Just In Time To Go Back To School

 

Just in time to go back to school, I have to have dental surgery. Because of a medication I take due to post-cancer treatment effects, I can only have the dental procedure timed a certain way. So it's now or wait six months and hope that the teeth at issue don't cause more problems. 

All this to say I'm going to need to use all my energy to make it through the work day and the other people in this house are going to have to pick up the slack.This means I need to stop myself from making sure the dishes are in the dishwasher properly. 

A tall order!

I hope I have an easy recovery. I do have plenty of books to read and lots of book work to do, so I should try to concentrate on that and not think about someone putting the wrong stuff on the top rack or mixing towels with pants in the washer.

How about you?  Are you laid back around household chores?

*****
I forgot that I had pre-ordered Sanctuary by Ilona Andrews until the other day. I then proceeded to read this novella. If you haven't read Ilona Andrews before, please drop everything and read them! This book features Roman who is like an intermediary between a Slavic god and humans. There is a lot of folklore in this story and I found it really interesting. It doesn't end with a cliffhanger, but it ends with the immediate danger being dealt with and more action and adventure to come. You can read this as a stand-alone, but it's more pleasing if you've read the Kate Daniels series. 

If you are a mood reader, this book takes place Dec 23-25.

Five stars of pure awesome!

Hexed by Kevin Herne

Let me tell you, while I was listening to this book, it was like I was wearing a shirt that said: please ask me questions.  My family kept interrupting my listening!  This is why I usually do most of my book listening while I'll out running.  However, I have a boot on my foot for likely stress fracture so I was trying to listen around my house, and that is why I listened to chapter 18 three times!  

This is the second book in Kevin Hearne's series and if I had to sum it up in just a few words I would say, it's giving me Harry Dresden, Wizard vibes.  That is, of course, a very good thing. My love for Oberon, Leif, and the Widow continues to grow and I like that Atticus has to navigate solving paranormal problems without getting on the wrong side of the human police.  He also has to work with witches, and that I think is a good thing because he complains in book one about how he can't stand witches and that they are all terrible--well now in this book he is learning not all witches are the same. When I'm reading I enjoy seeing the main characters having to confront their own prejudices; it's a fine area for growth in a character arc.

This was a solid 4 read for me and I am ready to see what happens next! 

Anne's read along are always fun, join us! 

 

Nice Start to a New Series- Dead Man's Hand

This name may look very familiar to you. I took a second take the first time I saw this book.  Then I realized this isn't a new book in the Harry Dresden Series, it's a new book by Jim Butcher's son. Like his father, this book is written in the Urban Fantasy AKA the Contemporary Fantasy genre.  I added this book to my library holds weeks ago and as it often the case, a bunch of my holds came in at once. I might not have had time to read this book if I'd gotten the e-book, but fortunately my hold was for the audio version.

The reader for the book is James Patrick Cronin and he does a wonderful job voicing the various characters and bringing the action to life. The story is engaging it has a nice blend of action and exposition.  The main character is a down on his luck witch who works at a place that sounds like Mideval Times Chuck E. Cheese. His name is Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby--what a fun name! 

The book begins with a different POV character, but soon it is clear that this series is going to be about Grimsby's hero's journey.  He is a scrappy young man with low self esteem who as this book goes along pairs up with a grizzled old guy who was sort of like a cop in this world and then you have Wudge who is a troll or maybe a goblin or maybe Wudge is just a a wudge? Anyway you look at it this trio is fun to read about. The plot involved some shady witches trying to get a very powerful item, and all that stands in the way is our intrepid hero and his buddies. 

I can't wait for more!  I love these sorts of stories.  Found families are so delightful to read! 

5 stars

 

Final book in my #SIAM Wicked All Night By Jeaniene Frost

 

January is almost over and I am ending the month with the third and final book in the Night Rebel series. I'm happy to report, yes I can read a series in a month! (#SIAM) 

SPOILERS!!!!!!!!

Like book two, I did the audio version of the book and if you ask me to rate the narration I give it a 5, I think Talia Gilbert does a wonderful job with all the different voices and accents. 

As far as I know, this book wraps up Ian and Veritas/Ariel. This book was a fast listen and again we get scenes with other characters from the Night Huntress Universe.

Overall this three-book series would have worked better for me if Veritas had been in stasis for a larger portion of her life. I say this because she says she is nearly 5,000 years old. I had a very hard time reconciling her age and experience with her behaviors and lack of knowledge. She is very gullible. Good thing her dad kept raising her from the dead. You can say it's due to her first time experiencing love with Ian, but that falls flat for me. Now if she'd been in a coma for like 4,800 of the years, then it makes much more sense to me. 

I like her brother, he came in clutch in the series, because unlike Veritas and other characters, he is able to read people (people and supernatural characters). Marie the Queen of the Ghouls also continues to be an excellent character. 

