MAGIC BURNS

Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews  260 pages

Reviewed by Rae C.

This is book two of the series.
My review of book one https://slplbookchallenge.blogspot.com/2018/09/magic-burns.html

Kate Daniels lives in an Atlanta besieged by waves of magic so strong that technology is left powerless, and sometimes skyscrapers collapse.  When the magic rolls through the cars stop and the lights go out, so people will ride horses or magic vehicles, and use fey and other magically charged lights. Kate now works for the Order of Merciful Aid as well as the Mercenary Guild.  And in this book there is a magic "flare"- much stronger than usual, in fact, strong enough for Gods and their entourage to enter this realm.  Kate helps a young girl, Julie, whose mother has gone missing, along with the rest of the witches in her coven.

I like this book a lot.  I love the introduction of Julie, and Julie's storyline- especially the romantic interest Julie has for a boy who is just worthless (sorry, that could be considered a spoiler). And I love Andrea's developing character, and I won't give any spoilers on that.  The romance between Curran and Kate begins to sizzle, and we get some very interesting information on Pack relationships, especially alphas. We also learn a lot more about Kate's background and what she is capable of- enough to make accurate guesses about what is going to be revealed in book 3- and we explore a lot more of this alternate Atlanta, and it is spectacular!

My problems were with the use of Celtic mythology.  Bran is obviously modeled on Bran the Blessed, I was okay with that. And the inclusion of the Fomorians led me to think that the authors had done some real research, and then tailored it to fit their story.  (There's scant information available in the old stories on the Formorians, the sea demons that the Celtic tribes had to fight when they arrived in Ireland.) But Bolgor the Shepherd was a little too over the top and obviously pure invention- and invention that is not rooted in any sort of existing mythology that I know of.  Bolgor doesn't behave or have powers in a manner suited to any branch of Celtic mythology.  And this strange Morrigan versus the Great Crow? Well,  just turn your academic brain off if you need to, and let the characters exist solely in the story.  That's what I did.

Couldn't wait to read book 3 when I finished this one!

Jane Yellowrock books 1-10

The Jane Yellowrock series books 1 - 10 by Faith Hunter, 3393 pages in ten books

This review covers the first ten books (Skinwalker, Blood Cross, Mercy Blade, Raven Cursed, Death's Rival, Blood Trade, Black Arts, Broken Soul, Dark Heir, and Shadow Rites) in the Jane Yellowrock series.

This series lives in a world were certain fantasy beasts like vampires, werewolves, and others exist, though are not in the realm of common knowledge. Only the vampires, witches, and to a lesser extent shapeshifters are on the public's radar. Vampire clan's have claimed large parts of the United States, though they do not really rule, just consider that area their hunting ground. There is also an accord that vampires will not hunt people and only take blood from the willing. When this accord is broken by rogue vampires people like Jane Yellowrock hunt them down.

Initially I was unsure if I would continue reading this series past the first book. I did not mind the books having a female protagonist, but does she have to develop a crush on every single guy she meets? The first couple I can live with, or even if it was one per book, but really every single good looking guy seems a little much. After accepting this, and to some extent just ignoring it, the series was quite good. It manages to avoid the "main character can do no wrong" cliches that seem to pop up all to often in urban fantasy, while not making the character seem completely useless.

In terms of protagonists this series is like Ilona Andrews's Kate Daniels series or Kim Harrison's Hollows with the main character being strong yet fallible, but it also avoids the heavy handed romance you would see with Sherrilyn Kenyon.

Coffin Hill

Coffin Hill Volume 1: Forest of Night by Caitlin Kittredge, 168 pages

When a magic summoning goes horribly wrong and results in the death of one of her friends, Eve Coffin leaves her town behind. Years later she returns to find that the darkness she summoned had not be contained as she planned.

If you removed the marriage part of the movie Sweet Home Alabama and added a dark Gothic twist to it, I am pretty sure you would get this book. A young woman with a history in a small town leaves to make it big before circumstances force her to come back home. It has all of the same romantic themes as well.

This was on the same table as Rat Queens, so I am assuming the same patron left it behind. What really drew me to this graphic novel though was the cover. 

Rage of the Fallen

Rage of the Fallen by Joseph Delaney, 401 pages


Still on the run from the old Country, and now from an island as well, Tom, Alice and Mr Gregory make their way to Ireland. But Ireland quickly proves it is not the safe haven they thought it might be. With Goat Mages trying to summon Pan, witches from Tom's past, and the looming danger or the Fiend they are as busy as ever just trying to stay alive.

I mainly read this series to see the different types of lore and monsters that will come up. I don't find it as interesting as the Percy Jackson series or the roman spin off, but it far outshines the Beautiful Creature series. This series would be better if I had read the books as they came out. Right now I know the main character doesn't die because there are another half dozen books in the series. But if i was on the last book every time there would be more suspense that maybe this time he might actually die.

This book has some gruesome descriptions that might effect the younger readers.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by J.K. Rowling, 435 pages

I remember this being the book where I felt like things really started picking up and getting good in the series; but re-reading it, this book really brought up a lot of annoyances for me.  Hermione's bossiness and secretiveness seems arbitrary and unnecessary; Ron is just the absolute WORST- valuing a rat that he has done nothing but criticize for the whole series over his human friend who has saved his life multiple times.  And Harry- it's happened throughout the series, but this is where it really starts annoying me- that he doesn't share anything with Dumbledore.  Like, we all agree Dumbledore's the greatest wizard, totally good, and has been nothing but generous and on Harry's side- so why does Harry continue to lie to him and be secretive?  Ugh- eyeroll.  I mean, I love Lupin and Sirius, and I liked that this book has the "unfinished" feeling with Peter Pettigrew- but it was not as good as I remembered it.  Maybe I'm o.d.'ing on H.P. and I need to take a break. 

