Archive for Vampire Books
Fantasy Book Review of Vampire Sunrise
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Carole Nelson Douglas has written the third installment in her Delilah Street: Paranormal Investigator series and I am thrilled to say – it does not disappoint.
Her latest novel, Vampire Sunrise, once again features strong, smart, vintage clothing fashionista Delilah Street as she continues to work to find her doppelganger named Lilith while also planning to take revenge on the evil Egyptian vampires who nearly killed her boyfriend, Ric. On top of all this, she is learning about new powers that have developed after receiving a Brimstone Kiss – the kiss that puts women into an orgasmic frenzy – from the mysterious rock star, Snow.
This book starts out with Delilah struggling with the aftermath of saving Ric from certain death at the hands of two psychotic vampire pharaohs who live under a popular Las Vegas casino. She made a bargain with Snow to save her man – earning her a Brimstone Kiss – and that bargain is going to have strange consequences that make themselves known as the story unwinds. With Ric lying in a coma in the bridal suite in Snow’s casino, Delilah racks her brains on how to help him. Realizing that her new powers can bring Ric back, she sets about reviving him, not realizing until it’s to late that Snow has to bear the burden when she uses those powers….what revenge will he inflict on Delilah for her actions? It likely won’t be another kiss…
With Ric back in fighting form, Delilah and Quicksilver – her dedicated and spookily sentient hound – decide to exact revenge on the two evil pharaohs who kidnapped not just Ric, but who also abduct tourists from the Strip and keep them in pits as blood slaves. Along the way they team up with some unusual partners – from werewolves to daylight vampires to magicians – as they work to extinguish a sinister underworld that wants to make slaves of them all.
The almost staccato-like style of Ms. Douglas’ writing keeps you engaged and entertained. She makes a lot of pop culture as well as vintage movie references that fit in perfectly with Delilah’s unique style. I haven’t read another mystery quite like this one, the paranormal element keeps it new and fresh, yet Delilah is still solving a good, old-fashioned mystery. Additionally, questions about the true identity of her parents and information on the mysterious twin who revealed itself in the first book are addressed. But you’ll have to read the book to get the answers!
As I continue reading the books in the serious I continue to develop respect for Delilah. Her street smarts, intelligence and self-assurance make her a female heroine that you’re sure to love. You can read more reviews of Vampire Sunrise here.
Fantasy Book Review – Playing With Fire by Katie MacAlister
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Just when I thought that I had read at least one book containing every type of supernatural being that an author’s imagination could create, I find a new book with a great new storyline. Playing with Fire (Silver Dragons, Book 1) by Katie MacAlister is a great new other-earthly fantasy romance series that you will really enjoy. The main character, May Northcott, is a doppelganger created by a water nymph named Cyrene. May is Cyrene’s exact twin in all ways except she’s not a water nymph. However, she can slip into the shadow world and go past barriers that other beings can’t get through.
All of this was orchestrated by none other than Cyrene herself; she’s the one who decided to make a copy of herself. Why? So she could be a better thief. Yes, Cyrene created May so she could do a better job stealing things.
Of course, in order to do this, Cyrene had to summon a demon lord and give up one of her personality traits; the crazy girl ended up giving up her common sense! Had she not sacrificed this trait she might have realized that Magoth, the demon lord, planned to bind May to him as a slave forever. Yes, Magoth was ecstatic to get a thief bound to him who could retrieve some of the items needed to ensure his return to earth. He also wants to persuade (and seduce) May into being a slave to other (ahem) things. Alas, since Magoth is pretty good looking, May finds it hard to resist him.
So May becomes a thief for Magoth and we enter the story when May is trying to rob an important essence from a powerful mage and, by accident, ends up robbing him of his most powerful essence, which he’ll do anything to get back. He hires every bounty hunter available to find her which puts May on the run. She actually wants to return the essence in the hopes that he’ll drop the chase for her.
