Review: Magic Bites - Ilona Andrews

 Kate Daniels, book 1

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 260
UK publication: September 2010 Gollanz

Quote:  "What kind of a woman greets the Beast Lord with "here, kitty, kitty"?"

When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal problems in its wake.

Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But when Kate's guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta's magic circles.

The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings—and the death of Kate's guardian may be part of the same mystery. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she's way out of her league—but she wouldn't have it any other way…

I finally got to meet Curran, it seems that everywhere I look there is always talk about Curran, and what a man he is. And he wasn't that shabby.

For a quick summary. Kate Daniels hunts down out of control magical beasts and so on. She can kick some serious ass, and she has magic. But then her guardian is killed and she heads to Atlanta to find the murderer. Here she meets Curran and his shifters, yay, and the vampires.

I must say that I would have liked some more info about how things came to pass. It seems that magic came back to the world with a bang, and that meant shifters and vampires too. Magic prevents cars from running when there is a big flow coming through the city, electricity is not what is used to be. Now one has to rely on magic, until the day is goes away again. So a story set in a near future, but a future that is totally different. I liked this even if I wanted more. She explained at one time why phones works sometimes and that is because people can't understand how they work, it's just like magic, so they work when magic prevents other things from working. That gave me a pretty good idea about the world. And what a world, riding a horse through a crumbling city, people trying to work magic, and evil things coming through the cracks.

The romance is there but not that much, there is this other guy first. And then there is Curran, those two sure has a lot of chemistry, or they really dislike each other. The bantering is hilarious and she is punching some great lines there.

Magic is everywhere, society is really different, and that means that this is a book has created something really interesting in concern to what if worlds. Because what if magic came back after being gone for millennia? 

The heroine is kickass, the action is good, and soon there is a mystery with her origin that I am dying to find out more about. Still not the best first book, but I have been told the rest are so much better. For that they are worth it.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: She looks a bit young

Reason for reading: From the publisher

Final thoughts: Not in love with Curran, sorry all, I am more in love with the fascinating world.

3,25

Review: Cattitude - Edie Ramer

Genre: Paranormal romance
Pages: 170
Published: August 2010
Reviewed by Lis

It's all in the Cattitude...After Belle the cat switches bodies with a psychic on the run from a murderer, she wants her perfect cat body back instead of this furless human one. But she doesn't count on falling in love with her former owner. Or that a CEO and a beauty queen want to use up her nine lives. Now is her chance to prove anything a human can do, a cat can do better.

When B asked me to review this book and read the blurb I was already mentally shaking my head and saying: ‘Nooooooooooooooooo way!’ A cat that changes bodies with her ‘assailant’ and falls in love with her owner and a mysterie to boot? Nuh uh. I might read a lot, but this is not my cup of tea.

Of course, B. can be very persistent and she sent me the book anyway, just so I could take a look and of course, I could not resist.

Edie Ramer’s Cattitude is a typical case where you don’t judge the book by its blurb. Cattitude pleasantly surprised me from the first page. Belle is a fiery character, both as a cat and as a person. All secondary characters are solid, three-dimensional characters and they make for a funny, attention-grabbing story.

My thoughts

Ms. Ramer definitely knows her cats, because her portrayal of Belle is reminiscent of any cat I know. Cats got attitude and Belle’s got ‘tude enough. Her views of humans are hilarious (and definitely true from a cat’s point of view) and it is fun to see how she adjusts to being human just as Sorcha adjust to being a cat.

I also liked the introduction of Sorcha. Just as I was wrong about the book, I was also wrong about this character. I thought she might be a third wheel in the story and yes, in a way she is, but a very good third wheel. I liked how “her” story ends. It was surprising. Sorcha carried just as much story as Max & Belle did.

The mystery part of the story was a hoot. It was both serious and comical and very fitting in the story.

Conclusion

Cattitude is a surprising book that I can definitely recommend. It’s a refreshing read with an original, funny and suspenseful plot, complete with a host of witty and funny characters. It is a well written story that has you on the edge of your seat and rolling on the floor in front of it and maybe pinking a way a stray tear as well. 

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Let me introduce you all to the new girl, Lis, who was kind enough to review Cattitude for me :) Thanks again, you rock! Hopefully I can tempt her to come back too.

Hi my name is Lis, an incredibly chaotic, sword wielding cowgirl from Holland  who lives and breathes books of the supernatural & paranormal variety stirred with some romantic, erotic and mystery and or historic ingredients. Hell, who am I kidding. I'll read anything if it's interesting enough. A very long time ago (think centuries) I read the great works from Homer to Shakespeare. Nowadays it ranges from Katie MacAlister to M.L. Rhodes from Lilith St. Crow to Stephani Hecht. Ocassionally I even review the books I read, just so long as it doesn't take me away from them for too long!

