Archive for Vampire Books
True Blood Episode Summaries and Video Trailers
Posted by: | CommentsHere’s the complete listing of HBO’s True Blood episodes from Season 1. I’ve included a short synopsis of each episode along with a link for watching the video trailers.
| EP. | AIR DATE | TITLE | SHORT SUMMARY | VIDEO TRAILER |
| #1 | 09/07/08 | Strange Love | Sookie meets Bill; Tara gets a job working at Merlotte’s; Sookie saves Bill from drainers; one of Jason’s girlfriends is murdered. | True Blood Ep. 1 Video |
| #2 | 09/14/08 | The First Taste | Sookie gets attacked; meets Bill; Sookie drinks Bill’s blood; Jason is questioned about a murder. | True Blood Ep. 2 Video |
| #3 | 09/21/08 | Mine | Sookie is almost attacked at Bill’s home; Tara reveals her tragic home life; Tara propositions Sam; jason seeks Viagra and instead finds “V”. | True Blood Ep. 3 Video |
| #4 | 09/28/08 | Escape From Dragon House | Another woman is murdered; Jason injests too much V; Tara rescues Jason; we meet Eric Northman, a hunky vampire; Sam rolls around in a dead woman’s sheets! | True Blood Ep. 4 Video |
| #5 | 10/05/08 | Sparks Fly Out | Sookie rebuffs Bill; we learn how Bill was made into a vampire; a close relative of Sookie’s is murdered. | True Blood Ep. 5 Video |
| #6 | 10/12/08 | Cold Ground | Sookie turns to her friends for comfort; Jason strikes Sookie; Tara’s mother thinks she’s possessed; Sam and Tara get busy. As does Sookie. | True Blood Ep. 6 Video |
| #7 | 10/19/08 | Burning House of Love | Sookie shares a sad family secret with Bill; Jason is hooked on V; Amy Burley rescues Jason at Fangtasia; Tara agrees to pay for an excorcism; Sam runs naked through the woods! | True Blood Ep. 7 Video |
| #8 | 10/26/08 | The Fourth Man in the Fire | Sookie and Bill get down and dirty; Jason and Amy trip on V; okay, just who is Amy Burley?; we meet Lafayette’s V supplier; Sookie helps Eric find a thief. | True Blood Ep. 8 Video |
| #9 | 11/02/08 | Plaisir D’Amour | Sookie is attacked; someone breaks into Sookie’s house; Sam agrees to protect Sookie; Jason begins doubting Amy’s motives; Jason and Amy become kidnappers; Tara visits the witch doctor for personal reasons. | True Blood Ep. 9 Video |
| #10 | 11/09/08 | I Don’t Wanna Know | Bill stands trial for protecting Sookie; Tara learns a secret about the witch doctor; Tara gets arrested; Tara’s mother rebuffs her. | True Blood Ep. 10 Video |
| #11 | 11/16/08 | To Love Is To Bury | Bill’s punishment turns out to be a big headache; Sookie discovers the name of the killer; Jason sees Amy’s dark side; Tara is bailed out by a mysterious stranger; Jason turns himself in for murder. | True Blood Ep. 11 Video |
| #12 | 11/23/08 | You’ll Be the Death of Me | The identity of the killer is revealed; Sookie is attacked; Bill attempts a rescue in the daylight; a close friend of Sookie’s is killed. Or was he? | True Blood Ep. 12 Video |
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If You Like Sookie Stackhouse Books, You’ll Love These
Posted by: | CommentsNeed to find other urban fantasy books similar to the Sookie Stackhouse books? You know, books that have a female heroine, a bit of romance and some adventure? Well look no further. I’ve put together a list of books that fit the bill. All of the books in the list are recommended reads:
- Halfway to the Grave
- One Foot in the Grave
- At Grave’s End
Description: Cat Crawfield never met a vampire she didn’t hate. Although she’s half-vampire herself she moonlights as an amateur hunter who uses her feminine wiles to lure and exterminate vampires (okay, she’s got a bit of a father complex). Cat meets her match while attempting to capture Bones, a sexy full vampire who works for a secret organization that kills vampires that have gone rogue. Bones recognizes Cat’s potential and decides to properly train her to utilize her enhanced strength to help him track and kill vampires. As you can imagine, the attraction between them isn’t immediate but that’s part of the wonderful appeal of this series. Cat is a strong-willed individual who tends to be a bit headstrong; Bones’ approach is more methodical and calculating. This makes for some great “opposites attract” scenes. Jeaniene Frost does an outstanding job developing the relationship between Cat and Bones while presenting a fast paced action/adventure storyline. There’s a reason why the first book in the series Halfway to the Grave won the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award for best urban fantasy. It’s called great writing. You need to check out all of the books in this fantastic series. And stop by in a few days to enter my book contest where I’ll be giving away a free copy of “At Grave’s End”. For now, go pick up the first two books in the series. Get more info & prices
