Fantasy and Vampire Book Club discussion

Ooo... old school PNR though written in 2010

@Adele
Nikki Glass starts off great but the 3rd book left such a cliffhanger that I only though the book good, especially since the 4th and last book took 3 years to come out. This is why cliffhangers don't work for me. Discovery of Witches was like that too.

Anyway, the 4th book is OK except that the premise of fertility Goddess being left behind and in charge of human fertility, is a little off putting. Especially since they weren't very good to the humans in the first place. So I go on but the story line is not compelling though the character interaction is still as good as ever.

I had a recommend this month to read the novella.
Pros and Cons which is 2.5 or 3.5 in the Nikki Glass series. Well I went to look for it at the library, we have everything but the novella and last book. I bought the last book at a intro sale for $1.99 at Amazon, it is now $5.99. So I decided to go buy the novella at Amazon, I mean hey, a 75 page novella compared to a full novel should be maybe half and hopefully 99¢ but no.. the price, a whopping $12.99! Really $12.99 for a 75 page novella.

My recommend friend offered to "loan" it to me, as they bought it on sale at Amazon but... no! Not lendable even at $12.99! You should be able to lend it at least 13 times at that price.

So a little frustrated with the series right now. Still will finish the last book and probably never look back towards the novella. They lost my 99¢ or even $1.99. I suspect more people than I have passed over that price, and I lot more than 12 too.

I will be glad to be the part of discussion since nowadays many great and memorable book series are being turned into movies that are suck with no plot and character development. I hope we can analyze different book movies and share our views.

You know I am already there.

So just finished

What a nice addition to the Lunar Chronicles.

As some of you know, I frequently have a few books going at once and what ever is pulling me at the moment and is in the right format, audio vs written, but right now I only have
and since it is written and I'm doing a 3 hour commute, I'll have to figure out which of my audio books is calling. These are the ones calling and I'll let you know which one I choose when I get either to the job or back from it, depending on down time.

If not inspired by one, I'll listen to music. Anyone love any of the above that they would push it?

Amy, don't ask me why i, but i think i thought that jane yellowrock and nikki glass were by the same author for some reason. i think i needed a nap when i typed my comment!

anyway apart from that i will end up reading them. but $12.99 for a 75 page ebook..... that is ludicrous! i pay no more than $5 for ANY e book. i refuse to pay more. if i want it bad i will wait for a special or just get it in the library.
i think i might just do that.
not only am i currently unemployed but i am on a budget so its cheap books, op shop(aka thrift shop)books, free ebooks on amazon and library books for me. if they are not availible i wait until they are (i actually carry a list of books i need around with me at all times).

anyway i have lots of time to read now, so i might be able to catch up on those series that i had abandoned. ... and maybe squeeze a few challenges in before the end of the year!
i used to average about a book a day so lets see how it goes.
this weeks books:
Marked
City of bones
and thats all i have for now.... i might be reading the second ( and maybe third) books of those series but lets not get too crazy i'll read those first and see where that gets me

Ooo, I really disliked City of Bones. I didn't like any of the character and I have to like at least a couple.

I haven't read Marked but have had it on my shelf for years.

I totally get the budget. I'm looking to library availability more and more with the new house and move straining our budget. Once the summer adventures and move are paid, I might buy some that are not my first run series. Until then, favorites only and only if they are not at the library. I almost bought White Tiger by Jennifer Ashley but right before giving in to friction, one of my libraries got it.

So I ended up not having time today and so chose Biting Bad Chicagoland Vampires #8. I've fallen right back into the characters and even think the recaps unnecessary. For a 2 year hiatus, that is pretty good for me. So far so good 1/4 into it.

Ended up reading Imp Bound after Biting Bad. Biting Bad was good and I'll probably go to 9 within the week.
was crazy good for me. Very quirky humor with a questionable character. If you've read Immortals After Dark, think Sabine, Sorceress of Illusions, from Kiss of a Demon King. This was full of off the wall humor but is a UF not PNR.
I then decided to catch up with the Heartstrikers
and wish I hadn't. It is a horrible cliffhanger, or actually cliffhangers as I counted 6 plot lines and all of them are left hanging. I love the characters and love the direction of some of the plot lines, I hated the cliffhangers and there is no set date for the next book!

I've gone back to the Imp series, needing a laugh and got right back into the characters. Sammie you really love to hate or hate to love, you definitely do not want to be her best friend. Didn't have the slow start of the 1st book and went right into the humor and laughs... and then absolute disgust, yep. Yet, is is fun.
Reading

Just finished Magic Binds
Another great Ilona Andrews, not my favorite Kate, but it was very good.

I'm on to something different

Funny screwball scifi, Hank is just trying to save his home, the station he lives on.

Just finished. I rated Dracula 4 stars here

Just finished and now starting

I have got these three books now lined up.

, and .

The only problem I have is that I'm reading quite slowly due to other pressing commitments.

I really liked be interested in how you liked it.

I'm halfway into

Amyiw wrote: "I really liked be interested in how you liked it.

