Whispers Under Ground: By Ben Aaronovitch

WHISPERS UNDER GROUND

SUMMARY

A WHOLE NEW REASON TO MIND THE GAP

It begins with a dead body at the far end of Baker Street tube station, all that remains of American exchange student James Gallagher—and the victim’s wealthy, politically powerful family is understandably eager to get to the bottom of the gruesome murder. The trouble is, the bottom—if it exists at all—is deeper and more unnatural than anyone suspects . . . except, that is, for London constable and sorcerer’s apprentice Peter Grant. With Inspector Nightingale, the last registered wizard in England, tied up in the hunt for the rogue magician known as “the Faceless Man,” it’s up to Peter to plumb the haunted depths of the oldest, largest, and—as of now—deadliest subway system in the world.

At least he won’t be alone. No, the FBI has sent over a crack agent to help. She’s young, ambitious, beautiful . . . and a born-again Christian apt to view any magic as the work of the devil. Oh yeah—that’s going to go well.

REVIEW

I really like Ben Aaronovitch. His books are fun, filled with an interesting style of magic, and are very mystery based.

So it wasn’t a big surprise that I couldn’t put the third book in his urban fantasy series, Whispers Under Ground, down and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Aaronovitch does a fantastic job creating interesting characters that readers will want to not only read about but meet and have a pint with. None of the characters are perfect, know everything, or are even all powerful in magic. In fact most of the time Peter, the protagonist, is figuring it out as he goes along and makes a muck of things before he figures it out.

Of course, besides Aaronvich’s take on magic, I really enjoy his writing style and the way he gives a mini history lesson on a subject in each book as background for the overall mystery. This may sound boring to some, but he does it wonderfully weaving in interesting facts into the overall story in a way that builds a much deeper connection between the reader and the world.

So if you don’t like well written books, filled with relatable/interesting characters, a fascinating  take on magic, and a captivating mystery, then this book probably isn’t for you. But if you so happen to like to read an engrossing book that wont let you put it down, then this definitely is the book for you. Another win from the up and coming author Ben Aaronovitch.

INFO

Publisher: Del Rey


Published: July 31, 2012


Price: 7.99


Link to Buy: http://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Under-Ground-Ben-Aaronovitch/dp/0345524616/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343598921&sr=1-1&keywords=ben+aaronovitch

Darklands: By Nancy Holzner

DARKLANDS

SUMMARY

They call it Deadtown: the city’s quarantined section for its inhuman and undead residents. Most humans stay far from its border—but Victory Vaughn, Boston’s only professional demon slayer, isn’t exactly human…

Boston’s demons have been disappearing, and Vicky’s clients are canceling left and right. While fewer demons might seem like a good thing, Vicky suspects foul play. A missing Celtic cauldron from Harvard’s Peabody museum leads her to an unwelcome conclusion: Pryce, her demi-demon cousin and bitter enemy, is trying to regain his full powers.

But Pryce isn’t alone. He’s conjured another, darker villain from Vicky’s past. To stop them from destroying everything she loves, she’ll have to face her own worst fear—in the realm of the dead itself.

REVIEW

The Deadtown series is unique, action packed, and just plain captivating. I was hooked from the first book I read in the series and have been waiting on pins and needles ever since for each successive book.

But enough about the series overall (which I do whole heartedly recommend), what made this book, Darklands, so captivating were all the new twists and turns Holzner threw into this mix. First, Holzner had a good deal of the book take place in the land of the dead. This in itself is interesting. While fans can’t yet be sick of the interesting and unique set up of Deadtown, it is always interesting to see a new setting, especially when it has a taste of the medieval to it, and getting to explore a new set of characters and magic isn’t bad either.

Speaking of new characters I can’t say who Holzner brings into this book, but one character in particular is absolutely fantastic! That character is smart, sneaky, and brings a whole new spin into what might happen next in the series. That character alone revitalizes an already exciting series, and I personally can’t wait until the next in the series to see what happens next.

Of course, besides this awesome mystery character there are also fantastic other new and old characters in Darklands. As for old characters it was fun seeing Juliet and Tina, they always bring humor with a bit of zest to spice up the book. That said, it was also great to meet another new comical addition to the ranks when readers get to meet and actually talk to a lower level demon. That demon who was dubbed Butterfly, was fun, whimsical, and too be honest a nice face to show that not all demons are pure evil, the rank and file demon are just like humans or other animals, they just have a different diet.

