Alice by Christina Henry

Paperback, 325 pages

Published June 28th 2016 by Titan Books Ltd (first published August 4th 2015)

Series: The Chronicles of Alice #1

Fantasy Dark Fairytale

Own

My Thoughts

After having read Lost boy, I knew what she could do and well she sure did something strange and special. This is not the Alice you know. It is better, it is adult, it is sad, it is a fairytale gone bad.

Alice was rich and ended up in Old City, where ganglords rule, and poor people starve. Someone broke her and her parents sent her to a mental hospital. For 10 years she has suffered there and wondered what actually happened. All she remember is long ears and a teaparty.

This is a fantasy world and a city made up from new and old. Rich and poor. We only see the poor part and it is horrific. The bosses who rule are monsters. They rule with an iron fist and if you think monsters think again, they are not just evil, they are dark.

And she will have her adventure. I can not really say more, Alice in Wonderland, goes Alice in the underworld. There is magic, monsters and so much gruesome darkness.

I enjoyed this dark "re-telling", and even though it ends with a positive note, more is to come and I do want more to see what happens to these characters 

In a warren of crumbling buildings and desperate people called the Old City, there stands a hospital with cinderblock walls which echo with the screams of the poor souls inside. In the hospital, there is a woman. Her hair, once blonde, hangs in tangles down her back. She doesn't remember why she's in such a terrible place-just a tea party long ago, and long ears, and blood... Then, one night, a fire at the hospital gives the woman a chance to escape, tumbling out of the hole that imprisoned her, leaving her free to uncover the truth about what happened to her all those years ago. Only something else has escaped with her. Something dark. Something powerful. And to find the truth, she will have to track this beast to the very heart of the Old City, where the rabbit waits for his Alice. 

The Mermaid - Christina Henry

Paperback, 321 pages

Published June 19th 2018 by Titan Books Ltd

Historical fantasy

Own

My Thoughts

I do like her books. They are all such great fun!

This one is more Selkie wife than little mermaid.  A mermaid grew bored with her world and wanted to see more. She is given the name Amelia by her husband, a lonely fisherman whom she falls in love with. No magic here (well yes and no.) If she touch land she becomes human, when she goes back into the sea she is a mermaid...creature.

I liked Amelia. She really loved her husband and stayed with him until he died. I liked the village, she knew and pretended not to.

Then comes PT Barnum. Ugh, what an asshat! Oh Amelia, I know that you still want to see the world, but stay away from that asshat! He wants a circus freak. An animal.

Conclusion:

The book is light, and heavy. Fun, and dark. And in that aspect it did remind me of Lost boy. The darkness she got in there. Yes, I do like these magical books of hers. And I have Alice on its way so I will read more by her, wohoo!

Blurb

From the author of Lost Boy comes a beautiful historical fairy tale about a mermaid who leaves the sea, only to become the star attraction of history's greatest showman. Once there was a mermaid called Amelia who could never be content in the sea, a mermaid who longed to know all the world and all its wonders, and so she came to live on land. Once there was a man called P. T. Barnum, a man who longed to make his fortune by selling the wondrous and miraculous, and there is nothing more miraculous than a real mermaid. Amelia agrees to play the mermaid for Barnum and walk among men in their world, believing she can leave anytime she likes. But Barnum has never given up a money-making scheme in his life, and he's determined to hold on to his mermaid. 

Lost boy - Christina Henry

Paperback, 318 pages

Published July 4th 2017 by Titan Books

Fantasy

Own

My Thoughts

Wow, Henry made me hate Pan. She even made me look at the original story in another way. It is creepy. Going to get boys for that island. Making those boy fight pirates. Getting new ones as old ones perish. What if those boy leave something behind?

Jamie was the first boy Peter brought to the island. He was happy there but decades went by, and now he is more like a mother to the new ones. And there have been so many new ones. Disease, pirates, animals, each other, they have died to so many things, and Jamie does his best to protect the boys.

