Books 11-22

Sooo behind with books, both posting & reading.  So I'm going to get caught up with at least the posting part =)  But in the interest of doing so quickly, I'm going to keep my commentary mostly on the short side:

#11

The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance

Anthology

Paranormal Romance

This anthology featured short stories by:  C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp. Ilona Andrews, Kelley Armstrong, Anya Bast, Meljean Brook, Rachel Caine, Alyssa Day, Lori Devoti, Jeaniene Frost, Lynda Hilburn, Allyson James, Dina James, Jean Johnson, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Holly Lisle, Sara Mackenzie, Cheyenne McCray, Catherin eMulvany, Mary Jo Putney, Michelle Rowen, Eve Silver, Maria V. Snyde, Carrie Vaughn, & Anna Windsor

#12

Blood Magic

Eileen Wilks

World of the Lupi Book 6

Urban Fantasy

There were a couple of times I literally could not put this book down - I think I finished it in like 2 days, which used to be more normal for me but is super-quick compared to my pace lately.

#13

Flirt

Laurell K. Hamilton

Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Book 18

Paranormal Romance/Thriller

Lots of zombies in this one, which is kind of nice, since the whole animator side of Anita's life sometimes gets put on the sidelines while she's dealing with killing things, rather than raising them from the dead LOL.  Kind of short, which was disappointing, but as the author explained in the afterword, this is really an "extra" book on the year - the inspiration for it interrupted her when she was writing the last book for her other series (Divine Misdemeanors if you're curious like me) and so she put out this book which at under 200 pages is more of a novella, in addition to the regularly-scheduled Anita book that will be out in June

#14

Kushiel's Scion

Jacqueline Carey

Kushiel's Legacy, Book 4

Historical Paranormal

The first time I read this, I was really disappointed that the protagonist from the first 3 books was no longer narrating the story.  This time I think I actually enjoyed the book more, because I knew when I started that it was told from Imriel's point of view.

#15

Moon Craving

Lucy Monroe

Children of the Moon Book 2

Historical Paranormal Romance

Werewolves, as you might guess, this second book took a couple of minor characters from the first book & expanded on their story.

#16

Silver Borne

Patricia Briggs

Mercy Thompson Book 5

Urban Fantasy

Things seem to finally be settling down a little for Mercy, although I can't help but wonder what the vampires are up to since they didn't make an appearance in this book.

#17

Demon Angel

Meljean Brook

Guardians Book 2

Paranormal Romance

Although this is technically the 2nd book of the series, this was actually the first full-length novel.

#18

Master of Fire
Angela Knight

Mageverse  Book 6

Paranormal Romance

Her last couple of books have been in other series, so it has been a while since the last book in this world & I hope it's not so long again because one of the characters disappears at the end & I'd really like to find out what happens next.

#19

Wild Thing

Anthology

Paranormal Romance

This anthology featured short stories by:  Maggie Shayne, Marjorie M. Liu, Alyssa Day, & Meljean Brook

#20

Serpent Moon

C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp

Tales of the Sazi Book 8

Urban Fantasy

This book wrapped up a lot of loose ends that had been left in the earlier books, kind of bringing everything together for a conclusion, although I don't think it's the last book in this series.

#21

Changes

Jim Butcher

Dresden Files Book 12

Urban Fantasy

Damn right changes.  I know I have several readers who also read this series so I especially don't want to give any spoilers, but let me just say that while I was happy he managed to keep from killing off too many of my favorite characters, EVERYTHING else changes in this book.  And it's also the first one that ended on a genuine, heart in my throat cliffhanger.  A cliffhanger so worrisome let me just say I immediately went to the author's website to reassure myself that there would in fact be another book.  Which there will be - but there's no release date out there yet.  I want it like yesterday LOL, but I'm thinking more likely somewhere between October & December if I'm lucky, or sometime in 2011 if I'm not.

