continue to get from Mr. Rollins’ works: the literary equivalent of a big summer blockbuster popcorn film. The Blood Gospel is no different: it’s fast-paced and fun, with well-researched exotic locales, and likable characters to root for. The action sequences were exceptionally well done and quite visual. Do you want to be transported from your life for a few hours, visit Israel, Russia, Germany, and Rome, chase down a lost book, figure out some puzzles, all while sitting on your couch with a cup of tea? Here you go. 

As always, research seemed impeccable, and I had a sense that the authors knew what they were talking about. I am less familiar with Ms. Cantrell’s work, although I do have her historical thriller novel A Trace of Smoke on my TBR (also one I bought for Mum that she lent me after reading; she loved it); I do know her Hannah Vogel books are set in Germany around WWII and was not surprised when The Blood Gospel had that area of history seamlessly woven into it.

My favourite character was Bathory, this badass chick who kills someone in her opening scene, cursed and ruthless, with two pet grimwolves she’s deeply bonded to.

She is also (one of) the villain(s). Of course. Obviously, things did not go well for my favourite character.

But that says something right there about the skill of the writing: I did care about all of the point-of-view characters. I wanted them to succeed, even when they were at odds with one another. Granted, mostly I wanted Bathory to succeed all the time because I prefer evil characters. (She’d make a great urban fantasy anti-heroine.) I think Bathory is my spirit animal. But unlike other POV villains in many books, she was never a caricature, twirling her mustache and adjusting her black hat. She was flawed and believable. Likewise, the three protagonists—archaeologist Dr. Erin Granger, military Sergeant Jordan Stone, and vampire priest (no, really) Father Korza—were distinct and well-drawn, believable and providing a nice balance to the book.

This is distinctly an adult novel but with a PG13/14A bent to it: violence, some kissing/sex (not graphic and always tastefully done), very little coarse language, and it would be appropriate for the average mid-to-late teen girl or boy as well as adults. One thing to note is that the book plays with Christian mythology and Biblical references; I already noticed some reviews from readers who had their panties in a twist with this. But the book is fiction, it’s well-researched, and it does what all well-researched good fiction does: it builds on facts and changes things up to fit with the story the authors want to tell. If this might bother you, maybe read sample chapters before diving right in. But Christ is depicted as a necromancer already, so it isn’t that much of a stretch to add vampires into the mix. IMHO YMMV.

Finally, the main plot is wrapped up by the end (thankfully—it's nearly 500 pages and that would be a hell of a lot to read for a cliffhanger), however there is much more to come: more mysteries to be solved, more secrets to uncover. An apocalypse probably on its way.

You know. The usual.

#TeamBathory

Bitchstress Bechdel Bonus: Does it pass the Bechdel Test? Yes...thinking back, I do believe it did.

Disclaimer: I borrowed this book from my mum and read for my own enjoyment.

Book Review: The Madness Underneath

First...I am sorry Mama Bitchstress disappeared for a bit. There was Stuff and Things in August and September, rather serious stuff I can't talk about, but Melissa knows. Rest assured, I felt terrible about neglecting my Bitchstressy Duties, and here I am again.

Without further adieu...

 The Madness Underneath

By Maureen Johnson

Format: eBook, 304 pgs

Genre: YA paranormal

Series: Shades of London #2

Recommendation: %*$@ yes. The ending killed me ded. Please read so you can flail with me.

Synopsis: After her near-fatal run-in with the Jack the Ripper copycat, Rory Devereaux has been living in Bristol under the close watch of her parents. So when her therapist suddenly suggests she return to Wexford, Rory jumps at the chance to get back to her friends. But Rory's brush with the Ripper touched her more than she thought possible: she's become a human terminus, with the power to eliminate ghosts on contact. She soon finds out that the Shades--the city's secret ghost-fighting police--are responsible for her return. The Ripper may be gone, but now there is a string of new inexplicable deaths threatening London. Rory has evidence that the deaths are no coincidence. Something much more sinister is going on, and now she must convince the squad to listen to her before it's too late. 

First Sentence:  Charlie Strong liked his customers—you don’t run a pub for twenty-one years if you don’t like your customers—but there was something about the quiet in the morning that pleased him to no end.

Purchase at:  B&N, Amazon, Book Depository, Indiebound, Powells

My Thoughts and Summary: This will be spoiler-free for The Madness Underneath, with just a few basic spoilers for The Name of the Star—all stuff you’d gather just from reading the blurb.