I'm halfway into "

I am about 70% into it now and really liking it as well, I think there is a lot of great action, I like Raine as a character, lots of clever banter, it's fun.

OK, Bloodfever was just a continuation of Darkfever, good but I still am wondering where it is going. Did like to get to know the characters better. Not a story in itself so... reading with a series read along. Not sure if I'll wait to read monthly as I want to get to book 5 where there is a wrap up according to many readers. She is called the queen of cliffhangers. I'm glad I started with her highlanders where you don't have that issue.

I've started Pottermore and enjoying revisiting the world even though there are just little stories.

I just finished and now I'm reading

Amyiw wrote: "OK, Bloodfever was just a continuation of Darkfever, good but I still am wondering where it is going. Did like to get to know the characters better. Not a story in itsel..."

Yes, book 5 to me reads like a series end, and to be honest I haven't managed to read past that one yet...

I loved Demonica and have been meaning to reread.

@Graema - Real Life gets in the way. Had that in November and a little December.

Hi there
I just finished Frost a great vampire book with a difference. I also love Bella Forrest & the shade books. looking forward to sharing books and getting recommendations. Feel free to add me as a friend love meeting new friends and sharing reviews!

Back on to Eve Silver and the 3rd book
I like the originality of the underworlds and factions. PNR

I finished and will be starting

was better than I thought it would be. Ended up pretty good. Not surprising with Kenyon though some of the latest DH have lost me to the series. Retribution & Bad Moon Rising to point fingers. I did like The Guardian but that is where I stopped. I intend to start back up this month as I have a challenge to read one.

Let's see...

Authors asked me to review the following, which I am trying to get through. One is great, one is really making it hard.




And I am still on February's BOM... Audiobook... It's almost done. I am on disc 13 of 17.

Well I really enjoyed , and now I'm starting on

@Norma- I've heard good things about and almost joined in. I read one book by Clare and absolute disliked (h word) the book. So she is a one book author but I like to give second chances and almost went for since it was a different series, also Lady Midnight. Still might read one of those.

@Lindsey- You are reading some series I've really enjoyed. I liked the Harper Hall trilogy a little better than Pern though they are the same world. Great characters.

Finishing up Eve Silver's Otherkin series with
pretty good PNR

on to
, last of the series. So far not loving the premise. Only one possible way to remove the curse, come on!

Amyiw wrote: "@Norma- I've heard good things about and almost joined in. I read one book by Clare and absolute disliked (h word) the book. So she is a one book author but I lik..."

Amy, I am almost done (finally) and the book turned out wicked good! I have yet to be disappointed by Cassandra Clare, except when she said TMI was going to be a trilogy and she changed it to a series of six books.. BLAH! Book 4 was horrific, but the rest were cool.

I have finished the following:
Ride: Taken: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance and Ride: Finale: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance and Make A Wish: a Christmas Encounters Novella. All by the same author.

I am currently starting: Jamie Quinn Mystery Collection: Box Set Books 1-3 which is a book set of three books I have been asked to review, per the Author.

I am still on Lady Midnight, but I hope to finish this by Monday or Tuesday and then I will go back to The Flame and the Arrow which wasn't really thrilling me when I left it.

Norma wrote: "....and then I will go back to The Flame and the Arrow which wasn't really thrilling me when I left it. "

I totally understand stepping away from a book. I've already done it twice in the last...?week. With Rookie Move and Into the Fire. I went back and finished Rookie and thought it was good but just not riveting. Into the Fire has final got a little more interesting but I am thinking of taking another break as the premise again turned a direction that is irritating, first was the one answer curse, then was the lies and green eying. I'm disappointed in the main character yet liking the support characters. I want a new main character spin off please. These two just haven't done it for me, hit or miss on all their novels and nothing over the top like Nighthuntress. Oh, I miss Cat and Bones and all their friends, luckily they show up a little in this series too. Still Vlad and Leila just don't carry this for me.

Amyiw wrote: "Norma wrote: "....and then I will go back to The Flame and the Arrow which wasn't really thrilling me when I left it. "

I totally understand stepping away from a book. I've already done it twice i..."

OMG.. Thank you for understanding! I started it again this morning on my way to work... I almost fell asleep at the wheel four times! There is NO action... NONE. It is like listening to a biography of one of the most boring human beings on earth narrated by Ben Stein! I don't know if I can handle another 10 hours of it.... I Don't know! The author asked me to read & review... but I want to scream and hit my steering wheel to make the plot move on!

Does not sound like the next one of hers to try for me. :-(

I finished Vlad's last book and goodriddens Vlad and Leila just don't compare, for me, to Cat & Bone, or even Denise and Spade, or Kira and Mencheres. The series was OK/good in the end but I hope we get Ian next and since he is a hoot, I'm hoping I won't have a switch around like I did with Vlad. Liked him as a side character but not holding his own romantic UF series.

I'm trying to catch up on a re-read of The Others for the new book that came out today.
Just finishing
I love this series.

Happy International Women's Day!

I know Americans very frequently don't even know this holiday but it is celebrated around the world. So all those women, whether mothers or not, have a great empowering and cared for day.

