Horror & Urban Fantasy Challenge 2012

I'm going to try to do this one again this year.  Yes, I fell short last year, but I love Urban Fantasy reads so.... why not?

The Minimum to read is 24.  I'll give it my best again this year.  Wish me luck!



I do think I'm addicted to challenges, this one makes 4!

Who? What? Where? (48)

Who are you with? Where are you at? What's happening?

Share with us just a little bit of what is happening in the book you are reading, right where you are now.

Just a tiny taste of what's happening, remember try to not give spoilers of the book.

(This is a new meme I'm going to try and will tweak as I go. And please don't laugh at my lame attempt at drawing. ;D )


I'm actually between books at the moment.  So I thought I'd give you a quick scene from Percepliquis, my last read.

I stand with Arista, and several others, on the shores of a sea in the caves shining with a green light.  We made it this far, down the climb and through the narrow caverns.  Now, what dangers lay ahead of us?  It can't be easy, since other groups have made this journey and never returned, but we have a few special people with us.

Percepliquis
By:  Michael J. Sullivan

Book Review: Percepliquis

Percepliquis

By:  Michael J. Sullivan

Format:  Paperback, 553pgs

Publisher:  Ridan (but series now with Orbit ~ see covers below)

Publish Date:  January 2012

Series:  6th in Riyria Revelations series; 1st Book ~ The Crown Conspiracy, 2nd Book ~ Avempartha, 3rd Book ~ Nyphron Rising, 4th Book ~ The Emerald Storm, 5th Book ~ Wintertide

Recommendation:  OH HELL YES!!  Go buy it, go buy it now! You love fantasy, you NEED, NEED THIS ONE!

Book Synopsis:
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS
THE ELVES HAVE CROSSED THE NIDWALDEN
AND TWO THIEVES WILL DECIDE THE FUTURE

I saw a great journey.  Ten upon the road, she who wears the light will lead the way.  The road goes deep into the earth, and into despair.  The voices of the dead guide your steps.  You walk back in time.  The three-thousand-year battle begins again.  Cold grips the world, death comes to all, and a choice i before you.

Percepliquis is the final installment of the epic fantasy, The Riyria Revelations.  In this saga that began with The Crown Conspiracy, two thieves caught in the right place at the wrong time were launched on a series of ever escalating adventures that have all led to this moment.  Three thousand years have passed and the time for Novron's heir to act has arrived.

First Sentence:
Miranda had been certain that the end of the world would begin like this - without warning, but with fire.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Fire and deaths.  Women and children are on the run.  Men are fighting for their kingdom and homes against attackers we have feared would come. (if you've read the series you have an idea who the attackers are.)  Arista's having horrible nightmares, Royce is depressed after the ending in Wintertide, and Hadrian feels guilt.  The kingdoms are coming together under the ruling heir, Modina, as predicted, but without the horn it might all be destroyed.  The Elves are retaking their lands to the way it was before humans existed.  Our friends through the series have one last quest, that could be the death of them but with out it they will die anyway, they all want or need to go on, for different reasons but for the same result, to save man kind. 

Screaming from the rooftops, MASTERFUL!  This is THE way to end a magnificent fantasy series. 

Michael weaves all the books together into this one, pulling pieces together and setting the world; past, present and future, in clear view for us.  Some pieces he pulls is: the place on the cover of Nyphron Rising (one of my favorite scenes for a character that comes into her own here) is brought into an all new light.  The Gilarabrywn, or dragon type creature, and the Elves which we may have had lots of questions on from the Avempartha.  The sailing of the seas from The Emerald Storm is revisited, in a new place.  Mentions of the starts of this all and who was pulling the strings, back to The Crown Conspiracy.  Just amazing the way Michael took two plain and simple thieves, to create an outstanding series and amazing ending.

This one book holds all the missing pieces we didn't realize we were missing, yet piecing all the secreted comments throughout the series together to complete everything.  Five hundred and fifty pages of complete necessity to put the finishing touches on creating the world, the history, the characters.  Still surprising me and making me love the characters all over again.  Michael has taken a series to all different levels through out this series, and this book is a fabulous ending to it all!