The main plot of The Name of the Star concluded in the last book, however there were many threads still left open to explore in this one. We begin with Rory living in the country, away from Wexford after...The Big Stuff That Happened at the end of the first book. (Was that vague enough for you? Oh, whatever, just read the synopsis above and you’ll know what I’m talking about.)

But Rory is different now, in more ways than one. And she can still see spirits as she did in the last book. Her life and friends are back in London, and that’s where she’s determined to return to.

The Madness Underneath does a fantastic job of building on what came before, picking up threads from the previous book and weaving into this one. You’ll recall from my review of the previous book, I did see plot twists coming but greatly enjoyed the ride. This one is similar in that regard: even as I knew what was happening to Rory (ugh, I hate being vague), it was handled masterfully by Johnson, maintaining suspense and tension, and keeping Rory in the dark believably even as the reader knows what’s going on. This is no easy feat in a book that’s written in first person.

Once again, despite the trauma Rory has suffered and the gravity of the situations she’s in, her humor is ever present:

 (Also, for the record, if someone is called a Romantic, it should mean some sexy times, I think. Instead, what it really means is people in puffy shirts who probably had a lot of real-life sexy times, but produced almost exclusively pictures of hillsides or people in dramatic poses, like pretending to be Ophelia dead in a swamp. I definitely call shenanigans on this.)

Or:

My first class was further maths. Further maths had gone further into some incomprehensible zone of mathyness.

This is another book that I think is great to hand young female readers for the reasons I stated last time: boyfriends are not the end-all be-all of everything, friendships between girls are typically positive and non-competitive, and I think it manages to present a great example without being unrealistic in these areas.  (It also makes me sad that I have to highlight these things as unusual but that’s A Rant for Another Day.)

Now...we have to talk about the ending.

I will not give away the ending but Oh. My. Gods. I knew what was happening, I picked up on everything, and I was still frantically hoping it wasn’t true and I was just being paranoid. But then it happened. To my favourite character. And I screamed aloud (not an easy feat with me, again, so I tip my hat to Johnson). Because the book ended there and oh my god.

I’m sorry I have to be so vague. What you need to know is that the main plot is not wrapped up as it did in the first book, and The Madness Underneath feels much more like the first part of a larger story. I know that bothers some readers but I absolutely urge you to pick it up anyway. Y’all need to read these two books and then freak out with me. I literally flailed and I am very unhappy about the wait for the next book.

But you can be damn sure I’ll be there to read it on release day.

Bitchstress Bechdel Bonus: Does it pass the Bechdel Test? Yep!

Disclaimer: I purchased and read this book for my own enjoyment. 

Book Review: The Name of the Star

The Name of the Star

By Maureen Johnson

Format: eBook, 372 pgs

Genre: YA paranormal

Series: Shades of London #1

Recommendation: Oh hell yeah. Quirky, funny, suspenseful—a great ride for young adults and adults alike.

Synopsis: The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

First Sentence:  The eyes of London were watching Claire Jenkins.

Purchase at:  B&N, Amazon, Book Depository, Indiebound, Powells

My Thoughts and Summary: I read this book about a year and a half ago, and before reading (and reviewing) the sequel, I wanted to read it again to refresh my memory.

Initially, I had no idea what to expect when I first read The Name of the Star—some kind of YA murder mystery with paranormal elements? Truthfully, I follow Maureen Johnson on Twitter (if you don’t already, get to it) and she’s hilarious, so when her new book came out, it seemed like a great time to try out her work without even reading the blurb.

I think I was expecting a Jack the Ripper sort of tale, but that’s not what this is; Ripper is the reader’s gate into this world of ghosts and the people who hunt them, and grows from there.

As usual, the review will be spoiler-free.

The Name of the Star has Johnson’s distinct voice and brand of humor. Rory is immediately likable (I very, very rarely use that adjective to describe a character, but it’s true) and makes for a very pleasant narrator to hang around. Example:

Annoy a Southerner, and we will drain away the moments of your life with our slow, detailed replies until you are nothing but a husk of your former self and that much closer to death.

I giggled. A lot. The suspense is ever-present—there is a serial killer on the loose, killing people in quite gruesome ways—but having Rory along for the ride makes the book an easy read, I think, for even the most squeamish, horror-adverse people. She has anecdotes about her life back home, loves Cheez Whiz, and manages to be funny without the snark/sarcasm a lot of people have grown weary of.