- Moon Called
- Blood Bound
- Iron Kissed
- Bone Crossed
Description: Mercy Thompson is a shape shifter whose adventures put her in contact with werewolves, vampires, and witches. There’s a romantic love interest in her life (can you say, incredibly sexy werewolf?) but she’s not sure she’s ready for a permanent relationship. These books are extremely well written and engaging. Get more info & pricing
- Touch The Dark
- Claimed By Shadow
- Embrace The Night
- Curse The Dawn
Description: Cassie is a pythia, someone that can go back in time to correct wrongs. She didn’t ask for this gig but since it’s a talent that’s passed down from one pythia to the next, she had no say in the matter. Her title puts her in constant danger because of ongoing power struggles between the vampires, good mages, dark mages, and other creatures. These books are fast paced and chock full of adventure. The sexy men in the series (some of which aren’t exactly human) add to the appeal of these books. Cassie is a smart and witty character that make these books incredibly fun to read. Get more info & pricing
- Howling At The Moon
- On The Prowl
- Leader Of The Pack
Description: Sophie Garou is the star in this series. She smart, sassy, and oh, she’s also a werewolf. Sophie has been “mainstreaming” for years amongst humans. She’s got a great job at an accounting firm, a sexy boyfriend, and a classy fashion sense. Her mother, a practicing witch, helps her mask her true identity from others but Sophie may soon be outed by the local werewolf community. Folks, these books are great. They’re sexy, incredibly funny, and suspenseful. I found it difficult to put either book down once I got started. The 3rd book in the series “Leader of the Pack” comes out this summer. Get more info & prices
- Kitty and the Midnight Hour
- Kitty Goes to Washington
- Kitty Takes a Holiday
- Kitty and the Silver Bullet
- Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand
- Kitty Raises Hell
Description: Kitty is a smart female werewolf who has a smash hit radio talk show. Her show stands apart from other talk radio because instead of accepting calls from humans, Kitty only takes calls from supernatural creatures: werewolves, vampires, and other things that love the night. The world knows what Kitty is, but they don’t yet believe that other otherworldly creatures exist. Kitty’s interactions with certain inhuman individuals frequently put her in danger. These books are fast paced and superbly written. I’m always anxiously awaiting the next release in the series. Get more info & prices
- The Becoming
- Blood Drive
- The Watcher
- Legacy
Description: You’ll be hard pressed to find a stronger female heroine than Anna Strong, the main character in the Night Huntress books. Anna is a female bounty hunter that happens to also be a vampire. Jeanne C. Stein does a fantastic job with character building and as such, Anna has become one of my favorite urban fantasy characters. Get more info & prices
- Dead Witch Walking
- The Good, The Bad, and the Undead
- Every Which Way But Dead
- A Fistful of Charms
- For a Few Demons More
- The Outlaw Demon Wails
- White Witch, Black Curse
Description:Rachel Morgan, the lead character in the series, is a 20-something witch who has a penchant for getting into trouble. Rachel co-owns a magical bounty hunter business with her two live-in partners: Jenks, an 8-inch pixy and Ivy, a female vampire. Between runs she spends her time trying to avoid people like Trent, the oh so handsome and completely human-looking elf who will stop at nothing to preserve his species or “Al” and “Newt”, two demons determined to kill her. And then there’s her roomate Ivy who REALLY wants to bite her. This is a fantastic series with great worldbuilding qualities. Kim Harrison’s superb writing deftly brings The Hollows (where Rachel lives) and the ever-after (think “Hell”) to life. I can visualize every room in the church/home where Rachel lives, all the way down to the furnishings. Folks, it doesn’t get much better than this. The characters are lively (Jenks is hilarious), the dialogue is believable, and the plots are thoroughly engrossing. Check out the first book in the series “Dead Witch Walking” and tell me if I’m wrong! Get more info & prices
Also, don’t forget that Dead and Gone is coming soon! It’s the 9th book in the Sookie Stackhouse series.