I laughed and cried and worried.  Both for happiness and sadness, of many reasons -- the characters and their hardships and humor.  Then there is the series completion.  I loved every minute of reading this one, and all the books.  I will admit, I was a little hesitant at starting this one -- I didn't want the series to end as I loved it so much.  But I have to say I LOVED this book, such a perfect ending.  I can't describe how well the ending fit for me, all the way to the last sentence.  I don't think I can write a review that will give this book it's well deserved justice, or even the series itself.  I am just floored with it all; the story, the characters, the depth of the world completed.  All of it completed.  And an action packed finale.

Royce has earned his right to be in a bad place (mentally mostly) after the ending of Wintertide, which I was a little nervous about.  I was just afraid the team wouldn't have their spark, but they had it.  Oh they had it.  Seeing the characters grow and live through emotions is what makes the book the best, digging deep in us to care.  I have always loved the kind heart in Hadrian, but this book...well he has stolen my heart, warming it through and through.  We learn of some history with Hadrian and Royce, their first job together, and of their thoughts of each other then.  All the characters have their numerous shining moments in this book; Royce, Hadrian, Arista, Modina, Mauvin, Alric, Myron! and so many more!

Outstanding journey, that left me in amazement.  Wow.  Just plain wow.

This series is top shelf keeper, re-reader for me.  I will always ALWAYS go back to my adventures with Royce and Hadrian, and the others.


Now, do you want to buy this series?  I say go get it, you need it.  The books are out by Orbit now and you can pick them up anywhere.  Just look for these new covers in your fantasy section:

Heir of Novron, coming January 31, 2012!

I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review, although I would have begged and pleaded to get a copy to finish the series as I've loved it so.

End of Year Giveaway WINNERS!

What a year in books 2011 was!  I'm looking forward to 2012 now too.

Thank you all for the Holiday and New Years wishes!  Hope you all had an amazing holiday and New Year's.  And here's to 2012 being a warm, healthy, happy one for you all.

Thank you everyone for stopping by to enter.  All these books are amazing reads, I hope everyone thinks about all of them for the future. :)

So, with out any further delay, the winners are....

For a Fantasy Selection:

Winner:  GentJim325

For an Urban Fantasy Selection:

Winner:  Robin K claimed

Winners have been notified, and need to respond within 48 hours from January 3, 2012, 2:00pm EST

Tuesday Teaser (100)

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:

With that, Arista threw herself down, wrapped up in her blankets, and closed her eyes.  As she did, the robe dimmed and faded until at last it was dark.

Percepliquis
By:  Michael Sullivan
275pg

Monday's Beginnings (123)

It's Monday, in the new year of 2012!

Sorry, no vlog today.  I've been sick with this head cold for 4 going on 5 days now.  I sound like a frog that's been tossed from lily pad to lily pad, then landing on land just to be stepped on by a knights horse trotting by.  Yeah, that bad.  Between coughs the throat sounds pretty raw.

But with that being said I did get lots of time between naps and coughing fits to read.  Which in all worked out wonderfully as I'm reading a book of 550 pages, which I'm still working on but very close to finishing. :)  So good thing I was sick or this one would have taken me a few weeks. ;D

But lets get to what's going on in books here...

Current Read:
Percepliquis by Michael J. Sullivan - loving it... it's the last book in the Riyria Revelations series.

Finished Last Week:
Bad-Ass Faeries Just Plain Bad, anthology
I did get a few (3) podcasts in too.

Yes, I told you I wasn't feeling well since Thursday, so I chilled around the house some.

Reviews Posted:
Cursed by S.A. Archer (short beginning to her series)

Podcast Reviews Posted:
Tales from the Archives ~ Christmas Special - by Tee Morris and Philippa Ballantine

I have lots to come...
2 Podcast Reviews
2 Book Reviews
3 MovieReviews

Special Posts:
New Years Resolutions Results from 2011 - Close out of 2011, how did I fare? How did you fare?
New Years Resolutions for 2012, Bookish Style.  Come link up and check back at end of year to see how you fared.
Book Blog Chat, Next book & schedule.

