As a fan of paranormal and historical romances, I was very intrigued by the new series by Alexa Egan that combines the two genres. Though this is the first in the series and not a great book, the series shows a lot of potential. There is a very dark tone that pervades Demon’s…
The paranormal romances I like best are those that make magicians and supernatural beings not larger-than-life and above the rest of society, but instead show the struggle of creating a society that consists of both magical and mundane beings. Lessons After Dark is such a story set in an alternative Victorian England, and it is,…
As a whole, paranormals are not my drug of choice, usually because I find the world-building tedious or unbelievable, or the premise silly. So I’m choosy when I decide to give one a try. In the case of Moonglow, my gamble paid off. The characters and engaging, and the conflict is interesting. And the world…
There’s good news, and there’s so-so news. The good news is that The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences is a rollicking, kick-ass, funtastic series from a Kiwi and American duo, and I look forward to more adventures featuring Agents Books and Braun. The so-so news is that the second book, while a good read, suffers a…
Have you ever read a book that was so over the top crazy and convoluted that you were left wondering if it was supposed to be a joke and for some reason you just didn’t get it? I read The Seduction of Phaeton Black days ago and I’m still undecided. Surely it’s intended to be…
Sometimes it seems like it’s impossible to find a fresh idea in the stacks of YA novels out there. This latest book is a sort of redo of Cowboys vs. Aliens except with teen protagonists and zombies rather than aliens. The changes didn’t improve the story any. Jett Gallatin has seen the worst life has…
Debut author Kristen Callihan creates a moody, gothic vision of Victorian England for her characters and there is a lot about this book that I liked. However, the curious lack of intensity to the romance for much of the book combined with some rather odd pacing also provided less likable moments. In the end, this…
I divide C reads into Mehs and Buts; this is a But book. No, it’s not a 370-page snapshot of posterior extremities (sorry); instead, it’s a book that epitomizes contradictions. It’s a story filled with “Yeah, but…” statements. It’s a novel that hits good points, some bad points, and all in all irritates me sufficiently…
I really enjoyed Ms. Hobson’s debut The Native Star. The series defies any kind of categorization. While it presents an alternate fantastical history of the world in the 1870s, focusing on America, there are also steampunk elements, as well as science fiction, magic, paranormal, horror, romance, and mystery. Whatever it is, in this case smearing…
I love it when publishers get their timing right. There is nothing like a good paranormal and a hot cup of tea or cocoa to brighten the month of October and the beginning of the Halloween season. This one with its druids, seers, ghosts, and haunted castle ruins is a real treat for those of…