Okay, I'm going to leave the review on that positive note!  

Peace Talks Book 16 in the Harry Dresden Files

 

"When the Supernatural nations of the world meet up to negotiate an end to ongoing hostilities, Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, joins the White Council's security team to make sure the talks stay civil. But can he succeed, when dark political manipulations threaten the very existence of Chicago--and all he holds dear?" (from Goodreads) 

You wanna see magic in our mundane world? Look no further than the wizard that is Jim Butcher. Sixteen books into the series and I'm still excited to see what happens next. I'm still worried about all my fictional friends making it through the night. This book doesn't resolve some big problems happening in Harry's world, but it does give me the emotional growth I've been waiting for out of Harry. 

This book is chockful of the supernatural, but it takes place in Chicago and all my favorite characters are included which I really prefer over the books that have been centered in Faerie. One of the reasons I so enjoy this series is because humans are right in the thick of it the stories and that we see wizards, vampires, werewolves, etc. are injured and even die. There are consequences even in the midst of magical powers. 

If I had read this when it came out, I'd be so bummed that when I finished it I needed to  wait for Battle Ground  to be published--but lucky for me, and for you if you are reading the series now we can read it right away! 

5 Stars

#The Sunday Post -- Second Book in my #SIAM Coming Later Today

  

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme 

I hope you are having a nice January so far, on the weather front, we've had a mild January with very little snow,but we did get a bunch of rain on Wednesday.  It was the kind of rain that makes me grumble and say, "too bad this isn't snow, snow is less wet." 

This month I'm working on cleaning drawers, cabinets, and closets. I highly recommend spending a little time when you can go through the stuff you own to see what you want to keep and what you can get rid of, when you free up space it feels so good!  Speaking of that I need to update my Bookish resolutions to include reading one or two books off my bookshelf each month and then giving away those books. I have quite a few books on my bookshelf that are watching me download ebook after ebook while they collect dust! 

How about you? Do you have a lot of physical books? 

And here are books I'll be talking about this week- 

This is the second book I'm reading for #SIAM! 

Harry Dresden Book #12 Changes

 Could this book have been more aptly titled?  Not likely.  What happens in this installment of the Harry Dresen Files, really threw me for a loop. Talk about not expecting it. Oh my goodness I thought I knew a few times where this book was going and I was wrong, wrong, and wrong.

Did I love this book? No, I don't know if I like what happened.  I can't discuss what plot point I didn't really like because it would spoil not just the book but the series from this point on. I definitely enjoyed the book even though I didn't like the direction of Harry. It just goes to show the skill of Jim Butcher's writing.

Good writing= Strong reader feelings. 

As the series continues on, and this book is certainly the turning point, Harry is becoming more and more a part of the Never Never and the fairie realms and I think I miss the good old days when he worked as a consultant for the CPD.

Jim Butcher keeps me reading, I say that for sure.

5 stars for this unpredictable ride. 

A Surprise Re-Read

This was a surprise re-read in that I didn't realize I had already read it when I checked it out of the library.  A couple of chapters in I knew I had read it before. Well actually, I listened to the audio, which was very engaging.  

This time I read the words, it was a fast read.  Lots of action and I enjoy the mythology and the catholic hocus pocus of it all. The world-building is very engaging and Harry has that right amount of self-deprecation and confidence all at one time. He knows he can't help himself when he perceives a damsel is in distress even though it comes back to bite him in the ass several times over. 

Looks like I got distracted after listening to book 5 of this series back in 2018 when I read it the first time. I'm hoping this time around I don't have to wait too long to get Blood Rites or I fear I will again get distracted for a few more years! 

My 2018 Review:

I listen to this series on audio, I don't read any of the books--James Marsters is perfection as Harry Dresden. This is book #5 of this enjoyable series that I tend to pick up, listen to a book and then a few months pass and then I pick it back up. There is enough reiteration of who the main players in the series are to help you remember if you don't binge read the series. I am going to make more of an effort to get through this series in a more timely manner. I have to say I don't really care about the romance aspect of the book, but if Harry is happy I'm happy. Whenever Harry talks about his cat Mister, I think anew that Mister is the perfect name for a cat. And speaking of perfect character names, I hope the next book has more Murphy- the perfectly named police detective- in it.

Love that this book takes place in Chicago. Nice that Harry and modern tech don't get along as this is handy for plot building. The pacing of this book was good, I personally wouldn't mind if there had been a bit more downtime - like maybe 2 fewer battles, but that's just me. I'm going to go see if my library has book #6 before I get distracted by another book on my TBR pile.

I'm so happy this series continued after the initial run.

 My only complaint about the final book in this series was that the very end had a flash-forward and I was left really wanting

to know what happened between the end and the flash-forward.