All in all I really liked Darklands. I’ve been a fan of the Deadtown series and this is probably my favorite book of the series thus far. I enjoyed the medieval setting of the limbo-limbo-like-underworld, the new characters, and the action and new spins on the story. I can’t wait for the next book, and would have no trouble recommending this one to anyone who likes urban fantasy. 

INFO

Publisher: Ace


Published: July 31, 2012


Price: $7.99


Link to Buy: http://www.amazon.com/Darklands-Deadtown-Novel-Nancy-Holzner/dp/1937007707/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343598668&sr=8-1&keywords=darklands

God Save the Queen: By Kate Locke

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN

SUMMARY

The undead matriarch of a Britain where the Aristocracy is made up of werewolves and vampires, where goblins live underground and mothers know better than to let their children out after dark. A world where being nobility means being infected with the Plague (side-effects include undeath), Hysteria is the popular affliction of the day, and leeches are considered a delicacy. And a world where technology lives side by side with magic. The year is 2012.

Xandra Vardan is a member of the elite Royal Guard, and it is her duty to protect the Aristocracy. But when her sister goes missing, Xandra will set out on a path that undermines everything she believed in and uncover a conspiracy that threatens to topple the empire. And she is the key-the prize in a very dangerous struggle.

REVIEW

They say don’t judge a book by its cover but in the case of God Save the Queen, you can bet the book is as awesome as the cover and design of the book is.

The book is a mini-hardcover. It is light and portable yet still maintains the attractiveness and slightly more durable nature of a hardcover. Also besides that little bit of fun facts the cover art is pretty awesome, making God Save the Queen at least LOOK really cool.

But enough about how it looks, here’s the scoop on the actual subject matter of this book. God Save the Queen is a book that fans of Jaye Wells or Patricia Briggs will absolutely devour. Locke does a fantastic job creating engaging and exciting characters. Xandra reminded me a lot of Sabrina Kane from Jaye Well’s series. She is tough, sexy, and dangerous. Of course besides Xandra who I really liked as a character, I alos really liked the Goblin Prince. Readers will get a chance to see the progression of how the Goblins are perceived throughout the book. Their transformation in the eyes of certain characters is riveting, and since he has the most lines of all the goblins my favorite therefore is the Goblin Prince. He is deep, complex, and despised, a really interesting combination.

The thing is, there wasn’t a particular character I was wishing I had more of. Church, Xandra, Vex, and the Goblin Prince are all fun characters that help move the story along, while at the same time provide entertainment to the reader.

Of course besides the characters I just liked the world and plot of the book. It is filled with action, adventure, mystery, and backstabbing. What’s not to love. Plus a modern version of old England with vampires and werewolves running the show is pretty awesome.

All in all I really liked God Save the Queen. It was fast paced, fun to read, and full of interesting characters. The plot was interesting enough and full of enough twists that I was constantly on the edge of my seat. Fans of Briggs and Wells will love, and I personally can’t wait for the next in the series, The Queen is Dead. 

INFO

Publisher: Orbit 


Published: July 3, 2012


Price: $16.99


Link to Buy: http://www.amazon.com/God-Save-Queen-Immortal-Empire/dp/0316196126/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342500760&sr=8-1&keywords=kate+locke

Bared Blade: By Kelly McCullough

BARED BLADE

SUMMARY

Former temple assassin Aral Kingslayer has a price on his head and a mark on his soul. After his goddess was murdered, Aral found refuge in the shadow jack business, fixing problems for those on the fringes of Tien’s underworld. It’s a long step down from working for the Goddess of Justice, but it gives Aral and Triss—the living shadow who is his secret partner—a reason to get up in the morning.

When two women hit a rough spot in the tavern Aral uses for an office, he and Triss decide to lend a helping hand--only to find themselves in the middle of a three-way battle to find an artifact that just might be the key to preventing a war. And with so many factions on their trail, Aral and Triss are attracting a lot more attention than anyone featured on ten thousand wanted posters can afford…

REVIEW

So while I liked Broken Blade I felt like there were a few things that McCullough, the author, could have done better that kept it from a really good novel.

Apparently McCullough is a mind reader though, because most of the complaints I had for Broken Blade were corrected in Bared Blade.