Sookie Stackhouse Book #9 – Dead and Gone
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The new cover for the latest Sookie Stackhouse book has been released! The book, titled “Dead and Gone” will be available for purchase May 5th but can be pre-ordered now.
Here’s a description of what happens in the book:
“For Sookie Stackhouse, the day-to-day activities of the vampire and were communities in and around Bon Temps, Louisiana, are of vital interest. She’s blood-bound to the leader of the vamps, a friend to the local were pack, works for a man who is a shifter, and has a brother who walks on 4 legs each month.
Most of the humans in Bon Temps view vamps as mysterious and seductive creatures – they don’t even know that weres exist.
Until now. The weres and shifters have finally decided to follow the lead of the undead and reveal their existence to the ordinary world.
At first it seems to go well. Then the mutilated body of a were-panther is found in the parking lot of the bar where Sookie works. The victim is someone she knows, so she feels compelled to discover who (human or otherwise) committed the murder.
What she doesn’t realize is that there is a far greater danger on the horizon. A race of inhuman beings that are older and even more powerful than vampires or werewolves is preparing for war. And Sookie will become a pawn in their deadly battle for power . . .”
Sounds great doesn’t it? I’ve placed my pre-order for Dead and Gone since it’s now on sale for 40% off. Your turn.
New Fantasy Books for January 2009
Posted by: | CommentsBecause of entries by Simon R. Green, Michael Boatman, Charles Stross, Marcus Pelegrimas, Christopher Golden & Tim Lebbon, Mark Del Franco, Raven Hart, and Kelley Armstrong, more than half of the contemporary/urban fantasy books released this month contain stories with male lead characters!
| Jan. 2, 2009 |  |
Ghosts by Randy Cribbs In his new novel, multiple award winning author Randy Cribbs, interweaves the fabric of Old St Augustine and its ghost-filled landscape with the sleepy modern town of today, building a mystery that forces three courageous young people on a mission to confront powerful spiritual forces they don’t understand. In a race against time, they discover the secret that can release spirits trapped ‘in between’. Ghosts is a most intriguing brew of apparitions, poltergeists and young romance. |
| Jan. 6, 2009 |  |
Host by Faith Hunter In a post-apocalyptic ice age, neomage Thorn St. Croix was nearly driven insane by her powers. She lived as a fugitive, disguised as a human, channeling her gifts for war into stone-magery. When she was discovered, her friends and neighbors accepted her, but warily. Not so the mage who arrives from the Council of Seraphs, who could be her greatest ally—or her most dangerous foe. And when her long-gone sister, Rose, is revealed to still be alive, Thorn must make a choice—and risk her own life in the process. |
| Jan. 6, 2009 |  |
Just Another Judgement Day, Nightside Book 9 There’s a new sheriff in town, and he’s got the Nightside’s rich and powerful quaking in their boots. He’s The Walking Man, and it’s his mission to exorcise sinners—with extreme prejudice. Problem is, the Nightside was built on sin and corruption, and The Walking Man makes no distinction between evildoers and those simply indulging themselves. He’ll leave the place a wasteland unless someone stops him, and P.I. John Taylor has been handed the job. No known magic or science can affect The Walking Man, and if John can’t discover his weakness, he’ll be facing the very Wrath of God… |
| Jan. 6, 2009 |  |
One More Bite I’ve already smoked the guy who was the pain in the CIA’s you-know-what for the past few years. But now, in the power vacuum left by Edward’s death, a struggle for supremacy has begun between his former allies. The CIA feels the balance must be maintained. So when an agent planted among the Weres discovers a plot to assassinate the Coven’s leader, I and my vampire hottie (and boss), Vayl, are brought in to take out the woman hired to do the deed, a killer who might be as wily and Gifted as ourselves. |
| Jan. 6, 2009 |  |
Mean Streets The best paranormal private investigators have been brought together in a single volume—and cases don’t come any harder than this. New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher delivers a hard-boiled tale in which Harry Dresden’s latest case may be his last. Nightside dweller John Taylor is hired by a woman to find something she lost—her memory—in a thrilling noir tale from New York Times bestselling author Simon R. Green. |
| Jan. 15, 2009 |  |
