31 July 2011

What I am reading: July 2011

Oops- I was in Rome over the end of the month and forgot to hit publish. Sometime soon, when life is less hectic (or the kids go back to school) I will finish my posts on what a great time we had there and what we have been doing over the summer.
  1. Heartless (July 2011) by Gail Carriger:4th in the series starring Alexia Maccon (nee Tarabotti), a preternatural (someone who causes supernatural entities to become mortal and can totally disperse ghosts or poltergeists, thus considered a threat by many supernaturals) living in a Steampunk Victorian parallel world, married to a Scottish werewolf member of the Ton, and friend of a Vampire Rove. I like the series very much, finding it light, amusing and charming. I enjoy it more than the Regencies I read so many years ago, because the plots are more interesting. Unlike a friend who can't stand the "incorrectness" of some of the terms used in address and so forth, I think that if the world is paranormal, I won't hold the author to the niceties of actual forms of English social address.(DT)
  2. Cast in Chaos (2010) by Michelle Sagara: The sixth book in the Chronicles of Elantra, following the maturation of Kaylin Neya, a human Hawk (police officer equivalent) in a world ruled by Dragons and with multiple immortal and mortal species, of which humans are the fastest breeding and least powerful. As in Nix' Abhorsen series, words are reality in a very literal way and Neya is, literally, covered with words. Well put together, always interesting, with a world I find fascinating and consistent yet always with new facets. Worth starting at the beginning: it would be a terrible shame to miss the character development and relationship and world building by starting out of order or skipping a book. This novel sees more development of both major and lesser characters and the introduction of a new species and thus validation of the "Parallel Worlds" theory that suggested Humans and other non-Immortal species are not originally of the world. (DT)
  3. Twilight's Dawn (March 2011) by Anne Bishop: A collection of 4 stories in the world of the Black Jewels. The last, The High Lord's Daughter, brings Janelle and Daemon's love story to a conclusion that had some fans very angry and which resulted in my not reading it for a few months after getting it. But, with a few weaknesses in plot, I think it was good and also satisfying. I enjoyed the stories and I hope that there may be a few more out there, waiting to fill in the plot points that we read referenced but not described.
  4. Dead in the Family (2010) by Charlaine Harris: I reread this story prior to packing it away with another box of books in the cellar and all aflush with the happiness of the 4th season of the HBO series starting. It's always interesting to see the difference between the books and the series (which I find extremely well done). I'll have to pick up the next one soon but I have put it off (for more than a year now) because I am so annoyed that the Kindle price is as high as that of a physical book. I may wait to pick it up in PB in the US in the fall.
  5. River Marked (2011) by Patricia Briggs: Also reread, before packing. I like Patricia Briggs. Like Ilona Andrews, her work just keeps getting better (and she has been doing it longer). Her world is closer to ours and her protagonist (in this sixth book), Mercy Thompson, mechanic, new-bride to Alpha werewolf and neighbor Adam, coyote avatar and Blackfeet, is just neat: her development as a person and a woman has been realistic and all the characters are well-done.
  6. Pale Demon (2011) by Kim Harrison: Another re-read, before packing it away. Who would have known, when I first read Kim Harrison writing as Dawn Cook, that she would become a huge seller under her pseudonym. That is, I loved her original series but at the same time I was reading her as herself, I was also reading and enjoying her as Kim Harrison. Both series have a basic underpinning of science and genetics, with her Harrison series riding the paranormal wave and bringing her to NYT bestseeler stardom. This is her 9th The Hollows novel starring witch with a genetic twist Rachel Morgan and I enjoy each one of them. Strong and interesting female characters, interesting world, worth reading. What's not to like about a world partially emptied of humans due to a pandemic caused by genetically mutated tomatoes (attack of the killer tomatoes:)), leading to the revelation of the paranormal (and immune) witches, vampires and other species living in our midst? (DT).

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