Darkfever and Bloodfever, Karen Marie Moning
Darkfever is the first of the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. MacKayla "Mac" Lane goes to Dublin to investigate the brutal murder of her sister, who was in Dublin on a study-abroad program. Once there, Mac discovers she's a sidhe-seer, one who can see the Fae in all their forms. She somewhat unwillingly teams up with Jericho Barrons, owner of Barrons Books and Baubles. Barrons helps Mac learn how to use her talents, but it's unclear as to how much he's really on her side.
I enjoyed this more than I initially thought I was going to. It's kind of like Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets evil "fairies." That's the lamest description possible, but it's the best I've got at the moment. I loved reading the various references to different places in Dublin, and I could really picture them in my head (it helped that I spent a good amount of time in Temple Bar, but the descriptions were spot on, from what I remembered). The first person narration at times was annoying, and Moning, as usual, includes a lot of really specific details that I don't like (I was trained that you don't name specific songs or make references to contemporary cultural phenomena), but I read most of this and the second book (Bloodfever) in one night. A nice light, engaging read.
In this second book of the Fever series, Mac Lane continues to fight the Fae foes of mankind, and uncovers some secrets about herself along the way. Still fighting alongside, and often times with, Jericho Barrons, Mac does battle against a "vampire" and learns first-hand some of the power of the Fae. Special guest appearances by a few characters from Moning's Highlander series.
I liked this book even more than the first. It's a bit darker, a bit edgier, and even somewhat better written. Mac's world gets a little bit bigger, while her focus becomes a lot more defined. I love her interactions with Jericho. The action sequences are well described and the entire book is pretty visual--I could almost see this becoming a TV show. Except it would probably be on Fox.
These are reads number 32 and 33, respectively. I could still get to 50!
I enjoyed this more than I initially thought I was going to. It's kind of like Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets evil "fairies." That's the lamest description possible, but it's the best I've got at the moment. I loved reading the various references to different places in Dublin, and I could really picture them in my head (it helped that I spent a good amount of time in Temple Bar, but the descriptions were spot on, from what I remembered). The first person narration at times was annoying, and Moning, as usual, includes a lot of really specific details that I don't like (I was trained that you don't name specific songs or make references to contemporary cultural phenomena), but I read most of this and the second book (Bloodfever) in one night. A nice light, engaging read.
In this second book of the Fever series, Mac Lane continues to fight the Fae foes of mankind, and uncovers some secrets about herself along the way. Still fighting alongside, and often times with, Jericho Barrons, Mac does battle against a "vampire" and learns first-hand some of the power of the Fae. Special guest appearances by a few characters from Moning's Highlander series.
I liked this book even more than the first. It's a bit darker, a bit edgier, and even somewhat better written. Mac's world gets a little bit bigger, while her focus becomes a lot more defined. I love her interactions with Jericho. The action sequences are well described and the entire book is pretty visual--I could almost see this becoming a TV show. Except it would probably be on Fox.
These are reads number 32 and 33, respectively. I could still get to 50!