#22

The Mystery Writers of America Presents:  Crime By Moonlight - Mysteries From The Dark Side

Anthology

Paranormal Mystery

This anothology featured short stories by:  Charlaine Harris, William Kent Krueger, Margaret Maron, Brendan Dubois, Harley Jane Kozak, S.W. Hubbard, Jeffrey Somers, Elaine Viets, Barbara D’Amato, Lou Kemp, Martin Meyers, Terrie Farley Moran, Jack Fredrickson, Steve Brewer, Mike Wiecek, Dana Cameron, Carolyn Hart, Max Allan Collins and Mickey Spillane, Parnell Hall, Toni L.P. Kelner

I actually really enjoyed this anthology, even though with so many authors the stories were extremely short.  Shorter than I'd prefer really.

So!  That's what I've been reading the past couple of months.  Not exactly on track for my goal this year of 100 ... maybe I'll read another 30 books by the end of June?  But I doubt it.  Apparently I'm busier than I used to be =)

Thanks for reading.

~Colette

Books 62 -67

#62
The Phoenix Transformed
The Enduring Flame Book 3
Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory

This Enduring Flame trilogy is set a few hundred years down the timeline from the Obsidian trilogy, which was also a collaboration between Lackey & Mallory, and so I was waiting for this conclusion for quite a long time, and it was well worth it. I would classify this not just as high fantasy, but epic fantasy, because the quest they're on will, basically, determine the fate of the entire world.

There were a few times in this book where I kind of doubted if the heroes actually would manage to pull it off, and the authors managed to surprise me right up until the end when everything got neatly tied up. I mean, there were a few loose ends, relationships that I wanted to see resolution to, & wanting to know what would happen when the survivors actually finally made it home, but overall I was satisfied.

#63
Cold Moon Rising
Tales of the Sazi Book 7
C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp

It's been a long time, I want to say over a year, since this author duo has had a book set in this world. The Sazi are shapeshifters - not just wolves, but lions, bears, snakes - pretty much any animal. And while the series has had books from the viewpoint of various characters, this book takes us back to Tony - one of my favorites - that was a hit man for the mob before one of his targets took offense to being shot with a non-silver bullet, mauled him, and he ended up becoming a wolf. But there's plenty of room in the Sazi's organization for someone who knows how to help clean up messes.

#64
Night's Edge
Anthology (Charlaine Harris, Maggie Shayne, Barbara Hambly)

Kind of a quick fill-in book, that I mainly picked up for the Charlaine Harris short. I actually enjoyed it more than I quite expected, because while it's set in her Sookie world, none of the characters from those books showed up, we got to be introduced to a whole new group in another city.

#65
A Touch of Dead: The complete Stories
Charlaine Harris

One of my problems with Charlaine's short stories is that sometimes they fit awkwardly into the overall timeline (which is why I liked the other one above better). But I still wanted to pick this up & read the few short stories that I had been unable to locate in their original anthologies.

#66
The Lightning Thief
Percy Jackson & The Olympians Book 1
Rick Riordan

This book is being turned into a movie that is set to release in February 2010. I found out about it from my friend Sam at work, and if you are a fan of the Harry Potter books I would recommend checking out this series. It's the same kind of story, even though they don't have much in common, if that makes sense. It was a quick, fun read, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

#67
The Sea of Monsters
Percy Jackson & The Olympians Book 2
Rick Riordan

Hmmm, hard to say much about this one without giving away spoilers for the first book like about who Percy's dad turns out to be ... but I guess I can say that he does return to his old stomping grounds, but not for long before he has to go on yet another quest to save his best friend.

As usual, even after all of these, I've got a considerable pile of books out from the library, and I think 3 right now just waiting to be picked up. I'm doubting at this point I'll even hit 100 by year end, but I'm hoping that I'll make it to 80. Time will tell.

I also didn't get around to answering comments last night. I started, then my mom had to use the computer to order some tickets for my dad. I lay down to wait for her, and, well ... never quite got back up again LOL. So I'll try to finish up tonight or tomorrow. And hope you'll forgive me if I fail =) Thanks for reading.

~Colette