While Peter is a flighty thing. Talking about adventures, how fighting is fun and wanting everyone to love him. Ugh, he is so creepy and he only gets creepier.

And yes this is the story of how Captain Hook is born, and I have never understood him better. Pan is a menace.

Conclusion:
It is a brutal book, all told through rose colored lenses until those fall off. It's a great story, and a sad one in a way. Because Peter is a monster hiding behind a smile.

Blurb:

There is one version of my story that everyone knows. And then there is the truth. This is how it happened. How I went from being Peter Pan’s first—and favorite—lost boy to his greatest enemy.

Black Spring - Christina Henry

A former Agent of death, Madeline Black now has everything to live for, most importantly, her unborn child. But Chicago has become ground zero in a struggle between ancient creatures, and only Maddy can stop the carnage…

The mayor of Chicago has announced a plan to round up the city’s supernatural beings and put them in camps. With her due date looming, Maddy’s best move would be to lay low for a while. But not everyone is willing to respect her privacy. Hounded by tentacled monsters, a rogue shapeshifter, and a tenacious blogger, Maddy turns to her most powerful ally, her uncle Daharan, only to find him missing.

Just when it seems like things can’t get any worse, Maddy gets an invitation in the mail—to Lucifer’s wedding. Turns out everyone has been invited, friends and enemies alike. And with that kind of guest list, it’s highly unlikely there will be a happily ever after. 

My thoughts:

Oh no, the end, now I am sad :/ I am happy that it ended well, cos I do know those series that just goes on and on. But it's always hard to say goodbye.

Maddy has grown, I was pretty proud of her in this one. Sure she still wants to save everyone, but she has a good head on her shoulders while saving everyone.

I will miss the gang! JB,  and Beezel the best gargoyle side-kick in the world!, Lucifer because even though he makes her life hell he is still a such a good baddie, his brothers cos they are evil and good, Nathaniel who I did not like at all at first but now yes I want them happy and together.

The book is about the big wedding, yes Lucifer is getting married to a psycho. And everyone is invited. But Maddy's life is not easy, someone is trying to kill her, what is Aleran up to? Why must she go to the wedding (cos Lucifer sucks)? And of course there is the whole I am preggers and might give birth any second thing.

Conclusion:

Again, sad that it ended but it was been a fun ride :) 

cover

cool

Mass Market Paperback, 288 pages
Published October 28th 2014 by Ace
Black Wings #7
Urban fantasy
own

Black Heart - Christina Henry

As a former Agent of Death, Madeline Black is no stranger to witnessing violent ends. But being the one to cause them is an entirely different story…

Despite her having saved Chicago from a vampire invasion, the Agency wants to get Maddy off their payroll—permanently. With the deadly Retrievers hot on her trail, she has no choice but to trust Nathaniel to port her to safety. But even the exotic and dangerous world that she winds up in is not as peaceful as she would have hoped. Caught in a turf war between a group of fae and a disturbingly familiar foe, Maddy soon discovers that the twisted plots of her grandfather, Lucifer, and his brothers extend even into this unknown realm.

Now, with enemies gathering on all sides, Maddy’s fate is looking darker than ever. And to protect her unborn son from her adversaries, she may have to tap into a power she hoped never to access…

My thoughts:

I do like this series and when I finished the book I went online t at once to find out when the next book is coming out. The fall! Woe me!

The writing has also gotten better with each book, book 1 was a bit, eh, the story was awesome but it had some issues (but was still awesome ;). The only problem this book had was a conversation that was a bit silly in the middle of the book. But who cares, cos the rest is kick-ass.

Maddy is being hunted by the Agency since she left. She and Nathaniel got down and dirty (mixed feelings about that. She met her third uncle and revelations were made in the last that has an impact here. To protect her she is sent far away and gets into trouble. But she also meets someone whom I liked.

She kicks more ass. She learns a few secrets and something big happens and I got mad. Arghhh, evilness going on. The pace is good and something is always going on. Just too bad Lucifer was so busy with his baby mama, cos he is always cool to read about.