Some of these new highlights that readers may enjoy (I certainly know I did) were; a larger role for Triss (Aral’s dragon shadow familiar), a much greater insight into some of the other magic disciplines, an explanation to a much greater details some of the magic, and it felt like a lot more action.

Now I could be wrong and there was the same amount of action in the previous book or even more, but in Bared Blade, to me, it felt like the action scenes flowed easier in this sophomore novel.

Of course besides the action, Bared Blade continues to create and maintain an interesting set of characters, including and most specifically, Aral. Aral is an interesting protagonist. He’s been broken for the past few years, and only really now in the 2^nd book does he really begin to come out of his depression. He is no longer the white knight of justice blindly following his goddesses commands, now he is grey, tainted by the real world, but still striving to do justice, in whatever way he can. And because of this he is almost like a new born duckling, still learning the ways the of the world, unsure of his footing, which is fantastic to read about and to watch the transformation as he rebuilds himself. Of course I’m also a huge fan of Triss, so I was thrilled when he really gets enough lines in this book to be considered a major character as opposed to Broken Blade, where he had minimalists lines that I didn’t feel did him justice. Triss is funny, unique, and breaks the sense of depression that sometimes looms over Aral.

Over all, I was really very happy with Bared Blade. It took the good parts of Broken Blade and maintained them while fixing those weaker spots in the first novel. Further, its full of action, fun characters, and an interesting plot. All in all a fun summer read.

INFO

Publisher: Ace


Published: June 26, 2012


Price: $7.99


Link to buy: http://www.amazon.com/Bared-Blade-Fallen-Novel/dp/1937007677

Stronger: By Micahel Carroll

STRONGER

SUMMARY

All Gethin Rao wants is to be like every other boy his age. But normal twelve-year-olds aren't blue. And they certainly aren't thirteen feet tall. That's what happens when his superpowers kick in. And from that moment on, his life is never the same. Treated as a villain--a monster--Gethin spends the rest of his life on the run or as a prisoner in a secret military facility.
When he finally escapes, he falls in with a group of superpowered teens and becomes the one thing he never thought he'd be: a hero. But as the years pass by and he takes the name Brawn, Gethin learns that being a good guy is a lot more difficult than he thought.

REVIEW

It's hard to exactly explain Stronger without giving away many if not all of the secrets of the other five books in the series (and the book of short stories that also helps clear up some mysteries). But what I can say with certainty is that any book that makes you want to drop everything you're doing and go re-read an entire series is one fantastic book.

Stronger acts as a rubber band tying the prequels and Quantum Prophecy series together. It spans the length of all of the books in the series (starting before the events of Super Human and ending during the events of Absolute Power). Readers MUST read the series before getting to this gem of a book. Stronger will answer many of the questions that readers have been pinning for since the publication of Super Human. What happened to Abby, Lance, and Thunder, and how did the events that lead up to Quantum Prophecy tie together with this rag tag group of superhumans.

Of course, what I found most impressive was the way that Carroll created such a complex setting for each of the characters. Brawn, a known villain through most of the series is much more than he seems, he is caring, protective, and most importantly a little boy turned monster who only wants to go back to the life he had before he was turned into a monster. Other characters true colors are also revealed. Readers will get to see from the eyes of Brawn some of the terrible manipulation that Max had done to the other superheroes for years. Even Ragnarok is explored in more detail, adding color to prominent character readers know very little about.

All in all Stronger was fantastic. It has tons of action, ties together many of the loose story lines, and is filled with strong well-crafted characters. Most importantly, Stronger is well written and captivating. Readers won’t be able to put down this book until the last pages, and even then they will have the uncontrollable urge to re-read the other books in the series. All in all a must read book for a must read series.

Rating

9.5 out of 10

INFO

Publisher: Philomel

Published: June 14, 2012

Price: $16.99

Link to Buy: http://www.amazon.com/Stronger-A-Super-Human-Clash/dp/0399257616/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340738002&sr=1-1&keywords=stronger

Blue Blooded Vamp: By Jaye Wells

BLUE BLOODED VAMP

SUMMARY

Sabina Kane is on the hunt. Her prey: Cain, the father of the vampire race and the one who murdered her family and her friends. Unfortunately, Cain is hunting Sabina, too.
The one man who holds the key to defeating Cain is, of course, Abel. A mage with secrets to spare and, hopefully, the power to match it. Unfortunately, for Sabina, he's in Rome and may not want to be found.
Sabina sets out for Italy with her friends, Giguhl and Adam Lazarus, to track down the only man who can get her the revenge she hungers for. But will he help her or oppose her? And just who is Abel, really? Worst of all, when Sabina figures out the goddess Lilith has a plan for her-she realizes this trip is getting deadlier by the minute. As they say: when in Rome-SURVIVE.