The Revenant Road Obadiah Grudge’s father is dead and it’s time for the family funeral. Turns out Obadiah has inherited his father’s monster-killing business, his lunatic of a partner, and his pet Raven. It’s too bad he didn’t inherit his father’s skill. It seems Dad’s death has put Obadiah’s feet on The Revenant Road, and there’s no escape from that. |
| Jan. 27, 2009 |  |
The Vampire’s Revenge Tourists are heading to Savannah for St. Patrick’s Day–and Jack is racing through tunnels below the city to the edge of Hell itself to hold off a plot posed by the double-dead and demented. But Jack must also hold off his own desire for Connie Jones, the beautiful cop he turned into a vampire slayer. Connie, her blood running hotter than she can handle, can’t imagine the games that Jack is playing with her body and her mind, or that the other monster she’s falling in love with is all part of his devious plan. Welcome to the world of Jack McShane, a blue-eyed vampire who knows how crazy things can get–once you get a little taste for blood. |
| Jan. 27, 2009 |  |
The Map of Moments What if you were given a map to a magic that could change the worst moment of your life…for a price? |
| Jan. 27, 2009 |  |
Men of the Otherworld New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong has captivated readers with her spellbinding Women of the Otherworld series. Now, for the first time, in this collection of four tales she gives center stage to the men who love these sexy, supernatural women—the men who live on the other side of humanity…the wild side. |
| Jan. 27, 2009 |  |
Seraph of Sorrow Slowly coming into her own, Jennifer Scales just may be the bridge to bring the two warring sides of her family together—provided she can survive learning the most ancient skills of dragonkind. |
| Jan. 27, 2009 |  |
Blood Blade Welcome to the nightmare. There is a world you don’t know about, inhabited by supernatural creatures of darkness—vampires, werewolves, and all manner of savage, impossible beasts that live for terror and slaughter and blood. They are all around us but you cannot see them, for knowledge of their presence—so close and so hungry—would surely drive any ordinary human insane. But for centuries a special breed of hunter has kept the monsters at bay, preventing them from breaking through the increasingly fragile barriers protecting our mortal realm. These guardians are called skinners. But beware . . . for there are very few of them left. This one just got added to my Amazon shopping cart. |
| Jan. 27, 2009 |  |
Unfallen Dead For a century the door between the land of Faerie and modern reality has been closed. But now signs point to the chance that the veil may lift again. Boston Police consultant Connor Grey is working to solve a string of murders that seem to point to the occult, in particular, the Fae Guild. With the return of his old Guild partner Connor is surrounded by events that just may kill him. |
| Jan. 27, 2009 |  |
Kitty and The Dead Man’s Hand Already the alpha pair of Denver’s werewolf pack, Kitty and Ben now plan to tie the knot human-style by eloping to Vegas. Kitty is looking forward to sipping fru-fru drinks by the pool and doing her popular radio show on live TV, but her hotel is stocked with werewolf-hating bounty hunters. Elsewhere on the Strip an old-school magician might be wielding the real thing; the vampire community is harboring a dark secret; and the irresistible star of a suspicious animal act is determined to seduce Kitty. Sin City has never been so wild, and this werewolf has never had to fight harder to save not only her wedding, but her very life. |
| Jan. 27, 2009 |  |
Spiral Hunt They call her “Hound,” and with her unique supernatural sense Evie can track nearly anything—lost keys, vanished family heirlooms, even missing people. And though she knows to stay out of the magical undercurrent that runs beneath Boston’s historic streets, a midnight phone call from a long-vanished lover will destroy the careful boundaries she has drawn. Now, to pay a years-old debt, Evie must venture into the shadowy world that lies between myth and reality, where she will find betrayal, conspiracies, and revelations that will shatter all she believes about herself and the city she claims as home. When the Hunt is on, the Hound must run. |
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Best Fantasy Books: Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
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Because the HBO series, True Blood, was so incredibly popular with my readers and since the first season is based on Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris’ first fantasy book in the Southern Vampire Mysteries series, I think it makes sense to review that book so you can compare it to the series.