Let me know if you live in another country and don't know this holiday or, say you live in America and do or don't.

My strong, growing female character for the day is Meg, though I'll be starting Mercy in a few minutes.

Amyiw wrote: "Happy International Women's Day!

I know Americans very frequently don't even know this holiday but it is celebrated around the world. So all those women, whether mothers or not, have a great empow..."

i read mercy as an ARC and i'm pretty sure i did my longest review.
little hint.... read the notes at the start of the chapter to get an idea of the timeline. i honestly loved it.

I ended up starting
, which is PNR and it has been great. Definitely a recommend.

Mercy is great and it was pre-order so two days late now. Starting today, yea!

I rated Brides of Dracula 4 stars here

Quite enjoyed this collection of short stories.

Hoping to finish by Julie Kagawa soon.

doing a reread of Shelly Laurenston's Call of Crows as the new book was released yesterday and is a def must read for me

hi everyone,
looking at all your great books your reading I was going to ask if you have any suggestions for some great vampire books.
I have mainly been reading, Gala Twist, Bella Forrest, Tim o'Rourke, Charlene Harris, Erica Stevens to name a few.
But seeing all your different books I feel like I need some new inspiration.
Any recommendations would be appreciated.
I've been reading a fair amount of Thrillers, YA, Romance at the moment but missing my vamp books.

Sorry I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Kelly. Nice to meet you all. feel free to add me as a friend it's so nice to meet new people. :-)

Hi Kelly,

by L.J. Hayward is very well written with a good story.

by Claudia Chastain is also very good especially in the 2nd half.

You could also check out and by Perry Lake which are collections of short to medium stories written with a certain droll style themed around all the known vampire legends, with a particular focus on Dracula.

Note: none of these are PNR.

Hi Graeme, Thank you so much for the recommendations I shall add them to my list. It's very kind of you. :-) Kelly

Finished up , I so want more to Meg and Simon's story, and our other friends in Lakeside. Just started

Don't you hate when you catch up with a series and want to go on? Still your grateful to have such a great series to read.

I just finished and liked it better than her half-breed spin off. It had the humor I was hoping for. There were places that were a little slow though. Still a really good read. Not quite as good as most of the Imp books. I finished that series, Imp, and ended up going for the spin-offs and novellas. Unluckily Written in Red doesn't have any.

Hi Kelly, you're welcome.

Dash fan wrote: "hi everyone,
looking at all your great books your reading I was going to ask if you have any suggestions for some great vampire books.
I have mainly been reading, Gala Twist, Bella Forrest, Tim o'..."

hi Kelly .. there are some really brilliant vamp series out there that are well worth recommending. If you haven't read them yet you might like to take a look at the Cin Craven novels by Jenna Maclaine, Vampires in America by D.B. Reynolds, Chicagoland Vampires by Chloe Neill, Jocelynn Drake's Dark Days, the Scanguards Vampires by Tina Folsom and Night Huntress by Jeaniene Frost.

Wow thank you Deb, I'll check those out. Its so good to get fresh new book ideas. :-)

@Dash- Wow I totally blanked when thinking about that question. I think it is because I don't usually think just vampires and then there are a lot that are combination series. Deb has some great ones there, I like Nighthuntress, Halfway to the Grave the best though all of them are pretty well rated. (I don't know Cin Craven), so to add to that list
-some fun quirky romance vampires



Also romance, not as quirky-
not sure if they are vamps really and it goes off to weres, and demons and gods after a few.
1/2 of the Immortals After Dark have vampires, these are the vampire ones.

the other books are all different, Demons, Valkyries, Werewolves, mainly.
Then Urban Fantasy
(she is 1/2 vampire)
(partner is vamp)
different take starts slow.
What I can think of.

Just finished a ghost/murder mystery/redemption story by Duncan Ralston. It was excellent. Rated it 5 stars here

Now 40% in to by L.J. Hayward and it's excellent, better than Salvage above. It's the sequel to and includes vampires, demons and vampire hunters.

I got some new books to put on Mt TBR. **smile**

I'm reading
, which is written by Rachel Aaron. I loved Nice Dragons Finish Last and my son loved Fortune's Pawn (same author different name) So far I'm enjoying it but not as much as the Dragons yet.

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone with a desire to read quality fantasy written by a talented author.

My 5 star review of by L.J. Hayward is here.

I just finished re-reading and now re-reading , I'm going to be finishing off reading this series

Krystal, I just checked those books out and they looked so interesting I have just put them on my TBR pile!!! lol

Graeme Rodaughan wrote: "I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone with a desire to read quality fantasy written by a talented author.

My 5 star review of by ..."

@ Graeme- I put on my TBR. It is only 99 cents on Amazon. Does it have any cliffhanger to it?

@Adele- they look good but again YA.

I'm in the middle of
, just finished Firewalker earlier this week and have decided that I really, really like this UF. Finally found and old series on my shelf that I will read through.

Adele wrote: "Krystal, I just checked those books out and they looked so interesting I have just put them on my TBR pile!!! lol"

DelSheree Gladden is an author on here. I have another series of hers called The Destroyer Trilogy