Conclusion:

I can't wait for more.

Cover

Cool

Mass Market Paperback, 288 pages
Published October 29th 2013 by Ace
Black Wings #6
Urban fantasy
Own

Review: Black City - Christina Henry

When Maddy finally killed her father, Azazel, she thought his depraved experiment died with him. But now Chicago has been infested with vampires immune to the effects of the sun, and the bloodbath is worse than she could have ever imagined. While the Agency refuses to interfere with other supernatural courts, Maddy is determined to do everything within her power to save her city—wings or no wings. 

But when the leader of the vampires requests that she turn herself in or risk more deaths, Maddy becomes a target for the very people she’s trying to save. Left with no other choice, she turns to Lucifer, the one creature who has the power to help her. But her grandfather’s aid has always come at a price…

My thoughts:

After a long week I need a book that I could enjoy and read in a second and I knew Henry would deliver and so she did.

Vampires running amok in the city! Nahaniel guarding her back! Who is Puck! What is stirring in the area? The agency being a bunch of asses. Yes lots going on and Maddy is kick-ass as always, taking names and getting shot. She has a darkness growing inside her too and trying to deal with it all, while being preggers.

I also wonder if she will find a new love interest and who it will be....

Also Lucifer is scheming and the schemes are totally 0_0

Conclusion:

A fast kick-ass book that left me wanting more. This series just keeps on improving.

Cover

I do like her covers

Black Wings #5
Urban Fantasy
Mass Market Paperback, 288 pages
Published February 26th 2013 by Ace
Own

Review: Black Lament - Christina Henry

Devastated and grieving, Maddy unexpectedly finds hope with the discovery that she is pregnant. But Maddy’s joy is short lived when Lucifer informs her that he wants the baby, hoping to draw on the combined power of two of his bloodlines. Maddy is determined that her grandfather will never have her child, but she’s not sure what she can do to stop him. 

Being pregnant is stressful enough, but Maddy suddenly finds herself at odds with the Agency—forbidden from meddling in the affairs of the supernatural courts. When a few of her soul collections go awry, Maddy begins to suspect that the Agency wants to terminate her employment. They should know by now that she isn’t the sort to give up without a fight…

My thoughts:

Wow Madeleine is just crazy kick-ass, she always was but now, ha, kick-ass beyond everything. But that is why she is fun to read about, she rushes into a situation, tries to kill someone (does kill someone) and often end up mortally wounded. She is not stupid, she is just, let's get this S#¤t done!!

And of course after the true evilness! after book 3 I was dying to read this one. Gabriel was killed..killed and I was all wtf?! Not to mention Maddy is preggers and Lucifer could not be happier. But then I like good old Lucifer cos he is so cool and let her deal with all his troubles. But Maddy is trying to come to terms with her loss and she has a lot on her plates. The Agency is pretty tired of her, the fairies is pretty pissed at her and do not forget good old dad who wants to kill her.

Conclusion: 

There will be lots of fighting and good humour. This series is just so easy to read, it's light, while being dark. I do enjoy it.

Cover

Cool

Black Wings #4
Urban fantasy
Mass Market Paperback, 288 pages
Published October 30th 2012 by Ace
Own

Review: Black Howl - Christina Henry

Something is wrong with the souls of Chicago's dead. Ghosts are walking the streets, and Agent of Death

Madeline Black's exasperating boss wants her to figure out why. And while work is bad enough, Maddy has a plethora of personal problems too. Now that Gabriel has been assigned as her thrall, their relationship has hit an impasse. At least her sleazy ex-fiance Nathaniel is out of the picture--or so she thinks...

My thoughts:

The best book in the series to far, and it was also completely evil! By Lucifer it was so evil.

In this one ghosts are behaving strange, Gabriel is Maddy's thrall and neither one is happy. Our favorite gargoyle wants donuts. Wolves are missing and as always the courts of the fallen are conspiring. And Maddy is in the middle of it all.