However Magoth has no sympathy for her situation and immediately sends her out on another mission. This time she’s not so successful. Or maybe she is.
You see, May gets caught by a dragon, and not just any dragon. She gets caught by Gabriel, an extremely handsome and sexy silver dragon ruler. He and the other silver dragons in his sept (think pack) are trying to find an important dragon relic. When he realizes he’s captured a thief he knows exactly how to use her; he’ll have her find and steal back the relic.
However his plan backfires a bit because the minute he touches her, he’s consumed with desire. Gabriel soon realizes that May is his life mate, someone who he can touch without causing them to burn. Oh, one thing about the dragons in this book; they have 2 forms, a human form (a gorgeous human form) and their animal/dragon form. For convenience purposes dragons default to their human forms.
Okay, let’s recap the problems that May is now facing:
- she’s got to figure out a way to gain her freedom from Magoth;
- she needs to avoid the bounty hunters who’re tracking her;
- she needs to prevent Gabriel (who she really likes) from burning everyone and everything that he believes poses a threat to her;
- she needs to save her “no common sense” twin Ceylon from blackmailers.
As you can imagine there’s a ton of action in this book. Not to mention the really hot sex between May and Gabriel. Additionally, the relationship between May and her twin Ceylon is entertaining and funny to read about. Together they don’t let anyone get the best of them; they also have a witty answer for every situation they encounter. In summation, this book has something for everyone: action, sex, adventure, sex, suspense, sex, and oh yeah, hot sex.
The end of the novel left me hanging so I’m thrilled to know that Katie MacAlister has the sequel already out, ready for my next visit to Amazon. And ready for me to purchase both books for the holiday for a friend of mine!
Fantasy Book Review – Matters Of The Blood by Maria Lima
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Why do so many of us LOVE vampire romance novels?
Is it the idea of living forever?
Is it the thrill we feel thinking of the powers we could have if we were supernatural?
Maybe it’s just the fact that all the vampire men are hot? Whatever the reason, all of these questions are satisfied in the new vampire novel by Maria Lima titled Matters of the Blood. This is the first novel in a series called the Blood Line and it has something to satisfy every type of supernatural fantasy fan. The novel delivers its share of hot vampires with a hot human or two thrown in as well.
The main character, Keira, is a supernatural creature who “changes”, but what she changes into is always an unknown. Will she be a vampire? A shapeshifter? A necromancer? It makes for a suspense-filled storyline – never knowing what she will become. Keira and her clan can become one of any number of supernatural beings but that doesn’t mean she can control her powers. Think of it, if you became a shapeshifter in the blink of an eye, would you know what to do? No learning curve, you better get shifting – or running, as the case may be. It sets up a scenario for some major difficulties for Keira as the book progresses.
In the novel, vampires and other supernaturals live together in society as normal people but keep their true identities a secret from the human population. The ironic thing is that they have kept their secret so well that one supernatural group does not know the other exists. The action begins when Keira’s annoying human cousin is murdered and the prime suspect is a mysterious newcomer in town. A mysterious newcomer that Keira wants to get to know a whole lot better, giving her lots of motivation to figure out who the true killer is.
The author, Maria Lima, gives us a new approach to the vampire storyline that is fresh, unpredictable and a good read. Since the characters have the ability to become any type of creature, you never know what to expect. And, since Keira doesn’t know what she’ll “change” into, you can’t forsee how she’ll handle her various dilemmas. This makes for exciting plot potential in both this and future novels in the series. Matters Of The Blood is a vampire novel that represents one of the best vampire books I’ve read in a long time. Happy reading!
Fantasy Book Review – Real Vampires Have Curves!
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If you’re a vampire book reader you know that when you’re “turned” into a vampire you generally maintain the physical attributes you had at your moment of transformation. Sure, some vampires end up becoming more beautiful but for the most part, you’re stuck with what ya’ got.
