More books
Again, I forget to update this place. I promise to stop dumping in lots soon. I think this takes me up over 20 books, possibly over 30.
Agyar, by Steven Brust. While this is another Brust book, like my previous entries regarding the Vlad Taltos series, this books is distinctly not in that world. It takes place in our world, in modern day. And it is horror, not fantasy. This is one of those books where you don't want to give too much away, because part of the joy of the initial read is finding out stuff. This book reminds me of Sixth Sense in that way. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for well written horror of the mind. It is not gross or bloody. I dislike traditional horrors and can't stand thrillers but enjoyed this book greatly. As long as I read it during the day. 4.5 dark nights out of 5.
Love Only Once, by Johanna Lindsey. Another romance, another day. This book is a quick read and not terrible. It is the first of a family series (Mallory), but I don't think I'm likely to pick up the rest. I liked the Heroine a lot, but the Hero just struck me as stubborn and bull-headed. This book used the assumption plot device to the extreme and it is one of my most hated devices. Basically, the hero has a secret and doesn't want the heroine to be with him because of said secret. The heroine also develops a secret later on, that she chooses not to share with the hero. There are further family secrets that lead to more trouble. All of which could be avoided if the characters just talked to each other rather than interrupting and saying "I know all about that," when they really don't. Standard romance of the regency genre, not too bad of editing. Highly forgettable, IMO, on the other hand I'm pretty sure this is one of the more popular series and I know my mother loves this author, so I seem to be apart from the crowd here. 3 devilish rakes out 5.
Tonight or Never, by Dara Joy. Okay, you must all go look at the cover. It promises much hunky, sexy goodness in a tropical jungle, yes? Well, boy does it not deliver. Reason #243 why I hate romance novel covers. This is the story of two childhood friends finally getting hooked up and getting it on. Chloe has left England for the Colonies (and returned, with nothing bad happening, in 18 months and still managed to get gossip from the homeland) to incite her childhood friend, Lord Sexton aka Lord of Sex, to worry about her so that when she returns as a blossomed woman she can seduce him. And that's all before the book starts. The Hero & Heroine marry within the first 30 pages or so, but it isn't a marriage of love but one founded on deceit. Though the book claims that Chloe seduces John, I always thought of seduction as a more active activity than just looking good. The sub-plot which is interested doesn't really get started until half-way through the book and concerns a noble crook that is liberating the nobles of Frances seconds before the guillotine would have them. John & Chloe work together to discover the identity of the liberator as the freed French ex-nobles keep showing up on their doorstep. The sex is okay, but I've read hotter. The "jungle" refers to the conservatory and I've read better conservatory sex. I don't recommend this book. 2 wilted plants out of 5.
Deep Waters, by Jayne Anne Krentz. Yes, this is another romance. This was my stab at a contempory one. I liked this one. The Hero was interesting and satisfyingly mysterious, sexy, stubborn, macho, and wounded with a "deep" past. The Heroine was interesting, fiery, intelligent, mothering, sexy and in need of a good man. The background murder plot was better than some and even though I figured it out early, the route by which the characters got there was fun. The book is filled with this either made-up or very obscure water spirituality devotionals practiced by the Hero. It made for some great ocean, water comments while taking place in a coast side town near Seattle. While I don't think contemporaries are really my cup of tea, I'd be willing to read more by this author. 4 smooth water reflecting pools out of 5.
And finally, Joust, by Mercedes Lackey. I finally got some fantasy back. This is a pretty standard Lackey novel. A poor, misused but honorable and brace child (Vetch, a serf with a horrid master) is rescued through really no action of their own and taken to a "magical" place with animals (the Jousters Compound with Dragons) where they prove themselves and gain some love. Vetch also goes on to do other interesting and great things, with events conspiring to allow him just enough time to do what he wants, as long as he is working hard at everything and shows he's intelligent and caring and hard-working. I really enjoyed this book, but then I knew I was in the mood for a Lackey and she's good at giving what she writes. It is wish fulfillment fantasy, but some of the best out there and the world she creates for Vetch is truly interesting and wonderful. Based on Ancient Egypt, but with tamed dragons. Lots of fun, and anyone who enjoys Lackey or McCaffrey will enjoy this book. Warning: It is a series, and no it isn't finished yet. 4 dragons out of 5.