Maddy is somewhat of a klutz, she will fall into the worst situation and still mouth off. I have to love her. Yes she is stupid in a way, but I like her. The series is not Mercy awesome. Instead it's just truly enjoyable because the story keeps me wanting more all the time. It made it hard for me to put it down. Sure it's simple at times, but when it makes me want more it makes me want more.

And the end, I mentioned it in the beginning, but it was just so evil! Not cliffie evil (cos it was that too), but yes Lucifer evil. Now I need more cos I can guess what Lucifer wants now.

Conclusion:

Fun!

Cover

Cool

Series: Black Wings #3
Genre: Urban fantasy
Pages: 274
Published: 2012 by Ace
Source: own

Review: Black Night - Christina Henry

Madeline Black is an Agent of death, meaning she escorts the souls of people who have died to the afterlife. Of course, not everyone is happy to see her... 

If obstinate dead people were all that Maddy had to worry about, life would be much easier. But the best-laid plans of Agents and fallen angels often go awry. Deaths are occurring contrary to the natural order, Maddy's being stalked by foes inside and outside of her family, and her two loves-her bodyguard, Gabriel, and her doughnut-loving gargoyle, Beezle-have disappeared. But because Maddy is Lucifer's granddaughter, things are expected of her, things like delicate diplomatic missions to other realms.

My thoughts:

This is one of those books that are just so compelling that you need more, but at the same time I find it to be badly written. Well what can I say, a compelling story trumps that.

Why do I find it badly written? It's the dialogue, it's not good, it does not always flow. And the thing is this book feels mostly like dialogue, there are never really any descriptions. Things fall into place way to easily too.

But, yes here comes the but. I finished the book in a day cos I could not put it down. When I did finish I wanted more, I need to know what happens and I even squeed a bit.

Maddie is very kick-ass, and she is Lucifer's grand daughter, way too cool. She has an awesome side-kick, she wants a guy she can't have and her dad wants her to marry this idiot. *jumps around from joy*. It's all so juicy so even if the flaws bugged me, the end turned me around like it did in book 1.

Conclusion:

Exciting even with its flaws

Cover

Nice

Series: Black Wings #2
Genre: urban Fantasy
Pages 277
Published: 2011 by Ace
Source: Own

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Discussion Point

I will ask this again tomorrow so I can get as many opinions as needed.

I have posted the Lady Scoundrels thing now for a few weeks. The questions is:

* Do you like that there are 3 reviews of the same book?

* Or should we just have one discussion post / or 3 short reviews in one? (with links to longer reviews if there are, goodreads for example)

Thanks!

Blog Tour: Black Howl contest- Christina Henry interview

Today I have Christina Henry over for an interview and at the end of this interview there is a contest for her new book Black Howl.

Welcome!

Could you tell me a bit about yourself…

Well, I live a fairly unglamorous life. I like to write, read, bake, run, go to Costco and watch weird movies.  The most exciting thing that happens to me usually is the arrival of the monthly Costco coupon book.

Your newest book is called Black Howl, what it is about?

In BLACK HOWL, Maddy’s got problems on top of problems, as usual. There are ghosts popping up all over Chicago whose deaths have not been foreseen by the Agency prophets. This means that these deaths are outside of the natural order, and it’s up to Maddy to find out who’s behind it all. 

Of course, Maddy’s love life hasn’t gotten any easier either. Gabriel is now her thrall, and their happily ever after looks like it’s more out of reach than ever.

Madeline is as kick-ass as kick-ass UF heroines should be, who was your inspiration behind her?

I didn’t have a specific person who was an inspiration for Maddy, but I did know that I wanted her to be both strong and vulnerable. I didn’t want her to be indestructible. I want her to be affected by the things that she sees and does, while still being capable of handling herself.

I loved Beezle, who did you come up with this awesome gargoyle sidekick?

Since the books are in first person there’s always a danger that you’ll get trapped inside the head of the main character. I wanted to have someone who would always be around and available for Maddy to talk to. So I came up with the idea of a home guardian, and Beezle just kind of took on a life of his own. I actually have a lot in common with Beezle. I, too,have an abnormal love of cinnamon rolls.