Such is the case for Glory St. Clair. Unfortunately for her, she got turned on a day when she was bloated. And a few pounds overweight. Thus begins the hilarious escapades of Glory, the plus-sized female vampire with a fierce fashion sense.
Glory has just decided to move to Austin, Texas to open a new vintage clothing store. After you’ve been alive for a few hundred years you tend to accumulate a lot of stuff, especially if you love clothes like Glory does. As such she’s got the perfect wardrobe with which to stock a vintage store.
Coincidentally, her former lover also lives in Austin (okay, maybe that’s not such a coincidence). Glory and Jeremy Blade have had a love/hate relationship for many years. So Glory is apprehensive about meeting Blade again – she’s not sure if there’s still a spark between them.
In the meantime, she’s got to get moved in and open the store. Fortunately her new neighbor, a stunning female werewolf, is looking for a job and the two of them soon become fast friends. Glory also reconnects with several of her vampire friends in the area, including a lovable gay couple, an overbearing Countess, a lovestruck but street-smart femme fatale, and a wisecracking supernatural guard dog with a weakness for Cheetos and Twinkies. Yes, this book has quite the cast of characters.
But all is not well in Austin. A team of professional vampire hunters led by a ruthless billionaire game hunter is in town. And he’s set his sights on Glory and her friends. He doesn’t care that they’ve sworn off human blood in lieu of synthetic. In his mind all vampires are evil and must be destroyed. So between selling 50’s pencil skirts and twinsets, Glory has to watch her back. This is where the fun really begins. Glory acknowledges the danger, but resents having to be protected and so inadvertently puts herself in the cross hairs of the killers. It’s often up to Valdez, the smart talking guard dog, to keep her in line and protect her:
“I’m fading fast Glory. It’s been swell knowing you. Say good-bye to Florence for me.”
He licked my hand.
“Could you call me puppy one more time? I liked that.” He groaned. “I just wish I had time for a farewell bag of Cheetos.”
Okay, so he failed one time. But he quickly recovered and was back on the job in a jiffy.
Gerry Bartlett does a good job with character development and successfully moves the plot along at a steady pace. A good portion of the book focuses on the vamps’ attempts to capture the hunters while avoiding capture themselves. The book nicely integrates humor with more serious subjects like love lost and death while maintaining believability. Smatterings of intrigue and a hint of distrust amongst friends create a fairly well rounded storyline.
I wouldn’t categorize this as a vampire romance book – it’s got so many funny scenes (in particular between the two main characters) that the romance, although prevalent, is more of a secondary element in the book. I found the book to be a light, fun, and entertaining read that’s perfect for a long drive during a vacation. It’s so upbeat and its characters are so likable that I found it lifted my mood each time I picked it up. Get Real Vampires Have Curves at local bookstores or online.
New Fantasy Books for April 2009
Posted by: | CommentsThis month’s new fantasy books include entries from Michelle Rowen, Karen Chance, and Grayson Reyes-Cole (check out the beautiful cover of her new book). Additionally, the latest Harry Dresden book by Jim Butcher is available as well as a brand new Harry Dresden box set that includes Books 1 – 3!
Stakes & Stilettos (Immortality Bites, Book 4) by Michelle Rowan
Newly vamped Sarah Dearly wants her normal life back, but fate is fighting against her. She tries to get a regular job and gets staked in the interview, only to be rescued by a masked vampire who calls himself the Red Devil. Then a wallflower-turned-witch curses her, making her a bloodthirsty, sun-allergic nightwalker–the worst vampire there is. As if all that weren’t enough, she can’t get married because her 600-year-old boyfriend, Thierry, is in a centuries-long marriage of convenience he can’t escape.