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J.K. Rowling, 341 pages

Harry is back at Hogwarts- the gang is back together, including an evil presence that is petrifying students and ghosts alike.  What does a wizard have to do to get a break around here?  I found this to still be good- the characters are still finding out about themselves and life, and we see a few inklings of the serious direction the series takes at times- this one is the discovery of the prejudice against non-"pure" blood wizards and witches.  Quidditch is still pretty boring, but at least we get to meet Dobby for the first time in the series.  And he is pretty great. 

Blood Work and Blood Crime

Blood Work and Blood Crime by Kim Harrison, 169 and 166 pages

I didn't find out until I started reading Blood Crime that this was part of a larger series and in fact I was reading the second book in this new graphic novel adaptation. Luckily I found out within the first 30 pages or so and was able to get Blood Work sent to me. I know not every book series has to be read in order but for this one is certainly helped.

Blood Work follows the life of a living vampire detective named Ivy Tamwood as she gets paired up with a witch named Rachel Morgan. But the partnership is not everything it seems to be and in fact might be part of a sinister plot

Blood Crime continues where Blood Work left off and further develops the partnership of Rachel and Ivy while they hunt down who is trying to kill them.

Both of these graphic novels are well written and illustrated. I enjoyed reading them and when I found out that they are a spin off for a much larger Hallows series I was thrilled. I fully expect I will be reading more of these and parts of the original series in the coming year.

Housewitch

Housewitch by Katie Schickel
352 Pages

Allison Darling grew up as a foster child and only remembers vague things about her mother and early childhood.  Now living in Monrovia where a cadre of stepford-like wives known as the Glamour girls run the town, Allison longs to be as successful and put together as the members of the group.  This is what Allison’s wanted her whole life—to be liked. To be popular. To belong.  Things start to go wrong at the fair where Allison finds she is able to change things merely by wishing hard enough.  She starts to remember simple rhymes from her mother who is institutionalized .  When Allison's mother dies, she comes into her witchy powers and will have to decide whether to use her powers to be one of the girls or to protect her family from a dark force. 

A nice lite read, I enjoyed this book.

Last Apprentice series books 6 and 7

Clash of the Demons and Rise of the Huntress by Jospeh Delaney, 408 and 436 pages


So far I have enjoyed reading the Last Apprentice series but in these two books it starts to slip a bit. Not only are there more "world ending" threats but they have taken on an unexpected darkening. I liken it to the darkness and uneasiness that crept into the Harry Potter series. You have this underlying belief that everything will turn out fine like most series do, but also this nagging doubt that maybe it won't.

I have never been a fan of the the repeated world ending threats. As I have said in a previous post you know with near certainty that the world is not going to end. I suppose it might have been a tad more believable if I had read these when they came out, but since I know there are still half a dozen more books the world can't end. This "spoiler" removes some of the suspense from the books and just leaves you guessing at how they are going to save the world this time.

The series is still full of adventure and is still worth reading though I hope Delaney doesn't get stuck in this bigger and deadlier plot escalation.

Last Apprentice Series books 3-5

Night of the Soul Stealer, Attack of the Fiend, and Wrath of the Bloodeye by Joseph Delaney, 500, 546 and 516 pages

          

Since I have so much trouble talking about book series without giving anything away from previous books I have taken to combining chunks of them together.

These are books 3-5 from The Last Apprentice series in which we continue to follow John Gregory's apprentice Tom Ward. In these volumes we learn a lot about the various types of witches and supernatural beings in the world along with a large part of John's past. Tom also has the misadventure to meet up with two of John's previous apprentices. I especially enjoy the debates about the struggle between the light and dark. Does doing dark to help the light make you dark or not? That seems to be the main question the next couple books will decide

So far its been a good series, though Delaney seems to keep creating stronger and stronger dark creatures foe them to beat. If this keeps up this series might slip into the absurd.

Night Pleasures

Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon, 309 pages.

When I picked up Night Pleasures I was hoping for a supernatural book with an underlying romantic theme. What I got was a romance with some supernatural elements. In the world that Kenyon has created the supernatural seem to be more open. There are actively practicing sorcerers along with vampires, demigods and the Greek gods of old.

All of this Amanda is actively trying to avoid despite her family being both vampire hunters and sorcerers. Unfortunately for her she is forced into the supernatural world after she is handcuffed to a Dark Hunter named Kyrian, a vampire who hunts evil in the world. This sparks off the adventure and romance.

The main reason I have tended to hate reading romance novels is because of how cheesy they tend to be. Sadly this one was no different. Despite both sides of the romance starting off hating each other they of course fall madly in love and can't be with out them. Then there is the classic family tries to keep them apart story, though in this case its the vampire hunters wanting to put a stake through his heart. Finally its the big finale where they prove their love for each other and a big happy wedding. But at least this one had some supernatural fights and a plot to kill everyone to keep it mildly interesting.

Heretic's Daughter

The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent  
332 pages

I have read several books about the Salem witch trials, both fiction and nonfiction but hadn’t noticed Martha Carrier’s name before I read this book.  Told from the perspective of Martha’s daughter, Sarah, also accused of witchcraft, the book has an interesting perspective.  I thought it was really well written and seemed to be as historically accurate as possible.  The writer is actually a descendent of Martha and appears to have done her homework well.    The story starts a year or so before the trials and highlights what the family’s life was like at that time.  It helps explain why the witchcraft accusations were made towards Carrier and her family and why people wanted to believe the accusations.  The story is actually being told in a letter, 60 years after the trials, from Sarah to her granddaughter but switches very quickly to the meat of the story, 60 years previous.  Anyone who likes stories about this period in history will probably like this book.