Heaven and hell, and all things in between. How much work does it take to create a world like this?

I did a very small amount of research when I was writing BLACK WINGS, but I didn’t want to get too bogged down in existing mythologies. I wanted to create a mythology of my own. So I had some basic ideas and then I just let the story unfold from there. I write chronologically and I don’t outline, so a lot of what happens in the story occurs very organically.

How many more books will there be in the Madeleine B series?

There will be at least six books in total. After that, we will see if there is more story to tell. 

And last, who are your own fav UF writers?

Jim Butcher, Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, Neil Gaiman, Simon R. Green, and Tanya Huff top the list.  They all write amazing characters, and characterization is a big draw for me.

Thanks!

Thank you for having me here!

Giveaway

1 copy of Black Howl

US only

Ends March 15

To enter, simply enter :)
Or ask a question, comment, or tell me if you want a gargoyle sidekick.

OUT NOW - Black HOWL

Something is wrong with the souls of Chicago's dead. Ghosts are walking the streets, and Agent of Death Madeline Black's exasperating boss wants her to figure out why. And while work is bad enough, Maddy has a plethora of personal problems, too.

Review: Her Ladyship's companion - Evangeline Collins

Genre: Historical romance

Pages: 330

Published: 2009

Publisher: Berkley

Source: Bought

In the Scottish countryside of Selkirk, Lady Isabella Stirling resides at Bowhill Park, serving penance for a sin that nearly ruined her family. For five years she has been condemned to a loveless marriage and confined to the estate where she does little more than tend her rose garden. With her husband absent for months at a time and few visitors, Bella lives a lonely existence, denying the passions that burn within her very soul.
Then her cousin comes for a visit and makes an outrageous suggestion: what Bella needs is a lover. A hired lover. Despite her need, Bella says no. But soon Mr. Gideon Rosedale arrives-and he is at her service for two weeks. Indulging in what she intends to be a harmless flirtation, Bella is overcome by Gideon's intoxicating presence. And when she at last permits him to satisfy her desires, she discovers she's done the unthinkable-she's fallen in love.

My thoughts:

I read another book by her and liked it, even though I didn't think I would. So of course then I had to get this book. At least now I was used to the prostitutes ;)

Isabella is married to a man who is never around. She is lonely, sad and there is passion in her that never gets to come out. When she finally gets to live she is a tad bit immature, but that is because she wants and wants. Kind of like me in a bookstore. The hero, oh yes, he is a male prostitute hired by her cousin. Now this is a romance so of course they fall in love, but can they be? She is married and he is nothing.

I can't say what it is about her books that make me like them so much. There is just so much passion, angst, and love around. And there is that big elephant in the room, how on earth could this possibly work? The road there is long and it has me wondering. Because I want them and need these two to be happy. She is so deserving and he, well he sure deserves better too.

Conclusion:

I truly enjoyed this one and I recommend it. I really like her voice.

Cover:

Something is wrong with his body

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I am also now a permanent member of the gang over at Alternative-read.com and today I am reviewing Black Wings by Christina Henry.

As an Agent of Death, Madeline Black is responsible for escorting the souls of the dearly departed to the afterlife. It's a 24/7 job with a lousy benefits package. 

Maddy's position may come with magical powers and an impressive wingspan, but it doesn't pay the bills. And then there are her infuriating boss, tenant woes, and a cranky, popcorn-loving gargoyle to contend with. 

Things start looking up, though, when tall, dark, and handsome Gabriel Angeloscuro agrees to rent the empty apartment in Maddy's building. It's probably just a coincidence that as soon as he moves in demons appear on the front lawn. But when an unholy monster is unleashed upon the streets of Chicago, Maddy discovers powers she never knew she possessed. Powers linked to a family legacy of tarnished halos. 

Powers that place her directly between the light of Heaven and the fires of Hell.