In Dead Until Dark we’re first introduced to Sookie Stackhouse, the plucky, sometimes outspoken waitress from Bon Temps, Louisiana. We learn early on that Sookie has a gift: she can read the minds of others. Although this might sound like a cool thing to do we discover that it’s sometimes more of a curse than a blessing. Imagine being able to hear the thoughts of several people at once. It’s a gift that could turn someone mad if not properly controlled. Thus, Sookie works hard to block out the thoughts of others and only occasionally looks into someone’s mind.
Enter Bill Compton.
A few years prior, vampires came out of the closet to the world and announced their existence. Since then they’ve worked hard to convince humans that they can exist without resorting to violence. A Japanese company even developed a synthetic blood product called True Blood which “mainstreaming” vampires (those that choose to co-exist with humans) consume in order to maintain their strength. Being a small town, Bon Temps had never experienced vampires. Until now. You see, Bill Compton is a vampire.
What draws Sookie to Bill is that she can’t read his mind. Yup, when she’s around him she hears nothing but silence. To someone like Sookie this is fantastic. She can let down her mental guard and just be herself. The attraction soon leads to a more serious relationship which allows Charlaine Harris to provide social commentary on prejudice, racism, and intolerance for cultural differences.
The supporting characters in the book help flesh out the story and provide insight into the Bon Temps community:
First up is Sam Merlotte, Sookie’s boss and the owner of Merlotte’s, the bar where Sookie works. Sam is a great guy who happens to have a crush on Sookie. Sam has a secret that, during the course of the book, Sookie discovers. I won’t reveal it here for those that haven’t read the book or watched True Blood. Suffice it to say, it illustrates to Sookie that her world is inhabited by more supernatural creatures than just vampires.
Sookie’s brother, Jason Stackhouse, is a fun-loving womanizer who doesn’t really spend much time with his sister. Jason’s conquests are primarily spoken of, not shown, unlike what we see in the True Blood series.
Eric Northman is Bill’s boss and the vampire owner of a bar called Fangtasis, located in Shreveport. Here’s Charlaine Harris’ description of Eric from the book:
“the vampire was handsome, in fact he was radiant. Blond and blue-eyed, tall and broad shouldered.”
In Dead Until Dark, Eric asks Sookie to use her mind reading talent to determine the identity of the person that’s stealing from him at Fangtasia. Sookie agrees and is successful in identifying the thief, but is almost killed in the process. Note: Eric is my favorite character in the series.
Other characters with more minor roles are Lafayette Reynolds, the gay, wise-cracking African American cook at Merlotte’s; Arlene Fowler, a waitress at Merlotte’s who makes unwise choices when it comes to men; Rene Lenier, Arlene’s latest boyfriend and fiance; Terry Bellefluer, another cook at Merlotte’s who’s been mentally damaged by the war; Andy Bellefluer, Terry’s cousin who’s also the local detective; and Pam, a female vampire who helps Eric run Fangtasia.
This urban fantasy book primarily focuses on Sookie and Bill’s developing relationship but the backdrop to their story involves a recent string of murders in which several local women are being brutally killed. These women have two things in common: they’re former “fangbangers” who had intimate relations with vampires and they’re former girlfriends of Jason. Because of the latter, Jason eventually moves from being a “person of interest” status to being the prime suspect. When he gets arrested Sookie takes it upon herself to prove his innocence by reading the minds of the people that frequent Merlotte’s.
During the course of the book we learn that Bill is a kind and caring individual who, unlike many other vampires, hasn’t totally lost his humanity. He and Sookie make a great couple because both of them have strong southern manners and treat one another with respect. Charlaine Harris does a great job developing the central characters in this book and therefore, Sookie and Bill’s relationship is entirely believable.
This book is well written and highly recommended by me. The dialogue has a natural flow to it, the story moves along at a steady pace, the suspense leading up to the climax (which reveals the identity of the killer)
After reading a book there are several questions I ask myself when determining whether a fantasy book is worth recommending:
Character Development: are the characters and their relationships believable? Do I care about the outcome of the main characters?
World Building: can I envision the environment in which the story takes place? Even though this is a fantasy book, is the setting believable?
Pacing: are there arcs within the story that keep the book interesting?
Climax: was I surprised at the solution to the main mystery in the book? Was it suspenseful?