The cast of secondary characters is populated with more likable kids, all well-drawn with distinct voices. All are English, except for American Rory, and that comes across in the dialogue without a lot of irritating dialect. The author spent time in England, and while I have not, I feel it comes across quite clearly—the history and the feel of London is very much its own character in the book, and feels entirely authentic.

Another highlight of the book is that the kids really feel like teenagers. Not teenagers as adults think they are, but real kids. The Name of the Star also offers a strong alternative to the popular YA paranormal narrative that your first boyfriend must be the be all, end all of everything, and True Love Forever™ with a heavy dose of Drama and Angst™. Guess what? Girls meet boys (sorry for the heteronormative speak) who are cute and nice, and there can be some cuddling and kissing, and it doesn’t have to result in them getting married and having babies at the end. And I loved that about this book—that one day I can happily give it to my yet-to-be-conceived daughter without feeling like I need to have a long conversation afterward about Disney Princess culture and tying yourself forever to someone when you’re only seventeen.

Also, for parents: there’s some kissing, no sex, no bad language, and most of the violence happens off-screen—it’s read about or sometimes described, but the horror comes from the tension and suspense and not really the gore. It would be appropriate for fourteen-year-olds and up, and depending on the teen, younger. (I read adult books when I was ten, so I am not the best judge here—if you’re unsure, read them yourself first.)

While the book does not end on a cliffhanger, the main storyline wraps up with plenty of threads for future installments. The sequel, The Madness Underneath, is already out and I’ll be reviewing it shortly.

At times some of the twists and reveals seem a little predictable, and I’m not sure if that’s just me or would be the same with most readers, but while that’s normally a trait that would have me put a book down immediately, in the case of this one I didn’t care. I loved Rory, I loved the supporting characters, and I had a blast with the story and its world.

Bitchstress Bechdel Bonus: Does it pass the Bechdel Test? It does! Effortlessly and at every turn.

Disclaimer: I purchased and read this book for my own enjoyment.

Book Review: The Red Plague Affair and Giveaway

The Red Plague Affair

By Lilith Saintcrow

Format: eBook, 314 pgs

Genre: Steampunk/alt-history/fantasy

Series: Bannon and Clare #2 (The Iron Wyrm Affair #1, The Damnation Affair #1.5)

Recommendation: It’s Lilith-freakin’-Saintcrow—do you even have to ASK me?

Synopsis: The service of Britannia is not for the faint of heart--or conscience...

Emma Bannon, Sorceress Prime in service to Queen Victrix, has a mission: to find the doctor who has created a powerful new weapon. Her friend, the mentath Archibald Clare, is only too happy to help. It will distract him from pursuing his nemesis, and besides, Clare is not as young as he used to be. A spot of Miss Bannon's excellent hospitality and her diverting company may be just what he needs.


Unfortunately, their quarry is a fanatic, and his poisonous discovery is just as dangerous to Britannia as to Her enemies. Now a single man has set Londinium ablaze, and Clare finds himself in the middle of distressing excitement, racing against time and theory to find a cure. Miss Bannon, of course, has troubles of her own, for the Queen's Consort Alberich is ill, and Her Majesty unhappy with Bannon's loyal service. And there is still no reliable way to find a hansom when one needs it most...


The game is afoot. And the Red Plague rises.

First Sentence:  I am too bloody old for this.

Purchase at:  B&N, Amazon, Book Depository, Indiebound, Powells

My Thoughts and Summary: Melissa previously reviewed The Iron Wrym Affair, and you will find her thoughts here.

What you need to know: this is an alternate Victorian London, now called Londinium, with steampunk and magic, and partly an homage to Sherlock Holmes. Archibald Clare is a mentath: brilliant, logical, and deductive. Emma Bannon is a Sorceress Prime, in service to Queen Victrix and willing to do whatever Her Majesty requests.

The Red Plague Affair picks up a few years after The Iron Wyrm Affair ended. Can you read this one without reading the first? Look, as a writer, I am rather violently anal about reading books in order to begin with; in the case of this book, I’d say hell-to-the-no more than usual. Saintcrow prefers to immerse the reader in the world rather than force-feed details, trusting the reader to fill in the pieces without long bits of exposition. This is my preferred approach when reading (and writing) as well, however it would make it more difficult in my opinion to pick up the second book in the series and become accustomed to not only the new world but suss out past events referenced from the previous installment. In this series you could skip The Damnation Affair—as book #1.5, it takes place in another part of the world with different characters (though don’t, as that book is OMFG wonderful)—but I recommend not jumping into this one without The Iron Wyrm Affair first.