Sorry, I did not do the Flash Fiction Friday last week.  This head cold had me down for a few nights prior.

My WANT List...5 books added. :) I'll keep working on that for you.

Received Last Week:
Winnings:
I won both of these books from Bastard Books in his giveaway.

Goodreads Synopsis:
Circumstance made him a criminal.

Destiny may make him a hero.

As a thief, Malden is unparalleled in the Free City of Ness, and happy there. But by saving the life of the knight Croy, Malden has bound himself to an ancient, noble brotherhood . . . and he now possesses one of only seven Ancient Blades capable of destroying demons.

Malden fears accompanying Croy and the barbarian MÖrget on their quest to dispatch a foul creature of nightmare . . . nor does he want to disturb the vengeful dead. But with an assassin on his heels, the young cutpurse is left with no choice. And there is the comely sorceress, Cythera, to consider—promised to Croy but in love with Malden—not to mention


the fabulous treasure rumored to be hidden in the depths of the demon's lair . . .
 

Goodreads Synopsis:
When allies become enemies, to whom can a clever thief turn?


Armed with one of seven Ancient Blades, Malden was chosen by Fate to act as savior . . . and failed dismally. And now there is no stopping the barbarian hordes from invading and pillaging the kingdom of Skrae. Suddenly friends and former supporters alike covet the young hero's magic while seeking his destruction—from the treacherous King and leaders of the City of Ness to the rogue knight Croy, who owes Malden his life.

It will take more than Malden's makeshift army of harlots and cutpurses to preserve a realm. Luckily the sorceress Cythera fights at his side, along with the ingenious, irascible dwarf Slag. And the wily thief still has a desperate and daring plan or two up his larcenous sleeve . . .
 
I'm hoping for a big week and to get back on track with blogging and visiting with holidays over.

How did you fare last week and your plans for the week to come?  Wishing you all the best in words and pages.

Tales from the Archives - Christmas Special

Tales from the Archives - Christmas Special

By:  Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris

Written & Narrated by:  Tee Morris

Format:  Podcast, 20:26 minutes

Genre:  Fantasy, Steampunk

Series:  A Christmas Special in Tales of the Archives podcasts, part of A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series

Recommendation:  Yes. Nice way to meet new characters in this steampunk-ish world particularly if you enjoyed the book; A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel, Phoenix Rising. This one is of was a fun listen with a twist to the Christmas classic.
Synopsis:
In the Spirit of Christmas

It's Christmas Eve, and Wellington and Eliza investigate an incredible haunting in the heart of London.  What looks to be a job well done in the end quickly becomes a lump of coal in their stockings when their client takes some offense...

My Thoughts and Summary:
We are with Eliza and Wellington as they are looking to capture the ghost -- of Mr. Scrooge's visitors.  Yes, Scrooge!  Eliza agrees to take the job, insisting her partner to come with her, for a field job.  The two agents capture the three ghosts haunting Scrooge, but we learn more of Eliza as well.

I loved this little twist to A Christmas Carol, with steampunk and a softer side of Eliza and a new view into Wellington too!  I loved Wellington in the end here, you have to listen to see what he does that makes me smile in the end.  The character of Scrooge was kept true, and made me chuckle while listening.

We got to see Eliza with a softer side.  Do remember she is away from her home of New Zealand in a land with no real friends, except for Wellington.  And it's Christmas Eve.

Just loved this fun listen.  As always amazing sounds and vocals, but the writing of the short fun.  Friends together for Christmas, and the blend of Steampunk to a classic Christmas Carol making me laugh and enjoy the characters more.


Would you like to listen to these? For a taste of the characters or in addition to the book... Visit The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences.

NEW!! The Tales from the Archives is now found on Kindle as The Ministry's 99-Penny Dreadfuls.

There are short stories always added to the listing. So keep checking back!

I listened to this short story for my own enjoyment.