REVIEW

It's hard to end a series.
And even harder to end a series well.
Jaye Wells does the nigh impossible in ending the Sabrina Kane series in a fashion that should have readers dab their eyes and shaking their fists in excitement.


Well's series spans five books and to be honest I didn't know how the series could continue after the events in book three. That said, Well's does a fantastic job keeping the story going, creating characters that are fasinating, and keeping readers at the edge of their seats.
In this final installment readers will be shocked from the first chapters to the last pages. Blue Blooded Vampire is full of action, funny and endearing characters, and a captivating story that will keep even the most reserved reader hooked. Further, readers of the series will be excited to see familiar faces from all over the series pop up in unsual and interesting ways.
All in all Well's creates a conclusion that is better than expected. Blue Blooded Vampire is chop full of action, magic, and fun characters. Many secrets are brought to light and readers will be happy to know much of the lose strings are tied. All in all a conclusion for a great series.

INFO

Publisher: Orbit

Published: June 1, 2012

Price: $7.99

Link to Buy: http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Blooded-Vamp-Sabina-Kane-Wells/dp/0316178454/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340306927&sr=1-1&keywords=jaye+wells

Wake of the Bloody Angel: by Alex Bledsoe

WAKE OF THE BLODDY ANGEL

SUMMARY

Twenty years ago, a barmaid in a harbor town fell for a young sailor who turned pirate to make his fortune. But what truly became of Black Edward Tew remains a mystery—one that has just fallen into the lap of freelance sword jockey Eddie LaCrosse.


For years, Eddie has kept his office above Angelina’s tavern, so when Angelina herself asks him to find out what happened to the dashing pirate who stole her heart, he can hardly say no—even though the trail is two decades old. Some say Black Edward and his ship, The Bloody Angel, went to bottom of the sea, taking with it a king’s fortune in treasure. Others say he rules a wealthy, secret pirate kingdom. And a few believe he still sails under a ghostly flag with a crew of the damned.


To find the truth, and earn his twenty-five gold pieces a day, Eddie must take to sea in the company of a former pirate queen in search of the infamous Black Edward Tew…and his even more legendary treasure.

REVIEW

I've been a fan of the Eddie Lacrosse series since it first began with The Sword Edged Blonde. Eddie is witty, brave, strong, and experienced enough not to be a complete idiot bumbing into battle, while at the same time finding himself in a number of scrapes and situations, usually making for amazing adventures.
The other characters that Bledsoe has introduced over the series have also been interesting and have added to the story and ambiance in interesting ways. But my favorite of these side characters has to be Angelina who readers see in every book and who we know almost nothing about.
Wake of the Bloody Angel opens with a no hold barred adventure into Angelina's past. Reader's will be shocked and giddy with the secrets uncovered, secrets so dark and buried as to rival Eddie's own. Of course reader's will also rejoyce with the reintroduction of Jane to the series. Jane is tough, complicated, and leathal, and who better to lead Eddie to the seas to catch a pirate than a pirate, turned pirate catcher, turned sword jockey.


Of course while the characters are well written and fun, the main attrations to this book are the action and the mystery, and this book just so happens to have them in droves. Eddie is forced to fight pirates, discover who or what leaving only dead empty ships floating in the sea with only the medical chests taken, and find one of the most famous treasures in all of history. All in a days work for this sword jockey.
All in all, Wake of the Bloody Angel was a fast fun read. It gave me and will give readers all that was expected and more. I found myself finishing it with two days just because I had trouble putting it down. There were swashbuckling adventures, monsters, and shocking discoveries that shake the foundations of the some of the main characters. A great summer read that I would have no trouble recommending.
 

INFO

 
Publisher: Tor
 
Published: July 3, 2012
 
Price: $14.99
 
Link: http://www.amazon.com/Wake-Bloody-Angel-Eddie-Lacrosse/dp/0765327457/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1340304352&sr=8-3&keywords=eddie+lacrosse