My review will be spoiler-free.

In this adventure, Bannon and Clare find themselves racing to stop a devastating plague from descending on Londinium. Mystery is a fair bit of the plot, and so I’ll avoid giving a summary; the jacket copy above does give enough of a glimpse. But this Bannon and Clare outing changes the dynamic of the series when secrets are uncovered, alliances form (we meet Dr. Vance!), and Bannon’s service comes into question. The Red Plague Affair is thrilling, dark and lush, wickedly smart, and told by two fascinating lead characters.

At first glance, our two leads seem as though they couldn’t be more different.

Reason and emotion. Logic and irrationality. Though a mentath is all logic and magic pure irrationality, part of why Bannon and Clare work so beautifully together is not that they are polar opposites but that they both are a mix of emotion and reason. Clare prides himself on his deductive skills and rational thoughts, though often he seems to be the more emotional of the two (especially with regards to his nemesis, Dr. Vance, eluding him); Bannon is a high level sorceress, commanding magic which is the height of illogic, however she is practical and calm, and even Clare admits she is more reasonable than he’d expect her to be. And this mix of both features is what makes them so compatible and able to complement each other; they have just enough in common to allow them to work in tandem, joining their two opposing abilities into an unstoppable force.

The characters are all three-dimensional and well-drawn, from the leads to the secondary ones that populate this world. I could go on at length about each distinct personality, however I'll restrain myself and focus on Emma, as she is one of my favourite characters to date. What I value most in people—whether fictional or real—is competency more than just about anything, and Emma has that in spades. As a high ranking sorceress with a gift for...magic of a decidedly darker sort, she is practical, powerful, competent, passionate, has a ruthless streak I appreciate, and manages to maintain a certain “ladylike” quality necessary for women of that period while still being someone no sane person would dare to cross. Emma Bannon, in a nutshell, gets shit done, and I love her for it. Her character grows by leaps and bounds in The Red Plague Affair; this book is not easy on Emma Bannon, and makes it clear that as the series progresses, more difficult choices are ahead of her.

The language is lush as in all Saintcrow’s works, but the voice here is crisp and distinctly British; I often pause during the Bannon and Clare books to speak sentences aloud, enjoying the feel  and sound of them (look, I like words). Words like “vexation”. Let’s all say that one: vexation. Isn’t it delicious? Every time I hear it, I spend the rest of the day speaking like I’m in a Regency film.

Saintcrow’s head must be the busiest place in existence (and I say this as someone who’s brain is always doing this), as just with her other many series, Bannon and Clare exist in a fully fleshed out world that at some point in history branched from ours. The world-building is rich and vast, and each book suggests we’ve barely scratched the surface of the history and workings of this alt-London (I, for one, could happily read a series of books on The Care and Feeding of Gryphons; they are fascinating). Though the setting is quite loosely Victorian England with clockwork horses and the like, magic is firmly entrenched in the story, woven believably into the world's history. One of the more interesting details, for me, is how the monarch Alexandrina Victrix is presented: she is Queen, yes, but that is more than a mere title. She’s the chosen vessel for Britannia Herself, literally the spirit of the Empire residing in the young woman’s body.

Let me tell you, it brings a whole new perspective on using the royal “we”.

I cannot go into detail because spoilers, but suffice to say Emma's interactions with Britannia were among my favourite in the book. 

What is perhaps most refreshing with the Bannon and Clare books for me as a reader is the entirely platonic relationship between the two leads. There is no will-they-or-won’t-they or forced romantic tension here: the two are allies, friends, and work as partners; they have an affection and regard for one another, but they aren’t shagging (if that is in the cards, I trust it will integrate smoothly and still not become the focus of the series). Romantic love is all well and good, but sometimes? Sometimes I want a story about male and female leads who are friends. Because friendship is often underrated in fiction in favour of...fetishizing romantic love and holding it above all other kinds. And I don’t know about anyone else, but I like having friends and I like seeing people work together without necessarily getting naked; friends who would die for one another, friends whose love is as strong as any romantic pairing. The non-romance between the leads is a wonderful reversal on reader expectations.

It also bears mentioning that those who prefer no naughty words and no sex scenes will be happy with this book; neither would particularly fit with the story, so their absences are entirely appropriate here. (There is violence, often implied rather than fully on screen.)