Overall: do I want to read more about the characters in future books?
If most of my answers are Yes the book is usually worth reading. I’m happy to report that I answered Yes to all of the questions above. Folks, I read a LOT of vampire and fantasy books; most of them never get a written review from me because their execution of many of the elements outlined above is poor. However this fantasy book excels in all areas. When I first read this book I immediately purchased the next book in the series. I’ve since purchased all of Charlaine Harris’ fantasy books and eagerly await the 9th book, Dead and Gone, which will be released in May 2009. Dead Until Dark gets two thumbs up from me.
Note: the entire first season of True Blood (based on Dead Until Dark) will be released on DVD on May 12, 2009. Until then you can watch True Blood online for free at different websites.
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Sookie Stackhouse Books: A Quick Summary
New Fantasy Books for December 2008
Posted by: | CommentsHere’s the list of new fantasy books for December 2008. I’ve noticed that the number of new fantasy books being released each month is growing at a steady pace. Many of the books being released fall into the “epic” or “high” fantasy books genre but I’ve sifted through them and selected those that qualify as contemporary or urban fantasy books.
The Unnatural Inquirer (Nightside, Book 8), by Simon R. Green
The engaging eighth book in Green’s popular offbeat Nightside series drops another paranormal mystery in the lap of series hero John Taylor, a PI in the shadowy realm of Nightside. Pen Donavon, who claims to have a DVD depicting actual footage of the afterlife, has vanished shortly after signing an exclusive deal with a tabloid newspaper. Various factions seeking to control the Nightside are leaving a considerable body count behind as they hunt for him. Accompanied by sexy half-demon reporter Bettie Divine, Taylor navigates the treacherous terrain with his typical skill before tracking down the real force behind Donavon’s disappearance. Green skillfully blends action and humor, and shows no sign of running out of ideas. This installment will undoubtedly rope in new readers who enjoy his blend of dark humor and the supernatural. Check Prices
In the Blood, by Adrian Phoenix
Vampire. Rock star. Begotten son of the fallen angel Lucien. Dante Baptiste still struggles with nightmares and seizures, searching for the truth about his past. It is a quest as seductive as his kiss, as uncontrollable as his thirst, and as unforgiving as his determination to protect one mortal woman at any cost. FBI Special Agent Heather Wallace now knows the extent of the Bureau corruption that surrounds her, but worries she is losing the battle. And when Dante and his band Inferno come to Seattle on tour, Heather can’t help but be drawn back to the beautiful, dangerous nightkind. But what Heather and Dante don’t know is that new enemies lurk in the shadows, closer than they think…and even deadlier than they fear. Note: I just added this one to my Amazon Shopping cart. Check Prices
On the Prowl (Tales of an Urban Werewolf, Book 2), by Karen MacInerney
Talk about a bad-hair day! Sophie Garou is a master at taming her inner beast, which comes in handy since she’s a werewolf. With a big promotion at work and a supersexy boyfriend, Heath (whom she recently spotted leaving a jewelry store with a beguiling ring box), she’s one happy girl.
But when Heath starts spending long nights at the office with his new associate–a dead-ringer for Career Day Barbie–Sophie smells trouble. And when her professional relationship with her big new client–who also happens to be Texas’s brilliantly blue-eyed most eligible bachelor–begins to sizzle, she wonders if her animal instincts are leading her in the wrong direction. Just when it seems that things can’t get any more complicated, they do. The Houston werewolf pack has sniffed Sophie out, and their message is chillingly clear: you’re either with us or against us. And unless she can prove that she’s with them, the next full moon may just be her last. Check Prices
The Atrocity Archives, by Charles Gross
This wonderfully offbeat book offers two related novellas, “The Atrocity Archive” and “The Concrete Jungle.” With often hilarious results, the author mixes the occult and the mundane, the truly weird and the petty. Bob Howard is a computer-hacker desk jockey, who has more than enough trouble keeping up with the endless paperwork he has to do on a daily basis. He should never be called on to do anything remotely heroic. But for some reason, he is.