As Sarah’s nightwalker tendencies make her more dangerous, even to those she loves, she’ll have to counteract that curse, unmask the increasingly intriguing Red Devil, and get a commitment from her man. But if that’s what it takes to secure her happiness, Sarah is ready…even if it means embracing her inner vamp to do it. Check prices
Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane) by Jaye Wells
In a world where being of mixed-blood is a major liability, Sabina Kane has the only profession fit for an outcast: assassin. But, her latest mission threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races and Sabina must scramble to figure out which side she’s on. She’s never brought her work home with her—until now. This time, it’s personal. Check prices
Bright Star by Grayson Reyes-Cole
Jackson thought he was the most powerful shifter in the world. Blessed with gifts and popularity, he’s always felt bad for his brother Rush, who’d been born with the disadvantage of being normal.
But when a beautiful shifter named Bright Star appears on the scene, Jackson learns his brother is far from normal. Bright Star forces Rush to reveal unimaginable talents he’s always kept hidden-talents Bright Star claims will save the world…whether Rush likes it or not.
This book contains sizzling love scenes! I absolutely LOVE the book cover! Check prices
Turn Coat (The Dresden Files, Book 11) by Jim Butcher
Butcher’s series star, wizard detective Harry Dresden, has been facing ever more varied and dangerous trials. Once just Chicago’s only wizard PI, Harry is now a warden of the White Council of Wizards—that is, one of the enforcers of its rules—and it seems as though every time he gets a better grasp on his magical strength, his enemies worsen. When the “parole officer” of Harry’s youth, Morgan, grievously injured and pursued by the wardens, comes to Harry for help, it’s the opening salvo of serious confrontation with the council. Morgan stands accused of killing senior council member LaFortier. The murder was certainly an inside job, and time is short to find the real killer before Morgan is summarily executed. Simultaneously, something unbelievably horrible and by all accounts far too powerful to take on alone is stalking Dresden. Searching for the killer, Harry’s caught up in a plot leading to the White Court vampires and the very halls of the White Council. Meanwhile, his dog’s daily duty is keeping Harry’s apprentice and Morgan from one another’s throats. Fortunately, Harry’s sense of humor lightens the tone of even the most serious confrontation, so though Butcher has turned up the tension here, this is an amusing, satisfying, and action-packed addition to the Dresden Files.
I’ve read this book and it’s fantastic. Stay tuned for my review. Check prices
Jim Butcher Boxed Set (The Dresden Files, Books 1-3) by Jim Butcher
This new box set contains books 1-3 of the Dresden Files urban fantasy book series:
#1: Storm Front
For his first case, Harry is called in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with the blackest of magic. At first, the less-than-solvent Harry’s eyes light up with dollar signs. But where there’s black magic, there’s a black mage. Now, that black mage knows Harry’s name. And things are about to get very…interesting.
#2: Fool Moon
Business has been slow. Okay, business has been dead. And not even of the undead variety. You would think Chicago would have a little more action for the only professional wizard in the phone book. But lately, Harry Dresden hasn’t been able to dredge up any kind of work—magical or mundane.
But just when it looks like he can’t afford his next meal, a murder comes along that requires his particular brand of supernatural expertise. A brutally mutilated corpse. Strange-looking paw prints. A full moon. Take three guesses—and the first two don’t count…
#3: Grave Peril
Harry Dresden’s faced some pretty terrifying foes during his career. Giant scorpions. Oversexed vampires. Psychotic werewolves. All par for the course for Chicago’s only professional wizard.
But in all of Harry’s years of supernatural sleuthing, he’s never faced anything like this: the spirit world’s gone postal. All over Chicago, ghosts are causing trouble-and not just of the door-slamming, ‘boo’- shouting variety. These ghosts are tormented, violent, and deadly.
Someone-or something-is stirring them up to wreak unearthly havoc. But why? And why do so many of the victims have ties to Harry? If Harry doesn’t figure it out soon, he could wind up a ghost himself.