Although the main plot wraps up in The Red Plague Affair, there is definitely the sense of more to come (OH IS THERE EVER), and a lead up to the third book, The Ripper Affair (tentative), which I cannot wait for.

Bitchstress Bechdel Bonus: Does it pass the Bechdel Test? Why, yes, yes it does. There are multiple female characters who speak to each other about things other than a man. 

Disclaimer: I purchased and read this book for my own enjoyment. I am also an unabashed Lilith Saintcrow fangirl, as one should be. I tentatively call her a friend, as saying I am a rabid worshipper who sacrifices virgins in her honor makes me sound ever so slightly unhinged, but my opinion of her as a person has no bearing on my enjoyment of her work (I was a fangirl before knowing her).

Giveaway: As it’s my first review, I wanted to do a little giveaway. Winner’s choice of any Lilith Saintcrow (or Lili St. Crow) book via The Book Depository (of which there are many). Open internationally, provided TBD ships to your location. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Meet My New Guest Reviewer!

*Phew*  I'm going to get a bit of time to relax for a few months.  *sigh*  This is awesome.  I'll be here, but I'm going to have a helping hand.

I'm so happy (THRILLED!) to share with you a guest reviewer who will be around for a few months (unless I or your *evil eye* scare her off - but between you and me, I think it's going to be hard to scare her off).  Okay, don't believe me about being hard to scare her off?  Did you see her name?  Yea.  Look at the eyes she's giving you! ;P  LOL!  Seriously, I'm totally jelly over her logo!  I want one. :D

Alright, all in fun.  Seriously, I love this woman.  I'll let her introduce herself to you.  Not only does she have killer books, but she has a wonderful personality.  So please, give a great big warm welcome for Mama Bitchstress...

Hello Melissa’s Awesome Blog Followers!

For the next couple of months, I am on a writing hiatus (refilling the well so that I can come back refreshed and write Books That Do Not Suck Hairy Goat Ass), and I decided the first thing I wanted to do was dive into my MASSIVE to-be-read pile. I’d like to read a book a week, and I pitched to Mel the idea of posting guest reviews at her blog in the hopes it would give her a day or so off to relax as she catches up with things. She graciously agreed to let me play in her sandbox (am I the only one who finds that metaphor dirty-sounding?), and so here I am.

Who am I: Multi-published urban fantasy writer, Skyla Dawn Cameron. Mel likes my books. I think they’re pretty rad too. I work in publishing and I have a lot of cats. When I’m not banging my head in frustration as I work out a plot tangle, I like running, watching anything Whedon, killing zombies (in games), talking about vegan food, and learning how to knit.

Why Mama Bitchstress: “Bitchstress Dreamkiller” is my title over at The Evil League of Evil Writers, and I do a series of posts called Editing 101 with Mama Bitchstress. I am the mother-hen-type, hence “Mama.” And Bitchstress, well...I’m a bitch, folks.

What I’ll be reviewing: Let’s get this out of the way now...I will only review books I like. My reviews will always be 100% honest, however a) I am picky, hard to please, and often broke, therefore I select my reading material very carefully so don’t often read something I hate, and b) I work in this industry and it is in my best interest not to get all ranty about books potentially by my peers. And because I’m doing this for pleasure, I want to talk about books I’m excited about.

I am not paid to review things; all books are purchased for my own enjoyment. I will not review any books I’ve worked on. I may review books by my friends, but only if I genuinely love the book, and I will disclose this fact on the review itself. I also have trouble separating the technical aspects of how a book is written from my enjoyment of it, meaning I like shit that’s well done. “Unlikeable” characters? Hey, if they’re written well, I don’t care if they’re not the sort I’d want to have over for dinner. Horrifying plot twist? I can dig it if it fits, even if it means everyone I love dies at the end. I may talk about things like pacing and structure, but will endeavor not to make my reviews book-report-y.

I also told Mel I’d stick with books in genres she blogs about, so you’ll see UF, paranormal, adventure, and fantasy (maybe YA in those genres). On the weeks I’m reading about mountaineering or North Korea, I will kindly skip my blog post here (though I tend to share my thoughts on GoodReads, so go ahead and friend me there if you want to keep up with how I feel about The Secret History of Mi6 or Eve Ensler’s new memoir).

I’ll be starting next week with Lilith Saintcrow’s The Red Plague Affair (plus a giveaway! Because I want you to like me and THAT’S HOW I ROLL, FOLKS).

Thank you, again, to Mel for having me here, and I look forward to getting to know everyone.