Book Review: The Awakening

Author: Kelley Armstrong

Published: April 2009

Publisher: HarperCollins

Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal YA

ISBN-10: 0061662763

ISBN-13: 978-0061662768

7/10

If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl—someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I’m as far away from normal as it gets. A living science experiment—not only can I see ghosts, but I was genetically altered by a sinister organization called the Edison Group. What does that mean? For starters, I’m a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control; I raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever.

Now I’m running for my life with three of my supernatural friends—a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch—and we have to find someone who can help us before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying.

Now MY take on it:

I was in a local second-hand bookstore looking for books to read because I needed something fresh to read while I took a break from the ones I had at home. I walked in, looked down at one of the corners they have at the door, and saw this book. I knew it was Fantasy/Paranormal just by the way the jacket looked. I didn’t want to read what it was about because I knew it would be good. But I read the description anyways just so I wouldn’t be surprised when I read the book. It piqued my interest so I decided to buy it. The minute I got home, I started reading it. For a YA book, it was pretty cool. Everybody has non-human powers- werewolves, necromancing, or even just spurting spells from their fingertips. Hell, after that, I wanted to spurt spells from my fingertips! While the character’s personalities were there, they were fully known until the middle towards the end of the book. But they were there. The chase and running seemed never-ending and some parts lagged. But there was action in every chapter, even if it was just a simple fight.  There were tons of surprises that you didn’t expect. It was a simple read and one to read if you’re bored of your current books.

Book Review: The Killing Dance

Author: Laurall K. Hamilton

Published: September 2002

Publisher: Jove

Genre: Fantasy

ISBN-10: 0515134511

ISBN-13: 978-0515134513

9.5/10

Anita continues to explore her relationship with her two romantic interests, Richard, a werewolf, and Jean-Claude, a vampire, while attempting to resolve an assortment of conflicts ranging from werewolf politics to unsolved murders.

Now MY take on it:

Not having read the previous 5 books of the Anita Blake- Vampire Hunter series, I will not be biased on my review. This is what I think of THIS particular novel.

I absolutely loved it. Anita has 2 problems: the vampire and the wolf. That is, for the moment. Her friend Edward calls while she and the wolf are out at a party. He tells her that he had received a call to kill her for over $500,000. It is a race to keep her alive, until other things start popping up. It is not longer a fight for her life, but the lives of others. Even though she has to fight for her life and the lives for those around her, she is torn at whom to spend her life with- the vampire of the wolf. She certainly loves the vampire, but is pulled towards the wolf. But I promise you, you think you know how it will turn out by the time you’re halfway through. But you really have no idea! There are maybe 1 or 2 steamy scenes, but the rest is filled with the dead and shapeshifters. A frantic pace of killing, blood, and murder. I couldn’t put it down! I wanted to see whom she would end up with and who ended up “dying” in the end. I can’t wait to read the next novel in the series to see exactly how it plays out. Maybe I’ll even catch up with the first 5 so I can get a better idea of who Anita Blake truly is. But the characters have tons of personality and for you fantasy fiction fans, there are plenty of wolves, vampires, and zombies!

Book Review: Scent of Darkness

*This may contain spoilers.

Author: Christina Dodd

Published: July 2007

Publisher: Signet

Genre: Fantasy

ISBN-10: 0451221737

ISBN-13: 978-0451221735

8.5/10

Ann Smith loves her handsome, dynamic boss, Jasha Wilder, but her daring plan to seduce him goes awry when she encounters a powerful wolf who-before her horrified eyes-changes into the man she adores. She soon discovers she can’t escape her destiny, for she is the woman fated to break the curse that binds his soul.

Now MY take on it:

I FINALLY was able to read the first book of the Darkness Chosen series by Dodd.

As a self-proclaimed “dedicated secretary”, Ann has had a crush on her boss for as long as she can remember. She thought Jascha Wilder held the moon. That is, until one day she decides to take a surprise trip to his house. She decided that since he wasn’t home, she’d get nice and sexy. As she comes down the stairs, she sees Wilder turn from a man to a wolf. After that, it’s all downhill from there for her! From trying to keep Wilder getting himself killed to keeping an icon safe, life will never be the same!

I loved it, though some areas of the story were tucked in where they should have been somewhere else. But other than that, I enjoyed it. Once again, Dodd has surprised us with steamy sex scenes that aren’t raunchy but naughty in a way where you knew exactly what was happening. I wanted a man like Jascha! And I was glad to see what Ann finally stood up for herself and what she believed, even if it meant becoming the mate of a man who isn’t exactly 100% human. The end of the book leads it wide open for book 2 in the Darkness Chosen series.