The box set also includes a bonus poster featuring original artwork by Charles McGrath! Check prices
Curse the Dawn (Cassandra Palmer, Book 4) by Karen Chance
Cassie Palmer may be the world’s chief clairvoyant, but that doesn’t mean people have stopped trying to kill her. And now, the self-styled god Apollo, the source of Cassie’s power, is on the warpath—leaving her no choice but to face down her creator once and for all. Check prices
I’ve read Books 1-3 of the Cassie Palmer urban fantasy book series and love ALL of them. I just added this one to my shopping cart. Here are the books in order:
Touch the Dark (Cassandra Palmer, Book 1)
Claimed by Shadow (Cassandra Palmer, Book 2)
Embrace the Night (Cassandra Palmer Series, Book 3)
Blue Diablo: A Corine Solomon Novel by Ann Aguirre
Corine Solomon is a handler—when she touches an object she instantly knows its history and its future. Using her ability, she can find the missing—which is why people never stop trying to find her. Like her ex-boyfriend Chance, who needs Corine’s gift to find someone dear to them both. But the search proves dangerous as it leads them into a strange world of demons and sorcerers, ghosts and witchcraft, zombies—and black magic. Check prices
Fire Raiser by Melanie Rawn
Bestseller Melanie Rawn plunges down the back stairs of the old South into a dark world of family secrets and the international flesh trade that lies underneath the surface of small town politics and romance.
Holly McClure and Evan Lachlan have survived the fiery beginning of their romance and left Manhattan for Holly’s ancestral home to raise their children. Evan’s the county Sheriff; Holly is still a trouble-making Spellbinder witch trying to manipulate her family as if they were characters in one of her novels.
But something’s not right in Pocahontas County. Churches are being burned down mysteriously with a taint of magic on them. Sheriff Lachlan suspects that they have something to do with the new owners of the old Westmoreland plantation, now a very upscale Inn, but even if he could find proof, it’s going to be hard to bring a case of Black Magic before a Judge — even in Pocahontas County, where witchcraft is the family business of all the oldest clans. Check prices
Storm Glass (Glass, Book 1) by Maria V. Snyder
Apprentice magician, ardent glassmaker and spunky Nancy Drew-style sleuth Opal Cowan discovers her latent mystical talents and wins the attention of three gorgeous hunks in Snyder’s follow-up to her award-winning Study fantasy series (Poison Study, etc.). In classic coming-of-age fashion, Opal uses her magic powers to help her loved ones and her glass know-how to find the flaws in the Stormdancers’ weather-controlling glass orbs, all amid breathless adolescent quivers of romance and jealousy. The further Opal delves into the intrigue behind the glass and magic, the more distorted things appear. With lives hanging in the balance—including her own—Opal must control powers she hadn’t known she possessed…powers that might lead to disaster beyond anything she’s ever known. Check prices
Sins & Shadows by Lyn Benedict
Sylvie Lightner is no ordinary P.I. She specializes in cases involving the unusual, in a world where magic is real—and where death isn’t the worst thing that can happen to you.
But when an employee is murdered in front of her, Sylvie has had enough. After years of confounding the dark forces of the Magicus Mundi, she’s closing up shop—until a man claiming to be the God of Justice wants Sylvie to find his lost lover.
And he won’t take no for an answer. Check prices
Eve of Darkness (Marked, Book 1) by S.J. Day
Exhilarating adventure in an edgy world of angels and demons highlights the opener of Day’s Marked trilogy. After a steamy encounter in a stairwell, Evangeline Hollis discovers that she has been branded with the Mark of Cain, unfairly punished because of a man’s attraction to her. She is now a Mark: a celestial bounty hunter charged with sending rogue demons and other Infernals back to hell. Agnostic Eve feels trapped and wants to leave the firm, but that requires the aid of the most famous brothers in history: Alec Cain, God’s top Mark and Eve’s former lover, and Reed Abel, who assigns her bounties. Dynamic and vibrant, Eve is an impressive protagonist, and her fierce spirit and determination to make the best of her circumstances will keep readers enthralled. Check prices
For last month’s releases see New Fantasy Books for March 2009