In “Atrocity,” Bob, a low-level computer fix-it guy for the Laundry, a supersecret British agency that defends the world from occult happenings, finds himself promoted to fieldwork after he bravely saves the day during a routine demonstration gone awry. With his Palm, aka his Hand of Glory (a severed hand that, when ignited, renders the holder invisible), and his smarts, he saves the world from a powerful external force seeking to enter our universe to suck it dry. In “Jungle,” Bob teams up with a cop, Josephine, to save the Laundry from a powermonger who seeks to stage an internal coup by using zombies as her minions. Amid all the bizarre happenings are the everyday trappings of a British bureaucracy. For example, Bob gets called on the carpet by his bosses because he requested backup during an emergency without first filling out the requisite forms. The world he creates is wonderful fun.Check Prices
The Darkness (Vampire Huntress Legends), by LA Banks
Description: After the battle at Masada, the Neteru team returns to San Diego believing forty-thousand demons had been eradicated and that Lilith’s spawn has been killed. But somehow the treacherous little creature got away. Just as had been prophesized at the dawn of the Armageddon, the antichrist has been born…and will soon rise to power. Check Prices
Demon’s Hunger by Eve Silver
Description: Forensic anthropologist Vivien Cairn fears she’s losing her mind. Her libido has kicked into overdrive, and she’s blacking out, leaving hours of her life unaccounted for and no memory of where she’s been or what she’s done. But when a sexy stranger rescues her from a demon attack, Vivien realizes there’s more than just her sanity at stake. A seductive killer is luring victims, and Sorcerer Dain Hawkins finds himself walking a dangerous line between ancient duty and sizzling desire when the brotherhood–and Vivien herself–begins to suspect that her mysterious symptoms may connect her to the crimes. Can Dain save Vivien from the evil that threatens to claim her? Or will they both succumb . . Check Prices
Mr. Gaunt and Other Uneasy Encounters, by John Langan
The richly atmospheric title story evokes the weird fiction of both Henry James and M.R. James in its account of a family cursed with a demonic familiar with a ravenous appetite for disobedient children. A man plays an audiotape left for him by his late father and is initiated into a family story of monstrous deeds. A student learns frightening lessons in a surreal tutoring center. A young couple struggles to make their stand against a group of inhuman pursuers in a ravaged landscape. The five tales run the gamut from supernatural satire (Tutorial) to apocalyptic nightmare (Episode Seven), but whatever their theme or tone, Langan shows uncommon skill at balancing character, plot and mood to achieve the perfect pitch for each. Check Prices
Unclean Spirits: Book One of the Black Sun’s Daughter, by M.L.N. Hanover
Plucky heroine Jayné Heller stumbles into a world of dangerous magic when she inherits a distant uncle’s fortune and his difficulties with a clan of malicious supernatural beings. Jayné likewise gains her uncles loose conglomerate of useful friends, all of whom have about one character trait apiece (the chef, the Frenchman, the ex-Jesuit), and she plots with them to destroy her uncles murderer, the sinister Randolph Coin. When trouble threatens, Jayné displays startling monster-fighting abilities, belatedly attributed to her uncle’s blessing. Check Prices
Unusual Suspects: Stories of Mystery & Fantasy, by Dana Stabenow
This follow-up to Powers of Detection showcases bestselling and award-winning names from Simon Green to Laurie King to Sharon Shinn—with original stories featuring otherworldly investigators trailing uncanny criminals across fantastical realms. From video game characters seeking civil rights and a cave dragon loan shark pondering an investment, to Santa Claus’s Australian vacation and an enemy of Sam Spade’s out for revenge—plus visits to the Nightside and Sookie Stackhouse’s hometown— these stories will take readers around the world on a magical mystery tour. Check Prices
Blue Moon (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter), by Laurell K. Hamilton
In Blue Moon, Anita’s ex-boyfriend Richard is jailed in Tennessee, accused of rape. When Anita arrives with a lawyer and an entourage of vampires and werewolves supplied by Jean-Claude, it’s clear that something is rotten in Myerton. The local cops are corrupt, and the trolls Richard was studying are threatened. But if she sticks around to investigate, the local Master vampire will attack her and her friends. The local werewolf clan isn’t rushing to welcome her either, and her self-control is going to the, um, wolves. Be warned–there’s steamy sex and graphic violence here, though Anita does reflect on her moral position. But if dark urban fantasy featuring those who hunt the night appeals, pounce on this series. Check Prices
The Return: The Dark Stalker Journals, by Byron N. Morrison