Review: A touch of dead - Charlaine Harris

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 224
UK publication: August 2010 Gollanz

Now, for the first time, here is every Sookie Stackhouse short story ever written—together in one volume.

Stories include “Fairy Dust,” “One Word Answer,” “Dracula Night,” “Lucky,” and “Giftwrap.”

Since this book consists of 5 short stories I am going to review them all.

Fairy Dust

In this one Claudine, the fairy needs Sookie's help.

This was an ok short story, Sookie used her power, and the fairies showed their true nature.

One Word Answer

A man shows up at Sookie's house to give her that which belonged to her cousin.

This one explains more about Hadley. I remember reading the book where Sookie went to New Orleans and being a bit confused. SO this one could have been good to read beforehand.

Dracula Night

Eric is going crazy planning a party because every year Dracula himself attends one, and Eric really wants it to be his.

This one was my favourite, and I am not saying that because Eric was in it, ok that played a part. But it was interesting with the whole myth about Dracula, and there was Sookie and Eric interaction.

Lucky

An insurance agent asks Sookie for help and together with Amelia she plays detective.

A little detective work and an ok story.

Giftwrap

Sookie finds a wounded shifter in the forest, it's Christmas and she is all alone and takes him home.

This one had a little heat in it, a tiny bit. But it was a good and surprising story.

Overall I found myself enjoying these stories more than the books. Sookie fits really well in a short story, and these were from different times during her life after she met Bill. This one explains some things, and some are just pure amusement. A little treat for Sookie Stackhouse lovers.

But, I do feel like you should have read the first 8 books so you really grasp things. Like the fairies, her grandfather and who Amelia is, no to mention the whole were community. In the book it also says when the stories takes place.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Simplistic

Reason for reading: From the publisher

Final thoughts: I was amused, and it reminded me that I really need book 9.

3,25

Review: Trade Winds - Christina Courtenay

Genre: Historical romance Fiction
Pages: 384
Published: September 30th 2010 Choc Lit

Marriage of convenience or a love for life? It's 1732 in Gothenburg, Sweden, and strong-willed Jess van Sandt knows only too well that it s a man's world. She believes she's being swindled out of her inheritance by her stepfather and she's determined to stop it. When help appears in the unlikely form of handsome Scotsman Killian Kinross, himself disinherited by his grandfather, Jess finds herself both intrigued and infuriated by him. In an attempt to recover her fortune, she proposes a marriage of convenience. Then Killian is offered the chance of a lifetime with the Swedish East India Company's Expedition and he's determined that nothing will stand in his way, not even his new bride. He sets sail on a daring voyage to the Far East, believing he's put his feelings and past behind him. But the journey doesn't quite work out as he expects...

I got interested in this one cos it was set on Sweden, and I thought, a book in English, set in Swedish. I wonder if she knows her stuff ;) Which Courtenay does being half Swedish. It was fun seeing Swedish words used and knowing what they mean for once. Cos when that happens with other languages, it's trickier.

Jess is of Dutch origin and her father started this trading company. Now she lives with her stepdad, whom she hates, and her mum. But she is pretty sure he is scaring away suitors so he does not have to pay her dowry. Among other things. Then there is Killian who is gambling away in Scotland, his grandfather doesn't want him as the next laird and his cousin hates him. So he goes to Gothenburg, where he meets Jess. Together they will figure things out.

Jess was a strong woman, she refused to back down to her stepfather, because she knew he was bad business. She was also stubborn and wanted things done on her terms. While Killian is her opposite, impulsive, a bit of a rogue, but what they have in common is that they both are smart and willing to go that extra mile. A perfect fit, if both just could see it, and be happy.

The story takes places in different places. Sweden of course, fun for me, Scotland (gotta love that), on a ship, and in China. I could sure not have made that journey to China, the time away, so freaking long.

These two doesn't fall at once for each other, now they fight, resist, and make arrangements. You have to love slow real love. There is not only romance, no some kind of action too, as someone hunts Killian. Drama, and adventure, what else to expect from a journey like that.

One thing though, they got really cold when they were in Småland, and, that being much southern than here, well I wish it was that warm. But then we do have more clothes on these days. Other than that, a good, accurate book. Overall a good book.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner. The swirly things are really pretty

Reason for reading: For review

Final thoughts: A nice era to write about, the 18th century, exploring, new places to trade, and all that.

3,25

Btw, the link has the wrong first name, my bad