So I'm so pleased that in 2020 Kim Harrison went back to writing about Rachel Morgan. Million Dollar Demon is the second book in the second set of The Hollows.  Boy did I enjoy this book. I love that Rachel has become a leader, she has confidence and most importantly she has truly realized she doesn't have to solve or save the world by herself.

If you've read the first 13 books and haven't started this second series now is a great time to catch up as the next book Trouble with the Cursed  will be out in June.

If you haven't read any of this series. Go out and get Dead Witch Walking and start on an amazing journey in Contemporary Fantasy!

5 stars

The book description from GoodReads: 

"To save the city, Rachel Morgan will need to show some teeth in the next Hollows novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison.

The new master vampire of Cincinnati has arrived . . . and she wants Rachel Morgan out. No matter where Rachel goes, Constance is there--threatening Rachel's allies, causing city-wide chaos, and, to add insult to injury, even forcing Rachel out of her current quarters. Ever since Rachel found a way to save the souls of vampires, the old undead's longtime ascendancy has been broken. Now Constance sees eliminating Rachel as the key to consolidating her own power.

Rachel has no desire to be enthralled or killed--and she's terrified of what may become of the city if Constance forces a return to the ancient ways. But even a witch-born demon can't stand against the old undead--at least, not alone. And if Rachel refuses to claim the role of Cincinnati's master demon, the city will tear itself apart, taking her and all those who stand beside her with it."

One Foot In The Grave #Readalong 2022!

 

I'm so excited to talk about One Foot in the Grave, in general, I love the second book in a series!  Second books are where often learn deep dark backstories and they often have some great action because the main characters are already set up.  This book is no exception!  

Click to read the rest of my review on Books of My Heart's Blog today

 

Happy National Ampersand Day & A Book Review!

See what I did there?

Today Middle Child begins his college experience.  The first couple of weeks will be completely remote and since he is our family's IT person, I expect that he will manage the Zooms ( or whatever software they use), without issue.  His computer space is also the closest to the router giving him the least buffered of streams.

I hope you have a lovely #NationalAmpersandDay!  It's a great day for peanut butter & jelly, macaroni & cheese, or fun & games!

Here is my latest book review!

Magic Binds by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In the penultimate book in this series, Ilona Andrews masterfully balances snark, marriage planning, and battle action. They also manage to rehabilitate a dead villain, not an easy task. All the fan-favorite side characters have a part in the installment and it doesn't seem forced when they show up.

I really enjoyed what they did with Christopher's story and it was great to see Roman- a dark priest planning the wedding. This book was just what I needed to read this weekend, it was very engaging, filled with characters I have grown to love and as always so empowering to read about Kate Daniels kicking evil ass!

Lucky for me, the 10th and last book in the series was available on the Libby app, so I've already got that downloaded from my library.


View all my reviews

Looking for Summer Reads? Try some Urban Fantasy

I recently finished the Hollows Series by Kim Harrison. Below is my review of the final book in the series.  The first book is Dead Witch Walking. If you are tempted to take a taste of this series, the Kindle version is only .99 cents. That's how they get you sucked in! 😊 All the books were available at my local library, so you can read for free or order from audible.com for audio ( or get the audio or e version from your library as well). Or support your local independent book seller!


The Witch With No Name by Kim Harrison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I started reading this book when it first came out and then I put it down for a few years, Why? It's the last book in Kim Harrison's Hollows Series and I wasn't ready to be done forever with Rachel, Ivy, Jenks and Al.

I thoroughly enjoyed the series. Back around book 7, I met Kim Harrison at a book signing. She is a lovely person. It's always nice when the writer whose work you look forward to reading is also pleasant and happy to answer questions about her stories.

I'm not 100% clear on the vampire resolution, like what will happen when Ivy dies her first death. Will there be some sort of vampire daisy chain? I'm not going to over think this, because I have to say I don't care as much about the vampires as I do the demons. The demon situation was resolved very satisfactorily.

I was disappointed on the fast forward that occurs in final chapters, I was really hoping to see Rachel and Trent marry and raising the kiddos (with Quen) shortly after the climax of the book. Ending with Rachel finally feeling like a full member of society would have been icing on the cake. Rachel says she is OK without a marriage, but I think we know better. Also Rachel's mom would love for her daughter to get married.  😊 Maybe Kim will do a short story follow up with a wedding, or maybe she has done one already and I don't know!

Having so many great books sitting in my TBR pile, and on my Audible wish list, I rarely re-read anything. However, The Witch With No Name did have me feeling surprisingly nostalgic and I want to go back to the beginning and read Dead Witch Walking  now that I know how the story ends.


View all my reviews

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On the writing front, tomorrow starts the #1000wordsofsummer challenge.  You can click to join the challenge if you like to write!  I'm excited because yesterday I figured out what to do with the date I accidentally sent my protagonist on with one of her co-workers. It's going to be awkward!