In this book a team of special men and women called Dark Stalkers are assembled to combat evil forces. Witches, lycanthropes, and vampires have been identified and allowed to live among humans secretly, providing they live in peace. A secret bill has recently been passed to have these creatures licensed and regulated because some would use their strange abilities for death and destruction. At ththe turn of the century, evil has moved its focus to a town called Reading, Pennsylvania, looking for a demon of great power. It holds knowledge that could plunge the entire human existence into a hellish nightmare that could force them to live as cattle or fodder to the ruling denizens. Check Prices
Ghostlight, by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Truth Jourdemayne, parapsychologist and illegitimate child of celebrated vanished occultist Thorne Blackburn, decides to write a book about her much-hated father; to begin her research, she visits his estate, Shadow’s Gate, nestled in the Hudson River valley. There Truth meets a group continuing Blackburn’s occult “Work,” led by the exciting and mysterious Julian Pilgrim. Truth lost her parents in the late 1960s to an occultist experiment. Now, a quarter-century later, some New Agers mess around with the same experiment, and Truth ends up with the job of preventing a second disaster. Bradley is a master storyteller, and her latest proves thoroughly absorbing. Check Prices
Escape From Hell!, by Hal Duncan
A hitman, a hooker, a homosexual kid, and a hobo suicide make the ultimate prison break…escape from Hell itself! But when news of their attempted escape gets out, the souls of the damned are transformed into a rioting mob, and all Hell truly does break loose. It’s Escape from New York meets Jacob’s Ladder, by one of fantasy’s rising stars. Check Prices
Tamarisk: A Novel by Lou Aronica,
In this heartfelt fantasy of love and loss, a young girl’s tragic illness leads her on a journey to a mystical dreamland, revealing truths that force her family to make the most difficult choice of their lives. Check Prices
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Best Fantasy Book: Legacy by Jeanne C. Stein
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This enthralling urban fantasy book is part of the Anna Strong Vampire series; book 4 to be exact. In this installment our heroine, Anna Strong, a kick butt bounty hunter, reluctantly agrees to help the girlfriend of her business partner, Dave. Anna’s not a fan of Dave’s pretentious and selfish girlfriend Gloria; she thinks he deserves a better partner. So when Gloria approaches Anna about investigating a wealthy businessman threatening to blackmail her, Anna surprises herself by agreeing. The fact that Gloria was having an affair with this guy (something Anna could potentially use against her) may play a role in her decision.
By the way. Anna is a vampire.
If you’ve read previous books in this series you know that Anna was turned after a violent attack by a rogue vampire. She suffered cruel emotional and physical abuse at the hands of her sire but was eventually able to escape his control. By killing him.
While taking a break from investigating Gloria’s case she’s confronted by a female werewolf who wants to claim her sire’s estate. According to vampire law, when a vampire is killed his/her “children” (the people he/she turned) are entitled to that vampire’s holdings. Although Anna makes it clear she wants no part of her “inheritance” the werewolf insists on challenging her for the estate. Through a series of surprising events Anna soon realizes that:
a) it’s hard to kill something that’s already dead;
b) her vampire sire was much stronger than anyone knew.
This causes problems for Anna because she’s still trying to mainstream and live as a human. Although her vampire mentor makes it clear that she has to put her former life behind her she continues to maintain contact with her immediate family and friends. As we’ve seen in the earlier books, Anna hasn’t totally accepted her new vampire lifestyle.
It becomes increasingly difficult for her to exist in both worlds. While investigating Gloria’s case she learns that her instincts about Gloria are well founded. She not only has to convince Dave of Gloria’s underhandedness (without turning him against her and ruining their personal and business relationships), but she also has to be careful not to display any of her enhanced powers during said investigation. Additionally, although she enjoys spending time with her parents, she’s running out of excuses for not eating her mother’s cooking, something which Anna knows hurts her mother’s feelings.
Legacy is an evenly paced, well balanced urban fantasy vampire book with just the right mixture of action, adventure, and drama. Jeanne C. Stein has created a strong, well developed character in Anna and as a result, she’s a popular heroine in the urban fantasy vampire book genre.
Overall I found the book to be thoroughly engaging and entertaining. If you love a good action adventure with a supernatural backdrop you’ll love Legacy, Book 4 in the Anna Strong Vampire Chronicles.