Agyar, by Steven Brust. While this is another Brust book, like my previous entries regarding the Vlad Taltos series, this books is distinctly not in that world. It takes place in our world, in modern day. And it is horror, not fantasy. This is one of those books where you don't want to give too much away, because part of the joy of the initial read is finding out stuff. This book reminds me of Sixth Sense in that way. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for well written horror of the mind. It is not gross or bloody. I dislike traditional horrors and can't stand thrillers but enjoyed this book greatly. As long as I read it during the day. 4.5 dark nights out of 5.
Love Only Once, by Johanna Lindsey. Another romance, another day. This book is a quick read and not terrible. It is the first of a family series (Mallory), but I don't think I'm likely to pick up the rest. I liked the Heroine a lot, but the Hero just struck me as stubborn and bull-headed. This book used the assumption plot device to the extreme and it is one of my most hated devices. Basically, the hero has a secret and doesn't want the heroine to be with him because of said secret. The heroine also develops a secret later on, that she chooses not to share with the hero. There are further family secrets that lead to more trouble. All of which could be avoided if the characters just talked to each other rather than interrupting and saying "I know all about that," when they really don't. Standard romance of the regency genre, not too bad of editing. Highly forgettable, IMO, on the other hand I'm pretty sure this is one of the more popular series and I know my mother loves this author, so I seem to be apart from the crowd here. 3 devilish rakes out 5.
Tonight or Never, by Dara Joy. Okay, you must all go look at the cover. It promises much hunky, sexy goodness in a tropical jungle, yes? Well, boy does it not deliver. Reason #243 why I hate romance novel covers. This is the story of two childhood friends finally getting hooked up and getting it on. Chloe has left England for the Colonies (and returned, with nothing bad happening, in 18 months and still managed to get gossip from the homeland) to incite her childhood friend, Lord Sexton aka Lord of Sex, to worry about her so that when she returns as a blossomed woman she can seduce him. And that's all before the book starts. The Hero & Heroine marry within the first 30 pages or so, but it isn't a marriage of love but one founded on deceit. Though the book claims that Chloe seduces John, I always thought of seduction as a more active activity than just looking good. The sub-plot which is interested doesn't really get started until half-way through the book and concerns a noble crook that is liberating the nobles of Frances seconds before the guillotine would have them. John & Chloe work together to discover the identity of the liberator as the freed French ex-nobles keep showing up on their doorstep. The sex is okay, but I've read hotter. The "jungle" refers to the conservatory and I've read better conservatory sex. I don't recommend this book. 2 wilted plants out of 5.
Deep Waters, by Jayne Anne Krentz. Yes, this is another romance. This was my stab at a contempory one. I liked this one. The Hero was interesting and satisfyingly mysterious, sexy, stubborn, macho, and wounded with a "deep" past. The Heroine was interesting, fiery, intelligent, mothering, sexy and in need of a good man. The background murder plot was better than some and even though I figured it out early, the route by which the characters got there was fun. The book is filled with this either made-up or very obscure water spirituality devotionals practiced by the Hero. It made for some great ocean, water comments while taking place in a coast side town near Seattle. While I don't think contemporaries are really my cup of tea, I'd be willing to read more by this author. 4 smooth water reflecting pools out of 5.
And finally, Joust, by Mercedes Lackey. I finally got some fantasy back. This is a pretty standard Lackey novel. A poor, misused but honorable and brace child (Vetch, a serf with a horrid master) is rescued through really no action of their own and taken to a "magical" place with animals (the Jousters Compound with Dragons) where they prove themselves and gain some love. Vetch also goes on to do other interesting and great things, with events conspiring to allow him just enough time to do what he wants, as long as he is working hard at everything and shows he's intelligent and caring and hard-working. I really enjoyed this book, but then I knew I was in the mood for a Lackey and she's good at giving what she writes. It is wish fulfillment fantasy, but some of the best out there and the world she creates for Vetch is truly interesting and wonderful. Based on Ancient Egypt, but with tamed dragons. Lots of fun, and anyone who enjoys Lackey or McCaffrey will enjoy this book. Warning: It is a series, and no it isn't finished yet. 4 dragons out of 5.